Your BIRTH Partners

As we wrap up season six of the podcast, we have shared so many incredible conversations over the last 11 episodes as we dove into what community means in birthcare. There is so much breadth of thought and energy these folks bring through their ability to see what could be, despite the ways that our systems fail us now. And so in this episode, I share these visions for the future of community birth care from the 11 guests that we had on this season. I invite you to take in, digest, ruminate on their answers as you come up with your own. Hear more about creating our collective vision for the future of community birthcare including:~accessible, IN ALL ways~equitable, prioritizing the needs of queer, trans, & gender nonconforming people~inter-disciplinary and birthing-person led~expansive support that meets all needs~grounded in radical optimism!Connect more with this season's guests through their profiles found here!Support the show

In this week's episode, we're diving into a conversation around perinatal mental health, and how we screen for and provide better support to parents as they continue to navigate early parenthood. Our expert this week, Dr. Erin Sadler is a psychologist at Children's National in their NICU who has focused her work around supporting infant mental health with starts with pregnancy and parents.She will be sharing a little bit of the process that her hospital has used to implement a universal screening for caregivers around their mental health in both the ER and the NICU environments. This episode is for all of you who are also looking to understand more about how we integrate our mental health care and resources into the standard medical care that we provide to families. Join us for insights on:~Removing barriers to connection~Supporting vulnerable families and decreasing ACEs~Universal mental health screening as standard of care~Safety nets built into screening~Therapeutic interventions for NICU caregivers ~Asking the "scary" questions about mental healthConnect with Dr Sadler and her work here.Here is an addition resource recommended by Dr Sadler:Two of our Children's National physicians discussing an article on the establishment our in-house PMH task force. Support the show

In this episode we invite you to think more about what it means to create community spaces that are powered by culturally responsive care.  How do we build trust within them, and how we build trust within ourselves, as we contemplate the changes that happen in our bodies, through pregnancy and postpartum, how we connect with what we want and need.  How do we understand our feeding choices, how we think about food for our babies and ourselves? And why it is so important to tune in and be aware of cultural differences?  Why do we need more representation throughout perinatal care across the spectrum of all of the different roles within it?We need more representation, we need more folks who have different lived experiences who can offer racially and culturally congruent care who have a shared ancestral practices to uplift and support folks.  To bring all of these topics together and share their wisdom on the subject is the wonderful Shalini Shah.  Welcome to this conversation as we dive into all of this and think about how we create perineal care environments that are supportive, open, and welcoming for all. Join us as we discuss:~Uplifting BIPOC birthworkers~Fostering interdependence rather than individualism~Eliminating shame in feeding journeys~Body image & changes through pregnancy & postpartum~Ayurveda & bringing yourself back to your bodyLearn more and connect with Shalini here.Support the show

We are diving into another heavy and intense conversation here, as we talk about the family policing system, sometimes also referred to as the child protective system. We are confronting what it means for us, as healthcare workers, as birth workers, to be tied up in this system that is involved in family separation, and ultimately, the policing of families. When I was thinking through all of the different angles to take throughout the season, as we figure out what it means to be in community, with each other with those we serve one of the pieces that just kept coming back to me is how disconnected our care, especially in the hospital, can be from the greater community that we prepared to serve. And I think one of the big ways that that shows up is in how we interact with folks who use drugs, with folks that have mental health disorders, with folks who in so many ways, are othered, they don't meet our kind of expectation about "textbook perfect parent."  We are thinking a lot about how that plays out in our role as mandated reporters, how we engage with these systems. I am so grateful to have Carlyn Mast back on the podcast. Carlyn is an exceptional advocate a repeat guest on the podcast, who as a social worker, and parent advocate has a lot of information to share that it gives light to really some of what what goes on when we report folks, the family policing system, and how this impacts families, how it impacts communities, and really the role that we have within this as perinatal care professionals. So this episode is for those of us who are not really familiar with the child protective or family policing system, how it came to be, and how it currently operates. Carlyn is going to share some of the actual steps that we can all take as we continue to interact with families so that we can show up as a community advocate with them.Join us to dive into:~Language: Family Policing System~History of Taking Children from their Community~Legislation that Criminalizes Poverty~Racial Discrimination in the System~Abolition of Incentivizing Family Separation~Steps to Support FamiliesConnect more with Carlyn here.*The statements from Carlyn Mast are her sole opinion and experience, not the opinions or views of her employer.Resources:Dorothy Roberts and her book Torn ApartJoyce MacmillanApril LeeMovement for Family PowerupEND MovementSupport the show

In this episode, we are sharing with you a conversation with Kayden Coleman. Many of you may already know Kayden through his incredible advocacy and storytelling about his experiences as a transgender dad, a seahorse dad who gave birth to two daughters. Through this podcast he shares why he was called to be vocal about his experiences as a Black transgender dad and the prevalence of anti-Blackness in society.  He brings education and insights into how we can improve birthcare, healthcare, and our human to human interactions to be more inclusive and equitable for trans folks, with greater awareness of intersecting identities. Tune in for insights on:~Creating a community~Educating folks who have an intent to misunderstand~Accountability: calling in and calling out~Anti-Blackness & the trans community~Raising our awareness around social media dynamics~Steps to take for equitable careConnect more with Kayden and his work here and don't miss his latest offerings mentioned on the podcast!Support the show

In this episode of podcast, we are continuing our examination of community.Joined by guest Emily Edwards of The Good Birth Co, who is a nurse, birth worker and all around advocate for thinking and changing how we talk about birth, and how we address & prevent birth trauma.  This episode will be really impactful or those of you who are also out here trying to figure out how we shift power in the birth space. How do we call out issues when we see care, that is not care? When we see wrongdoing?  When we see obstetrical violence? When we see folks not respecting patient autonomy? When we start to see the seeds planted that could lead someone to have a traumatic birth, that will leave someone feeling disempowered, and the unfortunate, unethical things that have become standard in a lot of birth care? Dive in to:~Moving beyond saviorship & the focus on birth outcome~Advocacy in birthwork~Stepping into power to prevent birth trauma~Recognizing the community responsibility to change birthcare~Working through the nuance of hard concepts on social media ~Finding your role and impact in change-making Emily is offering a bonus to our podcast listeners.  Catch the replay of her training on how to tackle birth trauma head on & feeling clear about your role in fixing the systemConnect with Emily and her work here.Support the show

In this episode we explore how we connect more deeply past the complicated power dynamics and the hierarchy in health care. How can health care providers really set themselves up to be in community with those who they care for? How do we shift the way we deliver insights and education and information to ensure that it continues to center the patient? What are some of the ways that we need to reconsider how we have been trained to share information with patients to speak to folks about the experiences that they are having in their body? How do we push back when folks want to focus on efficiency rather than connection? Our guest today Dr. Kia Lannaman of Accessible Professionals is an expert in high risk obstetrics. She has practiced as an MFM around the country, and is currently focused on how we make medical education and relationships more accessible to folks. She has so many insights to share around how we create this reality, where birthing people can truly feel that their provider is part of their community that they are available and that they are there to serve their best interests. This episode is for you, if you too are interested in how we change these current dynamics that have been set up and how we can use the power of social media to actually create more connection, rather than isolation.Join us as we uncover:~The benefits of multidisciplinary care~Unlearning as a physician~Power of social media to get an "ear to the ground"~Quality over efficiency in appointments~Meeting folks where they are for health literacy~And...remember: stop "meddling" in the vagina Connect with Dr Kia Lannaman and her work here.Support the show

As we are examining community throughout the season, thinking more deeply about what it means to be joining into this community of birth. How does it feel to be coming into something that is in some ways already established, but also something that is constantly growing and changing? I am very excited to have one of our original listeners to the podcast who has been with us through our whole journey.  Erin Heacock is a passionate birth advocate who recently started as a nurse in the perinatal space.  She will be sharing reflections on what she has learned and how she wants to grow in this space.  We are inviting all of you to think about how we all have things to learn and how often we end up putting people up on pedestals. How do you decide who is the authority? How do we become more open to new ideas? How do we appreciate and support those who are coming after us?Join us as we explore:~Appreciating our role and the vulnerable spaces we are invited into ~Challenging unit norms and "the way we've always done things"~Comparing physiologic birth with the reality of typical hospital birthcare~Learning how to question authority and bring in diverse viewpoints~The power of fresh perspective and creating welcoming communities~The pursuit of lifelong learning~Ensuring the folks we care for are centered in our community buildingLearn more about Erin and connect more.Support the show

As we continue our season around centering community in our birth work, I am really excited to be having a return guest, one of the very first people who truly made me feel welcomed into a community of other birth workers is Pansay Tayo of Sacred Butterfly Births & the Sacred Pause Red Room.  Pansay back to share some of her wisdom as she has come to define her birth work is something that must be rooted in community. For those of you who are feeling overwhelmed by all that needs to change in birth care. Pansay has a wealth of ideas to share, as we look to make subtle adjustments to our practice, to ground ourselves and our work in our clients in their community.Join us to discuss:~The power of sitting in circle~Shedding perfection and embracing vulnerability~Normalizing the challenges of pregnancy & parenthood~Creating physical environments that tend to all the senses~Healing generational trauma through birth~Supporting the mind-body-spirit in tandemLearn more about Pansay and connect with her work.Support the show

As we continue our exploration of what it means to come together as a community in birthcare, we will be diving into some of the reasons that we often find ourselves not connecting in community.What are some of the cultural and societal beliefs around worthiness and value and perfectionism that set us up to be in competition with each other, rather than in community? In particular, what are things those of us who have been socialized as white need to uncover about white supremacy?  How have patterns from that been ingrained in our behaviors, in our beliefs and and how we look to be in community- with those we care for and with our colleagues? I am so grateful to have Allison Tate joining us in this conversation.  She transplanted to the US as an established birthworker and became keenly aware of how this dynamic plays out and personal work she needed to do moving forward.This episode is for you if you are looking for insights around:~Increasing your awareness about how you show up in community~Rejecting "glossy" birthworker communities & competition~Considering how value & worthiness is assigned in community~Recognizing tenants of white supremacy in birthwork~Holding yourself accountable to doing inner workFollow Allison and her work here.Resources mentioned in the episode:Cheyenne Scarlett's My Deep Dive-Reflection prompts for birthworkersDoula Instincts Membership-Allison's co-led community space for birthworkers interested in growth and accountability.Support the show

I am really delighted to be just diving deep into some of the issues around community, collaborative relationships, and navigating the medical hierarchy. I am so excited to share our guests with you this week, Dr. Cody Pyke is trained as both a physician and as an attorney, and has some incredible insights to share with you.  How do we craft our messaging to connect with legislators and folks who really work on systems, policy levels?  Have you been thinking about understanding your strengths and where they fit into this larger community and all of the many things that need to be done? Are you thinking about how we create equity?  As we bring all folks together at the same table to dive into these issues, how do we get rid of this hierarchy that continues to hold us back as we consider what community can really look like and what true collaborative care means?Listen in as we explore:~overcoming intimidation around discussing policies & legislation~translating your message to be understood by outsiders~collaborative care and the National Perinatal Association~honoring the equal voices of parents when designing policies~recognizing the impact of insurance on healthcare~exploring the ethics and gatekeeping in perinatal advocacyConnect more with Cody and their work here.Support the show

We are so thrilled to be coming for Season SIX of the podcast! As we delve into our new season theme of centering community, it feels fitting that our very first episode at the podcast was about community, it is very much at the heart of the work we do here at your birth partners. And so often when this work is more challenging, there needs to be when things are not going smoothly. It is because we are not rooted in community. We need folks who are here with us doing this work, ones who are ready to hold space with us and for us, ones who are happy to share about their own journey to hold us accountable as we uncover our own biases, as we recognize things that are not ideal in our practice and how we want to change. And we must have others together as we do this collaborative work of shifting, recreating reimagining what birth care can look like. Our guest this week, Anna Balagtas (she/her) is a radical birth worker and community organizer, known as Your Pocket Doula,  has a ton of personal experience walking through this journey, she is going to share so many ideas that uplift you and show you how it is possible to recreate to change the trajectory of the path you're on to find the community that you want and deserve to be a part of.Join us as we dive into:~recognizing when your values aren't shared by those around you~the role of doula orgs in training complicitness in obstetrical mistreatment~identifying saviorism in ourselves~pivoting to find community~trusting yourself on your journey in birthwork~learning alongside your communityLearn more about Anna and connect with her work!Support the show

As we wrap up season five around change-making in perinatal care, I am excited to share with you some takeaways from the season as I have reflected on what our guests have shared and pulled together some themes so that as you figure out the way you want to create change in the perinatal care system, you will have some inspiration from those who are walking this path along with you. Themes:~Changing individuals => systems change~Community with accountability as basis for change~Taking care of the change agents~Divorcing change making from saviorshipThis bonus episode includes some reflection questions for you if you are still searching for your purpose within this work and how you want to go about creating change!Support the show

So in this episode we are diving into the future of Queer Reproductive Justice, and what does it mean to show up for queer, trans, non binary, and other folks who have been marginalized within the perinatal care system.  To lead us in that conversation, I am delighted to have king yaa on to share their wisdom and their work as they have delved into this throughout their career. And as they speak, and educate on this topic in so many different platforms. Learning from king yaa has truthfully been one of the most impactful pieces of my journey over the last few years.  As I have searched to grow as a birth worker, to be more aware of different perspectives within perinatal spaces...both as I learned to care better for folks who are queer and trans, but also, as I have looked hard at myself, to understand my positionality within this space to reflect on what I can bring to it, and also how the way that I show up in this work has such an impact on the care that folks receive from me. Through this conversation, I hope you have the time and space to reflect on your own place in this work, where you want to grow, where you can share your knowledge, and how you can begin to put all this together, as we lift up those who have been most marginalized and create a standard of care that is safer for them, we create a standard of care that is safer for all of us. And I am eager to share with you their thoughts and reflections about what king yaa sees as as they share their queer reproductive justice framework, and the future of care as we all come together to create change. Listen in as we explore these themes:~foundation of their courses for providers~queer & trans people's liberation & pleasure~king's queer reproductive justice framework~incorporate understanding of barriers into care~examining saviorism, intersectionality, & positionality in birthworkLearn more about king yaa and their offerings through their guest profile.Recommended IG accounts to follow: @KaydenXOfficial @BirthBruja @FeministMidwife @Doctor_MidwifeSupport the show

In this episode, we are going to be diving into the topic of debriefing: what debriefing is, how it can benefit folks in the immediate postpartum period as they start to reflect on their birth story, on their journey on the feelings that they have as they reflect on what happened during their birth, whether those were, you know, overwhelmingly positive or negative experiences. Together with Emily and Mandy we have created a resource for Debriefing at the Bedside, that we are really eager to share with you all. This is a free resource. We want to get in the hands of as many folks who interact with people in that immediate postpartum period, whether that is at the hospital bedsides, whether that is at home in those first few weeks, we want to provide this tool so that you all can feel more confident as you look to assist folks in reflection in thinking about their experience, as we break down some of the barriers that stop folks from feeling like it is okay to talk about what happened. We are so hopeful that you all will walk away from this with more awareness about how important debriefing can be for everyone for every birth.  That you will be able to put this into action in your practices as you look to create a space that is more welcoming for folks to speak to their lived experiences, and that prepares us to support them along the way. Episode highlights include:~Defining debriefing vs reflection vs processing~Navigating conflicting feelings about your birth story~Debriefing as a tool for fostering connection with caregivers~Normalizing the need to debrief~The privilege of pausing to contemplate your experience~Why birthworkers need to seek out their own debriefing supportHere is a preview of the Debriefing resource & here you can request the full free fillable pdf.Support the show

In this episode, we are diving back into the topic of birth trauma. And this is something that we have revisited over and over throughout the podcast, because this issue is growing. These statistics around birth trauma, they are only worsening and this is something that needs to be addressed by so many different angles.We have a new perspective to share with you today as Teela Tomassetti of The Tea on Birth Trauma joins us to talk through why she has devoted her advocacy as a therapist to uncovering the truth about birth trauma and sharing it with folks as they understand it more. We are diving into some of the newest research data that's come out around birth trauma trends that we have seen. How has birth and our experience and the way we speak about trauma changed over the last three decades? And over the last three years? What are some surprising ways that birth trauma shows up in folks lives? How does it impact their physical health, their mental and emotional wellbeing? How does it show up in relationships with our partners and our support people. And how do we kind of push back against some of the preconceived notions we have about trauma? How do we get folks to tune into this issue and think about it through a new lens. I am so excited to share this with you as you all work to reshape and grow our understanding around trauma and the way that you can support people.Join us to explore more:~The role of community in processing trauma ~Current statistics and trends in birth trauma~Power & pitfalls of social media for addressing trauma ~Intergenerational shifts around language~Systems actions to change & improve the care landscape~Surprising trauma triggersLearn more and connect with Teela in her guest profile.Support the show

We are diving into the world of postpartum again in this episode.  Because, frankly, we don't tend to give it the attention it deserves in the perinatal care space.There are so many ways that we are failing folks throughout the postpartum period. Our guest, Kayla Bitten, also known as The Southern Midwife, is a wealth of information about how will we make shifts in the cultural narrative around postpartum healing. How will we address the stigma that is so often present as folks make this transition and work to align their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, all aspects of their health?Join us for this really frank conversations about how much pressure we put on postpartum people.   You were going to leave this conversation with more ideas about how to switch your language with folks that you care for during birth, and also those you support in any other aspect of your life.Themes include:~Black perinatal mortality rates and postpartum care access~Adjusting our mindset to view postpartum as equally transformative as pregnancy~Recognizing our validity outside of being a vessel for the baby~Creating stronger postpartum support networks~Examining our relationship with nutrition & body image~Countering toxic familial and cultural postpartum traditions ~Busting postpartum myths ... And so much more Learn more from Kayla in her guest profile.Support the show

This week on the show, we are excited to be changing up our format a little bit and talking directly to a parent to be.  We are all in this work to care for people, but so often our education is not centered on parents themselves and we don't get feedback about how that care impacts them. Our guest this week is Jessica Lorion, who is the host of another podcast called Mama's In Training.  She speaks to folks who have had their babies and other birthing professionals so that people like her who were either pregnant, preparing to conceive, or just considering parenthood are able to have more resources and more education earlier in the process. In a world filled with so much noise about what it means to become a parent and what you should be learning in pregnancy to prepare for the transition your body goes through to prepare for birth, and then to prepare for postpartum and parenting.... We know that there are so many ways that we dropped the ball, as a birth community, as birth professionals, and as a society at large. The places where we sugarcoat necessary information, the places where we leave out information altogether, and also places that we create more stress by only sharing the traumatic aspects of it. And so there's so much to examine about how, and when we share information with folks to make sure that it's really centered around the person we're speaking with and what they want. You are going to leave this episode, gaining more confidence around how to assess this in your clients and your loved ones, have more open conversation about what kind of information they would like to have and continue to open your eyes a little bit, to think more about the wants and needs of pregnant people. Learn more about Jessica in her guest profile.Support the show

In this episode of the podcast, we are honored to share a Q&A with Erika Cohn filmmaker of Belly of the Beast. Belly of the Beast is an incredibly powerful film-from their trailer: It is about when a courageous young woman and a radical lawyer discover a pattern of illegal sterilizations in California's women's prisons. They wage a near impossible battle against the department of corrections. With the growing team of investigators inside prison, working with colleagues on the outside, they uncover a series of statewide crimes from inadequate health care to sexual assault, to coercive sterilizations primarily targeting women of color. The shocking legal drama captured over seven years features extraordinary access and intimate accounts from currently and formerly incarcerated people demanding attention to a shameful and ongoing legacy of eugenics and reproductive injustice in the United States. In this conversation with Erika, we want to share more with you to grow our understanding about these injustices, about what has happened and what continues to happen in our carceral system. We are diving into these themes:~Honoring the lived experiences of those incarcerated~Structural racism's impact on the carceral reproductive care~How eugenics presently operates in the USA~Consent within coercive environments~Overcoming obstacles to create change  Find more of Erika's info here at her guest profile!Get involved:Watch Belly of the Beast film for additional context and insightEmail info@bellyofthebeastfilm.com to get involvedApply for Involuntary Sterilization ReparationsSupport the show

In this episode, we are diving deep into the way that trauma shows up in birth and in the perinatal period.  We are discussing a lot of the complicated dynamics that exists when someone experiences trauma during their birth. This is something that impacts certainly birthing people, their families, and their other support.  It also impacts those of us who work in birth.Our guest today. Kayleigh Summers of The Birth Trauma Mama is a therapist and birth trauma survivor herself. As she shares parts of her story, her healing, her experiences, you will have your eyes opened to so much of the nuance that exists when we talk about trauma in birth. Kayleigh explains how this plays out in the immediate postpartum period, and in the weeks, months and years that follow.  We also have a very raw conversation about how we support. birth trauma in the hospital. What are the things that those of us who are involved in birth care, particularly in the hospital setting, can do to be more aware of our practices?  How can family and other loved ones actually provide support?Listen in for more on:~Recognizing that healing is non-linear~The importance of open conversations acknowledging trauma~Creating practices that support healing in the immediate postpartum period~Why we need the human element instead of factory-run hospital care ~Fears around acknowledging trauma and litigation~Myth busting around birth trauma and birth expectations~Supportive language for birth trauma survivorsLearn more about Kayleigh in her guest profile!Support the show

In this episode of the podcast, we are diving into another heavy topic as we explore structural racism. How do we define it? How do we recognize it? And most importantly, how do we take action, when we see its impacts as they show up in our personal practices, in our organization, in our policies?This conversation is so important.  There are horrific racism-driven disparities in perinatal health care. And all of us as birthworkers, as clinicians have a role in changing the way that the system is set up. One of the things that makes structural racism so insidious, is the ways that it has been embedded in healthcare and at times can make it difficult for us to see how standard practices and policies and ways that we've been educated and learn to do things are in fact, a part of a larger structure of racism. I'm honored to have our guest, Dr. Deann Butler, CEO of Connected Consultants, on today to share with you her recent research into defining structural racism.You will leave this conversation with a greater understanding of the different types of racism, how they pop up, how to recognize them, and particularly how we move forward with a shared understanding of structural racism, to create the change that we want to see in our healthcare system. Tune in for:~Moving the conversation around structural racism from research to applied practice~The importance of language and defining types of racism~The "iceberg" of structural racism and the layers involved in it~Personal responsibility to address systemic & structural issues~Battling the overwhelm of structural racism with action~Creating REAL organizational change with Deann's frameworkLearn more about Deann in her guest profile.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This week we are examining maybe one of the more uncomfortable conversations that we have when we talk about creating change and striving for trauma-informed patient-centered care: folks concerned about their level of risk. What does it mean if we truly trust patients?If we really embrace folks making autonomous decisions about their health, where does that leave us in our role as healthcare workers? How do we think about the risks associated with poor or unexpected outcomes? What have we been taught or taken in about liability as it relates to prenatal care? And these are the important, necessary conversations that I believe have to happen if we are ever want to reach a different relationship with those who are in our care.Our guest today, Jen Atkisson, is a labor and birth nurse, clinical educator, speaker, patient and nurse advocate, and a consultant on standard nursing care.  We invite your reflection as she shares with us, what reasonable and prudent nursing care really looks like. We are diving into the nitty gritty of documentations and the steps you can take to make sure you provide safe and patient-centered care.Listen in to explore:~How fear is used to control nurses' actions~Understanding risk, duty, and liability~The perpetuation of "us vs them" themes in patient safety~Nursing the chart vs nursing the patient~Best practices for trauma-informed documentationand so much more!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this episode we are diving deep into HOW we can ask for the support we need during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.And on the flip side, how do we show up as the support that others NEED rather than the way we *think* we should?As we've talked through the last few seasons of the podcast, we recognize that for so many birthing people, there is a tremendous lack of support, both personally and professionally, as they navigate the transition into parenthood.What's so important about this is recognizing that the support we need looks so different for each of us and for many of us that have this knowledge that something has to change. We're still not sure how to do that. How do we ask people what they want?  We feel awkward or uncomfortable sharing our skills, talents, or monetary support.  How do we show up and combat the rabid consumerism that is so prevalent in pregnancy and birth preparation and transition into something that creates a full spectrum of support for our loved ones and those who are in our care?To answer that question. We have Kaitlin McGreyes of Be Her Village coming on to explain the work she has done to make this process more accessible for birthing people and for their supporters, you will leave this episode, having so many more resources to offer to your clients and loved ones so they feel confident asking for the support that they need.Join us as we explore:~Lack of accessibility in healthcare resources~System failures to support new parents~Combatting our culture of consumerism~Trusting new parents to identify their unique needs~Community accountability and growth on the way to health equityLearn more about Kaitlin's work in her guest profile!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This time on the show, we'll be joined in conversation by Meredith Strayhorn of The Walking Stick Midwifery Care.  Meredith been a huge inspiration and source of collaboration and insight in growing Your BIRTH Partners.  As we've discussed over and over the last few years, I've been incredibly inspired by her journey as a birthworker, as she is growing and learning as a doula and now a student midwife.  I'm excited for you to hear her story, understand what motivates her to keep going, how she's faced challenges that come up with us doing this really heart centered work through just unbelievably challenging times over the last few years.   In this episode we talk a lot about the systemic inequities that we see in our system, particularly the mounting racism-driven disparities and birth care. How do we challenge these as individual birth workers? How do we cope with the trauma that we face as we see poor birth care play out over and over and over? How do we encourage birthing people to find joy in their experience, despite these inequities?Join us to learn more about:~Cultural representation & creating health equity for Black birthing people~Building up your community into a movement~Black ancestral midwifery, safety, & connection~Reconsidering how we define "care"~False dichotomy of homebirth & hospital birth idealogy ~Coping with systemic inequities & racist health outcomes~Ways to highlight the beauty and joy of Black birthLearn more about Meredith & connect here!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Welcome to Season 5: "Stepping into Our Roles as Change Agents"We want to focus on the ways that each of us can encourage necessary waves and change in the way we provide birthcare.  When we look at the healthcare system...we've touched on over and over and over again through the podcast that we need to make changes. We need to keep making moves towards more birthing person- centered, trauma-informed, collaborative care.  We are thrilled to share this conversation with Claire Phillips of Nursing the System.  Claire is a self-titled "systems nurse," and her platform is dedicated to educating folks about system change: what it is, what it isn't, what it takes to adopt systems thinking.  I think you'll be surprised by some of the mindset tips that she has to share as we consider what lies we've been told about change, and how we push forward to create a difference in birth care.  Listen in as we explore: ~The biggest lie you've likely internalized about change~Reflecting on your stated purpose and the purpose you're achieving~The four skills for systems thinkers to strengthen~Recognition of common threats to relationships for systems change~Challenging the healthcare hierarchy~The pyramid of change: internal to external to systems~Stepping into a leadership role in any position~The inevitability of change and how YOU can guide itGet all the details to connect with Claire further!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this episode we are taking a look back over our season of asking ourselves and our guests what it means to hold space through the complicated parts of pregnancy, birth, & postpartum.We set out to answer this question because so often when complications arise we see so many policies, procedures, and personalities emerge that do not center the patient or their needs through the complications.  We believe our ability to hold space for birthing people is critical to recreating a standard of trauma-informed collaborative care that serves folks well.  While some of us are natural space holders, others of us have to work hard to cultivate this skill.  No matter where you are on this journey, our guests from this season have insights to share with you as you consider how you want to show up for those in your care.  Tune in as Maggie shares her reflections of walking with our guests through these conversations in season 4 and a compilation of all of their answers for your crash course in defining holding space and learning to put it into practice!  Prepare to leave inspired.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

We spend so much time as birth workers thinking about how we can take better care of folks...yet so many of us do a downright abysmal job of taking care of ourselves!Throughout this season we focused on how we can hold space for the complicated pieces of pregnancy birth and postpartum and so much of that attention has turned to how we can show up better for our clients.  AND while we're doing that we also need to show up better for ourselves.  No matter what our role within the birth care system whether we support folks in hospitals or out in the community-there is so much tension.  There is no time like the present to consider a new way to be in relationship with our community, with our clients, and with ourselves as we hold space for the complicated parts of being a birth worker.I am thrilled to have Desirée Israel (she/her) on as a guest for this episode to guide this conversation. Desirée brings insights together from a wealth of experience as a birth worker herself along with being a psychotherapist and all around community leader, founder of Motherland Co. & co-founder of the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color and The Bloom Collective.  Join us as she walks us through the ways that we can better hold space for ourselves.Tune in as we discuss:~the pressure of advocacy due to awareness of mistreatment in obstetrics~connection and correlation between chronic health conditions and birth workers with vicarious trauma and burnout~scheduling a routine of self-care practices~how US healthcare systems need to adapt practices to better support workers~establishing boundaries and navigating guilt as a caregiver ~respecting client autonomy and releasing our own birth expectationsSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Where do doulas fit into birthcare and the collaborative care team model that we envision as the standard in the future? Doulas are the space holders. If there is any role in the birthteam that is built around holding space, this is it!So what can we learn about the unique qualifications doulas have to hold space and how that can extend and create a bridge for all members of the birth team? We have invited Traci Weafer, doula and educator with more than 2 decades of experience supporting birth in a variety of settings and roles, on to unpack holding space as a doula.In this episode we want to explore the question: is holding space antithetical to taking action as an advocate?  Spoiler alert, no!  So how does the role of a doula, a non-clinical birthworker weave these elements together?Join as we explore:~gaps in our current birth team relationships~assumptions and biases from various birthworker roles that fuel animosity~"scope of practice" and how that language impacts doula relationships~biases around what makes a "good" or "bad" doula~holding space for the birth, and not just the birthing person~advocacy as an element of holding space~improving hospital and community doula relations~enacting the human elements of trauma-informed care~moving past patriarchial roots in birthcare to earn trustand so. much. more.Full shownotes with extra info & resources: https://www.yourbirthpartners.org/doulas-advocacySupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Perhaps unexpectedly common are challenges faced during lactation.  For something that is "natural" and for which there are so many available alternatives, tempers often run high when discussing the best way to approach issues that arise.  How do we hold space through the complicated pieces of breastfeeding & chestfeeding so that parents feel supported and honored in charting their best path even as their circumstances and goals change?In this episode we are joined by guest Naya Weber, IBCLC who brings her nearly a decade of supporting folks on their infant feeding journey to this conversation.Join us as we discuss:~importance of listening and validating concerns~understanding birth Story & birth trauma and impact on lactation~nuance of feeding beyond breast is best or fed is best~lactation is not "all or nothing" & supporting when goals change~pressure of metrics around Baby Friendly~scripts for parsing out breastfeeding challenges~creating sustainable feeding plans~navigating family's feelings about feeding challenges~duality of bodyfeeding being beautiful and hard~preparing for postpartumSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Continuing our exploration of holding space for those in our care through the perinatal period, we are turning our attention to those experiencing intimate partner violence. As we consider the many systemic failures in birthcare and postpartum support, we must look at the number one cause of perinatal deaths: homicide.  How do we screen for, recognize, and provide resources to those experiencing violence?Dr Phyllis Sharps joins us this week to share information from her 5 decades of supporting vulnerable perinatal populations, particularly focused on the intersection of pregnancy & intimate partner violence.In this episode we explore:~statistics of IPV~unwanted pregnancy and link to abuse/coercion~demographics at higher risk for IPV~impact of the pandemic on IPV rates, recognition, and response~trauma-informed care and labor & birth considerations for those with a trauma history~gathering healthcare institution and community resources~navigating disclosures, checking biases, & cultivating a collaborative team~ideas for support from community-based birthworkers~supporting safety and holding space without focusing on "fixing" or removing Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This season we continue our exploration of holding space through the complicated parts of perinatal care.  Unfortunately, it is very complicated, and often harmful & dangerous, to navigate our birthcare system as someone who does not present as cis-gender and heterosexual. Deeply ingrained prejudices and biases impact care in ways felt on interpersonal and systemic levels. Our guest this week, Jen Molina of United in Birth, is here to explain how and why she has centered her practice around caring for trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and queer people so often stigmatized in reproductive care spaces.In this episode we explore:~holding space and re-defining the role of an "expert" in birthcare~white saviorism in birthwork~barriers to accessibility of services-financial, cultural, and others~navigating the challenges of a healthcare system that defaults to "cis-het-white" as the standard~awareness of our positionality as we offer to support folks~persona of inclusivity that results in actual harm to trans, and other gender-diverse folks~trauma-informed care as a framework for creating more inclusive care-practices that are person-centered~queer reproductive justice from king yaaSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

As we continue our season exploring how we hold space through the complicated parts of pregnancy and birth, we are turning our attention to how we approach the balancing act of addressing medical concerns AND holding space while supporting someone experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.Our guest this week, Parijat Deshpande, is an integrative health specialist supporting those with a history of or currently experiencing high-risk pregnancies.Tune in to explore these topics:~caring for folks who have already experienced the hardest outcomes of pregnancy and birth~navigating the juxtaposition of medical practice & holding space~understanding birthcare on a theoretical level vs the benefits of lived experience~learning about the gaps in how we learn to relate to patients in high-risk situations~cultivating a balance between leaving space for folks to process new information without making them feeling alone as they navigate that space~specific techniques for engaging clients through non-verbal communication & language awareness~preventing trauma through actionable items that maintain agency ~preparing for transition from pregnancy to postpartum~healing trauma and mistrust with self & system when approaching a future pregnancySupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this season we've been talking so much about how we hold space for those in our care through the complicated parts of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.  In this week's episode we are diving into reflection as a tool for holding space for ourselves and our work as birth professionals.  We are thrilled to have Cheyenne Scarlett, MA, ECS, BCD, ECE on the show today to explore her research into the experience of Black perinatal health disparities in Toronto, and what lead her to create a journal resource for birthworkers.  Cheyenne is the author of Deep Dive: A Self-Reflection Workbook for Birthworkers and is also a certified childbirth educator who uses insights from her research to guide preparing folks for birth.Join us to learn more about:~the impact of storytelling in understanding birthcare~the interaction of birth trauma and child development~experiences of Black parents during birth navigating complexities of Canada's healthcare syste~balancing the need for systemic change, personal change for birth pros, and preparation for birthing people~disconnect between the care people think they're providing and the way people experience it~the power of self-reflection for birth professionals~the role of reflection as part of a trauma-informed care practice~navigating defensiveness that can come up during reflectionSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

PCOS is a metabolic, endocrine, and reproductive disorder that impacts an estimated 5million people of reproductive age.  Individualized care is needed for those experiencing PCOS to address concerns that range from infertility, low energy, and disordered eating to increased risks of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea endometrial cancer, fatty liver disease, anxiety, and depression.Sam Abbott shares her experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist and creator of the PCOS Food Freedom Program as we learn to navigate this journey with clients and patients.For a condition that affects so many people of reproductive age, we see that it is underfunded and under-researched, which leads to a significant amount of conflicting information about it. Sam shares her insights into how we can best support our clients as they navigate their PCOS journey.Join us in conversation as we explore:~what PCOS is and is NOT~associated health risks related to pregnancy and beyond~supporting a variety of lived experiences with PCOS~combatting misinformation in PCOS management~political involvement in research challenges surrounding PCOS ~addressing PCOS nutrition while avoiding a weight-centric approach~how to support fertility desires with focus on decreasing insulin resistance & inflammation~setting reasonable expectation for postpartum recovery and lifelong PCOS journeySupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

You have probably heard the statistics about birth trauma...where 1 in 3 birthing people have identified their births as traumatic. And of course, the events that have unfolded through 2020 and 2021 have only exacerbated the cracks in our birthcare system and contributed to higher rates of trauma and PTSD.It is because of this, that we have a duty to educate ourselves more about trauma so that we understand what it is (and isn't) and the practices we can put into place to provide trauma-informed care. We acknowledge this is heavy and hard work. But as Krysta Dancy of Birth & Trauma Support Center shares in this episode "there's so much to be optimistic about, because every year as we learn more about trauma, we learn how to treat it better."Join us as we uncover:~holding space for birth trauma~identifying birth trauma and differentiating with PTSD~the impact of the pandemic on experience of birthing people & birth pros~what aspects of care can be controlled to limit birth trauma~resetting our empathy & countering fight or flight as birth pros~how to prepare clients for the realities of birthcare without traumatizing~why we can be hopeful about treatment for those experiencing birth traumaSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

As the month of October raises awareness for Pregnancy and Infant Loss we want to honor parents who suffer loss and recognize the ways we can best show up to support them.Lola Brognano, MSW, LCSW-QS, PMH-C joins us to shed light on best practices for holding space for parents during perinatal loss, in the hospital, in the early postpartum period, and as they continue building their family.In this episode we dive into:~finding words to validate loss~creating collaborative care processes to support parents~breaking down stigma and abolishing the "grief expiration date"~the purpose of support groups~learning to live with loss when experiencing future pregnancies~navigating cultural mismatch in grief practices~secondary trauma and grief support for birthworkersSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this episode we are exploring more of the dynamics that govern labor and birth nurses.  Special guests Paula Richards of NurseBrownGirl & Mandy Irby of The Birth Nurse join Maggie to breakdown some of the challenges we face in the day to day reality of delivering perinatal care that does not always match up with the impact we want to have as nurses.We discuss:~What it means for us to hold space...and how we found our way there~Discrepancy between vision, training, and practice~How productivity and outcomes are valued over patient experience~Role of mentors in questioning the status quo~The repercussions of centering pathology instead of physiology in OB nursing~How nursing power is subverted~Our vision for learning to harness nursing power to amplify the power of birthing peopleWe also introduce the new Trauma-Informed Birth Nurse Program, which is a deep-dive into how perinatal nurses can show up better for all of their patients by grounding their everyday practice in trauma-informed care.  Find out more about the program and its first offering starting October 20th.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

 September is NICU Awareness Month and we are proud to contribute to increased knowledge around the realties of parenting a child in the NICU.  We welcome Tracy May, mother of two micro preemies, author, and life coach to other parents of preemies through Miracle Moments Matter, to explore her own journeys through the NICU and share insights into how we can better support parents during a NICU stay.Join us in conversation as we discuss:~what holding space looks like during an uncertain NICU stay~enforcing & honoring boundaries while supporting your preemie~the benefits of journaling for NICU parents~offering and accepting help~creating special memories through a NICU stay~releasing guilt and caring for yourself ~tempering worry and anxiety of the unknownYou can find Tracy's journal My Preemie's Journey on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

We are kicking off a new series this season: "Holding Space through the Complicated" and who better to usher in a mindset shift around holding space than 2 therapists?  Join us in conversation with Allison Lieberman & Yvette Osorio of Rooted Harmony Counseling as we discuss supporting clients and loved ones with postpartum transition and PMADs-perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.We are talking about:~holding space for vs "fixing" an issue~recognizing and supporting postpartum parents with mental health concerns ~COVID-19 and the pandemic's impact on postpartum mental health~stigma in seeking mental health resources~the importance of culturally congruent therapists for BIPOC ~changing how we talk about treatment and medications for PMADs in comparison to other medical concerns~dropping the "supermom" narrativeSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Dr Abby Dennis, OB-GYN, Ray Rachlin, CPM of Refuge Midwifery, & Maggie Runyon, RNC-OB come together to explore the realities of transferring from a planned homebirth to the hosital.Hospital transfers are at times a necessary and expected part of thriving homebirth care models. Recognizing this and the unpredictability of birth that will sometimes necessitate a change in plans can prepare us to view a homebirth transfer as a variation of normal rather than a fraught situation to be avoided at all costs.Our biases around homebirth transfers to hospital are often reinforced by negative experiences. Many hospital-based birth professionals are only familiar with homebirth in the context of when things go awry and a transfer is needed, which reinforces a belief that homebirth is unsafe and needlessly risky. Similarly, when community midwives & birthworkers do not have relationships with hospital-based providers outside of the transfer environment there is limited time to establish shared beliefs.Join Abby, Ray, & Maggie this week as we explore:~When & how to transfer to preserve vaginal birth~Routine vs emergent transfers~Adversarial relationships between homebirth & hospital providers~System challenges in the US that preclude collaborative relationships~Establishing mutual trust & respect to avoid care delays~Promoting physical, mental, & emotional safety during a transferSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This week tune in as we discuss all the ways we can be supportive of our clients at higher weights.  How do we talk to people about their weight & their nutrition & their health without lecturing or shaming?When & why might it be relevant to discuss weight during pregnancy...and when is it unnecessary?How can we be size-inclusive in our approaches to caring for people who are pregnant and preparing to give birth?This discussion between Ray Rachlin of Refuge  Midwifery, Sarah Marotto, GestationDietitian, & Maggie explores addressing our biases and shifting culture around the role of weight in health.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Spoiler alert: *most* pregnant and postpartum people could benefit from a Pelvic PT consult!  Join us as we discuss with Dr. Rebecca Maidansky, PT, DPT of Lady Bird Physical Therapy where Pelvic PT fits into a continuum of care through pregnancy & postpartum.Rebecca shares about:~bias in seeking & referring to pelvic PT~the short & long-term harm in normalization of pelvic floor dysfunction ~importance of collaborative care to address concerns~timing of pelvic PT consults~what to look for to distinguish normal & abnormal pelvic floor recovery in postpartum~role in healing after vaginal or cesarean birthdon't miss: the underrated issue that pelvic PT can address!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this episode, Carlyn Mast, LCSW shares more about her experience working within hospital birth systems to support birthing people who use drugs.  Is there a topic that carries more bias than pregnant people who use drugs?  How can we combat stigma & show up for pregnant people using drugs?  How do we address decades of policies that result in hospital birthing spaces that can feel hostile and punitive to this population?  How we can support pregnant people who are using drugs and make it so that they feel safe and that they are actually being cared for instead of criminalized?Listen in as she explores:~Facts about drug use in pregnancy~Harm reduction strategies during pregnancy~Examining our biases & emotions as care professionals~Navigating hospital policies around surveillance & reporting~Supporting families without CPSSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this continuation of our conversation about cultural appropriation with Montse Olmos, Mujer dela Tierra, and Mayte Acolt, The Womb Doula, we dive into accountability & anti-racism in birthwork rooted in Mayte & Montse's background as Tutunaku Birth Companions from Mexico.  We discuss how these themes have come up as they have navigated the response to their petition requesting removal of Rebozo training from doula workshops.Join us as we discuss:~white saviorism in birthwork~accountability in community...calling in & calling out~birthwork as a political act~examining our positionality as birthworkersIf you missed part 1, click here or head back one episode!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

In this episode, Montse Olmos, Mujer dela Tierra, and Mayte Acolt, The Womb Doula, share with us about their roles as birthworkers and what led them to create a petition requesting removal of Rebozo training from doula workshops, which has garnered international attention.During this conversation we discuss:~the physical harm from rebozo use that prompted the urgency of the petition~how many birthworker trainings provide inadequate training for holistic remedies~how the medical-industrial complex fuels cultural appropriation~the damage from viewing birthcare provision through an individual vs communal lens~the exhaustion from needing to validate ancestral wisdom for US birthworkers ad nauseumIf you enjoyed this interview you'll want to tune into the rest of it coming out 5/10 digging deeper into appropriation, accountability, & allyship!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Dr. Sharon Dongarra of Thrive Chiropractic joined Pansay of Sacred Butterfly Births & Maggie to explain some comment misconceptions about chiropractic care during pregnancy and identify how it can be used in tandem with medical or midwifery prenatal care to optimize wellness.Chiropractic care has often been misunderstood and maligned by allopathic medicine...where do those biases come from and how can we grow more understanding of options for birthing people?Join Sharon, Pansay, and Maggie as we explore:~misconceptions: what chiropractic care IS and ISN'T~fundamental philosophical differences between chiropractic & allopathic medicine~"common discomforts of pregnancy" that may be helped with chiropractic~increasing accessibility to chiropractic services~creating supportive care communities for birthing peopleSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Cheyenne Varner of The Educated Birth joins us this week to talk about fostering inclusion & autonomy in childbirth education materials.She shares about the homogenous birth images & resources that didn't reflect her family & her community and led to her creation of The Educated Birth materials. Cheyenne dives into the harm to both birthing people and birthworkers when we are faced with limited images & a limited mindset around the possibilities of birth. She explains why representation of a variety of races, identities, family structures, and birth outcomes is crucial to changing the birth narrative, and how centering Black & Brown birthing bodies in birth education fits into the larger conversation of shifting perinatal care disparities. We discuss the negative impact of one-sided birth education materials that present only one version of "ideal" birth. We also explore how storytelling, like in Cheyenne's Everyday Birth Magazine, can change the future of birth & how we relate to others with our birth stories.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This week we are thrilled to welcome SeQuoia Kemp of Doula4AQueen on to share about her experiences providing support to younger teen parents.  SeQuoia shares with us in this episode how her passion for supporting birth started when she herself was a teenager and how those formative experiences & her Black feminist roots impact the doula care she provides now.~SeQuoia discusses how her public health background helps her to look broadly at all the systemic & structural factors that are impacting the pregnant person and may stop them from flourishing as parents.~She explains how she is able to help birthing parents & their families address their own internalized bias around younger pregnancies.~SeQuoia reflects on how teen parents can be encouraged to find joy as they approach parenthood, especially for Black women who often have many social limitations on their joy.~We discuss educational tools and techniques that can help us to connect with younger clientele in engaging, approachable ways.~She will also share the top 3 things we can do as birth professionals to relate to and support our younger clients during labor and birth.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

This week we are breaking down the terminology stigma around "AMA" or advanced maternal age, exploring the nuances of risk management in pregnancies over the age of 35, & highlighting the benefits that should be discussed in any conversation around age & family planning.Ray Rachlin of Refuge Midwifery shares how their personal practice centers patient autonomy through fertility support, pregnancy monitoring, & birth care for this population, how they discuss relative risk surrounding age with their otherwise low-risk clientele, and how we can change the narrative around pregnancies over the age of 35.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Ray Rachlin of Refuge Midwifery joined Pansay of Sacred Butterfly Births & Maggie to lay out some of the ways we are failing to provide adequate care to postpartum families.The postpartum time frame spans anywhere from 6 weeks, to the full year after birth depending on what dictionary you check, and for those who've lived it, the "postpartum period" may never truly close. Despite this, many people feel inadequately supported through this transition from pregnant to parent. We see this in how postpartum is treated through the medical lens following a hospital birth, we see it in the way attention focuses so squarely on the new baby that the person who *just* gave birth is left in the dust, we see it in how so many of us have been conditioned to treat ourselves after birth as we "snap back."Join Ray, Pansay, & Maggie this week as we explore:~how to prepare clients for the realities of postpartum during pregnancy~navigating the shift between pregnant & parent to rediscover one's self~home-based & community-based models of postpartum support~the missing links in creating comprehensive postpartum care for physical, mental, emotional, & spiritual healthSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)

Jessie Ray Spivey of The Doudad joined Pansay & Maggie to explore some of the myriad reasons that masculine-identifying birthworkers continue to face issues with acceptance in the greater birth community.We discussed necessity of trauma-informed care by all birthworkers to increase client comfort.We address how awareness of the racism-driven disparities in perinatal morbidity and mortality is motivating more Black people to enter birthwork.Jessie speaks to his work dissolving "gender norms" and welcoming loved ones of all genders into support so that the expectant parent is supported by their whole village.More conversation around this topic will be happening over in our facebook group!!Check out this episode's full transcript & shownotes!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/yourbirthpartners)