Ep. 8 - A Planned Home Birth, Long Labor, and a Gentle Transfer with Meagan Johnson
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Encouragement for Expecting Mamas
Whether you’re planning a home birth, hoping for a natural hospital birth, or preparing for the unexpected, Meagan’s story will leave you feeling encouraged and grounded in the truth that birth is not just about the moment of delivery — it’s about the journey, the surrender, and the strength you carry with you long after.
🎧 Tune in to this episode of the Bare Birth Podcast wherever you listen, or click the link above to listen now!
Birth is one of the most beautifully unpredictable experiences in life.
We can prepare, plan, and envision the perfect birth scenario — but sometimes, the journey takes unexpected turns.
In this week’s episode of the Bare Birth Podcast, I had the joy of sitting down with Meagan Johnson, a home birth doula and birth photographer, who vulnerably shared her own experience of preparing for a home birth, walking through a long labor, and ultimately making the decision to transfer to the hospital peacefully and with confidence.
Meagan’s story is one of strength, surrender, and flexibility. As someone deeply immersed in the birth world, she approached her own birth with education, preparation, and trust in her body.
Throughout our conversation, Meagan emphasized the importance of trusting yourself while also holding birth plans loosely. Birth teaches us humility — that even with the best-laid plans and unwavering preparation, sometimes our bodies and babies have their own timelines and paths. And that’s okay.
Meagan shared how critical her birth team was in helping her make decisions from a place of calm rather than fear. Her midwife and doula offered support and wisdom every step of the way, allowing her to feel empowered in choosing to transfer, rather than feeling like she was giving up. That mindset shift — from disappointment to empowerment — is something every mother can carry with her into birth.
She also spoke about the spiritual preparation she did before labor, learning to release control and trust in the unknown. That work allowed her to remain grounded when things didn’t go as planned. Her peaceful hospital transfer became not a failure, but simply another part of her unique birth story.
In this episode, Meagan also reflects on postpartum — the healing process, the emotions that surface, and the grace required to process a birth that unfolded differently than expected. She encourages mothers to surround themselves with community, seek out support, and give themselves permission to feel it all.
Her story is a beautiful reminder that birth doesn’t need to follow a script to be empowering. It’s about listening to your body, leaning on your team, and making choices that honor both your instincts and your wellbeing.
Live in the Austin area?? Be sure to check out Meagan’s services as a birth photographer and doula! You can find the link to her Instagram and website under the show notes to the left!
