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 normalizing birth for her (and how Adriana found out that Seph had started to listen to the podcast!). And finally, by dusting off this episode (originally published to celebrate our 100th episode), Adriana gets to reflect on how doing the podcast for a decade has helped transform her work as a doula and educator, and announce the end of an era.Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULOAK ESSENTIALS - Get 15% off at OakEssentials.com with code BIRTHFUL15 AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Rethinking the Pushing Stage and our episode on A Quick Guide to TriageYou can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 able to birth with midwives in her location of choice due to lack of access; experiencing, birthing, and grieving the 19-week pregnancy loss of her third daughter; and ultimately discovering she needs ample space for birth and postpartum, so she can stand in her power, and lovingly care for herself and her family, in community.Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULOAK ESSENTIALS - Get 15% off at OakEssentials.com with code BIRTHFUL15 AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Going into Birth Intuitively and our episode on Why A Midwife Might Be Just What You Need. You can connect with Ujarak on Instagram at @Amautiga. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 different models of care, how they impacted her postpartum experiences, and how much her confidence and knowledge have grown because of it. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULOAK ESSENTIALS - Get 15% off at OakEssentials.com with code BIRTHFUL15 AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Family Centered Cesareans and our episode titled Let’s Tackle Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 with a hand in front of their face. Tabitha also shares the cozy sweet times her family had after the birth, soaking in all the love and help from those around them.  Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULOAK ESSENTIALS - Get 15% off at OakEssentials.com with code BIRTHFUL15 AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How To Know If You And Your Provider Are Truly A Good Fit and our episode on Why Optimal Baby Oral Function Matters.You can connect with Tabitha at OverviewEffectBodywork.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 (now head-down) baby was ready to be born, to ultimately have the mostly unmedicated vaginal birth she had hoped for (despite it starting with an induction for early rupture of her waters)!Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULIXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on What You Need to Know About Obstetricians (OBs) and our episode on Why A Midwife Might Be Just What You Need.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 of introspection and remembrance, Anna shares with Adriana her insights on the power of companionship through these connected spaces, how she intentionally combined two comfort measures to help her through her birth, along with the hearse drivers’ particular feelings about driving around a very pregnant person.Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULIXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How Prenatal Yoga Can Help Protect Your Energy (And Why This Is Important!) and our episode on Shaking and the Primal Nature of BirthYou can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULIXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Preeclampsia Essentials and our episode on Postpartum Fertility: What you need to know.You can connect with Olivia on Instagram @BirthWithLiv. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 surprisingly fast, and pain-free. NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULARTIFACT UPRISING - Get up to 20% off at ArtifactUprising.com with code BIRTHFUL through December 31.IXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our episode on Is Homebirth for You? and our interview on Big Babies and Shoulder Dystocia. You can connect with Kemeera on Instagram @MammaJammaDance. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 make sure her 34.5-week preemie gained weight, along with a stressful job and a neverending pumping regime contributed to her postpartum depression and mood disorders (PMADs).Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful FAMILYALBUM APP - Check out FamilyAlbum at family-album.comAQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULARTIFACT UPRISING - Get up to 20% off at ArtifactUprising.com with code BIRTHFUL through December 31.IXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Can Exercise During Pregnancy Make Labor Harder? and our breastfeeding episode on Figuring Out How To Suck, Swallow, And Breathe.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 different –and much less blissful– birth. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful FAMILYALBUM APP - Check out FamilyAlbum at family-album.comAQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULARTIFACT UPRISING - Get up to 20% off at ArtifactUprising.com with code BIRTHFUL through December 31IXL LEARNING - Get 20% off a membership at ixl.com/TODAYGet the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Why An OB/GYN Chose To Have A Midwife and our episode on How To Bring More Pleasure And Joy Into Your Birth (And Why It Makes A Difference!)You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 how it was then that she and her husband had to lean into their advocacy skills to minimize unnecessary interventions for both her and her baby.Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful FAMILYALBUM APP - Check out FamilyAlbum at family-album.comAQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULARTIFACT UPRISING - Get up to 20% off at ArtifactUprising.com with code BIRTHFUL through December 31.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on The Problem with Due Dates and our episode on Evidence-Based Care, Castor Oil and More.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 ejection reflex.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on The Induction Process and our episode on Rethinking the Pushing Stage. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 first birth that left her with significant trauma, and how being very intentional in her preparation to have a VBAC made for a healing and redemptive experience, despite having unusual immediate postpartum complications. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on VBAC Facts and our episode on Immediate Postpartum Hemorrhages.You can connect with Morgan on Instagram @thedouladuoroc. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 invaluable life-long bonding tool that’s fully portable and affordable!Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on the Effects of Stress During Pregnancy and our episode on Healing Your Birth Story and Birth Trauma. You can learn more about Penny at PennySimkin.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 just in the nick of time, despite being taken to her edge. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Rethinking the Pushing Stage and our episode on The Power in Writing Your Story.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 foster a connection with your nurses, and oh, so much more!Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on  Cesarean Risk: What’s Your Place of Birth Got to Do With It? and our episode on Informed Consent.You can connect with Mandy on Instagram @thebirthnurse. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 might just not make milk. 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 Gestational Diabetes and our episode on Shaking and the Primal Nature of Birth.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on Pleasure & Joy During Birth. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 interventions. 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 Epidurals & Breastfeeding and our episode on Evidence & Eating During Labor.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our episode on how to Know What You're Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital and our short episode on How to Have a Great Hospital BirthYou can connect with Dr. Stephanie Mitchell on Instagram @doctor_midwife. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 confidence and flexibility, despite facing the possibility of another induction.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 The Induction Process and our episode on PreeclampsiaYou can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 principles.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 The Identity Shift of Becoming a Mom, and our episode on Healing Your Birth Story, with Pam England.You can connect with Jessie Harrold on Instagram @jessie.es.harrold. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 caring for your child. She also shares with Adriana why it can be life-changing to practice broadening your community circles of support when your baby is little, so that you build a community care network that will grow with your child that you can then combine with whatever transactional forms of childcare you decide to pursue (or not!).  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 Lessons in Decolonizing Parenting and our episode on How to Bring More Joy into Your Parenting ExperienceYou can connect with Leslie on Instagram @carefullyapp. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 can impact your outcomes, and this interview on shared decision-making with your care provider.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How Does Milksharing Work? and our episode on How Nipple Shapes Can Impact Breastfeeding. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 your dishes end up in the right place and your laundry is folded just how you like it.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 Dealing with Family & Visitors and our episode on Hormones After Birth.You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 was invaluable in getting through early nursing difficulties and her cesarean recovery.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 Family-Centered Cesareans and our episode on Supporting Healthy Families in the U.S.: Has Anything Changed?You can connect with Dr. Thorton on Instagram @dramberthornton. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 combination of care and knowledge to have the amazing postpartum experience you deserve. She also shares insightful tips on how to afford it! 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 Letting Go of "Mom Guilt" and our episode All About Postpartum DoulasYou can connect with Kaitlin on Instagram @behervillage, and You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 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 Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on What Actually Happens After Giving Birth, Physically and Emotionally. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 brings clarity and levity to the topic, to help you avoid unfortunate surprises during postpartum!Read up on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the PUMP Act, and state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws at abetterbalance.orgGet 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 the Emotional Prep for Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding and our episode on Back-to-Work Sleep Considerations.You can connect with Katy Dahl at problemtoresolution.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 arrives.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 Understanding Acupuncture From a Physiological Lens, our episode on Talking Pelvic Health with a PT, and our episode called All About Pumping!You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 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 Why Employers Need to Value Your Parenting Skills and our episode on Working while BreastfeedingYou can connect with Arianna on Instagram @ariannataboada. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 hospital room, she took full charge of the birth of her placenta. 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 the Third Stage of Labor and our episode on How to Sleep Better While PregnantYou can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 Position and Labor Flow and our episode on how to Have an Easier Pregnancy (and Birth!) with Chiropractic Care. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 painful. Now her second birth? That one was filled with power, permission, fluidity, and delight.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 episode on Real Talk About Vaginal Tears and Episiotomies and our interview on How Prenatal Yoga Can Help Protect Your Energy (And Why This Is Important!)You can connect with Maya on Instagram @SolHealth. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 on how to prepare during pregnancy, what to set in place and advocate for during birth, and ways to continue to show up–from a place of pleasure and joy–even if you need interventions or have a belly birth.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 related interview on Pleasure & Joy During Birth and our episode on Connecting With Your Baby in Utero through Song. You can connect with Debra on Instagram @debrapascalibonaro. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 a musician, Danellia (Dané Reál) has created the song Mother as an anthem gifted to those whose relationships with their mothers have not always been warm and loving. The song is her contribution to the intergenerational healing she has done within her own lineage and features the voices of her grandmother Lucy who passed in 2018 and her daughter as they share their journey through healing the mother wound that has been passed on for 4 generations. You can hear it on her YouTube channel. 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 An IVF and Surrogacy Rollercoaster and our episode on Surrogate Birth Stories.You can connect with Danellia on Instagram at @themultidimensionalmami, and you can connect with us at @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 their baby. They also talk about ways to support the physiology of birth (regardless of what path it takes) in order to help fill any ‘hormonal gaps’ that may occur.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 Your Baby, The Mammal and our episode on How to Avoid a "Cascade of Interventions".You can connect with Sarah on Facebook at drsarahbuckley. You can connect with us on Instagram at @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 hormones were working, and the live narration by Claudiu of her baby’s beautiful emergence into the world.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page, and you can find the Labor Support Toolkit mentioned on the episode at Birthful.com/toolkit.If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Rethinking the Pushing Stage and our episode on Straight Talk About the Effects of Electronic Fetal Monitoring on You and Your Baby  Vaginal Rehab. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 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 Working with Childbirth Pain and our episode on Epidurals and Breastfeeding. You can connect with Rhea on Instagram @rheadempseybirth. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 accepting all her feelings–even the unpopular ones.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 short episode, A Quick Guide to Triage, and our interview on Hemorrhages Explained.You can connect with Megan on Instagram at @meganothlingdoula, and you can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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. 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 How Your Nervous System Impacts Your Pregnancy and Birth and our episode titled Birth Principles, Better than a Birth PlanYou can learn more about Nekole Shapiro at Nekole.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 papaya nectar, some much-wanted chicken nuggets, and waiting for her sister to arrive. 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 Informed Consent and our short episode on Real Talk About Vaginal Tears and Episiotomies. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign-up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 second episode of a two-part series, we go deeper into the Quietude, to then finally emerge into immediate postpartum and the life-long weaving of the story. Make sure you listen to Part One, if you haven’t already.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 Healing Your Birth Story and our episode titled Are you Meditating Yet?You can connect with Whapio on Instagram @whapio_and_thematrona. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 first episode of a two-part series, we start with embarking into labor, and just past what is usually considered as transition. In Part Two, we move through the Quietude phase, all the way to the birth of the baby, the magic that happens in the first moments, and the weaving of the story that goes on forever.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 Dealing with Birth Fears and our episode on Straight Talk about the Effects of Electronic Fetal Monitoring on You and Your Baby.You can connect with Whapio on Instagram @whapio_and_thematrona. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign-up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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, and challenges our preconceived notions in the process. She gets into pushing’s effects on the baby, and on the perineum, which receives most of the exertion. And what can you do to be prepared for this stage of the birthing process.Here's the original episode in full.You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at [email protected] Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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, discusses the anxiety that comes with high-risk births. She offers tips on how to manage these feelings by making the mind-body connection work for you.Here's the original episode in full.For more Birthful, visit the our website. For new episodes out each week, subscribe to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at [email protected] Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 position can dictate the flow and ease of a birth. Learn how to prepare your body for labor with personalized exercises and belly-mapping techniques.Here's the original episode in full.For more Birthful, visit our website. For new episodes each week, follow to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at [email protected] Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 made for a slow and difficult recovery requiring months of PT work, and how laid-back breastfeeding saved her nights. 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 "Laid-back" Breastfeeding and our short episode on Real Talk About Vaginal Tears and EpisiotomiesYou can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* For 20% off your membership, go to www.ixl.com/TODAYSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands