Evidence Based Birth®

In this episode I bring you the evidence on labor induction for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A few months ago, we released an article all about the evidence on diagnosing GDM, and we wanted to follow up that article with another focused solely on labor induction versus expectant management for GDM.

In this episode I am joined by three guests to talk about the Evidence Based Birth Comfort Measures for Labor and Delivery Nurses workshop. Our panel includes registered nurse, childbirth educator and EBB Instructor Jessica Hazboun from San Diego, labor and delivery nurse and childbirth educator Lori Lopez from Honolulu, and Evidence Based Birth Instructor Program Director, childbirth educator and doula Cat LaPlante from the New Jersey/Philadelphia area.

In this episode I interview Emily Fleenor, a new parent who recently gave birth to her daughter while her husband was in active duty stationed at Fort Campbell in Tennessee. They both took the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class from EBB Instructor Heidi Duncan, and appreciated the flexibility of the online format during times when Emily’s husband was away for work.

In this episode I interview my mother, Carol, about her experience giving birth with “twilight sleep” - a state of sedation and general anesthesia that used to be administered during the second stage of labor. Carol is a mother of six. She has experienced three different types of childbirth: birth with twilight sleep, birth with an epidural, and birth without an epidural fully awake.

In the United States, the month of April is recognized as National Minority Health Month. It’s an initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities. And this week is Black Maternal Health Week! Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a non-profit organization sponsoring Black Maternal Health Week from April 11 through April 17. I strongly encourage you to connect with Black Mamas Matter and to sign up for their mailing list (find that link in the references below)

In this episode, I interview Dr. Nicole Rankins about the role of a hospitalist obstetrician, and how families can prepare themselves to have a safe and fulfilling birth in a hospital setting. Nicole is a wife and mother to two girls, an obstetrician/gynecologist, a podcast host, and an integrative health coach. She did her residency at Duke University, and also did a research fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill.

In this week's podcast, I interview new parents Heather Hyden and Jimmy Earley. They live in Lexington, Kentucky, and were one of the first couples to take the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class in 2018. Heather works at a local university, and Jimmy works at a local nonprofit. Their son Hess turned 9 months on the day we recorded this episode.

In this episode, I interview Ben Atkinson. Ben has been married for 20 years, and has four children and one angel baby. He attended all five of his children’s births, and caught the last two himself. He has been exploring the masculine role in birth since his first child was born.

In this episode, you’ll get to know the Evidence Based Birth® team! Learn who is behind the scenes working with Rebecca Dekker to get the latest evidence based information into the hands of those who need it. Meet our research, management, admin, and social media staff, as well as those running our Instructor, Professional membership, and Higher Ed programs. Hear their passion for the EBB mission, and why they love what they do!

In this episode, I interview Noel and Joel Smothers, missionaries who gave birth to their first child last fall. They currently live in North Carolina but will be heading back to Brazil soon. Noel felt it was really important to have a vaginal birth if at all possible, so that she could continue to have future vaginal births when she's living in countries with less developed health systems. They took the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class with Instructor Mary Kury.

In this episode, I am joined by "Mr. EBB" himself, Dan Dekker! Dan is an Accountant with his MBA, the father of 3 children, and also my husband. He has worked for more than 10 years in small business accounting, and five years ago left a successful corporate position to become a full-time stay-at-home dad and to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of Evidence Based Birth.

In this episode, I am joined by EBB Professional Membership and Higher Ed Program Coordinator Chanté Perryman. Chanté is a certified birth and postpartum doula, a childbirth educator, an Evidence Based Birth Instructor, and will begin training as a midwife in 2020. She is a strong promoter of birth choices - coordinating an annual baby expo, publishing a quarterly magazine for local parents, and volunteering with the Kentucky Home Birth Coalition as an advocate for Certified Professional Midwives. 

In this episode, I interview certified nurse midwife Olivia Favela-Gary. Olivia has been a CNM for over five years, and has been a registered nurse for 10 years. She currently practices in Los Angeles and Southern California in a Federally Qualified Health Center, and attends births in a hospital setting working mostly with underserved and high risk populations.

In this episode, I interview midwife and Evidence Based Birth Professional member Afua Hassan. Afua has practiced as a midwife since 1984. In 2011, she expanded her home birth practice and founded The Birthing Place, Houston’s first freestanding birth center owned and operated by a black midwife. The name “The Birthing Place” was chosen by Afua in response to her observation that many women felt that they needed a hospital and a doctor to deliver babies.

In this episode, I interview Caley O’Brien about her empowering birth experience and being one of the first parents to take the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class. Caley has been married to her husband Kent for two years, and they live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She is now a stay-at-home parent to her baby Solomon, and describes herself as a “crunchy hippie”. Caley and Kent took the EBB Childbirth Class with their local Instructor, Cat LaPlante.