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Click on the blog post {aka Show Notes} for any podcast below and the links are at the bottom! Enjoy!
Get Your VBAC On!
Feb 05, 2020
This is a must-listen for any woman who has had a prior cesarean birth and is curious about or planning for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). We talk about statistics for VBAC's and why they're on your side, plus how to overcome obstacles standing in your way- including your provider, your partner, and yourself.
[3:18] What is a VBAC
[3:30] The facts about VBACs
[5:22] Benefits of a VBAC
[7:41] What are the risks?
[9:05] VBAC is safer than Elective Repeat Cesarean Birth
[9:40] What increases your odds of having a VBAC
[11:35] How to find a VBAC supportive provider
[13:51] Red Flags - How to tell if your provider sounds supportive but isn't really
[16:50] How to you get your partner on board
[18:09] How to convince yourself that you can do this!
[19:17] Resources
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...
BONUS episode with Relaxation Practice
Feb 03, 2020
If you want to put your knowledge to the test and practice for the big day...this episode is 100% for you! We'll walk you through this relaxation exercise and give you an opportunity to practice with relaxing music at the end. Grab your pen and paper, take notes, and then get ready to teach your body to relax better than you ever have before. Remember, practice makes permanent, so practicing the right way will you set you up for birthing success!
[1:01] The physical & mental aspects of relaxation + why consistency is key
[1:31] Tips for successful relaxation (how-to)
[2:18] How often to practice and for how long
[3:14] Tips for practicing solo & how to create triggers for when people in your birth space are making relaxation suggestions during labor
[4:00] When & where to practice
[4:45] Breathing - how to do it correctly
[5:30] Setting up for relaxation practice
[6:06] Practice HERE 
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't...
How Senses Influence Your Birth
Jan 30, 2020
How often does your body just melt at someone's request for you to "relax?" (No, YOU relax! lol) Anyone else feel the tension forming in their jaw and forehead when you hear that? In this episode, we'll give you and your partner some guidance on how to prep for a relaxing birth by tapping into the power of your senses! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth AND for even more great info head over to www.myessentialbirth.com to check out our FREE Pregnancy Guide & other incredible downloads.
[2:19] Why drawing on your senses and creating muscle memory is important.
[4:08] How to use external visual senses helps create a relaxed, comfortable environment.
[7:38] Internal visuals that help moms go deeper during relaxation and birth.
[11:34] Re-framing discomfort with the power of your mind and how to re-program your thoughts.
[12:42] The importance of the sounds, music, words, meditations that you're putting in your head and the right ones...
Birth: Enneagram Type 1
Jan 21, 2020
Feeling like things need to be perfect for your birth? Do you have high expectations for yourself, your provider, your birth team and your partner? Let me guess...you kinda think you know what's best and your preparation consists of research, lists and checking off all of your accomplishments as you go. Well, mama, we made this episode just for you!
[3:38] Enneagram 1 strengths
[11:21] Watch out for these
[17:54] Advice for partners
[22:10] Why Enneagrams 1's 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 really 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...
How NOT to Write a Birth Plan
Jan 15, 2020
There's really never a question of "if" you should create a birth plan. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. We break down the do's and don'ts of writing a birth plan and the "why" behind what you choose. Plus we include an exercise at the end of this episode that will help you envision your ideal birth before you write it all out.
[3:17] Cortney shares a shocking but true story about her personal experience with a provider that did not support having a birth plan.
[8:54] The DON'TS for a Birth Plan
[11:14] The DO's for a Birth Plan
[16:30] Things that were important to us to have on our birth plans. Spoiler alert, they are very different from each other.
[21:28] An exercise on how to envision your ideal birth
[24:24] Have questions about writing your birth plan? Send us a dm on Instagram!
Subscribe & Review in iTunes
If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our...
Assembling Your Dream Birth Team
Dec 27, 2019
If you want your dream birth, you need a dream birth team! They're kinda like the Avengers, but they have latex gloves & tired smiles instead of magical hammers and flying suits. Your dream team should consist of people who enthusiastically support your birth goals 100% and who have a track record of success. Second only to the knowledge & preparation you acquire through taking a super amazing birth course (wink!), your birth team is one of the most influential aspects in the outcome of your experience.
[3:22] 2 Categories of your birth team
[7:25] Why it's important to know what kind of birth you want and to have supporting information/research when you go to talk to those you love about supporting you in this birth.
[9:44] What do you do if you have some family members that may be imposing themselves on your space but you don't necessarily want them there?
[12:41] Your physical birth team - These people should support you 100%!
[15:09] HOW to find a great...
Birth: Enneagram Type 2
Dec 17, 2019
Need some "help" (pun intended for all our Type 2 moms- "The Helpers") embracing your birthing strengths and getting hints on what to watch out for during your pregnancy & birth? We've got you covered, sis! In this episode, we break down all the particulars and help you feel appreciated and loved along the way.
Supporting a Type 2 mom? There's an entire section for you too! Take a listen, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth.
Feel free to not include any of the bold or use a few as highlights for that section
[2:11] iTunes Review Spotlight: MM1227
[4:15] Description of Enneagram 2 - The Helper
[5:30] Enneagram 2 birthing strengths: Nurse gifts, packing for baby, setting the tone for the birth space, preparing for birth.
[11:24] Watch out for: not giving yourself sufficient "me-time" or self-care, nurses, providers or other people's opinions overriding your own, emotions that force you to walk through some gunk to get...
Cesareans: When They're Necessary & Avoiding When They Aren't- PART 2
Dec 12, 2019
With cesarean rates higher than ever in the U.S., we realize there is a major lack of education about why and how to avoid an unnecessary one, until now. This two-part podcast covers all things cesarean birth: from the history behind cesarean birth, where it developed, why the cesarean birth rate has not gone down (even though it should have), why a provider may recommend one - including which reasons are legitimate and which can be avoided, what you can expect if you have one, and most importantly how to PREVENT an unnecessary cesarean birth! This episode (Part 2) covers everything from what to expect during a cesarean birth, emotions that go along with one, and a quick overview for recovery. Spoiler alert: be gentle with yourself!
[1:13] What to expect during a cesarean birth
[7:10] Gentle cesareans
[11:12] Stephanie's cesarean birth experience
[14:20] Emotions that come along with cesarean birth
[16:45] Processing our birth stories
[17:48] What partners can do...
Cesareans: When They're Necessary & Avoiding When They Aren't- PART 1
Dec 03, 2019
With cesarean rates higher than ever in the U.S. we realize there is a major lack of education about why and how to avoid an unnecessary one, until now. This two part episode covers all things cesarean birth, from the history behind cesarean birth, where it developed, why the cesarean birth rate has not gone down (even though it should have), why a provider may recommend one - including which reasons are legitimate and which can be avoided, what you can expect if you have one, and most importantly how to PREVENT an unnecessary cesarean birth! This episode (Part 1) covers everything through why a provider might recommend one. Truthfully we want to talk about VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) but quickly realized our mamas will need this info first! Enjoy!
[2:08] Kids say the darndest things
[4:20] The facts of cesareans
[6:57] The history of cesarean birth
[7:08] Improper nutrition in the 1900's caused Rickets (which in turn causes a malformations of bones - including the...
5 Things Essential Oils Do For Pregnancy & Birth That You Don't Know About
Nov 25, 2019
The entire point of the My Essential Birth Course is to empower women to create their best birth experience...and to do that, we train you with ALL the things that help make that possible. Essential oils are one of those tools! Not only can they address common pregnancy ailments safely & effectively (goodbye low energy!), but they also play an important role in creating muscle memory for birth. Not sure what that is? No worries, mama! We'll cover allll that in this episode.
[1:21] Essential Oils are integrated throughout the birth course
[1:48] Essential Oils are one of the many tools to use for pregnancy & birth
[3:16] There are so many things you can't take during pregnancy
[5:56] We love and use doTERRA oils because of their quality, safety, and efficacy.
[7:28] We see essential oils in hospitals & birth centers
[8:12] The 5 areas that every pregnant mama/new mamas deal with constantly
[8:49] FIRST UP: Immune Support!
[9:57] Stephanie's...
