Podcasts about BPP

La decisión del BPP contra el Proyecto de Ley Mulford el 2 de mayo de 1967 marcó el inicio del ascenso de la organización a la fama y notoriedad nacional. Presenta Jose M Corrales t.me/EnfoqueCritico (https://t.me/EnfoqueCritico) debateafondo@gmail.com @EnfoqueCritico_ facebook.com/DebateAFondo facebook.com/josemanuel.corrales.750/ / @enfoquecritico Instagram enfoquecritico Mastodon @EnfoqueCritico@masto.es Bluesky @enfoquecritico.bsky.social

Auch heute freue ich mich wieder darüber, einen äußerst kompetenten und prominenten Gast vorstellen zu dürfen: Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer. Das Thema ist eines, das uns seit einiger Zeit begleitet, und auch noch weiter begleiten wird, denn es gehört zu den wesentlichsten Fragen der heutigen Zeit. Werden wir von der stetig steigenden Komplexität in unserer Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft überrollt, oder gelingt es, Mechanismen zu entwickeln, trotzdem kluge und resiliente Entscheidungen zu treffen? Entscheidungen, die uns auch helfen, mit komplexen Risiken umzugehen? Gerd Gigerenzer war unter anderem langjähriger Direktor am Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, ist Direktor des Harding Center for Risk Literacy an der Universität Potsdam, Partner von Simply Rational - The Institute for Decisions und Vizepräsident des European Research Council (ERC). Er ist ehemaliger Professor für Psychologie an der Universität von Chicago und John M. Olin Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Law an der Universität von Virginia. Darüber hinaus ist er Mitglied der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, der Deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften und der British Academy sowie Ehrenmitglied der American Academy of Arts and Sciences und der American Philosophical Society. Er hat unzählige Preise gewonnen sowie zahlreiche Bücher geschrieben, die nicht nur inhaltlich höchst relevant sondern zudem auch noch sehr zugänglich für eine breite Leserschicht sind.  Zu seinen Forschungsschwerpunkten zählen: Entscheidungen unter Unsicherheit und Zeitbeschränkung Risikokompetenz und Risikokommunikation Entscheidungsstrategien von Managern, Richtern und Ärzten Und genau über diese Themen werden wir uns in der Episode unterhalten. Wie geht man in Situationen großer Unsicherheit mit Daten und Informationen um? »Je größer die Unsicherheit ist, desto mehr Informationen muss man ignorieren.« Was ist eine Heuristik, und welche Heuristiken wenden wir erfolgreich in welchen Situationen an? »In Situationen von Unsicherheit, verlassen sich Menschen nicht auf die ganze Vergangenheit, sondern auf die jüngste Vergangenheit — das nennt man recency Heuristik.« Warum führen mehr Daten nicht immer zu besseren Entscheidungen? »Ein Datenpunkt, gut gewählt, erlaubt [in vielen Fällen] bessere Vorhersagen als Big Data« Was ist Intuition und unter welchen Umständen ist intuitives sinnvoller als vermeintlich rationales Entscheiden? »Intuition ist keine Willkür. Intuition ist gefühltes Wissen, das auf jahrelanger Erfahrung beruht.« Was ist von den neuen Theorien der Rationalität, z. B. dem System 1 und 2 von Kahnemann zu halten? »The abject failure of models in the global financial crisis has not dented their popularity among regulators.«, Mervyn King Was ist defensives Entscheiden, und warum ist es eines der größten Probleme unserer modernen Welt? »Der Arzt ist nicht in einer Situation, dem Patienten das Beste zu empfehlen. Viele Ärzte fürchten, dass die Patienten klagen, insbesondere, wenn etwas unterlassen wurde. Die Patienten klagen nicht, wenn unnötige Operationen vorgenommen wurden.« Weniger kann oft mehr sein: »Viele Menschen denken — auch in der Wissenschaft — mehr ist immer besser.« Dabei gilt in den meisten Fällen, gerade auch dort, wo wir häufig versuchen, komplexe Modelle anzuwenden: »Je größer die Unsicherheit ist, umso einfacher muss man die Regulierung [oder das Modell] machen.« Eine Erkenntnis, die im Grunde jedem klar ist, der sich mit der Steuerung komplexer Systeme auseinandersetzt. Warum handeln wir stetig dagegen? »Wir brauchen eine Welt, die den Mut hat zur Vereinfachung.« Und dann gibt es noch den Aspekt der Rückkopplung von (schlechten) Modellen auf die Welt, die sie vermeintlich beschreiben oder vorhersagen, und wir kommen leicht in einen Teufelskreis der zirkulären und selbstverstärkenden Fehler. Wie lassen sich diese vermeiden? Was wird die Folge sein, wenn diese Formen der Modellierung und Verhaltenssteuerung auf eine immer totalitärere und total überwachte Gesellschaft trifft? Entwickeln wir uns aber in der Realität mit künstlicher Intelligenz, Large Language Models und IT-getriebener Automatisierung, aber nicht gerade ins Gegenteil? Eine Welt, deren Entscheidungen von immer komplexeren Systemen intransparent getroffen werden, wo niemand mehr nachvollziehen oder bewerten und in Wahrheit verantworten kann, ob diese Entscheidungen sinnvoll sind? Denken wir beispielsweise an Modelle, die Rückfallwahrscheinlichkeiten von Straftätern bewerten. »Viele Menschen lächeln über altmodische Wahrsager. Doch sobald die Hellseher mit Computern arbeiten, nehmen wir ihre Vorhersagen ernst und sind bereit, für sie zu zahlen.« Zu welcher Welt bewegen wir uns hin? Zu einer, in der wir radikale Unsicherheit akzeptieren und entsprechen handeln, oder einer, wo wir uns immer mehr der Illusion von Kontrolle, Vorhersagbarkeit und Steuerbarkeit verlieren? »In einer Welt, in der Technik (vermeintlich) smart wird, brauchen wir vor allem eines, nämlich Menschen, die auch smart werden. Also Menschen, die mitdenken, die sich nicht zurücklehnen und konsumieren; die sich nicht auf das reduzieren lassen, was man ihnen empfiehlt.« Und zum Ende macht Prof. Gigerenzer noch den wichtigsten Aufruf der heutigen Zeit: Mitdenken! Denn es gilt: »The world is inherently uncertain and to pretend otherwise is to create risk, not to minimise it.«, Mervyn King Referenzen Andere Episoden Episode 121: Künstliche Unintelligenz Episode 118: Science and Decision Making under Uncertainty, A Conversation with Prof. John Ioannidis Episode 112: Nullius in Verba — oder: Der Müll der Wissenschaft Episode 109: Was ist Komplexität? Ein Gespräch mit Dr. Marco Wehr Episode 107: How to Organise Complex Societies? A Conversation with Johan Norberg Episode 106: Wissenschaft als Ersatzreligion? Ein Gespräch mit  Manfred Glauninger Episode 99: Entkopplung, Kopplung, Rückkopplung Episode 92: Wissen und Expertise Teil 2 Episode 80: Wissen, Expertise und Prognose, eine Reflexion Episode 79: Escape from Model Land, a Conversation with Dr. Erica Thompson Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer Prof. Gigerenzer amd MPIB-Berlin Fachliche Referenzen Gerd Gigerenzer, Bauchentscheidungen: Die Intelligenz des Unbewussten und die Macht der Intuition, Goldmann (2008) Gerd Gigerenzer, Das Einmaleins der Skepsis: Über den richtigen Umgang mit Zahlen und Risiken, Piper (2015) Gerd Gigerenzer, Risiko: Wie man die richtigen Entscheidungen trifft, Pantheon (2020) Gerd Gigerenzer, Klick: Wie wir in einer digitalen Welt die Kontrolle behalten und die richtigen Entscheidungen treffen, Bertelsmann (2021) Gerd Gigerenzer, Smart Management: Mit einfachen Heuristiken gute Entscheidungen treffen, Campus (2025)  Daniel Kahnemann, Schnelles Denken, langsames Denken, Siedler Verlag (2012) Gerd Gigerenzer, The rationally wars: a personal reflection, BPP (2024) Konstantinos Katsikopoulos, Gerd Gigerenzer et al, Transparent modeling of influenza incidence: Big data or a single data point from psychological theory?, International Journal of Forecasting (2022) Mervyn King, John Kay, Radical Uncertainty, Bridge Street Press (2021) Rory Sutherland, Alchemy, WH Allen (2021) Peter Kruse, next practice. Erfolgreiches Management von Instabilität. Veränderung durch Vernetzung, Gabal (2020) John P. Ioannidis, Forecasting for COVID-19 has failed, International Journal of Forecasting (2022)

Most organisations dream of building products that delight users. But what happens when the users are your internal teams—and the product is the business itself? In this episode of The Product Experience, Randy Silver sits down with Jo Wickremasinghe, Chief Product & Technology Officer at BPP, to talk about leading transformation at scale.Featured Links: Follow Jo on LinkedIn | BPP | 'What we learned at #mtpcon London 2025' feature by Kent McDonald and Louron PrattOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

he Revolutionary Black Panther Party or RBPP is a Marxist-Leninist black nationalist organization in the United States. RBPP claims to continue the legacy of the Black Panther Party (BPP) of the 1960s.In 1992 the RBPP was created. The RBPP states its aims as "protecting and defending our people against genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, the Black African Holocaust and race war waged against people of African descent."The RBPP considers itself to be a continuation of the Black Panther Party active in the United States from 1966 and 1982. RBPP leader Alli Muhammad (Chief-General-In-Command), was raised as a member of the BPP. According to Muhammad, "Growing up a Panther cub … there are things engrained in you, that you can never get out of you, and it matures you, it is difficult to erase this maturity and as a fully grown panther, it lives on in the Revolution, in the Revolutionary Black Panther Party".The RBPP launched what they call the "Armed Black Human Rights Movement" and "Armed Freedom Rides" and did an "Armed Human Rights March" with machetes and rifles through the Central West End (white community) of St. Louis, Missouri, for what according to Alli Muhammad, was "in honor of the humanity" of black victims such as Michael Brown., Alton Sterling, Angelo Brown and Darren Seals.In 2016, RBPP marched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, armed with guns, to protest to what they referred to as "genocide" of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement. The RBPP called for the resignation of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Ed Flynn.Now they are up against MAGA and the whole authoritarian eco-system.Che Guevara "I don't care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

If you are looking for VBAC inspiration, Kelsey's episode is a MUST-LISTEN.Kelsey is a VBA2C mom and speech-language pathologist living in Erie, Pennsylvania. You will feel literal full-body chills as she tells her birth stories on the podcast today. As a first-time mom, Kelsey chose a Cesarean over physiological birth thinking it was the safer, easier route. But after experiencing the reality of two C-sections, she went from fearing vaginal birth to trusting in the labor process even more than her providers did. With her VBA2C, Kelsey got just about every type of pushback in the books. She was coerced, persuaded, questioned, and fear-mongered by multiple providers. Yet Kelsey was able to ground herself by listening to VBAC stories on The VBAC Link Podcast, seeking refuge in her doula and Webster-certified chiropractor, and connecting with other VBAC moms. Kelsey knew her body could do it. She just wanted a chance. Going up against a hospital practice that was saturated with skepticism, Kelsey's labor was beautifully textbook. Her labor progressed quickly, and her biggest baby yet came out in two pushes– “like butter” as described by her doula!VBAC-Certified Doula, Tara Van Dyke's WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, Women of Strength. We have another amazing story for you today. And actually, it's stories. We have a VBA2C mama coming your way. And as you know, this is a hot topic because lots of people want to know if vaginal birth after two Cesareans is possible. So Kelsey will be sharing her stories with us today. But guess what, you guys, I have a co-host today and it's Tara. Hello, Tara Van Dyke.Tara: Hello. Hello.Meagan: She is one of our VBAC link doulas. As you probably heard back in 2024, we are going to randomly be having co-hosts from our VBAC Link doulas. I think it's so awesome to have them on. I love hearing the topics and things that they want to suggest to talk to you guys about because again, just like we talked about years ago, we just in Salt Lake City, Utah, can't share enough. And so we want other doulas from all over the world to share as well. So Tara, tell us more about where you're from and then your topic on partners and being prepared.Tara: Yes. So thank you for having me here with you. This is so fun to hear a story live. I'm a doula working in the Chicagoland suburbs. I've been doing that for 20 years and now moving to more of childbirth education as well as like a lower caseload of doula work partly because I just welcomed my first grandchild this week, so I want to be available in a different way in my life. Meagan: Congrats. Very valid. Tara: So I do a lot of childbirth education. But along the way, what's always been really important to me and I feel really passionate about is the partner connection with the person giving birth and their preparation. The research supports it too, that a prepared partner makes a really big difference in outcomes too. I know we talk a lot about doulas and increasing the positive outcomes of birth, and that's been shown over and over in studies, but the actual dream team is a doula and a prepared partner.Meagan: Yeah. I love that.Kelsey: I tell the dads who come to my classes that the doula is important, but we are replaceable in this situation. The partner is so important because of that connection because they bring the oxytocin. They bring the safety. They have that history with you already. And what even bumps that up to being really helpful in the birth room is their preparation and their understanding of what to expect and being completely on board. So theres lots of ways for partners to get prepared, but they get left out a lot. So I feel really strongly that partners are so much better in the birth room when they're not feeling anxious about what's going on, when they know what to expect and they have a few good tools in their pocket for how to help.Meagan: Oh yes, I could not agree more. I always talk about, I make things up, and I call it the doula sandwich. So it's just what I call it in my practice of my doula work. One bun has all the oxytocin and all the knowledge of who you are, and then the other side is the doula who has the education in birth work and the ideas of how to help navigate through the birth space, but also can then support the partner in doing that and educating the partner. So then, we've got two really great sides and then we sandwich the doula. We have great buns. We have really great buns. And we sandwich that mom together and with love and support and education and oxytocin. Like you said, it really creates that dream team. I love that so much. My husband didn't educate himself. He was just, "Okay fine, if you want a VBAC, go do it. You do the research." I did HypnoBirthing with my cousin who luckily was pregnant around the same time, but we did that together, and he just really didn't know. When I told him, "Hey, I want to VBAC after two caesareans out of the hospital," he was like, "Yo, what?" because he was uneducated. I truly feel that it is so powerful. That's why I encourage partners to take the VBAC course with, the mom or an education course in childbirth. Really understand what the mom is going through, but also know how you can help because I do feel like a lot of those dads kind of get shoved aside. They want to help, but they don't know how to help, and they don't really know what's going on. Is that noise good or is that noise bad?Tara: Yes. Yeah. And they're going through the birth, too. This is the birth of their child. So they can also feel, as far as traumatized, hopefully not trauma, but they can feel a lot more dissatisfied or upset by a birth if they didn't know that what was happening was normal. So it's good for them, too, to learn how to take care of themselves as well as their partner.Meagan: Love it so, so much. Everybody, get your partners educated. It is so, so important. Thank you so much for that tip. Meagan: Okay, Ms. Kelsey, it is your turn, my love.Kelsey: Okay, so as you know, I had a VBAC after two C sections which I didn't even know was a thing. You played such a huge part in giving me education and the motivation to pursue this. My story starts in October 2018. My husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first. It was really special because it was actually our two-year wedding anniversary. It was that morning that we found out and we had a special trip plans to Niagara Falls, just up in Canada. It's a special place for us. It was where he proposed to me. It was just a really special time. It was also kind of crazy because up until that point, up until just prior to that, we had been together eight years, and we didn't think we were interested in having kids. I'm so grateful that our mindset had shifted, but it was just kind of a lot at once. We had agreed that we did want to start a family, but it happened really quickly, and it was just a lot to process. I didn't educate myself at all about birth. My husband and I took a class in the hospital, but it was pretty much just how do you take care of a baby. It wasn't how to bring a baby into the world.Meagan: Yeah, yeah. Sometimes those can be a little more what to expect after than really what to expect during.Kelsey: Exactly. And, I don't know what it was. I don't know if I just couldn't really picture myself giving birth just because we had just kind of come into this or if I just was not believing in my body, but I just felt the opposite of a lot of people on this podcast. They say, "I never thought I would have a C section. I never expected that for myself." For me, I just went into it thinking I'm intimidated by all of this. A C-section sounds easier and I cringe saying that now. But, I just thought not having to go through labor and not having to push a baby out, I just always had that in my head. That comes into play with how my first ended up. I was told throughout my pregnancy that my baby was big and specifically it was driven home, "The head is big. The shoulders are big." They were telling me about shoulder dystocia, and I didn't know anything. So I'm thinking, oh my gosh, not only am I already intimidated by the idea of birth. I know nothing about birth, but now you're telling me I have this big baby. My OB was really telling me maybe a C-section should be considered. And then she threw it out there. "Well, we could induce 39 weeks and see how things go." And again, I was just trusting her. She had been my gynecologist since I was a teenager. To me, I thought, okay, that makes sense. Baby's big. And again, I hadn't done any research on my own. So we did what I referred to as a half-hearted induction. I feel like it was just done to humor everyone. Like, "Oh, we tried." But I went in the night before at 39 weeks on the dot. Nothing was going on with my cervix. Surprise, surprise at 39 weeks. They did Cervadil and I just lay in the bed. My husband and I watched the fireworks out the window. It was the fourth of July. We were just completely not prepared for anything. Just going along with this and thinking, oh, we'll just have a C-section tomorrow if this doesn't happen. They came in the morning and nothing had happened. So they were like, "Oh, well, we could start Pitocin. We could do this." I just wasn't interested in any of that. I wasn't motivated to have a vaginal birth. I guess that's okay. That's just where my head was at the time. I've accepted that's just where I was at. So we had the C-section. It was a surgery. Just being there and as baby comes out, just hearing everybody in the OR talk about, "Oh, look at her cheeks and look at the hair." It was minutes before I'm ever able to get a quick flash of her around the curtain before they swoop her off. It was just a weird experience, but it was all I knew. I was grateful that it went okay, but it just makes recovery so hard, so painful. When I think back to it, just think about just crying while my husband's trying to do my abdominal binder, not being able to get in and out of bed, struggling to breastfeed, even getting in a position of breastfeed with that searing surgical pain. We struggled, and I ended up exclusively pumping. So it was tough as a first-time mom just dealing with all of that. But again, I didn't know any different. I think that was a blessing that I didn't know what I was potentially missing. For my second birth, we knew he wanted more than one child. You just never know how things are going to happen. We just weren't trying to not get pregnant, and it happened right away. The babies were 16 months apart, so when I showed up to my appointment, my OB, the same one who had said, "You have this big baby, and you should have a C-section or induce at 39 weeks." Oh, the ARRIVE study was hot off the press at that point too. So he was excited to show me the ARRIVE study back.Meagan: Oh, yeah, but you're not even a first-time. I mean, you were a first-time vaginal mom. So the ARRIVE trial, you know. You've been with us. Hashtag eyeball.Tara: Yeah, yeah, it changes. It's changed everything.Meagan: It really has. And I don't know if it really has changed for the better in my opinion.Kelsey: So sorry, that was for my first birth. I forgot to mention.Meagan: Oh, oh, oh, sorry. Yes, that would make sense. Yes.Kelsey: So with the second, it was the same OB, and she's like, "Okay, since your births are so close together, you'll just be a repeat C-section. You can make appointments with me, and I'll do your surgery. Easy peasy." I'm thinking, oh, okay. That makes sense because she's talking about uterine rupture, and they're so close together and I didn't research on my own. Is there another option? How risky really is this compared to a repeat C-section? I just trusted her so much. I had been with her for so long. I figured she must have my best interests at heart.Meagan: Yeah.Kelsey: I didn't even think to myself, my own mother had a VBAC with a 13-month age gap. I was a C-section, and my brother was a VBAC at 13 months 30 years ago. Meagan: Uh-huh.Kelsey: You only know what you know at the time. And so even though I didn't look into it in the ways that I should have, I did know that I wanted the experience to be a little different. So I found out about gentle C-section which I think is a funny term. Meagan: I was happy to see that you could request a clear drape, and you could request not to be tied down to the table. We did implement a few of those things. I had the clear drape. It was nice to see her coming out just for a quick flash before they swooped her away. It was nice not to be completely-- I had one arm free which is funny these things that we consider luxuries when you're having a C-section. So it was a little bit better in that way, but there were things that were also worse. They couldn't get the needle in, and they had a resident doing things. I was having trouble. I was starting to pass out during. They were having to adjust. It was stressful in its own way. I had some things that were a little better. But also, it's just's a C-section. Also, during, my OB made a comment as she has me completely open, all seven layers of me. She said, "Yeah, who was it the did your last C-section?",I told her and she made no comment. I said, "Why are you asking me this as you're inside my uterus?" She said, "There's just more scar tissue than I would have expected." She said, "Hey, you can have another baby if you want, but just wait more time in between. Just not so close together." So that was something that got in my head too. Anyway, we thought there was no way we would ever have a third. It was really hard having two under two recovering from another C-section. It was November 2020, so it was the first COVID winter. It was cold. It was dark. Everything was closed down. Everybody was in masks. It was so depressing. It's like, postpartum isn't hard enough. As if two under two isn't hard enough, then adding COVID.Meagan: Yeah, adding zero support and zero resources. Yeah.Kelsey: Nowhere to get out and do anything. It was a bummer. So anyway, it was a lot, and we thought, no way are we ever going to have three. It was just a hard season. So I donated everything. I put all my carriers and all my stuff out on the porch and said, "Come get it," to the local moms group. I just couldn't see myself having a third. Well, then the years pass, and things get easier. You come into an easier season. All of a sudden, we're not dealing with diapers and bottles. It's like, we could leave the house. Things are opening back up. My husband and I had talked about a third and toyed around with the thought of it, but it's just hard to pull the trigger once you've come into this easy season. The thought of hitting the reset button is intimidating. But all it really took was watching him take down my youngest's crib with her. And it was like, okay, this is something that we want to do. It was a funny conversation that night. I said, "If we were to get pregnant this cycle, we would have a June baby, and that would be really nice." So that's what happened. I was playing it with my third. That's when I realized. I mean, I had thought about it, obviously, but I realized, oh, my gosh, I have to have another C-section, a third C-section. Talk about being years away from it and thinking about how you're all healed. It's been a few years, and to think about them cutting open again and just knowing what that entails, I was just in a whole different headspace. I was thinking, how is there a way that I can avoid this?Before my first appointments, I did a quick Google search, "vaginal birth after two C-sections" just to see if this was something anybody had done or was doing or was even possible. I was so excited to see that people were doing this. It looked like it was actually potentially a good possibility. So I was thinking, I've got to be the right candidate. I didn't even need those first C-sections. I knew this now, reflecting back. Yeah, I had my first screening where they do your intake, and they were asking a bunch of questions. And I had said at the RN, I said, "Would I be able to maybe have a vaginal delivery after two C sections?" And she was like, "Oh, they consider it after one, but once you've had two, you're a C-section for life."Meagan: Oh, jeez.Kelsey: Something about her saying that and the way that she said it, I went from being a little bit curious and oh, this might be good, to no, this is something I'm going to pursue. It just didn't feel right. She didn't know my history. She didn't know why I have my C-sections. So to tell me, "Oh, no. You need to have a third major surgery for sure. No option." Tara: It was this moment when it brings a fight out in you. Like, I am gonna do this now.Kelsey: I'll never forget how I felt at that moment. So I started to have my appointments with the OBs, and I would bring it up. Everything was perfect. It was going really smoothly. So the appointments would be like two minutes, and then at the end they'd say, "Do you have any questions or concerns?" And I'd say, "Yeah, I wanted to see what my options are for delivery." They were like, "Well, we decided as a practice to support VBAC after one C-section, but we actually have a policy against VBAC after two C sections."Meagan: How did I know that was coming? The policy, I swear, every time it's like, "We decided as a practice or as a practice, we--". It's always like, they created this stupid policy that actually is against evidence based care. But okay.Kelsey: I'm thinking to myself, so then what do you do? Anyway, I was just mind blown by that. I went to a couple of more appointments there. You'd go every month and they'd say, "Any questions?" I'd say, "Yes. I'm just really not feeling good about the idea of a third C-section." I said, "The risks of a third Cesarean intimidate me much more than doing a trial of labor." I've never given my body a chance. It's not like I've been through this before and things went wrong. I've never been given a fair chance. They were very nice, but they just look at me and smile and nod and say, "Well, it's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay," and not even entertain the idea for a second. So I'm thinking to myself, okay. I've gotta figure something out. So at that point, when I had talked to a couple of providers, and they were all very consistent about, "Nope. Nope, not even going to entertain it," I knew something had to change. I'm reaching out. I'm searching in the local moms group about C-sections. Has anybody had a VBAC after two? It was crickets. Nobody was responding. I was looking back years trying to find anybody who had done this, in the area. Wat I was finding is, "No, it's not going to happen in Erie. You need to go to Pittsburgh or try a home birth." And I'm just really not comfortable with the home birth even though I know that's a perfect option for plenty of people.Meagan: It didn't feel right for you.Kelsey: Yeah. It just wasn't what I was feeling like I wanted to do. So I reached out, and I had not known anything about doulas until your podcast. I hardly even knew what they did before listening. I just searched "doulas in Erie." I called the first one I saw. I left a message that was probably pretty unhinged just like, "Help! What do I do? Is this something I can do?" She called back, and it was the first time that I had any validation at all. Up until then, it was just people telling me no, people telling me policies and not safe. It was the first time that I was heard. I was heard. She said, "There's really no reason why you can't have a chance. We'll figure this out." I kept doing my research. I dug really deep, and I found a few people who had referred to providers being supportive. I was reaching out. I was sending people DMs saying, "Hey, sorry to be huge creep, but can you tell me more about your experience?: I found out that at the other practice there were providers who would consider this. So it wasn't looking super promising, but it was better than where I was at. So I kind of took a chance. I switched practices at 28 weeks. Prior to that, I had an amazing appointment at 24 weeks. I had one last appointment at that office with the policy. He was amazing. If you could have just copied and pasted him, he was just like a midwife. I mean, he was very upset about the policy. He said, "How do you even enforce that?" He said, "What are we going to do? What are we going to do, strap you down and take you to the OR?" I wish that he had a podcast episode because he took so much time. He explained to me  the history of C-sections and how, in his words, the pendulum has swung so far from only doing C-sections when they were needed to they're safe now. Let's do them whenever we can. He talked about the whole policy thing and how they met as a group. He said, "Some of these younger JOBs have only been practicing now that C-sections are so common. They haven't seen the success." He said, "You have just as much of a chance of success as a 20-year-old walking off of the elevator because our C-section rate is so high. You have just as much of a chance." He laughed at the fact that macrosomia was in my chart, which I forgot to mention with my first. She was 9 pounds, 1 ounce. She was big.Meagan: Okay. I wanted to ask you though because they had said, "Oh, big baby, 16 months apart." I wanted to ask, but 9 pounds, 1 ounce is actually not macrosomia. It's a bigger baby, but it's not a huge baby.Kelsey: Exactly. It's not 12 pounds, which also, people have done. But anyway, he put so much wind into my sails, and he fully supported me switching. He said, "Honestly, I think this is great. I think this is the best option for you. You need to go for it." He said, "But if you were to stay here, you would face nothing but doubt and bullying and scary." He said, "If you were my wife, I would tell you to switch over to this other practice." So that's what I did. I also forgot to mention in my anatomy scan, the sonographer is going about doing it and she said, "Were your other babies big?" I'm like, no, we're not gonna start this. It was already with the big baby comments. So they had me do a growth scan to switch practices. It was refreshing to be in a place where they entertained the idea. They said that they decided as a practice to follow what ACOG says, but it was also very clear the difference between support versus tolerance. So although I was grateful that they were entertaining the idea, I still had, "Oh, 90th percentile. Oh, you've never labored before. You don't have a proven pelvis."Meagan: Proven pelvis. Tara: Yeah, proven pelvis.Meagan: There's a lot of eye rolls in this.Kelsey: Thank goodness, again, if it weren't for this podcast, all of those little comments would have swayed me. I would have said, "What am I doing? Listen to all these things they're saying. This isn't right for me." Once you know, it's just so hard to listen to the VBAC calculator. "Oh, let's just type your stuff in and see." I think it gave me, like 50% chance. Like, I don't know. So anyway, I'll get back on track. My low point was at 32 weeks. It was with my provider who was convincing me that a C-section or induction was right, and then telling me, "Oh, you'll just be a repeat. We'll schedule it." I was dreading my appointment with her. I knew that I needed to meet with her because she could possibly be the provider who was on call. I wanted to tell her what my plan was, and assess her thoughts. I thought that I was invincible because now I knew all of these things, and I wasn't going to let anybody bring me down. That appointment was pretty terrible. She came in hot. She said, "You're 32 weeks. Baby is 5 pounds, 4 ounces, and he's off the charts." She actually referred to him as massive. She said, "He's massive. He's huge." She said, "Put him in a room with 100 babies, and he is enormous."Meagan: Enormous. Tara: She's comparing him to other babies already. Meagan: And he's not even born. Tara: Can I just add a little tidbit here because there's so much talk in your story about the fear of big babies, and the research has shown that what leads to more problems or interventions in a birth with a big baby is not the actual size of the baby, but the provider's fear of the big baby. They're already getting themselves stirred up, and nothing has even happened. Kelsey: I was really discouraged by that because I had come across those facts too. And looking at the research and looking at what are the real risks of a big baby, that's actually just the providers. Yeah, se was just disgusted with my plan. She said, "Are you sure?" I said, "Yeah." I really stood my ground. I was so proud of how I stuck to my guns. She pulled out all the stops. She just kind of sighed and she said, "Okay." And then she pulled it out of me as I was  trying to justify. I said, "We're not sure how much we want to grow our family." I said, "If I have three C-sections, I'm not going to want a fourth." I said, "I just think it's worth a try." So she took that and she ran with it. She said, "Well, for what it's worth, I would rather do two more planned C-sections. I would do two more planned C-sections on you, and I wouldn't bat an eye. I'd rather do that than have you TOLAC." I thought, oh, my gosh. So again, I stood my ground. She went out. She was visibly upset. I was so proud of myself. But then I spiraled that whole day. It just chipped away at me all day. I came home.  I had been doing nightly walks religiously. That's when I would listen to The VBAC Link. That night, I didn't do my walk. I cried in my bed. I was just so upset. I spent the night then going through the groups I was in for VBAC after multiple Cesareans and The VBAC Link searching "big baby, big head circumference" and screen-shooting all of the success and all of the comments to fuel back my motivation. That was definitely the low point, but I did have some great meetings with providers. I was grateful that where I was living, I was able to find enough support where they would let me go for it. Once I got toward the end, there kept being the comments about "big baby". I had an OB do my final measurement and not tell me what it was. I said, "How is baby measuring? There is a lot of drama about baby being big." She was like, "Well, how big were your other two?" I said, "They were 9,1 and 8,4". My second was almost a full pound smaller. She said, "Oh, if you pushed those out, no problem. You don't have anything to worry about." I said, "That's where the drama was. I didn't push them out. I had C-sections." It was like she saw a ghost. She was like, "Oh, well that is drama." She was just beside herself. I say that story specifically because spoiler alert, she was the one who ended up delivering my baby.Meagan: Oh, really?Kelsey: To give a preface to that. She actually said, "Well, it is what it is." She just was very nervous and very upset. I said, "Have you never seen a VBAC after two C-sections? Have you seen that?" She said, "Well, yeah, but it's usually with people who have birthed vaginally before, and not with a big baby." That's what she said. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Kelsey: I just wanted to talk about that because she was the one who delivered Anyway, time went on. As I got to 39 weeks, I started to stand my ground a little bit more because they wanted to do cervical checks. They'd say, "Okay, undress for the provider." I just was like, "No, thank you. I'm good." I would have been really discouraged if they had come in and checked me. I know that got in my head with previous appointments with things that I didn't think would affect me. At 39 weeks, one of the providers who had been trying to talk about how big my baby was and persuade me to have an induction, she said, "What if we did a growth scan at 40 weeks, and you were measuring 10 pounds. Would that change your mind?" I was like, "No. I'm not doing a growth scan at 40 weeks. I've already done too many scans." So just right up until the end, they were trying to get me. They were talking about the size. Meagan: They were really trying to get you to cave. Kelsey: Yes. So after that appointment, because of my BMI, after 37 weeks and beyond, you have to have an NST and a BPP (biophysical profile) every week. Meagan: After 37 weeks?Kelsey: Starting at 37 weeks, you have to have both of those tests every week. It was just a new thing. I didn't do it with my last. Again, I'm worried about this. I know how the testing goes. Sure enough, I go. This is 39 weeks. I go for the biophysical profile, and they were like, "There is a lot of fluid. You have too much fluid." They were talking about all of the fluid. "Look, here are little flakes." They were talking about the fluid. I thought, I've made it this far. This is something that is going to make it a C-section.Baby wasn't also taking enough practice breaths for her which was frustrating. She even said, "I think he's sleeping, but I want to be on the safe side." I said, "I just had an appointment. She could hardly get his heart rate because he was moving so much." I had driven to Cleveland an hour and a half away the night before to go to a Noah Con concert. I felt him moving the whole time. I was like, "I'm pretty confident that he's okay. I was just checked by my OB five minutes ago." She wanted to send me. I wasn't going to mess around this far on, so I went to triage. They hooked me up to an NST. They wouldn't just let me do it in the office. I'm sitting there. Everything is perfect. The nurse comes in and said, "They're just going to place an IV." I stopped and said, "What did you say?" She said, "They're just going to place an IV." I said, "Why would they place an IV? Everything is looking good. I have grocery pickup in an hour. I'm not trying to be here for long." She said, "Just for access." I said, "No, thank you. Please let me out." That was weird.She said, "Okay. We're just going to watch you a little longer." Then this OB who I'd never seen before who was apparently just newer to the practice comes in. I'm like, "How are things going?" At this point, it had been 45 minutes. I'm trying to get out. He said, "Things are looking really good." I could see his wheels turning. He said, "But, since you are 39 weeks and you've had two C-sections, we can do a C-section for you today." Meagan: Oh my Santa. Tara: Here you go. How did you manage all of this pressure, Kelsey? It's extraordinary. Meagan: It is. Kelsey: I should mention that I had an amazing doula, so after these appointments, I would text her a paragraph. She was constantly lifting me back up. I was going to Webster chiropractic care. The chiropractor I saw, shout out to Tori, she's amazing. She's a doula also. She was pregnant going for her VBAC, so we would have these appointments, and it was a mini VBAC therapy session. We would talk about what we were up against, and just the different providers because she was going to the same practice as me. It was just so nice to have her. I was doing all of the things. The chiropractic care. I was eating the dates and drinking the tea because I wanted to know that if I was doing this, I was going to try everything and then I couldn't look back and say, "What if I would have done chiropractic?" Anyway, I basically tell him, "Get out of my room. I'm going." He just was awful. He did all of the scare tactics and all of the risks but none of the risks of a third C-section of course. Only the risks of the very low uterine rupture that he was hyping up. Anyway, that was bizarre, but again, I stood my ground. I was so proud, but then I got home, and I spiraled. I was packing my hospital bag. I was crying. I said to my husband, "I let them get in my head. I shouldn't even bother packing any of this stuff." I had the little fairy lights and things to labor. I was like, "I shouldn't even bother packing any of this VBAC stuff. They're just going to find some reason to do a C-section. Look at this. This whole time, they wanted to do the C-section." Again, another night of spiraling. As he left, he said, "They're going to want to see you tomorrow and repeat all of this testing." Meagan: For what? If everything was okay, what was the actual medical reason? Kelsey: Exactly. It was just out of spite because I shut him down. They were like, "They're going to want you to come back tomorrow." I'm like, "Okay. If it gets me out of here and gets you out of access to an IV and a C-section, fine." Meagan: Seriously. Kelsey: The next morning, I'm on my way to my appointment. I was on the phone with my mom and I told her, "I'm having these weird feelings I've never felt before. I don't know if maybe they're contractions." It was very strange. It was something I never felt. I never had a contraction and had never gone into labor. So I go to my appointment and passed the BPP with flying colors. I'm like, "Well, what about the fluid?" She's like, "Yeah, there's a lot of it, but it's fine." I got an 8 out of 8 score.  I go for the NST. Well now, baby's moving too much, so his heart rate, they can't keep it on because he's moving, and she kept having to move it. So again, I'm just very frustrated that I'm even there. I'm so close to the end. This is now 39 weeks and 4 days. And so the tech says, "I'm going to bring this to him. He might not like the drop offs, but I'll explain to him that the baby's moving a lot."I said, "Who's he? What OB is this?" She said the OB who was in triage the day before who tried to have me do the C-section and I was just like, "Oh my god. He's going to see my name and have any reason to send me back." Sure enough, he comes sauntering in the room and he says, "We meet again," as if I'm this problem child, as if I wasn't just having all these normal tests. He says, "I can't be confident that these aren't decals. You need to go back to triage." I was just again, so frustrated. It's like just a constant of all of these things coming up and none of it being real. It'd be different if it was like, oh, this was actually a risky thing. But again, I'm so close to the end. I know what I know. I knew that the OB that I had seen the day before in the office, I wanted to talk to her about the fluid because I had searched, and I saw that the polyhydramnios could actually be a thing. If your water breaks, there's the risk of cord prolapse. So I knew that that wasn't something that was completely to be ignored, so I wanted to talk to her more about that. I humored him, and I went in. Well, all the while, I'm feeling these sensations more and more consistently. They get me hooked up, and I explain the situation. I said that I was just here yesterday not really for a reason, but I'm back now also not really for a reason. They hook me up. Of course, everything looks good. But she's like, "Are you feeling these contractions?" I'm like, "Is that what they are?" I was excited. They were just cracking up because she's like, "These are pretty consistent and big contractions." I just couldn't believe it. I was just so excited my body was doing it. I'd only ever, at 39 weeks, been cut off and then never been given a chance. All I needed, I guess, was a few extra days. I'm just so excited that I'm having contractions. The nurses are laughing. "We've never seen somebody so excited to have contractions." Anyway, at that point, my OB comes in, the one who had been trying to get me to be induced. She's plenty nice, but the one who said about if we did a scan of 40 weeks and 10 pounds, would you reconsider? So she said, "Kelsey, do you know what I'm going to say? This is the second day you've been in here in two days." I'm like, "Yeah, but for nothing."Meagan: And because you asked me to come in here.Kelsey: Yeah, trying to humor everyone and see that yep, everything's fine. See? But again, I was having these contractions, and as I was there, picking up. She wanted to check me. I said, "Okay, I'll let you check me," because I'm having contractions I never have before, and I want to see what's going on. I went to the bathroom, and I had bloody show, which again, I had never had. So things are really happening. I come out and I told her, "There's blood and I'm having contractions." She's like, "Yay, let's check you," and I was 1 centimeter. She was one of the OBs who was comfortable with a balloon. So she said, "I'll tell you what. You've got a lot of fluid. Things are happening. Let's work on moving things along."Meagan: So she induced you?Kelsey: She wanted to.Meagan: She wanted to. Okay.Kelsey: So she's like, "Let's get you in. I'll do the balloon. We can get things going because you've got a lot of fluid. It's time, Kelsey." I'm like, "Okay." I said, "Well, I'm gonna go home."Meagan: Good for you, girl.Kelsey: Get my kids off with my mom and get my dog off. She sunk when I said that. I said, "I promise I'll come back. I'm not gonna run it. I'll come back just in a little while. Like, maybe this evening." But she said, "Okay, I'm here till 4:00, and then it's another OB coming on who won't want to do the balloon." So just come in before then. Of course, I wait until exactly 4:00. But as I was home, it just kept picking up, and I started timing. The app is like, "Go to the hospital. Go to the hospital." But I've also know from listening to this podcast that that happens. My husband's freaking out because he would see me stop and pause, and he's like, "Let's go. Let's get out of here." I was grateful that everything maintained through the car ride. I got there, and contractions were still happening. My doula met us there because I hear about people going too early and the contractions stop, and then there are problems there. Yeah, things just kept happening. We got in a room. My doula was amazing. We were just hanging out and just laughing. I couldn't believe just how happy I felt to feel my body doing it after all these years of just, "Your babies are too big, and you can't do this," and then all of this pregnancy saying that. It was just amazing.  I definitely had my guard up. The nurse was talking about the IV and the monitors, and especially with being overweight, I was worried about a wireless monitor. That happens. They can't get a good reading, and then they think baby's heart rate's dropping. I was just so worried about any reason, because I knew that they would. They would take it and run, so I was so grateful that the wireless monitoring worked perfectly. I was on my feet. Things just kept getting more intense, but I'm just laughing and smiling through it all. My doula was amazing. It was just such a great vibe in the room. My nurses were amazing. Every little thing that went right, I just embraced. I was so happy that this was happening. My water broke while I was on a video call with my friend. Again, it just like, "Oh, my gosh, my water broke. That's never happened." There was meconium in the water. So again, I'm like, oh, no. You know, any little thing. I was quickly reassured. It was very light. It wasn't anything to be worried about. I labored and stayed on my feet. My doula was amazing with suggesting things I never would have thought or never would have thought that I would enjoy. I was in the shower at one point on a ball. They had this little wooden thing with a hole in it so that it keeps the ball from slipping out and keeps the drain from plugging. I'm just listening to my guilty pleasure music while my husband's outside the shower eating a Poptart laughing. It was just such a funny thing. I was just so, so excited about it all. Things were really picking up. My water just kept breaking and breaking. I mean, it was true. I had so much fluid. It just was just coming out and coming out. I couldn't believe how much there was. I got into the bed on my side, my doula said, "Try to take a break," and then I felt a water balloon in me. I could feel it burst. Just when I thought surely I was out of fluid, it just gushed out. And then immediately it was like, "Oh, my gosh, this is really intense." I handled that for a while. I was squeezing the comb. I was working through contractions, but I tapped out at about 1:00 AM I'd say. So we got into the hospital around 4:00, and the time just flew. They came to do the epidural, and he put it in. I just kept waiting for relief because I felt like I just didn't have a break. They were kind of on top of each other. It was one of those things that if I knew I was only going to have to do that for a short amount of time, but just not knowing how long, I just felt like I was suffering through them at that point. I wasn't trying to be a hero. I was just trying to avoid what I know sometimes happens and just trying to avoid interventions as much as I could. I kept waiting for this relief because I'm like, "I think I just need to rest. I feel like I'm close." The last I've been checked, I was 5 centimeters, but that was before the water broke and before struggling through contractions for a while. I had no idea how dilated I was. The relief never came. I was hoping to be able to relax and maybe take a nap like sometimes I hear. I could still feel my legs. I could have walked around the room if I wanted. I kept pushing the button. I don't know if it was in the wrong spot or what happened. I don't know if maybe there was something that was working because instead of feeling crushing and just defeated through the contractions, I was feeling like I can survive that. I can get through them. There was just no resting, it was just still having to work through contractions. And then my doula at one point said, "Maybe we should call him in and have him redo it." But then I was in my head, "Well, what if he redoes it, and then I'm too numb and I can't push?" So I just went through it. I'm so glad that I did, because it wasn't long after that that I was checked, and I was 8 centimeters. My  nurse kept checking and there was a lot going on down there and a lot coming out. Eventually she checked me and she said, "Hi. Hi, buddy. I just couldn't believe it." She said, "Do you want to feel him?" I got to reach down and feel his head. It was just also surreal. She had me do a practice push once I was dilated enough, and she's like, "O, oh, okay, okay, okay." She said, "I'm gonna go make a phone call."Tara: Wow, that's impressive.Kelsey: And the OB came in. I forgot to say that when I got to the hospital, the OB who was gonna do the Foley balloon, I totally left this out. She checked me, and I was already 2 centimeters. She said, "Your body is doing it on its own. We're just going to let you go."Tara: That was my question, Kelsey. I was wondering this whole time if they did anything to augment. There was no Pitocin. This was all you? Kelsey: Yes. Yes. I can't believe it.Tara: That's amazing.Kelsey: I got there, and I got the monitor placed. She came in. She checked, and she said, "You're 2 centimeters. We're just going to let you go. We're going to let you do your thing." That was just music to my ears just knowing how things sometimes go. Also, the OB coming on, I had told you, was really nervous about my plan. My husband and I joked that she did something to calm herself down before she walked in because she was just like, "You know what? I'm going to do something crazy. I'm just going to channel my inner midwife and do something crazy and just let you go and leave you alone." My doula is like, "Good. Please let us go." Yeah, I forgot to mention that is not only did I not need the induction, but then I had the OB surrendering and saying, "Go ahead, just let's do it. It's fine." So she literally did not come in. I think was as far away as she could pretending it wasn't happening, I guess. When the nurse called her, she came in and she got her gloves on. I just kept waiting for something to happen still. I'd been so, so scared by providers this whole time. So I'm like, okay. She instructed me on how to push. We did it through one contraction, and his head came out. I was like, "Oh, my gosh. This is crazy," and then, during the second contraction, I did it again, and the rest of him came out. It was unbelievable. It was five minutes from start to finish. My doula described it like butter. He was 9 pounds, 3 ounces.Meagan: So biggest baby. OkayKelsey: Biggest baby, enormous head. I didn't have any tears. I had what the OB described as grazes, like little spots that were bleeding. She put one or two stitches on the walls from where there were these grazes and I can't even describe it. I was sobbing. I was like, "We did it. We did it." He came right to my chest and to get to see him, it was unbelievable. It all happened so fast. Going from not believing in my body and just going for these C-sections, I'm so glad I didn't know what I was missing because in that moment, I probably could have done this before. Again, I didn't know what I didn't know and who knows would have gone? But it was just unbelievable to be in a normal room to have him come out and just right to me where he belongs and getting to see him with his cord still attached and he's crying. It just was such a beautiful moment and I just couldn't believe that had after all of that, here he was. It was beautiful. They asked about cutting the cord, and we hadn't even discussed that. I was like, "Can I do it? I really want to do it." I wanted all the experiences that I could never have gotten in the OR. I cut his cord. My doula got an awesome picture of that. I was considering having that be my picture for the podcast. It was just unbelievable, and I was just so happy, too, that that OB was the one who was there because seeing how nervous she was, I'm so glad that she got to experience. Look what you almost deterred me from doing just seeing how perfect it was. Now I'm hoping that if somebody comes to her in the future, she'll remember and say, "Hey, we had this baby, and it was just such a great experience." I was just so grateful for every second. I couldn't believe how things ended up.Meagan: I am so happy for you. Like Tara was saying, I'm so impressed. Standing your ground the way that you stood your ground after just constant-- I'm gonna call it nagging. They were just nagging on you and trying so hard to use the power of their knowledge that we know that they hold. We as beings, and it's not even just in the birth world, just as humans, we have this thing where we have providers, and we know that they've gone through extensive amount of schooling and trainings, so it's sometimes easy as you said, you spiraled when you got back to spiral and be like, wow, they're just all pushing this really hard. Maybe I should listen. Tara, have you experienced this within supporting your clients or just your own personal experience?Tara: You mean the pushback from the providers?Meagan: Yeah, the pushback, and then for us, should we doubt our intuition? Should we doubt what we're feeling and go with what they're saying because they know more?Tara: Yeah, I mean, that's the hardest thing, because you hire them. Like you said with your first provider, you trusted her. You'd known her since you were young. You've built this trust. She's gone to school. It's so hard to stand up against that as just a consumer and as a person who cares about the health of your baby and your family. But then the multiple times that you had to stand up for yourself even in small things like not getting the IV, not getting the cervical exam, those are not small things. You were protecting yourself from having more of that pushback. I am amazed. We struggle with that as doulas too, because we're helping advocate for our clients. It sounds like your doula was a rock for you and a place to feel validated and heard. I'm so glad you had her.Kelsey: Me too. I say to my husband, "No offense, you're great, but what would be done without our doula?" I mean, she was unbelievable just bringing the positive energy. My husband and I were so nervous and we were so worked up. We were third-time parents, but it was our first time doing any of this. My husband wouldn't have really known. He's never seen it before. My doula, she's done this so many times. She was right in there with the massaging and the side-lying. She did the, she called it shaking the apples.Tara: Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's a good one. But Kelsey, it's against all odds. I just think it's amazing because we talk about the power of oxytocin and feeling safe and not having stress hormones going on, and you had all of that. You should be so proud of your body coming in in the nick of time and just proving against all of this. I'm just gonna go ahead and birth this baby, and a bigger baby than your other two which is such a triumphant moment.Meagan: Seriously.Kelsey: His head was 15 inches. That was another thing because they had talked about his head circumference being off the chart. That was another thing I had been searching is people who've had the big head circumference. Those groups, this podcast and just groups and having access to so many stories and people overcoming all of these obstacles because every time I came up against something, I had heard it before. I said, "Oh, this is something that I've heard time and time again with these stories. They make you feel like you're the only one with the big baby and, oh, this is a problem. But it's like, no. They're saying this to so many people. It was just amazing going into this being so informed and motivated and having that confidence that I never would have had. I just so grateful for this podcast and for all the information.Meagan: Well, thank you so much. It's one of the coolest things, I think, not only just the VBAC, but to see where you came from at the beginning of, "We're not having kids. Okay. We're having kids. Okay. This is what I'm thinking. I'm kind of scared of this. Let's do this. Okay. Doctor said this. Let's do this." to this. I mean, you came so talking about the pendulum, right? And what that provider was talking about. You came from one side over here to not even wanting kids or wanting a vaginal birth to swinging so far to the other side and advocating so hard for yourself and standing your ground. When we say that you should be proud, I am shouting it. Be proud of yourself. Girl, you are incredible. You are such a great example. Women of Strength, if you are listening right now, I want you to know that you can be just like Kelsey. You do not have to be bullied. You do not have to be nagged on every single time. Know what's right. Know your gut. Know your heart. Do what you need to do, and you can do it. You can do it. It is hard. I know it's hard. It is not easy, but it is possible. Girl, you're amazing. I thank you so much for sharing your story today and empowering all the Women of Strength who are coming after you and needing the same encouragement that you needed not even years ago. How old was your baby?Kelsey: So he is four months old.Meagan: Four months. Yeah, so a year ago when you were listening. I mean, really, so so amazing. Thank you so much. And Tara, it's always a pleasure. Thank you so much for being here. I couldn't agree more with your advice. Get your partners educated. Create that true dream team.Kelsey: Thank you.Tara: Congratulations, Kelsey.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome to Season 3 of BPP! Sara and Laura have soooo much to catch up on, including their 2025 personal and mutual goals for this podcast. Of course, there were many, many Taylor-related news and events that happened over their break to unpack, including the end of the Eras Tour, lots of new Lover-related merch, Taylor's birthday, the Grammy Awards, and more. And then, to top it all off, the ladies analyze Taylor's last surprise song - “The Manuscript.” Aka the song that makes Sara weep. Let's get into this one… it's a juicy one!Chapters(00:00) Welcome To Season 3(01:07) Let's Catch Up!(07:50) Our Swiftie Gift Exchange(09:43) Our 2025 Goals(25:14) Mutual Goals and Podcast Plans(27:05) Taylor Updates(49:18) The Manuscript: Our Personal Connections To The Song(53:56) The Folklore of The Song(58:25) Introduction Instrumentals: Descending Line & Music Theory Fun!(01:02:16) Verse 1: Clues That Connect To ATW10, Age Differences(01:11:15) Verse 2: The Lyric That Devastated Sara, Raw Emotions(01:20:34) Interlude: Sara's Beauty & The Beast Connection(01:24:22) Bridge: The Creation & Filming Of ATW10 Easter Eggs, Catharsis(01:30:53) Outro: The Story Is Ours Now(01:39:39) Our Favorite Lyrics(01:41:58) This Song As A Recipe(01:43:03) Signing Off!Please make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you'd like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email blankplatepod@gmail.comleave a voicemail at (717) 382-831YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

It's time to say farewell to the GG Podcast. This is an invitation to all the GG listeners to subscribe and listen to the new Buddhist Psychology Podcast. Thank you for all your support over these 6 years. See you on BPP which cam be found on all the usual podcast apps and my Integrative Psychotherapy Substack!Subscribe to the Buddhist Psychology PodcastBPP Episode 2  Apple podcast link

Fezas Vital é o último banqueiro do caso BPP a ser preso. Depois de recursos e recursos, entrou esta quinta-feira na cadeia, 16 anos depois da queda do banco. Luís Rosa, jornalista, é o convidado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie is a newborn and family photographer based out of Chicago. After going through IVF, Katie was surprised to find out that her first pregnancy was with identical twins. At 33 weeks, she had an unexpected bleed and then another at 35 weeks. Because of placental abruption, she went straight to a Cesarean and her babies were in the NICU for 7 days.Katie wanted to know what a singleton pregnancy and VBAC birth could be like. She found a supportive midwife group through her local ICAN chapter that had around a 90% VBAC success rate! She also hired a doula. As her due date approached, Katie decided to opt for membrane sweeps to avoid a medical induction starting at 38+6 weeks.After four membrane sweeps over the course of two weeks, spontaneous labor began. She arrived at the hospital and her sweet baby was born vaginally just 5 hours later!Though she said she has a low pain tolerance, Katie's VBAC was unmedicated and she also shares her experience with a retained placenta and a second-degree tear. Katie, that is no small feat-- we know you are an absolute warrior and woman of strength!How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Welcome to the show, Katie. Thank you so much for being here with us. You guys, Katie is from Chicago, right? Chicago. Katie: Yep. Meagan: She is an IVF mama. She's got three girls. She is a girl mom and two identical twins and then a baby girl. How old is your baby girl now? Katie: She's going to be 3 months tomorrow. Meagan: 3 months so still little tiny. Oh my gosh. I love it. So yeah, and then you guys, when she's not doing the mom thing with all of her girls, she is also a newborn and family photographer which is awesome. Can you share with us your handle so we can come follow you?Katie: Yeah. On Instagram, I'm at katiemichellestudios. Meagan: Okay, katiemichellestudios and we are going to make sure to have that in the show notes so you can go follow her and follow her amazing work. And if you're in Chicago and you need newborn or family photos, hit her up. Is there a specific– Chicago is big. Is there a specific area that you serve?Katie: I'm in the northwest suburbs but I do in-home sessions wherever. I use a studio in Oak Park. Meagan: Okay, awesome. Then with your stories today, we've got a couple of highlights. We have IVF, placental abruption, and sticky placenta. I'm excited to talk about sticky placenta for sure because it's not something a lot of people talk about that could happen. Then, of course, the twins and all of that. We are going to get into that but I do have a Review of the Week. You guys, I know every single week I know you are probably sick of me asking but I love your reviews. Thank you so much for your reviews and remember, we always accept your reviews. Okay, this is from cassie80. It says, “Extremely educational and super empowering.” It says, “After a traumatic C-section in 2016, on my research journey about VBAC, I came across this podcast and instantly fell in love.” You guys, that just says something to me. 2016 is when she had her C-section and 2018 is when this podcast started. It's crazy to think that it's been going for so long but I'm so grateful for all of you guys sharing your stories like you, Ms. Katie, and helping this continue. It says, “I am currently trying for number two and am on a mission to VBAC. Hearing all of these wonderful stories of strength has given me the confidence that I can do it when the time comes. You and all of the women who courageously share their stories are just amazing. You all provide healing and support for all of us mamas.” Thank you so much, Cassie, and I'm so glad that you are here with us and have been with us for so long. Okay, Katie. Thank you again for being here. Katie: Thank you so much. I am so excited to be on this podcast myself because I listened to you guys nonstop my entire pregnancy even before and I always had it in the back of my mind that, Oh, if I get my VBAC, I'm going to come on here and tell my story. I am super excited and thank you for having me. Meagan: Oh my gosh, thank you so much. Let's talk about these twins. Let's talk about that birth. Katie: Yes. They were IVF but they were obviously surprise identical twins. My embryo split into obviously identical twins but they were an interesting pregnancy because usually with IVF, the twins are mono-di which means they share a placenta and have two sacs but my girls are actually di-di so they had two placentas, two sacs, so that meant they were a little bit less of a risky pregnancy and a vaginal birth was a possibility. That's what I was planning on. Everything was pretty smooth up until 33 weeks which is when I had my first bleed. It was just the middle of the night. I got up and I just started gushing. The doctor said that it was a marginal placental abruption. That means it was on the edge of the placenta and it wasn't a risk to them. Obviously, it was super scary. I thought that I was going to lose them both but everything with them was fine. They sent me home after a few days at the hospital. They just told me to take it easy, but they said it might happen again. It did at 35 weeks and 3 days. I had another bleed. At that point, they said, “They are almost to term for twins.” It's technically 37 or 38 weeks is when they like to induce for twins so they just said not to risk going any further and let's just get them out right now. I was planning on a vaginal birth, but because of that abruption and we didn't know what state the placenta was in and what would happen if there was an induction process that was started, so with the doctors, we decided I didn't want to risk induction and then needing a C-section anyway for the other twin so we did the C-section. It was a really, really rough recovery and they were in the NICU for a week. One of them needed breathing support and the other one was there for growing and feeding. Meagan: How big were they?Katie: 5 pounds, 3 ounces, and 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Meagan: Okay, okay. Katie: They were a good size. They were overall healthy but it was for me, super duper rough as a first-time mom to twins especially. The breastfeeding journey was really hard. I dealt with low milk supply and they were so tiny that it was hard for them to latch so I ended up exclusively pumping for 11 months. That's their story. Meagan: Wow. That's a lot of work by the way for someone maybe who hasn't pumped a lot. Holy cow. Good job. Katie: Yeah. So when we decided to have a third which was a tough decision for us, my husband was not on board. We ended up deciding that we wanted to experience what it's like to have a singleton baby and just having a singleton pregnancy hopefully and a VBAC. I definitely knew that I wanted a VBAC and started doing all my research. I found a very VBAC-supportive midwife group in my area. They have a 90-something percent VBAC rate in the hospital which is crazy. Meagan: Wow, yeah. That's amazing. What do you think they do so differently that a lot of other groups don't do that makes them so successful? Or are you going to share about it?Katie: I'm not sure. I think the hospital might be part of it, like the hospital policies might be more supportive. They deliver at Evanston Hospital if anyone is interested. Overall, I think the doctors that they work with because it's a midwife group that they work alongside doctors that when there is a delivery for the midwives, the doctors are also in the hospital. I think the doctors are also very VBAC-supportive so I think that helps when they are working together. Meagan: Yes, absolutely. Katie: That's that story. Meagan: So you found them. You found the providers. Did you go and ask them questions? How did you feel like you realized that they were supportive? Katie: Yeah. I went on– what's that group that have a Facebook group all around the country for different areas about lowering the C-section rate?Meagan: Oh, cesareanrates.org? Katie: I'm not sure. They are an organization. Meagan: Oh, ICAN?Katie: ICAN, yes. I went on my local Facebook group for ICAN and I asked around. I got their info. I first went for an appointment with one of the doctors at that practice before I was even pregnant because I was planning for the transfer and I liked that doctor, but then I realized that they have midwives and people really raved about the midwives. They said if you are looking for a more holistic experience and they spend more time with you than the doctors do. I just decided to go that route and somehow picking the midwives made me dive into the whole unmedicated birth side of things as well. I ended up hiring a doula as well. I never thought I'd be someone interested in unmedicated birth. I consider myself to have very low pain tolerance. Meagan: So tell us more about the birth. You have a low pain tolerance but you did go unmedicated?Katie: Yes. I ended up doing it. Meagan: Okay. Did you go into spontaneous labor?Katie: Yeah, it was interesting. I ended up having four membrane sweeps which is not that spontaneous. Meagan: Well, hey. This is the thing. A lot of people ask about membrane sweeps and sometimes people feel, Hey, this is worth it. Let's do this. Some people don't. Sometimes it works and sometimes it takes many and sometimes it doesn't. It's whatever feels right. So do you remember where you were with the first membrane sweep cervical-wise and how many weeks and things like that? Katie: Yeah, so I wanted to start them. Remember, I had never been pregnant past 35 weeks. Meagan: Right, yeah. Katie: I really thought that I was going to have an early baby again, but that really wasn't the case. I had her at 40 and 5. So the membrane sweep, I started the first one at 38 and 6 so basically at my 39-week appointment. I had no change after that one. Nothing happened. That's kind of what I assumed would happen so I had another one the next week at 39 and 6 and at that point, I was 2 centimeters, 80% effaced, and -1 station. Meagan: Okay, so pretty good cervical statistics there for a membrane sweep. Katie: Yeah. So then it was my due date and I was starting to feel more pressure. The mucus plug was coming out and baby was acting super active which I heard can happen close to when a baby is ready to be born but nothing really happened at that point. So then I decided to get my third sweep. I think that was 40+2 and at that point, I was 2.5 centimeters but the same for everything else. But things were starting to happen. I was having more stuff come out and I was like, Oh my gosh. How much longer am I going to be pregnant? Meagan: I'm sure. This is the thing. When you had either preterm or just early deliveries before and then you go past that, it feels like, No. I cannot be pregnant longer than this. This is eternity. Katie: Yes. It was really hard because I had the two-year-old twins also. It was getting to be a real mental and physical struggle. Meagan: Yes. Yeah. Katie: Also, I was doing pumping to try to induce labor and that wasn't doing anything. Meagan: Yeah. Was it causing contractions at all or was it just causing them and then you'd stop and it would stop?Katie: Yeah, basically it would just cause the Braxton Hicks contractions and nothing else. Meagan: Then it would go away. Katie: Yeah. So I had my third sweep and that one really started to do something because I went into prodromal labor which was a doozy. Meagan: Yeah. You know, that can be a risk of trying a membrane sweep. It can cause some prodromal labor but again, a lot of the time, prodromal labor still does stuff. It's tiring and it's exhausting but it's still doing something. Katie: Yeah, and it definitely did for me. My prodromal labor was a nighttime thing. The sun would go down. I'd put the kids to bed and it would start with irregular contractions. It felt like period cramps then I wouldn't sleep all night with that. I had that for two nights and then I was finally– Meagan: Typical prodromal. Katie: Then it would go away during the daytime. Meagan: It's so annoying. It's like, seriously? Fine. If you're going to do prodromal, at least do it during the day when I'm awake but don't take away my sleep. Katie: I know. At that point, I was getting super disheartened. I decided to schedule my induction because if this was going to happen every night, I would have zero energy for this VBAC. I did schedule my induction for 41 and 3 I believe if I made it to that point but I decided to go back and get my fourth membrane sweep June 3rd so the day before she was born. That started something. The midwife was like, “Okay, if I do this, I might see you back here later tonight.” Meagan: That's a promising thing to hear. Katie: Yeah, so once she did that sweep, I was actually already 4.5 centimeters dilated. That prodromal labor was doing something. Meagan: Um, 100%. Katie: Yep. That morning I had that sweep. We went to get lunch. We walked around. I was starting to right away have contractions and these were during the day so I knew something was up. By 4:00 PM that day, I was feeling it. I was starting to need counterpressure and had to stop what I was doing. Based on what the doula had said, that was when I should call them. I texted her and I told her, “I'm having these contractions that I'm having to stop and breathe through but they are still 10 minutes apart so I don't know what's going on.” She's like, "Okay. I think you need to stay home a little longer. You're probably not in active labor yet.” I'm like, "No, I think I'm there. Things are really intense.” Despite what she said, I headed to the hospital.It's a good thing I did because by the time I arrived at 10:00 PM, I was already 6.5 centimeters. Meagan: Okay, nice. Katie: I was very surprised because usually what the doula community says is sometimes when you head to the hospital when you are not in active labor, things can slow down because of the change of scenery and yeah, your body just shuts down. But in my case, it actually was the reverse. I went from super irregular contractions to walking up to the hospital doors and they started coming super regularly like 2-3 minutes apart. Yeah. Meagan: I do feel like the opposite can also happen where our body gets to that final destination and it's like, Okay. You can do this now. You have this sense of release. What you were saying, yes I've seen that too where the mom has to reacclimate to the space and labor stalls a little bit then it goes on, but this one it sounds like it was the opposite where it maybe brought you relaxation and safety. Katie: Yeah. I think maybe part of it was that this hospital experience was so different than my last one. At the last one, it was rushing to the hospital while I'm bleeding. I get there and there's this rush of nurses. Everyone's checking me and this time, I waddled up to the hospital. The room was dark. There was one nurse checking me in. I'm just chilling on the bed. I was just relaxed. I think a lot of the things that I did with the doulas to prepare, like they did classes about comfort measures and things like that and I was really trying to use those. I got the twinkle lights set up and got the music so that really helped. By 1:00 AM, I was already feeling the urge to push and I was feeling so much pressure, especially in my butt. I needed counterpressure for every single contraction up to that point then I was like, “No more counterpressure.” I was screaming for my husband to stop doing it because it was starting to hurt. I knew that something was happening. I was on my side trying to get some rest in between and I was starting to give up at that point. I know what they say is when you are starting to give up, you're starting transition. Meagan: You're right there. Katie: For me, I was thinking, I need an epidural right now. Meagan: A lot of people do though. A lot of people are like, “I can't do this anymore. I'm done. That's that. I need that epidural. I need relief now.” Katie: Yep. I hadn't had a check since I was admitted. It had been about 5 hours since I showed up or 4 hours since I showed up to the hospital so I was like, This can't be it. I can't be ready to push because I've only been here 4 hours and it's my first labor. I was in disbelief but I was like, “I need a check right now because if I'm not close to pushing, I'm getting the epidural.” The doula was trying to talk me out of it. She was like, "Are you sure? What are you going to do if you're not there?” I'm like, "I'm going to get the epidural.” I was 9.5 centimeters at that point. Meagan: Oh yeah. Right there. Katie: Yeah, and I was like, "Oh my gosh. This is actually happening.” My body was starting to push on its own and it was such a weird feeling. It was so different than my friend's birth that I photographed. She had an epidural and it was an induction. That's the only other birth that I've seen and this was so different because my body was pushing. I can't control it. Yeah. That was about an hour of pushing which felt like an eternity and the contractions were actually fine at that point. I couldn't feel them. I could just feel loads of pressure and the ring of fire which was intense, super duper intense. Then my water broke about 10 minutes before she was born and yeah, she was born. Meagan: You get to 10, your water is probably going out through breaks and baby comes down. Katie: Yeah, I had a bulging bag at the end which is really interesting to feel. She was born at 2:34 AM. Meagan: Aww, that's awesome. So pretty dang quick. Katie: Yeah. If you don't count the two nights of prodromal labor. Meagan: Prodromal labor, yeah. But your body was doing it slowly and surely. Each sweep did give you that extra nudge. It maybe gave you some prodromal labor along the way, but it seemed like it was helping and doing something. Katie: Yeah, if that helped me avoid a medical induction, I'm super glad that I did those. Meagan: Yeah, that's something when it comes to someone facing an induction or facing that hurdle, a membrane sweep might not be a bad idea. But too, with that said, if we go in and we are barely 1 centimeter or our cervix is really posterior and we are 30% effaced, we need to know mentally that if we go for a sweep, the chances of it working is a lot lower. It's just lower because our body is maybe not ready. It also doesn't mean it's not going to work. So like I said earlier, you had that ideal cervical stat. You were that 2 centimeters and 80% effaced. Things were looking good and softer, starting to open and they were able to get a really good sweep but even then, it took time. Katie: Yeah, definitely. My midwives never pressured induction on me. I was pressuring myself mainly because IVF pregnancies– there are differing opinions but some doctors say that you should be induced at 39 weeks and some say you shouldn't go past your due date because of the placenta not being as good. Meagan: Well, yeah. It's so hard because– so twins were IVF and was this baby IVF too?Katie: Yeah. Meagan: Okay, that is hard because there are a lot of people who do say that you should induce at 38-39 weeks with IVF and we do know out there that with IVF, the chances of having placenta issues and abnormalities like abruption are increased. Accreta, previa, and things like that. But if everything is going okay, all is looking well, it's that battle of do we induce? Do we not induce? What do we do?Obviously, your providers weren't pushing it so they didn't see any real medical need but then we have other providers on the complete opposite end where they are pushing it hard. Katie: Yeah, in some of my IVF groups on Facebook, basically every single person is induced or has a C-section. It's pretty rare for a provider to say you can go to 42 weeks like mine did. Meagan: Interesting. I actually don't know the real stats on IVF placental issues after 38 weeks. Had anybody ever talked to you about what your chance of issues really were after a certain point?Katie: No. The abruption was I think more of a risk factor was that it was twins and my uterus was so stretched but no one really mentioned placental issues or even said, “Let's look at your placenta after 40 weeks.” They do have the standard ultrasound to look at baby and do the BPP test, but they said that there is nothing really you can see from an ultrasound after your due date. Meagan: We know that ultrasounds can be off by size and by all the things. Katie: Yeah, and she was measuring bigger. She was 85th percentile which was actually true. She was born 8 pounds, 4 ounces so she wasn't tiny like my twins were. Meagan: Yeah. I Googled really, really quickly. This isn't even a study. This is just an article on it. I'll try to get some more studies and things in here but I'm going to include this article. It's from the Real Birth Company. It looks like they are teachers of birth classes. It's highlighted. It says, “What do you need to know if you are pregnant through IVF and you're being advised to have an induction because you are told that there is a higher chance of stillbirth?” It says, “The only study that we found that gives us the information also noted at higher risk of stillbirth for IVF pregnancies, but crucially, they said no increase in their rate of stillbirth after 28 weeks of pregnancy. It just says, “This research therefore tells us that induction at terms would not necessarily reduce stillbirth rates for babies who are conceived by IVF.”Katie: Yeah. From my understanding, it's hard to do studies on this because a lot of women who need IVF have other health factors which can increase the risk of obviously stillbirth and other issues in pregnancy. Meagan: Yeah, it's showing that sometimes IVF moms have placenta accreta and placental abruption at a higher risk. It shows that IUGR babies have a higher chance for being smaller. It also says that gestational diabetes and preeclampsia have an increased chance. So like you said, there are other things that they may have. I'm just going to throw this in there in case anyone listening is an IVF mama and wants to know more. It's interesting that you're saying that in that group– are they scheduling C-sections?Katie: Yeah. Most women get scheduled C-sections, not scheduled C-sections, scheduled inductions but they end in a C-section because they aren't ready. Meagan: Okay, so they aren't necessarily scheduling them right off the bat just because they are IVF. Katie: Right. Meagan: But again, like you said, they aren't ready and inductions are happening and people are ending up in a Cesarean. Katie: Yes. Meagan: Interesting. Well, this article was written in 2021. I'm also going to put a couple others in here that says actually 2024 so I need to look more into this but it's something to consider because again, this is a space where we are trying to reduce unnecessary Cesareans. We're seeing that it's happening so it might be something that you want to research if you are out there and you are doing IVF, research that and see if it's something that really is necessary for sure. Katie: This is just my personal story, but my placenta looked perfectly fine at 40+5 with this baby. Meagan: Yeah, so everything was looking good at that point. We did talk about that in the beginning– sticky placenta or really retained placenta. Did you have that with this? Maybe you can talk to us more about the placenta. You gave birth to babe. It was a VBAC that was a lot faster than anticipated and you went unmedicated when you didn't think you could. I kind of love that so much that you were like, “I have a low pain tolerance,” but then you did that. It just goes to show how possible it is, right? But yeah, talk to us about your placenta. Katie: Yeah. That was actually worse than the pain of the entire birth and something I didn't expect because I had asked about this because it can be an issue with IVF pregnancies. I had asked about this in one of my prenatal appointments and the midwife said, “We don't know if you're going to have that or not. IVF is a risk factor for it,” but since I had the opposite of a sticky placenta. I had a placenta that was coming off the wall. With my last pregnancy, she was like, “I'm guessing that you're not going to have that,” but I did. After baby was out, my placenta was not coming out after 10 minutes and around 30 minutes, I think they like to have it out by then. So they gave it 10 minutes for it to come out naturally, but my contractions completely stopped. Nothing was happening at that point. My body wasn't expelling it. They were trying to pull on it. Eventually, it came out but I was still having bleeding when they were pressing on my stomach than they would like to see. They gave me the Pitocin and that didn't work and then they tried two or three other medications. Meagan: Did they give you Cytotec at all? Katie: Yeah, I think so and another medication that goes in the back in the booty. Meagan: Oh, yes. They usually will insert it rectally. Yes. Yes. Cytotec is not okay when we are pregnant and we are trying to go into labor, but because it makes the uterus contract so hard which is the whole issue with Cytotec and VBAC, it can help reduce bleeding and help the placenta and all of these things. Yeah. Katie: Yeah. They gave me the max dose of Pitocin in my IV and none of that worked. They gave me the Pitocin in the leg and that didn't work, the Cytotec. Then they brought out the ultrasound machine and scanned around and saw that there were some pieces left inside. So she had to stick her hand up and get them. That was horrible. Meagan: And you were unmedicated. I'm just going to tell you right now that you have a high pain tolerance. I think you might be incorrect on that. Not saying that really, but holy cow. Unmedicated and a retained placenta retrieval scrape– they are essentially scraping and fishing for your placenta. Katie: Yes and she had to go in two or three times. They gave me some kind of IV medication and all it did was make me feel drunk. Meagan: Probably fentanyl. Katie: It was something with a D maybe. Dimerol.Meagan: Dilaudid. Katie: Maybe Dilaudid. It made me feel loopy and nauseous but did nothing for the pain. I was holding my baby the whole time and I just want to forget that horrible experience. Meagan: That is rough. Sometimes placentas “stay sticky” and it really can take up to an hour even for a placenta to come out. Sometimes we don't know why and like you said, IVF stuff maybe could have helped but the placenta usually is in that 5 to 30-minute period and providers do start to worry if it's more than that because after we have our baby, our cervix was 10 centimters. It dilated and everything was open and thinned and then it starts coming back and closing again which is the normal process. Katie: Oh my gosh. I didn't even think of that. Meagan: Yeah, it's just that normal process where it starts closing so providers start fearing that if the cervix is closed or too small, the placenta can't move through and then we've got the placenta inside and retained placenta is a very serious thing. You want to get your placenta out. It's an amazing organ and functions amazingly. It raises these amazing babies through these 9 months. It supports them and feeds them but we need to get it out because retained placenta can make you very sick. They start fearing that and sometimes when they are tugging, it can make it so the blood vessels get ripped off or they weren't ready so then we have bleeding and retained placenta and all of these things. They start fearing it and things like breastfeeding, Pitocin, Cytotec, and all of these things that they are trying to get to help you contract more is an effort to help get that out. But yeah. That is a lot. That's a lot. You had this beautiful birth and then whoa, quite a lot right there. Katie: Yeah, a bit of a turn and in addition to that, I had a second-degree tear that they also had to stitch me up. I don't remember if that was before or after the whole extraction. Meagan: Your provider fishing could have caused more tearing. Yeah. There is also a possibility that if for some reason it doesn't come out that you will have to be taken to an OR which is a more rare circumstance but I've had one client in all the 10 years of doing this and she was a VBAC client too actually. She had a beautiful birth and then had to go in and get it manually removed. So yeah, breastfeeding as soon as you can, changing positions and also emptying your bladder is something that you can do because if your bladder is full then it can hold things up so sometimes it's detached but not coming out so there are things we can do and then of course, taking medication and going a step further if we really need to. Katie: Yeah. Overall though, I don't regret any of that. It was still such a beautiful birth even though the end and the golden hour took a turn, it still was more than I had imagined. Meagan: Yeah. I was actually going to ask you. Even with that which is a lot, would you still suggest doing it or would you have done it differently if you could go back?Katie: No regrets. The recovery was a million times easier even with the tear and all of that. I was going to the botanical garden 4 days postpartum with my family. Meagan: Oh my gosh. You were out walking around. Katie: Yeah. Meagan: Oh my gosh. That is amazing. That is amazing. Katie: With toddlers, you've got to get back to real life. Meagan: I know. It's so hard to take that break and recover when we have life that is still moving around us. Katie: Definitely. Meagan: Remind me, you said you took Needed's collagen, right? Katie: I did. Yeah. Meagan: That actually probably helped healing as well. Katie: Yeah. I love that stuff because I wanted to get more protein in. I just put it in my shakes along with all of the other things that I did like the chiropractor and the dates. I did all of the things. Meagan: Yes. And your doulas, do you want to do a shoutout? Katie: Yeah, 3-1-2 doulas and I worked with Heather. Meagan: Awesome. Katie: Yeah, and they have awesome classes too. If you are a doula customer, they are free and if you're not, you can still sign up for them and they are super great. Meagan: That is so awesome. We love our doulas and to all of those listeners out there, just a reminder. We have a major doula directory from literally all over the US to outside of the US if you are looking for doulas too. You can go to thevbaclink.com/findadoula. We love our doulas so dang much. Obviously, I love doulas so much I became one. Doulas are so amazing. I love that you said you did chiropractic care and dates and all of the things. Are there any other suggestions or tips that you would give our listeners as they are going through their VBAC journey? Katie: Yeah, just listen to these podcasts a lot and you'll learn so much. Join The VBAC Link group on Facebook. Meagan: Yes. I love that community. Isn't it just amazing? Katie: Yeah, it's great. There's also another VBAC Facebook group that I loved as well. Meagan: Do you remember the name?Katie: I don't remember. Meagan: There are a few on there. We love– Katie: VBAC Support Group. Yeah, that one's great. Meagan: Awesome. Katie: Yeah, just believe in yourself. You can do it. You are a badass. Meagan: You are a badass and you can do it. I agree. We'll end on that note because that is such a true statement. Girl, you are amazing and I'm so grateful for you sharing these beautiful stories today. Katie: Thank you so much for having me.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode, we chat with Phillip Barker, founder and owner of Delicioats and the director of the Bonding Through Backpacking Summit. We also chat about the recent Kentucky Backpacking YouTubers Meetup. Be sure to check out Outdoor Vitals at outdoorvitals.com Get your hands on some sweet BPP swag today! https://the-backpacking-podcast-shop.myspreadshop.com/ https://delicioats.com/ https://www.bondingthroughbackpacking.com/access What happens when over 20 youtubers get together for a weekend in the red river gorge? Find out tonight. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backpackingpodcast/support

This is my story of when I attempted to start a short lived chapter of The Black Panther Party in Albuquerque New Mexico. We created the RBG and FTP movement in Burque which we hoped to turn into a full on chapter of the BPP. As close as we got there.. I didn't become the Panther that I wanted to be until I moved to Portland Oregon.

Why are so many NFL teams ignoring their back up QB spot, our Week 6 BPP picks, this 1 thing is keeping UW from being a Top 10, and you ya got tonight: Mets-Brewers, Bucs-Falcons

Woody's Bio: Charity hike 2.0. 2,000+ miles across North America for mental health awareness and healing. Join me for a stretch and we will feature the charity of your choice!WoodyWalks.comGet your hands on some sweet BPP swag today! https://the-backpacking-podcast-shop.myspreadshop.com/Be sure to check out our title sponsor, Outdoor Vitals to pick up some amazing backpacking gear at www.outdoorvitals.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backpackingpodcast/support

In this livestream, we're hanging out with Jared Champion, who just hiked the Colorado Trail using gear that would've been used the year the trail was established. What were the struggles and highlights of this trip? Find out in the next hour.Get your hands on some sweet BPP swag today! https://the-backpacking-podcast-shop.myspreadshop.com/Be sure to check out our title sponsor, Outdoor Vitals to pick up some amazing backpacking gear at www.outdoorvitals.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backpackingpodcast/support

In this episode of the podcast I asked BPP community moderators Jim Sinicki and Kim Irish to join me in a fun discussion about photography and the community. They asked you, members of the BPP community questions and I do my best to answer them. The Big Ideas:Embrace Discomfort in Your Photography Journey: Challenging environments yield unique opportunities. Whether it's a rugged landscape or dense urban streets, discomfort can push your creative boundaries.Start planning a photo expedition to a challenging location, like a local street photography workshop or a remote nature hike.Prepare for these conditions with proper gear and mental readiness to turn discomfort into creative success.Tackle Imposter Syndrome Head-On: Feelings of doubt are common, especially when pricing your work or comparing yourself to others. Recognizing them as part of the journey can reduce their power.Reflect on your achievements and client feedback regularly to build confidence.Engage with a supportive photography community for encouragement and constructive feedback.Value Your Work Appropriately: Pricing should reflect the quality and effort you put into your photography. Reassessing your rates can prevent undervaluation and communicate professionalism.Conduct market research to understand the going rates for comparable work.Don't be afraid to incrementally increase your prices and communicate the value you bring to clients.Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/ Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast! Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

The WNBA is back in Portland, is it the last expansion team in our lifetime to come. Are the Saints for real, how crucial is a Beavs win, is USC Back...plus Brooke Olzendam, Brian Nemhauser, burrito bets and BPP picks.

All they do is drive SUVs over really big rocks and video it! We're here for all of it in this episode as we have two backpacking vets joining us to talk about their overlanding adventures together. Get your hands on some sweet BPP swag today! https://the-backpacking-podcast-shop.myspreadshop.com/ Be sure to check out our title sponsor, Outdoor Vitals to pick up some amazing backpacking gear at www.outdoorvitals.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backpackingpodcast/support

The Pac-12 is expanding with 4 MWC schools coming, who will be next, is this going to work? Plus NFL Week 2 nuggets, Jessamyn McIntyre with Wazzu perspective plus an Apple Cup preview, and the guys make their Week 3 BPP picks.

Welcome to this episode of "Random Questions: Specific Answers"! In this episode we will (surprise) answer random questions- with specific answers- from our podcast family members: 1. Can administration of IV Calcium at intrapartum CS reduce QBL?, 2. What are the 4 classes of CS performance urgency? and 3. If a normal MVP for amniotic fluid is 2-8cm on ultrasound, does an MVP of >8cm still get "2-points" at mBPP or full BPP? Listen in for details!

Nichola Hay, MBE, Director of Apprenticeship Strategy and Policy at BPP, the United Kingdom's largest apprenticeship training provider, discusses the evolution of apprenticeships in the UK. After 20 years of helping British businesses attract new talent and upskill employees across their organizations, Nichola is at the forefront of thought leadership and guidance on the challenges and opportunities in the UK's apprenticeship market, for which she was recognized in the Queen's New Year's Honours List of 2021. She argues that we need to review the examples of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, countries leading the way in vocational early talent programmes for young people. She also looks at England showcasing apprenticeship programmes for all ages and levels, which retrain the existing workforce while increasing diversity in these transitional times of digitization, AI, aging populations and declining populations.

Our NFL season long picks, our Week 2 BPP picks ATS and is there more optimism for the Seahawks or Broncos

In this week's Black World News, Kehinde Andrews makes plain the mirage of the Paris '24 Olympics (26 July 2024 – 11 August 2024) following his family road trip to Lille in France to watch live the (Black) Women of Team USA dominate the Japanese in basketball. He makes plain the assimilationist policy and color-blind approach of France to race; he debunks the myth of "Black" and "White" "genetic superiority" to explain their respective dominance in certain sporting and athletic activities eg Black people in track and White people in swimming. Finally, he makes plain the insidious nature of the patriotism and Diaspora wars in international sporting competitions. - In this week's official guest interview, Kehinde Andrews talks with Dr Robyn C. Spencer-Antoine about her book The Revolution Has Come: Black Power, Gender, and the Black Panther Party in Oakland and the history of women (who made up over 50% of the party), gender, and power in the party. They also discuss her second book project, To Build the World Anew: Black Liberation Politics and the Movement Against the Vietnam War in the context of Palestine, settler colonialism, and the ongoing investment and buy-in of these land grab and dispossession projects. Finally, they touch on Patricia Murphey Robinson, a Black organizer, and psychotherapist who worked with people in many movements, and Dr. Robyn's work curating the @PATarchives on Instagram to spotlight how Patricia Murphy Robinson's unprocessed home archives reframe the Black radical tradition. - Dr Robyn C. Spencer-Antoine is a History and African American Studies professor at Wayne State University (WSU), Detroit, Michigan, where they're developing the Detroit Center for Black Studies. She's a historian of the Black freedom movements, an activist, a Black feminist, a daughter of the Diaspora, and a mother.  She is co-founder of the Intersectional Black Panther Party History Project and has written widely on gender and Black power. Her writings have appeared in the Journal of Women's History and Souls as well as The Washington Post, Vibe Magazine, Colorlines, and Truthout. She has received awards for her work from the Mellon Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Association of Black Women Historians. She is completing her second book, Vietnam Blues, on the intersections between the movement for Black liberation and the movement against the US war in Vietnam as a fellow at Harvard's Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History (CWC) in 2023-2024. In addition, she is working on two biographies: Left Traces: Patricia Robinson and the Archive of Black Women's Radicalism and Angela Davis: Radical Icon. - BLACK WORLD NEWS LINKS A'ja Wilson dominates as US women beat Japan 102-76 to open campaign for 8th straight Olympic gold https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-basketball-aja-wilson-scores-double-double-usa-beats-japan WILSON A'ja (A'ja Riyadh Wilson)Athlete Profiles https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/a-ja-wilson_1954757 The Patriotism of the Paris Olympics, Paging Doctor Doom, and the Shadow Dockethttps://www.theringer.com/2024/7/30/24209355/patriotism-2024-paris-olympics-paging-doctor-doom-supreme-court-shadow-docket - GUEST LINKS Robyn C. SpencerRobyn's Personal Websitehttps://robyncspencer.com/ Wayne State University (WSU) ProfileRobyn Spencer-Antoine Faculty Profile https://clasprofiles.wayne.edu/profile/hp6557 Intersectional Black Panther Party History ProjectOur commitment to the recovery and restoration of the Black Panther Party's (BPP) history and women's critical roles in the organization led us to create this project as a means of #changingthenarrative.  https://iphistoryproject.org/ The Revolution Has Come Black Power, Gender, and the Black Panther Party in OaklandRobyn's first book https://www.dukeupress.edu/the-revolution-has-come The Revolution Has Come Black Power, Gender, and the Black Panther Party in Oakland Free Sample of Introduction https://www.dukeupress.edu/Assets/PubMaterials/978-0-8223-6286-9_601.pdf Pat's ArchivesCurated by Robyn https://linktr.ee/PATarchives Black Feminist Meditations on the Women of Wakanda An essay by Robyn https://medium.com/@robyncspencer/black-feminist-meditations-on-the-women-of-wakanda-5cc79751d9cd - THE HARAMBEE ORGANISATION OF BLACK UNITY NEEDS YOU Harambee Organisation of Black Unity (Marcus Garvey Centre + Nicole Andrews Community Library, Birmingham, UK)https://www.blackunity.org.uk/ CAP25 - Convention of Afrikan People - Gambia - May 17-19, 2025 (Everyone's Welcome) On Malcolm X's 100th birthday, the Harambee Organisation of Black Unity is bringing together those in Afrika and the Diaspora who want to fulfill Malcolm's legacy and build a global organization for Black people. This is an open invitation to anyone.https://make-it-plain.org/convention-of-afrikan-people/ BUF - Black United Front Global directory of Black organizations. This will be hosted completely free of charge so if you run a Black organization please email the name, address, website, and contact info to mip@blackunity.org.uk to be listed. - SOCIALS Guest socials links: (IG) @PATarchives  @racewomanist (X) @IPHProject @racewomanist (FB) iphistoryproject (Medium) @robyncspencer Guest email: robynspencerantoine@wayne.edu Host: (IG) @kehindeandrews  (X) @kehinde_andrews  Podcast team: @makeitplainorg @weylandmck @inhisownterms @farafinmuso Platform: www.make-it-plain.org (Blog) www.youtube.com/@MakeItPlain1964 (YT) - For any help with your audio visit: https://weylandmck.com/ - Make it Plain if the Editorial Wing of the Harambee Organisation of Black Unity

In this episode of The Pulling Curls Podcast, Hilary Erickson delves into the world of labor inductions, debunking common myths and sharing personal anecdotes. Hilary, a seasoned nurse and mother, brings her professional insight and experience to the table as she addresses the pain levels associated with inductions, the potential duration of the process, and the discussion surrounding doctor-recommended inductions. Whether you're curious about the induction experience or navigating the decision-making journey yourself, this episode offers a candid look at what to expect when you're expecting... an induction. Tune in to Episode 231, "Busting Induction Myths," to get the full untangled truth. Big thanks to our sponsor Inductions Made Easy: https://pregnurse.com/induction-class/ if you don't have time for a FULL class (or feel like you only want to review inductions) -- it's the quick class for you! Links for you: My other episode on choosing an induction (episode 206). Timestamps: 00:00 Long inductions depend on cervix readiness. 04:50 Discuss induction with doctor to understand reasons. 06:58 Exciting upcoming episodes on Pulling Curls podcast. Keypoints: Episode 231 of the Pulling Curls Podcast, hosted by Hilary Erickson, is dedicated to debunking common myths surrounding labor inductions. Hilary, with her background as a nurse and a mom of three, shares her personal experiences with being induced and provides insights based on her professional knowledge. One prevalent myth addressed in the episode is that inductions are more painful than natural labor, but Hilary explains that the pain levels are quite similar, as supported by the Arrive trial. The duration of an induction is another myth tackled; while some can be lengthy, especially when the cervix isn't ready, others can be relatively short if the cervix is favorable. Hilary emphasizes that, contrary to the myth, inductions are not always pushed by doctors; they are instead offered as an option, and the decision to induce should be a collaborative one between the patient and the provider. The podcast suggests that listeners should engage in open communication with their healthcare providers to better understand the reasons behind the suggestion for induction. Hilary advises discussing alternatives to induction, such as monitoring with non-stress tests (NSTs) and biophysical profiles (BPPs), when the need for an induction isn't urgent. By sharing her own story, Hilary provides a balanced perspective that while providers may strongly suggest inductions for medical reasons, the final decision lies with the patient. The podcast promotes Hilary's own online resource, Inductions Made Easy, for those expecting and considering induction, as well as the online prenatal class for couples. In future episodes, listeners can look forward to topics such as family travel anxiety and postpartum preeclampsia, indicating the podcast's continued focus on important pregnancy and postpartum issues. Producer: Drew Erickson Keywords: induction myths, Pulling Curls podcast, prenatal class, inductions made easy, labor induction, overdue pregnancy, natural labor, augmented labor, Pitocin, menstrual cramps, Arrive trial, labor pain comparison, active labor, long inductions, cervix status, preeclampsia, baby growth, short inductions, OBGYN, ultrasound, NST (non-stress test), BPP (biophysical profile), glucose intolerance, fourth-degree tear, ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), 39-week induction, provider communication, family travel, postpartum preeclampsia, podcast reviewing.

PODCAST EPISODE - Kristine Laurie - #107 Join your hosts Lea and Sophia as they interview Kristine Laurie once again. First interview linked below. They discuss Doctors without Boarders, preterm birth in the USA, steriods, antibiotics, jaundice, kangaroo care, IVF, IUI, infection, UTI, PROM, cord prolapse, triplets and twins, fetal demise, BPP, and placenta previa. Kristine has been practicing for 33 years as a CPM and LM and has worked internationally for over 20 years. She currently works with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) providing humanitarian aid in developing countries. She specializes in high risk obstetrics in low resource settings. When Kristine is home, she teaches virtual AP midwifery classes through Midwifery Wisdom Collective and she also facilitates master classes with Breech Without Borders. She provides expert witness testimony in court cases involving breech birth. Kristine has attended over 5,000 births, the majority out of hospital and has attended 516 breeches, 387 sets of twins and 7 sets of triplets to date. She is a staunch advocate for autonomy in women's health and for physiologic birth. Connect with Kristine: •IG: @globalmidwife64 •Website: https:/midwifewithoutboundaries.wordpress.com/ Listen here: IG: linktree in bio FB: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bornwild/episodes/107--Kristine-Laurie---Preterm-Birth-and-Babies-e2him99 @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild

In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with renowned photographer and author Michael Freeman about embracing the artistic journey of photography, where you'll learn to cultivate your creative eye and appreciate the process over the technical.The Big Ideas:Continuous Learning: Embrace lifelong learning to elevate your art. Studying others' works is as crucial as mastering your camera.Creative Experimentation: Forget strict rules. Prioritize creativity to make photos that stand out and reflect your unique perspective.The Power of Surprise: Strive for images with unexpected elements. Predictability is the enemy of interesting photography.Intentionality Wins: Plan your shots with intention, but also leave room for spontaneity. It's about the story you want to tell.Photography Action Plan:Immerse Yourself in the World of Photography: Visit local art galleries or explore online photography exhibitions to discover different styles and techniques.Regularly study the work of various renowned photographers to learn from their compositions and subject matter choices.Practice Intentional Shooting: Before taking your next photo, spend extra time pre-planning the shot, considering aspects like lighting, angle, and composition. After each photoshoot, review your images and note what worked and what didn't, then adjust your approach for next time.Challenge the Rules of Composition: Experiment with breaking conventions such as the rule of thirds; place your subject off-center and see how it affects the impact of your photo. Create a series of photos with unconventional framing or perspective to explore new creative possibilities.Experiment with Black and White Photography: Convert a selection of your images to black and white to see how it changes the mood and focus on textures and contrasts. Practice shooting with the intention of black and white output to hone your attention to light, shadow, and compositional elements.Connect with the Photography Community: Join the BPP group to exchange feedback, share your work, and learn from peers. Attend photography workshops or talks in your area to network, pick up new skills, and stay inspired by what others are doing.Resources:Follow Michael on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/michaelfreemanphotographyCheck out Michaels Collection of Photography Education books on AmazonVisit Michael Freemans WebsiteGrab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/ Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast! Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Episode 104: Frankie & Marcus wanted to make this the 100th special edition episode of the BPP, but some important tournament in Australia got in the way. We bring it back to the origins of the BPP, what it was intended to be, what is has become, and how we are feeling about the men's game, tennis media, and where we will go next. Thanks for tuning in, make sure to follow and subscribe on all major podcasts & social media platforms! Socials ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/breakpointpodcast7/support

Welcome to the Connected Leadership podcast with Andy Lopata. In this episode, Andy welcomes John Fisher, a constructivist psychologist and coach with 25 years of experience in change management, personal development, and coaching. John has a rich professional background, working with organisations such as BPP, Training 2000 Ltd., Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions and BAe Systems. His experience spans designing and delivering leadership and personal development courses, coaching, and project management. John is the author of six books, including "Putting the I into Change," and joins Andy to explore the intricacies of navigating change from an individual's perspective. Andy and John examine the emotional and psychological issues people face during major life changes. John shares insights from his experience and introduces the Fisher curve (see link below). The Fisher curve maps the journey individuals undertake during change, considering the impact on identity and emotional well-being. Andy and John discuss the significance of understanding where individuals are in the change process to manage conversations effectively. They explore the stages of the curve, beginning with anxiety and anticipation, progressing through fear, threat, and guilt, and culminating in anger, confusion, and apathy. The podcast highlights the unique and subjective nature of the curve, with individuals experiencing varying depths and durations of each stage. John emphasises the importance of constructivist psychology, where understanding the world through another person's eyes is key to effective interaction. The conversation touches on conflict resolution, the stages of grief in the bereavement curve and the impact of change on an individual's sense of identity. Andy and John explore the nuanced aspects of organisational change and leadership. The focus centres on the involvement of external coaches in the change process, emphasising the delicate balance between delegating responsibility and maintaining accountability as a leader. John raises a critical point about the necessity of trusting relationships with coaches. He highlights that leaders must discern when to abdicate responsibility, especially in situations where their presence may hinder the change process. The conversation continues with reflections on the challenges of being honest during periods of uncertainty, emphasising the importance of trust and vulnerability in leadership. Andy and John use real-world examples, including the experience of business leaders and the impact of transparent communication on building trust. Andy and John explore the complexities of authentic leadership, acknowledging that wearing a metaphorical mask may be necessary in certain situations to provide the team with the stability they need. They discuss the emotional toll on leaders during challenging times and the power of vulnerability in building strong team dynamics. The episode concludes with a focus on the positive trajectory of change, offering insights into the process of getting individuals on board with change. John emphasises the importance of support, information, freedom, and open communication in guiding individuals through the phases of acceptance and embedding change successfully. The conversation also touches on the continuous nature of change, both at macro and micro levels, reinforcing the idea that change is a constant and dynamic force in organisational life. This episode is a must listen for leaders navigating the world of change.  Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with John Fisher Website Fisher Transition Curve https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/60483/Change_09_-_Factsheet_-_The_Process_of_Transition.pdf

In this episode, Meg and Heather discuss Strengths Finder and how this tool relates to their businesses. They emphasize the importance of focusing on your strengths both in life and in business. When we focus on our strengths, we are able to grow. Listen to them describe how applying the knowledge of your strengths can enhance your business. Buy Unleash Your Strengths- Eddie Villa: https://www.oillife.com/products/unleash-your-strengths (save $5 when you spend $25 with code BPP at checkout) Buy Strength Finders 2.0 by Tom Rath: https://amzn.to/3NPpUoM For more information, check out our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bottlepoppinpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To learn more about Heather Skold, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.jugglingsimplicity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To learn more about Meg Fittsgill, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.balanceredeemed.com⁠⁠

Welcome to the first official episode of 2024! We're thrilled to be joined by Lisa Crosta, CFP®, CPA, MBA, this week, the Director of Wealth Management at BPP Wealth Solutions. She's here to share her journey into financial services and insights into BPP's comprehensive financial planning process, collaborative team structure, and Security Income Plan®. Lisa also shares her passion for educating and empowering female investors. As an all-women firm, BPP Wealth Solutions is uniquely positioned to cater to women's financial needs and ensure they are well informed about their investments, income, and retirement plans.   Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: Lisa's financial career + passion for developing intimate client relationships BPP Wealth Solutions' process, which starts with a comprehensive financial plan and goes on to build a roadmap for building, protecting, and preserving wealth BPP Wealth's collaborative process, training efforts, and note-taking procedures Why BPP chose to start charging for their financial plans + the value this change has brought to their clients BPP Wealth Solutions' commitment to financial awareness among female investors   Learn About FIG: https://www.figmarketing.com  800-527-1155  

This roundtable will celebrate the much-anticipated publication of Orisanmi Burton's first book, Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt. Order a copy of "Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt" from Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/1039/9780520396326 Speakers Jared A. Ball is a Professor of Communication and Africana Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. and author of The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power (Palgrave, 2020). Ball is also host of the podcast “iMiXWHATiLiKE!”, co-founder of Black Power Media which can be found at BlackPowerMedia.org, and his decades of journalism, media, writing, and political work can be found at imixwhatilike.org. Ball has also been named as one of 2022's Marguerite Casey Foundation's Freedom Scholars. Dhoruba Bin Wahad was a leading member of the New York Black Panther Party, a Field Secretary of the BPP responsible for organizing chapters throughout the East Coast, and a member of the Panther 21. Arrested June 1971, he was framed as part of the illegal FBI Counter Intelligence program (COINTELPRO) and subjected to unfair treatment and torture during his nineteen years in prison. During Dhoruba's incarceration, litigation on his behalf produced over three hundred thousand pages of COINTELPRO documentation, and upon release in 1990 he was able to bring a successful lawsuit against the New York Department of Corrections for all their wrongdoings and criminal activities. Ruth Wilson Gilmore is Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences and Director of the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Co-founder of many grassroots organizations, Gilmore is author of Abolition Geography: Essays Toward Liberation (Verso), and Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California (University of California Press). Change Everything is forthcoming from Haymarket. She and Paul Gilroy co-edited Stuart Hall: Selected Writings on Race and Difference (Duke University Press). Sarah Haley works in the areas of U.S. gender history, carceral history, Black feminist and queer theory, prison abolition, and feminist historical methods. She is the author of No Mercy Here: Gender, Punishment, and the Making of Jim Crow Modernity and is working on a book titled Carceral Interior: A Black Feminist Study of American Punishment, 1966-2016. She is an associate professor of gender studies and history at Columbia University and organizes with Scholars for Social Justice. Robin D. G. Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. His books include, Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression; Race Rebels: Culture Politics and the Black Working Class; Yo' Mama's DisFunktional!: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America; Africa Speaks, America Answers: Modern Jazz in Revolutionary Times and Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination. Orisanmi Burton is an assistant professor of anthropology at American University. His research employs innovative ethnographic and archival methods to examine historical collisions between Black radical organizations and state repression in the United States. Dr. Burton's work has been published in North American Dialogue, The Black Scholar, American Anthropologist, among other outlets and has received support from the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and The Margarite Casey Foundation, which selected him as a 2021 Freedom Scholar. Dr. Burton's first book, entitled Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt was published by the University of California Press on October 31 2023. Watch the live event recording: https://youtube.com/live/yhsQ3LHsAYU Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

How can embracing a holistic approach to financial planning transform not just your wealth, but also your life's trajectory and family dynamics?   In this enlightening episode, Debra Schatzki, a distinguished figure in the financial services industry and the founder of BPP Wealth Solutions, shares her unique journey, beginning with her mother's inspirational career in financial planning to her own evolution in the industry. She delves into the philosophy of BPP Wealth Solutions, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to building, protecting, and preserving wealth. Debra's insights reveal the profound impact of financial planning on family dynamics and individual empowerment, offering valuable lessons on navigating the complex world of finance with wisdom and foresight.    Debra's is an independent advocate for her clients, and her work is integral to ensuring all BPP clients receive the planning and advisory services they need to grow their futures.     [00:01 - 08:24] The Journey to Financial Expertise: A Family Legacy Debra's entry into the financial world was influenced by her mother's career and achievements The importance of early financial education and exposure The unique challenges and rewards of working within a family business   [08:25 - 16:18] Building a Holistic Financial Firm: The BPP Wealth Model The creation of BPP Wealth stems from Debra's desire to offer comprehensive financial solutions Emphasis on understanding client cash flow and creating tailored financial plans The role of financial planning in building, protecting, and preserving wealth.   [16:19 - 23:55] Navigating Family Dynamics in Wealth Management The complexities of managing finances across generations Strategies for engaging younger family members in financial planning The importance of aligning financial plans with family values and goals.   [23:56 - 29:00] Investment Strategies and Portfolio Diversification Debra's approach to investment management and the importance of diversification The impact of market trends on investment choices Educating clients about different investment options and their implications.   [29:01 - 32:49] Closing Segment The critical role of regular financial reviews and plan adjustments Debra's insights on the future of financial planning and wealth management The significance of Debra's book, "Chaos to Joy," in understanding client transformations     Connect with Debra:   LinkedIn: Debra Schatzki Facebook: BPP Wealth Solutions     Key Quotes:     "It's not just about building a plan to get by; it's about building a plan based on what you could have." - Debra Schatzki   "Real wealth gets made through diversification and making changes as you move on." - Debra Schatzki   "There's so many ways to look at your life to make sure that you're being tax savvy." - Debra Schatzki   "The only way I think that you can really help somebody with their investments is understanding how much they're going to need." - Debra Schatzki       WANT TO LEARN MORE?   Connect with me through LinkedIn.   Or send me an email at sujata@luxe-cap.com   Visit my website, www.luxe-cap.com, or my YouTube channel.   Thanks for tuning in!   If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Episode 97: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2023 ATP year with the BPP version of the Oscar's, dishing out awards for: Player of the Year Coach of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Most Improved Disappointment of the Year Newcomer of the Year Tournament of the Year We list off the nominees, honorable mentions, and lastly, the winners of each. We had fun with this and hope you will too - hit us up on Instagram to debate any of the awards we dished out! Thanks for tuning in, make sure to follow and subscribe on all major podcasts & social media platforms! Socials ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/breakpointpodcast7/support

How can embracing a holistic approach to financial planning transform not just your wealth, but also your life's trajectory and family dynamics?   In this enlightening episode, Debra Schatzki, a distinguished figure in the financial services industry and the founder of BPP Wealth Solutions, shares her unique journey, beginning with her mother's inspirational career in financial planning to her own evolution in the industry. She delves into the philosophy of BPP Wealth Solutions, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to building, protecting, and preserving wealth. Debra's insights reveal the profound impact of financial planning on family dynamics and individual empowerment, offering valuable lessons on navigating the complex world of finance with wisdom and foresight.    Debra's is an independent advocate for her clients, and her work is integral to ensuring all BPP clients receive the planning and advisory services they need to grow their futures.     [00:01 - 08:24] The Journey to Financial Expertise: A Family Legacy Debra's entry into the financial world was influenced by her mother's career and achievements The importance of early financial education and exposure The unique challenges and rewards of working within a family business   [08:25 - 16:18] Building a Holistic Financial Firm: The BPP Wealth Model The creation of BPP Wealth stems from Debra's desire to offer comprehensive financial solutions Emphasis on understanding client cash flow and creating tailored financial plans The role of financial planning in building, protecting, and preserving wealth.   [16:19 - 23:55] Navigating Family Dynamics in Wealth Management The complexities of managing finances across generations Strategies for engaging younger family members in financial planning The importance of aligning financial plans with family values and goals.   [23:56 - 29:00] Investment Strategies and Portfolio Diversification Debra's approach to investment management and the importance of diversification The impact of market trends on investment choices Educating clients about different investment options and their implications.   [29:01 - 32:49] Closing Segment The critical role of regular financial reviews and plan adjustments Debra's insights on the future of financial planning and wealth management The significance of Debra's book, "Chaos to Joy," in understanding client transformations     Connect with Debra:   LinkedIn: Debra Schatzki Facebook: BPP Wealth Solutions     Key Quotes:     "It's not just about building a plan to get by; it's about building a plan based on what you could have." - Debra Schatzki   "Real wealth gets made through diversification and making changes as you move on." - Debra Schatzki   "There's so many ways to look at your life to make sure that you're being tax savvy." - Debra Schatzki   "The only way I think that you can really help somebody with their investments is understanding how much they're going to need." - Debra Schatzki       WANT TO LEARN MORE?   Connect with me through LinkedIn.   Or send me an email at sujata@luxe-cap.com   Visit my website, www.luxe-cap.com, or my YouTube channel.   Thanks for tuning in!   If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Welcome back to another episode of The Lila Life Show! In this episode, Linda spoke with Debra Schatzki, CFP®, CLU, owner and founder of BPP Wealth Solutions. Debra is passionate about financial planning and helping people fulfill their dreams because she believes that the key to finding financial success runs parallel to deciphering what you really want out of life. She helps clients figure out their dreams and then how to get them there, one step at a time. Debra has been a professional in the wealth management business for more than 30 years. She started while in college working with her mother to create pension plans. In 1997, Debra created Financial Services in a Box, a financial planning model licensed to accounting firms. Simultaneously, she ran those accounting firms' Financial Services and Investment Advisory divisions. In 2010, Debra founded her own consulting and registered investment advisory company, BPP Wealth Solutions, LLC. Debra went to Pace University in New York City, where she studied accounting and finance. She completed her Certificate in Financial Planning in 1987 earning her the right to use the CFP® mark. Debra is certified as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP). Debra loves being an independent advocate for our clients. She helps her clients achieve their goals and is inspired by people who care deeply about their families, their businesses, and their futures. What Debra does is integral to ensuring all BPP clients receive the planning and advisory services they need to grow their futures. Debra and her husband created Project Enterprise (PE), a Community Financial Development Institution that provided business training, business loans and networking opportunities to micro-entrepreneurs and tiny businesses. Debra is also passionate about cooking and traveling. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Nick, an actor and voiceover artist. They have a grown daughter and a teenage son, two dogs, and a cat. Debra offers a Security Income Planning service. You can refer to her website https://www.bppwealth.com/about-us to find out more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lila-life/support

Today's conversation is with David McIntosh. David is a Management Consultant listed in the Business Insider 35 under 35, the Founder of the UK Social Mobility Network at KPMG, and host of the Development by David podcast. I've gotten to know David really well over the last 3 years and it is only in the last few weeks I've learned the true extent of David's childhood and start point in life. I was exposed to the actualised, focused and accomplished version you get to hear today, but life was not always like that and the likelihood of David's positive trajectory was not certain at all. In today's episode, you can expect to learn about David's life and mindset growing up in Prestwick, his struggles fitting in at school and in life with a weight of blame and shame around his circumstances. But if you've been exposed to David's content in the last few years, you'll know he is a huge proponent of personal responsibility and agency. With that in mind you'll hear the levers and tools that empowered David to transform traumas into sources of strength. He offering advice to those battling shame, fear, and confusion rooted in their upbringing, nand you'll enjoy insights we discuss together on how to build confidence, and competence. Before we get into this episode, I want to say thank you to David for his raw insights on the loss of his mother, his experience of stand up comedy, the full circle moments of interviewing Sir Tom Hunter, speaking at his old secondary school, and much more. David has been recognised as the UK's number 1 apprentice by BPP for his role at KPMG, the Business Insider's “35 under 35” - #20, Accountancy Age's “35 under 35” - #20, and even ranked in the Top 20 Entrepreneurial Young Scots in 2023. Today's podcast is sponsored by vybey. vybey is an international nutrition company supplying world class meal replacement shakes. Many of you will have seen me share vybey on my Insta story when having a quick & easy breakfast in the morning when I'm starting work at my laptop.  Building the podcast alongside progressing my corporate career is stretching on time, but I won't sacrifice the quality of my nutrition. vybey provides me with all the nutrients I need to set me up for the day and keeps me full until lunch. The thick shake in vanilla flavour surprised me just how filling it is. From as little as £1.50 per meal, it's a no brainier to give them a try. Exciting Vybey also have produced their world class greens powder which you should check out. But I want to tell you about the Lions Mane Mushroom capsules I've been using. Use the discount code CAMPOD for 15% off either on their UK or Aussie website. ⁠www.vybey.com.au⁠ or ⁠www.vybey.co.uk Connect with David: Insta - https://www.instagram.com/developmentbydavid/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thedevelopmentbydavidpodcast Connect with Col: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/col.cambro/⁠ Email List - ⁠https://mailchi.mp/548e38ba5942/colincambro⁠ Support me: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/ColCamBro

This week we have a special episode of The Bookkeepers Podcast with our sponsor, Xero. Jo and Zoe will be joined by Ian Phillips. Ian Heads up Partner Sales at Xero UK, looking after the teams who onboard and account manage Xero's accounting and bookkeeping Partners. Ian has been with Xero for over 7 years, starting as a Senior Account Manager and progressing through the business as it has grown. Prior to that Ian has worked for other SaaS businesses and BPP, experience that has given him a strong understanding of professional services firms, their small business clients and the challenges they fact as well as a passion for the technology that powers them. Join them as they talk about practice efficiencies. This week we have a special episode of The Bookkeepers Podcast with our sponsor, Xero. Jo and Zoe will be joined by Ian Phillips. Ian Heads up Partner Sales at Xero UK, looking after the teams who onboard and account manage Xero's accounting and bookkeeping Partners. Ian has been with Xero for over 7 years, starting as a Senior Account Manager and progressing through the business as it has grown. Prior to that Ian has worked for other SaaS businesses and BPP, experience that has given him a strong understanding of professional services firms, their small business clients and the challenges they fact as well as a passion for the technology that powers them. Join them as they talk about practice efficiencies. We discussed: 0:00 Introduction 2:23 Account management, sales, and software development. 8:39 Xero software efficiency for bookkeepers. 14:31 The importance of bank feeds 19:30 Data capture software and its benefits for bookkeepers and clients. 24:34 Streamlining payments and invoicing for businesses. 30:11 Streamlining workflows and automating data flow in accounting practices. 34:52 Streamlining workflows in Xero accounting software. 40:26 Digitization and transformation in the bookkeeping industry. About us We help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build businesses they love that work for them. We're raising the profile of the bookkeeping profession and bookkeepers worldwide. Whether you're a bookkeeper or accountant wanting to grow your own business to have the flexibility for your life, and your family, come and join us. Join our FREE Facebook community, The 6 Figure Bookkeepers' Club, to experience this revolution for yourself. Connect with us at 6figurebookkeeper.club ----------------------------------------------- Quiz Are you 6 figure ready? Find out at 6figurebookkeeper.scoreapp.com ----------------------------------------------- Courses Find out about how we can help you at 6figurebookkeeper.com/bookkeeper-courses ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Find out more at: https://www.xero.com/uk/campaign/new-partner-programme/?utm_source=6FB&utm_medium=podcastnotes&utm_campaign=Q2 ----------------------------------------------- The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. ------------------

For aslong as I have been alive depictions of the Black Panther Party have largely delivered the vision of leather coats mobsters and buried their ideas & community activism. Now, If I am not talking about The BPP. Then who am I speaking about. If I am not talking about T'Chala & Wakanda or Prince Hakeem and Zamunda. Then whom. Well, tune into find out. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tedyism/message

I know that many of my listeners wonder, "Is there a genre The BPP hasn't done? Well there is! And it's today!! And it's sacred music. Lots of hymns and good feelings between people. And no, we won't be doing Norman Greenbaum's 'Spirit In The Sky'. Sheesh. Tune in and pray on.

In this episode, Cara and Missi dissect the ACOG practice guideline on antepartum fetal surveillance.  Knowing when to test, what tests to use, how often to test are all important factors in competent, holistic care of the pregnant person.  This episode will break down the kinds of test like NST and BPP as well as what conditions require testing and how midwives should approach the care of at risk patients. 

T.H. Johnson – Geronimo PrattEd welcomes film maker and researcher T.H.Johnson to discuss the story of Geronimo Pratt.Geronimo Pratt was a military veteran and a high-ranking member of the Black Panther Party in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s.A decorated soldier, having served in Vietnam, he moved on to study at UCLA in Los Angeles under the GI Bill. Around the same time he joined the Black Panther Party. However, he became a person of interest to the FBI in their COINTELPRO operation; the aim of which was to “neutralise Pratt as an effective BPP functionary”. This led to Pratt being incarcerated for 27 years four years after he allegedly murdered Caroline Olsen in 1968. Seven of those years were spent alone in solitary confinement. His freedom was secured in 1997 with the vacation of his conviction due to the withholding of key evidence by the prosecution. Despite appeals, the vanquishing of charges was upheld after appeal.He spent much of the rest of his life as a human rights campaigner and activist until his death in 2011.T.H.Johnson is a researcher of note, with some truly quality work under his belt. His other projects include deep-dive films and books into the O.J. Simpson case and controversy.Projects Serpents Rising: An Independent Investigation of the O.J. Simpson MurderO.J. Simpson: Serpents Rising: An independent investigation (DVD)This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

Episode 147: Routine Prenatal CareWritten by Elika Salimi, MSIV. Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Comments and editing by Hector Arreaza, MD.You are listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California, a UCLA-affiliated program sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice._____________________Elika: So, we're going to talk about some general principles of prenatal care and some of the most important diagnostic methods that we mainly use for taking care of pregnant women. I will forewarn you that there will be a ton of details in this talk, and I do recommend possibly taking notes as things can get easily confusing. This way you can have something to refer back to whenever you have a pregnant patient of your own.Arreaza: You can also download the episode notes from our website.Elika - So your patient is pregnant and she comes to you for care. How do we go about it? Well, this is assuming she had it at home urine pregnancy positive test and we got a blood hCG on her and everything's good and we know she's pregnant. Ok so now what happens next?Arreaza – We need to confirm the patient wants to keep the pregnancy.Elika - First, we're going to talk about the frequency of the check-ups. In this case, we are talking about a situation where the mother is coming to her appointments as she was supposed to but we all know that sometimes that doesn't happen if everything is going as it is supposed to then typically we get the initial examination at about 10 weeks of gestation and then until the 28th week there should be monthly visits, then from the 28th through the 36th there should be biweekly visits, and from the 36th week until birth, the visits are every week.Areaza – What´s next?Elika - Now I'd like to note that during the prenatal period, informed consent is very important and it should be obtained during this time because you want to prevent and manage any ethical conflicts that might exist between the mother and possibly the healthcare providers because we all know that any pregnancy can become high-risk at some point and pregnant individuals should be informed about the potential need for a c-section for example and be encouraged to discuss any concerns ahead of time. Elika - Now while we're talking about ethics, if the doctor finds him/ or herself in a situation where the patient is asking for something that the Dr does not feel comfortable with such as a certain type of treatment or a certain method of delivery or if they're, let's say, desiring an abortion and the doctor doesn't do abortions, then in this case you would refer the patient to a physician that is comfortable with the patient's desired outcome or treatment. And this is perfectly legal and fine just as long as you help the patient find somebody else. Arreaza – Abortion is legal in most states, but check your local regulations.Elika - So as mentioned earlier, the initial visit occurs at about 10 weeks of gestation. We start with checking their personal and family history and finding out about any previous pregnancies including at what GA baby born and weight if they know, any complications, gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, any history of postpartum hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, any abortions (if present at what GA), and the method of deliveries, whether it was vaginal or a cesarean and what kind of C-section they had done. These are very important for you to obtain from your patient. You will also assess for depression and domestic partner violence.Arreaza – In California, we have a wonderful service called CPSP: Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program. What comes next? Elika - Upon receiving the history, we will do the gynecological examination and send in some samples. We will also send her to do some lab work. Now what do those labs entail? Well, we are going to get a CBC such as screening for anemia, we will also do TSH but only in people who have possible signs of thyroid disorder so not everybody needs to get this. And, we are going to send for a blood typing to find out about their ABO group and the Rhesus status. We will also obtain a urine analysis to screen for proteinuria and asymptomatic bacteriuria because in pregnancy, unlike outside of pregnancy, you do need to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria. We will also ensure that the mother is on prenatal vitamins, so folic acid, if not already, and iron, if indicated, and vitamin B6 if the patient has signs of nausea or hyperemesis gravidarum and this can be combined with doxylamine. Usually, pregnant women don't get a glucose screening test at the first visit unless let's say they have high risk of diabetes or they there was glucose in the urine. Arreaza – I like the topic of diabetes in pregnancy. So, in a high-risk population, we want to make sure a pregnant patient does not have diabetes, or pregestational diabetes.Elika - We will also screen for STI's including HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, Hep C, and we also check for gonorrhea and chlamydia (pap) screening particularly in those under 25, or over 25 with high risk of infection. We will also test for rubella and varicella. Some places also order a QuantiFERON gold for tuberculosis. There are certain women that have indications for third-trimester screening for STI's on top of the ones that they already got in their first trimester. Those include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and Hep B, and C but each of those have its own indications so for the purposes of time I will let you look that up on your own.Arreaza – Summary: Physical exam and labs to rule out preexisting conditions that may interfere with pregnancy, either infectious or metabolic, to mention some diseases. Elika - And finally, we will do an ultrasound assessment to get a more accurate reading of the fetus's gestational age.Arreaza – What comes after the first trimester?Elika- So like I mentioned they're going to need to be following up and some particular things need to be done at specific weeks. So we are going to discuss those. At every follow visit you need to obtain: the patient's weight, BP and other vitals, fetal heart sounds, the baby's measurement from the mother's pubic symphysis up until the fundus of the uterus, as well as a urine analysis to check for any glucose or protein in the urine because we are always concerned of possible preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. Another examination that I should mention is a Doppler ultrasound and this is usually indicated if there is suspected fetal growth restriction or if there's pregnancy-induced hypertension or if there's suspected fetal deformities or there is growth discordance in multiple pregnancies.Now we are going to discuss assessing for any abnormalities in the fetus. All pregnant women regardless of age should be offered noninvasive and aneuploidy screening test before 20 weeks of gestation. The 1st trimester combined screening occurs at about 10 to 13 weeks gestation, where we can order some blood tests for the mom such as the amount of hCG in maternal serum, as well as PAPP-A, on top of nuchal translucency that will see on the ultrasound. There is also the triple screen at 15-20 weeks which consists of ordering hCG, alpha-fetoprotein aka AFP, and estriol then there's also the quad screen test at 15-22 weeks gestation that consists of hCG, AFP, Estriol and Inhibin A. We also have the cell free fetal DNA testing that can occur after 10 weeks gestation at which the fetal DNA is isolated from the maternal blood specimen for genetic testing and this one actually happens to be the most sensitive and specific screening test for common fetal aneuploidies, and it is used for secondary screening after the ultrasound.Arreaza – Actually that test is done in all our patients on Medi-Call (cfDNA).Elika - If any of the screening tests are abnormal then we can provide counseling to mothers for more invasive diagnostic tests such as chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and cordocentesis. At that point, you want to refer the patient to perinatology. Finally, in general an anatomical scan occurs ~18-22 weeks. Arreaza – Excellent, we have done the non-invasive genetic screening. What's next? Elika - Now we are going to talk about what happens in the third trimester specifically and what test you need to order. In the third trimester, you will order a CBC again, particularly at 24 weeks you want to do a repeat hemoglobin. We will also do the indicated repeat STI checks. We are also going to do gestational diabetes screening with the oral glucose test that I briefly mentioned earlier at around 24-28 weeks. This is usually done with a 50g 1 hr glucose tolerance test and if abnormal then a 100g 3 hour glucose test. You will also be repeating the Rh antibody just to make sure that the mother is still Rh negative because at 28 weeks, Rh negative mother should be administered RhoGAM 300 mcg intramuscularly and they need to get it again within 72 hours of delivery. Don't forget to give a TDAP vaccine at 27 weeks. And at 36 weeks you need to be obtaining a GBS culture (vaginal and rectal) for the patient just to make sure that there is no colonization because if there is then the patient is going to need GBS prophylaxis at admission because colonization by these bacteria can cause chorioamnionitis and neonatal infection such a sepsis. Overall when third trimester approaches you're going to make sure the plans for delivery have been properly scheduled or discussed with the patient and typically around 34 weeks you also want to check with your patient to see if they desire sterilization and obtain a consent if they will be having a C-section and they want to be sterilized after that. In those not requesting sterilization, it is a good idea to discuss what they want to do after this pregnancy for birth control since it is not safe to get pregnant again for another year. From 36 weeks' gestation, use Leopold maneuvers for assessment of fetal presentation but I'll let you look that up on your own. At this time, you may also use ultrasound as needed to confirm fetal lie and placental position.Patients with maternal conditions such as gestational diabetes or gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia, or fetal condition such as heart defects or fetal growth restriction need to get biweekly NST/BPP tests at clinic in the third trimester because there is an increased risk of fetal hypoxic injury or death. An NST is basically a non-stress test that measures fetal heart rate reactivity to fetal movements. BPP /biophysical profile is a noninvasive test that evaluates the risk of antenatal fetal death usually after the 28th gestational week and what it consists of is the ultrasound assessment of fetal movement, fetal tone, fetal breathing, and amniotic fluid volume or we can also perform a contractions stress test that basically measures fetal heart rate reactivity in response to uterine contractions. Arreaza – I like talking about obesity. Weight gain is expected during pregnancy. Patients with normal weight are expected to gain 25-35 pounds. Patients with obesity are recommended to gain 11-20 only.Summary: Now I know that this was very extensive talk with a ton of details but if you took notes and refer back to it then I think things will somewhat make more sense and come together that way. The best thing we can do is try to adhere to guidelines to make sure that we don't miss anything. Sometimes it could be particularly difficult to manage patients that don't or can't come to their appointments regularly and you may sometimes have to give them bad news and what not so overall it is not always happy moments we face but the best we can do is try to give them the best care possible to avoid complications and have the patient deliver a healthy baby. Thank you for listening to me once again and hopefully I'll be back again soon on another talk on an OB/GYN related topic soon. Thank you very much. _____________________Conclusion: Now we conclude episode number 147, “Routine Prenatal Care.” Future Dr. Salimi gave an excellent summary of the care provided during the different trimesters of pregnancy. Remember to collect a detailed history, perform a comprehensive physical exam, and order the labs to rule out pre-existing conditions that could interfere with pregnancy or detect complications early to start timely interventions or refer to a higher level of care. This week we thank Hector Arreaza, Elika Salimi, and Verna Marquez. Audio editing by Adrianne Silva.Even without trying, every night you go to bed a little wiser. Thanks for listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast. We want to hear from you, send us an email at RioBravoqWeek@clinicasierravista.org, or visit our website riobravofmrp.org/qweek. See you next week! _____________________References:AAP, ACOG. Guidelines for Perinatal Care. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Women's Health Care Physicians; 2017Zolotor AJ, Carlough MC. Update on prenatal care. Am Fam Physician. 2014; 89(3): p.199-208. pmid: 24506122.World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience. World Health Organization; 2016Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR. Recommendations and Reports. 2021; 70(4): p.1-187. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Murray ML, Huelsmann G, Koperski N. Essentials of Fetal and Uterine Monitoring. Springer Publishing Company; 2018Royalty-free music used for this episode: Space Orbit by Scott Holmes, downloaded on July 20, 2022 from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/.

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, we delve into the exciting transition of our BPP community from Facebook to our new private platform. I share the reasons behind this move, the limitations we faced on Facebook, and how this new platform will better serve our community's needs. We discuss Facebook's shift from a hub of connection to a profit-driven platform, and how this change has affected our learning and growth as photographers. I also share the exciting new features of our new community, including subtopics for better organization, improved feedback mechanisms, and a premium section for those ready to take their photography to the next level. Finally, I share some exciting future plans for our community, all designed to help you grow and succeed in your photography journey. So join me as we embark on this new chapter, and let's continue to learn and grow together in our new home!Join the all new and private Beginner Photography Podcast Community!https://www.beginnerphotographypodcast.com/new-bpp-community-joinConnect with the Beginner Photography Podcast! Email me at BeginnerPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Ed welcomes film maker and researcher T.H.Johnson to discuss the story of Geronimo Pratt.Geronimo Pratt was a military veteran and a high-ranking member of the Black Panther Party in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s.A decorated soldier, having served in Vietnam, he moved on to study at UCLA in Los Angeles under the GI Bill. Around the same time he joined the Black Panther Party. However, he became a person of interest to the FBI in their COINTELPRO operation; the aim of which was to “neutralise Pratt as an effective BPP functionary”. This led to Pratt being incarcerated for 27 years four years after he allegedly murdered Caroline Olsen in 1968. Seven of those years were spent alone in solitary confinement. His freedom was secured in 1997 with the vacation of his conviction due to the withholding of key evidence by the prosecution. Despite appeals, the vanquishing of charges was upheld after appeal.He spent much of the rest of his life as a human rights campaigner and activist until his death in 2011.T.H.Johnson is a researcher of note, with some truly quality work under his belt. His other projects include deep-dive films and books into the O.J. Simpson case and controversy.Projects Serpents Rising: An Independent Investigation of the O.J. Simpson MurderO.J. Simpson: Serpents Rising: An independent investigation (DVD)This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

On this Community Spotlight episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, I chat with Sheila Bragg, an active member in the BPP community. Sheila shares her journey into photography and how she struggled with understanding aperture and shutter speed until discovering the podcast. Sheila also shares tips on lenses, finding inspiration, and understanding the exposure triangle. We discuss Sheila's ultimate goal of establishing herself as a photographer and traveling the world. Finally, the conversation shifts to framing, where I ask Sheila about the hardest aspect of composition for her. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, this episode offers valuable insights and tips to take your photography skills to the next level.Sheila Bragg grew up spending her summers in Ohio with her family's portrait studio where she developed a passion for photography. She always carried a camera with her and loved taking pictures of everything, but it wasn't until she found a podcast that explained aperture and shutter speed in a way that made sense to her that she started shooting manually. Now she can adjust her settings without looking at the camera and even experiments with underexposing her photos for a different effect. Although people always told her she should pursue photography, Sheila never took it seriously until she quit her degree program.The Big Ideas with Timestamps[00:01:41] Discovering Photography: From Disposable Cameras to Manual Settings[00:05:45] "Photographer sets 10-year goal to travel world"[00:11:10] "Judging Photography: Quality, Framing, and Lighting"[00:23:04] "Maximizing Image Quality: The Art of Cropping"[00:31:02] "Navigating the Lens Jungle: Which One to Use?"[00:33:49] "Adjusting to a New Lens: My Journey"[00:39:20] "Capturing Inspiration: A Photographer's Quest for Improvement"[00:46:56] "Discovering the Power of Podcasts While Learning"[00:52:44] "Exposure Triangle: Understanding the Three Settings Together"[00:54:57] "Expand Your Photography Skills with Unexpected Shots"Resources and LinksCheck out Sheila Bragg's WebsiteFollow Sheila on FacebookJoin The Beginner Photography Podcast CommunitySign up for your free CloudSpot account to deliver beautiful images galleries todayFree Lightroom Presets! Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast! Email me at BeginnerPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Ashley Verma is thrilled to meet and welcome Tobi Asare onto today's Bizzimumzi podcast.  Tobi Asare is a founder, idea generator, a wife and most importantly a mum. She is the creator of My Bump Pay and recently launched her book, The Blend: How to Successfully Manage a Career and Family.  Tobi studied Law at the University of Manchester and then stumbled into Law School at BPP in London. As life would have it, she has been fortunate to be at the heart of building and leading client service teams and running commercial relationships developing new business. On this Bizzimumzi episode, Ashley and Tobi discuss: Growing up in a large family Falling pregnant and navigating work-life in a corporate environment Pivoting to creating your own business and still being a full-time Mum Holding your power and confidence as a New Mum What is My Bump Pay Creating time and energy to write a book Why Tobi wrote the book, The Blend: How to Successfully Manage a Career and Family Words of wisdom for expecting Bizzimumzi's The Bizzimumzi Podcast is brought to you by coffee-infused host Ashley Verma. This show is created to share all the ups, downs and all arounds of the wild world of parenting. Each week Ashley will be joined by a fellow inspiring, thriving and surviving Bizzimumzi – who will share their own journey. This podcast is your weekly opportunity to take a deep breath as we try to navigate the wild world of parenting; think of this podcast as the safe space where we are not too hard on ourselves, we share our humility and relish in overcoming the inevitable failures that simply happen. This is a podcast for those who are unapologetically At Its Best, even when ‘At its Best' means the dishes aren't done, there is crayon on the walls and your hair hasn't been washed in forever. We Are Bizzimumzi. We love hearing from you! Get in touch with any topic suggestions, questions and feedback at: info@bizzimumzi.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel is a pediatric dentist who owns her own practice in Pensacola, Florida. She fought for an empowering second birth experience even with an initial diagnosis of complete placenta previa. When her placenta thankfully moved, Rachel was cleared to go for her VBAC and she was all in!Rachel drove six hours to be able to birth with the provider she knew would best support her VBAC. With her doula and supportive family by her side, Rachel achieved the beautiful birth she envisioned. Additional LinksHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsThe VBAC Link Facebook CommunityFull Transcript under Episode DetailsMeagan: Women of strength, you are listening to The VBAC Link and I cannot wait for today's story. Reading this story, there are so many twists. Not even twists I should say, but factors to this story. We have our friend Rachel telling it from Florida so welcome, Rachel. Rachel: Thank you so much. I'm so, so honored to be on this podcast. I can't believe I'm actually getting to share this amazing journey with you guys so thank you for having me. Meagan: We are honored that you are here with us. Yeah. I feel like there are quite a few things within your story. Things like baby's position, placenta previa which we are going to talk a lot about at the end, even dental stuff, close duration, so there are a lot of things where I feel like people can relate to this story. Review of the WeekI will read a review and then we will get right into your beautiful story. Today's reviewer is haley222222. It says, “I can't recommend enough. I found this podcast shortly after my C-section in 2019 with my first and it has helped me so much. My doctor had told me that I was only going to be able to have four children because I was going to have C-sections from here on out. This podcast opened my eyes to the possibilities I didn't have a clue about and I had options.” Oh, I just scrolled, and okay. Here we go. It says, “I was able to find providers that I trusted and who actually believed in me. I prepared for my VBAC and unfortunately, my first VBAC was a stillborn at 26 weeks, second baby boy in October of 2022.” So sorry to hear that, Haley. It says, “Although it was heartbreaking, it was truly an amazing experience and I can't wait to have another vaginal birth hopefully with a better outcome and a baby we can bring home. I am pregnant with my third now and I'm relistening to all of the episodes. I am so excited to do this. I am in the process of hiring a doula and we will be taking a birth course this time around. Thank you so much for creating this podcast and I'm so grateful for all that I have learned.” Well, Haley, thank you so much. Again, my condolences to you on your second and congrats on your third, and thank you so much for sharing your review. Rachel's StoriesMeagan: Okay, we have our friend Rachel. Like I said earlier, she is from Florida. So you are a dentist and you have your own clinic, is this right?Rachel: Yes. I am a pediatric dentist. I only work on children. We have a private practice in Pensacola, Florida which is the panhandle of Florida. It's lower Alabama, kind of LA but it's on that end of the spectrum, not south Florida. Meagan: Awesome. That is so exciting. So, so exciting. Rachel: Thank you. Meagan: Well, thank you so much for being with us. I would love to turn the time over to you to share this story and then at the end, we'll get into that placenta previa and some dental stuff. Rachel: I know, who would have thought that dentistry could be related to C-sections? Meagan: Who would have thought? Really, though. Rachel: I know. It's all related. Meagan: We never talk about it so I'm excited too. Rachel: Well, I guess I'll just get excited about my children journey. Again, I'm just so thankful that I get to talk on this podcast. I listen to you guys every single day when I was preparing for a VBAC and Meagan, what you're doing is changing so many people's lives. Like we talked about, I'm sure recording a podcast can get a little crazy like with any job that we do, but you really are making such a difference in so many people's lives so I really thank you for that. Meagan: Oh, thank you. Thank you. Rachel: Yes. So okay, my children journey I guess what you could say started in Gainesville. My husband and I were living in Gainesville. He was finishing up an orthodontic residency at that time and I was working as a pediatric dentist. I had just finished residency and I was working at a private practice. We became pregnant with our first baby. They said I had a subchorionic hematoma around 7 weeks and said, “Don't worry.” It's a pretty common thing I think. Meagan: It is. Rachel: I came back for a follow-up ultrasound anyway around 10 weeks or so and no heartbeat. We had a miscarriage. They gave me two options, either the misoprostol pill to pass the baby or the D&C.Meagan: Cytotec. Rachel: Yeah, or the D&C. After talking to a lot of people, I just decided to have the D&C. It seemed less emotionally scarring. Anyway, so we did that. Right around that time, the day before surgery, the whole COVID thing in 2020 started and they said that for some reason, dentists were considered non-essential so everything was shut down for the whole month of April. Meagan: What?!Rachel: I had never not worked my whole life. This was the most time I had ever had off ever so it was crazy. I was not working. I had scheduled the D&C. That morning, I had a 99-degree fever or something. My OB in Gainesville was amazing. The whole hospital staff was like, “Oh my gosh. She might have COVID. We can't do the surgery.” Yeah, so crazy. My OB had to vouch for me to say that I didn't have COVID and that we could still do the D&C anyway. I'm pretty sure I was the last elective surgery to have done and then after the date, literally I think it was March 20th, and the day after, they stopped doing elective surgeries and stuff. I was super thankful for that. It's Dr. Erin in Gainesville and she was just awesome. We had a miscarriage. It was a super tough time for me and my husband. I just remember praying and asking God to comfort us because we are Christians and I just really believe that God is close to the brokenhearted. The Bible says, “He's near to the brokenhearted.” It's still hard though because he's not here to comfort you physically. I just remember I was praying and there was this dove that came to our house and lived in our backyard. It was so crazy. For several weeks, he just made a nest on the ground.Meagan: That just gave me the chills. Rachel: It is. I'm telling you, I prayed so hard. He can comfort you but he's not going to give you a hug or something. I don't know. Do you know what I mean? So literally this dove came and lived in our yard. That dove was there. I'm not even kidding you. The day that I found out I was pregnant, the dove just left. We were like, “Where did that dove go? He was living in our yard and now he's not there.” That was the day I found out we were pregnant with our second baby, or our first baby. Meagan: Uh-uh. Wow. Rachel: It was so insane. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Rachel: Yes. That was the first crazy thing. I had wanted a puppy after the miscarriage and we had a really small courtyard so my husband was like, “Well, if we get a puppy, I'm getting a monkey.” I'm like, “No.” I was like, “Well if you really do want a monkey, I can look into finding us a monkey if you'll let me have a puppy.” He's like, “Okay, deal.” Well, he knows not to put anything past me after that because I found a monkey and we literally have a little squirrel monkey. His name is Rocko and we have a Maltipoo whose name is Remi. So the week after we got our monkey, that's when we found out we were pregnant again. I was like, “Now we have a monkey and this puppy and now we're going to have a baby.” That's how life goes. If you know me, that's just how my life goes. It's just like, the more fun, the better. Anyway, so I was pregnant with the second one. I also had a subchorionic hematoma in the beginning and Dr. Erin was like, “Okay, I know I told you not to worry about it last time but seriously it's usually not a big deal.” But you know, you're still worried because you have the same thinking. Meagan: Yeah, trigger back a little bit. Rachel: Exactly. So I was just a little worried about that, but I kept pressing forward. So then fast forward later, everything is healthy. Six months into the pregnancy, I found out that we got a great opportunity to move back to Pensacola which is where I'm from. It's about six hours away from Gainesville. It's near my home town. My parents live here. A pediatric dentist, Dr. Stu Bonnin was selling his dental practice in Pensacola so we decided to merge together and transition. I went there. I was probably about seven months pregnant when we moved to Pensacola. I was starting up. I'm seven months pregnant. I'm starting brand new seeing all of these patients I'm just getting to know. My husband started an orthodontic practice next door which is a dream come true. We have always wanted to do this. The doors opened up to where it could happen. Timing sometimes seems crazy but it just happened that way. I mean, I remember we moved here on December 24, 2020, so Christmas Eve. U-hauls are a lot cheaper then by the way. Our family had COVID so we weren't going to go see them anyway. I remember waking up on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning and I was sleeping on an air mattress. We had just bought our house and moved everything in. I'm like, “Wow. What a whirlwind. This is crazy.” So we moved halfway through. I'm a new business owner. So then I started seeing patients at about eight months pregnant. I'm trying to establish rapport with my new patients. I just decided it was in their best interest to work up until my due date. I worked up until my due date. At this point, I had no knowledge of birthing a baby at all which is my fault. I should have researched everything but there was just a lot going on. Meagan: Yeah. Don't put too much pressure on yourself there. Rachel: Knowing what I know now–Meagan: You had a lot of juggling pieces. Rachel: I know. Plus I was like, “I don't want to know how the baby gets here. I just want to know what to do after it gets here,” so I did a lot of Taking Cara Babies, reading how to get them to sleep through the night. I really wanted to breastfeed so I was focused on what to do when the baby gets here. Meagan: Which also is something that a lot of the time we forget to do. Rachel: I know. I know. It's all hard. So I worked up until my due date. I was expecting to be two weeks late for some reason because I was two weeks late as a baby. My husband was two weeks late and we were both first babies. I'm like, “It's going to be fine. I'll probably just be a little late.” A week passed and I had found an OB here. They did the BPP thing, the biophysical profile. Everything had been healthy. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She started talking about inducing me because I had borderline low amniotic fluid. That's the reason they gave me. So I guess amniotic fluid level from my understanding can be anywhere from 5 centimeters to 25 centimeters and mine was a 7. So she's like, “It's borderline low. The baby's not in distress but the older your placenta gets, the more likely that you'll have a stillbirth or you can have babies born with cerebral palsy and complications.”Meagan: Big words, very big words. Rachel: Yeah. I'm like, “Oh my gosh, well I don't want that.” I trust the doctor. I'm a doctor. I feel like I look out for people's best interests. I mean, I know I just deal with baby teeth but I truly want the best for my patients so I know she was probably recommending the same thing. All of that is not untrue, but anyways. Knowing what I know now, I'm just like, “What in the world?” She recommended that I be induced because of the borderline low amniotic fluid and that the longer time passes by, the increased chance of stillbirth. Because I had done zero birth education, I had nothing to really guide my decision-making process and my husband wasn't there because it was all COVID stuff. He couldn't come to any of the appointments so I was making these decisions on my own. I was just like, “Okay. We'll get induced. That's fine.” I only had a month off for maternity leave anyways, so I'm like, “Okay. It'll probably work out that the baby's born more on time.” Meagan: That you'll have some time. Rachel: Yeah, exactly. The day before, I just had this really bad feeling. I called the doctor's office and I was like, “Hey, is there any way we can postpone the induction?” I was really nervous. They were like, “No. This is the only time. We don't recommend that. This is the best thing.” I'm like, “Okay.” I got to the hospital. I started on, is it Cervadil?Meagan: Yeah, Cervadil. Rachel: The insertion pill thing. Meagan: So the pill is Cytotec and then there's the tampon-looking thing and that's Cervadil. Rachel: Okay. I think that might have been what that was. So yeah. I did that. I got to 2 centimeters dilated and they started the Pitocin. So then after the Pitocin, it was a gentle induction. The doctor I went to I guess is known for gentle inductions so that was good. I got to 2 centimeters dilated. Our daughter's name is Heidi. Her heart rate started dropping even this early on. I was only 2 centimeters dilated. Every time they turned the Pitocin up, it would drop. I was just like, “Just take me off of everything. Let's just wait.” The OB came in and she's like, “We've already had nonreassuring fetal heart rates.” I hope I'm using the correct words but I think that's what it is. Meagan: Correct. Rachel: It's just not looking good so we would recommend some kind of intervention at this point. I was like, “What about an epidural?” She was like, “Maybe you could use an epidural. It would help you relax and just speed things along.” So I got an epidural and then Heidi's heart rate dropped again. This just kept happening and I will never forget. There was a younger nurse. The doctor wasn't there. It was 2:00 AM and she came walking in the room. She said, “Hey, so the doctor just told us that we need to prep you for a C-section.” I'm just like, “What? A C-section? Excuse me? No one told me this was a possibility.” I had never even researched what that was. I never even knew that was a possibility. Meagan: A lot of us don't. Rachel: I mean, I'm stupid for not realizing that is a possibility, but at the same time, you're not planning on it. It's just an unplanned surgery. Meagan: Yeah. We go in thinking we're just going to have this baby which we do have a baby but we just don't envision it that way. Rachel: I know. I just truly wanted what was best for my baby. Meagan: Absolutely. Rachel: If it meant a C-section to save her life, then obviously that's what I would do but I was realizing this cascade of interventions was leading from one thing to another thing to another thing and I just was so upset. The OB got there and finally, my husband was like, “Whoa. Okay. What is going on here?” He talked to her and he was like, “Let's just take her off of everything and see how her heart rate is.” We literally asked her. We were like, “Listen, if you think our baby is going to lose oxygen or something dangerous where it's going to save her life to do a C-section, we will do a C-section, but if she is okay and we can work through–” the nurses were changing my position and the heart rate would get better. Sometimes I think the cord can just get compressed or things like that. She literally looked at us. I was really upset. I don't even know what I said. I was just really upset. But she looked at us and she was like, “Okay, yeah. The heart rate looks great. You're doing great. I'm okay with that. Let's just give it a little bit longer.” It was probably another 12 hours that we had done that. Long story short, the same thing happened again and after she gave me time, and at that point, I think I had progressed to 6 centimeters. I was like, “Okay, we're going to have this baby. This is looking good.” Even the nurse said that it was looking good. I think the final thing that happened is that I started running a fever and then when I ran a fever, the heart rate shot up and it was super high. Yeah, she was tachycardic. I'm like, “Yeah, she is not looking good.” At this point, it's been 72 hours. I mean, I have so many fluids. I've been on an IV. So we were like, “Okay, we really need to do this.” I was kind of expecting it at that point even though I was super upset and super sad. I was just kind of waving my little white flag. We did what we could and they prepped me for a C-section. It was the craziest thing I've ever experienced because everything went really well with the C-section. The OB was great with the C-section. All of the team was really fast. I kept saying, “I can still feel some pressure. Give me some more medicine. More, more, more.” I was so numb that my intercostal muscles were numb all the way up into my chest so it was kind of hard to breathe. I knew it was just because my muscles were numb so I was okay with it. It was so crazy because I was so happy. I heard my daughter cry so I knew she was healthy. I knew she was there. It was the best moment ever but at the same time, you're sad. Everybody that has talked on this podcast, you know the feeling of where you're so happy. Your baby is here. You're healthy. There could be way worse other things, but at the same time, it's just that this was not what I was expecting. It's crazy. Anyway, she had to go to the NICU because there was fluid in her lungs so she had to have help with oxygen and then she had to get IV antibiotics because there was suspected chorioamnionitis. Meagan: Because of the fever? Rachel: Yeah, because of the fever. So it wasn't proven, but they go ahead and put the baby on antibiotics before the results get back from pathology because it takes a while so they want to go ahead and get them on antibiotics just in case. It came back and it wasn't chorio so she had unnecessary antibiotics. But I get it. You have to have certain protocols in place. So she had to have that. She was in the NICU for just a couple of days. It wasn't bad. I was able to breastfeed. It was a struggle. You have to really make sure you're on a strict schedule when your baby is in the NICU. You have to go feed them and pump especially when your milk is coming in. So that was hard but we were able to do the breastfeeding which is good. Oh, Heidi had a lot of donor milk in the NICU because it was good that they gave her donor milk. I always joke around. I'm like, “She's going to have the best immune system because of all of the donor milk that she got.” Side note, whoever donates breastmilk, you guys are amazing. I just cannot believe that is a thing, so thank you to whoever donated breastmilk.Fast forward to the follow-up, everything is looking good after the C-section. Heidi is doing great. I'm so happy. I wanted to share this. I don't know if a lot of people have ever experienced this but I talked to my provider. I mean, I really liked her other than she suggested the induction. I just really wasn't that on board but she was like, “Yeah. In the future, you will definitely be a candidate for a VBAC.” But then I got this letter in the mail. I'm just going to read it. It says, “Dear Rachel, The patient/physician relationship is important in providing quality care. I feel your unacceptable behavior toward me and the hospital staff as well as your unwillingness to follow my recommendations for your safety and the safety of your baby has jeopardized our relationship. Therefore, this letter serves to notify you that I will not continue to be your provider.”Meagan: What?Rachel: I was so, so sad because I thought I followed her recommendation. She thinks I put my baby at jeopardy. If she thought my baby was at jeopardy, she should have told me that I should have had the C-section earlier. I just was so sad. I, as a physician, I'm not a physician but I'm a dentist and all of my patients, I try to give them both sides to everything. Not everybody is as informed as I am about teeth. Duh, we all don't know. That's why you go to a doctor for advice. Meagan: That's why you go to a specialist. Rachel: I try to give everybody two sides. I try to inform them and then they make the decision. I don't ever want to force someone into doing something that they don't want to do but also if someone doesn't take my recommendation, I'm not going to say, “Okay, you're dismissed from my practice.” I get that some people just don't feel comfortable treating certain people which is fine. I'm not bitter about that but I was super floored that she would dismiss me as a patient because I didn't take her recommendation to get a C-section in the first place. Meagan: You did and then you had a conversation and she said, “Yeah, I'm totally fine with it. Let's keep going.”Rachel: I had a doula with me, Ashley Andrews, she is amazing. She is my prayer warrior doula. She even said, “I don't think you're out of line, Rachel. I'm really confused.” Meagan: I'm sorry. Rachel: Anyways, not to harp on that but it was really sad. It was really for the best because I started looking at other providers anyway because I knew I wanted another baby. Okay, so here's the good part of the story. Dun, dun, dun. Nine months later, we found out we were having another baby. This time, it was a boy so I found a different provider in Pensacola that was okay with VBAC. It's really hard surprisingly to find someone that is super on board. It really is up to you to do the research and all of that. We have doctors. People think doctors are there to give you a magic pill and everything is solved. Doctors can't do anything if you don't make an effort on your end too. I feel like that's why there is so much diabetes and all of these things because you have to do some kind of work on your end too to educate yourself and realize that you can't just go to a doctor and expect them to fix all of your problems. I realized that and I'm like, “Okay, that's in every situation. I have to become educated myself.” I found you guys. I listened to your VBAC podcast literally every single day at lunch and I would cry on my lunch break. I'm such a loser. Meagan: You are not. These stories are amazing. Rachel: I would listen to these stories and I would just cry. I'm like, “Wow. This is so awesome.” My husband, I love him. He's so sweet. He's like, “You guys should make a podcast for husbands on how to deal with their wives when they have decided that they are going to have a VBAC,” because he's like, “All right, I've already accepted all of this stuff. It's fine.” Anyways, at 20 weeks I was diagnosed with complete placenta previa, not just partial. The placenta is completely covering your cervix. My OB here in Pensacola, the new one, was like, “It's highly unlikely that this is going to move. It's complete. It's very rare.” He started talking about placenta accreta and how sometimes it can even grow into the C-section scar and grow out into your bladder and stuff. I'm like, “Whoa.” I was so sad. I'm like, “Y'all, okay. I guess I'll just have another C-section. This is fine.” But then I was like, “Okay. God, you said in the Bible.” Matthew 17:20 says, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there' and it will move and nothing will be impossible.” I'm like, “God if you can move mountains, I know that you can move this placenta. I know that nothing is impossible for you.” I just started praying. In the meantime, my sister who lives in Jacksonville had this great practice that helped her with her delivery. Full Circle Women's Care, I highly recommend. I also talked to a friend, Saundra Fetner, who had a VBAC with them. I talked to her about it and she was like, “Yes. You need to go there.” I had a Zoom conference or a telemedicine conference with Dr. Adams. She is the owner there, the OB there. She was like, “Okay, yeah. We even have some missionaries that will be in Africa and then fly here and deliver their baby here and go back.” She was like, “If you want to deliver here, that would be fine with me. You just see your provider in Pensacola and then when it gets time, you just make arrangements to stay in Jacksonville until you have the baby.” Meagan: Dual care. Rachel: Yeah, exactly. I was like, “If something crazy happens in Pensacola, then I have the provider here.” I talked to my provider here and he was completely okay with it. He was like, “Well, with the placenta previa, you might want to try to rent a private jet so you can get there really quick.” I'm like, “Okay, that's not going to happen but whatever.” He was okay with it. I didn't care. Dr. Adams by the way, just has such passion for what she does. If you don't have passion for what you do and you don't enjoy it, why are you doing it? She actually had a C-section with her first baby and she's an OB. So she's like, “I understand how medicine is there if you need it, but sometimes you need to let your body do what it was created to do.” I was like, “Oh my gosh, yes girl. Preach, preach. I'm going to come see you. I don't care that I have to drive six hours. I'm going to come here.” I scheduled a follow-up. Granted, it had only been two weeks since I had been diagnosed with placenta previa. Coming to the follow-up, I had another ultrasound and all of that at Full Circle Women's Care. My first appointment, my sister went with me and we were like, “Let's just not say anything. Let's not say that I had placenta previa. Let's just see what they say.” The ultrasound tech looked at everything and she was like, “Yeah, everything looks great. Your baby's healthy. We just might need to get one more little position of the head when you come back.” I'm like, “What?” So then I'm like, “Okay, well you don't see placenta previa or anything going on?” She's like, “No. The placenta is way over here. This is the placenta here. This is your cervix here. There's no placenta previa.” I'm like, “Oh my gosh.” My mom had been praying. My dad, my mother-in-law, Angie. I'm like, “Y'all, you will not guess what just happened.” I sound so crazy but I'm like, “God moved my placenta.” I even had Ashley, my doula, had her Sunday School group. She was like, “Girl, we've been praying for you.” I know that's not the story with everybody, but it's just so crazy. I really do believe that and I'm just so thankful. I had my appointment with Carol, one of the midwives and she's like, “Yeah, everything looks great. You're due around September. We're going to do everything we can to help you have a successful VBAC.” I'm like, “Okay, Carol. You promise I don't have placenta previa?” She's like, “What are you talking about sweetie? Your placenta is far away from the cervix.” I couldn't believe that it was the case. I had this regained energy and excitement. We were back on track. Let's do it. Then a couple of weeks later, I met with Dr. Adams and it's a group so you meet with different people because you don't know who's going to deliver you. Everyone I saw, I'm like, “If you deliver me, I don't care. Everyone is great. Fantastic.” I met with Dr. Adams and she's like, “You know, there's this thing that you can read.” It is a recommendation for TOLAC or how to have a successful VBAC and how to ripen your cervix. She had all of the guidelines there. She was like, “Have you been following the guidelines? Have you been doing your daily squats to open up your pelvis and doing the specific Spinning Babies exercises to get the baby in the right position?” I'm like, “Yeah, I've been doing my squats.” She's like, “Let me see you do 20 squats right now.” This is at my OB appointment. I'm like, “Okay.” She's holding my hands and doing squats with me at the appointment talking to me about what I need to do. Meagan: Oh my gosh, I love that. Rachel: I'm just like, “This is awesome.” Anyway, she really practices what she preaches. She's like, “All right, then let me see you do some squats.” So I did that. Also, going back so for Valentine's Day of last year, instead of giving me chocolates and stuff, my husband printed off the recommendations that they gave me. I'm like, “You don't care about this as much as I do. I wish you could just know what I'm going through.” He's like, “Okay, Rachel.” He printed off the guidelines of how to have a successful VBAC and he highlighted all of the things. This is on the OB's website, How to Have Your Cervix Ripened Before Birth. These were the things you needed to do. At 20 weeks, drink red raspberry leaf tea. At 36 weeks, do acupressure, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. At 37 weeks, start taking evening primrose oil. At 38 weeks, start using clary sage oil and do birth stimulation, sex, and all of that stuff. At 39 weeks, you can do membrane stripping. He's just so funny because he even bought all of these things. He's like, “Are you drinking red raspberry leaf tea? Is it 36 weeks yet because that's when you need to start going to a chiropractor.” That was awesome. I was just doing everything. I wasn't perfect. I tried to eat healthier and all of that stuff. You do what you can but I work full time. At the end of the day, we're not perfect but I tried to do all of those things. I did that. I found a doula in Jacksonville and she helped me through Hypnobabies. It is super interesting because your mind really can help you control pain. It's so crazy. It really can. I even want to look into this for my patients. I think it would be so cool if you could learn to hypnotize. Dentistry is scary, especially for kids so I'm always looking for new things to try. Okay, so we go to Jacksonville. I was due September 29th. I took a week off early from work. We closed the dental clinic down. I had a dentist that's working for me too, Dr. Bonnin and he's awesome. Thank you for working for me on maternity leave. I closed for a week. We just went to Jacksonville. We had a little mini vacay. We took Heidi. I feel like it was so much just to spend time with me and Edwin with my daughter for a straight week in a really long time and focus just on our family. We have had a lot going on up until then so it was a nice little breather away. Meagan: That's such a beautiful way to spend the end of pregnancy. Rachel: I know. Meagan: Sometimes in the end of pregnancy, we're so stressed. We're getting a lot of pressure from the outside world or from whoever. Why haven't you had your baby yet or why haven't you been induced? So it's nice to just be with your family and create this space going into it. Rachel: Yeah, it really was. It was such a blessing that we were able to do that. I didn't have to worry about, “Okay, let me do the last-minute touches on the nursery.” It was just relaxing. So I'm like, “Okay, for sure this baby is going to come soon.” I'm super relaxed. I saw a shooting star. I'm like, “All right. It's going to happen.” It didn't. A week passed so I'm already a week later and then I think I was 41 and a few days. I had the BPP again and they start doing the monitor thing. They just do the heart rate monitor. Meagan: Oh, a non-stress test? Rachel: A non-stress test just to make sure everything is good. They kept saying, “Everything is good but we are going to keep seeing you back.” They weren't letting me go very long. Meagan: It's very standard doing NSTs at 41 weeks, very standard. Rachel: Yeah, okay. They were just doing all of the things to make sure everything was good. But Dr. Adams was like, “I know you want to go into spontaneous labor on your own. If you're not by 42 weeks,” and she was one to wait up until 42 weeks to do an induction. She's like, “We'll do a super gentle induction. We'll start with breast stimulation. We won't even go to Pitocin or anything.” I didn't even want to hear the word induction so I'm like, “Okay.” But she was great because she allowed me all the way up until two weeks to schedule the induction whereas for some people, it just depends on the hospital scheduling and that's where modern medicine is sad because you have to do the schedule and your body's not on a schedule. Your due date is just a guess date. I mean, Jane, the doula in Jacksonville is like, “So what's your guess date?” because it is. We try to do what we can but at the end of the day, sometimes you just have to let nature take its course. Anyway, so I talked to Dr. Adams and everything was good. I was trying to go into labor on my own. My best friend from dental school, Jackie, actually had premature contractions at 32 weeks so her doctor was telling her all of the things she needs to do to not go into labor and I was trying to do all of the things that they told her the opposite. I'm like, “Okay, what did your doctor say? Okay, I need to do that.” It just goes to show you that getting babies on this earth is just hard no matter what way you look at it but if you're educated, it's a lot easier. Hurricane Ian was brewing up and we had to move from our hotel because our hotel was on the beach and they were like, “We are going to have to evacuate the hotel because a hurricane is coming.” I'm like, “Oh, this baby is for sure coming. It's a hurricane.” It didn't. The hurricane came and went. I even drank midwives' brew and all of that stuff. I was 41 and 5 days or something like that. Our daughter, Heidi, got really sick. She contracted something while we were there. She was throwing up. She couldn't keep anything down. My husband was getting a little bit antsy. My husband was like, “I have a lot of stuff I need to work on at home. Why don't you just stay here with your sister? I'll take Heidi home and I'll come back when you go into labor.” I was like, “Okay, sounds good.” He took Heidi home. She actually couldn't keep anything down when he got home. Home was in Pensacola so it was six hours away from Jacksonville. He drove home and she actually had to be admitted to the ER because she had to get an IV and all of that stuff. I'm just like, “Oh my gosh. My daughter is in the hospital.” I feel guilty because I've been focusing on myself and making sure I don't have a C-section meanwhile my daughter is at home in the ER. I was thinking about, “I'm just going to go home. I'll just be induced again.” You just want what's best for your babies. That's why we're here. That's why we try to avoid C-sections when we can but have them when it's going to save our babies' lives. We just want what's best for our babies so I just felt so guilty that I wasn't there with her. But anyway, she was fine. I finally went to Dr. Adams again. It was the first time I had a check. She said, “Okay, you're 2-3 centimeters dilated.” I'm like, “Why am I not in labor right now?” I was 2 centimeters dilated at the hospital a couple of hours in. So anyways, she's like, “You are super favorable. You are 2 centimeters dilated. You're at whatever plus station where your baby is really low.” She's like, “I'm surprised you're not in labor right now. All you're waiting on is for this baby to say, ‘Okay, it's time for me to come into the world.'” I mean, we just don't know. That's why medicine still has some mysteries to it. You just don't know what puts someone into labor. Anyways, she did a membrane strip which was great. Membrane stripping, is that what it's called? Membrane sweep. Meagan: Yeah, a stripping or a sweep. Rachel: She's like, “Okay.” We had the induction scheduled for that Thursday and it was a Monday. She's like, “Rachel, you're going to have this baby. You're not going to have to be induced. We have it scheduled just in case but you are going to go into labor on your own.” I'm like, “I really hope you're right.” I went home. My sister and I went to a coffee shop and we just relaxed for a little bit and then we went home. We were going to see a movie. My brother lives in Jacksonville too. Me, my sister and my brother were going to see a movie together. He happened to be off work. It was crazy. We're getting ready and then I start having some Braxton Hicks stuff but some contractions. Anyways, it really progressed and it started getting uncomfortable. I didn't know. I thought, “Okay.” We contacted our doula. We met her at the hospital. She was like, “Do y'all really think y'all should go to the hospital?” I was having trouble breathing through everything. I was like, “I don't know. It might just be Braxton Hicks.” We got to the hospital. I couldn't breathe through it very well so then Jane, our doula, was like, “Okay. Let's just go to the hospital and get checked.” I'm getting scared. “No, they're going to trap me. They're going to make me stay and I'm going to have to get a C-section again.” She's like, “Rachel, no. That's not true.” I've got my birth posse with me. We go in. They checked me and I was only at a 4. I'm like, “What the heck? I'm such a woosie. I'm only at a 4?” I'm like, “Let's just go back home.” Carol was there, the midwife that I really had a good connection with and she's like, “Rachel, I really don't recommend you going home. I really think that things are progressing quickly. You should stay here and just relax.” Then I talked to my husband too. Meagan: Make your drive. Rachel: As soon as I got admitted to the hospital, Heidi actually got dismissed so he's like, “We've got two babies heading out.” I'm like, “You're such a nerd.” He's like, “Rachel, stay at the hospital. You're being crazy. Just relax. Do your Hypnobabies thing and I'll be there.” I did that and it was crazy. As soon as I zoned everybody out and put my little headphones on– Meagan: And acclimated to the space.Rachel: Yeah, exactly. I had time to get acclimated. I was like, “Okay. This is going to be okay. This baby is coming.” I just relaxed and then things started getting a little cray cray during transition. Yeah. Now I know what people talk about with that. Also, I didn't have an epidural because I'm like, “No. They slow things down. I do not want to get an epidural.” Yeah. So that was great and then the transition thing. Okay, things started getting really serious. My sister was there with me because my husband couldn't be there. I had my sister and a doula. I was like, “Sarah, why did you talk me into this? This is so stupid. I can't believe I'm doing this. This is the dumbest thing ever.” Then Jane was like, “Okay, I think she's ready.” Meagan: Usually when there is intense talk and doubt kicks in, it's like, “I think it's happening right now.” Rachel: Exactly. So then Carol came in. She checked me. I was 9.5. I had a little cervical lip and I was like, “Oh my gosh. No. I cannot believe it.” I was just like, “How in the world?” Carol was like, “Okay, I think your husband is almost here so we can wait to pull the cervical lip out of the way.” I'm like, “No. We are not doing that!” I'm not waiting. He should have been here a little bit ago.Anyway, so we did that. I'm about to start pushing. My brother was there at the hospital. He met my husband out in the hospital parking lot and they were literally sprinting. They were like, “Okay, your baby is about to be born. Here you are.” Luke led him to the exact room. Edwin comes in. He has a backward baseball cap on. I'm like, “They're going to think you're a crazy person coming in here.” They're like, “Is this the baby daddy? Okay, come in here.” I was pushing and I'm like, “Oh my gosh. The baby is going to get stuck,” because I've heard stories that the baby is going to get stuck at 10 centimeters. Carol was so amazing. By the way, she has a British accent. She's from Africa and she's the coolest person ever. She's like, “Rachel, you are doing it. You're about to have this baby.” I'm like, “No way. Are you serious?” At that moment, she's like, “Rachel, you're having this baby. This is happening. It's too late to turn back. He's not getting stuck.” I'm crying. I'm like, “This is the best feeling ever.” He was born. He's healthy. He's here. I'm healthy and this is how things are supposed to happen. It was the most amazing thing ever. You just can't explain it. I'm just like, “Oh my gosh.” I just can't believe that it actually happened and everything was great. The births were such polar opposites. No one's birth is less important than the other. I don't ever want my daughter to think, “Oh my gosh. I was a failure birth, and then baby John–”. His name is John Edwin Richard the Third and then John was a regular birth. It's not about that. It's just how God can take our pain and our failures that we have and turn beauty from ashes. That is what happened. This is how it's supposed to be. It was the best feeling in the whole world. I was just so thankful. I can't believe my husband made it there. I didn't think he was but he did. Meagan: So close. Rachel: Yeah. I was like, “Oh my gosh.” I do want to say that I'm not trying to diss C-sections. You need it when you can but who you have as a provider is the most important thing. I trusted them and I knew that if she had recommended that I needed a C-section I was going to say, “Okay. I know that I've tried everything I can. I'm going to trust you guys.” She even said, “The position of the baby is the most important thing.” Baby has to be in the right position to do that. So anyway, it was just the most beautiful thing ever. I'm just so thankful for everything. Meagan: Oh my goodness. It's such a beautiful story honestly from all of it, from the dove in the yard flying away to moving and driving six hours away. Those are hard decisions sometimes to make and sometimes dual care is really hard too because sometimes you will have providers disagreeing with the other provider so that's really hard. But so beautiful. I could see the emotion and I could hear the emotion in your face. You're so happy. It sounds just so beautiful. Rachel: I know. It's amazing. It's the best. Meagan: Well, thank you. I do want to talk about that placenta previa because it's interesting to go from being diagnosed with complete previa to so far away. That's a miracle. It's so crazy but a lot of the time, we hear diagnoses of full placenta previa so I wanted to talk about what that is. You mentioned accreta too but previa is where it covers the cervix. To diagnose complete previa, it should be directly over the innermost side, so the OS. Directly over the canal of the uterus which is the cervix. So with pregnancies 16 weeks or more when this is happening, sometimes they're diagnosed with a low-lying. Low lying is when it's really, really close or the edge is less than 20 millimeters away from the OS, the cervix. 20 millimeters is 1 inch or 2 centimeters. Usually, most providers when it's 20 or more are totally okay and comfortable with that. One of the interesting things, and I'm curious how you had yours, but a transvaginal ultrasound to diagnose the placenta previa has a way higher chance of it actually being accurate than an abdominal. Did you have an abdominal?Rachel: It was transvaginal, yes. Meagan: It was. Rachel: Yes. On both, yeah. Meagan: See? Look at that. That's so amazing. If someone is diagnosing you with previa on the abdominal outside, you can also request a transvaginal because that can bring higher accuracy. If we get diagnosed and there are placenta issues within the pregnancy, then sometimes they will suggest a 34-36 week induction so that's another thing and then if there aren't any complications, sometimes it's 36-37. So just for those who have been diagnosed. I also want to mention that a lot of the time when we have low lying or something like that, it does move throughout pregnancy. Rachel: Yeah, and usually it does take a lot longer than that. I did so much research too. So yeah, just like what you were saying, and if it does migrate upwards, it never will migrate back down because your uterus is growing up, not down. It all is about where the placenta attaches to the uterus. It's this tissue and you can't help it. It's when the baby is conceived, that it attaches. I had a D&C and a C-section which can increase the risk of it. I had a friend that was diagnosed with it and she even had some bleeding. She almost had to have a C-section but it had migrated more than what did you say it was? Meagan: 20 millimeters, 1 inch, or 2 centimeters. Rachel: Yeah, she said it was 3 centimeters so her provider was letting her go. I'm not saying that everybody's just miraculously moves all of the time but the chances are pretty good that it's going to move. If your provider says that you need a C-section, just maybe give it some time. Everybody is different. Meagan: Yeah. Well, yeah. I think it's just something that a lot of the time we don't talk about, placenta previa. It can be really scary when you hear at 20 weeks, “Hey, you've got this possible placenta previa or low lying and you might have to have a C-section,” so at 20 weeks we're hearing, “I might have to have a C-section,” and it immediately starts making our wheels turn. Rachel: It does. It's crazy. Meagan: And then last of all, I really want to talk about teeth. Rachel: Yeah, teeth. Meagan: Our pearly whites. So obviously, you're a pediatric dentist and one of the interesting things that you have found that we didn't realize is that C-sections can affect enamel. Rachel: Yes, it can. If you think about it, at about six months in utero is when the baby teeth are starting to develop. Anything that happens, if the mom gets a fever or you don't have the certain Vitamins A, C, D, or E which are really important for your teeth to mineralize and you don't have the certain minerals, then your teeth can be a little bit weaker when you are born. All of these things in pregnancy affect the development of your teeth. Right at birth is when your adult molars, so you have four adult molars in the back and the front four on the top and the front four on the bottom. Right at birth is when those molars start to calcify. If you have, and I'm not saying that a C-section increases but it's more of a correlation. It's not a cause and effect. It's a correlation. Meagan: It's a correlation, yeah. Rachel: Yes. That's observed if you have anything that happens right around the time of birth. With a C-section, sometimes the baby might be a little bit earlier. When you are born, you have things that happened at birth. The baby might be a little bit earlier. A C-section brings the baby earlier. Sometimes those things can affect the mineralization process of those six-year-old molars and the front four top teeth and the front four bottom teeth. It's called molar incisor hypomineralization. If you have something like that, it's just a really good idea to see a pediatric dentist. You can put sealants on it. Sealants can protect the adult molars from getting cavities and things like that to strengthen it. Also, being on antibiotics right at birth–Meagan: That's just what I was going to ask. What about antibiotics?Rachel: Yeah. I'm not getting into the nitty-gritty of everything, but certain antibiotics are worse than others. Usually, the C-section has a higher chance of having to be in the NICU and taking antibiotics. That can affect the mineralization process of your molars. That in turn can cause them to be weaker which puts them at higher risk for cavities. It's just so crazy that even a C-section can affect your teeth which is my small little bubble of medicine that I do. Even that can have a role. It's not like if you have to have a C-section, you're like, “Oh my gosh. My kid is going to have cavities forever.” It just puts you more at risk for that just like someone could be more at risk of being overweight but there are things that you can do through your diet and all of that to keep yourself healthy. It's not an automatic thing. There are things you can do. Don't drink juice and eat sugar. There are things you can do to keep cavities from forming. But yeah, at around that time is when everything is forming. It's so crazy. Meagan: It's just good to know.Rachel: It is. It is. Meagan: Even if you've had a vaginal birth with a lot of antibiotics from Group B Strep or something like that, it's good to just be aware. Rachel: Yes. It's not necessarily with a C-section, but with antibiotics and stuff. Meagan: Awesome. Rachel: Oh my gosh. Awesome. You guys are the best. I love you. Meagan: We love you back and we are so honored that you wanted to share your story and touch the world around you.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Eddie Conway, former Baltimore Black Panther, 44-year political prisoner, and host of Rattling the Bars passed away on Feb. 13, 2023. Eddie's family and coworkers reflect on his life and example.Production: Cameron GranadinoTo read the transcript, click: https://therealnews.com/a-tribute-to-the-revolutionary-life-of-marshall-eddie-conwayHelp us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-rtbSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-rtbGet Rattling the Bars updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-rtbLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

For this week's solo episode I do a quick update on exciting things that are going on with past guests, as well as an update to last month's solo episode about ChatGPT.Topics/Guests included are:* Carine and Anaise Kanimba, daughters of Paul Rusesabagina, the hero of the Movie Hotel Rwanda who has been falsely imprisoned in Rwanda for 922 days! You can support Paul's cause by ordering a T-shirt like the one I'm wearing in the pic above at PaulR.org* The last slave ship Clotilda.  Over two years ago I interviewed descendants of enslaved africans and a descendent of the captain of the Clotilda in an emotional 2-part series. A Netflix Documentary is now out, National Geographic and many others have done pieces on this story and Ben Raines, the author and documentary filmmaker who found the Clotilda has a new book out. And a new museum in honor of the Clotilda is opening in Mobile Alabama in July.* Ibu Robin Lim update - She got her birthday wish!* Anti-Diet Author Christy Harrison, who was on the show back in January of 2021 has a new book coming out in April!* Terence Lester of Love Beyond Walls update (Near fatal accident and on the cusp of his PhD.* Paul Watkins currently competing in his 3rd Arctic Ultra Marathon (He's WON once already!)* Barry Nicolauo: Best-Selling Author and frequent BPP guest has a new book coming out!!* Dan Fischer of One Last Wave Project has gone global and is working on his 5th board!* Daniel Mate, Co-Author of Bestselling The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture has a new podcast out called Let's Get Lyrical with Carice and Daniel, and it's awesome!* The ever inspirational Clint Hatton has a new book out called Big Bold Brave: How to live Courageously in a Risky World.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:Website:https://www.betterplaceproject.org/ Instagram: @BetterPlaceProj To follow Steve on Instagram@SteveNorrisOfficialFacebook: Facebook.com/BetterPlaceProjectPodcastTwitter: @BetterPlaceProjEmail: BetterPlaceProjectPodcast@gmail.com

Black Panthers''... A loaded history of misinformation & hidden information..., Early recruits & The beginning DISCOVERED & carved in order by B Daht relates the BPP dates to events like the assistnation of MLK & What he was miseducated about What was taught, and what was left out. PROGRAMING & POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS - Like Chakka Khan. B Daht explains more about his findings when evaluating a historical taboo with facts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear ye, Hear ye Airheads young and old! On this episode of Puttin On Airs, Trae walks us through the rich/trash Venn DIagram of something we have both had exprience with among our family and friends…. being f*cking crazy! Turns out if you're a little loopy, people tend to treat you different depending on your tax bracket (you don't say!) And lastly, Professor Cho is putting down his tassled hat and picking up the bong as he goes full Stoner CHO to talk about some Paradoxes! *Producer note* This will be our last episode with Russ. On this episode you may have noticed that when Russ was talking to us, you couldn't hear him… don't know what that was all about but there is nothing we could do obviously lol. Next week, Corey's Daddy the “BPP” will be taking over and we promise to make the show better than ever! TraeCrowder.com for tickets to come see us… we will be in INDIANAPOLIS next week, and Bloomington, MN the week after that! Patreon.com/TraeCrowder PartTimeFunnyMan.com This episode is brought to you by: BLUECHEW - Bluechew gives you confidence in bed every time. Visit BlueChew.com and get your FIRST ORDER FREE!!! when you use promo code POA. Just pay $5 shipping! BACKYWARD BUTCHERS: Get your hands on some of the best steak, chicken and pork you'll ever taste and make your next steak night an event to remember. Visit BackyardButchers.com and use promo code POA to get 15% off your order, free shipping and 4 free Ribeyes for life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices