Birthful
On Birthful, working doula and former journalist Adriana Lozada talks pregnancy, birth and postpartum with top experts and new parents. Every episode distills the overload of pregnancy information down to the most relevant and useful stuff. Adriana Lozada is a mom, author, speaker, birth doula, postpartum educator, and healthy-sleep consultant.
Episodes
9 Most Badass Birth Moments (From Adriana’s Doula Career)
Adriana celebrates a decade of podcasting by sharing some of the most badass moments she’s witnessed as a doula, including an unassisted waterbirth at the hospital, a uniquely calm and undisturbed physiological birth (in the hospital lobby!), and more moments where her clients embraced their roles as protagonists of their labors, leaned into what they needed, and asked their teams to step up, even
[Birth Stories] Triumphant Vaginal Birth of Twins Despite Preeclampsia and Triggering Interventions, with Michelle Rose
Michelle Rose describes her birth as that of her dreams, despite having a two-and-a-half-day-long induction for preeclampsia with a low platelet count, enduring a magnesium drip, a non-working epidural, a horrific vaginal check, hemorrhaging badly enough to require a blood infusion, and feeling like her body was in trauma response during the whole time she was at the hospital… all of that on top o
[Birth Stories] Four Days After Her Water Broke and Still No Labor – Now What?!, with Sivan Dirks
What do you do when your water breaks and FOUR days later, there’s little sign of labor? For Sivan Dirks this meant almost drinking a castor oil smoothie! Instead, she leaned into the holistic and intuitive tools she’d gathered over her previous -and varied!- birth experiences, to have her most connected and physiologic birth yet. She shares with Adriana her three experiences which include a belly
[Birth Stories] Celebrating Our 10 Years With Adriana’s Birth Story!
What better way to celebrate this incredible 10-year milestone than by having Adriana share her own birth story? But there’s a twist… actually more than one! First, it's Adriana’s daughter, Persephone (Seph), doing the interviewing. They’ll be sharing the evolving tradition Adriana started when Seph was one, of telling her birth story on her birthday, and how impactful that has been in normali
[Birth Stories] Weaving Together Four Unmedicated Births to Reveal Her Authentic Self, with Ujarak Appadoo
One of the biggest surprises for Ujarak Appadoo when she first got pregnant was that she would need to prepare or adjust for living in a pregnant body and giving birth. She’d figure she’d just carry on doing life as she’d seen her peers do, and that everything would unfold without much fuss. So began her long journey of transformation through four births, which included having to accept not being
[Birth Stories] A Scheduled Surgical Birth and a Home VBAC: Both Based on Her Intuition, with Jessica Pinney
Even though 5 doctors had cleared Jessica Pinney for a vaginal delivery with her rare placental conditions of vasa previa and velamentous cord insertion, she listened to her intuition and decided to have a planned surgical birth for her first child. For her next pregnancy, listening to her intuition led her to have a homebirth. She shares with Adriana how these different circumstances led to very
[Birth Stories] Knowing All Was Well Despite Seven Hours of Pushing, with Tabitha DeLorio
Even though Tabitha DeLorio had a long pushing stage (and we’re talking 6 to 7 hours long!) at no point was she discouraged that something was wrong. She shares with Adriana how the trust she had in her body and her team, their loving support, and constant reassurance (as well as her baby showing no signs of distress) allowed her to power through despite her baby’s head being tilted to one side wi
[Birth Stories] Getting Baby to Flip From Breech With an ECV for a Flowing Vaginal Birth, with Kaitlin Moore
What happens when a baby suddenly turns breech at 36 weeks? For Kaitlin Moore, this meant a hard pivot and lots of research to weigh her options between trying to get her baby to flip back or having a surgical birth. She shares the difficulties of finding the right provider to do an External Cephalic Version (ECV), and how elated she was when the ECV was successful and she could wait until her (no
[Birth Stories] Fast Homebirths and Liminal Spaces With a Pregnant Funeral Director, with Anna Walsh
If birth and death are liminal bookends to our human experience, what conversations emerge as a pregnant funeral director is attended by a grieving midwife? Anna Walsh shares the story of her two fast births, and how she felt safe, heard, and respected as she transferred to the hospital for a retained placenta after her first birth (and cheered the second one when it came easily!). In this season
[Birth Stories] Creating a Beautiful Birth Experience Despite 5 Days of Interventions, with Olivia Styons
Can a chaotic labor with a myriad of interventions for preeclampsia and several failed epidurals be a positive experience? Olivia Styons shares with Adriana the hard pivots she and her team had to make and how crucial it was for her to speak up for her needs - from getting a shower to holding her premature baby for a few minutes - to resiliently turn a 5-day induction into a beautiful experience.
[Birth Stories] An Intentionally Unassisted Birth After Three Hospital Births, with Kemeera Nimahat
Doula and perinatal dance instructor Kemeera Nimahat has given birth four times and is the self-proclaimed queen of ignoring early labor. She shares with Adriana how tuning into her intuition has been pivotal in deciding where and with whom to give birth (she switched from homebirth to hospital for her first) and the deep work she did in preparation for her most recent birth, which was surprisingl
[Birth Stories] Can You Even Prepare for Baby Hiccupping While Crowning?!, with Danielle Fetty-Lovell
Danielle Fetty-Lovell has been through a lot in her births! But probably the most unexpected moment was when her first daughter had the hiccups while she was crowning for a really long time (making it both comical and excruciating). She shares with Adriana how being deeply focused on her labor meant that she didn’t care they got her dilation wrong (going from 8 cms back to 4!) and how trying to ma
[Birth Stories] An Unexpectedly Unassisted Blissful Breech Birth, with Toni Shama
Toni Shama’s first birth asked for movement, and her third birth asked for much vocalization. Her second birth, however, asked for tons of intimacy with her husband. She shares with Adriana how when they fueled that passion, labor became so fast they barely had a chance to call their midwife before their baby was born. And how if any of them had known the baby was breech, it would have been a very
[Birth Stories] When Place-Of-Birth Policies Keep You Thinking Instead of Birthing, with Emily Salahuddin
Emily Salahuddin set out to have an unmedicated birth at a birth center, but trying to remain within the risk boundaries of that facility turned into an all-consuming mind game, bringing with it an onslaught of non-medical interventions. Ironically, it was after being transferred to the hospital that she was able to have a more hands-off experience… until the baby was born. She shares with Adriana
[Birth Stories] Two Non-Epidural Inductions: With and Without the Fetal Ejection Reflex, with Meredith Finch
Given that Pitocin contractions can be so intense, most people who have inductions also tend to have epidurals – but not Meredith Finch! Listen as she shares with Adriana how her preparation, flexibility, the crucial support from her husband and her doula, and a profound emotional release with her careprovider helped her through her two inductions, ultimately letting her experience the fetal eject
[Birth Stories] From Traumatic Cesarean to Healing (and Fast!) VBAC, with Morgan Moy
What’s more stressful: a panic attack right before a surgical birth that takes your breath away and leaves you with memory gaps, or your baby’s shoulders getting stuck on the pubic bone after the head is out and needing a manual placental extraction? For today’s birth story, doula, lactation specialist, and childbirth educator Morgan Moy shares with Adriana how she prepared (or didn’t) for her fir
Connecting with Your Baby in Utero through Song, with Penny Simkin
Figuring out a newborn’s needs can be tricky, and sometimes a baby will cry no matter what you do. Wouldn’t it be great to have a tool to help you automatically soothe your child? One that also reduces your stress? Join Adriana in this In Memoriam episode, as she revisits her conversation with the renowned Penny Simkin to discuss the profound impact of singing to your baby in utero. Discover this
[Birth Stories] How Birth Took Her to Her Edge When She Least Expected It, with Vanessa Janek
A former labor and delivery nurse and childbirth educator, Vanessa Janek thought she knew what to expect from birth. Going into it, she was a bit leery of transition… but nothing could really prepare her for the exhaustion, fear, and overwhelm she felt when contractions went away, just after she got to 10 cms. She shares with Adriana how she was able to get past those feelings to push her baby out
Insider Tips From a Labor and Delivery Nurse, with Mandy Irby
Even though you may not have met them before, labor and delivery nurses are an essential part of your hospital birth team. In this episode, Registered L&D Nurse Mandy Irby talks with Adriana about why nurses may love and hate birth plans, how to navigate triage, the difference between hospital rules and body rules, why IV sticks can be so tricky, the poorly named “fundal massage,” how to foste
[Birth Stories] When the Curveballs Come Before and After the Birth, with Mandy Alexander
Mandy Alexander got pregnant at 40, having had bariatric surgery 7 years before that. During what she describes as her ‘bariatric-geriatric’ pregnancy, she worked through her fear of childbirth and ended up with the unmedicated and collaborative birth experience she was looking for. However, breastfeeding was a whole other beast. Mandy was prepared for many difficulties, but not that her body migh
How Will You Show Up At Your Birth?, with Shalome Stone
Here’s the thing about preparing for birth: you can read all the books, take all the classes, listen to all the podcasts, set up a dream birth team, but no amount of preparation will get the birthing done for you. Shalome Stone tells Adriana why pregnancy is the ideal time for doing the inner work that will allow you to step up and own your birth and how that may look for you.Get the most out of t
[Birth Stories] The Power of Having A Strong Advocate When Her Plans Derailed, Tara Langsdorf
What does a self-described Type A do when her birth plan derails? Tara Langsdorf (who finished her second master’s degree and took a promotion managing a team of 25 while pregnant!) shares with Adriana how leaning on the structures and support she’d set up during pregnancy allowed her to go deep into her labor process, despite her starting to develop preeclampsia and having a cascade of interventi
How Your Birth Plan Impacts Your Birth Experience, with Stephanie Mitchell
Certified Nurse-Midwife Dr. Stephanie Mitchell shares with Adriana a few tools from her step-by-step guide to building a birth plan, and discusses why getting your plan together—and onboarding everyone on your birth team—can help ensure you are respected and heard during your birth experience.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show n
[Birth Stories] How She Prepared Differently to Avoid Another Managed Birth, with Danielle Ford
Danielle Ford has had two very distinct births, with her first happening with minimal preparation and many interventions. It wasn’t until getting pregnant 10 years later that she realized she carried a lot of trauma from birth number one. She shares with Adriana how taking a deep dive into her birth options, and intentionally preparing to have a more connected birth allowed for a birth imbued with
Birth Principles: Enhance Your Birth Plan!, with Jessie Harrold
Today we’re going beyond the birth plan to talk about birth principles! Although a well-crafted birth plan can be a powerful tool, more often than not they're formulaic, and outcome-focused nature can give a false illusion of control, and even elicit eye rolls from jaded caregivers. Jessie Harrold shares with Adriana how your efforts may be better spent on first crafting your own set of birth
How to Set Up Your Childcare Options to Include Community Care, with Leslie Borrell
Great childcare— so, a solution that you can afford, has availability, works with your schedule, and can provide loving and safe care for your child— can be hard to find! Most often than not, you will have to concede some trade-offs. Leslie Borrell explains the different childcare options out there, the reality behind economic subsidy programs, and how to communicate your non-negotiables to those
How to Have a Great Hospital Birth, with Adriana Lozada
You can have a fabulous birth experience at a hospital, but it requires thoughtful preparation. Adriana Lozada helps simplify this process by going through some of the best practices to get you there.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page. If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about how your place of birth ca
Milk Your Lactation Benefits!, with Adriana Lozada
Some people say that nursing your baby is "free” — and while there certainly are unique cost savings associated with feeding human milk, there can be expenses associated with it, too. How can you maximize your lactation-related benefits? And what does the law have to say? Adriana shares practical tips about the financial side of infant feeding.Get the most out of this episode by checking out t
How to Organize Truly Helpful Postpartum Support From Your Friends and Family, with Michelle Peterson
Michelle Peterson shares with Adriana a fantastic framework for setting up your postpartum village of support that spreads the responsibility over many people (seven to be exact) so that you are well-resourced beyond the first few weeks of postpartum. She explains how to prepare and why you’ll need a team leader to coordinate it all to make sure you not only receive the care you need, but that you
[Birth Stories] Leaning Into Peer Support After Her Unplanned Surgical Birth, with Dr. Amber Thornton
Dr. Amber Thornton worked hard for a healthy pregnancy and an unmedicated vaginal birth, but she didn’t expect her water to release before 39 weeks. Despite an early hospital admission, labor progressed right along… until it didn’t. She shares with Adriana the fears she had to contend with while having an unplanned surgical birth, and how having intentionally set up her village of mutual support w
Why You Deserve Professional Postpartum Support (And How to Afford It!), with Kaitlin McGreyes
When it comes to postpartum, EVERYONE needs support. And even after accepting that you WILL need the help, it can be tricky figuring out how to ask for it, especially when most of our friends and family members don’t really know how to help (nor have the time!). Kaitlin McGreyes talks with Adriana about how combining community help with professional support can set you up for the perfect combinati
[Postpartum Stories] When Anxiety and Panic Come Out of Nowhere, Kayla Sanmiguel
Having had two flawless postpartum periods under her belt, Kayla Sanmiguel didn’t know how to cope when postpartum anxiety and severe panic disorder came out of nowhere after her third birth. She shares with Adriana how being blindsided by the experience compelled her to bolster her future postpartum plans, and approach the birth of her fourth baby with new tools and wisdom. Get the most out of th
Working with HR to Maximize Your Employee Benefits for Postpartum, Katy Dahl
Understanding your parental leave benefits —with all its overwhelming fine print— can be a daunting task! To make the process easier, human resource professional extraordinaire Katy Dahl shares with Adriana how to approach the process so that you can not only maximize your benefits, but also understand if your time off will impact your health insurance, your paycheck, or your retirement age. Katy
[Birth Stories] Fast Birth, Hard Postpartum
Ivy shares with Adriana the overwhelming challenges of her postpartum experience after being overjoyed by her fast and furious unmedicated hospital birth. She explains the lactation issues that lead her to exclusively pump and the difficulties in healing her pelvic floor, as well as why she recommends everyone have a Pelvic PT assessment and be familiar with their breast pump before their baby arr
What You Need To Plan Your Parental Leave, with Arianna Taboada
Perinatal health consultant Arianna Taboada goes through the ins and outs of paid and unpaid parental leave in the United States. She shares with Adriana Lozada how to be realistic about your options for the best possible return to work for you and your family, while lessening the overwhelm.To read up on state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws go to abetterbalance.orgGet the most out o
[Birth Stories] How She Confidently and Calmly Gave Birth in a Moving Car, Laura Loos
Laura Loos has had two non-medicated vaginal births, with her second one happening so super fast, that it involved birthing while in a moving car! She shares with Adriana how connecting with her inner voice and trusting the abundant preparation she had done during pregnancy allowed her to be calm, present, and pragmatic during the unexpectedness of it all. So much so that, once she got to her hosp
How Your Baby Helps During the Birthing Process, with Adriana Lozada
Babies use a set of coordinated movements and specific reflexes that allow them to participate in the birthing process. Adriana Lozada explains how this fascinating process works, and how it helps get them earthside.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Baby's P
[Birth Stories] How She Reframed Birth Toward Pleasure and Let Her Power Flow, with Maya Ehnat
Maya Ehnat was brought up to be comfortable with birth, and so from the get-go, her language and approach weren’t fear-based. Beyond that, much of the preparation she did during pregnancy was guided by a desire to minimize trauma and bring heaps of pleasure and joy into the experience. She shares with Adriana how although her first birth was long and quite challenging, she wouldn’t describe it as
How to Bring More Pleasure and Joy Into Your Birth (And Why It Makes a Difference!), with Debra Pascali-Bonaro
If you want to minimize sensations of pain and even move them into pleasure, this episode is for you! Debra Pascali-Bonaro and Adriana explore how you can bring more pleasure and joy into your birth, and why doing so can help you not only have a better experience, but also help support your birth physiology for a more flowing birth. Debra shares with Adriana a wide range of actionable suggestions
[Birth Story] How Harnessing Her Birth Hormones Allowed Her to Forgo an Induction, Danellia Arechiga
When Danellia Arechiga became a gestational surrogate, she felt strongly about having an unmedicated birth at a birth center. Even as her labor plan derailed into an induction, she pushed for few interventions and worked with her physiology, ultimately experiencing the elusive Fetal Ejection Reflex. She tells Adriana Lozada why doing so was important for her, the baby, and the intended parents.As
Helping Your Mammalian Body (and Baby!) Have an Easier and More Connected Birth, with Dr. Sarah Buckley
During labor, you want contractions that are longer, stronger, and closer together. But why? Dr. Sarah Buckley and Adriana take a deep dive into the amazing and fascinating hormonal dance that happens during the birthing process, and how interventions such as synthetic oxytocin or an epidural can lead to a cascade of interventions that negatively impact the process for both the birthing person and
[Birth Stories] How Her Goals of “No Epidural and No Whining” Helped Her Befriend the Labor Pain, with Celeste and Claudiu Bancos
Celeste and Claudiu Bancos share their perspectives of their son’s birth (who chimes in too!), often surprising each other with moments the other didn’t remember or knew about. Ultimately, Celeste achieved her birth goals of not whining and avoiding getting an epidural, with the help of a veterinarian’s memoir book from the 30s, strong vocalizations, a crisis of confidence, realizing how well her
The Purpose of Childbirth Pain, with Rhea Dempsey
Rhea Dempsey is one of the foremost thinkers on the topic of working with pain in childbirth. She shares with Adriana the physiological purpose of pain during labor, why it gets such a bad rap, and suggests the pain relief paradigm is a medical construct that undermines our capacity for peak performance and body potency that ultimately facilitates birth. In other words: bring it on!Get the most ou
[Birth Stories] Birth Is as Mental and Emotional as It Is Physical, with Megan Othling
Megan Othling explains how birth can happen as much in your head as in your body and how facing the unexpected feelings she was having during the birth of her third child was just what was needed for them to be born. She shares with Adriana the profound growth and transformation she experienced through her four births and postpartum experiences, and how she stepped into the vulnerability of accept
Getting Comfortable With the Intimate Nature of Birth, with Nekole Malia Shapiro
Pregnancy is a great time to realize what the heck motivates your choices as you venture into the great transformation of birth and becoming a parent. Nekole Malia Shapiro shares with Adriana how using the embodied approach of connecting with yourself and your body can help you find your own best expert birth guide, while also building the awesome habit of bringing more oxytocin into your life. Ge
[Birth Stories] So Was It a Waterbirth?, with Hailey McHone
Hailey McHone’s first birth was what her OB called "a textbook hospital delivery," which came with an epidural-Pitocin combo, and, frankly, little consent. She talks with Adriana about getting more intentional with her wishes and choices for her second birth and ending up with a confidence-boosting, self-affirming, physiological experience that included a concoction of grape juice and papa
Transformation Through The Holistic Stages of Birth (Part Two), with Whapio Diane Bartlett
We try to make birth practical by measuring, overseeing, and monitoring it… when really, it’s an experience that flows seamlessly from one stage to another, taking the birthing person deep into their physiology and intuitive altered states. Whapio Diane Bartlett shares with Adriana how to better describe what the laboring person goes through, by explaining the Holistic Stages of Birth.In this seco
Transformation Through The Holistic Stages of Birth (Part One), with Whapio Diane Bartlett
We try to make birth practical by measuring, overseeing, and monitoring it… when really, it’s an experience that flows seamlessly from one stage to another, taking the birthing person deep into their physiology and intuitive altered states. Whapio Diane Bartlett shares with Adriana how to better describe what the laboring person goes through, by explaining the Holistic Stages of Birth.In this firs
Best of Birthful: Why Pushing Too Early Might Affect the Baby and You, with , with Whapio Diane Bartlett
Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ episodes (which is now in its 9th year!).Whapio, a midwife and founder of The Matrona, explores the modern management of pushing
Best of Birthful: How an Anxious Mind Impacts You During Pregnancy, with Parijat Deshpande
Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows (which is now in its 9th year!).Leading high-risk pregnancy expert and mind-body health specialist, Parijat Deshpande, dis
Best of Birthful: How a Baby’s Position Impacts Labor, with Gail Tully
Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows (which is now in its 9th year!).Midwife Gail Tully, founder of the Spinning Babies approach, explains how a baby’s positio
[Birth Stories] Unprepared for a Fast-Starting Labor and a Surprisingly Hard Recovery, with Erin Patterson
Erin Patterson’s birth was in many ways, the reverse of what she expected: It started strong from the get-go when she was expecting it to be slow and sporadic, she loved the car ride even though she had been dreading it, and when it came to pushing, she never imagined she’d be on her back. She shares with Adriana how the most unexpected thing was ending up with pelvic floor muscular trauma that ma
Have a Happier Pelvic Floor (and a Happier You!) During Pregnancy, with Lindsay McCoy
It’s estimated that 1 in 5 pregnant people will experience urinary incontinence during their first year postpartum! Exercise physiologist and perinatal educator Lindsay McCoy talks with Adriana about how noticing your habitual body movements and establishing easy, daily-life habits to increase your body’s responsiveness can lead to a healthier and happier pelvic floor. They also highlight the mind
[Birth Stories] How She Got Through a Week of Prodromal Labor by Embracing It, with Adriana Aleman Crane
Adriana Aleman Crane’s first birth involved several days of prodromal labor— and if you don’t know what that is, you really want to listen to this episode! But her second birth? Her husband almost missed it! She shares with Adriana Lozada that sleep is glorious, acupuncture is worth it, and how releasing control (and her bag of waters!) gets her labors to flow. Get the most out of this episode by
Understanding Acupuncture From a Physiological Lens (and Why You Shouldn’t Fear the Needles!), with Patrick Boswell
Acupuncture can help alleviate nausea, constipation, and back pain. It can encourage breech babies to flip and labor to start. But how does it work, and what does it feel like? Acupuncturist, massage therapist, and birth doula Dr. Patrick Boswell talks with Adriana about how acupuncture gets to the root of the issue, with the happy result of improving more than the symptoms you came in for!Get the
[Postpartum Stories] Coming to Terms With the Baby She Got, with Victoria Wilson
After giving birth twice before, Victoria Wilson thought she had “life with a newborn” pretty much figured out. But when her third daughter was born fussy, frustrated, and just wouldn’t settle, Victoria was thrown for a loop. Was this just who her baby was? Or was something wrong?Victoria shares with Adriana how making her own wellness a priority during pregnancy allowed her the strength to naviga
How to Sleep Better While Pregnant, with Mar De Carlo
It’s estimated that about 80% of pregnant people experience insomnia by their third trimester, and newer research is showing how melatonin and circadian rhythms may impact fertility, implantation, miscarriage, risk of preeclampsia and postpartum depression. Mar De Carlo shares with Adriana how small and mindful changes to your sleep habits can help you tap into more rest and improve your family’s
[Birth Stories] Can You Wait to Push Until the Doctor Arrives?, with Alyssa Jennings
After a difficult first labor with interventions she was unsure about, Alyssa Jennings was determined that her next birth would be on her terms. Little did she know that she’d be having to contain the fetal ejection reflex until her doctor arrived! Alyssa shares with Adriana the magic words her husband used to help her wait (no, they didn’t have anything to do with the doctor), along with a great
How Prenatal Yoga Can Help Protect Your Energy (And Why This Is Important!), with Abigail Lauren Geller
You’ve probably been told to do prenatal yoga, but is it really for you? Trauma-informed yoga teacher Abigail Lauren Geller says not if it’s another overwhelming thing on your to-do list! But if you are curious about the benefits of prenatal yoga for your body, your mind, your pregnancy, and your labor, and want to create a space of self-reflection to better connect with your body and protect your
[Birth Stories] Discovering that a Breech Vaginal Birth was Possible for Her, with Anya Cutler
Anya Cutler had originally planned to give birth at a birth center with midwives, then at nearly 37 weeks (and after trying practically everything possible to encourage her baby to flip) she ended up transferring care to an OB/GYN experienced in vaginal breech delivery. Anya shares with Adriana how even though this challenged her need for control, having an OB who was comfortable with breech and c
Have an Easier Pregnancy (and Birth!) With Chiropractic Care, with Dr. Elliot Berlin
You know how as pregnancy progresses, your whole body becomes more uncomfortable? It turns out that chiropractic care can help you feel much better and even help you have an easier birth. Dr. Elliot Berlin shares with Adriana why chiropractic care is a superb pregnancy tool for anyone, but especially if you have an “athletic pelvis” or want to aid a breech baby turn head down.Get the most out of t
[Birth Stories] How She Navigated a Long Birth While Waiting for Her Support Team to Arrive, with Julia Cooper
For weeks, Julia Cooper had been nervous that her baby would arrive while her husband and mom were away, and sure enough, contractions started merely hours after she dropped her husband off at the airport. What follows is a testament to how hard it can be to shut off your thinking brain while in labor and how despite that, you can still support your physiology and get things to flow (even if you h
Can Exercise During Pregnancy Make Labor Harder?, Deb Flashenberg
It’s common knowledge that walking, swimming, and doing prenatal yoga can all be super helpful during pregnancy, but what about running, barre, CrossFit, or weightlifting? Deb Flashenberg shares with Adriana how strength-focused exercising can lead to a too-tight core and pelvic floor that make for more difficult labors and harder postpartum recoveries. They explore how you can figure out if your
[Birth Stories] No Matter How You Birth, You’re a Badass, with Lauren Horton
Lauren Horton has always been physically active, and during pregnancy, she continued to do a mix of CrossFit, swimming, yoga, and tons of dog walking. She shares with Adriana her surprise when she found herself hunkering down on the bed during labor instead of moving, and why she went with it (although she could have done without the hemorrhoids). Lauren also opens up about the impossibility of tr
Tackling Pregnancy Discomforts Through Movement and Alignment, with Molly Deutschbein
Being pregnant means having relaxin loosening up all your tissues, while your core stretches and your center of gravity shifts, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with the associated aches and discomforts. Restorative body educator extraordinaire Molly Deutschbein shares with Adriana ways you can move, support, and align your body for a happier pregnancy and a more flowing birth as well as h
Eight Questions to Ask Your Care Provider (Especially in Your Second Trimester!), with Adriana Lozada
Adriana Lozada shares eight great questions for sussing out your provider’s protocols and practices as your pregnancy advances, in order to help you figure out how much shared decision-making and agency you will truly have in your birth experience.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on its show notes page.If you liked this episode, listen to our intervie
If Pregnancy Becomes Medically Complicated: Working With a Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician, with Dr. Loralei Thornburg
Chances are your pregnancy and birth will flow, and you’ll never need to see any of the care providers that deal with more complicated situations. But what if you do? Dr. Loralei Thornburg helps demystify what it can be like working with a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist. She shares with Adriana why so much of it has to do with experience, risk tolerance, and resources, and why – regardless of
[Birth Stories] Unlocking Her Dream Birth by Valuing Her Intuition (And Switching Care Providers!), with Margot Strauhull
Margot Strauhull brought her self-described “rule-following” attitude to her first hospital induction with an OB and had what she considered was a fine birth… until she was overcome by sadness in postpartum. This started her on a journey of peeling back the layers, to finally come to a deep trust in her own wisdom and instincts.Margot tells Adriana how the fear radiating from her providers around
Why Your Team Isn’t Complete Without a Doula, with Sabia Wade
The mounting evidence is clear: having a doula can help decrease the risk of having a cesarean birth and significantly improve birth experiences. In fact, doulas have even been called a form of pain relief themselves, as people tend to want fewer pain medications and epidurals when supported by a doula. But what makes what doulas do so special and different from the care you receive from your othe
[Birth Stories] Why It Was Still a Party Despite the 30 Hours of Persistent Back Pain, with Laurel Gourrier
Laurel Gourrier, co-host of the podcast “Birth Stories in Color,” reflects on how her hospital birth experience— even though it was long and hard— often felt like a big party, thanks to the support of her partner, parents, and in-laws. She tells Adriana Lozada how their care and the constant communication of her wishes created a safe and joyful space in which she could birth, even leading her pare
Why A Midwife Might Be Just What You Need, with Melissa Cheyney
There is ample evidence of the benefits of midwifery care for uncomplicated pregnancies, including lower rates of inductions, episiotomies, and cesareans. So why aren’t midwives more widely used in the U.S. (like they are in the rest of the world!)? Dr. Melissa Cheyney talks with Adriana all about midwifery care including the different types of midwives, their certifications, where they practice,
[Birth Stories] Why Having an Audience Stalled Her Birth, with Heather Lauf
Heather Lauf was so clear on the importance of choosing the right care provider for her birth that she switched practices, twice! Even with her ample preparation, labor still threw her for a loop when she found out her water hadn’t broken (it really seemed it had!), and then again when she couldn’t quiet her thinking brain after realizing she had too many eyes watching her. Nevertheless, Heather w
What You Need to Know About Obstetricians (Obs), with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
Obstetricians are the go-to care providers when giving birth in the US, but not all OBs are created equal. How does your obstetrician's background and training impact the care you get, and is that aligned with the care you deserve? Dr. Stuart Fischbein shares his insights, the hard lessons he’s gained over his career, as well as why he still does breech deliveries, VBACs, and home births.Get t
[Birth Stories] Why It Mattered That Her Team Prioritized Her Emotional Safety, with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo
Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, co-founder of the socially impactful Fourth Phase aftercare boxes, shares how her expectations of when and how she should bond with her baby tarnished her otherwise wonderfully supported and respected birth experience. She tells Adriana how this hyperfocus on bonding impacted her postpartum, and how her mom helped her shift things with lots of wisdom and laughter. If you liked
How to Know if You and Your Provider Are Truly a Good Fit, with Dr. Brad Bootstaylor
Dr. Brad Bootstaylor talks with Adriana Lozada about how vital it is to establish shared decision-making with your care provider and the problem with the prevailing fear-based approach in perinatal care. Plus: why no one should ever roll their eyes at your birth plan!If you liked this episode, listen to our interview titled Know What You're Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital, and our e
[Birth Stories] Pivoting From Wanting an Immediate Epidural to an Unmedicated VBAC Over Four Births, with Mariah Robinson
After having three hospital births – that included inductions, vaginal births, and a cesarean – Mariah Robinson couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing from her experiences. She shares with Adriana how she searched far and wide for a collaborative care provider who would support her wishes for an unmedicated vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and the trust and confidence she built w
Why Choosing The Right Care Provider is Crucial for Your Pregnancy, with Robin Elise Weiss
Finding the care provider that’s right for you is a critical first step toward having a great birth experience. Dr. Robin Elise Weiss talks with Adriana about the different types of prenatal care providers and how their varying philosophies can impact the care you receive. She also shares how to go about finding the care provider that’s right for you, and what you can do if you decide they are no
[Birth Stories] How Nutrition Was Key for Her “Mission: Make a Small Baby,” with Jessica Bower
After birthing quite a large baby and experiencing shoulder dystocia, Jessica Bower went on a quest to figure out why she had grown a baby that size. She shares with Adriana how gaining control of her sugar levels really helped with her “Mission: Make a Small Baby” for her third birth. This nutritional connection with her body was key in her decision to have an induction for her fourth birth after
Reducing Anxiety Around Pregnancy Weight Gain and Nutrition, with Mama Natural Genevieve Howland
Genevieve Howland (a.k.a. Mama Natural) talks with Adriana about ways you can navigate the emotions that come with gaining weight during pregnancy, identify possible triggers, and explore seeing it as an opportunity to connect with and appreciate your body in a new way. They also discuss how nutrition plays a role in lessening birth interventions, the folic acid vs. folate debate, ferments, bitter
Ways to Deal With Morning Sickness—Whether It’s Mild or Debilitating, with Adriana Lozada
Adriana Lozada offers practical advice on how to deal with whatever level of nausea you are experiencing. She also lays out how hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is not just a bad case of morning sickness, but a severe and debilitating condition.If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on eating to grow a healthy baby brain, or this episode on how to tap into the nourishing power of herbs dur
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