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Show Notes:

[2:16] Our Reviewer of the Week is Kentest, and she said, "I was planning on winging it for my first birth but I am so thankful I didn’t. I came across this podcast by chance early on in my first pregnancy and couldn’t stop listening and absorbing everything these ladies had to offer. Even though my options are slightly different being in Australia, I am so grateful to have these birthing tools and knowledge. I manage to have a beautiful unmedicated hospital water birth for my first despite having to face challenges including active contractions during early labour. I couldn’t have done it without listening to you Stephanie. I am currently pregnant with my second due near the end of August and have tuned back in to prepare myself again. Definitely hoping to go unmedicated and know that my body has done it once and can do it again."

[3:20] We have a birth story for you! Melissa Kidd is a single mother by choice, with a 10-month-old...

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[3:26] Our Reviewer of the Week, MaggieMc1217, says "So much great info, I truly can't stop listening! I was quite nervous about birth before but honestly cannot wait. Thank you for all of the great content and your advocacy for a natural birth!"

If you are listening and you have any kind of fear regarding birth, if you're uncertain about anything, if you have questions about things and you don't know where to start, you're in the right place. Stick with me. I take you step by step, making pregnancy and birth topics totally a breeze so that you completely understand what is coming up for you during your pregnancy, what your options are, and how to speak to your provider about it.

[4:52] This episode is a product of questions we've gotten as a follow up to Part 1 on the topic of subchorionic hemorrhage. We love getting feedback from our listeners and want you to be as informed as possible when it comes to birth, pregnancy, and labor!

[6:32] What is a...

Show Notes:

[2:02] Our Reviewer of the Week, LMPfromMI, said: "I wanted to reach out and personally thank you for all of the work that you put into your web course and podcast. I listened to your podcast every day throughout my recent pregnancy and I know that it made a significant difference in my pregnancy and labor. I am a first time mama and got to have the home birth of my dreams next to my husband, mom (and doula) and midwife. Throughout my first trimester, I was so anxious about labor and delivery and was so uneducated in all aspects of birth. Thanks to your podcast, not only was I empowered to have my baby at home, but it was unmedicated too! And despite complications and almost needing to transfer to hospital, I had so much peace and confidence throughout every contraction. My whole labor was only 9 hours, with pushing for just over one hour. My midwife said if baby hadn’t been in a posterior position, she would have missed my birth! I know not everyone gets to...

Show Notes:

[1:42] Our Reviewer of the Week said, "I listened to this podcast during my entire first pregnancy. I loved the mix of birth stories, education, and practices. I felt empowered to advocate for myself and ask a lot of questions, which lead to confidence in my body and trust in my provider. I chose the epidural route and was satisfied with my experience bringing my son into the world. I just found out I am pregnant with baby #2 and started listening again. Stephanie feels like an old friend and I can’t wait to catch up with her! Honestly, I could go on and on about how this podcast has been a blessing and encouragement in my motherhood journey."

[3:59] This episode is for the dads! I think we have come a long way with how dads are involved with birth, especially now today. We know that research shows that women having their significant other with them during labor equals better outcomes, more comfort for mom, shorter labors, and just overall general better...

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[2:00] Our Reviewer of the Week, Neenah66, said: "I listened to this podcast through my first pregnancy (and went back to listen to every podcast ever made). I also bought their birth class, my essential birth! Labor and birth went even better than planned. I owe it all to Stephanie! It’s great to be back listening as I grow baby #2!"

[2:49] Our birth story today is from Savanna Davis! She and her fiance, CJ, welcomed their first baby girl in January of 2023. She actually came on New Year's day, which was unplanned, but exciting. They are from Cleveland, and her fiance owns a flooring company, and Savanna is in grad school right now, which is a whole challenge in itself.

[3:40] Savanna's pregnancy was not planned. She did not know right away. She was feeling awful, and she was worried because autoimmune diseases run in her family. She went to the doctor, and they actually didn't even test her for...

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[1:38] Our Reviewer of the Week, Lbg1188, says: "I started listening when I was around 6 weeks pregnant and I cannot get enough of this podcast. I’m now 25 weeks and will be signing up for the birth course this weekend. I already feel so much more prepared and well educated about pregnancy and birth just from listening and can’t wait to start the course. I love how all the information is presented in an objective way for you to interpret and make educated decisions on your own. I HIGHLY recommend this podcast to all my pregnant friends and even anyone who is trying to become pregnant. I look forward to continuing to listen and learn!"

[2:38] Our guest this week is, Dr. Robyn Thompson, an experienced midwife, family, child and maternal health nurse MCaFHN, breastfeeding specialist and founder of The Thompson Method Breastfeeding Program. For nearly 5 decades, thousands of women and their babies have experienced the benefits of her gentle and intuitive...

Show Notes:

[1:41] Our Reviewer of the Week is Nahycnil, and she said, "This podcast and birth course helped me overcome the anxiety I had after my first birth that was filled with interventions. With all the information this podcast offers and the birth course, I was empowered and was able to have an unmedicated amazing birth experience with my second! So grateful for the My Essential Birth course and the pregnancy and birth made easy podcast. I’m obsessed with all things pregnancy and postpartum now!"

[2:44] Today's topic is definitely a hot topic. I try not to avoid these kinds of things, but I also want to come to you with really good information. We will be talking about vaccines. Know that I do my very best to give very unbiased both side information, and I know my job is done or I've done it well, if you have no idea which way I lean. The goal here is to help you know how to educate yourself. These kinds of decisions are so important for us to make on our own, and...

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[1:47] You are enough, and I hope that, yes, you know that. When we're going through the things that we go through to become mothers, when we're dealing with infertility, when we are growing a baby, when we are in the throes of our postpartum weeks, do we believe that we are enough?

[2:44] You are a mother. You are strong, capable, intuitive, knowledgeable, creative, and smart. You have everything that you could possibly need to be able to navigate this journey of motherhood. You absolutely do.

[3:38] You deserve respect from your birth partner, respect from the support of people around you, respect from your birth team. I want you to take that in for a second and look at yourself, look at your sweet spirit, and understand you deserve that respect. It is so important that you are treated in such a way that is respected and loved and cared for and heard. You deserve to be involved with your medical decisions.

[7:28] Good decisions are based off of good...

Show Notes:

[1:41] Our Reviewer of the Week is Graciebird97, and she said: "I have been listening to this podcast for close to a year now and have become so passionate about educating myself and others on pregnancy and birth! My husband and I have been married for a year and a half & plan to start a family within the next few years. Stephanie, your podcast has made me feel prepared & empowered for when that time comes. I can’t wait to start our family & I will definitely be taking the birth course. I have been sharing this podcast with anyone and everyone who will listen! THANK YOU!"

[2:14] Our guest this week is Kim Perry, who is a CPT, specializing in prenatal and postnatal fitness for new & expecting moms. When she was pregnant with her first daughter, she struggled to find workouts that were effective, safe and fun . . . so she created her own! Now she is a mom to 3 girls and pregnant with a baby boy! She helps thousands of women around the...

Show Notes:

[2:04] Our Reviewer of the Week, ERees307, said: "This podcast was my best resource during pregnancy! I just had my first baby and before the birth I listened to every episode of this podcast! My birth preferences went out the door when my babe was diagnosed with fetal growth restriction, and I was scheduled to be induced early. This podcast gave me the strength and knowledge to stay positive and continue forward to have the most amazing natural(ish) hospital birth. Now I have a beautiful baby girl who is as healthy as can be at 1 week old. Thank you!"

[3:01] We have a birth story fromKatelynn Monty, who lives in Michigan with her husband and son, who was born October 2022.

[3:26] Katelynn shares her overall pregnancy experience and how she knew she was pregnant before she had missed her period.

[8:41] She went to a Midwife group and tried to meet as many midwives as possible. Once she found a midwife she loved, she tried to schedule all her appointments with...