podcast
Not long ago, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Yoked podcast with Kelly Sunrose. During the conversation which started off mainly talking about prenatal yoga, Kelly and I started to discus the impact of yoga on pregnancy and birth. I was not surprised to hear of the challenging labor, birth and […]
Learn to Surrender Your Yoga Practice Read More »
In this episode of Yoga|Birth |Babies, I speak with labor and delivery nurse, doula, Lamaze Childbirth educator and author, Debby Amis. Debby breaks down this new study to highlight areas of inconsistent interpretation and emphasizes the lack of focus on the increase in 3rd and 4th degrees tears that have been noted with this new
JAMA Laboring Down Study: Yay or Nay? Read More »
Few experiences in life create such a sudden shift on so many deep levels like entering parenthood. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with writer, women’s mentor, doula and founder of MotherSHIFT, Jessie Harrold about embodying the rite of passage into motherhood. Jessie helps guide women through the transition into parenthood through her program
MotherSHIFT: Supporting Women Through the Identity Shift of Motherhood Read More »
It’s not often during an interview I have such a major a shift in perspective on the topic of discussion. But that is exactly what occurred during my talk with author and RIE method teacher Janet Lansbury. The RIE method floated around in a distant hemisphere somewhere in my awareness. I had heard of an
RIE Parenting: Is It For You? Read More »
I reached out to Hannah Sarah Faich Dini to be a guest on Yoga | Birth | Babies because chatting with her and simply knowing her is a true delight. I also, in my many years of working with the pregnant population, have not encountered three pregnancies quite like hers. For all three pregnancies, Hannah
Community Birth Stories: Overcoming Disappointment & Embracing the Uncontrollable Read More »
Stepping onto the yoga mat may feel very vulnerable for many people. It’s a time to be present with body, mind and breath and that can be challenging, especially if you have suffered through any type of traumatic experience. According to Sidran Institute, an estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced
An Introduction to Trauma Informed Prenatal Yoga Read More »
If you’re a parent, or simply have been around children, you know the how hard it can be to stay calm when a child is whining. I’m almost 8 years into parenthood and still, I find myself hungrily looking for expert advice on this issue! In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Clinical Psychologist and
Why Children Whine and What to Do About It Read More »
In my Prenatal Yoga and Childbirth Education classes, I stress the importance of having plan A, B, C and D. You never know how the wild nature of birth will flow. Teachers and educators encourage expectant parents to not skip the “scary sections” they may wish to avoid. But many people are unprepared for the
What do you do when you’ve prepared for your birth to unfold in a certain direction only to find out you are one of the 1 in approximately 25 people carrying a breech baby? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Spinning Babies Trainer and home birth midwife, Nicole Morales. Nicole offers insight to
Why This Baby Is Breech Read More »
The number one reason for first time birthing people to have a cesarean is “failure to progress.” Failure to progress is defined as a labor lasting 20 hours or more for first time parents. However, labor is not always linear and can have variations. In the 1940’s the Friedman Curve was introduced in hospitals as
How To Make A Slow Labor Progress Read More »
The C.D.C. reports that black mother in the U.S. are 3 to 4 times more at risk of maternal mortality regardless of socioeconomic status and education than white women. These statistics are just the beginning of shining a light on the racial disparity seen in the birthing world. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak
Improving Birth & Health Outcomes for Black Moms & Babies. Read More »
We’ve all met those people we start chatting with and instantly decide, I want to know more about you. As Krisitn and I casually talked during the breaks of Prenatal Yoga Center’s Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training, (which she was enrolled in) I started to realized how our personal paths mirrored one another and even intertwined
Getting Real with Peloton’s Kristin McGee Read More »
Welcome to part two of the Birthing From Within focused podcasts. Recently, I embarked on the path to becoming a Birthing From Within Mentor. The process to becoming a mentor is multilayered but starts with a weekend intensive course called Crossing the Threshold. Right after attended the weekend course, I recorded last week’s podcast with
An Ancient Map For Modern Birth Read More »
If only there was a way to script out your “ideal” birth and be guaranteed the experience unfolds in that exact manner. Unfortunately, that’s impossible. However, many of us try to overly plan and seldom allow ourselves to relinquish the illusion of control over the wild nature of birth. In this episode of Yoga|Birth |Babies,
Exploring Birthing From Within Read More »
We’ve all heard “It take a village to raise a child.” And while it sounds like a cliche or catch phrase, those of us who’ve been through or witnessed the transition from maiden to motherhood can understand the incredible importance of a supportive community. In this episode of Yoga|Birth| Babies, I speak with the director of
The Importance of Community Read More »
Did you know that 20% of the population has a unique brain trait called Sensory Processing Sensitivity aka the “highly sensitive person”? And of course, this is not limited to only adults. Babies and children can also exhibit these traits and are unfortunately are often misunderstood and characterized as “colicky” or “overactive” or “anxious”. In
The Highly Sensitive Baby & Parent Read More »
I was recently sorting through old pictures of me “pre-children” and noted how cute and put together I was back then. My hair was cut regularly, my clothes were fun and fashionable and I had a very respectable handbag collection that never contained random lego pieces or pink hair bows. Why did becoming a mother
Avoiding the “Mom Rut” In Fashion Read More »
I wish I could say I have a very loving and peaceful relationship with my body and body image; unfortunately, I do not. However, with awareness of this personal flaw, I’ve made great efforts to be mindful of what I say about my appearance and any comments about the physicality of others in front of
Body Positive Parenting Read More »
We all know about the common physical issues of pregnancy and postpartum, an achy back, sore shoulders and tight hips. But what about the other issues that are often kept quiet, hidden in confusion and shame. Incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, finding some sense of connection to the postpartum core! These are huge physical barriers that
Incontinence, Prolapse, and the Core, Oh My! A Discussion of These Common Issues. Read More »
What do you do when your birth goes in a completely different direction than expected? How do you recover, find peace, and prepare for the birth of another baby? What happens if your second birth also has a dramatic turn of events? This is the experience of this week’s guest. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies,
How to Find Ease In Complicated Births Read More »
As the field of genetic testing grows, so do the options for parents to learn more about their baby prior to birth. However, the choices and information from these tests can be confusing and sometimes overwhelming. “Which test to take? What do the results mean? I am over 35 years old, will I need more
Demystifying Genetic Prenatal Testing Read More »
One of my favorite parts of early motherhood was listening to the scrumptious babble of my new baby. That was, until a level of frustration grew from our inability to communicate effectively. My son was often trying to share his needs and it much of the time, it just went over my head. If you
Baby Fingers: Baby Sign Language Read More »
I’ll admit, I got a bit of zig when my husband and I went shopping to fill our baby registry. It was thrilling to see all the baby gear start to arrive. That is until we realized that our small one bedroom was not equipped to accommodate all the equipment baby’s require! Soon bottles, bibs
Embracing The KonMari Method to Declutter Your Life & Home Read More »
Most people who recently birthed a baby experience some level of trying to reignite a relationship with their core muscles. Some people feel a huge disconnect and have little understanding of why their abdomen remains soft even after the rest of their body has started to regain some semblance of it’s former self. In this
Understanding Core Strength During Pregnancy and Postpartum Read More »
How amazing is it that the documentary, #Period. End of Sentence, a film about menstruation just won an Academy Award! For years talking about periods was a closed subject. But now tides are turning and many people consider menstruation the “5th Vital Sign.” Disruptions in one’s cycle can predict potential health issues, give us insight
The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles and Optimize Your Fertility Read More »
Have you ever found yourself facing a completely different scenario in life then you were expecting? At 7 months pregnant, writer and yoga teacher Anna Gannon, found herself unexpectantly unemployed and depressed. To her complete surprise, she stumbled into meditation which became passion and career. In the episode of Yoga |Birth |Babies, Anna and I
Meditation & Facing Birth Fear Read More »
How might your pregnancy and birth change if you immerse yourself into studying the birth culture in the US? That is exactly how Hedy Iankelevich started her pregnancy journey. On the day she found out she was pregnant, she enrolled in an 85 hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and examined the paradigm of birth in
Community Birth Story: Embracing Your Birth Choices Read More »
The pushing stage of labor rarely looks as it does in the movies! Did you know there are so many other options to birth a baby then flat on your back with you legs thrown up to the ceiling and pushing like your face is going to burst? In this episode of Yoga | Birth
Pushing Power: Understanding the 2nd Stage of Labor Read More »
Between 25 and 34 per cent of women report that their births were traumatic. Given this staggering number, how many of these people have the support or tools to safely heal and recover from their birth experience? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with childbirth educator, doula and author, Jennifer
Healing After Birth: Recovering from Birth Trauma Read More »
How confident are you with the security of your car seat and basic car seat safety? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 86% of families positioned the newborn incorrectly in the seat and 77% incorrectly installed the seat. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Child Passenger Safety
For those who have been caught with out their breast pump or expectantly separated from your baby, you may have turned to hand expression as a last resort. But did you know, that hand expression of breast milk can boost milk supply and often reduce sore nipples and engorgement and it can save you time-
TheMilkinMama: Hand Expression with Francie Webb Read More »
Bringing home a newborn baby for the first time is perhaps one of the most daunting tasks many people face in their life. I clearly remember the moment my husband and I were alone with our new baby. All we could think about was, “when is our postpartum doula going to arrive and could help
Practical Advice on Caring for Your Newborn with Ayelet Kaznelson Read More »
The headline “The ARRIVE Trial: Induction at 39 weeks leads to lower cesarean rate” may have caught your eye in the last few months. It may have also left you confused, wondering what to do with these new findings and what does all this mean for pregnancy, due dates and physiological births. In this episode
Understanding the ARRIVE study Read More »
Have you ever felt like you don’t understand your changing pregnant body? Perhaps you no longer feel like you can find good, supportive posture, or take a satisfyingly deep breath? If so, then this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies will help you understand how your inner structure, what Jill Miller, yoga teacher and
Your Inner Baby Carriage Read More »
Approximately 10-25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. With such a high percentage of pregnancies naturally terminating, why is this subject often talked about in whispers behind closed doors? When any personal loss is experienced, support is often desired and needed and subsequent pregnancies may be approached with more apprehension then joy. In this episode of
Rainbow Babies with Jessica Mougis Read More »
One of the three pillars of Prenatal Yoga Center methodology is community, also knows as sangha. Feeling part of community, especially in such a transitional time like pregnancy and parenthood, can help assuage fears, feel supported and find a general camaraderie. In an effort to deepen our community connection, Yoga |Birth |Babies continues to share
Pregnancy, Parenthood, and Eating Disorders Read More »
Failure to progress is the number one reason first time mothers end up having an unplanned cesarean birth. Many times the cause of the cervix failing to open is related to the baby’s position and how is it rotating through the pelvis and applying pressure onto the cervix. While some misalignments may not be able
Spinning Babies Founder Gail Tully Read More »
With the myriad of nursery decor, strollers and baby gadgets, it is not surprising the amount of time and effort new parents spend on preparing for the arrival of their new family member. Unfortunately, the check list of preparation rarely makes it to setting up support for the new parents postpartum. With the current rate
Plan To Support Yourself: The Necessity of A Postpartum Mental Health Check In Read More »
Have you ever had a friend or family member you suspected was suffering from a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder and just didn’t know if or how to approach them? With more then 20% of new parents suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder it is important to have the tools and language to help.
When You Suspect a Friend or Loved One is Suffering from PMAD Read More »
According to the Center of Disease Control. gestational diabetes affects up to 10% of pregnancies each year. For those diagnosed with this endocrine disorder, their pregnancy will be much monitored and take a different path then their counter parts. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator,
Gestational Diabetes Read More »
Stepping onto the yoga mat may feel very vulnerable for many people. It’s a time to be present with body, mind and breath and that can be challenging, especially if you have suffered through any type of traumatic experience. According to Sidran Institute, an estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic
Trauma Informed Prenatal Yoga Read More »
Planning for Postpartum and How to Handle Family and Guests! You had a baby! Great! Now what?? There are so many things to consider when planning for postpartum. What kind of support do you need? Who is giving you that support? Are you breastfeeding, bottle feeding or both? Where is your baby sleeping? How do
Planning for Postpartum: How to Handle Family and Guests Read More »
When taking a Childbirth Education class, you may assume that all the information you are receiving is given in hopes of best supporting you, the birthing person. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Depending on where you take your class, the information may not be based on best care practices for the birthing person,
Where to take Childbirth Education Read More »
Ever wonder why at all of your prenatal visits with your care provider you have your blood pressure checked and often leave urine sample? It’s because your care provider is checking for a serious condition called preeclampsia. Never heard of it? No worries! In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with community
Understanding Preeclampsia Read More »
An article from Midwifery Today sited a study concluding “Participants who read positive, empowering birth stories reported an average of 33% less fear about their upcoming birth.” That great increase in personal confidence was the reason I decided to continue to share positive community birth stories on Yoga | Birth | Babies. In this episode I
Community Birth Stories with Lauren Seidman Read More »
This week we’re continuing to revisit a few of my must listen to episodes! This is such an important issue and episode, even if you did listen to the first release I would highly recommend revisiting this episode. The current US cesarean rates hover around 33%. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the cesarean rate should
Reducing Unnecessary Cesarean Birth With Dr. Neel Shah Read More »
Summer fun is calling, and I am taking some time off of recording new podcasts to be with my family. In the meantime, I’m re-releasing some of my favorite episodes. Enjoy! According to the Listening to Mothers iii Survey, 41% of the people indicated that their care provider tried to induce their labor, with three
Labor Induction with Dr. Rachel Reed Read More »
“All birthing people will face a crisis of confidence at some point during a physiological labor.” This one powerful discussion point still sticks out in my mind from my juicy conversation with childbirth educator, doula and counsellor, Rhea Dempsey. In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, Rhea and I dive deep into the world of
Birth With Confidence Read More »
Navigating a satisfying sex life with your partner during pregnancy and postpartum can be a bit challenging for many. Fear of hurting the baby, working through body image issues and share logistics can create a gap in a sexual relationship. In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, I speak with New York City based sex
Sex During Pregnancy & Postpartum with The V Club Read More »
Not every entrance into parenthood is easy and joyful with a soundtrack of birds singing blissfully as you walk carefree through the park. You may even mutter under your breath, “This is really f**king hard, what have I done?” In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak openly with co-founder of Soul Camp and Soul
Community Birth Stories: Getting Past A Bumpy Start with Soul Camp’s Michelle Goldblum Read More »
