podcast
If you knew there was a way to successfully lower cesarean rates and create a family-centered birth, would you be interested in learning more about it? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Dr. Neel Shah. Dr. Shah is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, an Assistant Professor of […]
Lowering the Cesarean Rate with Dr. Neel Shah Read More »
I have yet to meet a parent who hasn’t struggled through a child’s tantrum or other challenging moments. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we knew exactly what to do to manage or even avoid tantrums? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with the co-founders of Big Little Feelings, child therapist, Deena Margolin LMFT and
Sharing birth stories matters. It’s an opportunity to support and inspire one another during a transformative time. Each new parent carries their own powerful narrative of their birth that shapes the beginning of a new stage of life. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Prenatal Yoga Center community member and proud new mother,
Community Birth Story: Power, Surrender and Opening with Lina Lum Read More »
During these unusual times, we are asking so much more of ourselves, our partners and our children. How much constant togetherness can people handle before resentment sets in and everyone gets itchy for alone time? How does one parent under what feels like “house arrest” ? What can you do when you feel lonely and
Navigating Constant Togetherness as Parents and Partners Read More »
Have you ever wondered what the appropriate milestones are for your baby? What is there to do if your child is not meeting these benchmarks? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with pediatric occupational therapist, Nekole Eaton. Nekole specializes in child development and shares her deep knowledge about expectations and variations in reaching developmental
Development, Emotional, and Social Milestones with Nekole Eaton of Kids OT Help Read More »
Part of parenting is learning through mistakes. Personally, I could write a book on the missteps I’ve taken despite thinking I’m doing the right thing in the moment. Jenny Best, founder, and CEO of Solid Starts, and mom of three explains how her errors and anxiety about feeding her first child opened the door to
Baby-Led Weaning: When and How to Start Solids with Solid Starts founder Jenny Best Read More »
Adjusting back to work has always been a concern for new parents. Today, in a time of a pandemic where childcare may have adjusted, finding flexible, creative ways to meet the demands of your job may require some creativity and negotiations. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with author and founder of The Fifth
Making Work-Life Balance Easier with Lauren Smith Brody Read More »
A magic alarm does not go off and cripple your eggs the morning you turn 35 years old. But why does society put that pressure on people? What does it really mean to have a baby after 35 and what can we do to increase fertility? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with double
This week on Yoga|Birth|Babies we’re taking a break from our expert lead interviews and focusing on a birth story from the community. Eliana Balk reached out to me to share her story and ideas about how to talk about birth trauma from the birthing person’s perspective. Most conversations around birth trauma are from leaders and
Community Birth Story: How to Talk About Birth Trauma Read More »
For the past few months, I’ve been gravitating towards the subject of motherhood devouring podcasts, books, and articles on the subject. Possibly because I am knee-deep in early childhood as the mother of two young children or because the subject is so deep and vast and I like many parents thirst for some guidance and
Ups and Downs in Motherhood with Dayna Kurtz Read More »
“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
Improving the Birth and Health Outcome for Black Moms and Babies Read More »
Why does society accept the deeply embedded belief that mothers can’t be sexy? Saturday Night Live just re-aired their “Mom Jeans” skit poking fun at “moms”. Emphasizing that once someone because a mother they trade in the sexy body, cute clothes, and sense of self for a frumpy bodied person with poor fashion sense who
The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Baby with Debra Pascali Bonaro Read More »
Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, are often a time of family gatherings and celebrations. But now during this unprecedented time, these milestones are being experienced in isolation. This massive departure from how one may have originally envisioned the transition into parenthood can lead to feelings of loss and grief. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I
Loss, Grief, Anxiety and Isolation During Pregnancy and Parenthood Read More »
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
Understanding Telehealth with Eugenia Montesenos Read More »
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
Breastfeeding and Epidurals with Dianne Cassidy Read More »
Can you imagine giving birth and entering postpartum in the middle of a pandemic? Candice Baehr faced this exact scenario. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with co-founder of Parenthood Together and Feeding Heroes and mother of two, Candice Baehr about her recent birth experience and the challenges she faced
Community Birth Story: Birthing During a Pandemic Read More »
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
Hypnobirthing with Kristy Rodriguez Read More »
Everyone who gives birth shall forever carry their story imprinted deep within. For some, the memories brings joy, others unresolved feelings and for many, they are somewhere in between. Time will take someone further from the experience but what happens when your birth goes unprocessed? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with co-director of
Processing Your Birth Story with Nikki Shaheed Read More »
Bringing home a baby during a pandemic has unique challenges. New parents can no longer rely on the help and support of family, friends, or a doula to share the workload and take the pressure off of learning how to care for a newborn. For those expecting a baby during COVID-19, this special episode of
Preparing for Postpartum During COVID-19 with Grace Veras Sealy Read More »
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
Birth Flow and Balance with Gail Tully of Spinning Babies® Read More »
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
Pregnancy and Birth During the Coronavirus Pandemic Read More »
What if your birth fell well beyond any preconceived vision of possibility? What if it took so many twists and turns that even a prolific author would struggle to paint such a surprising story? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with prenatal yoga teacher, childbirth educator, and labor support doula, Hess Kim. Hess humorously
Community Birth Story: Strength, Endurance, and Surrender with Hess Kim Read More »
Birth. Rarely does it unravel as planned or expected. The uncertainty and loss of control can be very challenging for many pregnant people. It can bring up fear, make some hold tighter to a preconceived plan, or throw themselves into the hands of science and relinquish any autonomy. How does one approach such a transformation
Transformed by Birth with Britta Bushnell Read More »
Have you ever wondered why postpartum people wake up with night sweats? Or find their hair falling out? Did you know there is a huge hormonal disruption once the placenta is delivered and that leads to hormonal levels plummeting? This major hormonal shift can create havoc for the new parent’s body and mind. It’s often
Understanding Postpartum Hormones with Aviva Romm M.D. Read More »
Approximately 60% of pregnant people will receive an epidural. With those receiving epidural analgesia, up to 10% of those people will not receive full pain relief- there may be a spot where discomfort is still felt or pain relief is not delivered. Or you may find yourself waiting for pain medication or choose not to
Comfort for Birth with Yiska Obadia Read More »
Is it fair for yoga teachers to assume that if their pregnant student had a practice prior to pregnancy, they should know how and when to modify? Whose responsibility is it to ensure the safety of the student and offer modifications? What potential harm can really happen to the baby and the pregnant person from
Who’s Responsible: Student or Teacher? with Bec Conant Read More »
An epidural is a very familiar term for most, but how much knowledge do people have about it? With an average of 60% of birthing people choosing epidural anesthesia, it is important to make informed decisions about what serves you best. In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with anesthesiologist and yoga teacher,
Epidurals with Dr. Claire Sandberg Read More »
Surrogate Carrier: The act of carrying a baby for an intended family. In my opinion, one of the greatest gifts a person can give to a family that needs assistance in creating their family. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Anastasia Bartlett, a Certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Yoga Teacher, owner of Superior
Surrogacy: Helping To Create a Family with Anastasia Bartlett Read More »
The path to creating a family can differ for everyone. For some it may require fertility assistance, others a surrogate, and others no assistance at all however for approximately 135,000 families it involves adoption. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with adoptive and assisted reproduction lawyer, Rebecca Mendel. As an adoptive parent, Rebecca offers
All About Adoption with Rebecca Mendel Read More »
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
Preparing for Cesarean: A Necessary Conversation with Mary Esther Malloy Read More »
Can you imagine the need to be the main advocate for yourself in the middle of labor and directly postpartum? Or being pushed into the situation to go head to head with the hospital staff just to see your baby? That is exactly what happened to Jessie Katz. In the middle of her labor and
Community Birth Story: The Importance of Self Advocacy with Jessie Katz Read More »
A “big baby” is one of the top reasons for a suggested induction for pregnant people. But did you know that ultrasound offers less accuracy after the 37th week of pregnancy and can be off up to 15% of the estimated weight? In this episode of Yoga |Birth |Babies I speak with founder and author
Understanding “Big Babies” with Rebecca Dekker Read More »
One of the most talked about subjects at the beginning of every postnatal yoga class is breastfeeding. How is it going? What do you do with cracked nipples? What are you going to do when you go back to work? In the episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Director of Stork
Breastfeeding 101 with Tamara Hawkins Read More »
What do you do when you realize your child has special needs and considerations? For some parents of children who have special needs, they may feel isolated and overwhelmed by living outside “the norm.” In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with Bridget Tichar. Bridget is the mother of Teddy, her 2 1/2 son,
Parenting a Child With Special Needs with Bridget Tichar Read More »
The US is the only developed country that does not offer paid maternity leave to new parents. Support for new families varies from the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, which offers job protection and mandates 12 weeks of unpaid leave, to private companies who provide paid leave maternity and paternity leave. In NY State,
The Pregnancy Project Read More »
The shift from pregnancy to postpartum is unlike any chasm one will ever experience. And while there is often much care and attention being paid to the pregnant person’s well being, the new parent that emerges on the other side, is often left to wade through the turbulent waters of parenthood with limited help. In
The 4th Trimester with Kimberly Johnson Read More »
It’s possible you’ve never heard of “tongue tie,” but 5% of babies are born with this condition. If your little one has a tongue tie you likely understand how it impacts feeding your baby, from the bottle or breast. And if undiagnosed, it can affect speech development. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies,
Why is it that so many pregnant people wait until 12 weeks to share the news of their pregnancy? This silence retreat may be comforting for some, but isolating for the 1 in 4 people who do not see their pregnancy go past the first trimester. In this episode of Yoga|Birth |Babies, I speak with
Pregnancy and the transition to parenthood can bring up painful triggers and emotions from one’s past. But, for some, can also serve as a gateway to healing In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Prenatal Yoga Center community member, Christina Profita. Christina opens up about how needing a cesarean birth due to her breech baby unexpectedly
Community Birth Story: Healing Through Birth Read More »
How would you react upon finding out you were carrying twins? Shock? Excitement? A bit nervous? A combination of all three? If are one of the 3.35% of parent having twins you may be looking for some support and guidance as you welcome your new expanded family. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with
One of the most commonly used phrases in exercise and yoga is “engage your core.” But what does that even mean? What muscles are being asked to work and is it really helpful or healthy to have an engaged core? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with pelvic floor yoga
Yoga For Pelvic Health Read More »
Nobody ever enters parenthood and thinks having a baby would land them in the psych ward. But that is exactly what happened with Lisa Abramson. On this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with executive coach, mindfulness teacher, best selling author, and mom of two girls, Lisa Abramson. Lisa is also a survivor of postpartum psychosis,
Postpartum Psychosis Read More »
Birth plans have gotten a bad name. How can you possibly plan a birth since they rarely go as planned? However, investing time, thought, and energy into what areas of the birth are important to the birthing person can be invaluable. By making their wishes known, it can help the birthing person feel supported, heard,
The role and practice of a midwife is often misunderstood. Many think this is someone who simply assists medical doctors, or they confuse the offerings of labor support doula with a midwife assuming this person has limited medical training and authority or just catches babies. (None of those assumptions are correct!) So what does a
What Midwives REALLY Do Read More »
Laurel Beversdorf has always been a teacher and practitioner who embodies the philosophy of svadyaya (self study) so it was no surprise when Laurel started to deviate from a traditional yoga practice and started to explore adding resistance bands into her practice. She approaches asana based on her studies of anatomy and biomechanics of the
Yoga, Bands, and Baby! Read More »
One Wednesday morning, during circle time, a student bravely spoke up about an experience she had at her last prenatal appointment. Her doctor told her she had gained too much weight between visits. The woman left her appointment upset, ashamed and confused about what to do next. Upon hearing, I too was confused and had
Prenatal Weight Shaming Read More »
It is very possible that until pregnant, you never thought much about your cervix. But once you’re hovering around your due date, it can become prime concern. At each weekly exam, you may be wondering, “How dilated am I?”, “Does that mean labor might start soon, or do I still have a ways to go?”
All Things Cervix! Read More »
What happens when the reality of parenthood doesn’t match the expectations, dreams and hopes? It can sometimes leave someone feeling regretful of their new situation and questions their choices. And often, with this regret, one feels shame, embarrassment and alone. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Marissa Zwetow, who is licensed therapist who
12 Taboo Postpartum Truths: What You May Need to Know, but Probably Haven’t Been Told. Read More »
“I would like a deep, painful tear of my perineum”, said NOBODY! Pretty much in every movie or TV show where birth is being portrayed, we see the birthing person flat on her back, legs spread wide and people are yelling at her to “PUSH!” It’s no wonder that is how people think they should
Protecting Your Perineum Read More »
What is it like for a birth doula, childbirth educator, and prenatal yoga teacher to experience birth with so much knowledge and experience coloring her lens of labor? Many may think it, with all the preparation and knowledge, it would be smooth sailing. Well, life and birth unfolds in it’s own wild ride no matter
A Brutal, Amazing, and Magical Birth Read More »
