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Click on the blog post {aka Show Notes} for any podcast below and the links are at the bottom! Enjoy!
You Know You're Crunchy If...
Oct 02, 2019
Whoa, Nelly! Natural living is a slippery slope...one minute you decide to give cloth diapering a try, and the next thing you know you're washing down your placenta pill with a big glass of homemade kombucha. Don't say we didn't warn you! We had so much fun talking about some of the "crunchier" birth & postpartum options- how many of them have you tried? Don't forget to check out our "How Crunchy Are You?" quiz at the end of this post!
[1:02] Meme of the week!
[2:40] Cloth diapering
[6:28] Perineal massage
[8:06] Stephanie takes us inappropriately off-topic...
[10:53] The different ways to consume your placenta
[13:38] Drying of the umbilical cord
[14:06] Placenta prints
[14:46] Lotus birth
[15:57] Cord burning
[16:36] Orgasmic Birth
[19:46] Herbal postpartum bath
[21:22] Mother's Blessing
[24:22] Henna
[25:10] Belly casting
[27:11] Stephanie takes us off track again with another great idea....too much caffeine and sugar before #last90days
...
Student Success Story: Christy's Birth
Sep 26, 2019
In this episode, My Essential Birth mama, Christy, walks us through her birth experiences and what she did to make the third time a charm! We absolutely love listening to birth stories and this one was no exception. We know you'll feel inspired by it too!
[1:27] Christy has 3 girls; 4, 2, and 2-month old baby
[2:13] Chrisy's first birth - She discusses the details of this birth, the challenges, and how preparation would have helped.
[3:01] Christy had her water broken, received an epidural and blood pressure meds because the epidural caused a drop in blood pressure. She was told she may need a cesarean birth for baby in distress and a stalled labor. She was put on Pitocin, pushed for 45 minutes, received an episiotomy, and lost a pint of blood.
[8:22] Found a new doctor for her second birth who was more in line with her vision for birth.
[9:07] Stalled again, right around 7cm...just like with her first birth.
[9:29] Baby #2 was a...
The What & Why of Postpartum Belly Binding
Sep 18, 2019
If you've ever wondered what all the hype is about postpartum belly binding, or even if you've never heard of it before, we get into the what and why women choose to purchase one or have a professional belly binder come wrap them!
[1:15] Meme of the week!
[2:46] Stephanie discovered belly binding with her third baby
[4:25] Belly binding is like a big hug that helps pull everything back in after having a baby
[5:32] Will belly binding help me get back to my pre-pregnant shape?
[6:14] Two different kinds of belly binds (Velcro & Malaysian Bengkung Bind)
[9:08] How long after having a baby does it work?
[10:29] It is great for posture
[12:00] Bengkung bind moves around so it could be a great idea to use a velcro bind as you get more active.
[14:27] How a professional belly binder works with mama and partner
[15:48] How often a mama wears a bind
[17:47] We summarize the benefits
[18:20] Diastasis recti
[19:24] Cesarean birth and binds
[21:12] How to find someone who belly...
What's Stopping You From Having Your Best Birth?
Sep 09, 2019
Are fears, either subconscious or ones that you're very aware of, holding you back from having the birth that you really want? In this episode, we talk about the 7 fears that might be keeping you from an awesome birth. Listen & see if any of these resonate with you!
And don't worry...we aren't going to leave you hangin'. As always, we'll give you tips and tricks to tackle those fears and so that you can get back to preparing for your best birth.
[1:27] This episode inspired by Rachel Hollis "What's Keeping You From Making a Million Dollars?"
[2:29] We include advice throughout the episode of how to work through these fears if you have them.
[2:45] Fear #1: Are you afraid of outdoing someone you love?
[8:24] Fear #2: The Fear of Failure
[13:08] Fear #3: Fear of Success...yes it's a thing!
[16:26] Fear #4: Fear of the Unknown
[20:32] Fear #5: Legitimate Fears and Anxieties Due to Circumstances Surrounding Your Birth
[22:35] Fear #6: Fear of...
Circumcision: Both Sides
Sep 05, 2019
We don't shy away from discussing the difficult stuff and this week's episode is no exception! We get into the nitty-gritty behind all things circumcision...a big decision if you are expecting a little boy. Since we both have contrasting points-of-view on this topic, it means you'll find a safe space, support, and honest talk
All of the mamas in our community are trying to do what's best by their baby. So even if your decision on this topic is different than someone else's, you deserve all the love and respect we can offer. Keep doing you- you're a GREAT mom!
[2:12] You are going to get two very different points of views from both of us because we both represent opposite sides...and we still get along and respect and support each other as women and mothers!
[3:42] Cortney & her husband were on different sides of this issue at the beginning.
[4:14] Cortney's initial reasons for circumcision: uncircumcised penises were prone to...
Things They Don't Tell You: Postpartum Edition
Aug 28, 2019
Let us take you just a little deeper into the things people probably aren't telling you about the postpartum period. Don't worry, we laughed our way through this episode and we hope you will too! And as gross or frustrating as some of this info may be...it's simply part of the beautiful, messy, "wouldn't-trade-it" experience we call motherhood.
[1:19] If we could have a subtitle for this episode, it would be; "The 3 B's: Boobs, Blood, & Bodily Fluids"
[2:55] We talk about blood flow postpartum, what to expect, and when to wear adult diapers.
[6:13] We talk about "gettin' it on" postpartum. ow ow!
[7:14] The stinks and the sweats. What is up with that postpartum BO?!
[10:03] We get into all the things boob-related. Rock hard boobs when baby has a nice long stretch of sleep during the night, the joy of bigger boobs (for us tiny-boobed people) and the sadness of watching them go away even when you're nursing all the time, the size of nipples & areolas,...
Your Mental Game for Birth + BONUS Meditation
Aug 21, 2019
We are super excited to share a snippet of one of our meditation tracks from inside the My Essential Birth course. Plus we talk about the how and why positive affirmations are so dang good while you're pregnant...and always! Don't forget to download the FREE pdf that comes along with this episode.
[1:37] Announcing a pregnancy? >>> Que other mama's horror stories (face palm).
[1:55] Stephanie's theory: Birth horror stories stem from a need for validation for their experience
[3:32] These stories feed the LIE that birth is scary, unpredictable or something to be endured rather than enjoyed
[3:48] There is a way to re-do the bad programming that we have absorbed
[5:14] Stephanie shares her experience with how positive affirmations changed the course of her third birth
[7:04] Cortney discusses some of the science behind why positive affirmations are so powerful
[11:32] Take time to visualize your ideal birth as you listen to these affirmations
[12:10]...
2 Girls, 7 Totally Different Births
Aug 13, 2019
We share our personal birth stories which include hospital, birth center, and home birth, as well as cesarean birth, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), medicated, and unmedicated....does that cover everything?! PLUS, get the scoop on the one thing that made all the difference for BOTH of us when getting ready to have our babies.
Also poop, we talk about poop!
[1:47] In the U.S. 1/3 of women will find themselves in a cesarean birth
[2:27] The one thing
[2:57] Stephanie's first birth story...and that time when she was told by her provider that women with size 5 1/2 shoe and smaller, typically have a cesarean (say what?!)
[12:17] A lot of My Essential Birth mamas are mamas who have had a previous birth experience that they don't want to repeat
[12:47] Through preparation, you can control a lot of your birth
[13:47] Stephanie's 2nd birth...
[16:45] Third baby, Stephanie calls the one hospital in the area and they tell her to plan for...
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
Jul 31, 2019
TV lied. They almost always depict birth as super simple...
Pregnant woman shows up to the hospital with a frantic, fumbling husband.
Cut to a scene of the woman either panting or screaming.
Woman exits the hospital with a baby and big smiles.
There's SO MUCH that happens in between this "enter pregnant, exit with a baby" scenario, but too many mamas don't realize this until after their first birth. They leave feeling frustrated, maybe disappointed, and determined to be better prepared for their next birthing experience. Because...when it comes to birth, ignorance is NOT bliss.
Smart mamas know that understanding your options and what to expect puts you in the driver's seat! Yes, your provider is there to help you have a safe experience. But having an enjoyable birth experience is up to you. In this week's podcast episode, we get into some of the hot topics surrounding options during birth.
[1:06]: If you don't know...
Medicated vs Unmedicated: The Controversial Topic We Plan to Dispel Once & For All
Jul 23, 2019
Do you ever feel like you have to pick a side?!
We know all too well that this controversial topic can lead to many one-ups, horror stories, and hurt feelings, but it doesn't need to be that way. If you have a birth that you love and brought you joy, that was a good birth for you, no matter how you got there!
You'll get to hear why women choose an epidural or an unmedicated birth and pros and cons for each. One of the most important things we always emphasize is preparation. So, no matter which way you're leaning, (or if you're somewhere in the middle), understanding your options and preparing for the outcome you desire will always give you more power in your birth experience.
[2:17] Prepare yourself for whole heck of a lot of unsolicited advice ;)
[4:15] Trust your intuition
[5:21] At the end of the birth, all that really matters is if you can look back at the experience and you feel good about it
[6:54] Birth isn't something you get to do every day,...
