For her second VBAC, Kristen Bowles was almost sent home from the hospital, when she wasn’t progressing past 2 cm after more than 4 hours. As they were getting ready to leave, her water broke, and then she went from 4 cms to pushing unexpectedly fast, even though she was sitting on the edge of the bed about to get an epidural. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-nonlinear-2VBAC-story Use the code THANKFUL for ...
Nov 20, 2019•48 min•Ep. 232
For Shea Cole, getting pregnant was easy, the trick was staying pregnant. After 3 miscarriages, getting to the end of a pregnancy was a huge mix of happiness and relief, yet it brought along its own set of unusual circumstances like Shea breaking her leg, having a stranger break into her house, and her water breaking 78 hours before the birth of her daughter. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-birth-center-bi...
Oct 23, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 228
Does your baby sleep with an open mouth? Do they make noise when breathing? Are they copious droolers? Do they have lip blisters? Do they hate tummy time, or have a lot of reflux? These are signs that oral function may need to be evaluated, but why does optimal oral function matter? Michelle Emanuel has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-optimal-oral-function-breastfeeding To get the extra content re...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 225
During pregnancy and birth, it has somehow become OK for others to tell those giving birth, what they can and cannot do with their bodies, even when being subjected to unsafe care and in violation of their human and legal rights. So what can you do about it? Cristen Pascucci tells us more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-informed-consent If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Click to join the...
Sep 18, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 223
Alena LeShack went from not knowing anything about birth and considering a scheduled cesarean to preparing for -and having- an unmedicated birth. She had a flowing and empowering hospital birth, fueled by her confidence, the support of her team, and even a little dose of Virtual Reality. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-unmedicated-VR-birth-story Click to join the Birthful Patreon Community, and get the ext...
Sep 11, 2019•48 min•Ep. 222
I’m Adriana Lozada, and today I’ll be talking with Rebecca Dekker about Evidence Based Care, how it relates to Florence Nightingale, why it matters and how to bring its three components into your maternity care. We also talk about the evidence for using Castor oil as an induction method and much more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-evidence-based-care-castor-oil If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to su...
Sep 04, 2019•50 min•Ep. 221
Laura Kline-Taylor spent most of her first pregnancy preparing for motherhood while healing from infidelity, and then had three days to get ready for an unexpected breech cesarean. Second time around, both she and her husband were in a much better place to come together to celebrate this new pregnancy, and intentionally prepare for an unmedicated VBAC. Listen to how she was transformed. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful...
Aug 28, 2019•51 min•Ep. 220
Elimination Communication it’s a way of responding to your baby’s pottying cues that can lead to being diaper free. This is what everyone did before diapers were invented, and how half the babies on Earth are currently potty independent by age one. Intrigued? Andrea Olson is here to tell us more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcast-elimination-communication If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe...
Aug 21, 2019•47 min•Ep. 219
Returning to work can be a pivotal moment on your breastfeeding journey that stirs up all sorts of feelings. How can you prepare yourself, your baby, you caregivers and your workplace to set you up for physiological and emotional success? Robin Kaplan has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-back-to-work-breastfeeding-emotions If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Click to join the Birthf...
Aug 07, 2019•53 min•Ep. 217
We continue to celebrate reaching 2 million downloads for the show! This is part 2 of my two-part minisode with some of my favorite birth mantras to convey physiology and help you navigate labor. If you haven’t yet, make sure you go listen to the previous episode first . These mantras are part of what I talk about with my doulas clients during prenatals, and I hope that they also prove super useful for you, and that in a way, it will be like I’m there in spirit during your birth, cheering you on...
Jul 10, 2019•24 min•Ep. 213
Today we are celebrating 2 million downloads for the podcast, and so I’m doing things a bit differently. Instead of our regular episodes, this is going to be a minisode with some of my favorite birth mantras to convey physiology and help you navigate labor, but since we hit two million downloads, I’ll be sharing these mantras over two minisodes. You get one today and another next week. These mantras are part of what I talk about with my doulas clients during prenatals, so hopefully they will pro...
Jul 03, 2019•20 min•Ep. 212
There are certain conditions where a newborn’s risk of hypoglycemia increases. What are those conditions? How and when are they tested for? If there’s a concern, does that mean your baby will get formula supplementation, and how does all of this impact initial breastfeeding? Dr. Casey Rosen-Carole has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-sugar-levels-breastfeeding If you enjoy what you hear, make sure ...
Jun 26, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 211
Lydia Palermo’s first birth started with a premature induction for preeclampsia, and resulted in many interventions. When she was diagnosed again with preeclampsia during her second pregnancy, and was looking at another imminent induction, she did everything in her power to get labor going, to hopefully birth on her own terms. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-induction-preeclampsia-fast-vaginal-birth-storie...
Jun 19, 2019•54 min•Ep. 210
If you’re pregnant, you may be sick of the question “When are you due?”, especially since the methods for calculating that date aren’t based on any current evidence. Only about 5% of babies are born on their due date, so why do we obsess? Gail Hart and her dogs tell us more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-due-dates Click to join the Birthful Patreon Community, and get the extra content related to this epi...
Jun 12, 2019•38 min•Ep. 209
You’d think choosing a childbirth education class would be straight forward, but as with most birth-related things, the options are nearly endless. Should you take the hospital class or an independent one? Lamaze, Bradley, Birthing from Within, Hypnobabies, or something else? When should you start? What do they cover, and how can you tell if the instructor is any good? Sharon Muza has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at b...
May 29, 2019•57 min•Ep. 207
Parijat Deshpande’s first pregnancy was extremely complicated and risky, with her micropreemie son being born at 24 weeks. So when it came to doing it again, the seemingly easier option was to use a surrogate. Or so they thought. Listen as Parijat takes us on an unbelievable rollercoaster of emotions that led to her taking home a healthy, full term baby girl. Go to birthful.com/simplybreastfeeding , and use the code BIRTHFUL for 15% off their breastfeeding course Click to join the Birthful Patre...
May 08, 2019•59 min•Ep. 204
The good news is that figuring out how to parent your newborn is something you can do while you discover what type of parent you want to be, and most of the time, your baby will lead the way. The even better news is that it will probably involve a skin-to-skin extravaganza. Dr. Bob Hamilton is here to tells us more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-parenting-newborn Click to join the Birthful Patreon Commun...
May 01, 2019•44 min•Ep. 203
If you had or have a baby who is suspected to be big, your provider may have talked about the risk of the shoulders getting stuck, and maybe suggested an earlier induction or even a cesarean. But how often do the shoulders get stuck? What are the risks? Does it happen more to big babies? Are there ways to prevent it, and what can you and your provider do if shoulder dystocia happens? The ever amazing Rachel Reed has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links li...
Apr 03, 2019•59 min•Ep. 199
What can you do after a truly exhausting birth leaves you in a daze, you’ve got intersecting breastfeeding issues and postpartum anxiety, you feel you are bonding more with your breast pump than your baby, have to return to work, and you don’t know how to ask for help? Sarah Fowler shares her experience. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-postpartum-back-labor-induction Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FRE...
Mar 13, 2019•50 min•Ep. 196
With a very underdeveloped brain that is making over a million connections per second, newborns occupy a unique reality. What do you as a parent need to know in order to tap into their built-in instruction manual? Greer Kirshenbaum has answers. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-newborn-brain Click to grab my free postpartum plan Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_Ma...
Mar 06, 2019•53 min•Ep. 195
Have you considered what motherhood means to you, and how you are going to integrate that, with your current identity? How do you feel about the words sacrifice and devotion? Sophie McEntee is here to tell us why becoming a mom can be such a messy process, and what you can do to prepare. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-identity-shift Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly ...
Feb 20, 2019•55 min•Ep. 193
What are some signs that your fertility is returning after giving birth? How does breastfeeding suspend your cycle, and for how long? What should you consider when thinking about the spacing between pregnancies? Lisa Hendrickson-Jack has answers to this and so much more. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-postpartum-fertility Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter ...
Feb 06, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 191
It’s extremely common for pushing stages to be managed, with laboring people reclining on their backs and being told to grab behind their knees and pull them open towards their ears, while tucking their chins, and holding their breath for a count of 10. Is this really the best way? Does it support physiology? And what effect does it have on the baby, and on the perineum that’s receiving the brunt of that exertion? The fabulous Whapio is here to tell us more. Get the most out of this episode by c...
Jan 23, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 189
I talk with Robin Kaplan about the importance of a good breastfeeding latch, along with what you can do if your baby has a shallow latch, a leaky latch, is developing sucking blisters, or takes way too long to feed, as well as how to save your nipples, and what to do when your older baby suddenly develops an uncomfortable latch. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-breastfeeding-latch Download Birthful's Postpa...
Jan 09, 2019•44 min•Ep. 193
Jacky Braun Zuker lives in Israel, and her birth story is a testament of how birth is not linear, how you can find your voice during labor, how care providers truly need to listen to the birthing person, and the importance of informing your intuition. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-Israel-birth-story Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter ! Don't miss even more...
Jan 02, 2019•48 min•Ep. 186
This is a bonus episode! Instead of the usual interview or story, today you are going to get a minisode with my compiled list of things that I believe can set any person up for a better birth, no matter how the baby decides to enter the world. And because, it’s the spirit of the season and what not, I’m calling it The 12 Days of Birth. Whatever your beliefs, I hope you have a wonderful and mindful end of the year. Enjoy! Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed...
Dec 19, 2018•26 min•Ep. 185
Chelsea Wiley had a fast and furious first birth, followed by a postpartum period that left her feeling overwhelmed, isolated and unprepared for being a parent. After realizing she was the one that needed mothering, she prepared differently during her second pregnancy by using traditional ayurvedic tools that helped her slow down, improved her postpartum experience and recovery, and changed the course of her life. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on...
Dec 05, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 183
In this episode of the Birthful podcast, I talk with Professor Gene Declercq about the complex realm of inductions. Are there good and not so good reasons for inductions? What are the risks? Do inductions lead to other interventions? Let’s see what the numbers say. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcast-induction/ If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE ...
Nov 28, 2018•44 min•Ep. 182
Today’s birth story, is with Nichole Joy, whose experiences have taken her from a Cesarean birth, to a VBAC, to an unexpected and unassisted home birth. She has gone from being afraid of giving birth and letting others guide her decision making, to trusting the process and being able to tell an EMT to “get your hand off of my vagina” as her baby’s body was about to emerge. Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcas...
Nov 21, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 181
Today’s show is about the impact of the over-sexualization of breasts on breastfeeding. If you breastfeed, you’ll find that your breasts undergo a radical identity shift from culturally sexual to biologically nurturing. So what does that have to do with how you feel while doing it, your ability to nurse in public, your decision on how long to breastfeed, having to deal with strangers opinions, and feeling many unwanted feelings like indignation and shame? Also, why do men have nipples? The Badas...
Nov 14, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 180
