Little Wife in the Woods

Soft and Simple Sourdough Dinner Rolls Recipe

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These sourdough dinner rolls are so soft and fluffy! Their buttery texture will melt in your mouth and satisfy every taste bud. They pair perfectly with a good from-scratch dinner!

Dinner Roll Goals

I have been trying to master the dinner roll since I was a teenager! I’ve been close but never as close as these. I’ve made some good rolls but they always lacked.

I think it’s because my expectations were all set off of one roll- the Queen of the Southern Dinner Table. If you know you know!! Sister Schubert dinner rolls are the top five of the must haves for every southern dinner party, thanksgiving dinner, and church supper.

When I think of a good dinner roll my mind immediately goes there. I remember always fighting for the last one at super. There was just something addictive about those rolls!

If you are shopping the grocery aisles today, you also know that a bag of ten rolls now costs around $5. Worth it? Probably! However, the ingredients are what concerned me most. Some not-so great things including soybean oil, sugar, and other nasty things somehow got packed into the best tasting rolls on the shelf.

For a family trying to limit usage of processed foods and non-real food ingredients I couldn’t overlook this. I also decided that if we are going to eat the carbs anyways they might as well be sourdough! (Since that’s healthy, right!?)

Needless to say, these sourdough dinner rolls have turned out the closest I’ve ever gotten to Sister Schubert and I’m so excited to share!

Sourdough Dinner Rolls vs Yeast Dinner Rolls

So what’s the difference? Taste wise, I feel like they are pretty close (let me know in the comments after you try the recipe!). The biggest difference is in time and healthiness.

• Time

The time factor is a big deal. Yeast is of course faster in most cases with slower rise time and no fermentation process. I began these sourdough dinner rolls around 9am and they were ready by dinner time around 6pm.

This might seem like forever but the amount of time they actually consume is fairly small. The majority is rise time and fermentation. They can easily be walked away from which makes the process more convenient.

• Healthiness

Sourdough is always the better option when it comes to sourdough vs yeast. The fermentation process of sourdough helps to break down the glutens in what you are baking. This makes it easier to digest, especially for those with a gluten sensitivity.

Starter is also packed full of probiotics. This is better for gut as it encourages the growth of healthy bacteria and helps maintain balance in the microbiome.

Ingredients

These rolls are made with simple ingredients! My favorite place to source natural ingredients I can trust is Thrive Market. Thrive is my one stop grocery stop for quality, organic products for my pantry and beyond at affordable prices!

Click here to get $60 in FREE groceries when you use my link!

Sourdough starter. You will want an active (recently fed and at peak rise), bubbly starter for best results. Less active (not peak rise but recently fed) starter can be used with similar results.

Water. Warm water is best!

Butter. You will need one stick (1/2 cup) melted butter for making your sourdough dinner rolls and a bit more to top them- measure with your heart. Use salted for best results or a 1/2 tsp extra in rolls.

Baking powder. This makes your rolls soft and fluffy.

Honey. Honey or other sweetener gives these dinner rolls a slightly sweet taste. To make them sweeter (like a Hawaiian roll) add more honey or whatever sweetener you prefer.

Salt. As main ingredient and a little to sprinkle on top.

All-purpose flour. As always, I prefer unbleached all-purpose flour.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Simple-Sourdough-Ad-1024x366.png

Want to learn all about my simple, tried and true method of making and maintaining my sourdough starter? Go grab my downloadable mini e-book full of all my tips and tricks for beginners! Check out my other sourdough essentials while you are at it! Use code SOURDOUGH10 at checkout for 10% off.
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Tips

These rolls are probably among the most simple sourdough recipes here on the blog! There are not many tricks or techniques you need to know. They are basically fool proof! However, here are just few things that might help you make the best sourdough dinner rolls on your first try…

Dough Texture. The dough texture should be pretty thick and not very sticky (some stick is okay). You are looking for a step below a play dough like texture. It is okay for your dough to look a bit “rough” or not smooth during the fermentation process.

Temperature. The amount of time it takes for a good rise all depends on temperature. If you find that things are taking a very long time to rise, you live in a cooler climate, or you keep your home temp pretty low try heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Turn the oven off and give it around 10 minutes to cool down a bit. Place your pan of rolls in the oven to rise. Another idea would be to place your rolls on the warm stovetop while your oven is heated to 350.

Shaping the rolls. You don’t want to overwork the dough during the shaping process. For this reason I did not stress about uniformity or design. I simply cut them and added them to the pan, helping the ones that needed a bit of shape. If you are wanting more uniformity I recommend using the 1/3 fold system to shape as this does not overwork them as much.

*1/3 fold system: simply lay the dough flat and fold into 1/3rds and into 1/3rds again.

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Sourdough Dinner Rolls

A delicious, buttery roll that melts in your mouth! This dinner roll is easy to make and so good to eat. Start in the morning and have them ready by dinner time!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 9 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 9 hours 28 minutes
Course Appetizer, bread, dinner, Side Dish
Servings 16 rolls

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sourdough starter active and bubbly for best results
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1 stick melted butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 ½ tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

  • Mix starter, water, butter, honey, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl or bowl of stand mixer.
  • Add two cups of flour then add 1/4 cup of flour at a time until dough is soft and pliable. Some stickiness is okay. You are looking for a play dough like texture just a bit stickier. Shagginess or roughness is completely fine, just not overly sticky.
  • Allow dough to ferment on the countertop or in the refrigerator for about six hours.
  • Place dough on a floured countertop and shape into a ball. Using a butterknife or a dough cutter cut dough ball into ½ slices then into ¼. Cut the ¼ pieces in ½ down the middle. This should give you 16 rolls all together.
  • Place rolls into a greased 9×13 pan. Cover and allow to rise for about 2-3 hours or until doubled in size.
  • Bake at 350℉ for about 18-20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
  • While still warm top rolls generously with butter and sprinkle with salt.
Keyword dinner roll, easy sourdough recipe, sourdough, sourdough dinner roll, sourdough rolls
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How to Make Sourdough Egg Noodles From Scratch

*This post contains affiliate links.

These sourdough egg noodles are simple and quick to make from scratch! They can be used right away or dried to use later as needed. Roll them out thinner for a chewy noodle perfect for adding to soups and broths or make them thicker for a delicious dumpling like texture!

Simple: No Noodle Making Experience Required

These sourdough egg noodles require almost zero skill- which makes them perfect for the beginner from-scratch cook! You can make them any shape, or size you prefer. Very little technique is required! Here are just a few things to know before getting started…

  • You want a nice, thick dough that is easy to work with and not super sticky but that is sticky enough to roll easily. This might sound complicated but you will learn what I am talking about the more you make these sourdough egg noodles. Do not be concerned if you do not achieve the proper texture on your first try! Even if it is not quite right as long as you are able to roll the dough out they will taste just fine. You could say they are almost fail proof!
  • Dough thinness matters. For a more noodley texture and look you will want to roll the dough as thin as you can possibly get it. This may require lots of flour on the rolling surface and the dough pin to keep things from sticking too much. Thinness matters especially if you are wanting to store extra noodles for later! They dry best when they are thin and may take a very long time to dry if they are not thin enough. If you find that they are too thin to work with and they begin to fall apart then they are too thin.

Want to make your own sourdough starter from scratch? Click to learn how!

Fermenting Sourdough Egg Noodles

One reason sourdough is always a healthier, better option is due to the fermentation process that most sourdough recipes require. The benefits of fermentation for your gut health are numerous! Some people who have a gluten intolerance or experience sensitivity may find that they can enjoy sourdough recipes even when they contain gluten. This is because the fermentation process in sourdough helps to “break-down” the gluten more than in traditional or yeast products.

Sourdough egg noodles do not require the fermentation step when making them for a quick, from-scratch dinner. Even unfermented from scratch food is always healthier than store-bought and processed ingredients! However, if you do have issues processing gluten, have stomach issues, or are diabetic I would highly recommend adding this step.

How to Add the Fermenting Step

  • Adding the fermenting step is easy, it just adds more time- 8-12 hours to be exact.
  • The best time do add the fermentation step is right after the dough has been mixed and shaped into a ball.
  • Place the covered dough in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
  • For timing purposes the best time to do this is right after making the dough in first thing in the morning (if you want them by dinner time) or right before bed so the noodle dough can ferment while you sleep.

Drying Sourdough Egg Noodles

Doubling this recipe will make you enough noodles to have store what you do not use for another meal! Drying these noodles is easy and fun! You can also improvise if you do not own a noodle drying wrack (I don’t!). Here’s how to dry your noodles…

  1. Follow the recipe instructions for rolling, shaping, and cutting the noodle dough. If you are planning to dry the noodles keep in mind you will want your the dough to be fairly thin so that is can dry all the way in through.
  2. Place cut noodles over a cutting board or sheet pan. Line with parchment to prevent sticking and extra mess.
  3. Allow to dry about 24 hours (or until fully dried; test by snapping in half) then store in a ziplock bag, mason jar, or other dry container.
  4. Keep in a cool, dry place and use as needed up to six months.

Looking for more from scratch recipes? Check out my list of 15 Favorite Real Food Dinner Recipes you can make quickly and easily!

Ingredients

The ingredients used in making these egg noodles are very simple! If you are new here, we prefer using only natural, real food ingredients in as many recipes we possibly can. This means having a great source for all your ingredients. We found this source over at Thrive Market! Our family has been using Thrive products for nearly three years now and we love their only organic, affordable products.

Thrive offers hundreds of organic brands with real food ingredients WITHOUT the junk! A membership starts at only $5/month and the savings is well worth it. You can use my link to get free gift up to $60! The best part- shipping is always free on orders of $49+ and there is never an order minimum. Get ingredients for sourdough egg noodles and other from-scratch recipes from Thrive Market!

Ingredients for Sourdough Egg Noodles

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup starter (active or discard)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Sourdough Egg Noodles

A quick and easy sourdough egg noodle recipe for soups and broths. Make these noodles from scratch in less than fifteen minutes and add to your from-scratch dinner for a delicious real food experience! Double this recipe for a large batch of noodles to dry and use on the go!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Course dinner, Main Course, Soup
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup sourdough starter
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2-2½ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

  • Add all the ingredients to a large bowl or bowl of your stand mixer. Add flour ½ cup at a time until the dough is firm but pliable for rolling out.
  • Roll dough out on to a well-floured surface into a large rectangular shape. For thinner, flatter noodles roll dough out to about 1/8th an inch or less- SEE NOTE ONE for tips about thinness. Noodles that are not very thin will be more like dumplings after they have cooked. (They still taste great!)
  • Using a pizza cutter, cut into long thin strips.
  • To cook right away: Boil noodles in soup or boiling water about 8-10 minutes.
    To dry: Place noodles on drying wrack (or a flat surface) for about 24 hours or until noodles pass the snap test. SEE NOTE TWO.

Notes

NOTE ONE: If you want thin noodles to enjoy now or you are drying them for use later make sure they are rolled out as thin as possible but they should not be so thin that you are unable to transfer or pick up without them breaking. If they fall apart easily you have rolled the dough too thin and may need to start the rolling out process over again. 
NOTE TWO: The snap test is as easy as it sounds. Simply snap the noodle in half and if it is completely dry all the way through you are good to go! 
STORING DRY NOODLES: After the noodles have passed the snap test and are completely dry, store them in a plastic bag, mason jar, or air-tight container for up to six months in a cool, dry place or up to one year in the freezer. 
COOKING WITH DRY NOODLES: Cook dry noodles in boiling water or add to boiling soup for 10-13 minutes or until noodles are completely soft in the center. 
Keyword chicken noodle soup from scratch, easy noodles, egg noodles, noodle recipe, noodles from scratch, quick noodles, sourdough egg noodles, sourdough noodles

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The Pros and Cons of Home Birth: Everything You Need to Know Before You Decide

Disclaimer: This is not a medical blog nor is it written by someone with medical expertise. This is simply the pros and cons of home birth from my experience having had a home birth with my second child. Please consider all the risks/benefits of a home birth with your own situation in mind before deciding to birth at home.

Is a Home Birth Right for You?

How do you know if you should have a home birth? It is the trendy thing to do these days but is what is best for you and your baby?

I’m here to answer this question as a mom who peacefully birthed my second baby at home. I have had both experiences in a short amount of time (fourteen months between births) so I feel that I can offer a wide range perspective. Here is my take on the topic…

1. Consider the health of mother and baby during pregnancy.

A healthy pregnancy does not guarantee a perfect labor/delivery but it may help you decide if a home birth is right for you. If things are off with your health or baby’s health as your pregnancy progresses you definitely need to weigh the risks and benefits of a home birth more closely. There are certain health issues that would have seriously affected my decision to birth at home.

  • Birth defects of baby involving organs or limbs.
  • History of major complications during natural birth or postpartum on mother’s side of the family or a previous birth of my own.
  • History of serious illness/defects at birth or infant death during birth on either side of our families.
  • Severe preeclampsia during pregnancy.
  • History of premature labor with other pregnancies. (You cannot legally give birth at home until 36 weeks gestation in most states.)
  • Previous severely underweight or severely overweight babies.
  • Other issues specific to each pregnancy.

2. A safe distance from hospital.

In most cases, if you have a great midwife who monitors carefully and doesn’t take risks, the probability of needing an emergency transfer is very low. However, birth is wild! Anything can happen. This means you should be prepared for anything and everything.

A part of preparation is knowing the fastest route to the nearest hospital. Peace of mind comes with knowing you and your baby are close to emergency care if necessary. I do not know what is considered a “safe” distance. Most of us probably have different views on this. I can say, we are 20 minutes from the nearest hospital and that felt safe to me.

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3. Previous natural labor and delivery.

Some states allow midwives to administer medication during labor. However, it is wise to know for sure that you can deal with the mental and physical pressure of having a baby naturally. This is not to say that if you are home birthing your first baby you reconsider! You can definitely do this!!

Personally, I think it would be very embarrassing to plan a home birth, then have to bail on labor day because I could not manage the pain of childbirth.

If this is your first birth and you desire to do it naturally at home or the hospital the key is preparation! Spend time preparing your mind and body. Learn the techniques of managing your thoughts and the discomfort of birth before hand.

4. You have a strong support system.

A strong support system is great for any birth situation! Home birth especially requires a network of people you live and trust. Most hospital stays for a healthy mother and baby last 24-36 hours. This means someone is a push of a button away at all times to get you water, help you to the bathroom, hold the baby, or whatever else you might need.

Home birth does not come with this package, unless you can convince your midwife or a doula to come live with you for a few days! You will want to have help that you can trust with things like meals, babysitting other children, cleaning, and more for the first few days after birth. I highly recommend the entire week after (for home or hospital birth) if you can manage that.

This might feel odd if you are not used to asking for help. (I for sure haven’t mastered it!). But the truth is in many cases, people want to help you. Let them be there for you!

Pros of Home Birth

1. 24/7 Access to Your Midwife.

Midwife or best friend? She’s honestly all the things! The person you can ask anything to. World class problem solver. Emotional support. Wealth of wisdom and knowledge on all things pregnancy, baby, and postpartum! One of the biggest pros of having a home birth is having a midwife on call 24/7.

Our midwife came to the rescue so many times during my pregnancy with quick answers to medical questions. She actually came to my house one day to check my vitals- just simply for my peace of mind! My midwife also only did home visits for prenatal appointments and I cannot tell you what that meant to me as a mother of a fresh one year old who could barely walk!

2. Comfort.

There is nowhere more comfortable to have a baby than in your own home. I would never recommend choosing your own comfort over the health and safety of your baby. However, if you are a healthy woman and there is no reason to suspect any complications with birth or baby- you will never be more comfortable or at peace than when you are laboring and birthing at home.

  • The ability to move freely without monitors or IVs.
  • The comfort of your own bed.
  • No interruptions from nurses, doctors, or staff during labor or postpartum.
  • No time apart from baby.
  • Let’s not even talk about them random noises of a hospital room- the beeps, talking, and humming sounds are enough to make you go insane!

3. Cost

Maybe a weird reason to have a baby at home but in many cases it is cheaper to have a baby at home than the cost of having your baby in the hospital with insurance! Total cost for our home birth was $4,500. This included all my prenatal visits, the delivery, a midwife, a student midwife, several postpartum visits, and lactation support. My delivery at the hospital with insurance coverage was more than the cost of the home birth. This is not including all my prenatal visits, ultrasounds, etc.

The cost combined with the benefits of being more comfortable, safer, and the other benefits was enough to sell us on home birth!

4. Safer.

This one is controversial so let me clarify.

  • Based on several studies home births are less likely to require interventions such as pain medication, forceps, vacuums, and emergency c-sections making a home birth safer for a healthy or “normal” birth.
  • Based on several studies home births are safer and pose less risks for infection of mother and baby than a hospital birth.
  • Based on several studies the likelihood of a safe natural, unmedicated delivery of a healthy baby at home is higher than the chances of having an unmedicated, birth with no interventions in the hospital.

In other words, for a healthy mother giving birth to a healthy baby with a qualified midwife a home birth is statistically safer than a hospital birth.

The research is yours to do but it’s all there! Risks/probability and benefits all must be considered for your specific situation.

5. No system to work through.

Aside from the matter of safety and less interventions in a home birth, the system of the hospital birth scene is atrocious. Government officials who know little or nothing medically speaking are making calls for the whole system. Politicians who make the rules are lining their pockets from pushing medications, procedures, and practices that are unnecessary for the birth of a baby.

When you birth your baby at home you are the sole decision maker without push-back and confrontations from the professionals. Whether you have confidence in the system or not is completely up to you. However, we all deserve the right to choose what we believe is best for our children without confrontation or guilt.

This was a big step in choosing home birth. I will not debate my stance on things like vaccinations, certain medications, and interventions in pregnancy and beyond. That is a whole other post! However, I did not appreciate having to even discuss my decisions with the professionals at every turn. No woman in labor should feel the need to argue or justify her decision with doctors. She should not feel untrusting that her wishes/desires would be granted or that someone would do something behind her back she feels is unsafe for her child.

6. Immediate connection of the family unit.

Many hospitals do well at trying to unit the family as soon as possible but there is nothing like a mother being immediately connected with her baby uninterrupted! Or siblings getting to meet their baby minutes after birth. Home birth even offers father’s the ability to deliver or catch their children with the assistance of a midwife if needed.

7. No unnecessary adjustments.

The adjustment of going from the hospital then back home is so much on a mother and baby. All the constant noise of the hospital, the lack of rest, and the assistance from others does not help a family adjust as well as a home birth.

Read all about my hospital birth in this post!

When baby is born at home they are able to snuggle right into their own bed, be constantly close to their own people, and more quickly adjust to breastfeeding. The mother is gets more rest without being interrupted, and has more time to connect with her baby. The family has more time to adjust to things without the prolonged process of the hospital stay.

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Cons of Home Birth

1. No immediate access to emergency care.

Having a home birth means no immediate access to emergency care beyond what a midwife is trained to perform. Most midwives are equipped with the same basic knowledge as an OB-GYN and nurses. They carry oxygen for mom and baby, are equipped to handle minor hemorrhaging, and can at least help get you to help quickly if there is a problem. However, they do not have all the access to life saving equipment that hospitals/NICUs have. If you are considering a hospital birth the same is true of a hospital without a NICU and pediatric staff.

There is risk involved in every birth. Knowing the risks/probability of an emergency arising is critical in a home birth. Having a midwife with a wide range of experience and knowledge is key!

2. Chance of an unassisted birth.

The chances of a medically unassisted birth is higher in the case of home birth due to a midwife being too late or hindered from being there by traffic, road blockages, etc. For instance my midwife arrived just 45 minutes before our baby was born and may have missed it altogether had our baby not been breech. This did not bother me, in fact, I preferred to be uninterrupted I until absolutely necessary. I thought her timing was perfect!

Preparing for what you might need to do in case of an unassisted birth is a great idea just in case the need for the knowledge arises. Be sure your husband is also aware of the possibility and prepared to assist you.

The good thing about a planned home birth is that you will have access to a midwife via phone even in the case of her being delayed. She can calmly walk dad or you through exactly what you need to do. If she is unavailable 911 can assist you.

3. Postpartum Care is on Dad.

One thing that can be a little tricky about having a home birth is that dad has a lot of weight on him. It can kind of make you feel like a burden asking for more this or that, especially when you have another child he is looking after as well. The biggest key to this is communication. Voice when you feel like a burden and make sure he is comfortable to voice when he needs a break. Prepping things like a snack basket, a postpartum care kit with all the things you will need after a baby, and a basket of baby items close by will keep dad from having to run around grabbing things for you all day. Make sure he is familiar with where things are before hand as well so that you do not have to explain where everything is at.

Another way to lesser the job for dad is to have a good stash of freezer dinners and easy meals. Lean on your support system for other things like child care, food, and cleaning. By the end of a long day of home birth dad will likely be just as exhausted as you are so make sure you both have a plan for getting rest after.

4. The temptation to overdo.

The temptation to overdo it right after you give birth is stronger in my experience. After a natural, relaxed home birth you honestly feel like you could conquer the world! The adrenaline is pumping and the urge to do all the things you did not get done before baby starts to creep up. Having a plan (and sticking to it) for postpartum recovery is essential! This looks different for everyone- you know your body best. Just remember to relax and recover. The dishes can wait and the baby snuggles are worth a messy house for a bit.

5. Traumatic birth.

This is one is rare, however it did cross my mind when deciding on a home birth. What if something went wrong. In the small chance that things became very traumatic or worse you have to come back at the end of the day and live in the house where it “all went wrong”. That thought is a bit overwhelming and you really do have to consider the possibility or something going wrong in any birth situation- home or hospital. The way I overcame this was realizing that the possibility was very small (based on all we knew about my health, baby’s health, and having a midwife who does not take risks) and that no matter what happened there would be grace to make it through whatever we faced in labor and beyond.

Have you had a home birth? Are you considering it? We hope this article helps you make the best decision for your family. Leave a comment below and share your experience or drop a question. We love hearing from you!

Check out more of our blog posts on natural birth, motherhood, real food, and natural living!

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How to Make All-Natural Scent Booster for Laundry

Does your laundry need a scent boost? Using an unscented or homemade detergent can leave laundry lacking in the scent department. Sometimes you just want to dry off with a nice smelling towel or snuggle into bed under sheets that smell like lavender. Learn all about how to make an all natural, toxin free scent booster that will have your laundry smelling great without all the chemicals!

Why Homemade Laundry Detergent Lacks Smell

If you are new to the homemade or clean brand laundry detergent you may be wondering, why does my laundry smell like nothing. It is not that homemade detergents smell bad. They may even have a great scent when you first smell but often that smell does not transfer to the clothing, towels, and linens quite as strongly. Why is this?

The ingredients.

Simply put, the ingredients that make towel smell great for weeks after washing is due to the chemical make up of the big commercial laundry detergents. The way the chemicals break down in the washing process leaves the residue that not only smells great but also is able to seep into the skin. These chemicals may seem harmless but when you dig into what they really are they can cause hormone disruption, eczema, and some are even carcinogens (cancer causing). We all love a good smelling shirt but not at the cost of our health and the health of our family.

The truth is you do not have to compromise great smelling laundry for unhealthy ingredients. They just are not the same and you have to adjust your mindset. Once you are no longer expecting your homemade detergent to smell exactly like the commercial detergent you have used and loved for years you will grow to love the clean, natural scent of detergent that does absolutely no harm to your body!

If you are looking for an extremely inexpensive, simple to make laundry detergent recipe go check out our recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent.

Scent Booster Ingredients

A great scent booster only requires three ingredients. First, you need a dissolvent. Something that will absorb the scent you desire will also dissolving in the washing machine so that the laundry is not damaged or marked at all in the process. I find that baking soda works great for an absorbing dissolvent. Thrive Market is a great place to purchase baking soda and all your laundry making essentials at great prices! All of their products are certified organic so you can ensure you are making your homemade cleaners, detergents, and scent booster with quality ingredients. Click here to get 25% off and a free gift when you use my link!

Next you will need an agitative ingredient. Something that will gently but firmly rub the scent into the clothing to make the smell last longer and be more effective. It also needs to be dissolvable so it does not show or leave residue. I found that epsom salt works incredibly for gently agitating while still dissolving. Unscented bath salt and Himalayan pink salt are also great options. You can purchase organic epsom or bath salts from Thrive Market as well!

Lastly, you will need an ingredient with a scent. My favorite way to scent things is with all natural essential oils. Some smells we love in our home are lavender, anything citrus, and the natural herbal blends from Earthley Wellness like Spring Blossom and Woods!

The essential oil debate is real! Are they safe? Are they unsafe? The research is yours to do, however, I am of the persuasion that oils are completely safe IF purchased through a company that is trustworthy or if they are homemade. I completely trust Earthley Wellness when it comes to non-toxic, chemical free (in the oils and the oil making process!!) essential oils that I use to scent my laundry and cleaning supplies. They can also be trusted when it comes to herbal oils to be used medicinally! If you are looking for a company you can trust go check out Earthley! They have hundreds of herbal cleaning supplies, personal care items, and medicinal tinctures for everything from teething to hormone balancing. Use my link (here!) and code LITTLEWIFE10 to get 10% off your first order!

How to Make Scent Booster

Making scent booster for your laundry is so easy! It only takes just a few minutes of your time and not much energy. Simply gather all your ingredients: baking soda, epsom salt, and essential oil. You will also need a glass jar with a lid to store your scent booster.

The recipe box farther down this post has all the actual measurements you will need to make one batch. However you can use any variation of equal parts baking soda/epsom salt and around 15-20 drops of oil per cup of soda/salt.

Place your salt and soda in the glass jar, add essential oil drops. Stir with a fork and allow to sit about five-ten minutes then stir once more. This ensures that the oils are being absorbed completely by the salt and baking soda.

Place the lid on the jar and your scent booster is ready for use!

How to Use Scent Booster

Using scent booster in your laundry is just about as easy as making it! All you need is about one to two tablespoons per load of laundry. Simply throw in the desired amount and you are good to go! I prefer to use less, around one tablespoon for clothing, and more, between two to three tablespoons for linens and bath towels.

Questions about Scent Booster

Will the essential oils stain my clothing?

I only have experience with Earthley Wellness essential oils but I have not have any issues with the oils staining or marking my clothes. The way the baking soda absorbs the oils helps it to evenly distribute and dissolve in the washing machine. If you are using a less trustworthy brand or are unsure of the brand you are using I would recommend doing a test wash with some dispensable items first.

Scent Booster for Laundry

An all-natural, chemical free scent booster for laundry.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 2 cups epsom salt
  • 30-40 drops all-natural essential oil

Instructions
 

  • 1. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar.
  • 2. Stir with a fork and allow to sit for about 10 minutes.
  • 3. Stir once more. Place lid on and use 1-3 tbsp per load as needed.
Keyword all natural cleaning, homemade cleaning, homemade laundry detergent, homemade laundry supplies, laundry, laundry detergent, natural cleaning, scent booster
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The Best Easy All-Purpose Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe

This all-purpose sourdough pie crust recipe is easy and delicious! Enjoy this soft, buttery crust with anything that calls itself pie.

Why Sourdough Pie Crust?

You may be wondering, why sourdough? For one, you could just buy a pie crust from the store for fairly cheap. It wouldn’t take nearly as long!

Or maybe you do want scratch-made crust but you’re still wondering, why sourdough?

First of all, it’s a really great, easy way to use your discard. This recipe can be made with active starter or discard, making it perfect for when you just need to get rid of some starter. Not to mention it’s delicious!

Another reason to use sourdough starter in your pie crust is the health benefit factor. All the probiotics in the starter instantly makes sourdough pie crust a much better option than store-bought or even other from-scratch recipes!

Don’t have a sourdough starter? Go grab a Little Wife in the Woods starter over in our Etsy shop! Or learn how to make your own starter from scratch in this post.

Ways to Use Sourdough Pie Crust

Sourdough pie crust can be use for just about anything that calls itself pie. You can adjust this recipe for any of them by adding or subtracting honey. For fruit pies/dessert pies add a bit more to make the crust sweeter. If you are making a savory meal, use less honey in your crust.

My favorite crusty foods…

  • Sugar free apple pie
  • Chicken pot pie
  • Meat pie
  • Peach pie
  • Chocolate pie
  • Caramel pie
  • Thin crust pizza

Ingredients You Need to Make Sourdough Crust

One of my favorite things about this recipe is the simplicity of the ingredients. It only takes six ingredients to make this perfect little pie crust. The best part- you probably already have them in your kitchen! You will need…

  • Sourdough starter
  • Water
  • Honey/sugar
  • Salt
  • All-purpose flour
  • 1 stick or 1/2 cup of butter

Flour. I prefer to use unbleached all-purpose flour. Being a more naturally minded person I dislike the idea of there being chemicals in my baked goods. For this reason I use unbleached flour by King Arthur.

Butter. I personally only use salted butter in just about all my recipes. I know some people prefer to use unsalted for any baked goods. However, I like food with lots of flavor so I use salted butter and salt in my recipes.

Tips

Laminating. Lamination is a necessary step if you want a nice, flakey crust. It sounds complicated but it’s very simple! Follow these steps for success…

1. Make your dough according to the recipe below and allow to chill.

2. Grate 1 stick chilled (or fresh from the refrigerator) butter.

3. Half the dough and roll out to about 1/8-1/4 in flat with a rolling pin.

4. Add 1/4 of grated butter to surface of rolled out dough then fold in half.

5. Add another 1/4 of the grated butter to the surface of the 1/2 folded dough, then fold into 1/4ths.

6. Now roll the dough out flat again.

This created flakey, buttery dough for pie crusts, pastries, and croissants.

Refrigeration. Working with cold dough and cold butter is key!! This will give your crust that extra flakiness. The refrigeration step is not essential, meaning you will have a good tasting crust if you need to skip the chilling process. However, best results are achieved when you are able to allow the crust to chill.

Sourdough Pie Crust

A soft, chewy, buttery pie crust made with sourdough starter. It is an all-purpose crust used for fruit pies, meat pies, and even thin crust pizza.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Dessert, Pizza
Servings 2 crusts

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup starter
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 stick butter grated

Instructions
 

  • Dissolve starter in warm water for about 5 minutes then stir.
  • Add honey, salt, and flour. The dough should be nice and thick- just a little bit sticky but not overly much.
  • Shape dough into a ball. Chill in the freezer about 30-45 minutes. The dough should be very cold but not frozen.
  • Grate a stick of cold butter.
  • After chilling, half the ball of dough into two equal portions. This will give you a top and bottom crust.
  • Laminate the dough. (See the section of this post on laminating for more detailed instructions.) Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/8-1/4 thickness. Add butter to the surface of the dough then fold in half. Add more butter then fold in fourths. Now roll dough back out to 1/8-1/4 thickness. This will created layers in your crust.
  • Use the dough immediately or chill in the refrigerator in a sealed container to use when needed (or up to three days).

Notes

*Be sure to poke a few holes in your pie crust to make sure the air does not cause it to bubble up in odd places. 
*You can also egg wash the top using an egg yolk and a bit of water. This will give it more of a clean, professional look. 
Keyword dessert recipe, pie, pie crust, sourdough dessert, sourdough pie crust
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5 Reasons to Consider Natural Birth

Disclaimer: Our purpose in this natural childbirth series is never to shame a mother who chose something different. We desire to educate mothers so that they can make informed decisions. There are so many things mothers do not get told before consent in the medical world, and also just because of the culture around childbirth. We want to support and provide a resource for those desiring a less medicalized experience. If you made that choice previously or unplanned interventions end up happening during your birth, it does not make you less of a mother. Our desire is never to look at another mother doing her best in judgment. We’re all in this together, learning and growing in this crazy, bumpy, wonderful motherhood journey.

What is a Natural Birth

There are so many opinions swirling around out there about natural birth. Many people view a natural birth as simply a vaginal birth, or non c-section. Some people would say that it is a birth without an epidural but other “more natural” options are acceptable.

Around here when referring to a natural birth here’s what we mean…

A natural birth is a vaginal delivery of a baby without the use of pain medications (like an epidural) and minimal to no interventions. It is allowing nature to take its course as much as possible. Natural birth van take place at home, in a hospital, or at a birthing center.

Our main passions for natural childbirth is birth without conventional pain medications, minimal interventions, and a mother truly tuning into her body as it works with her to birth her baby. It truly is a miraculous experience that only those who have had the honor of knowing it can understand.

** It is empowering and is the beginning of releasing the strength, intuition, and confidence you will need throughout your mothering journey. **

Anna Bourdess

Click here to read Anna’s natural hospital birth story!

1. Birth is not an Illness.

Baseline…sick people need medication. Birth is not a sickness, disease, or even a symptom that needs treatment. Birth is a natural, normal part of life.

Now, if you have a pre-existing condition or some other medical reasoning that arises to NEED medication, intervention, or assistance then please use it! That is what it is there for. There is a place for it and we are beyond thankful that we have these options in these times.

However, if you are a healthy person, giving birth to an otherwise known healthy baby- you do not need to treat birth as an illness that requires medication.

Birth is not an illness requiring treatment or medical intervention. Neither is it something to be feared. Rather, it calls for us to get out of our own way and get in tune with how God designed our bodies to work. Birth is natural, instinctual, and miraculous. We desired to experience birth in as natural a way as we could. To approach our deliveries with knowledge and confidence in our Creator and His design.

Anna Bourdess

2. This pain is different.

If this is your first baby, or first natural birth you may be thinking, “But how am supposed to not fear the pain of birth?” You have probably seen highly dramatized, unrealistic portrayals of birth from Hollywood. Maybe you have listened to all the horror stories of moms who had a bad experience with a natural birth. Or maybe you are just surrounded by people who have only ever had a medicated birth that say things like, “I could never have an unmedicated birth! It’s the meds for me!!”

Maybe they are right. But I am assuming if you are here that you want to try. Perhaps something in you is just a little bit curious about this natural birth thing. As a mom of two born naturally let me just say…

This pain is different. It is productive pain. Not like the pain of an injury or broken bone. This pain (I prefer to say “discomfort”) is productive pain. Every contraction in assisting your body and baby to get your baby out.

It also is not constant, excruciating pain for the entire labor. Contractions build, intensify, then decrease and subside. Each one is like a wave. It comes, builds higher and higher, then bottoms out and disappears. Often all but the last few hours of birth are filled with very mild, and very spaced out contractions.

Here’s how to make it through the pain of an unmedicated birth…

One contraction at a time.

That all, mama! You don not need to fear or anticipate the pain as if it were something terrible that you just will not survive. All you need to do is make it through this one contraction. After that one, you just have to make it through the next. Again and again you will make it through and you will be one step closer to meeting your baby!

Read all about how to manage pain naturally here!

3. Epidurals: What They Are and What They Do

Probably the most common medication administered during labor is the epidural. Neither myself nor Anna has ever had one but they described to be (by most women), a magical end to all the pains of childbirth! They have been praised as “the only way to have a baby” for years now.

If you are a first time mom all the epidural moms will tell you, “Just get the epidural!”

That’s great if you want one but we are here to educate, not just go along with what society says is “safe” and acceptable.

What is an epidural?

An epidural is a numbing medicine given by inserting a needle and a catheter (a small, flexible tube) into the lower part of the mother’s back. The needle is removed, but the catheter remains to deliver pain medication as requested throughout labor.

Hormones Involved in Labor and Beyond

*The following content was written from a study by Anna Bourdess.

Here is how your body naturally secretes different hormones and endorphins to bring your baby into the world.

Oxytocin
Also known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is involved in contractions, fertility, intimacy, milk release, and birth. It stimulates contractions that help thin and dilate the cervix, move the baby out of the birth canal, push out the placenta, and limit bleeding.

Endorphins
Endorphins are calming and pain-relieving hormones that increase as labor progresses and pain intensifies. They are produced when you face stress or pain. Think of them as your body’s natural morphine during labor.

Adrenaline
Also known as the “fight or flight” hormone, adrenaline is secreted in response to stress, fear, and extreme pain. Too much adrenaline can slow or stop labor. If you come into your birth uninformed and unprepared, it can create a lot of stress and release adrenaline, which will greatly hinder the progression of your labor.

Prolactin
Also known as the “mothering hormone,” prolactin has many roles, including being central to milk production. It is also responsible for assisting your baby in the transition to life outside the womb, like rerouting the circulatory system to exclude the placenta and include the lungs. Birth truly is a miracle.

How an Epidural Effects Natural Hormones in Labor

*The following content was written from a study by Anna Bourdess.

When a mother decides to have an epidural, she turns off the signals going to her brain to avoid the discomfort. Studies show that in doing this, it greatly hinders or even cuts off completely the natural release of these crucial hormones. These hormones and endorphins are intended to be passed to the baby also, to relieve discomfort during labor, including moments of oxygen deprivation and molding of the head to pass through the pelvis. They are feeling that emotional “warm hug” from the oxytocin your intelligent body is sending them. They get relief from the endorphins sent as a natural pain reliever to them. Birth is as intense for the baby as it is for the mother. When we choose to turn off the discomfort, we might be feeling nothing, but our baby, in turn, is feeling everything.

I understand that is hard to read and think about, but we feel mothers should be aware of all factors. There are times that an epidural can be a benefit to a laboring mother and even a necessity, and we understand that. We don’t want to put guilt and shame on any mother for her choices. However, one of our core beliefs is that mothers deserve the truth, even if it is hard to hear.

Be empowered by your choices, Mama. Know why you make your decisions. You don’t have to go along with what anyone says. Only you know what is best for yourself and your baby. Come into your birth with the wealth of knowledge to be prepared to make the hard decisions. Even if your birth doesn’t go as you planned, you can have no regrets in the decisions you made because you were informed, but it takes work on your part to do that.

Anna Bourdess

Epidural Complications

Another one of my (Tori) top reasons for anti-epidural birth is due to the risk of complications with or from an epidural. There are chances of an epidural completely not working or only numbing half the body (which would greatly effect the mind if you are expecting an escape!). There are also risks of pto longed or permanent damage beyond labor and delivery caused by epidurals.

Of course, there are risks to any medical procedure, and while they are considered rare, the possibility of spinal headaches, paralysis, blood clots, chronic back pain, and nerve damage are still risks you have to assess for yourself. The potential side effects that are considered less serious include blood pressure drops for you and your baby (this can be helped by changing positions and giving the mother fluids), headaches, nausea, itching and so on. You should also be aware that some of the anesthetic and opioid (epidural) medications will reach your baby. It is considered a safe amount by the medical community, but it is still something you should be aware of and even research for yourself to see if you’re comfortable with.

We’re not here to give scare tactics. Those are simply facts, and I have found a lot of women were never told these things were even a possibility when “consenting” to an epidural. That is not true informed consent. Look up the statistics yourself (from a trusted source) and weigh the risks versus benefits for your situation. Then make your decision. That is informed consent.

4. The Cascade of Interventions

This was probably one of the top reasons going into my first birth that I (Tori) was absolutely against a medicated birth. Research is showing that one medical intervention usually leads to more and more, maybe even the possibility of c-section. (Again, we are not saying that all interventions are unnecessary.)

The cascade of interventions often looks like this…

  1. Induction. Due to being “overdue”, doctors pushing for a scheduled delivery, possible under/overweight baby (they get this wrong all the time!!), or an actual medical complication your doctor will schedule you to be induced. This can be done various way but all involve forcing your body and baby into a labor they are not naturally ready for.
  2. Pitocin. Because your body and baby were not ready for labor, your doctor will want to start moving things along with Pitocin. Pitocin is the synthetic of oxytocin, a hormone your body naturally makes on its own during labor to help things progress. However, when an induction is performed or things get rushed along with Pitocin labor intensifies at an unnatural rate.
  3. Epidural/other drugs. Because your labor is intensifying at an abnormal rate the pain becomes harder to manage. Often mothers are already exhausted at this stage because the induction/Pitocin stage can last several hours. This leaves mothers feeling like they have no other option than to get the epidural.
  4. Baby/Mother vitals drop/increase. Administration of an epidural or length/stress labor causes the baby’s body (or mother’s body) to go into distress. In an infant this often looks like an abnormal fetal heart rate pattern and is deemed an emergency situation.
  5. Use of vacuum/forceps. Because it is an emergency situation the doctor will undergo the process of either extracting the baby with a vacuum or the use of forceps. Both are said to be extremely painful and can cause major trauma surrounding birth.
  6. C-section. If use of vacuum/forceps fails or is not an option, you will be rushed into an emergency c-section situation.

*The cascade of interventions applies wherever you “jump in” at. It may or may not go this way for you but the research shows that the chances of the cascade grow higher and higher with each intervention. It also shows that use of medication drastically increase the chances of needing an emergency c-section. Do your research mama!

Studies show that receiving an epidural increases a mother’s chances of requiring other interventions such as Pitocin (to stimulate contractions), assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum), and even a Cesarean section. This is due to the hindrance of the natural production of hormones your body relies on to instruct it during labor.

Your personal situation greatly impacts the risks versus benefits of this decision for you. Consider your reasoning for desiring pain medication for labor. See what the benefits versus risks are for your circumstances and lean into your intuition. If your reason is because you don’t think you’re capable, I promise you are, Mama. You were literally created for this purpose. It will take some time to exercise your intuition and learn how to listen to your body, but you are absolutely capable.

5. Enjoyment.

As strange as it sounds I (Tori) NEED to FEEL labor. I enjoy feeling what my body is doing and the thought of that being numbed really just intimidates me, along with the other reasons we have already stated. The idea that I have no clue what is happening when there is so much happening would drive me crazy. Each “painful” feeling in labor is happening for a reason. It is there to signal us when things are off and to keep that momentum going as things naturally progress.

Click here to read all about my positive home birth!

Whether you are here out of curiosity, education, or you want a natural birth and you need some mindset encouragement- there is nothing like the experience of a natural birth!

Yes, it is uncomfortable- maybe even painful!

Yes, you will be exhausted.

No, it is not a walk in the park!

Have you heard about Earthley Wellness? As a mom of two under two I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for over two years. This means very limited options for cold/flu, cough, headache medications that are safe for my baby and do not effect my milk supply. Earthley’s Feel Better Fast offers relief from these symptoms that WORK! Feel Better Fast is completely safe for use during pregnancy/breastfeeding, is 100% toxin free, and is made completely from herbs/only natural ingredients. Use my link below and the code LITTLEWIFE10 to get 10% off your first order!

Click Here to Shop!

But it is beautiful! The act of choosing the pain because you know it is what is best for your baby. The laying down of what would be more comfortable to you. The choice to feel every bit of this WITH your baby. It is such a priceless experience that is beyond worth it!

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The Best Easy Sourdough Lemon Bread Recipe

This sourdough lemon bread recipe is perfect for the summer season. It has all the fresh tang of lemon with all the sweetness of a bakery style bread. Top it with lemon icing and enjoy with a sip of iced tea on the porch! Learn all about how to make it here…

sourdough lemon bread made with discard or active starter

Lemon Cake or Lemon Bread?

I had a really hard time deciding if this recipe should be called “sourdough lemon cake” or “sourdough lemon bread”. To be honest I am still pretty confused as to which category it would fall under. However, it was made in a bread pan so that is what we are going with.

If you make this recipe I would love some feedback and follow up in the comments as to which you feel it should be named- cake or bread!

Baking with Sourdough Starter

We are all familiar by now with the sourdough bread craze! After 2020 it seemed to absolutely blow up social media. What many of us did not know is that sourdough starter can be used in such a vast diversity of recipes- everything from savory to sweet!

Click here for my most basic sourdough bread recipe for beginners!

When added to a recipe sourdough starter adds benefits to health, texture, and taste! You might think it odd to add sourdough starter to something sweet like a cake or cookies. All I can say is, don’t knock it until you try it!

Looking for a place to source sourdough starter? Go check out our dehydrated starter over on our online shop!

Click Here

Due to the amount of sugar, natural or artificial, the “sour” taste of the sourdough starter is often canceled out. Meaning, what you make will not have the taste of sourdough necessarily but it will have all the nutritional benefits of the probiotics.

When adding sourdough starter to a recipe for the first time I highly recommend starting small. Things such as amount of sugar, amount of flour, eggs, or butter may need to be adjusted based on the hydration of your starter. What I have noticed as a general rule of thumb is that for every 1/2 cup starter you will need at least 1/2 cup more flour than what your recipe calls for- sometimes up to 1 cup more.

Tools You Need for Sourdough Lemon Bread

Making this sourdough lemon bread is simple and fun. Here’s everything you will need to make this recipe…

  • One large bowl/or stand mixer
  • Wire whisk or something to stir
  • One bread loaf pan (I prefer this glass one)
  • Lemon juicer or glass jar/bowl to juice lemons

Ingredients and Substitutions for Sourdough Lemon Bread

The ingredients for this recipe are simple and most likely all things you have on hand. Here is everything you need…

  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter discard or active
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice about 1 and 1/2 lemons
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Substitutions and Adjustments

Active or discard starter can be used with similar results. No fermentation or rise time is required for this recipe. You can ferment the dough if you prefer by placing it in the refrigerator covered with a damp towel for about 8 hours.

Cane sugar can be substituted for honey or maple syrup if desired.

If you hang out here often you know that I prefer to use natural, organic ingredients. If you are looking for somewhere to source clean, natural ingredients from trusted brands I highly recommend Thrive Market! They have hundreds of healthy, trusted brands to choose from at prices you cannot beat! Things like the organic cane sugar I used in this recipe, unbleached flour, cleaning supplies, snacks, and so much more! We love shopping Thrive and I know you will too. For a limited time get 25% off + a free gift!

Click here to use my link and get a FREE $60 GIFT!

Storing

My sourdough lemon bread loaf did not last longer than a few days because we ate it that fast! However if you intend on having yours around a while you can store it in a cool, dry place (a bread bin) for up to five days or in the refrigerator for up to one week. Due to the moisture of the bread I would not recommend keeping it past seven days in the refrigerator.

If you want more from scratch, sourdough recipes from my kitchen to yours make sure you join the email list below so you never miss a post!

Sourdough Lemon Bread

A delicious cake-like bread with all the benefits of sourdough and all the sweetness of summer flavors! Moist sourdough bread flavored with fresh lemon and topped with lemon icing.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course bread, Dessert
Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter discard or active
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice about 1 and 1/2 lemons
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Lemon Icing

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tbsp lemon juice for thinner icing use more juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉
  • Combine starter, water, butter, eggs, sugar, and lemon juice in a large bowl.
  • Add baking powder, salt, and flour.
  • Pour into a greased bread pan and bake on 350℉ for 30-40 minutes or until the middle comes out clean with a toothpick.
  • Allow to fully cool before icing or slicing!

Lemon Icing

  • To make lemon icing for the top combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Whisk well until the icing is smooth. Wait until the bread has completely cooled before applying icing.
Keyword lemon bread, lemon cake, lemon loaf bread, lemon loaf cake, sourdough bread, sourdough bread recipe, summer dessert, summer dessert recipe
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How to Advocate for Yourself in a Hospital Birth

Written by Anna Bourdess

*this post contains affiliate links.

1. Be Informed.

I know that Tori and I have said this many times, but I truly believe this has played a significant role in each of our birth experiences. I feel this is one of the biggest parts of mothering these days. We can not just trust what is said to us. We must educate ourselves so that we can make informed decisions that we can be confident in.

Look into your hospital’s policies. Things such as how long they are comfortable with you laboring before interventions will be suggested, what interventions they might suggest, risks and benefits of each, what vaccines will be administered to your baby at birth, and so many more. Know what choices you’ll be presented with so you already know how to answer them.

Whatever decisions you make, know why you made them. It’s not about what your best friend did, what is popular, or going along with it because they are the “experts.” Do your research and be confident in your choices, whatever they may be. You can’t advocate for yourself if you don’t even know what you want. 

2. Have an Informed Birth Partner

As you’re doing your research, involve your birth partner. Make sure they know why you feel the way you do about your choices so that they can best support you. They’ll be able to advocate for you as much as possible in your stead while you focus on delivering your baby. 

Researching can also be overwhelming, especially with all those pregnancy hormones. Having your birth partner do it with you can help keep you grounded and give you someone to talk through things with to help you figure out what is best for you and baby. 

3. Have a Plan

A written birth plan is not a necessity. However, it is extremely helpful when trying to go unmedicated. Having a birth plan helps everyone around you know how you want to be supported during your labor. Any decent nurse wants to give the best experience possible to their patients. A birth plan helps them accomplish that.

An added plus is if you have trouble speaking up for yourself, you can just hand them your birth plan, and they’ll know your wishes without you trying to explain them. It can state things like you wish to not be asked about pain medications, you want to change positions often, and desire to be interrupted as little as possible. Also, it can state your wishes for shots administered after birth, skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, and so on. 

While in labor, you really are not going to want to be asked a lot of questions and probably won’t have the mental capacity to make multiple decisions anyway. Even if you don’t give your birth plan to anyone, it is very beneficial in gathering your thoughts for yourself so you are settled in your desires and are prepared to make decisions. It’s pretty easy to find a template online for a birth plan if you don’t know where to start.

Your plan needs to be flexible. I don’t mean you need to give your mind the easy way out. I mean, birth is unpredictable, and things can change fast. Don’t be so set on your plan that you would risk yours or baby’s safety. I suggest having three birth plans. One for an unmedicated birth, one for a medicated birth (sometimes medical interventions are needed), and one for a Cesarean birth in case you need one in an emergency. Even in the case of interventions, you still have the right to decide many things about your birth. Know what your hospital will allow in each scenario. Also know the difference in their preferences and actual policys. Even then policys aren’t laws. 

4. Be Kind

It is very possible to advocate for yourself and still be kind. Even if you have to be stern, there is no excuse to be rude. I have found that most medical professionals really do want the best for you. Not all, but most. They’re just working off of the information they’ve been given. That is that the best in care includes epidurals, pain management, vaccinations, and so on. When someone comes in requesting different, most of them simply do not understand. Add in that natural living is trendy right now, and the many varieties of the public they get to function with daily, and it’s understandable to receive some hesitation.

Now, of course, it is not required of you to explain yourself. No means no, and that is good enough, especially during labor. But, if given the opportunity, why not educate so that others may look into things for themselves instead of just doing what is standard practice? Is that not how you began questioning things? 

After my son, Jackson, was born, we had chosen to refuse many standard practices after birth. I had several nurses very kindly ask if I was sure many times. Instead of getting upset, I took the time to explain that we had looked at all the research and data (named our sources), and that is why we feel this is what’s best for our baby. They listened kindly, and they never asked us the certainty of our choices again. They were willing to listen because I had never spoken harshly to them or been disrespectful. Communicate without rudeness. Most just want to hear that you’ve made a decision based on facts, not trends. Educate, inform, and be kind. 

5. Trust Your Intuition 

I’m not talking about just following feelings or flesh. I passionately believe in a mother’s intuition. I believe it is God-given to help guide us in taking care of our babies. After all, how did women take care of their babies before we had all of these “experts” to tell us how to do it?

Nobody knows your baby like you do, Mama. It will amaze you when your baby arrives and as you grow together, how you will just know what they need. Sometimes you won’t even know why you know, you just do. Trust it. If you have someone trying to push you into something for your baby, but you just don’t have peace about it, trust that intuition. It is vital to your mothering. Never let anyone push or convince you into something you’re uncomfortable with. This applies in birth just as much as in the rest of your motherhood journey. 

Have you heard of Earthley Wellness? Earthley is a company dedicated to providing all-natural, herbal products and medications for the entire family! My favorite thing about Earthley is that they have remedies for pregnant and nursing mothers. Things like colds, fevers, and coughs can be hard to navigate in pregnancy and early motherhood. These products absolutely work and have become a staple in our household for non-toxic, holistic wellness. Use my link below and the code LITTLEWIFE10 for 10% off your first order!

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Joy in Service

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Seven Reasons to Consider Having a Home Birth

Disclaimer: I am in no way insinuating that home birth is the best choice for everyone or that you personally need to have a home birth. Everyone has a different situation and must do what is right for them and their baby. I at also not at all bashing hospital birth! I had one with my first and it truly was a great experience. (You can read all about it here!)

My friend and co-writer also wrote the blog post on why she chose hospital birth. You can read the two posts to compare as you are making your decision!

1. Confidence.

Confidence in my body. My first home birth was with my second child. The first was a natural, unmedicated hospital birth which gave me so much confidence that I could do this without help of meds! (Some states allow midwives with certain degrees to administer meds so if you are wanting a home birth and meds you can look into your options.)

I was not worried about whether or not I could make it through the discomfort of childbirth without medication. I KNEW I could do this!!

Confidence in my midwife. I will spare all details about my journey of finding a midwife but it was a PROCESS! Due to some medical (and possibly legal) reasons the midwife we began with ended her practice when I was just coming into my third trimester. We basically had to start over with the entire interview process and it was stressful to say the least!

However, we did end up finding the perfect midwife for our family! After going through the nightmare with the first, I was afraid I would find it difficult to build trust with a midwife so quickly. Erin made me feel so comfortable.

I had complete trust in her boundaries for a healthy home birth and that she would accurately assess any risky situations. I also had confidence that she would ere on the side of caution when it came to my health and my baby’s safety.

2. I had no risk factors and was well monitored for any possible complications.

My previous pregnancy had been a very healthy one. The birth had gone well with no complications for me or baby. My postpartum was great in every aspect- no hemorrhaging, excessive blood loss, or other concerns.

That being said, every birth/pregnancy is different so I was still well monitored, just from the comfort of my own home!

At every visit my blood pressure, heart rate, baby’s heart rate, baby’s position, and diet were all assessed. If at any point in the pregnancy things looked off or I felt off I could call my midwife and she would be able see me within hours. That gave me so much peace of mind!

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3. Distrust of the Medical System.

A bad experience with a vaccine as a teen and the entire Covid crisis have really damaged my faith in the medical system. I think doctors and nurses are amazing people! I just think the system is broken.

Having to submit myself to the care of a hospital was very hard with my firstborn. The hospital was great, the doctors and nurses outstanding! But the mental part of trusting these people/this system was extremely hard.

I am sure the majority of people have NO CLUE what I am even talking about and I do not expect anyone to. It was just a very real part of the decision to home birth for me. I knew that stress is not good for myself or the baby and could cause interventions (which honestly stressed me more!).

I also knew myself. I knew how uncomfortable I was in the hospital mentally and physically with all the constant monitoring/interruptions to my labor by staff. My fear was that I would wait too long to go to the hospital and deliver unassisted at home or on the side of the road.

This probably sounds CRAZY to a lot of people but it was very real to me! I would rather go ahead and make the planned decision to home birth than to put myself in an unassisted situation.

4. Belief that pregnancy/birth is not an illness.

In the last 100 years or so society has begun to normalize treating pregnancy and birth as a condition rather than a natural part of life. I truly believe that pregnancy is NOT some illness that needs to be treated by a facility. In a healthy pregnancy of a healthy baby no medical “treatment” is necessary to bring a baby into the world.

5. Cost

This might seem like a silly reason to have a home birth, however it did play a role in our decision making process.

After we had our first those hospital bills just kept coming! I think what hurt the worst about it was that I had a natural, unmedicated labor with her. I wanted minimal interruptions, and honestly I did not want to be there. I did all the work. And I still had to pay for it.

I’m not saying that doctors and nurses should not be paid, or that they should make less. I just feel like this is another way the system gets what they want- our money.

6. Comfort

Let’s be honest, there’s just no place like home!

If I had to rate comfort of birthing environment on a scale of 1-10 (ten being best) the hospital would maybe get a 2. I’m told by many people that I gave birth in a very nice hospital! It was nice, the people were great, they made it as cozy as they could- but it was not comfortable!!

I will not go in to all the details about what made it so uncomfortable because if you are having a hospital birth I don’t want to breed discouraging thoughts.

I will say, home birth comfort exceeds a ten!! I went to a few lengths to make sure it would be an extra cozy environment but it was most just home. Nothing special, just my bed, my people, my home.

The midwife/assistant vs doctors/nurses brings another comfort comparison. In the hospital my doctors and nurses were SO GREAT!! They treated me like a princess. But they still had to follow the schedules. They HAD to do the scheduled well checks. They are just doing their jobs but can anytime be truly comfortable when there is a constant flow of people coming in? Not to mention the shift changes- about the time you get used to a familiar face they swap out!

Having one person is such a peaceful gift. One person for all my prenatal appointments. One person to help guide me through all my questions.

My midwife and her assistant made labor and delivery so comfortable. They both speak in the softest voices during labor. Always so thoughtful about my needs. Never interrupting the work of a contraction. Then after you have the baby they don’t just send you on your merry way! You have a professional consultant you can call for months postpartum!!

I could probably go on and on about the comforts of home birth. I’ll close with this: I do not believe it is right to compromise your baby’s health for a more comfortable birth experience. I am VERY glad I was able to experience a comfort during labor and beyond that most probably never will receive. However, at any point in the pregnancy or even labor I do not think it would be right to place my comfort over my baby’s needs.

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7. God Leading.

You can call it what you want…a gut feeling, mother’s intuition. God definitely led us in this choice to have a home birth. He changed my husband’s heart and gave him a peace. He planted this desire so deeply in my heart that I withstood criticism and negativity with a calm, peacefulness.

He led in finding the right midwife, and even have us an assistant we love in the process! And He led in every step of the birthing process. I’ll spare all the details and just give you the necessary information but you can read my full birth story here to get all the details.

We had a surprise footling breech birth. This mean baby came completely backwards, feet first. She had been in optimal birth position for over a month and the morning I went in to labor I felt a really weird, big movement. I thought it was odd but didn’t think much of it until after labor was over. I am 100% sure that she flipped that morning.

In a hospital situation we likely would have ended up having an emergency c-section, people would have been freaking out, and any sense of a calm, peaceful birth would have gone out the window.

Yet we labored quietly at home, we birthed peacefully in a tub of warm water in the middle of my bedroom, we got to hold a completely healthy baby who got to nurse right away.

Because God knew!

If you are considering home birth I would strongly recommend you pray about it! Or any birth- hospital, home, or center for that matter. God made our babies, He knows our bodies. If you are struggling to decide, take it to Him, trust Him, and He will give you perfect peace.

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Pain Management Tips for an Unmediated Birth Experience

DISCLAIMER: We understand that medical intervention is truly needed at times, and we are thankful for it. In no way do we believe that women should never have c-sections or never have epidurals. There is a time and a place for such things. Our core belief is that birth is a natural process and is over medicalized in the culture we live in. We want you to take back control of your births, make informed decisions, and be empowered by your birth experience, not traumatized. We truly believe that Mamas know best and desire you to be educated and fully informed about the decisions you make so you can make the best one for yourself and baby. However there is absolutely NO SHAME in whatever beautiful birth experience you have!

-Anna and Tori

Techniques for Pain Management

Going into a natural birth with all the possible pain management techniques in mind is so beneficial! Let’s put it this way, you are here to get a job done. If a plumber or electrician came to your home to accomplish a job but had no tools- no job would be getting done.

In other words, it’s time to load up your tool belt ladies!!

That’s exactly what this post is meant to do for you. To give you all the tools you need to get this incredible, hard, and beautiful job DONE!

Breathing Techniques

Your breathing is one of the key necessities to having a natural, unmediated birth experience. Every breath you take sends more oxygen to your baby. Every breath helps your body bring this baby down and out.

You want to be breathing down. Helping your body get baby in position. A low moaning can help with breathing and managing each surge. Low tones have been proven to help relax the pelvic floor. This is going to sound funny but making a low toned “moooooooo” will help you achieve this. Philip (Anna’s husband) stood behind me often in labor low tone mooing like a cow to remind me to breathe down. It offered comedic relief as well as productivity as I helped baby engage.

Practice your breathing techniques before you go into labor. Laboring is a marathon, and to be successful, you need to train for it. It may feel silly practicing them at home before labor, but besides counter pressure, this was my biggest help during labor.

-Anna

There are many videos you can look up on how to practice breathing. Do not overthink it, the main thing is to just make sure you ARE breathing. When you are in pain it is normal to hold your breath- but holding your breath also means you are not relaxed. Think of getting burned by your curling iron or oven. First you hold your breath and then everything in you tenses.

Another thing to keep in mind is to take deep/full breaths. During transition (the last leg of your labor journey) you will find it very difficult to keep a good, steady rhythm with your breathing. I (Tori) actually went completely numb in my arms and face because I started breathing too quickly and shallow.

You may find yourself in early labor thinking, “I’ve so got this!!” when it comes to breathing well. Just remember that towards the end it will likely change. This just means you are getting that much closer- keep breathing!

Relaxation

Along with breathing this is likely the biggest key to making it through unmediated birth. You can also find ways to practice this BEFORE you are actually in labor. I highly recommend the BRADLEY method when it comes to learning how to fully relax your body (you can find a link to the book in the list of things to purchase for an unmediated birth).

Whatever position you choose to labor in, always think “head to toe”. Start at the top of your head and physically, consciously relax every muscle in your body. Forehead, eyebrows, mouth, jaw, shoulders, etc.

Not only does this help everything to stay relaxed but it also gives your mind something to focus on other than the pain which ultimately helps KEEP you relaxed.

Open mouth breathing. Your jaw affects your pelvic floor, so a tight jaw means a tight pelvic floor, which means more difficult delivery. Keep your body open and relaxed as you progress. Envision your baby engaging into your pelvis and how your body can support that.

-Anna

Meditation and Affirmation

Meditation and affirmation are a great way to distract your mind during labor. People do this many different ways. Some ways I (Tori) have implemented this during my labors are…

  • Meditating on Scripture.
  • Imagine myself somewhere else. (A field of flowers, swimming, just let my mind drift.)
  • Reminding myself that, “My body was made to do this.”
  • Envisioning each part of labor- what my body was doing, what my baby was doing, how our bodies were working together. This takes effort on your part to LEARN these things!

Stay Hydrated

This may sound silly but staying hydrated really does help on so many levels. The last thing you may feel like doing during labor is drinking a lot of water. However, keep these facts in mind…

  • Water delivers tons of oxygen to your body to keep up good blood flow which is super important for you and your baby during labor.
  • You are running a marathon! You have to give your body fuel to keep going.
  • Water will make you need to pee. Duh, Tori!! But really, the midwives call the toilet the “dilation station”. Sitting in a squatted position, like on the toilet, opens your pelvis up to 30% wider! This can cause some intense contractions so be prepared. However, if things begin to slow in your labor or stop progressing ask your doctor to give you an extra hour and some water before trying any med interventions, it might just work!

Water

Along with drinking water, you may also want to consider getting in the water if you are physically able to do so. Water has provided me SO MUCH relief with both of my labors!

With my first I desperately needed some relief mid-labor. As mentioned before I lost control of my breathing and began to feel very numb, dizzy, and just super exhausted. I was dilated at a seven and not progressing much. I was getting discouraged. Long story short, a good, hot shower was just the thing to give me that extra boost of energy I needed to make it through!

My second baby I started and ended my labor soaking in a nice, warm bath tub/birth tub!

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Earthly is a company dedicated to providing only natural, herbal wellness products and supplements for the entire family! My favorite thing about Earthly is that each product quickly and accurately tells if I can use it safely while pregnant and/or nursing. They have everything you need to start your non-toxic, chemical free journey to wellness! Go check them out at the link below and use code LITTLEWIFE10 to enjoy 10% off your first purchase.

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Counter Pressure

This is another great option that really gets your birth partner involved. During a contraction when things start to really “pressure up” on the inside it can be so relieving when pressure is places on the outside! Have your husband/support person or a nurse gently but firmly press into your lower back by squeezing your hips on either side (there are a lot of how-to videos out there if you are confused!).

Counter pressure was the absolute best! It helped dull my contractions so much!

Anna

Counter pressure can also be done with tennis balls or a massage gun.

My (Tori) husband also helps by holding me from behind, placing pressure on the lower front of my abdomen, right around my pelvic area. This gives great support and relief!

I find that counter pressure works really well in early/mid labor for me but something switches during transition and it is no longer helpful. You may want to prepare yourself (and support person) for this! Make sure you communicate when it is no longer helpful to you.

Heat

This one may seem a bit odd but hear me out! I (Tori) had back labor with both babies which feels a lot like period cramps I would get as a teen. My mom would always bring me a heating pad to lay on and it helped tons!

Fast forward to years later laying in the hospital bed, halfway through labor and the resemblance to the period back pain hit me. I asked the next nurse that came to check in if they had a heating pad and they did! It was a great relief to have during labor as well as for after when my tired muscles were recovering.

Things that Help Manage Pain

We both highly recommend having a lot of tools in your belt- mental tools and physical ones! We compiled a list of things (tools) we brought/used during labor to help us manage pain…

  • Birth class. Not just the one provided by your OB or hospital! If you want a natural, unmedicated birth knowledge is your best friend!! Find a birth class that is designed specifically to help you navigate the challenges of natural birth.

There are plenty of videos you can watch or books you can read, but I highly and, I mean, highly recommend purchasing a birth class for you and your husband. Look around and find one that will support what you’re desiring out of your birth. My husband desperately wanted to help me and was so happy to take a course with me to learn what he could do during labor. We practiced laboring positions, counter pressure, and all the ways he could support me. We absolutely felt silly doing them in our home and laughed our way through a lot of the labor positions. It was fun, really. In doing this before, though, when the time came, we knew exactly what we could do. Being informed is your greatest tool to natural birth success.

-Anna
  • Bradley Method book. I (Tori) have not found any resources that have helped me as much as this book has when it comes to teaching my body to relax during labor. The visual aid it gives on what is happening during labor is also a GREAT resource! Click here to purchase.
  • Heating pad.
  • Labor comb. This was one of my (Anna) favorite tools during labor. I found it extremely helpful to help distract my mind during my more intense surges. I purchased a specific “labor comb,” but any comb will work. I do suggest it be wooden, though. The infant hair care set I had purchased included one very similar that I could have used.
  • Birthing ball/peanut ball. I (Anna) used the birthing ball that the hospital provided for me. One thing to consider is if you’re short like I am, the one at the hospital (if they provide one) may be too large for you. I would suggest bringing your own and leaving it in the car. Just in case you needed it.
  • Massage gun/tennis balls for counter pressure. I (Anna) used the massage gun for a very brief time, but it was nice during some of the milder surges to use on my upper back to distract from what I was feeling in my lower back. I tried tennis balls as well and personally didn’t prefer it as much as counter pressure/other labor techniques, but for a few dollars and an old sock, it was worth bringing to try. I will still bring it for my next labor because each labor can be so different.
  • Essential oils and diffuser. Scents can really set the mood and help your mind/body navigate labor. You will want to bring calming oils like lavendar and frankincense. Another good one to bring is some kind of citrus (like orange) that can provide a little burst of energy for that last stretch of labor.

Mindsets for a Successful Natural Birth Experience

If we are being honest, none of the things we talked about so far in this post matter if your mindset is not what it should be when it comes to wanting an unmedicated birth. Mindset is not just the key- it is the car that gets you there! Your mindset is everything.

Labor is almost one hundred percent a mind battle. Train your mind, and spend time readying yourself for the journey. You can absolutely do this. You were created to do this. You are stronger than you think you are. The Lord equipped you with everything you need to bring this baby into the world.

Anna

Here are a few things that helped shape our mindset….

This pain is different. It is productive. Think of the worst pain you have ever gone through. Maybe it was breaking a bone, getting a bad burn, tearing a muscle. The world would try to make you believe that having a baby is a thousand times more painful than these experiences. I am here to tell you it just is not the same! All of this “pain” you feel is here to bring you the most wonderful thing! Every contraction brings your baby closer to you. Every push means you are one step closer to meeting your baby!

Don’t think of it as pain. Rewire your mind to say “surges, waves, intensity, pressure, etc.” It is not pain. This is not a torture to endure to the end so you can get your prize. You are going on a journey with your baby. You are going into the forests of labor, and you’re going to bring your baby back with you when you return.

Birth is an empowering experience. Train your mind. You don’t have to buy into a culture that says it’s something that should be numbed. It’s an essential part of your journey into motherhood, in my opinion.

Anna

Your body is working for you. This was an essential part of developing my entire mindset around unmedicated birth. The fact that every part of my body and my baby’s body is designed- ON PURPOSE -for me to do this is mind blowing! Your body was made to do this.

Research what truly happens during birth from natural minded professionals. Watch how your body and baby will work together. It’s absolutely amazing to see how God designed this miracle to take place. When you have an understanding of what will be happening, it helps you envision your baby dropping into your pelvis and to know how to move your body to support that.

Anna

I know I have already referenced the book twice but let’s make it three! The Bradley Method book goes into great detail about how your body works to bring your baby down and how your baby’s body works to come out. This book also has great graphics for those of us who are more visual learners.

When you think “I can’t do this”, you are almost there! Going into birth with the previous stated mindsets and the knowledge of how medicated birth could harm my baby gave me such great confidence…right until the very end! As the surges began to build and the pressure began to feel impossible I suddenly began to think, “I just don’t know if I can do this.”

Which is funny on one hand because I had no other choice! (You can read my full birth story here about how I was unable to have the option for an epidural.)

However, as soon as I began to think this thought things began to ramp up and soon it was all over, holding my sweet baby. When you begin to think these thoughts just remember, you have come this far! You are so close to being done!

I found this so true. I started doubting myself, wondering if I was really going to be able to do this. Thirty minutes later, I was holding my baby. I remember repeating in my mind “Tori said when I don’t think I can do it I’m almost done” over and over and over. Turned out she was right.

Anna

*Note: I (Tori) never remember having this feeling or doubt with my second baby. I had done it. I KNEW I could do it! That is why I am such a big believer in having your first baby unmedicated. It gives you so much confidence for future labors!

When Your Unmedicated Labor Plan Goes Wrong

I would like to add this, not to discourage anyone or make you think that having a natural labor is impossible, because it is NOT! However, should the need arise for you to need, or even, want a medicated labor I think it is important to note that you have not failed. Your body has not failed.

With my (Tori) firstborn I had my hopes dashed as we were told that I would need to be induced. We went through all the risk versus likelihood of my situation and it just made logical sense. The baby would have to come early with medical interventions beginning my labor. This was not the plan. It definitely made me feel like I had already failed before I started in many ways. Everything worked out in the end and I am so thankful for the unmedicated experience I was given- it truly was a gift from God straight to me!

I said all that to say, if things do not work out how you have planned, trust God’s plan for your birth! Maybe you have to be induced (I would still definitely have all the conversations around this- most inductions are not medically necessary. Know your research!), maybe something happens during labor that warrants immediate c-section. Your birth is beautiful no matter what happens and the safety of you/your baby matters most in the end!

Whatever experience is yours, embrace it! It is yours.

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