Yoga | Birth | Babies

In this episode of Yoga |Birth |Babies, please enjoy this community birth story from Hedy as she explains  what she faced when trying to have the birth she envisioned and some surprises of postpartum. For full show notes click HERE

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 | Babies, I speak with doula, childbirth educator, mother and creator of Pushing Power, Chantal Traub. She breaks down some myths about pushing, introduces why a well aligned pelvis can help facilitate a more functional birth and how to talk to your care provider about birthing options. Enjoy!   For more on Chantal and the full shownotes click HERE

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 Summerfeldt. Jennifer and I dive deeply into the impact of birth trauma on the postpartum experience, the relationship of postpartum depression to birth trauma and finally tools to recovery if you experienced birth trauma. This meaty, powerful conversation may help put words and understanding to unrealized trauma. For the full show notes visit: prenatalyogacenter.com

Birth has so many unknowns including not fully knowing the scenario and care provider you will be encountering upon entering a hospital or birth center. Common situations are bound to arise that may derail the laboring person’s birth flow/physiology. It is important to have tools to help combat this predicament. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with certified Advanced Birth Doula (DONA International), a postpartum educator, a healthy sleep consultant and eco-maternity consultant, and host of the Birthful Podcast, Adriana Lozada. She and I enjoy a lively and informative conversation about how to help empower the birthing person, bring ownership to the them and help break the cycle of looking for external validations for a process that is happening inside them. For more on Adriana visit: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/finding-birth-flow-within-a-hospital-setting/  

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Child Passenger Safety Technician and founder of NY Metro CPR, Jason Mundy. He breaks down some of the most common mistakes parents make when installing a car seat, when to transition to a front facing position, and stroller safety. Want to know more? Join us Saturday, February 16th for “Common Misuses with Car Seats” from 1:30-3:00pm Click HERE to register For the full show notes and links mentioned in the episode click HERE

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- no parts to have to clean! In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with birth doula and founder of TheMilkinMama, Francie Webb. Francie shares why hand expression is breastfeeding’s best kept secret and why every lactating person should be armed with the skills and confidence to know how to hand express. Enjoy! For full shownotes including the links mentioned in this talk head over to: prenatalyogacenter.com *ALSO- Shout out to my friend, Francesca Cervero and her online course – Science of the Private Lesson Online Training! Get $50 OFF with the code = DEB50

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 us navigate this new path.” In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, I speak with International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Labor Support Doula, Ayelet Kaznelson. She offers practical tips and advice that new parents can utilize during this huge transition. We’re also delighted to be welcoming Ayelet to the PYC teaching community and excited to learn a bit about her. For more on Ayelet view the full show notes HERE

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 of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with childbirth educator, Labor Support Doula, Doula Trainer and Breastfeeding Counselor, Bonu deCaires. Bonu and I unpack the findings of the ARRIVE study and carefully examine how to approach these results and how this may unfold in current day obstetrics. If you are a pregnant person or a birth worker, this rich discussion will shed some light on interpreting this new study and how that may effect the expectations of labor and induction. For more on Bonu and the ARRIVE Study visit: prenatalyogacenter.com  

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 co-founder of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide, calls the “inner baby carriage” can help create ease and comfort in your ever changing pregnant or postpartum body. This podcast is a rich conversation about anatomy, yoga, and the importance of self care massage. For more information on Jill and how you can connect with her visit our show notes: prenatalyogacenter.com

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 Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with PYC community member and children’s yoga teacher, Jessica Mougis. Jessica opens up about the loss of her twins and how she personally recovered from that experience. Jessica also shares how her current pregnancy with her “rainbow child” differs from the easeful, innocence of her first pregnancy. For more on Jessica visit the show notes at prenatalyogacenter.com    

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I had the pleasure of speaking with world renowned author and birth authority, Penny Simkin. We spoke of the important topic of pain versus suffering, how women’s satisfaction and memory of their birth has a direct correspondence to how they perceive being treated during their birth, emotional trauma that can ensue from an unsupported birth experience for the mother and partner and how women can best prepare for birth- especially is she has a history of trauma and abuse or just fear surrounding childbirth. Please enjoy this very rich and moving conversation.   For more on Penny visit our full show notes: prenatalyogacenter.com

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 conversations and personal stories from our community members. In this episode of Yoga| Birth |Babies, we get to know one of our community members, Yali Szulanski. Yali bravely shares her personal struggles with a serious eating disorder and how she was able to keep it in check during her two pregnancies and postpartum. For anyone who is or has faced body image issues or if you are supporting someone through this challenging experience, this episode will speak to you. For more on Yali, visit the show notes: prenatalyogacenter.com

Did you know it will cost a middle-income couple slightly more than $245,000 to raise a child born in 2013 to the age of 18.?!  On this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with financial advisor, Amy Brackett.  She and I discuss the daunting task of getting personal finances in order for the transition into parenthood. For anyone who is not already a financial advisor, this podcast will help demystify how much childhood really costs and how to best plan and prepare for it! Click HERE for the full show notes- including how to contact Amy

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 to be corrected, learning how to create balance in the birthing person’s bony pelvis and soft muscle tissue can best support baby’s chance of finding an easier exit. In today’s episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have the pleasure of speaking with Gail Tully, certified professional midwife (CPM) and birth doula (DONA), and founder of www.SpinningBabies.com.  Gail and I discus the principals of Spinning Babies and the how the position of the baby and the balance in the birthing person’s body plays a vital role in the ease and functionality of birth.  For expectant mothers, partners and birth workers, the podcast will offer take a tips to help prepare the body for birth. For more on Gail visit the show notes: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/spinning-babies-founder-gail-tully/

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 of PMAD, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder, hovering around 20%, clearly this is an area that needs heavy consideration and attention. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Evelyn Gama, LCSW who specializes in perinatal mental health. Evelyn discusses the steps to take to set up a postpartum mental health check in. She offers very solid and manageable ideas to help the whole family best support the new birthing parent. Unfortunately, these very important steps of postpartum preparation are often neglected. Please enjoy this episode for either yourself or someone you support. To connect with Evelyn or get the links mentioned in the podcast visit: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/plan-to-support-yourself-the-necessity-of-a-postpartum-mental-health-check-in/