BIRTH LIKE A MAMMAL

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay Askins interviews Aly McClain, a Mother of four and an RN from Nebraska who transitioned from hospital births to home births. Aly shares her contrasting experiences of a Cesarean in a hospital followed by three peaceful home births, emphasizing the transformation and healing she found in home birthing. Aly discusses the importance of overcoming fear, the traumatic impact of hospital protocols, and the empowerment and hormonal benefits of mammalian birth at home. Both Lindsay and Aly reflect on their own journeys and the importance of asking questions, taking personal responsibility, and opting out of obstetrics for a mammalian experience in birth.Aly shares how her background in nursing, combined with her personal experiences and a commitment to unlearning medical indoctrination, led her to advocate for home births. She also discusses the impact of birth trauma, the importance of personal responsibility, and the healing power of understanding mammalian biology. This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, the importance of the laboring space during birth, and the hope in all of us for healing and growth.Key Takeaways:The indoctrination of obstetrics in medical and nursing school is legit. Informed consent simply does not truly exist in obstetrics. No matter your experiences or education, there is always hope for healing.Mothers and families must take back birth into their own power and decision making - nobody is going to hand it to us.Notable Quotes from Aly:“They use their authority to diminish your questions.”“We would just draw up the vaccine before we even asked them if they wanted them.”“I remember they strapped my arms down, and I just disassociated because i had to. I didn't even know where my husband was.”“On the drive home from that appointment, I told my husband 'I will NOT have another c-section again.'”"I couldn't even drive past the hospital.....how was I going to birth there?""The reason my last birth went so bad was because I didn't feel safe."Aly McClain is a dedicated advocate for empowering first-time homebirth Mothers to embrace the beauty and serenity of homebirth. Aly is the host of the Peaceful Homebirth Podcast, a Registered Nurse, and Homebirth coach, Aly combines her passion for holistic health, mindset techniques, and practical wisdom to guide expectant Mothers through every step of their journey to a peaceful and empowering birth experience.Support the showQuestions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth. Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 21 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay engages in a deep and personal conversation with her former elementary school teacher, Bill Nation, now a licensed professional counselor in Texas. Bill is 70 years old, has never witnessed a woman give birth, and is certainly not the target audience for this community. But after listening to episode 13 with Audrey Ross of @ajoyfulbirth, Bill realized his own birth was nothing like Lindsay and Audrey describe when sharing their own birth stories for him, or his Mother. And that hit him hard.In this heartfelt episode, Lindsay and Bill discuss their shared past and Bill's evolving understanding of birth trauma after listening to the podcast. Bill reflects on his family's historical attitudes toward pregnancy and birth, highlighting the contrast between mammalian and medicalized birth, as well as the societal expectations around Motherhood. Through these discussions, the episode underscores the deep emotional connections influenced by birth, and how important an awareness and understanding of birth trauma is for all of us.This is an episode you do not want to skip. This is also an episode that you want to share with all of the men in your life. This is the episode you may want to share with your own parents. This is the episode that truly illustrates how deeply significant giving birth in alignment with our mammalian biology really is, and it affects ALL of us no matter what. Key Takeaways:Birth deeply affects all of us regardless of our gender or family status.Birth has a profound and direct affect on how women Mother their children. The disruption of mammalian imprinting has life-long effects.Until we hear birth stories of triumph and joy, we believe our culture's narrative about birth: dangerous and scary.Notable Quotes from Bill:“I cannot tell you how many things came to me listening to you and Audrey tell your birth stories. The most difficult thing to handle is the realization that the birth experience for me and Mom was so unlike what you two described. Coming to grips with how we missed out on SOOOO much that could never be replaced is overwhelming for me.”It makes me angry to know my mom, and most moms, I know have gone through this shit.”“Imagine what the world would be like if we all had been birthed like mammals and our parents had been as well. It would be a completely different world."Bill Nation is a licensed counselor, a native Texan, and Lindsay's 6th grade Science teacher! He's known for his quirky sense of humor, appreciation of the absurd, and his research about his uncle, killed in WW2, for whom he was named. He lives in Texas with his wife, Maggie.Support the showQuestions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth. Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 20 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Keturah Pawlik. Keturah is a doula and Mother of six. Originally from New York, she now lives in West Palm Beach with her family. Keturah believes in the power of storytelling and in sharing our wisdoms with others, offering a new perspective or lending our strength when it's needed most.In this episode, Keturah and Lindsay dive deep into the crucial support systems for both Mothers and Fathers during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, highlighting the often-neglected emotional needs and hormonal changes experienced by Fathers. Keturah shares her six birthing experiences, emphasizing the importance of Mothers feeling supported by their partners and how we can help Fathers to do so. She makes the point that many marital/relationship issues that come up years after birth can usually be traced back to a baby's birth. The episode concludes with actionable advice and resources. Both Lindsay and Keturah have created resources and workshops tailored for dads, such as Lindsay's Dad Doula class, to equip them better for becoming a Father and foster a healthy family dynamic. Keturah offers a workshop for dads in Florida, promoting a collaborative and supportive approach to preparing for a new baby. Key Points:Fathers carry birth trauma too, and are often not asked to talk about it. A healthy Father bodes a healthy Mother. A societal shift is needed to support men entering Fatherhood.The environment where birth takes places directly affects birth. Notable Quotes:“While pregnancy and the postpartum period should really be the safest time in a woman's life, for many women here, it could be the most dangerous time they'll ever go through if they don't have a partner who is on board, and who is whole.” - Keturah“Men need a doula just as much as women do.” - Keturah“A peaceful calm birth, you get a peaceful individual and it completely rewires how you approach your whole life.” - Keturah“Hospital birth is like going to McDonald's and trying to have a fine dining experience.” - Keturah“The more tools you give dads, the more confident they are.” - LindsayWhere to find Keturah:Winging it with KetInstagramEmail: Wingingitwithket@gmail.comSHOW MENTIONS:Lindsay on Keturah's Podcast EpisodeContribute to the Dad Doula book!Be Her Village5 Things to Ask Your Care Provider PDFSupport the showQuestions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 19 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay interviews Diana Forsell. Diana is a Mother to two boys, with two very different birth stories. She is the host of the Healing Birth podcast where she shares an incredible variety of birth stories from women all over the world. Diana brings an unshakeable trust in our biology and our bodies to her podcast episodes as she believes that birth is designed to work, especially when you leave it alone.In this episode, Diana and Lindsay discuss what happens to women when we go from maiden to Mother in an undisturbed, mammalian passage of giving birth. They both share the same sentiments in the confidence that giving birth like a mammal gave them to then Mother their babies with confidence. Diana also shares how traumatic her first baby's Cesarean birth was after her trusted midwife suggested she transfer to the hospital, and how her healing came during her second baby's pregnancy. His home birth was redeeming to both her and her sons. Key Points:Birth is deeply significant and affects us for the rest of our lives.Who you choose as your care provider can make or break your baby's birth.Birth directly affects Motherhood. Why it is important to share our birth stories.Notable Quotes from Diana:“When we emerge from birth, feeling stripped of our power, feeling incapable, feeling like we didn't have agency, feeling like someone else did it to us or someone else managed our birth, that can carry into early motherhood as well, and affects so much.”“My approach to healing initially was just to pretend like the whole thing never happened and not talk about it, and cry when my other friends had natural births after that, and feel totally broken. I was just in my pain.”“It is my belief that that is the initiatory gift that all of us should receive when we're giving birth. I have come to look at birth as really a ceremony. I've come to look at pregnancy as a spiritual journey that's calling us to grow in certain ways and to trust ourselves on a very deep level.  And birth is the ceremony that's the culmination of this spiritual journey."Where to find Diana:The Healing Birth podcast - on all streaming servicesWebsiteInstagramSupport the showQuestions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 18 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Jessica Olson of Wildly Awakened Motherhood. Jessica is an embodied birth coach, focused on supporting women find healing and safety within their bodies, and home, before birth. She is a yoga practitioner, intuitive nutritionist, radical birth keeper graduate, and training in herbalism. Jessica's approach to pregnancy, birth, and Motherhood is built on intuition, intention, and embodiment. She shares her own journey in discovering the aforementioned things after obstetrics derailed her first baby's birth. Jessica's insight in this conversation is deeply intellectual and intuitive. Starting about 40 minutes into this episode, get rid of all distractions and stop what you are doing and really listen to Jessica's words. She dives deep into how our body stores and holds trauma, and how that affects us in life and birth. She makes some incredible connections between energy works and how we approach birth. Key Takeaways:1. The awareness we hold regarding our own body's knowledge and capabilities during pregnancy and birth will vastly affect our baby's birth. 2. The prevalence of "hero-ing" care providers in the system of obstetrics and how that affects women during labor and birth.3. The Drama Triangle - what it is and how it works.4. The labels we place on ourselves as women and Mothers.5. What disassociation is and why we do it - how this applies to labor, birth, and Motherhood. Notable Quotes:“If you are an anxious person, if you are at home, and in your mind you are worrying about all the things that can go wrong, it's going to derail your birth.”“It's only been in the last few hundred years that this idea of birth being "dirty" or "dangerous" has really been used to bring women into hospitals, it's really been such a coercive system.”“The idea that we need all these men to "hero" women....'you can't do it by yourself, we are going to put you down with gas and pull your baby out'...it's crazy to me.”“The way our body experiences trauma isn't just in the mind, our body holds it within our energetic system, within our fascia.”“One of the parallel ideas is how we always try to escape the pain of birth rather than embracing the process of birth and where that pain is blocking you. We often try to escape our bodies where we feel uncomfortable.”Follow and connect with Jessica:InstagramYouTubeWebsitePodcast*Please note: we had some audio issues during this recording - there are a couple places it's hard to hear. Thank you for your understanding.  Support the showQuestions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 17 of The Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay welcomes Joanna Cook, a Texas-based therapist and Mother, to discuss the profound impact of therapy on women struggling with birth trauma. Joanna shares her journey from experiencing a traumatic birth to becoming a therapist specializing in nervous system regulation, somatic embodiment, and parts integration. She provides insight into her unique therapeutic approach that emphasizes safety and gentle reconnection and makes the significant point that no matter how deep your trauma is, there is always hope for healing. Lindsay and Joanna also discuss the societal pressures and disconnections that contribute to trauma and stress the importance of personal empowerment in the healing process. This episode offers hope and guidance for those dealing with birth trauma and explores the upcoming birth trauma retreat in Texas.Key Takeaways:1. There is always hope for healing.2. Our bodies physically store our trauma.3. The nervous system is an integral part of healing from trauma. 4. Most mainstream therapists do not holistically understand trauma and often re-traumatize women seeking support. Notable Quotes from Joanna"No matter how deep your trauma is, if you're breathing, you have hope for healing. If you're alive, there's hope to heal.""Our systems are incredibly wise, intelligent, resourceful...""That was a really big moment for me to understand....I always have options. I can do what's best for my baby, and I can do what's best for me. This episode's title is inspired by the book The Body Keeps the Score, a fantastic book explaining how emotional trauma affects our bodies physically. If you don't already own it, ​grab your copy now​. Joanna Cook is a therapist and life coach focusing on nervous system regulation, somatic reconnection, and trauma integration. After going through her own traumatic birth experience, she experienced severe disconnection and dysregulation. Once she learned about the nervous system and began the healing process, she experienced the spark and joy of reconnection and hasn't looked back. It is her joy to help guide others back to their power and innate healing capacities.  Connect with Joanna:​Facebook​ | ​Instagram​ | ​Substack​ | ​Website​ | ​Email​  Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

On this 16th episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay is joined by Carla Sargent, a former midwife now birth trauma healer and educator. Carla is a true GEM in the birth trauma healing world. Her experience as a midwife and many years supporting Mothers healing from birth trauma bring an incredible dialogue to this discussion today.Carla hosted Lindsay on her podcast, Healing Birth with Carla, last November where she and Lindsay chatted about Lindsay's doula work, her advocacy work with Exposing the Silence Project, and how women can best set themselves up for a birth they need and want. You can find Carla's podcast on all major podcast streaming networks - Lindsay's episode is #49!Today, Carla and Lindsay talk about how often birth trauma occurs, what are the factors that typically contribute to birth trauma, the common signs and symptoms of birth trauma in postpartum Mothers, and how birth trauma affects Fathers....a topic not often brought up but a very important component of this conversation. Key Takeaways:birth trauma is vastly under-reportedbirth trauma deeply affects Fathers toobirth trauma is directly correlated to obstetric violencehow to know if you have birth traumaperinatal mood disorders are a consequence of birth trauma from obstetric violence Notable Quotes:"We have this groomed compliance that we grow up with that serves the system so that we don't question when we are told we need to have this intervention and that intervention in order to keep our babies safe." - Carla"Choosing who is in your birth space - whether it's your support team or your care provider - and where you give birth are the two most important decisions you will ever make during your pregnancy. Those are the two things that will make or break your baby's birth." - Lindsay"Usually their [the Dads] trauma comes from feeling helpless." - Lindsay"Your traumatic experiences of birth were not your fault. It was not that your body was faulty, it was not that you weren't “something enough”, not strong enough, not advocating enough…. it was none of that." - CarlaCarla Sargent is a home birthing mother of three, an ex midwife, an educator, an author, a podcast host, and the founder (in 2015) of her birth trauma support and education business, Healing Birth. Through her holistic and unique Healing Birth work, Carla has helped hundreds of families to find healing after a traumatic birth, and to prepare for a positive and empowering next birth. Where to find Carla and her work:Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast | Book Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

On episode 15 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay chats with Brittney, the founder of The Wombsisterhood®'s Positive Pregnancy Journey. Brittney is an educator, a doula, and a Mother. She is the creator of Driven by Faith Doula Training and also hosts a private Facebook group for The Wombsisterhood®.  Brittney stepped into birth work in 2015 specializing in physiological perinatal education, research, and activism, traditional birthing, postpartum doula support, and birth photography. During this discussion, Lindsay and Brittney really focus on what the role of a doula truly is and is not. They also talk about where personal responsibility lies during pregnancy and birth. Lindsay shares her own journey in choosing to step away from supporting hospital births and Brittney relates in her personal experience navigating her role as a doula. Lindsay and Brittney share a common perspective in how doulas ensure Mothers are the authority during pregnancy, labor, and birth as well as how important it is for all birth workers and Mothers to understand mammalian biology and physiology. They mention this is not always the case with home birth midwives, some of whom bring anti-mammalian practices and procedures to Mothers' homes. Key Takeaways:First time Mothers often discover many gaps when it comes to prenatal care and birth preparationDoulas opting out of obstetrics altogether is actually helping Mothers and babies long termDoulas are not advocates or saviorsNobody can "save" a woman during pregnancy or birth Notable Quotes:“When I got pregnant, i did not know where to turn, which way was right or left. I realized where the gaps were missing in prenatal care.” - Brittney“Part of being a Mother is taking personal responsibility for yourself and your babies.” - Lindsay“We see the rise in birth work burnout, doulas leaving this profession to find sustainability elsewhere, and Mothers being led down another systematic path to keep them disempowered. That's ultimately where we are going wrong in this work." - Brittney“The physiology, the neurobiology, is missing from most doula education.”   - Brittney“It's easy to get caught up in what makes a ‘good' doula….but the essence of being a doula is about being with women…..trusting women….holding space….and being the lighthouse." - Brittney“Mothers are the experts. Mothers are the real professionals at birth.” - LindsayBrittney can be found at @thepositivepregnancyjourney or @faithdrivendoula on Instagram. You can learn more about the Faith Driven Doula program here. And you can join the private Facebook group for Faith Driven Doulas here. Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay is joined by Lauren Reza, a lactation consultant  and natural Motherhood coach as well as the woman behind Lactation and Lullabies on Instagram. Lauren shares her journey from working in obstetrics as an R.N. to becoming a lactation consultant. She has a deep understanding of mammalian biology and the impacts of obstetric interventions on both lactation as well as  Mother-baby bonding, most of which she gained from personal experience  and observation working in labor and delivery. Lauren and Lindsay discuss topics related to mammalian biology, lactation, and mammalian parenting. Lauren advocates for a birth and postpartum experience that aligns with our mammalian biology, with minimal to no interventions, as that often inhibits or derails lactation and nursing. For those curious about the implications of obstetric interventions on nursing and Mother-baby bonding, this week's episode is a fantastic discussion of our modern lactation and nursing rates and how obstetrics has a hand in it. Lauren is available for virtual consults to anyone anywhere. You can connect with her via the contact information listed below.Key Takeaways:The role of instincts in making birth and postpartum decisions.The detrimental effects of common obstetric practices on nursing and lactation.The importance of creating a supportive and mammalian-aligned environment during birth and postpartum in order to promote lactation and nursing.Quotes from Lauren:"I knew a lot of times that those interventions could lead to a cesarean, and it was definitely a gut instinct that this was not the path I wanted to go.""It should be this beautiful dance between the mom and the baby, and they are partners in this process.""Just listening to our instincts can make a significant difference in our birthing and breastfeeding experiences."Lauren Reza can be found at @LactationAndLullabiesFlorida on Instagram. She offers virtual consultations and runs a monthly lactation support group in Jupiter, Florida. For more information on how to work with Lauren, go to her website: https://www.lactationandlullabies.com/Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay shares a fantastic discussion with Audrey Ross of @ajoyfulbirth where Audrey discusses the differences in her three births: birth center, home with licensed midwives, and home unassisted/freebirth. Additionally, she has free birthed another baby at home since we recorded this episode last month.  Audrey truly understands what it means and feels like to give birth like a mammal.....and we get into it!Audrey has been dubbed "the meme queen" on Instagram for her clever and hilarious memes covering all things birth. She always hits the nail on the head while providing light-hearted comedy to us all! In her own words, Audrey's most important roles are wife and Mother of six children. She is a rebel at heart and an advocate for and educator on birth outside of the medical system. Audrey is a Birthkeeper (aka Authentic Midwife) and Birth Coach. She supports women in birth both virtually as well as in person. This episode is great for those of you wanting a home birth but feel like you need to hire a midwife to attend, or those of you with questions about home birth and how that differs from birth center or hospital birth. Lindsay and Audrey discuss the implications of where you choose to give birth on mammalian biology. Enjoy!Key Takeaways:Hiring "medical midwives" or licensed midwives typically does not lead to a mammalian/physiological birthing experience. Comparing a birth center birth to a home birth is not even comparable. The Mother-baby bond is severely impacted by the initial mammalian imprinting process in the immediate  moments after birth. How significant our own births are in informing us about our world as illustrated by Audrey's children who came to her from foster care. Quotes from Audrey:"So then I started asking, what exactly does it look like to give birth physiologically?""They are just trying to save women from birth, and I cannot get behind what they are doing.""I left the grounds, I walked outside, I did everything they didn't want me to do. I refused their IV, I refused to put on their gown, I refused everything. But it was still all war. I never entered a place where my mind could get lost in labor.""That's when I chose to freebirth my third baby and that is like night and day. It doesn't even compare. I left that birth feeling like I've never been a more embodied person in my life. i had never felt more powerful, I had never felt more confident.Audrey Ross can be found at @ajoyfulbirth on Instagram. You can also check out Audrey's Stan Store for current offerings, resources, coaching and in person support. Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Kristine Lauria, an international midwife who currently works for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). She specializes in high-risk maternity care in low-resource settings and is passionate in her support of breech birth, bodily autonomy in medical decision making and is a staunch advocate for undisturbed, physiologic birth. She has attended over 5000 births in more than 25 countries around the world, including many sets of twins and triplets. When not in the field with MSF, she is an instructor with Breech Without Borders and is also their Global Midwifery Director. She lives in Michigan's upper peninsula with her dogs. Earlier this year, Kristine went viral on Instagram for supporting a triplet home birth. Lindsay was so impressed with Kristine's energy and awareness illustrated in the video, she immediately reached out and asked Kristine for an interview. During this discussion, Kristine gives us a replay of the aforementioned triplet birth as well as an additional triplet birth she had attended previously. She gives us insight into her midwifery apprenticeship and her work abroad in third world countries. Lindsay and Kristine discuss disruption to mammalian birth, where the responsibility lies when it comes to birth, especially at home, and how *talking* in itself is an intervention during labor. Kristine shares her journey to midwifery, her own experience birthing her son 20+ years ago, and how pervasive the lack of knowledge regarding how mammalian birth functions is within obstetrics. Lindsay labels Kristine "an authentic midwife" to describe how true to the definition of "midwife" Kristine's practice is. This is a fantastic episode to tune into if you are considering home birth, or perhaps experienced a reproduction of obstetrics from a licensed midwife during your baby's home birth. Kristine is the real deal.Notable Quotes from Kristine:"She knew that this was her show, she had to do this......(she) took full responsibility for birth and did not see me as her savior.""I consider talking an intervention at a birth, because it is. And every time you open you mouth, you are taking a little bit away form that person's experience.""It's THEIR show, it's not MY show.""So, then is it any wonder why there is such a huge movement of people moving away form even home birth midwives and just deciding 'well i guess we better do this ourselves because we can't have what we want'?" Kristine Lauria can be found @globalmidwife64 on Instagram and you can follow her travels and work at www.midwifewithoutboundaries.wordpress.com. Lindsay and Birth Like a Mammal™ would also like to give a nod of appreciation to Amber, the Mother of triplets who shared her babies' birth worldwide and allowed Kristine to share her story with us. What a brave and generous experience to share with others - thank you, Amber! Support the Show.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 11 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, host Lindsay Askins - a Mother of three and seasoned doula-turned birth coach, discusses the main components of a healthy and instinctive birth that is aligned with mammalian biology. She emphasizes the importance of hydration, nourishment, a supportive team, safety, autonomy, and oxytocin in ensuring a trauma-free birthing experience.Today's episode is pulled from the Birth Like a Mammal birth prep workbook. This portion is included in chapter 3 of the workbook, which is the chapter covering birth. You can find the birth prep workbook on the Birth Like a Mammal website here. It's available in either digital or print form. You can find the chart used for today's episode on our podcast page as well by clicking this link.Key Takeaways:Hydration and Nourishment: Adequate hydration and nourishment during labor are crucial for avoiding complications. It is your basic human right to eat and drink during labor.Supportive Birthing Environment: The importance of a safe, comfortable, and supportive birthing environment AND team.Autonomy and Safety: Maintaining autonomy and feeling safe are vital for a healthy birthing experience.Role of Oxytocin: The significance of oxytocin for mammals during birth. Synthetic Pitocin is NOT the same thing. Quotes:"You can simply drink water during labor to stay hydrated.""One of the most important decisions you will make during your pregnancy is who you choose to be your care provider.""They can not restrict food from you during labor. That is a basic human right. We do not even restrict food from prisoners.""The number one thing that women who leave birth traumatized say the common thread that exists in traumatic birth stories is loss of autonomy."Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, Lindsay Askins - a seasoned doula, birth coach, and Mother of three -  discusses the important role of oxytocin during labor and birth. She reiterates that oxytocin is not the same thing as Pitocin, even though Mothers are told so. Lindsay illustrates the significance of creating an environment conducive to natural oxytocin flow, which is essential for a successful mammalian birth. Key Takeaways:Role of Oxytocin: Importance of oxytocin in the birthing process and its suppression by clinical environments and practices.Adrenaline's Impact: Negative effects of adrenaline on oxytocin, illustrating the mammalian need for a calm and safe environment during labor and birth.Environment's Influence: The critical role of a supportive and non-disruptive birth team in facilitating the requirements of mammalian birth.Critique of Obstetric Interventions: Discussing how Pitocin does not, and will not, work in the body the same as oxytocin. Notable Quotes:"We are essentially asking women to allow their oxytocin to increase and function in an environment that it simply cannot do so.""Adrenaline and oxytocin are not friends... Adrenaline is not your friend during labor at all.""Adrenaline and oxytocin are inversely proportional. One cannot exist alongside the other.""What gets the baby in, gets the baby out!"Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 9 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, Lindsay Askins - a seasoned doula, birth coach, and Mother of three - shares her transformative journey from supporting hospital births to exclusively attending home and birth center births. Lindsay covers the stark disconnect between obstetrics and the mammalian process of birth, highlighting the often traumatic consequences of unnecessary medical interventions that ignore mammalian requirements for birth. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, Lindsay shares the key moments and experiences that ultimately led her to walk away from supporting clients birthing in hospitals. Key Takeaways:Lindsay spent many years supporting doula clients in hospitals across the U.S.Lindsay got to a point where she realized she could not change the system of obstetrics no matter which way she tried. Moving back to birthing at home and away from obstetrics illustrates a shift towards moving back into alignment with mammalian biology.Lindsay came to a point in her doula career where she realized she could no longer show up for her clients the way they needed while working within a hospital environment. Lindsay's story is a powerful call to action for birth workers and parents to think individually when making choices surrounding their baby's birth. Just because something has been "normalized" within our culture doesn't mean it's the right choice for us. Notable Quotes:"Doulas are not 'advocates' or bodyguards. That's not our role.""We can't change obstetrics because obstetrics is working exactly the way it was designed, and it was never designed for Mothers and babies.....but we can opt out.""It's like watching rape. Things are happening to women's bodies without their consent.""You can't walk into obstetrics and expect a mammalian birth."Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In  episode 8 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, we explore the topic of placental calcification. This is a topic posed by the community for discussion as there is often many questions and confusion regarding how concerned we should be about a calcified placenta at the end of gestation. Lindsay discusses the connection between mammalian biology and human birth processes, shedding light on how modern obstetrics often overlooks this natural alignment, almost always leading to preventable complications. The focus is on informing parents and birth workers about the causes, risks, and preventive measures related to placental calcification, emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and dietary choices during pregnancy. Lindsay thoroughly examines factors contributing to placental calcification, such as smoking, hypertension, and excessive calcium intake, and offers practical advice for expecting parents to mitigate these risks. Through expert insights and personal anecdotes, this episode gives listeners the power and confidence to navigate their pregnancy and birth experiences with knowledge.Key Takeaways:Placental Calcification: characterized by excessive calcium phosphate mineral deposits in the placenta, somewhat affecting its functionality and potentially leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.Factors Contributing to Calcification: These include unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor diet, prenatal stress, excessive ultrasound exposure, and certain medications.Preventive Measures: Emphasizes the critical role of diet, stress management, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins and unnecessary medical interventions, before and, during pregnancy.Empowerment through Knowledge: Encourages parents to be well-informed about their pregnancy, questioning conventional obstetric practices that may not align with the natural process of mammalian birth.Community Support: Highlights the importance of community and shared experiences in navigating the challenges and uncertainties of pregnancy and birth.Quotes:"More than lifestyle choices, it's about understanding and respecting the natural process of birth as designed by our mammalian biology.""By addressing the root causes of complications like placental calcification, we can shift towards a more natural, less interventionist approach to childbirth."Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 7 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast,  host Lindsay Askins, an experienced doula, birth coach, and Mother, discusses why babies are evolutionarily programmed to NOT be left alone. She emphasizes the normal mammalian dependency of babies on their Mothers amongst societal norms that promote independence and separation. Lindsay discusses the psychological and physiological implications of practices like 'crying it out,' babies sleeping alone, and other examples of separation from their Mother, using illustrations from other mammals and indigenous cultures to support her points. This episode calls to realign our birth and childcare practices with mammalian biology for healthier and more holistic development and less life-long trauma.Key Takeaways:Understanding the importance of aligning human birth practices with mammalian instincts for better outcomes.Babies are programmed by evolution to be dependent on their Mothers, contrary to the modern emphasis on early independence.Practices like sleep training and early separation can cause long-term psychological and physiological issues.Insights into how indigenous cultures handle birth and childcare, emphasizing constant companionship and natural processes.Encouraging a shift in societal norms towards more mammalian-aligned parenting practices.Notable Quotes:"Obstetrics makes no connection to mammalian biology in regards to birth, resulting in high complications.""Your baby doesn't want to be alone. It truly believes that it will die if it is left alone." "We are creating a problem by forcing independence upon a being that is designed to be dependent." Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In episode 6 of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast,  Lindsay dives into why natural birth does not - and cannot - take place in a hospital. Lindsay reiterates the true definition of "natural" as it's very often misused and generally misunderstood. Lindsay highlights how  obstetric practices are completely disconnected from the mammalian birthing processes. This episode is a must listen if you are planning a natural birth in the hospital as it explores 15 examples illustrating why natural birth and hospitals don't mix. While there are many more examples than 15, Lindsay focuses on the major players in standard obstetrics. She references how hospital falsely advertise their "Mother-baby friendly" nonsense when in reality the only true way to be "Mother-baby friendly" is to birth like a mammal.  Key Takeaways:Natural birth does not exist in the realm of obstetrics. Many people use the term "natural birth" to describe "vaginal birth". There is nothing in obstetrics that is in alignment with mammalian biology. Most people who work in L&D units have never seen a truly undisturbed NATURAL birth. A hospital environment is highly disruptive which is the exact opposite of what mammalian birth requires to function optimally. Quotes:"Natural birth does not, and cannot, take place in the hospital.""Natural birth is NOT simply "vaginal birth." “Birth is incredibly intimate... It should be private, dark, and undisturbed.”“Every hospital is falsely advertising their services if they claim to promote natural birth."Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode, Lindsay discusses the importance of handling newborns with care and gentleness. She shares her concern about a viral video circling social media where a nurse was handling a baby roughly, causing the baby to show signs of stress. Lindsay emphasizes that newborns have never been touched before and are programmed by evolution to expect only their Mother's touch. She questions the justification and normalization of rough handling in hospitals and highlights the importance of imprinting and bonding between Mother and baby. Lindsay encourages parents to advocate for their babies and demand gentle handling during the newborn period.Key Takeaways:Newborns have never been touched before and expect only their mother's touch.Rough handling of newborns can cause stress and disrupt bonding.Imprinting and bonding between mother and baby are crucial for the baby's well-being.Mothers have the right to refuse or limit the handling of their babies in hospitals.Gentle handling of newborns is possible and should be prioritized.Quotes:"Evolutionarily speaking, newborns are expecting to be touched only by their mother.""Just because something is normal doesn't mean it's right.""Mothers have a unique connection with their babies that no healthcare professional can replicate.""Protecting your baby is a parent's job. You don't have to tolerate things that cause stress.""Newborn exams can be done while a Mother holds her baby. It's possible and beneficial."Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode, Lindsay discusses the age-old debate of hospital birth versus home birth. She emphasizes that this debate is unnecessary and unproductive, as the two options are fundamentally different and cannot be compared. Lindsay shares her own experience of choosing a home birth and the negative reactions she received from others. She highlights the fear and ignorance that often surround the topic of home birth and explains the importance of understanding mammalian biology in making informed birth choices.Key Takeaways:1. Hospital birth and home birth are fundamentally different and cannot be compared.2. Fear and ignorance often drive the debate between hospital birth and home birth.3. The least amount of risk is associated with mammalian birth, which occurs naturally at home.4. It is important to choose the birth environment where you feel safe and comfortable.Quotes:"Humans forget that we are mammals and are designed to birth like mammals." "The disruption is the risk in birth.""Choose the birth environment where you feel the most safe and comfortable." Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode, Lindsay discusses why nursing and lactation often fail in modern society. She explains that the high rate of complications in birth and low nursing rates can be attributed to the disruption of the natural mammalian biology of birth. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of immediate bonding and imprinting between Mother and baby after birth, and how this process is often disrupted in hospital settings. She highlights the permanent negative impact of separating Mothers and babies, and the need for a supportive and non-disruptive birthing environment to ensure successful nursing and milk supply.Key Takeaways:1. Nursing and lactation often fail due to the disruption of the natural mammalian biology of birth.2. Separating mothers and babies after birth disrupts the bonding and imprinting process, leading to low milk supply and difficulties with latching.3. Hospital settings and routine procedures in obstetrics contribute to the disruption of the natural birthing process.4. Mothers should advocate for a non-disruptive birthing environment and immediate bonding with their babies to ensure successful nursing and milk supply.Quotes: "The number one cause for low lactation rates, low milk supply, and low nursing rates is disruption." "If we disrupt the environment where we give birth and the people within that environment, we sabotage the imprinting process that is essential for successful nursing and milk supply." "Our nursing rates and lactation problems are a result of the disruption caused by hospital birth and the lack of support for the natural mammalian biology of birth." Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast, Lindsay discusses the responsibility of Mothers during birth, specifically focusing on the choice between home birth and hospital birth. She emphasizes that the debate between the two options is unnecessary and unproductive, as it ultimately comes down to personal responsibility and where the mother feels most comfortable placing that personal responsibility. Lindsay shares her own experience of choosing home birth to maintain control and personal responsibility over her birth process. She highlights the importance of feeling safe and comfortable during birth and the lifelong impact of taking or handing over personal responsibility.Key Takeaways:1.  The debate between home birth and hospital birth is ultimately about personal responsibility and where the Mother feels most comfortable.2. Handing over personal responsibility during birth can lead to disempowerment and trauma, while maintaining personal responsibility can result in confidence and empowerment.3. Birthing like a mammal means believing in your innate ability to give birth without outsourcing or doubting the process.Quotes:"Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals." "The idea that we would debate that there's only one way or one place or one person to have there and only one way to do this is absurd.""The power and confidence that comes from keeping your authority and autonomy during birth is lifelong." Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

We are kicking off this first episode discussing Pitocin and how that affects Mothers and babies during labor, birth, and even afterwards. Often when Pitocin is administered to induce or augment labor, women are not fully informed on the risks associated.In this first episode, we cover:• how oxytocin and pitocin relate to one another• the difference between pitocin and oxytocin• the relationship between oxytocin and adrenaline• the affects of pitocin on a laboring uterus•the affects of pitocin on a baby during labor• the affects of pitocin after birth• the relationship between pitocin and postpartum hemorrhage• the affects of pitocin on lactation and nursingSomehow all other mammal species  birth babies every single day without the use of Pitocin. Humans are mammal and we are designed to birth as mammals. Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions

Lindsay Askins is the host of the Birth Like a Mammal podcast and the founder of the Birth Like a Mammal community. With a degree in animal science and years of experience breeding horses, Lindsay has a deep understanding of mammalian biology. As a doula and birth coach, she has supported numerous families through the birthing process. Lindsay is passionate about educating parents and birth workers on the importance of aligning birth practices with mammalian biology to reduce complications and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.Questions?Looking for further support during pregnancy?Reach out at join@birthlikeamammal.com for birth support and other resources. Find us on: Website Instagram TikTok Music Credit: Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USEdited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions