In this powerful episode of The YAM Podcast, I sit down with Carly El Kassaby to explore two birth stories that unfold on opposite ends of the spectrum — one filled with surrender to chaos, the other rooted in healing, choice, and quiet strength.
Carly’s first birth took place in Montenegro, where she was met with language barriers, cultural gaps, and unexpected interventions — including a missed IV, a surprise enema, and a nurse calmly repeating “No problem” as her body pushed through contractions and confusion. It was a birth she didn’t feel she “did right,” and one that left her with lingering self-doubt.
Her second birth in the U.S. was a reclamation. With the support of a compassionate midwife who told her, “You can do it. You will do it. And then you’ll decide,” Carly stepped into a new story — one of empowerment, autonomy, and trust. She gave birth on her own terms and emerged with a renewed sense of strength she didn’t know she still had.
This episode is about more than birth — it’s about what happens when a woman returns to her own knowing after a moment that took it away.
In This Episode, We Explore:
🔹 What it’s like to give birth abroad when language and expectations don’t align
🔹 The emotional aftermath of birth trauma and how it shows up in later pregnancies
🔹 The importance of midwifery care rooted in validation and agency
🔹 Why so many women silently carry the belief they didn’t “do birth right”
🔹 The quiet power of reclaiming your birth story — even years later
🔹 The sacred reminder that you can do it — and that you’re allowed to define what that means
Carly shares with a mix of humor, honesty, and deep insight — offering every listener a moment to reflect on the stories we hold about our own strength, and how we can soften them into something truer.
🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube
📺 https://youtu.be/9C0QBQVyx_c
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & your favorite podcast platforms
Why This Conversation Matters
So many women birth in silence. Not just the physical act — but the emotional landscape that follows.
This conversation is a reminder that birth doesn’t have to be perfect to be sacred. And even if your first experience left you feeling powerless, there is always a path to come home to yourself — through the body, through presence, through voice.
Whether you’re preparing for birth, healing from one, or simply holding space for others — this episode will meet you where you are.
✨ Nahal is wearing earrings from @yamstudiox — because even in the mess, beauty belongs.
📌 Know someone who’s processing their own birth story? Share this episode with them.
📩 Got a topic or guest suggestion? Email us at yogiavecmoi@gmail.com
🔗 Follow:
📸 Instagram: @yogaavecmoi, @the_yampodcast
📘 Facebook: @yogiavecmoi, @theyampodcast
▶️ YouTube: Yoga Avec Moi (The YAM Podcast Playlist)
#YAMPodcast #GivingBirthLettingGo #CarlyElKassaby #BirthStory #HealingBirth #SpiritualMotherhood #ReclaimingBirth #WomenSupportingWomen #WombWisdom #BirthTraumaHealing #TheYAMPodcast #EarringsWithMeaning #yamstudiox #HonestMotherhood #EmpoweredBirth