Childbirth Education

How Understanding the Biomechanics of Your Pelvis Can Help Your Birth with Brittany Sharpe McCollum

Today, we’re exploring one of the most powerful tools for birth: movement. When we consider movement during labor and delivery, it raises questions such as: Does the shape and size of your pelvis impact the birthing process? How does the pelvis open? Can you move effectively if you have an epidural? Join us as we […]

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The Problem with Hospital Childbirth Education Classes with Ceridwen Morris

There’s a saying that goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and this is especially true when it comes to prepping for birth. If you aren’t informed about the different options for your birth, then how can you be expected to make the most informed decisions in your birth! Today, we’ll be diving into

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[Re-Release] Safer Than You Think: Pregnancy After 35 with Dr. Nicole Rankins, OB/GYN

Did you know that the number of babies born to first time parents in the US who are over 35 has been steadily increasing? I see countless parents in the PYC community (including myself) have their first child over 35. So why have we heard that it’s difficult and more dangerous to conceive after 35?

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The Body Ready Method and How It Can Help Your Birth! with Taylor Lee Bello

Have you ever thought about the importance of having your body internally balanced for labor and birth? Today we discuss The Body Ready Method and how it can assist you in your birth, because let’s be honest: so much of a functional birth is the work we do ahead of time. On today’s episode of

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Creating A Safe, Parent Centered, Trauma Informed Birth with Mandy Irby

If you were to describe your ideal birth, I’m guessing that you would describe your care as centered and individualized for you and your family’s needs. Many of you would probably talk about trauma informed care, and more than anything I think everyone wants a safe birth. You probably wouldn’t describe being treated like a

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Why Your Baby’s Position Matters for an Easier Birth with Ann Gilligan RN, LNC, RPYT

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a bit, you likely know that something I’m incredibly passionate about is optimal fetal positioning. In part it’s because of my own experiences with birth going from a very long first birth to a much more efficient second birth. When a baby is better aligned in the

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How To Advocate for Yourself During Pregnancy and Birth with HeHe Stewart

Imagine, you’re at your 38 week check up and your care provider wants to do a cervical exam. For some people this might sound great, but what if it doesn’t? Do you have to have the exam because your care provider suggested it? What about continuous fetal monitoring during your labor, birthing on your back,

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Fluid Birth Plans with Liesel Teen BSN, RN

If you’re pregnant you may find yourself scrolling through Tik Tok or instagram, happening upon a video or post and thinking “I want my birth to look like that.” Whether you’re thinking about the music you’d like to hear during birth or figuring out what type of pain management you’d like these preferences are often

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Body Balance for a Better Birth with Lindsay McCoy

What can you do if labor seems to be, well, stuck? Most birthing people I know (including myself) want to move labor along! So how can we help that happen and avoid “stalled” labor? On today’s episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies doula and exercise physiologist Lindsey McCoy, gives us tools and tips to help balance

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Where to Birth: Know Your Options with Catherine Stewart-Lindley

Where will you be giving birth? Did you know there are options? Today we’re going to be talking about where to give birth, because if you don’t know your options, you don’t have them. From hospital births, to birth centers, and home births these different locations all have pros and cons and honestly, not everyone

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How To Use Spinning Babies for A Smoother, More Balanced, and More Efficient Birth with Gail Tully

If you could choose between a functional efficient labor or a dysfunctional and inefficient labor I’m guessing you would choose functional and efficient labor. I have been to many births as a doula and I’ve had 2 kids of my own. While the body may need time to open to let the baby descend and

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Induction: Yes, Maybe, or No? with Marley Hall

Inductions occur for a variety of reasons, sometimes they’re wanted and medically necessary but sometimes expectant parents feel like they’re being pressured into one. So why would or should someone be induced? And if your care provider is suggesting one, how do you navigate that conversation? In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies I speak

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Tearing Versus An Episiotomy with Dr. Heather Jeffcoat

You may have heard it’s easier to repair a straight and even cut as opposed to a jagged tear from vaginal births. But is this something that’s actually supported by medical evidence or merely a falsehood passed down about birth? In today’s episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies I talk to Dr. Heather Jeffcoat DPT all about

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Know Your Options: Pain Meds During Labor with Rachel Salem CRNA

No matter which way you may be leaning in terms of pain meds during labor, it’s important to know all your options so that you can make an informed decision. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Rachel Salem, about all your options for pain medicine during labor. Rachel shares the

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Babies, Birth Flow And Balance The Spinning Babies® Way with Gail Tully

I recently returned the Spinning Babies Parent Educator Training and have been so inspired by the work that I wanted to re-release this wonderful and insightful conversation with Spinning Babies®  founder, Gail Tully.  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, Gail Tully (CPM) explains Spinning Babies® methodology and shares how the baby’s position and the pregnant body impacts the birth flow. She

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Getting the Support You Need Throughout Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum with Jada Shapiro

Did you know that the memory of your birth and your satisfaction with it directly correspond to how you perceive being treated during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum? This is a big reason why it’s important to make sure you’re getting the support and respect you need throughout your whole journey of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.

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Plan for Fear

I remember a midwife once telling me that it’s those who don’t have any nervousness around labor and delivery that worry her most. You might think that’s strange however, birth is full of many unknowns. Sure we know that you’ll leave labor with your baby now a part of the “outside” world, but we really

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How To Approach Your VBAC With Confidence with Meagan Heaton of VBAC Links

VBAC’s are a birth option that one comes to with a great deal of preparation and planning. If this is your envisioned birth option, likely you desire the chance to experience a vaginal birth.  To help see that vision come true, it’s important to stack the cards in your favor and one of the best ways

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How Does Stress Affect My Pregnancy? with Parijat Deshpande

There’s a reason this podcast caught your eye, likely because you’re feeling a bit stressed and want to know how this could affect your pregnancy and baby. While stress is a normal part of life, especially at times of great change, like pregnancy and new parenthood, it could create imbalances in the nervous system, endocrine

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Everything You Need To Know About Being Induced with Trish Ware

Approximately 1 in 4 pregnant people will be induced. With rates this high, understanding induction and all it entails can help demystify the induction process and reduce fear, which can make your whole birth more satisfying.  In this episode of Yoga |Birth|Babies, I speak with Labor and Delivery nurse, childbirth educator and mother of 7,

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Failure to Progress In Labor with Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins

Failure to progress in labor. Can we all agree this is a horrible name and can impact someone’s view of their ability to give birth! For years, birthing people have been expected to follow “Freidman’s Curve” a standard set by a trial of only 500 participants conducted nearly 50 years ago. Recently, ACOG has set

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Myths & Realities of Debated Pregnancy & Birth Topics with Dr. Shannon Clark

There are so many resources to gather information about pregnancy, labor and birth. How do you know what’s accurate and what’s misleading? In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with double board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist, Shannon M. Clark, MD, MMS, FACOG about the myths and realities of many pregnancy

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Due Dates & Induction with Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins

Due dates, that looming day etched in your mind when your journey through pregnancy will come to an abrupt ending. But how accurate are these given dates and what happens if that day comes and goes?  In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies I speak with board-certified, practicing OB/GYN, Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins. Nicole

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Supporting Queer, Trans, Non-Binary Folks in Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum with Beth Hardy

In a world that often categorizes people and events in a binary manner, those who fall beyond the binary often face unseen challenges. Family planning, reproductive care, and birth are no exceptions. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with doula, childbirth educator and board-certified music therapist, Beth Hardy about supporting

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The Peanut Ball and the Pelvis with Cheri Grant the “Peanut Ball Lady”

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Cheri Grant, also known world wide as the “Peanut Ball Lady”. Cheri explains how peanut balls are incorporated into labor and how they can positively effect labor. She goes into detail about how the different positions of a peanut ball can open the

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Creating A Respectful and Collaborative Relationship With Your Care Providers & Hospital Staff with Chloe Lubell

Birthing people sometimes feel like they are going into a hospital setting needing to have their guard up to defend their birth preferences against the enemy- the medical institution. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with former hospital and now home birth midwife, Chloë Lubell about how to create a respectful, collaborative and balanced

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Improving the Birth and Health Outcome for Black Moms and Babies

“There is a significant amount of evidence that shows that healthcare providers hold stereotypes based on a patient’s race, class, sex, and other characteristics. This influences their interpretation of behaviors and symptoms, and even their overall clinical decisions.”states this week’s podcast guest, Alexandra Samuel-Sturgess The CDC reports that black mothers in the US are 3

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Understanding Telehealth with Eugenia Montesenos

Telehealth has become the norm while social distancing is being respected. This can leave some new and expectant parents anxious about the care they will receive as leading up to their birth and recovering during postpartum.  In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with Certified Nurse Midwife, Eugenia Montesenos about telehealth care. Eugenia explains

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Breastfeeding and Epidurals with Dianne Cassidy

Did you know there is a correlation between breastfeeding issues and epidurals? The continuous IV fluid given to birthing people during labor may render the breasts more swollen. The nipples become harder, flat, and more shallow.  This can cause problems for the baby to latch successfully. “If mothers realize the swelling and difficulty latching is just

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Hypnobirthing with Kristy Rodriguez

The hormonal blue print needed to move labor forward has a few requirements. For the body to function well in labor, we need to remove pressure, stress, shame and anxiety and help the laboring person find deep relaxation. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with HypnoBirthing® childbirth educator, certified holistic health coach, and author

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Birth Flow and Balance with Gail Tully of Spinning Babies®

Have you ever wondered why some births are fast and furious while others slowly putter along? Many times it has to do with the delicate dance between the baby’s position and the balance and room made in the pregnant person’s pelvis and soft tissue.  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with the creator of

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Pregnancy and Birth During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Pregnancy and being a brand new parent inherently carries a fair amount of anxiety and uncertainty. Add in an unprecedented pandemic, and that anxiety is likely to increase. One of the best ways to combat these feelings are solid and supportive answers to best prepare for what lies ahead. In this very special and timely

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Preparing for Cesarean: A Necessary Conversation with Mary Esther Malloy

Currently in the US, approximately one-third of all babies are born by cesarean. However, it’s interesting to note that when I asked my prenatal yoga class of 21 pregnant people how many have considered the possibility of cesarean birth, only 3 people raised their hands.  For many, the idea of a surgical birth is something

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