The BirthCircle | Birth, Pregnancy, & PostPartum Conversations

Incompetent Cervix and 2 Second Trimester Losses | Improving Maternal and Fetal Outcomes

Today, we talk with Vu-An Foster, an MPH (Master of Public Health) candidate and founder of Life After 2 Losses, an organization and blog in which she shares her story of the preventable losses of her two daughters, and which aims to “support, inform, and empower other women and moms to prevent them from suffering similar losses by providing advocacy through education” (https://www.lifeafter2losses.com/). We begin our discussion with Vu-An sharing her experiences with two preventable losses in the second trimester because of inadequate treatment and medical neglect. We discuss what you can say to your medical professionals to advocate for yourself in any situation. Vu-An emphasizes the mission of her organization and shares what her professional aspirations and goals are. She talks about her experiences as a patient representative, listening to and addressing patient complaints, and how this fuels her to instigate change through policy to address these complaints. We have a candid talk about hospital policy and discrimination, and Vu-An shares what she has seen working in an inner-city hospital. Vu-An then talks about the new procedure -- a trans-abdominal cerclage -- that significantly improves her chances of a successful pregnancy and delivery (more details on the procedure can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/lifeafter2losses). We finish by discussing Vu-An’s goals for her organization, including an upcoming website and fundraisers, providing a safe space in which women who have suffered loss can get help getting their life back.

Vu-An’s Story 1:02
What to Tell Medical Professionals to Advocate For Yourself 12:23
Vu-An’s Career Trajectory; Hospital Policy 22:01
The Procedure That Worked for Vu-An; How To Connect with Vu-An 30:24

“With my second pregnancy, I showed up to labor and delivery, and I had told them, ‘I think my water broke.’ They checked me out and they discharged me. I got to the parking lot, and the rest of my water fell onto the floor. When I went back inside, they told me, ‘Well, if it was going to happen anyway, what does it matter if it happened outside or in here?’ So, I feel like, they cannot kick you out of a hospital facility. If you feel like something is wrong with you, you need to let them know, ‘I’m not leaving until you further check me out.’” 15:00

birthcircle.com

Healing Birth Trauma | Clearing Negative Emotions Surrounding Birth and Motherhood

In today’s episode, we talk with Sheridan Ripley, a prolific childbirth educator, doula, author, and hypnobabies instructor. We talk about her background in birth, including her work on 3 books on birth (http://sheridanripley.com/books/). She shares what contributed to birth trauma from her first birth, and how she got into emotional clearing to deal with it. We discuss how birth trauma can be passed down through epigenetics across generations. Sheridan shares some of her methods and services in helping women to recover from birth trauma. We discuss how birth is an intense experience where so many feelings and hormones are involved, and how everyone on the birthing team -- partners, doulas -- can experience trauma from a birthing experience. Sheridan then demonstrates her emotional clearing techniques with Sarah. We suggest simple techniques you can use to help you apply these techniques at home for yourself and others. We then discuss how you can bring up the issue of trauma with partners and children. We finish by talking about Sheridan’s new podcast, Finding Joy In The Journey (http://sheridanripley.com/podcast/), as well as the birth resources available from her website, http://enjoybirth.com/.

How Sheridan Caught the Birthing Bug 1:40
Emotional Clearing to Heal Birth Trauma 6:37
Demonstration of Sheridan’s Methods 20:15
How to Emotional Clear For Yourself; Enjoying the Mothering Experience 31:10

“[In] birth you are so vulnerable, and your hormones are flooding through your body. There’s so much in it that birth is just huge, both for you and the baby, and everybody in the room.” 18:29

birthcircle.com

Racial Disparity in Birth | Bridging the Gap of Racial Tension in Birth

Today, we talk with RaSheda Williams, owner of Sincerely Yours Doula Services. We begin our discussion about racism and discrimination towards African American mothers in the birth space by sharing statistics, accounts, and personal experiences of black mothers having to deal with discrimination and racist treatment at the hands of medical professionals and other people. RaSheda talks about her own experiences. She shares how in all her births, she didn’t even know what a doula was, nor what her options were, and talks about how she became a doula with the intent to inform BIPOC who don’t receive adequate information to inform their choices in birth and postpartum recovery. We discuss potential measures the medical community can take to create equality and a greater awareness of racist attitudes and the effect they have in their practice.

“If We Don’t Know, We Can’t Do Better” -- Evidence of Racism 0:53
RaSheda’s Birth Experiences; Becoming a Doula 16:23
How Doulas Can Help 31:04
Steps Forward For the Medical Community 39:36

“Black women are 6 times more likely to die in childbirth, and shortly thereafter in postpartum, than their white and hispanic counterparts, even after adjusting for socioeconomic status. That means you’re more likely to die as a wealthy black woman in labor than a poor white woman.” 1:01

Reach Out To RaSheda: https://www.facebook.com/SheDaDoula/

birthcircle.com

The Physiology of Mindfulness | How To Relieve Stress During Pregnancy

In today’s episode, we talk with Holly Lammer, an RN, a registered yoga instructor, and a prenatal and perinatal psychology educator, and Jayme Crockett, a student midwife, doula, and birth photographer. They do a podcast together called Mindful Birth Podcast (https://mindfulbirthpodcast.com/). We discuss the complexities of the psychological footprint that stressors like oppression, scarcity, anxiety, and danger leaves in our biology, and how these effects can be passed on through birth. We talk about the structure of the human brain, and emphasize the importance of using mindfulness to work against the potential harmful side effects of hyper-reactivity. We break down some of the tools and practices you can use to learn mindfulness to control your anxiety and stress to ensure the best future for your child.

How Holly and Jayme Started Working Together 1:04
The Science of Mindfulness and Birth Psychology 6:46
Tools and Steps to Practice Mindfulness 27:20
Where to Find More Resources 55:46

“Anything that is what we call a physical stressor on a pregnancy, like high blood pressure and diabetes, is caused by an overactive stress response in the brain, and handed down through epigenetics.” 8:33

Find Out More: https://www.facebook.com/trustingthephysiologicprocess
Jayme’s Birth Photography Service: https://www.tribebirth.com/
Holly’s Embryoga Series: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_yoExq3YXOYVa3II4DMfnw
Any More Questions? Email us at media@birthcircle.com
Birthcircle.com

Be Present | How To Maintain a Healthy Body Image During Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum

Today we talk with Andrea Ohlwiler, a lifestyle coach, about maintaining a healthy body and self-image during pregnancy. We discuss the importance of giving yourself grace and allowing yourself to grow, as well as making informed and conscious decisions when it comes to your fertility, pregnancy, and nutrition. We talk about how to stay positive with dietary expectations, create good habits around food, and change from a victim mentality to a creator mentality with your pregnancy. We discuss changing your focus for a healthy recovery during postpartum.

Stop, Challenge, Choose: Change Your Mindset For a Healthier Pregnancy 1:52
Maintain a Positive Mentality While Meeting Diet Expectations 10:37
Think, “Birth Happens Through Me, Not To Me”; “Before and Becoming” 21:09
Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Recovery In Postpartum 35:04

“The best gift you can give to your loved ones -- to your partner, to your children -- is to give yourself love first.” 45:13

Questions for Andrea? media@birthcircle.com
birthcircle.com

When Life Throws a Curveball | Switching To Home Birth During COVID-19

In today’s episode, we talk with Dani Reed, doula and founder of Mind Over Maternity. We talk about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on birth, including how it led Dani to change her birth plan from a hospital to a home birth. She tells about the doubts, decisions, and adjustments leading up to her home birth, and shares how every member of her birth team was necessary during her successful but turbulent birth experience, making it the right choice for her in the end. We then discuss how to adjust and maintain control when your birth plan is affected by unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances.

Why Dani Changed Her Birth Plan to Home Birth 2:23
How Did The Birth Go? The Birth Team 11:36
How To Deal With External Forces on Our Birth Plans 22:50

“One of the biggest things is safety, and that’s I think a very common concern about home birth for a lot of people. And so, I bombarded the midwife with questions: ‘What medications do you carry? What do you do in this situation? When do you know when you should transfer?’” 6:37

Reach Out to Dani: http://mindovermaternity.net/

birthcircle.com

New Dad? | How Fathers Can Help During Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum, Dr. Jay Warren

Today, we talk with Jay Warren, a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor, and host of 2 podcasts, “Healthy Births, Happy Babies,” and “The Dadhood Journey.” He has also created online courses to help pregnant women learn prenatal bonding techniques and dads to transition into parenthood. We talk about why Dr Jay is providing these resources for new dads, discussing the importance of preventing trauma and helping bonding in new fathers. We give tips and insights about the role for dads in the birthing and postpartum process, and how this can establish an important precedent for the rest of your family life. We finish by giving a list of resources specifically for dads to help them transition into parenthood.

Birth Education for Dads: Preventing Trauma and Promoting Bonding 1:14
Role of Partner in Birth Team (Different Than Doulas) 10:56
Special Circumstances and Common Myths 29:52
Resources Specifically For Dad 44:50

“So a dad really knowing the birth team -- whether that’s your OB, hopefully a doula is involved with things -- and knowing them really well, so that we as a dad can trust in their experience, and trust in their training, so we don’t feel that we have to fix it.” 13:21

Find Resources and Reach Out To Dr. Jay Warren: https://drjaywarren.com/

birthcircle.com

Promoting Power and Positivity In Birth | How Language Can Improve Your Experience

Today, we invite Sarah Pixton, creator of the Birth Words website and Podcast, back on the show. We define discourse as language in context, and discuss the need for finding a middle ground in the language surrounding birth that will connect the different roles involved and respect the authority of each. We give examples of language or other cues which, strategically used, can help empower you in your birth experience. We talk about how to frame your birth experience to promote the positivity and empowerment surrounding birth. We finish by telling you how you can access Sarah’s resources (https://www.birthwords.com/), and recommending other helpful resources.

Dialogue: Language in Context; Connecting Different Birth Roles Linguistically 2:26
Non-Verbal Cues; Power of First Person 16:11
Framing Birth Experiences 22:00
Resources at birthwords.com; Labels 40:05

“I read several other birth stories from other sources, and really just was surrounded by positive language that spoke about birth as a beautiful, transformative process in which I gave the gift of life to another human being, and that I did that in my power and strength. And that’s how I experienced that birth.” 27:35

birthcircle.com

“Mother, May I?” | The Origin and Relevance of Cristen Pascucci’s Film

In today’s episode, we talk with Cristen Pascucci about her film, “Mother, May I?”, a documentary that shares the stories of victims of birth trauma and obstetric violence. We talk about the making of the film, and we also dive deeper into some of the stories, including the story of Caroline Malatesta, who suffers from a permanent, debilitating medical condition as a result of medical malpractice. We also talk about Kimberly Turbin’s experience with her medical battery case, as well as other victim’s experiences. We discuss the importance of knowing your legal rights when determining the best care provider for you, and recommend Cristen’s course, which can be found at https://birthmonopoly.com/.

The Making of “Mother, May I?” 1:31
Caroline Malatesta’s Story And Its Implications 15:02
Kimberly Turbin’s and Other Stories; Effect of Trauma 31:36
Legal Rights; Provider Mismatch; Cristen’s Course for Knowing Your Rights 42:26

“I think it’s really important not to draw this very clear line -- as exists now -- between trauma and poor care, because these things absolutely are connected with each other. We can’t say that birth trauma is one issue, and bad or unsafe medical care is another issue.” 12:22

https://birthmonopoly.com/
birthcircle.com

What Is Obstetric Violence? | Know Your Rights with Cristen Pascucci

Today we talk with Cristen Pascucci, the founder of Birth Monopoly (https://birthmonopoly.com/), an organization that is committed to advancing the human right of each birthing person to determine how, where, and with whom they give birth. Cristen shares how her experience giving birth led to her awareness of the violation of women’s rights in birth across the country. We talk about how common thought surrounding childbirth can lead from assault and degradation to normalization. We also discuss obstetric violence and how the history of obstetrics has led to the conditions and culture surrounding birth today. We go further into obstetric violence, discussing terminology, matters of legality vs. hospital policy, and other nuances surrounding consent and birth plans.

Cristen’s Background in Birth 1:08
Changing Mainstream Birth Culture; Safety and Choice 12:07
Obstetric Violence 24:00
Other Forms of Obstetric Violence; Legality vs. Policy 44:22

“Saying that it’s not 100% safe is not an excuse for over medicalizing it and forcing things on people. And we know that it doesn’t equate to better health outcomes. And I think that’s the thing that continually blows my mind: when I see the justifications for certain assaults, of like, ‘Well, we need to keep somebody healthy here.’ No, no, no, because you’re literally doing the riskier thing.” 21:07

https://birthmonopoly.com/

Placenta Consumption is Useful, Healthy, and Safe...Wait, What? | Shannon Shepherd

In today’s episode we interview Shannon Shepherd, a doula and placenta encapsulation specialist with Bloom Women’s Center (https://www.bloombirthutah.com/). We define placenta encapsulation and consumption and clear up myths and misconceptions about it. We talk about the benefits of placenta consumption, as well as safe practice for doing so. We talk about GBS (Group B Strep) and debunk the myths surrounding potential harm placenta encapsulation may cause to your breastfeeding child. We also discuss how we can make it a more comfortable subject, and how Bloom’s high safety and professional standard is meant to help with that. We go over some of the different ways placentas are consumed, and we talk about Bloom’s method and their dosage guidelines, as well as the price of their service.

-What is Placenta Encapsulation?; Shannon’s Background; Benefits/Safety 1:17
-Debunking Myths Around GBS and Harm Towards Breastfeeding Children 18:13
-Opening Up The Dialogue; Bloom’s High Professional Standard 21:53
-Different Ways To Consume; Dosage Guidelines; Myths; Benefits 29:56

“We’ve had these conversations with women who are talking about their postpartum time as a nightmare; as the lowest point in their lives. I -- in my business, how many postpartum women I interact with -- I hear that almost daily. Something like that. It’s just a nightmare. So to think something like this is helping any of them, then it’s like, ‘okay, hold on, let’s just try it.’” 22:21

https://www.bloombirthutah.com/

How Do I Take Care of Myself If I Am a Diabetic and Pregnant? | Karina Robinson

In today’s episode, we interview Karina Robinson, who is a doula with Type 1 diabetes, and is a designer of a course for diabetes education for doulas and mothers. We talk about Gestational diabetes and how it can indicate or lead to Type 2 diabetes, as well as how it can affect birth and the precautions you should take accordingly. We discuss the causes and effects of Type 1 diabetes, illustrating with some of Karina’s experiences. We talk about the special considerations for labor and birth for diabetics or those with Gestational diabetes. We also talk about what is covered in Karina’s course, which you can find at https://diabetesandpregnancy.org/. If you have further questions, you can also reach Karina through the same website.

-Effects and Causes of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes 1:23
-Special Considerations for Labor and Birth with GD and/or Diabetes 8:20
-Karina’s Diabetes Education Course for Doulas and Mothers 36:00

“So I teach them how to avoid the risks of preeclampsia, because my doctors didn’t even tell me to take a baby aspirin -- because it reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 15% -- and I was like ‘Why did no one tell me this?’” 38:14

A Birth Mother With No Regrets | How to Place Your Child in a Healthy Situation

Today we interview Shannon Shepherd, a birth mother and friend of Sarah’s. She talks about her experience placing her child in an open adoption. We talk about the nuances of open adoption and how that term can mean different things for each person. We discuss bonding between adopted parents and child, and how uncommon adoption is compared to abortion, despite the fact that adoption does not come with the same regret. We also talk about topics such as dealing with stigma and disappointment, as well as how to contribute to a healthy situation for both families. Shannon tells more of her story of how she came to her decision, including how she worked through counseling and sought legal advice. We also talk about Shannon’s experience with birth and postpartum after deciding to place her child.

-Shannon’s Decision; Using Correct Terms; Open Adoption; Regret 0:31
-Stigma; Future Pregnancies; Bonding; Disappointment; Doing What’s Best 10:36
-More on Bonding; Contributing to a Healthy Situation; Open Discussions 22:38
-Counseling and Seeking Legal Help; Choosing Adoption, Adoption Process; Birth and Postpartum 28:59

“To me I’ve learned in my 39 years of life that we just need to get into our own hearts and our own minds and our own intentions, and just let the universe work itself out if people judge us for what we did.” 11:49

How Can I Feel Better During Pregnancy? | Holistic Mind-Body Health and Your Childbirth Experience

Today we talk with Kristy Rodriguez, HypnoBirthing® childbirth educator and author of “Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby.” We discuss the topic of holistic mind-body health and how it relates to pregnancy and birth. We start out talking about the importance of being supportive of and kind to ourselves about our diet during pregnancy, taking into account the reality of bio-individuality. We talk about mindfulness and the physical and mental aspects of holistic health, particularly the best ways to protect your mental and physical energy during pregnancy. We then define the holistic mind-body connection and give several examples from real life, and then apply that to your pregnancy, birth, postpartum, post-weaning, and mothering experiences. We also talk about using Yoga and breathing techniques in strengthening our relaxation response.

-Kristy’s Background in Birth 0:53
-Providing Yourself Grace and Kindness About What You Eat 5:46
-Ways to Protect Mental and Physical Energy 14:46
-What is the Holistic Mind-Body Connection? 22:23

“The breath has a very powerful impact on our body, and that’s why breath work -- breathing techniques -- are such a big part of many childbirth education classes, because we can use the breath to support us through the birthing process.” 30:48

https://www.purenurture.com/

What is Causing My Infertility? | Fertility and Women’s Reproductive Health with Ashley Jensen, CNM

In today’s episode, we talk fertility and women’s health with Ashley Jensen, CNM with the University of Utah. We talk about the most common causes of infertility in women; some of these are unhealthy eggs despite regular cycles, and low levels of hormones that affect the development of the egg. We also talk about the important difference between normal symptoms of PMS and common symptoms. We talk about treatments to help the conception process, and how it’s best to have intercourse when the body is producing cervical mucus along with higher levels of estrogen. We talk about natural vs. unnatural approaches to fertility treatment, naming IBF as the most unnatural. We talk about the importance of nutrition in fertility, recommending low carb, low sugar diets as the most conducive to conception. We talk about the most effective methods for fertility diagnosis in both women and men. We also discuss common mistakes couples make that contribute to infertility, the causes of endometriosis, as well as hormones and postpartum depression.

-Causes of Infertility; Processes of Menstrual Cycle; Aides to Conception 1:39
-Natural vs. Unnatural Approaches to Fertility Treatment; Nutrition 20:18
-Other Causes of Infertility; Cooperative Treatment 31:37
-Common Mistakes Couples Make; PCOS; Endometriosis; Hormones and Postpartum Depression 45:13

“But when we are using hormones, we’re using human-identical hormones; so hormones that are exactly like what your body makes. So we never use birth control for anything -- for any condition whatsoever -- because those are not real hormones; they’re artificial hormones. And when we are doing ovulation induction medications, we’re trying to simulate a normal cycle. ” 23:11

The Many Flavors of Postpartum Doulas | Sierra Brooks and Danka Orellana

Today we talk with Sierra Brooks and Danka Orellana with Bud to Blossom postpartum doula services. We talk about the services they offer, including the roles of a Sunrise doula, a Good Morning doula, a Dinner doula, a Bedtime doula, an Overnight doula, and a Foodie doula. They emphasize that their primary role isn’t to take care of the baby, but to take care of, strengthen, and support the mother and the family. We discuss postpartum mood disorders and how they could occur anytime within the first year. We talk about the importance of eating well during postpartum, as well as how the postpartum doulas will help keep the balance in the upkeep of the home and support of the family during this transitionary period. We then discuss the process of training and certifying postpartum doulas. We also discuss the importance of viewing Postpartum doulas as trained professionals, and encourage investing in postpartum assistance, emphasizing the joy it brings to family and doulas.

-Sierra and Danka’s Background in Postpartum care; Types of Doulas at Bud to Blossom 2:10
-Nutrition in Postpartum; Helping Maintain Balance in the Home 23:34
-Training for Postpartum Doulas 31:54

“What is really nice about a postpartum doula is you don’t have to tell them how to do things and what to do. I mean, a quick little, ‘This is how I like things done,’ yes. But we know how to assess and see what you need so that you don’t have to tell us; we can just provide it for you.” 10:15

Birth in Latin America and Latino Culture | Carla Belliard

In today’s episode, we talk with Carla Belliard, a doula from the Dominican Republic. She talks about birthing in Latin America and how it’s more common in the DR to give birth through a C-section. This is because most workers have insurance, and there’s a cultural stigma surrounding vaginal birth on the basis of social status and fear. We discuss cultural attitudes surrounding birth and the origins of these attitudes. We also talk about the importance of educating women about the process and consequences of C-sections vs. other birthing procedures. We discuss Informed consent and how, in Latin America, women are not allowed to question their doctors. We talk about how the family dynamic in Latin America can affect the birthing experience and vice versa, as well as supporting and empowering moms and planning for a positive birth and postpartum experience.

-Birthing Culture in Latin America 3:57
-Educating Women About Birth 23:35
-Informed Consent; Birthing and Family Models 34:31
-Making Empowered Choices and Influencing Others to Do the Same 44:12

“And I always emphasize the importance of knowing who you choose to be your provider. Maybe talking about how your provider is working for you, and not you for your provider, is the first step. Like, empowering everyone -- whether you’re black, latino, asian, white -- how, if you choose to work with a provider, your provider is working for you. You’re paying that person.” 36:24

Birth Boot Camp | Hollie Hauptly

Today we talk with Holly Hauptly, an instructor at Birth Boot Camp where she provides a variety of childbirth classes for expecting couples. We explain the different courses that are offered at Birth Boot Camp and give an outline of the topics covered in the comprehensive course. These classes include the history of birth methods, the use of interventions, induction methods, involving dads and partners, birthing positions, birth plans, newborn procedures, breastfeeding, postpartum changes, and more. We also discuss the academic style of teaching at Birth Boot Camp and how to determine if these classes are the best fit for you.

Courses at Baby Birth Camp -- Finding the Best Fit 4:54
Outline of the 10 Week Comprehensive Course 7:07
Is Birth Boot Camp Best For You? 35:21
Taking the Fear Out of Birth 41:00

“One reason that we created all the different classes that we’ve got now is so that we really can meet everybody where they’re at. You know, if you don’t want to have a natural birth, that’s okay; we’ve got our hospital class that might be a really great fit for you.” 36:57

birthbootcamp.com
utahbirthdoula.com

Dunstan Baby Language | Kelly Buck

In today’s episode, we talk with a doula, Kelly Buck, about the Dunstan Baby Language. This is a system that identifies the sounds of the natural reflexes that all babies have. If you learn the system, or “language,” you will be able to more accurately and quickly meet your baby’s needs. Kelly also teaches methods of responding to or relieving the baby’s needs after they are correctly identified. We discuss some good approaches to ensure your baby is comfortable, such as layering clothing and “baby wearing.” We then talk about how you can learn more and become better at identifying and meeting your baby’s needs.

What is the Dunstan Baby Language? 0:44
Crash Course in Dunstan Baby Language -- What are the Sounds? 4:20
How You Can Learn More 22:31
How Long Can You Use the Dunstan Baby Language 24:28

“I loved that fact that it also made my husband feel confident; that he could step in and help, because he knew what to do. A lot of times we find these moms that are nervous to leave their babies with their husbands because they’re not sure if their husbands are capable. So this system makes them capable!” 21:57

http://shebirthservices.com/

Understanding Women’s Hormone Health | Dr. Mariza

In today’s episode, we talk about fertility, pregnancy, and birth hormones with Dr. Mariza, who is an expert in women’s hormone health. She talks about how her own struggles with hormonal balance led to her search for better solutions. We talk about combating the stigma surrounding women’s physical, mental, and emotional challenges surrounding their hormonal and reproductive health, and how we shouldn’t accept the myth that it’s normal to struggle and feel awful in these areas. We go into detail about what is changing in your body during the different stages of the menstrual cycle and explain how these processes affect you. We discuss what may be the root causes of any abnormalities with fertility and other physical processes, and what the best solutions are to treat them and protect and support your body. We also talk about knowing what has changed during pregnancy and postpartum, and the importance of giving yourself grace and honoring the process.

-Dr. Mariza’s Background 0:53
-Empowered With The Right Language -- Challenge the “Difficult Patient” Label 6:35
-Understanding Hormones -- An Introductory Guide 10:02
-Hormonal Birth Control and the Rise of Cancer; Hormones and Pregnancy/Postpartum 36:36

“If indeed you are in survival mode, your thyroid is absolutely imperative for metabolism. So if you’ve got a thyroid issue, you 100 percent have a stress issue--you’ve got an HPA axis issue. They go hand in hand; I haven’t met anyone who’s got a thyroid problem without a stress problem.” 26:45

https://www.drmariza.com/podcast/

Q&A With an OB | Dr. Sean Edmunds

In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Sean Edmunds, an OB practicing in Utah. We discuss topics such as breech delivery, delivering twins, and the importance of building trust between patient and medical provider. We go over several examples of when and how patients and medical providers can work things out and resolve conflict. We also answer several questions surrounding preeclampsia, active management of the placenta, coached pushing with Epidurals, and the MTHFR mutation. We discuss the reasons behind common methods of checking, as well as the use of Lidocaine on the Perineum, the crowning process, and the influence of liability insurance on medical practice.

Breech Delivery, Delivering Twins, and Delivering in the OR 4:05
Reconciling Hospital Policy With Patient’s Needs; Informed Consent 9:21
Q&A: Preeclampsia, Active Management, Epidurals, MTHFR 26:55
More Q&A: Methods of Checking, Lidocaine on Perineum, Crowning, Insurance 39:20

“Whatever they’re comfortable with, I’m comfortable with. And they have questions, I want them to ask. And we have those discussions sometimes, where they say, ‘Okay, here’s my birth plan. Can we look at it together?’ And I always look at every bullet -- every bullet point they make, so that we have a discussion in advance.” 14:10

Taking the Fear Out of Birth | Rickie Bryner

In today’s episode, we discuss how to take the fear out of birth with Rickie Bryner, Childbirth Educator and Postpartum Doula. We discuss how birthing trends have changed and how we can use new methods to meet changing needs. We also go into the importance of empowering birth videos and discourse, as well as the importance of self-care and communication. Further, we mention that support from others contributes greatly to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the months following birth.

Who Rickie Bryner Is And How She Got Her Start 0:58
How Trends Have Changed In Birthing 8:34
Where Do Fears Come From?/Support is Key for Coping 23:11
Learning From One Another 34:45
Prioritize Rest After Childbirth in Your Birth Plan 39:58

“A lot of times, postpartum depression peaks at around 3-4 months postpartum. And the moms that have attended my support group that really take care of themselves for the first month or so, those are the moms at 3 or 4 months that are just feeling better, they’re thriving.” 22:44

babyyourbump.com

Birth Words | Sarah Pixton

In today’s episode, we interview Sarah Pixton, the creator of the Birth Words website and Podcast. Sarah is a BBC-Certified Doula and a student at the University of Massachusetts Boston getting her Master's in Applied Linguistics. In our discussion, we analyze a better approach to using birth affirmations, the discourse of birth, and how language can leave an impression and frame our experience. The importance of being sensitive is emphasized as we talk about how our language contributes to the feelings surrounding an experience.


Sarah’s Background and What She Does 0:58
Birth Words and Reframing Our Language Surrounding Birth 10:29
Underlying Beliefs and Assumptions, Discourse 17:47
How Words Frame Our Experiences 27:19
Sensitivity: Matching the Effect of Our Words With Their Intent 32:06

“I think that a big reason that my second birth experience was very different than my first was because I inducted myself into this society of women who had had positive birth experience. And I did that mostly by reading positive birth stories. But before my baby was born, I was with these women who were empowered, who were life-givers, who just were in awe of the things that they could do. And so that’s what happened when I gave birth.” 40:36

https://www.birthwords.com

Evidence Based Birth | Rebecca Dekker

In today’s episode, we talk with Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence Based Birth and author of “Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered.” She describes what Evidence Based Birth is and how it can put research into your hands to help you make empowered choices for your birth. Within the episode, we cover the significant topic of how to work with the hospital in order to achieve your birth plan. We also answer common questions such as: "Is eye-ointment a required treatment for your newborn?", "Does pineapple juice help with contractions?", and "What are the benefits of Vitamin K supplements?" In addition, Rebecca explains the best way to use the resources she and her team provide for the community.


-What is Evidence Based Care? 1:18
-Is It Evidence Based?: Eating During Labor 7:47
-Professional Guidelines Can Be Flawed 9:55
-Defensive Medical Practice and Banning Over Innovating 11:56
-Change Can Happen 15:02
-Working With Hospitals to Achieve Your Birth Plan 18:54
-Dispelling Myths With Evidence-Based Care 24:01
-How evidencbasedbirth.com Finds Answers to Your Questions 38:18
-Using Evidence Based Birth’s Resources 45:01

“I’m spending a lot of time on this, way more than I would normally because I just feel like this is probably one of the most valuable resources that a mom could use.” Sarah, 46:41.

evidencebasedbirth.com

The Life of a CNM | Jennifer Krebs

"In today’s episode we talk with Jennifer Krebs, a hospital Certified Nurse Midwife. She discusses the particulars of her job, and we cover topics such as the importance of the midwifery model of care, providing options and accommodating clients’ needs and wishes, and how a CNM works with associates and patients to ensure a safe and positive birthing experience.

Intro: Daily Schedule/Routine of a CNM 0:42
Jennifer Chose Midwifery Because of Her Desire to Serve Other Women 2:46
Service Offered to Clients--Trying to Sympathize 7:27
Midwifery and Hospital Policy 10:45
Jennifer’s Practice 12:39
Clients’ Interviews and Accommodations 17:16
Improvements in the Medical Culture--Women’s Care and Empowerment 20:34
Distinguishing Between Pain and Suffering for Clients 22:18
Involving Partners in the Birthing Process 28:15
Preventing/Responding to Tearing 30:30
How Epidurals Can Change Cues 41:18
Dilation 46:37
Monitoring 50:54
Conclusion: Letting Women Choose 56:39

“It should be an experience that is memorable, and loving, and positive, and empowering, and there is a way for any woman’s desired birth to be that way.” 58:31"