The Birthful Podcast

We hear a lot about the microbiome and birth, but what about during pregnancy? Does your microbiome change depending on the trimester you are in? Is it impacted by avoiding deli meats and sushi? Are there ways to alter your microbiome to discourage the presence of Group B Strep? Anne Estes tells us more.

Breastfeeding Need-to-Knows - Today we’ll be taking on 11 breastfeeding need-to-knows! Consider these breastfeeding mini-facts as possible bumps-in-the-road that can be dealt with fairly easily with a bit of information and determination, but that can otherwise potentially derail your breastfeeding relationship. These include damaged nipples, baby weight loss, nipple shape, breast behavior, colostrum, hind-milk and fore-milk, D-MER, and more. Robin Kaplan tells us more.

EP78: Is there a Purpose to Childbirth Pain?, with Rhea Dempsey

Waterbirth - What are there benefits to giving birth in water? Are there any risks? What about if you are considering a VBAC? Why has there been so much controversy around waterbirths, and what does the evidence say? Barbara Harper tells us more.

Prenatal Bonding - We now know that babies are conscious while in womb. They can hear sounds, learn, form memories, and respond to your stress. So, can connecting with your baby before the birth, make for better pregnancies and healthier babies? And how do you go about doing that?  Dr. Jay Warren tells us more, including how singing, talking, and playing with your baby makes a difference.

3rd Stage of Labor - There are critical physiological changes that happen within mom and baby immediately after birth that allow for bonding and a healthy transition from womb to word. What are they, how can they be supported, and how do interventions change the hormonal flow?  Dr. Sarah Buckley tells us more.

Vaccines - How do vaccines work? Do they carry risks? Are they all created equal? Does it matter when they are given, and how does that relate with the CDC’s recommended schedule that includes 49 doses before the age of 6? Dr. Paul Thomas is here to help us navigate this polarized and often overwhelming issue, including the flu vaccine for pregnant woman, the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, the caution with the MMR vaccine, and the HPV vaccine for preteens.

We’ve arrived at the last episode of our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today, Jaime Hitt tells us about her VBAC, and all the ways she prepared differently than for her first birth in order to make it happen, including and unexpected external cephalic version. We talk about chiropractic care, cross-fit, prodromal labor, delayed cord clamping, having a VBAC supportive provider (not just tolerant), cesarean scar pain, and much more. Check it out.

Erin Patterson is here to tell us about her beautiful birth story, about how much she loved the tub. Unfortunately her birth resulted in some muscular trauma that made for a slow and difficult recovery requiring PT work, even many weeks into postpartum. We also talk about many of the things that worked during her pregnancy, as she gave birth and during recovery, including chiropractic care, physical therapy for her pelvic floor, having a doula, and a midwife, giving birth at a birth center, and much more.

We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Kate Bechtold had previously pushed two babies out without too much fuss, so she was expecting her third to come out in no time. But what happens when she starts pushing with all her might, and doesn’t feel the baby move down? Go check it out.

When Breech Doesn’t Flip - We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today, Chantal Shelstad shares the impact that having a cesarean birth due to a breech presentation had on her psyche, her ensuing struggle with postpartum mood anxiety for years to follow, and how preparation and determination were key in finally having the VBAC she wanted.Check it out.

We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! This week, Natasha Grey shares her lovely homebirth story, noting how an ultimatum from her midwife had her running for the stairs, and right into transition. Go listen.

3 Epidurals & a 6th-week Surprise - We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! This week, Kate Turza tells us about her three epidural births, and highlights how what happens during the third stage of labor can impact breastfeeding and your recovery, even for many weeks after the birth. Go listen!

We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Emily Alsheskie never really had any experience around children -nor was she all that excited about having kids. Oh, how things change! Check out her awesome and unconventional home water birth story, that happened while she lived in a small apartment, while going to school. Plus, many of the things she did to prepare for her birth, including hypnobirthing, chiropractic, saltwater pool, birthing affirmations, deep meditation.

We continue on our “Birth Stories for the Summer” Series. Today, Criselda Fernandez is here to tell us about her 3-day long birth, that she describes as amazing and transformative. Find out what helped her get through the frustration of not knowing when it was really going to start, and how tearing was the one thing that caught her off guard. Check it out!