Informed Pregnancy Podcast

TV producer, native New Yorker, and former competitive gymnast Erica Ciccone Clancy is imminently due with her first baby and is planning a home birth. Erica is bringing the 'mind over body' training from her gymnastics competition training, embracing the "pain as progress" attitude for labor and using TV producer experience, such as providing craft services to keep her birth team nourished and focused while she brings her baby into the world. *Note: this episode contains adult language.

After transporting to the hospital for intense back labor during her first birth, actress Emilie De Ravin planned for a home birth with her second hoping and praying that the back labor would not plague her again. In this episode, Emilie, her midwife Blyss Young, and new baby Theodore walk us through her recent second birth experience.

Beloved singer, songwriter and new mom Rachel Platten shares her pregnancy and birth story for the first time. Rachel's passion and energy shine brightly even during the more challenging moments of her inspirational journey. Tune in to hear all of the details and be sure to check out 'You Belong' - the song that she wrote to her daughter before she was born. http://smarturl.it/YouBelong

Dr. Molly Jarchow is a naturopathic doctor and midwife specializing in women's health and pediatric care. She explains what naturopathic medicine is, what the training and treatments are like and who can benefit from it most. She is passionate about holistic healing, the importance of "Whole person medicine", the 4th trimester, and educating women about their health options in general, but especially before, during and after pregnancy.

Actor, doula, and entrepreneur Carson Meyer draws on her Meisner Technique acting training to make herself more fully present with her doula clients specific emotional and physical needs. There is no "script" for birth, each experience has its different challenges, joys, and outcomes.

Aussie actress Claire Holt gets candid about her upbringing, her path to a successful acting career, meeting her husband and their first pregnancy which ended in a miscarriage that took them by surprise. Claire's warmth and authenticity are felt throughout the podcast as she talks about the importance of supporting people who have experienced miscarriage and the excitement she now feels for the new life she is bringing into the world with her upcoming birth.

Herbalist and vaginal steaming guru Nicole Sessions discusses the art and benefits of vaginal steaming. Our Steam Queen talks about common misconceptions surrounding periods, pain, cleansing, self-care, and healing and explains why steaming your undercarriage can be beneficial regardless of gender. Nicole gives us tips and tricks on how to steam, what herbs to use and avoid, and the best time and place to steam for maximum benefit.

Dr. Berlin teams up with the hosts of Dr. Stus Podcast (Dr Stuart Fischbein and Midwife Blyss Young) to interview the subjects of the documentary birth film ‘These Are My Hours’ the story of a single birth from start to finish. This intimate documentary is an immersive look into one woman's physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual experience of giving birth. ‘These Are My Hours’ is a story of transformation, celebrating womanhood and honoring our species oldest ritual: giving birth.

Dr. Donna Lieu and her obstetrician Dr. Barry Brock discuss, Donna’s two breech babies, the first a cesarean breech birth and the second a vaginal breech birth after cesarean. Her contrasted birth stories highlight birth options that may be available despite the orientation of the baby. Dr. Brock shares his insight into the disappearing art of vaginal breech delivery and vaginal birth after cesarean as well as some of the pros and cons of each and safety factors to consider.

Tammin Sursok, award winning actress, producer, director, writer, and platinum recording star is due with her second baby literally any minute. Her big energy, open book authenticity and sense of humor radiate throughout as she shares personal stories and struggles about pregnancy, birth plan rewrites, nursing, miscarriages, plane crashes, and prenatal sex (over)drive. Cibelle Levi Photography

This two topic information packed episode starts with family medicine physician Dr. Stephanie Canale discussing the interesting field of family medicine. After the break, Dr. Canale shares the personal struggle that she experienced with infant nutrition that led her to create ‘Lactation Lab’, a service that tests for nutritional content and toxicity in breastmilk. Lactation Lab is an informed pregnancy sponsor.

Sharkeith Franks, a business and finance expert and founder of 9Nth Level consulting group gives us the inside scoop on starting and running your own business. Sharkeith shares her tips for accounting, taxes, inventory, payroll and much more.

Author JK COY shares her birth journey including how and why she inspires women to have a more positive birth experience in her latest book "Because You Are Superwoman: how to harness your superpower and create your own positive birth experience with minimal medical intervention".

Catalina Clark, a doula, and student midwife has had her baby and returns to candidly share her personal labor and delivery experience including a tense moment that she has never witnessed at a birth before. Photo Credit: Rebecca Coursey

Midwife-in-training Catalina Clark is in her third trimester of pregnancy and still attending birth regularly as she plans her own first birth experience.  She talks about midwifery training and what it's like to get ready for birth after having attended and supported so many others. Photo Credit: Rebecca Coursey