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Click on the blog post {aka Show Notes} for any podcast below and the links are at the bottom! Enjoy!
Quarantined & Pregnant
Jul 10, 2020
Yes, we know that it sounds like a reality show and to be honest it 100% is! It's your reality and we wanted to take a minute, or 30, to chat about it. Listen until the end because we promise you'll end laughing.
[4:47] We know what it's like to be stuck at home with no one to talk to!
[6:36] Our NEW FB Community Group - "Quarantined & Pregnant with My Essential Birth"
[8:03] It's good and we recommend talking to people in your life about how you are doing and feeling because it matters!
[8:37] Healthy habits affect your physical and mental state
[12:22] Spiritual health matters
[14:40] It's good to cry and it's good to laugh
[16:11] What needs to happen right now?
[17:27] There is no shame in telling someone when you're not doing well
[18:42] Sometimes it's easy for us to forget what we didn't know...so send us your questions! There is no dumb question or anything you can't ask us. We are happy to cover anything that will help YOU!
[20:40] Switching gears to a...
It Takes Two: Interview with a Birth Partner
Jul 02, 2020
Cortney interviews her husband, Nate, to find out what it takes to support a birthing woman and how to handle different birthing scenarios. It's so good and we promise this is one you won't want to miss. Hint: make sure your birth partner listens along!
[3:38] Your partner should NOT be the only one preparing for this birth!
[5:06] Advice from a dad: "You cannot be that stereotypical guy in these situations. You just can't." -Nate
[9:47] Cortney tests Nate's birthing knowledge
[12:05] More quizzing for Nate! Play along...does your birth partner know how to answer these correctly?
[12:47] Scenario 1
[16:07] Scenario 2
[18:44] Scenario 3
[26:34] What birth was like for Nate
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our mamas and don't want you to miss a thing. Plus we have some neat bonus episodes coming and if you're not subscribed you may miss them. Click ...
What Are You Afraid Of?
Jun 17, 2020
You had fears before COVID-19 and you will have them after, but spoiler alert, you're going to work through them! How do we know? You're here, aren't you?! That means that you've walked through every single other fear or challenge to be standing here today. We believe in you, so let's tackle this together.
[4:24] What is fear? What does it look like during birth?
[5:57] What is empowerment? What does it look like during birth?
[7:46] Example - What if you fear is labor being too long?
[12:21] 1 to Stay 2 to Grow Challenge!
[22:04] You have to apply the knowledge.
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our mamas and don't want you to miss a thing. Plus we have some neat bonus episodes coming and if you're not subscribed you may miss them. Click >>here<< to subscribe in iTunes!
AND if you love all the great birth discussions, tips, and...
Birth: Enneagram Type 9
Jun 12, 2020
Ok all of our peacemaking, spiritual, intuitive mamas, this one is for you! We loved recording this episode so much and can't wait to hear birth stories from our Type 9 moms. Having supported this type during birth, we know just how incredible you are when you create the right birth space and press forward with knowledge and confidence.
[2:37] Your Strengths
[9:22] Watch out!
[17:56] Tips for Partner
[21:41] Why you'll love the My Essential Birth Course
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our mamas and don't want you to miss a thing. Plus we have some neat bonus episodes coming and if you're not subscribed you may miss them. Click >>here<< to subscribe in iTunes!
AND if you love all the great birth discussions, tips, and tricks you're hearing, make sure to head over to iTunes and give us a review. It will help other mamas just like...
Breastfeeding Interview with Sally Wright, IBCLC
Jun 06, 2020
Join us for an incredible interview with Sally Wright, IBCLC where she gives you all the best tips for getting the first week of breastfeeding off to an incredible start as well as answering the top questions we received from all of you on Instagram!
[6:01] What an IBCLC is
[9:00] How can I stand up for myself (especially with COVID-19)?
[11:55] La Leche League
[19:03] The difference between the training of a pediatrician vs other lactation helpers
[22:50] How to take on the first week of breastfeeding
[23:21] The 3-hour feeding schedule at the hospital is not based on biology, it is based on a 12-hour hospital schedule
[24:41] Positioning when breastfeeding matters
[27:08] Keeping a log of breastfeeding, wet/poopy diapers will help postpartum - *FREE Breastfeeding Log Download Below!
[29:31] Questions from our community answered here!
[29:49] How do I know when my milk comes in and what do I do until then?
[33:49] What can moms do when confronted with being told...
Water: Nature's Epidural
May 28, 2020
Water is Mother Nature's epidural and has the ability to bring sweet relief and relaxation throughout the birth process. In this episode, we break down the safety of using water for birth, including giving birth in the water, understanding the policies and practices for your birthplace, when to jump in, how to use it effectively, and we even share our personal experiences from our own water births!
[4:58] Is a baby being born into water safe?
[7:02] Who can and cannot get into the water
[8:23] Know the policies and practices of your birthplace - Hospital
[10:49] Know the policies and practices of your birthplace - Birth Center/Home
[13:25] When to jump into the water!
[18:32] Two times to get into the water before hitting the "sweet spot"
[21:57] How to use the shower during active labor
[26:58] Using the tub during labor
[28:42] What should I wear in the tub?
[29:52] Stephanie's experience with laboring in a birth tub (at home)
[33:35] Cortney's experience with...
Birth: Enneagram Type 8
May 20, 2020
Strong, powerful, determined, and in-charge - if this sounds familiar then you might be a Type 8 mom and we definitely have a thing or two you want to hear when it comes to prepping for and giving birth!
[4:40] Your Strengths, even if you intimidate us a tiny bit...
[11:57] Watch out!
[15:10] Tips for Partner
[19:07] Why you'll love the My Essential Birth Course
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our mamas and don't want you to miss a thing. Plus we have some neat bonus episodes coming and if you're not subscribed you may miss them. Click >>here<< to subscribe in iTunes!
AND if you love all the great birth discussions, tips, and tricks you're hearing, make sure to head over to iTunes and give us a review. It will help other mamas just like you find the podcast and enjoy it too. Just click >>here<< to review,...
Interview with Fitness Coach & Mom: Shayli Campbell
May 13, 2020
We had the opportunity to interview Fitness Coach, Shayli Campbell, and ask her about pregnancy, exercise, nutrition, and postpartum. You'll hear how she walked through her cesarean birth and how exercise and good nutrition helped her throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
[4:34] Shayli shares their trials in getting pregnant + the strength she found through it
[6:48] Nutrition & exercise during pregnancy and curbing nausea
[10:18] First signs of pregnancy
[11:22] How she used the My Essential Birth course workbook to help her prep for the big day
[13:06] Birth story time!
[17:15] Vulnerability and how we help each other as birthing mothers
[19:31] How and why preparation and knowledge matters no matter how we birth
[21:13] What she wants to say to every mother
[22:14] Shayli's husband Jake answers some questions for us about supporting Shayli during birth
[27:10] Exercise Time: the importance of exercise during pregnancy
[29:07] Recommendations...
OB's vs Midwives Showdown
May 08, 2020
Don't let this title fool you- it's not that dramatic! We love both, and dislike both, depending on the provider. But the right provider for you will largely depend on what kind of birth experience you desire. Above all, find someone who respects and supports those birthing goals!
[2:45] The difference in Education/Schooling
[6:12] What kind of care each offers
[8:00] Who takes insurance and what that looks like
[8:57] Hot topic: Obstetricians are trained surgeons
[10:04] Midwives are trained in normal
[11:09] The different medications that can be prescribed during labor for each provider
[13:12] Cesarean birth rates
[14:11] What if a mom is high-risk??
[15:08] Reliance on medical tools
[15:50] The Med-wife
[22:16] OB vs Midwife during birth
[25:27] What we've observed as patients and doulas
[32:11] Questions to find the right provider for YOU
[33:29] Tell us who you chose and why!
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the...
Hollywood Birth: Where They Get It Wrong
Apr 29, 2020
Birth always begins with either a pop-gush of waters breaking or a massive contraction, followed by screaming at your partner, and then squeezing his hand super hard while you push out a baby the size of a 2-month-old. That's Hollywood's version of birth, but how much of it is accurate? Hint: not a lot! We think you'll love listening to us debunk all the ways they get it wrong, why they do this, and what you can do about it.
[3:06] Pregnancy is always miserable & always a burden
[3:42] The father is always clueless
[5:13] Birth always begins with a gush of water or Level 10 contractions!
[6:40] Birth goes from zero to baby being born in a matter of minutes
[6:58] You have to fumble around just trying to get to the hospital
[7:51] The woman in labor screams at everyone and is angry at the father
[9:04] Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
[9:25] Birth only happens in the back of the car or a hospital
[10:24] You give birth on your back with your legs in...
