Holly and Jayme met when Jayme attended Holly’s Embryoga class during her 8th pregnancy. After having her baby, Jayme reflected back on the knowledge that Holly had taught her about bonding and connecting with your baby during pregnancy, and just knew that they needed to share her wisdom with the world. Several coffee shop meetings later, these 2 birth nerds launched their podcast called “The Mindful Birth, Peaceful Earth Podcast”
When I became pregnant with my first child my life changed forever. It was revealed to me like a lightning strike (seriously) that I needed to work with the miracle of birth. Since then (nursing degree and several specialty certifications later), I have advocated for policy and practice change in the hospital to support physiologic, peaceful birth. I research, propose, lecture, develop educational modules and present to leadership, doctors, nurses... whoever will listen to me! This is why I consider myself an activist.
The combination of my experience watching thousands of women give birth; noticing what worked and what didn't work so well, hours of research and study in physiologic birth; combined with my own mindfulness practice which has changed my life profoundly, has prompted me to develop something different for pregnant women and families. This journey has developed into a passion: researching the evidence and science behind the contemplative practices and how they support fetal growth, bonding, parenting and generally speaking a more peaceful world.
My love for all things birth began 23 years ago when I was pregnant with my 1st son. I was fascinated with the physiology of birth and read everything I could get my hands on during my pregnancy. I was so prepared for labor and delivery but no one explained to me how everything would change the minute they laid him in my arms. I was a mother! I was overcome with a love I had never experienced before. I went on to birth 7 more babies in 3 different countries. I have had home-births, hospital-births and water-births. My passion for birth has grown with each pregnancy. I am in awe of the beauty and strength women possess during this season of life. I feel so strongly that every woman sees themselves as beautiful and strong too, that is why I have chosen to be a Birth Photographer!
When I was pregnant with my first son, I was lucky enough to have a super cool woman teach my birth class. I was so fascinated with the information she shared with me. I will forever be grateful that as a young, pregnant 17 year old she encouraged me to not fear birth, but to embrace it and be empowered by it. I am so excited about this podcast because I think every woman deserves to know this truth. My hope is that we will walk together through this parenting journey, connecting and learning from each other and the knowledgeable guests we have planned.