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A doula's role in assisting in childbirth is not only beautiful but also sacred. To those who maybe aren't so familiar, a doula is someone who supports women through pregnancy, birth and postpartum, mostly known for their hands-on support during the actual labor process. They also help the mother and her partner make informed decisions about the birth by providing emotional support, physical comfort, information and practical assistance. The best part? They work for YOU! Not your provider, not anyone else who may have an agenda, they are there to help you get all the information, and then support whatever decisions YOU choose to create your best birth.

If you're someone who wants to become or hire a doula, this episode is a treat to listen to! I have professional doula, and dear friend, Bonnie Baker, join me today to discuss the essential nuances of doula training, working as a doula, and we also dive a little deeper into how to have a successful birth induction, whatever "success"...

Imagine training for a job but walking in on your first day and having no idea of what you were going to be asked to do! "Have you ever wondered what males really know about pregnancy and birth?"

The My Essential Birth Podcast began an intimate conversation between two childbirth educators and doulas. Since that first recording in an office after hours, things at My Essential Birth have grown. I now record in a studio with my incredible podcasting team Corbin, Trent, Dallon, and Savannah. With the exception of Savannah, my team is primarily male.

As you can imagine, they knew very little about pregnancy, the birthing process, and how women's bodies function! In this interview, my Rockstar editors will share the episodes that made them redefine the pregnancy journey, what it means to advocate for expectant moms, and the episodes that made them say -- "Wait, is THAT what happens during pregnancy?"

Sit back and prepare to laugh while gaining insight into how movies and media impact ...

Ask any mama-to-be to imagine her ideal birth experience, and you will hear phrases such as: "I want to feel comfortable, in control, and connected to my body." All this and more is possible with the proper preparation. This week's conversation is about increasing mom's comfort during birth by creating room in the lower pelvic/uterine area for the baby - which sounds complicated, but it isn't.

The magic is in one simple exercise - The Forward-Leaning Inversion. The Forward-Leaning Inversion is one of the core exercises you will find in the My Essential Birth Exercise Guide (link below). In this episode, you will learn how to perform this exercise safely and its many benefits, from helping posterior & breech babies to relieving lower back pain. We also review the importance of balancing the pelvis during pregnancy.
 
 [00:01:12] Thank you for our reviewer of the week, who credits My Essential Birth with providing her " the space and freedom to create [her] own opinions on things." We...

Does the thought of birth send your anxiety through the roof? If so, hang tight because the episode is for YOU.

Each day we receive messages from women who admit to being terrified to give birth, and it's easy to see why. In the United States, we treat birth as a medical crisis that demands immediate intervention --these practices put medical staff in the driver seat and women in the back seat as casual observers of their births. Unless there are complications, evidence supports that our bodies will instinctively move, sway, and adjust to put mom and baby into the ideal position for birth. 

Grab your birthing partner and tune in as my husband (yep...he's back!) and I give the benefits of several birthing positions that are going to make your pregnancy and birth just that much easier. Plus, you'll hear about how we work through them together, snippets from our birth story, and different ways partners and doulas can assist in creating an unforgettable experience.

[00:04:20] A powerful ...

Pregnancy is a time of change and anticipation in your life, whether you're a first-time parent or not. As the months go by, your body gets ready for birth by changing your posture and adjusting your center of gravity. But do you know how chiropractic care helps during pregnancy?

In today's episode, I welcome Chiropractor & Mom, Doctor Brandie Nemchenko. She is the Founder and CEO of Experience Chiropractic, Clinical Director of Bloom at Experience, and Developer of The Bloom Philosophy. Her book, What You Don't Expect When You're Expecting, is geared towards helping expectant mothers experiencing common musculoskeletal maladies using chiropractic services. She talks about the benefits of chiropractic in healing common pains during pregnancy, the Webster technique, and critical insights from the second edition of her book. Learn also about Dr. Brandie's popular "Six Villains Of Pregnancy" and how she teaches you to fight them!

[4:03] What is chiropractic care and how does it help you...

 There are countless valid reasons why women seek to induce labor naturally. In this episode, I deep dive into both natural and medically induced practices. I answer questions about the processes and methods behind various natural and medical procedures, the risks and benefits, and the options available to you. I also introduce you to techniques that are available through other holistic practitioners - such as chiropractors. When it comes to labor and delivery, you have options. My Essential Birth is a judgment-free zone and resource for you to utilize to take control and have more knowledge over your pregnancy and birth experience.=

[2:03] A deep dive into why women want to induce labor naturally.

[2:28] Understanding prodromal labor and recognizing the signs and 
symptoms of this condition. PLUS, things that you can do to cope. 

 
[4:05] Curb Walking 101-Curb walking is a technique that can be done 
inside or outside. It has various benefits, such as increasing oxytocin 
levels, am...

1:27 - Today's guest is Taylor, a new mom, and student of My Essential Birth.

2:15 - Taylor shares that this is the first baby in her family. She loved being pregnant, although the first trimester symptoms were rough but later got better.

4:15 - Signs like persistent tiredness, and delay in her monthly flow made Taylor suspect that she was pregnant, and she took a test to confirm it.

6:11 - During her pregnancy, Taylor had a very strong craving for watermelons. She also had to struggle with significant discomfort in her legs especially at night. Her chiropractor helped with this but the symptoms completely disappeared after delivery. 99% of the solutions to pregnancy-related symptoms are to just have your baby.

8:36 - While having some doubts when she initially found out she was pregnant, Taylor highlights that she got a lot of encouragement from her husband to go ahead. She had started seeing a doctor for the first 20 weeks and observed the Doctors often did not spend the time to get t...

Are you prepared for the very first step of the postpartum period? This week on the podcast, I talk about the golden hour—that crucial first 60 minutes following your baby’s birth. I’ll be going through why the golden hour is so important, how to get it (if it’s not immediately offered to you during your care), and exactly what you and your partner should be doing during that time. Tune in and enjoy!

Show Notes

1:45 - The golden hour is the first hour after the baby is born. It’s the crucial 60-minute transition that your baby goes through between the womb and the outside world. During this important time, mom and baby need time together, undisturbed, in order for them to bond, familiarize themselves with each other, and start building a connection outside the womb.

3:27 - Look for a hospital with a baby-friendly certification, as these hospitals are guaranteed to offer you this golden hour. But it’s not a deal-breaker even if your hospital doesn’t have this certification. Take t...

Do you know what to look for to know it’s labor time?! This week on the podcast, I talk about what those things are but also give you some detail on how they can show up for moms because, let’s be honest, some moms may see certain signs and still wait a week or two before hitting active labor. Tune in and enjoy!

Show Notes

5:11 - Nesting can show up as you get closer to your due date. This is a common sign that labor is approaching across the animal species too! Mom's thought process during this time may causes her to go into organizing mode. There are also some great exercises to help put you in a calm mental state as you get closer to your birth-date.

12:25 - Wondering what a mucous plug is and what it does?! You can find all that info here. I also explain the various looks a mucus plug can have, what to look for and what might be considered not normal and cause for you to see your provider.

21:06 - Your water broke! Hooray! You’re definitely having a baby soon. Not all women ...

This week I had the pleasure of having  incredible home birth midwife, Angie, LM, CPM,  join me on the podcast. Angie, from the Long Beach, CA area, gives us some insight into what the process of taking care of a mother during pregnancy and birth is like as a home birth midwife. We also went a little deeper into birthing during a pandemic as well as the importance of informed consent. Informed consent is so important to her and I know when you take a listen you will understand why and feel empowered to stand up for yourself.

It's true that when you birth at home you will be birthing unmedicated but it doesn't mean your midwife won't come prepared with life-saving medications, tools, knowledge, and skills to keep you and your baby safe. With so many misconceptions when it comes to home births, including the legitimacy and safety of the practice, Angie gives us the facts that can help tackle those misconceptions and may even have you looking up a local home birth midwife near you for...