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 new car on an assembly line but did you know that the US hospital system follows procedures outlined by Toyota to streamline your experience?
On today’s episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies I speak with board certified labor nurse Mandy Irby about how to create a safe, patient centered, and trauma informed birth. Mandy offers incredible tactics that you can walk away from this episode with. She describes ways that you can advocate for yourself and she highlights the systemic issues of the current birth culture. She explains what individualized care is and how you can create that standard of care for yourself within a hospital.
If you are pregnant or just had a baby and this is something that resonates with you I highly recommend listening to this episode. It’s going to give you a way to support yourself or your team to support you, to advocate for yourself, and to make sure that the team that you’ve chosen really sees you and shows up for you. I’m excited for you to hear this conversation with Mandy!
In this episode you will learn:
- Learn about Mandy and what led her to nursing and focusing on trauma-informed care.
- Feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated and isolated as an L& D nurse when trying to make improvements to birth outcomes.
- A description of trauma-informed care.
- The standard of care Mandy is currently seeing in hospitals.
- What parent-centered, trauma-informed care looks like.
- Mandy’s vision to make birth more parent-centered, trauma-informed, safe for all.
- How to advocate for parent-centered, trauma-informed care when in a hospital or on a simple check up with your care provider.
- Suggestions for how birthing parents and the nursing staff can have great communication.
- Positive changes in parent-centered care Mandy has seen.
- One final tip/piece of advice Mandy would like to offer new and expectant parents.
- Where you can find Mandy’s work.
About Mandy:
Mandy Irby, pronouns are she/her, is a board certified labor nurse with 13 years of experience supporting survivors of assault and trauma through pregnancy, birth planning, and at their bedside during childbirth and pregnancy loss. As a nurse, parent, educator, and multi-passionate entrepreneur, Mandy is inspired by the transformative experience of childbirth. She is on a mission to make human rights and autonomy the center of today’s birth culture through education, coaching, and consulting.
Connect with Mandy:
- mandyirby.com
- instagram @thebirthnurse
- TikTok @thebirthnurse
- LinkedIn @MandyIrby
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