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Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

My Essential Birth 352 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

This podcast, hosted by Stephanie, a professional doula and childbirth educator, aims to empower expectant mothers through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Each week, Stephanie and guests break down complex birth topics, offering practical advice and personal stories to help listeners feel confident and prepared. The show covers a range of subjects from labor preparation to unexpected twists in birth plans, all with the goal of making the journey into motherhood smoother.

Episodes

Your Legal Rights in the Birth Room with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein Jul 1, 2026 4288 Signing the general consent form when you walk into the hospital does not mean you have agreed to everything that follows. Not the Pitocin. Not the vaginal exam. Not the electronic fetal monitor. Not the cesarean. Not the hospital policy. Every single one of those still requires your informed consent.I had the privlege of sitting down with Hermine Hayes-Klein, an attorney who has spent 25 years sp
The Truth About Gestational Diabetes Testing, Nutrition & Birth with Midwives, Bonnie Baker & Karina Robinson Jun 24, 2026 2502 Gestational diabetes is one of those topics that every pregnant mama needs to understand way before she ever gets to that 28 week test, whether she thinks it applies to her or not. And I could not be more excited about who I brought in to talk about it today.Bonnie and Karina are midwives in Davis County Utah and two of my favorite people in the birth world. I met them early in my birth work journ
Tongue Ties, Breastfeeding & Baby Development: Everything You Need to Know with Michelle Emanuel Jun 17, 2026 2624 Is your baby fussy, clicking while nursing, struggling with tummy time, or just not quite seeming like themselves, and nobody can give you a straight answer about why?In this episode, I sit down with Michelle Emanuel, pediatric occupational therapist, board-certified lactation consultant, and one of the leading experts in tongue tie and oral function, and we take a deep dive into all things tongue
Birth Story: A Birth Center Water Birth & Letting Her Body Lead w/Kyla & Gabe Jun 10, 2026 3144 After giving birth at 28 weeks with her first baby, Kyla knew that this pregnancy was going to look different. She was intentional about every decision: her providers, her preparation, her birth space, and her mindset going in. And when the time came, all of that work showed up in the most beautiful and amazing way. Kyla woke up one morning at 39 weeks with a belly that looked completely different
Can You Say No to Your Doctor During Pregnancy? Jun 3, 2026 1116 You leave your prenatal appointment and get in your car. And something just feels off.You are confused. Unsettled. Maybe a little worried about your body or your baby. And you spend the whole drive home trying to figure out what just happened in there and what you are supposed to do about it.In this episode, I am walking you through exactly what to do when something does not feel right with your p
Before You Say Yes In Labor, Ask These Three Questions May 27, 2026 1083 What would you do if you were deep in labor and someone walked in and said it was time to talk about Pitocin, breaking your water, or maybe even a cesarean?I am you through the exact moment that catches most mamas completely off guard in the birth room (myself included, and I share about it), and the three questions that can slow everything down, get you the information you actually need, and help
Eating for Your Cycle, Gut Health & Fertility with Nora DeBora May 20, 2026 3135 What if understanding your menstrual cycle could completely change the way you prepare for pregnancy and transform how you feel in your body every single month?I sat down with Nora DeBora, functional fertility coach, holistic nutritionist, fertility awareness practitioner, and host of the Ultimate Pregnancy Prep Podcast, to talk about everything from eating for your cycle and seed cycling to gut h
Birth Story: Pitocin Induction, 24 Hours of Unmedicated Labor & a 9lb 12oz Baby — Mary Richardson's Story May 13, 2026 2899 Birth doesn't always go the way you planned, but preparation never goes to waste.In this encouraging birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Mary Richardson shares her journey from planning a home birth to an unexpected hospital transfer, a Pitocin induction she never saw coming, and over 24 hours of unmedicated labor that pushed her further than she ever thought she could go. From the daily pre
Tylenol, Vaccines & Autism: What Every Pregnant Mom Needs to Know with Dr. Ari Calhoun May 6, 2026 4012 Is Tylenol really safe during pregnancy? Does it cause Autism? What about vaccines? And are you getting the nutrients your baby's brain actually needs?What if the most important health decisions you make during pregnancy are the ones nobody told you to think about?In this incredible & informational episode, I sit down with Dr. Ari Calhoun, naturopathic doctor, mama of two, and founder of
Birth Story: When Birth Brings Both Loss and Healing | Sarah’s Story Apr 29, 2026 3547 What would you do if the pregnancy you carefully prepared for suddenly took an unexpected turn?In this powerful and deeply meaningful birth story, My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah, joins me to share the journey of her second pregnancy — one that began with a clear vision for a very different birth experience after a difficult first birth.Determined to do things differently, Sarah switched providers,
Birth Story: Early Labor, Life Flight Refusal & a 32-Week Baby Who Stunned His Nurses with Christa & Morgan Apr 22, 2026 5550 In this incredible birth story, My Essential Birth parents Christa and Morgan take us through one of the most incredible journeys I have ever had the honor of sharing on this podcast. From a heartbreaking miscarriage to living on the road during pregnancy, to refusing a life flight and driving eight hours home, to an unmedicated delivery nobody saw coming (and a 32-week baby who left every nurse i
3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead) Apr 15, 2026 1240 What if the birth plan you worked so hard on… actually set you up for disappointment?Most moms spend hours researching, Googling templates, and checking every box, and still walk away from birth feeling blindsided, unprepared, or like the whole experience just happened to them.And it's not their fault. It's because nobody ever showed them what a birth plan is actually supposed to do, or

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