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When I got the following message from Danielle Knapp, I was brought to tears knowing the affect that this podcast had had on her unexpected birth experience and knew I had to have her on the show!
Good afternoon, Bryn.
I just wanted to send you a note to let you know how impactful your podcast was for me!! I listened to your empowering birth stories almost everyday during my third trimester. I laughed and cried and clung to the hopes that I too would have an empowering birth. My first birth was in the hospital and it was 31 hours. An epidural in the last 3 hours after a goal of all natural. I felt defeated and ‘less than’ bc I couldn’t do it…. Well, I gave birth almost three weeks ago to my second daughter. My plan was a to have a peaceful water birth at the Austin Birthing Center. Baby had other plans. I ended up delivering her myself… in the car… on the highway, while my husband was speeding to try to get us to the birthing center on time. I didn’t even tell him bc I was afraid he would pull over or crash or I don’t even know. I just quietly pulled her up on the back bench of our expedition. I feel like the collective confidence I absorbed through all those women’s stories is why it happened the way it did. I was never fearful, and even in the most absurd circumstances, it was still a calm and peaceful experience for both me and my daughter. And best of all, I feel so empowered from the experience.
So thank you for doing what you do! I really am not sure how I would have handled a precipitous birth and highway delivery had I not had all those beautiful women on my mind!
Best,
Danielle
The Knapp’s welcomed their first daughter, Piper Clementine on January 20th, 2013. It was a grueling 31 hour labor. Looking for a different experience, Danielle planned to give birth at The Austin Area Birthing Center for baby girl number two. After a precipitous birth, Posey James was born in the car, northbound on Interstate 35 on the way to the birth center in Austin.
Danielle Knapp lives with her husband and two daughters in beautiful San Marcos, Texas. She is momma to Piper Clementine, Posey James, and one old brown dog. Danielle studied Human Development and Family Studies at Texas Tech and received a masters in Professional Counseling from Texas State University. She is currently home with the girls where they spend time stalking the neighborhood peacock, tending the garden, creating lots of useless crafts and basically just living and loving life.
Things may not have gone the way you planned but things definitely added up to one beautiful birth story. Love it, and congrats again!
Thank you, Patty!! <3
This episode was so great!!! I loved hearing how you owned every step of the way and had a beautiful birth despite the chaos 🙂
When you said at first it wasn’t empowering I thought the exact opposite. It was so empowering to hear how you trusted the process. Congrats!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It still doesn’t feel totally real. 🙂
I loved your story! Thanks for sharing. What was the ebook you were talking about?
Thank you!! It is an ebook that comes with the Gentle Birth App. The app has lots of info, visualizations/meditations, an e-book, chat space, and birth stories to read.
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Danielle, I listened to your episode the month before delivering in a new state that didn’t have a Birth Center like
I had previously used twice, which was causing me so much anxiety and stress. I was blown away at how much it spoke to me and it was the answer I had been waiting for. I listened to it everyday till I delivered as it really calmed me and put me at peace. Thank you for your honesty and candidness. All my love, Kimberly Hatch