How Natashja's Preparation Created a Peaceful Birth
🌸 In this heartfelt and empowering episode of The Positive Birth Corner, we sit down with Natashja James, a licensed counselor, yoga teacher, and first-time mom who welcomed her daughter just two weeks before her 37th birthday.Natashja shares how she turned her early fears about pregnancy and “advanced maternal age” into a story of faith, preparation, and strength. From building a holistic birth team to creating a peaceful, empowering atmosphere in the hospital, Natashja’s story reminds us that birth can be calm, informed, and deeply personal—no matter your age or circumstances.With a birth dream team that included:A doula (shoutout to Alicia!)A mental health counselor specializing in perinatal wellnessA herbal medicine dietitian This holistic approach helped Natasha support both her mind and body throughout pregnancy.Natasha emphasizes the importance of prenatal mental health—not just postpartum. She shares practical ways she protected her peace, including therapy, yoga, and mindful preparation. Though she was eventually induced at 41 weeks, Natasha describes how her preparation paid off & her birth was filled with intention and calm. 🌸 Natashja James is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified School Counselor, Social Worker, and Yoga Teacher based in Philadelphia, PA. She is the founder of Peace Be Still Holistic Health, an inclusive practice that centers the wellness of students and young professionals from diverse communities and identities.Her work also embraces new mamas; especially those navigating the layered realities of education, career, and family life. As a toddler mom with lived experience of postpartum anxiety, Natashja shows up in session with authenticity, compassion, and a whole-person approach that honors culture, identity, and lived experience.Website: peacebestillhealth.comInstagram: @pbsholistichealthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/namaste.natashja/Postpartum Support International Directory: https://psidirectory.com/listing/peace-be-still-holistic-health.htmlThe Full Doula Guide Bundle Serieshttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108Prenatal Foundations Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025Third Trimester Prep Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053Postpartum Wellness Guide + Templatehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Storehttps://admin.stan.store/stores/?tab=details
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Strong Starts: How Rachel Shapes Confident Parenthood Through Nurse-Led Care
AD: The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, an affiliate of PHMC. is a nonprofit public health organization working to strengthen community health. They host programs like Nurse-Family Partnership, which focuses on serving first-time pregnant people in Philadelphia through biweekly visits with a nurse home visitor. If you’re pregnant and interested in learning more about this program, visit the website at nurseledcare.phmc.org💚 In this heartfelt conversation, MaryNissi sits down with her former nurse and now dear friend Rachel, to talk about the real impact of nurse-led care on new parents.Rachel shares how her calling into nursing began unexpectedly, tracing it back to a trip to Belfast, Ireland, where she first witnessed the power of community-based health. What started as a seed of curiosity grew into a life of service, helping first-time moms navigate pregnancy, birth, and everything that comes after.Together, MaryNissi and Rachel unpack what it really means to feel supported, not just medically, but emotionally and spiritually. They talk about the sacredness of early motherhood, the confidence that comes from being seen and educated, and how positive birth experiences can ripple out into every area of a woman’s life.There’s laughter, reflection, and a few honest moments about what postpartum really feels like the mix of joy, vulnerability, and discovery that comes with learning who you are as both a mother and a person.💭 What You’ll HearThe moment MaryNissi realized birth could be both powerful and peaceful.How nurse-led programs help parents trust their instincts and their bodies.Why education and compassion make such a difference in birth outcomes.The power of sharing positive birth stories — and how they can shift entire narratives.💬 Favorite Moments“If I can do that, if I can give birth and advocate for myself, I can do anything.” — MaryNissi“Trust yourself. Your body and instincts will lead you in the right direction.” — Rachel💚 Closing ThoughtEmpowerment in birth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from being informed, supported, and seen. And when that happens, new parents don’t just survive the journey… they thrive through it.The Full Doula Guide Bundle Serieshttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108Prenatal Foundations Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025Third Trimester Prep Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053Postpartum Wellness Guide + Templatehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Storehttps://admin.stan.store/stores/?tab=details
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Part 2: Redefining What a Positive Birth Looks Like - Nada's Story Continued
In this powerful continuation of Nada’s story, we enter the heart of her labor the moment where strength, surrender, advocacy, and faith all converge. What began as a routine progression became a sacred experience of grounding, prayer, and perseverance.Nada & Marynissi walk through the intimate, raw, and holy moments that defined Nada’s delivery from calling for a quiet room to pray, to navigating exhaustion, to finally holding her daughter for the first time.What unfolds is a story about trust in her body, her birth team, her faith, and the process itself.✨You'll Hear About:1. The Power of Pause As labor intensified, Neda asked for the room to clear, TWICE, so she, her husband James, and MaryNissi could pray and ground themselves. What happened next was described as a “holy moment,” a sacred stillness before life entered the room.💪 2. Advocacy in Action When fatigue hit and the possibility of a C-section was raised, her birth team advocated fiercely for her right to try a little longer. A patient doctor met her at eye level literally reminding everyone that compassion and respect can coexist with clinical care.👩🏽⚕️ 3. Overwhelmed Yet Supported At one point, twelve clinicians filled the delivery room — overwhelming, but also a sign of full support. For Nada, a Palestinian and Black woman, having every resource present was both humbling and affirming in a healthcare system where too often, women of color are left unseen.🌿 4. The Golden Hour Despite exhaustion, baby latched right away, a tender, instinctive moment that grounded Nada in her new role as a mother.❤️ 5. Healing, Intimacy, and Self-Advocacy Nada speaks vulnerably about postpartum healing the physical recovery, the emotions around intimacy, and the need for persistence when something doesn’t feel right. Her advice: keep speaking up.🧠 6. Mental Health and Postpartum Care With honesty and humor, Nada opens up about baby blues, anxiety, and the importance of having a therapist before birth building that relationship early so you’re supported when the hormones shift.🌸 7. Redefining a “Positive Birth” For Nada, a positive birth isn’t about perfection it’s about having resources, being seen, and being able to advocate for yourself. It’s about knowing your voice matters in every decision, big or small.The Full Doula Guide Bundle Serieshttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108Prenatal Foundations Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025Third Trimester Prep Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053Postpartum Wellness Guide + Templatehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Storehttps://admin.stan.store/stores/?tab=details
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Part 1: From Fear to Confidence: Nada’s Journey to a Positive Birth
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of The Positive Birth Corner, host MaryNissi sits down with Nada, a Black and Palestinian registered dietitian, wife, and mom who shares her deeply personal journey through pregnancy, preparation, and birth.Nada opens up about walking into motherhood with both professional insight and personal fear shaped by her public health background and awareness of maternal health disparities. What unfolds is a story of transformation: from anxiety about becoming a statistic to empowerment through knowledge, advocacy, and an incredible support team.Together, we reflect on the importance of preparation, partnership, and presence in creating a birth experience that honors both body and spirit. From late-night phone calls and peanut butter sandwiches in early labor to navigating hospital systems and embracing the power of the doula–OB partnership, this conversation captures the real, raw, and redemptive beauty of birth.This episode reminds us that a positive birth isn’t about perfection it’s about being seen, supported, and secure in your choices.✨You'll Hear about:What it’s like to prepare for birth while working in public healthHow Nada’s husband became an anchor through fear and uncertaintyThe emotional “gray area” after giving birthWhy having a doula changed everythingLaboring at home, hospital transitions, and learning to advocate for yourselfFinding peace, humor, and strength in unexpected momentsThe Full Doula Guide Bundle Serieshttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108Prenatal Foundations Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025Third Trimester Prep Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053Postpartum Wellness Guide + Templatehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Storehttps://admin.stan.store/stores/?tab=details
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From Induction Scare to Empowered Birth: Amanda’s Story
In this episode of Positive Birth Corner, MaryNissi sits down with Amanda to share her powerful journey of bringing her daughter, Aria, into the world. From navigating fears around induction and low fluid levels to finding strength through affirmations, prayer, and the support of her doula, Amanda’s story is a reminder that birth can be both unpredictable and beautiful.Amanda opens up about her pregnancy journey, the impact of a previous miscarriage, how she and her husband prepared mentally and physically, and the pivotal role her mom, husband, doula, and even her dogs, played in her experience. You’ll hear how she balanced planning with “going with the flow,” her decision around the epidural, and the surprising moment a leaking bathtub ceiling pushed her toward the hospital!If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to combine faith, flexibility, and intentional preparation in birth, this conversation is for you.✨ You’ll hear about:Amanda’s experience navigating pressure for induction and trusting her instinctsThe mental and emotional preparation she used (affirmations, prayer, mindset)How movement, walks, and even her dogs became part of labor prepBalancing birth preferences with the reality of the momentThe importance of support systems both personal and professional in shaping a positive birthThe Full Doula Guide Bundle Serieshttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536108Prenatal Foundations Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536025Third Trimester Prep Guidehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536053Postpartum Wellness Guide + Templatehttps://stan.store/lemonlifedoula/lemonlifedoula_store/page/3536076Main Store- Check Out All The Full Doula Storehttps://admin.stan.store/stores/?tab=details
This podcast is for you to feel inspired, informed, and encouraged. Our goal is simple but powerful: changing the narrative around birth one positive birth story at a time.Positive Birth Corner is a space where real stories that shift the spotlight from the negativity surrounding birth to conversation that highlight the power, resilience, and beauty that can exist in every birth! Through honest, empowering conversations with first-time parents and birth workers highlighting black and multicultural communities, we amplify birth stories that are often erased stories rooted in planning, informed choice, cultural connection, and joy.This is not a trauma podcast it’s a space for reclaiming power, celebrating resilience, and making birth visible in its fullness.Each week, we sit down with birthing people, partners, and professionals to share honest, uplifting accounts of birth experiences that highlight strength over fear, connection over chaos, and trust over trauma. These stories don’t ignore the challenges but they do offer a different lens, one that celebrates how people navigate those challenges with grace, support, and trust.Whether it’s a home birth, hospital delivery, cesarean, induction, or anything in between, Positive Birth Corner is here to remind you: birth is not one-size-fits-all, and a positive experience doesn’t mean a perfect one. It means feeling seen, heard, and supported. It means reclaiming your story.Pull up a chair, lean in, and listen to what good birthing experiences really sound like.
South Africa