Jessica shares the story of her unmedicated vaginal breech birth in a hospital setting. She discusses the numerous challenges she faced during her pregnancy, including finding a provider who was supportive of a vaginal breech birth, and the immense amount of research she conducted to feel safe and confident in her choice. She references resources such as Breech Without Borders and expert Dr. Stuart Fischbein. Jessica also describes her mental preparation and the importance of trusting her body. ...
Feb 23, 2024•31 min
Gina and Roxanne share their tips for ensuring labor progress and the best chance at a vaginal birth with an epidural. Roxanne explains how epidurals work, what the procedure entails, and the risks and benefits. They emphasize the value of movement and changing positions during labor, sharing how to do this safely with an epidural, to help facilitate labor progress. Key topics include how an epidural works, the ideal time to get one, potential risks and complications, how it could affect labor p...
Feb 21, 2024•41 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Megan shares her experiences of having two pregnancies with preeclampsia. During her first birth, Megan discovered she had severe preeclampsia at her 37 week check up, and underwent a Cesarean birth after an induction led to complications for her baby. She felt uninformed and out of control during her first birth, leading her to educate herself further for her second birth. Despite developing preeclampsia again in her second pregnancy, this time it was less severe, an...
Feb 16, 2024•41 min
In this episode Gina and Roxanne discuss fitness in the first trimester. They address concerns about exercise during this stage and debunk myths related to potential risks of working out in early pregnancy. They share the science on the benefits of exercise, particularly in promoting placental development and function. However, they also emphasize that expecting mothers shouldn't force themselves to exercise if they are experiencing fatigue and discomfort, assuring listeners it's okay to rest an...
Feb 14, 2024•33 min
*Trigger Warning* This episode discusses multiple pregnancy losses Paige shares her four pregnancy stories and two birth stories in this episode. Paige’s first pregnancy was an early pregnancy loss within days of finding out she was pregnant, which happened to be at the beginning of the pandemic and left her feeling felt isolated and confused. During Paige’s second pregnancy, she attempted to prepare for birth, but was mostly focused on preparing for what came after birth–so she felt unprepared ...
Feb 09, 2024•37 min
In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Gina and Roxanne discuss biomechanics of effective pushing during childbirth. The aim is to create more space in the pelvis to aid in Baby’s final rotations through the pelvis to be born. They talk about the importance of internal rotation of the femurs and its connection to creating more space in the pelvic outlet. They also delve into positioning that encourages free movement of the sacrum, a way to add more space front-to-back in the pelvic outlet. D...
Feb 07, 2024•37 min
Dani shares her two birth stories in this week’s Birth Story Friday. For her first birth, Dani did not do much preparation outside of exercising (which she felt comfortable doing after finding MamasteFit, and was able to wade through endless misinformation about the safety of prenatal fitness). Dani was not aware of her options in a hospital setting, and after her provider recommended an elective induction at 39 weeks, Dani happily agreed. Reflecting on her first birth, Dani felt she was not in ...
Feb 03, 2024•37 min
In this episode, Gina sits down with Heather Helton, a certified nurse midwife in North Carolina. Heather uses social media to educate patients on pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, and more, as everyone deserves the same access to care and education to make informed decisions on their own experiences. She shares how you can optimize your time with your OB provider, especially if you have limited time at your appointments with them, and how you can use other resources to provide you the gene...
Jan 31, 2024•42 min
Madison shares her experience of an unmedicated hospital birth, which progressed more quickly than staff expected, taking place in a bathroom after flagging down a nearby nurse to catch the baby! Madison discusses her pregnancy journey, preparation for birth, and her rapid labor process. She speaks about her decision to have an unmedicated birth and how she navigated through emotional and physical challenges with support from her husband and doula. In This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the Mama...
Jan 26, 2024•36 min
Hosts Gina and Roxanne sit down with Jenni Sills, a functional hormone specialist and founder of Life Simply Balanced. Jenni openly discusses her personal conception journey, where she struggled for a long time before choosing to use an egg donor and IVF to conceive. Her story is impactful as she highlights her process of acceptance and her bond with her baby. She also shares insights on the importance of supporting hormone health, particularly during preconception, conception, into pregnancy an...
Jan 24, 2024•49 min
Join us for the birth story of Lauren, who shares her experiences between her two births. Her first birth was unmedicated induction at 37 weeks due to high blood pressure, which led to pushing for four hours. For her second birth, despite the baby being in unstable lie (flipping positions from breech to head down frequently), a successful ECV leads to another induction where she pushed for only 12 minutes! Lauren provides valuable insights into how she prepared physically and mentally for her se...
Jan 19, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Gina is joined by her husband, Barron, as they share their personal journey of navigating pregnancy after experiencing two miscarriages. They discuss the emotional challenges they faced, the difficulty in feeling confident about subsequent pregnancies, and how they coped with the anxiety. The couple also highlights the importance of a supportive community in times of grief and provides tips for both the person experiencing the pregnancy loss and their p...
Jan 17, 2024•50 min
In this Birth Story Friday, first-time mom Becky narrates her empowering unmedicated hospital birth story. She shares all her experiences leading up to the birth, including the preparations and affirmations she practiced during her pregnancy to prepare both mind and body for an unmedicated experience. Becky also talks about the unexpected postpartum complications she faced, such as postpartum hemorrhage, an emergency D&C for a retained placenta, and her need for a blood transfusion. The epis...
Jan 12, 2024•37 min
In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne invite Dr. Sibyl Knight, a doctor of osteopathic medicine based in Monterey, California, to discuss the nature and benefits of osteopathic medicine. Dr. Knight explains the key differences between osteopathic medicine and traditional medicine, elaborating on the holistic approach osteopaths take toward treatment. She covers various topics including the role of osteopathic manipulations in alleviating pregnancy discomfort, aiding p...
Jan 10, 2024•35 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Petra passionately shares her empowering journey of giving birth vaginally after three C sections! She discusses her personal experiences and complications in each of her C-sections, as well as her journey towards a vaginal birth after that (VBAC). The episode discusses the importance of advocating for oneself during pregnancy and birth. Using the acronym BRAIN, Gina and Roxanne encourage pregnant people to question and consider the Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intu...
Jan 05, 2024•39 min
In this episode Gina and Roxanne explain the anatomy of the pelvis and the importance of opening each level during childbirth. This episode focuses on how the top of the pelvis, or inlet, opens; and how certain exercises and movements can aid in creating more space in this area during pregnancy and birth. The hosts share insightful information about the three distinct levels of the pelvis and the biomechanics involved in childbirth. They delve into key movement patterns that facilitate the openi...
Jan 03, 2024•24 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Elysia shares her unique birth story which involves a diagnosis of preeclampsia, a two vessel cord in her baby, and PPROM when her water broke before the 37 week mark. Despite these challenges, and having to be induced with Pitocin (something she had been hoping to avoid), Elysia was able to have a smooth birth, much like the one she had desired, with the help of her midwife and supportive hospital staff. She discusses her prenatal preparations, the benefits of childb...
Dec 29, 2023•19 min
Gina and Roxanne sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Johanna Provencher to discuss the important role physical therapy plays in prenatal care and how rehabilitation of the pelvic floor can impact pregnancy and birth. Johanna emphasizes the importance of working with a physical therapist who takes a holistic approach and examines the whole body, instead of focusing solely on symptoms in the pelvic floor. She also shares a bit about what she is doing in her own journey to conceive, a...
Dec 27, 2023•34 min
In this Birth Story episode, Hannah shares her unique journeys through two distinct births. After her first birth involving an unplanned C-section and her second being a Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC), her experiences led her to become a childbirth educator and birth doula. Full of insights and providing educational resources and courses for families and doulas, Hannah offers invaluable advice on dealing with the fears and obstacles related to VBACs and Cesarean birth support. This episode...
Dec 22, 2023•43 min
Gina and Roxanne, discuss personal and professional approaches to preparing for conception. The discussion includes the importance of understanding your menstrual cycle, fitness, diet, sleep, and finding support for your specific needs through blood work, and supplements. Gina, who plans to conceive her fourth child, shares her personal journey and the strategies she's putting into place. The duo also touch on how their fitness programs have helped them and can help prospective mothers prepare t...
Dec 20, 2023•38 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Dilshoda shares her birth story, focusing particularly on her experience of developing postpartum preeclampsia. Roxanne elaborates on the symptoms of this dangerous condition, which include elevated blood pressure, persistent headaches, abdominal pain, and vision changes. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle and maintaining fitness throughout pregnancy, Dilshoda developed preeclampsia postpartum, underscoring the unpredictability of the condition. Being aware of the sy...
Dec 15, 2023•31 min
In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne, experts in perinatal fitness, debunk common prenatal fitness myths. They explore the importance of movement for pregnant women, explaining why it is not only safe but beneficial for both mother and baby. They discuss prenatal fitness's role in enhancing resilience to stress, brain development, and health outcomes for babies, as well as its impact on postpartum recovery and overall comfort for expectant mothers. Several prenatal f...
Dec 13, 2023•53 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Victoria, shares her journey of an epidural hospital birth where her baby needed NICU support due to meconium aspiration. Victoria bravely shares about her battle with postpartum anxiety and depression, including how medication became a crucial part of her recovery. Gina shares her own personal experience with postpartum mood disorders, and our hopes to change the stigma around postpartum mental health so everyone who needs help feels confident in getting it! 00:00 In...
Dec 08, 2023•44 min
In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne engage in an enlightening discussion about pelvic organ prolapse, its impact, and how it can be managed. The topic holds significance for pregnant women, mothers, and anyone involved in perinatal fitness and health. It commences with an overview of what pelvic organ prolapse entails and the fear it often brings. They emphasize that although the condition may seem terrifying, effective management can render it asymptomatic. They ex...
Dec 06, 2023•36 min
This Birth Story Friday features Holly, a doula client of Gina’s, who shared her birth story. Holly experienced gestational hypertension, which led to a hospital induction. Having planned a natural birth without intervention, Holly navigated the unexpected circumstances with resilience and flexibility. She relives her pain and discomfort during pregnancy, the intensity of her induction, and the rapid dilation that led to the birth of her son. Gina and Roxanne describe the phases of labor and emp...
Dec 01, 2023•33 min
In this episode Gina and Roxanne welcome yoga teacher and author, Sarah Ezrin, to discuss the role of yoga in prenatal fitness and preparation for birth. Throughout the discussion, the trio tackle topics such as the importance of empowering mothers to understand where and when they may need modifications, and recognizing when a movement may or may not be suitable- rather than focusing solely on what NOT to do. They delve into understanding the pelvic floor, the importance of both internal and ex...
Nov 29, 2023•55 min
As the holiday season is officially upon us, Roxanne and Gina share their tips for traveling with young children. They’ve conquered it all, from flying across the globe to road trips across the country, and they sit down to discuss what has worked best for them when traveling with kids ages infant through six years! — Links Referred to in this Episode: Sign up for our newsletter here (scroll to the bottom!): https://mamastefit.com/blog/ MamasteFit’s Amazon List for Travel Essentials: https://www...
Nov 22, 2023•54 min
In this episode, Vicky's shares her home birth story, where she went into labor at nearly 42 weeks. Her partner was not able to physically support her during her labor because he had brain surgery a few weeks prior, and so she relied heavily on her doula. Vicky’s baby also presented with a shoulder dystocia at her birth, which her midwife was quickly able to resolve with no complications! Vicky shares about how pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum were affected by her diagnosis of Ehler-Danlos S...
Nov 17, 2023•33 min
In this episode we discuss the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and beyond with Webster Certified pediatric and perinatal chiropractor, Dr. Savannah Gardner. Dr. Gardner shares her own healing journey and discusses what exactly chiropractic care is and how it can be a beneficial addition to our perinatal journeys. -- Links Referred to in this Episode: Find Dr. Gardner on Instagram Here: https://www.instagram.com/familyandcochiro/?hl=en Find Her Website Here: https://familyandcochir...
Nov 15, 2023•48 min
In this Birth Story Friday, Lucia shares the story of her second birth, an unmedicated hospital birth, as well as a bit about her postpartum recovery journey from her first birth with a hematoma. In her birth story, Lucia also shares how she prepared physically for her second birth, and how she benefited from the MamasteFit prenatal fitness program for her birth preparation and supported her postpartum recovery Links Referred to in this Episode: Freebie Prenatal Program Sample: https://mamastefi...
Nov 10, 2023•31 min
