Kim is an outspoken, fiery mother of three children. Her husky, confident voice immediately puts you at ease. You can tell within a few moments of speaking to her that she really has a lot of life experience that informs the incredible work she does as a doula. You may also know her online as Mama Three Birds. In this episode, she shares about how her childhood impacted her ability to provide support to birthing families. Starting with the birth of her brother, she has been fascinated by childbirth since she was a young child. We talk about nature versus nurture and how her role now as a birth doula is simply a part of who she is; it was not something she purposely sought out to do. Caregiving has always been her role.Kimberly explains in her own words what medical informed consent means and gives common scenarios of how she addresses it within a hospital setting. She says that often times a nurse will approach her client and say: “We are going to start you on medication now because you aren’t making the progress we want to see”. She will then turn to her client and reinterpret it in a way that empowers the birthing person by saying something like, “the doctor would like to give you medication. How do you feel about that?” The way in which her clients are spoken to by medical personnel is an opportunity for Kim to teach her clients that they are not just a patient but also a paying customer, which means they are entitled to (and should be demanding of) treatment that is dignified and respectful. Kim also shares that building an emotional connection with the nurses can create cohesion which allows the birthing person to feel harmony within the birth team and her environment.We also discuss social media and its implications on childbirth, how sometimes it creates unrealistic ideals around birth and motherhood. Our culture has become so results driven and yet there is this whole other experience; the journey of pregnancy and birth matter just as much as the end result. How someone feels held through the process can be just as meaningful as how the baby is born, whether it is cesarean, unmedicated or otherwise.Kim also shares about her involvement with the International Cesarean Awareness Network, which provides resources and support to birthing people who are hoping to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC). Kimberly Denitz-Zuleger is a mother, birth doula, miscarriage and loss doula and placenta encapsulator based in the Ojai/Ventura/Santa Barbara area. You can connect with her @mamathreebirds or by visiting her website.The photograph of Kim was taken on medium format film by Matt Bockal.As always thank you for being here and for supporting the MOTHERLANDS Podcast. Please like, review and share with anyone you think would enjoy this conversation.1:28 Kimberly’s childhood influences and journey to being a doula6:45 The mixture of nature and nurture in shaping identity, purpose, and career paths15:06 What informed consent looks like16:59 Self-advocacy and knowing your team is working for you17:47 Making a hospital birth your own19:13 Shifting from a result-oriented to an experience-oriented ideology25:56 Overlooked focuses within birth and post-partum28:37 Healing from hardships that otherwise would keep repeating themselves31:42 Kimberly’s work with ICAN: International Cesarean Awareness NetworkMotherlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Motherlands at keelysemler.substack.com/subscribe