From Terrified of Birth to Two Empowering Natural Births | Ep 19: Annaliese's Birth Story

What if you’re terrified of giving birth but desperately want a positive, empowering birth experience? In this episode of the Built to Birth Podcast, Bridget sits down with Annaliese to share her journey through pregnancy, miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, fear of childbirth, and two empowering, positive natural birth experiences. ✅ The Built To Birth Class - https://builttobirth.com/?el=podcast ✅ Free Mini Birth Class - https://www.builttobirth.com/free-mini-birth-class/?el=podcast ✅ Free Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide - https://www.builttobirth.com/week-by-week-pregnancy/?el=podcast 🌱 The Holistic Womanhood Course - https://holisticwomanhood.com/ 🩸 Free 'Heal Your Menstrual Cycle' Workshop - https://holisticwomanhood.com/period-register Before becoming a mom, Annaliese was afraid of pregnancy and birth. After an unexpected pregnancy ended in miscarriage, becoming pregnant again brought both excitement and anxiety. She began intentionally preparing for birth through education, positive birth stories, breathing techniques, and learning how to trust her body. That preparation ultimately led to an unmedicated birth center birth with her first baby—and an experience that completely changed the way she viewed childbirth. During her next pregnancy, however, a new fear emerged: an overwhelming anxiety that something would happen to her baby during birth. Annaliese shares how she navigated those fears through prayer, positive affirmations, birth education, and intentionally filling her mind with encouraging birth stories. Her second labor then unfolded incredibly quickly, leading to a fast water birth at a birth center and an intense first few moments after her baby was born. Annaliese and Bridget talk honestly about pregnancy anxiety, pregnancy after miscarriage, overcoming fear of birth, natural childbirth, unmedicated labor, water birth, birth center birth, breathing techniques for labor, doulas, midwifery care, partner support, and preparing mentally for childbirth. If you’re pregnant and feeling scared or overwhelmed by birth, Annaliese’s story is a beautiful reminder of how much can change when fear is met with education, preparation, support, and trust. In this episode: Overcoming fear of pregnancy and childbirth Pregnancy after miscarriage and navigating anxiety Preparing for a positive birth experience Breathing techniques for labor Annaliese’s first unmedicated birth center birth Giving birth in an upright position Preparing for a second natural birth Her incredibly fast second labor Her birth center water birth When her baby needed help immediately after birth How her midwives responded The role of a doula and supportive husband Why positive birth stories can matter during pregnancy Using birth education to replace fear with confidence