Podcasts about Mariano

Mariano Mattei is the Vice President of Cybersecurity and AI at Azzur Solutions, bringing over 30 years of expertise in cybersecurity, AI innovation, and software engineering. A Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Mariano has led AI-driven transformations across Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Device sectors, integrating AI into clinical trials, manufacturing automation, quality systems, and regulatory compliance frameworks (FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, GDPR, HIPAA). His work spans predictive analytics for risk management, AI-powered process optimization, anomaly detection in manufacturing, and regulatory AI governance. He recently graduated from Temple University's Master's Program in Cyber Defense and Information Assurance, and he's the author of "Data-Driven Cybersecurity – Proven Metrics for Reducing Cyber Risk"Listen NOW to discover, "The Secret to Taking A Secure Risk"

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 20-05-2025 Entrevista a: Elisabet Piacentini @ElisabetPia (Contadora Pública , Presidente Comisión Pyme CPCECABA, CEO en Estudio Piacentini)

LUNES OTRA VEZ con Joaquín Múgica y Mariano Boettner 19-5-2025

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 19-05-2025 Entrevistas a: Martín Polo @Macroopolo (Jefe de Estrategia de Cohen Aliados Financieros @CohenArgentina ) Oscar Agost Carreño @oagost (Diputado Nacional por Encuentro Federal)

Pesl, Martin Thomas www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Fazit

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 16-05-2025 Entrevista a: Gustavo Melella @gustavomelella (Gobernador de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas de Atlántico Sur)

Happy Thursday! Natalie is away on her honeymoon so join Sara with guest host this week @francescamariano from @chicksintheoffice while they discuss all things Bravo! Natalie will be back next week!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The MACH approach was originally seen as a breakthrough for digital commerce, but VTEX has voiced concerns about how it's evolved. In your view, where did the industry start to veer off course?" You've emphasized the importance of simplicity, native connectivity, and minimal middleware. How does VTEX's philosophy differ from the traditional MACH interpretation, and what benefits does that bring to retailers and brands?" MACH principles like API-first and headless are now widely adopted. What do you think commerce leaders should focus on next to create real business value, beyond the buzzwords?" For companies that embraced composable architectures and are now facing complexity or cost challenges, what advice would you offer as they rethink their approach? You've mentioned VTEX would be open to rejoining the MACH Alliance if certain values are embraced. What would a more balanced, business-first version of MACH look like to you?     

LA CIUDAD QUE LATE con Mariano Gaik 14-5-2025

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 15-05-2025 Entrevista a: Juan Luis Bour (Director y Economista Jefe de FIEL)

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 14-05-2025 Entrevistas a: Amilcar Collante @AmilcarCollante (Economista, Profit-Consultores) Raul Llaneza @Rauldeateindec (Secretario General Adjunto de ATE INDEC)

Segunda parte de este capítulo es especial desde la WordCamp Málaga, Miguel Ángel Terrón estaba en una comunión y Mariano se lanzó a los leones para hacer entrevistas a los asistentes.

Bienvenidos a un nuevo podcast de la Iglesia El Encuentro!!!¡Bienvenido al lugar de tu encuentro con Dios, gracias por acompañarnos!

LUNES OTRA VEZ con Joaquín Múgica y Mariano Boettner 12-5-2025

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 13-05-2025 Entrevistas a: Martín Kalos @martinkalos (Economista. Director de Epyca Consultores @EPyCAConsult ) Guillermo Marcó (Párroco de "San Lucas", Dir del Servicio de Pastoral Universitaria) Diego Ramiro Guelar @diegoguelar (Diplomático, Abogado. Ex-Embajador en USA, Brasil, UE y China)

Manuel Roncero explora las propiedades y beneficios para la salud del cardo mariano y el cardo de las ovejas y recuerda el insólito fenómeno que a veces hace que las plantas medicinales crezcan más según las necesidades humanas de cada año en concreto.

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 12-05-2025 Entrevistas a: Alberto Bochatey (Obispo auxiliar de La Plata) Víctor Zimmermann @VZimmermannOK (Senador Nacional por la Provincia del Chaco UCR - JxC)

En Gente viajera, la música y los viajes se unen gracias a Mariano López, quien cada semana nos lleva a explorar destinos inolvidables a través de su pasión por los sonidos del mundo. Con un enfoque único, Mariano combina la riqueza cultural de cada lugar con melodías que reflejan su esencia, creando un viaje sensorial que te hará soñar con tu próxima escapada. Desde los ritmos vibrantes de América Latina hasta las notas melancólicas del Mediterráneo, sus propuestas no solo revelan paisajes y culturas, sino también la música que los define. Escuchar a Mariano es adentrarse en la banda sonora de cada destino, descubriendo cómo los sonidos pueden transportarnos a lugares lejanos.

UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES con Mariano Obarrio 09-05-2025 Entrevistas a: Francisco Paoltroni @PaoltroniF (Senador Nacional por Formosa) Juan Francisco Garheis (Sacerdote)

With grocery prices being what they are, some of us dream about never needing to shop at Jewel or Mariano's again. Bonnie McDonald and Michael Johnson have been tending their home garden in Edgewater for about a decade, offering beginner tips. Plus, host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea get to meet their bees. Good News: Diary of a Black Illusionist  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this May 7 episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST The North Shore Center For the Performing Arts Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Anexos al abecé de la música popular de Brasil en forma de compilaciones. Intervienen: Helena de Lima, Maysa, Dorinha Freitas, Cláudia, Ângela Maria, Jovelina Pérola Negra, Rosana Toledo, Lecy Brandâo, Elza Soares y Agostinho dos Santos.Escuchar audio

Focusing on whole-person health and addressing social determinants is critical for achieving equitable and accessible healthcare for all.  In this episode, Adam Mariano, President and GM of Healthcare at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Sushma Akunuru, Senior Vice President and CIO at Independence Blue Cross, discuss how their organizations are driving change in healthcare. Adam emphasizes the role of data ecosystems and identity management in improving care access and efficiency, while Sushma highlights Independence Blue Cross's commitment to whole-person health and digital transformation. They explore the impact of technology on health disparities, stressing the need for partnerships and a balanced approach to digitalization. Adam warns of privacy risks from uncontrolled digitalization, and Sushma underscores the importance of modernization for better service and accessibility. Tune in and learn why these leaders believe that focusing on social determinants of health and addressing health literacy is key to improving healthcare outcomes! Resources: Connect with and follow Adam Mariano on LinkedIn. Learn more about LexisNexis Risk Solutions on their LinkedIn, Instagram, and website. Follow and connect with Sushma Akunuru on LinkedIn. Discover more about Independence Blue Cross on their LinkedIn, Instagram, and website. Learn more about this video's sponsor, UST Health, on their website.

**** VIDEO EN NUESTRO CANAL DE YOUTUBE **** https://youtube.com/live/VvemUIbeqCk +++++ Hazte con nuestras camisetas en https://www.bhmshop.app +++++ #actualidad #militar #Geopolítica En este nuevo episodio de Bellumartis Actualidad Militar nos acompaña el analista militar Mariano Méndez Rudilla para explorar en profundidad la estructura, capacidades y proyección estratégica de la Fuerza Aérea de Argelia, una de las más poderosas del continente africano. Con un enfoque centrado en la doctrina de disuasión, modernización y presencia regional, Argelia ha construido una fuerza aérea equilibrada y tecnológicamente avanzada, capaz de operar en escenarios de alta intensidad y de adaptarse a los desafíos geopolíticos del norte de África. Temas clave del programa: - Doctrina militar y estructura orgánica de la Fuerza Aérea argelina. -Inventario de aeronaves: cazas, interceptores, transportes y UAVs. -Defensa aérea integrada y modernización de sistemas. -Capacidad industrial y cooperación internacional (Rusia, China, etc.). -Escenario estratégico: tensiones con Marruecos, Libia y el Sahel. ¿Es Argelia una potencia aérea regional consolidada? ¿Qué papel puede jugar en un conflicto convencional o asimétrico? Invitado especial: Mariano Méndez Rudilla, especialista en geoestrategia, defensa y tecnología militar. Un programa de Bellumartis Actualidad Militar Análisis geopolítico, doctrina y capacidad militar en el mundo actual. ️ @BELLUMARTISACTUALIDADMILITAR Descubre @BELLUMARTISHISTORIAMILITAR COMPRA EN AMAZON CON EL ENLACE DE BHM Y AYUDANOS ************** https://amzn.to/3ZXUGQl ************* Si queréis apoyar a Bellumartis Historia Militar e invitarnos a un café o u una cerveza virtual por nuestro trabajo, podéis visitar nuestro PATREON https://www.patreon.com/bellumartis o en PAYPALhttps://www.paypal.me/bellumartis o en BIZUM 656/778/825

Its spring time and gardening season so we jump in with Co-owner of Aventine Gardens Pete Mariano for some great backyard gardening tips, some great recipes and a few laughs 

Play with us online at Phenom Poker: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1Play with us at Table 1: https://table1.vegasEpisode 76: Jean-Robert BellandeWhat do you get when you mix $5 million downswings, pool degenning in Hollywood, nightclub deals with celebrities, and high-stakes poker in Vegas? You get Jean-Robert Bellande.In this episode, JRB tells us about: Getting staked by Tom Dwan Pool games for $20,000 Teaching Robl how to be better for the game His time running games in Prague with a sauna in his bedroom And the $270,000 blind call that actually happenedNo fluff. No B.S. Just the real stories from a guy who's lived five lives and still smiles through it all.

Knicks Win Giants and Phil Simms and Brian Mariano

Este capítulo es especial, Miguel Ángel Terrón estaba en una comunión y Nilo tuvo la gentileza de sustituirlo para que Mariano no grabase solito.

Rafa Latorre entrevista en 'La Brújula' a Mariano Ventosa,  vicerrector de Investigación y profesor de Ingeniería Eléctrica de la Universidad de Comillas, para esclarecer las causas del apagón  

No Programa 20 Minutos, o especialista em segurança pública e direitos humanos Benedito Mariano debate um dos temas mais urgentes e polarizados do Brasil: como a esquerda e os movimentos progressistas podem resgatar a pauta da segurança pública das mãos da direita?Nesta entrevista imperdível, Mariano abordará:

Join us as we chat with Mariano Mattei, visionary CIO, CISO, AI strategist, and author of the newly titled Data-Driven Cybersecurity (formerly Security Metrics). In this episode, Mariano shares his expert insights on cybersecurity metrics, integrating AI into threat detection, and building secure apps from the ground up.

In this electrifying episode of Turn Down for Watt, we sit down with Mariano Rigotti from Amphenol to talk all things EV charging adapters—what's safe, what's risky, and why the right connection can mean the difference between smooth charging and serious hazards. Mariano breaks down the critical role adapters play in the future of interoperability and what consumers, installers, and CPOs need to know to avoid costly (and dangerous) mistakes.⚠️ If you're in the EV space, this is a must-listen. Your vehicle—and your wallet—will thank you.

Hablamos en Buenos Aires con Mariano de Vedia, periodista de "La Nación" y autor de la biografía "Francisco, el papa del pueblo"; en Lima con Mauricio Muñoz, periodista político de "La República", y en Bogotá con el vaticanista Hernán Olano

The EU decides against a carbon fiber ban, and the 992.2 Porsche 911 GT3 sets a new MT ‘Ring record. The guys debate for Mariano in PA, who wants something that isn't an SUV. Then, Gregg M. needs a car that's more than a toy. Social media questions ask what modern car has the best sightlines, do customers buy cars based on good mood lighting, and are origami shapes better for aero? Please rate + review us on iTunes, and subscribe to our two YouTube channels. Write us with your Car Debates, Car Conclusions, and Topic Tuesdays at everydaydrivertv@gmail.com or everydaydriver.com. Don't forget to share the podcast with your car enthusiast friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Download the RUN STORY app now! And follow @madewithrunstory creator, Mike Mariano @mikeruns26.2 – Thanks for listening!

Un programa muy especial en directo con Miguel Blanco - Misterios del Vudú Carlos Canales - Leyendas Urbanas Mariano Fdez Urresti - La hermandad de la Atlántida Dr. M.A. Pertierra - Sonidos que matan. Con la participación especial de Marc Calderó, presentador de TVE

About Adam Mariano:Adam Mariano is the GM and President of LexisNexis Healthcare. Adam is a technologist, nurse, and attorney, deeply invested in helping healthcare companies build better, more equitable, and unbiased products and services through intentional product development, open interoperability, and reduced health disparities. He brings extensive clinical, technical, and legal experience spanning 20+ years. Adam's legal work is focused on equal access, civil rights, and immigration.About Sushma Akunuru:Sushma Akunuru is a strategic technology leader with expertise in healthcare insurance, wealth management, and banking. As CIO at Independence Blue Cross, she drives digital transformation, modernizing business applications and optimizing IT operations. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, leading wealth management technology and automation strategies. With an MBA from Wharton and a background in computer sciences, she excels in IT strategy, product development, and operational excellence, shaping the future of healthcare and financial services through innovation and digital solutions.Things You'll Learn:80% of clinical outcomes are influenced by factors outside of traditional medical care, like social determinants of health; therefore, a focus on whole-person care and community support is essential for equitable health.No single entity can solve the complex challenges of healthcare disparities. Collaborations between payers, providers, and technology vendors are essential for creating a connected and equitable healthcare ecosystem.Digitalization presents both opportunities and risks. While technology can improve access and convenience, the rapid push toward digitalization can exacerbate health disparities if not implemented thoughtfully, especially for vulnerable populations with limited access to technology or health literacy.Solving large, systemic problems can be easy; healthcare organizations should prioritize achievable improvements to create positive experiences for members.Telehealth is here to stay. The pandemic accelerated its adoption, which now requires careful consideration to ensure that the service remains available to modern consumers. As things return to normal, virtual healthcare or therapy must remain an option.Resources:Connect with and follow Adam Mariano on LinkedIn.Learn more about LexisNexis Risk Solutions on their LinkedIn, Instagram, and website.Follow and connect with Sushma Akunuru on LinkedIn.Discover more about Independence Blue Cross on their LinkedIn, Instagram, and website.Learn more about this episode's sponsor, UST Health, on their website.

 En el podcast de Rosario Busquets Nosti de Audio Centro Podcast  del 10 de Abril tuvimosUn programa especial de entrevista con Mariano Osorio

pokerstrategy #highstakespoker #pokergo The Lodge Live stream always delivers to its audience a tonne of crazy high stakes poker action. That was no different in this poker hand as popular poker vlogger Mariano and crazy businessman Taras face off against each other. It seems like a relatively innocuous hand until Mariano check-raises the river with […] The post WPH #558: Is This The END For Mariano??? first appeared on Jonathan Little.

A Brand Born Out of The Pursuit of Recovery.Recovery in all forms.The comeback story of Russel Mariano shares his testimony as a recovering alcoholic fighting his demons to be able to create a dope clothing brand dedicated to his soberity. He creates quality products that help tell a person's story, and inspire others to pursue recovery in whatever that may look like. We built this mental health and wellness brand so anyone in any form of recovery has a brand that they can associate with and be in alliance with. It's through this brand, that you can share your testimony and be proud of your pursuit of recovery. This brand is our story and a part of our recovery. Join Project X and be a part of the alliance.Support the show

Today's show: Jason, Alex, and Lon cover everything from wild political headlines to big moves in AI and venture. They kick things off with the surprising Trump pardon of Trevor Milton, the disgraced Nikola founder, and break down CoreWeave's rocky IPO debut. Then, Jason and Alex sit down with Mariano Apodaca, founder of Prosperous AI, to talk about AI tools for negotiating construction and aerospace material costs. Later, in a brand new segment called "Office Hours with JCal," Jason reacts to real founder feedback clips, pulls key startup lessons, and explains why building for a market that doesn't yet exist might actually be your biggest edge. Along the way, the team explores the power of taking just 10% of the value you create — a pricing philosophy that could unlock your next big win.*Timestamps:(0:00) Jason kicks off the show!(4:05) Breaking news on CoreWeave and Founder University insights(9:21) Hubspot for Startups - Visit https://www.hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.(10:57) Trevor Milton's pardon and AnySphere's Cursor success(19:21) Pricing strategies for startups(20:19) Vanta - TWiST listeners automate your SOC2 and get $1,000 off at http://www.vanta.com/twist(21:38) AI sentiment and startup growth strategies(25:14) Guest interview: Mariano from Prosperous AI(30:21) Notion - TWiST listeners can try it for free at https://notion.com/twist(31:52) Prosperous AI's market data integration and growth(35:03) Founder University's impact on Prosperous AI(40:54) Product line expansions and fundraising growth strategies(44:20) Startup decision-making and investor feedback(47:02) Founder University and customer feedback importance(51:12) Canva CEO's insights and handling investor rejection(58:17) Products creating new markets and finding outlier founders(1:06:15) Venture success with Fred Wilson and Brad Burnham(1:09:18) Market selection, execution, and partner-product fit in startups*Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp*Links from the show:Prosperous AI: https://prosperousprocess.ai/*Follow Mariano:X: https://x.com/Mariano_APOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariano-apodaca-45b07a16a/*Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm*Follow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis*Thank you to our partners:(9:21) Hubspot for Startups - Visit https://www.hubspot.com/startups and join the founders who are turning growth challenges into opportunities.(20:19) Vanta - TWiST listeners automate your SOC2 and get $1,000 off at http://www.vanta.com/twist(30:21) Notion - TWiST listeners can try it for free at https://notion.com/twist*Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland*Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis*Follow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.com*Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Santiago González comenta la despedida de Aitor Esteban, la firma de la cultura contra la guerra y declaraciones de otros tonnntos patrios. El pasado miércoles, Aitor Esteban, portavoz del Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV), se despidió del Congreso de los Diputados tras más de dos décadas en la Cámara Baja, antes de asumir su nueva responsabilidad como presidente de su partido. En su intervención, hizo un llamamiento a los jóvenes para que se impliquen en la política y defendió la importancia de la participación en democracia. Sin embargo, lo que más ha llamado la atención de su discurso ha sido su despedida con la frase "¡Gora Euskadi Askatuta!" (¡Viva Euskadi liberada!).Aitor Esteban se despide del Congreso tras 20 años y muchas frases penosas: "Mariano, menos leña y más grano..."Paco Cobos Este cierre generó una ovación en pie por parte de los diputados del Partido Socialista, un gesto que ha despertado críticas en distintos sectores. La diputada del Partido Popular, Edurne Uriarte, ha destacado la contradicción que supone que el partido en el Gobierno aplauda una consigna tradicionalmente asociada a las reivindicaciones independentistas. Su reacción ha reavivado el debate sobre la relación del PSOE con los partidos nacionalistas y el papel que estos desempeñan en la gobernabilidad de España. Gora Euskadi Askatuta! es decir, Arriba Euskadi Liberada! grita Aitor Esteban en su despedida del Congreso Y todo el PSOE le aplaude puesto en pie Retrato de una izquierda contra nuestra nación y postrada ante el nacionalismo — Edurne Uriarte (@EdurneUriarte) March 26, 2025 head.load({"twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"}); El episodio no es un hecho aislado, sino que encaja dentro de una dinámica política en la que el nacionalismo ha ido adquiriendo un peso clave en el Congreso. No es la primera vez que gestos de este tipo generan polémica y la imagen del PSOE ovacionando el mensaje de Esteban ha sido interpretada por algunos como una muestra de su alineamiento con las formaciones independentistas.

While we can't control many parts of birth, there is so much we CAN do to quite literally change the trajectory of our birth outcome. First: Feel safe with where and with whom you will give birth.Second (but just as important!): Prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. During her first VBAC attempt, Maria hired a midwife. Her second birth had so much more advocacy, progress, and positivity, but there were still missing pieces, new traumas to process, and things she wished had gone differently.You will NOT WANT TO MISS hearing all of the things that changed for Maria from her first two births to her third. The proactive work, the passion, the prep, the healing, the research, the manifesting, the surrendering, the trust, and to top it all off, the beautiful, unmedicated VBA2C outcome. Just like Maria, our greatest hope is for all of you to unlock this birthing power that is already within you, no matter the birth outcome. Needed WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, hello, you guys. It seems like a common theme lately. A lot of people are wanting to submit their VBA2C stories, and I love it. I love it absolutely so much. We know so many of, these listeners in our community are wanting to know, is it possible? Can we VBAC after two Cesareans? I'm sure you've been noticing the theme in January and February, and now here in March, we have another VBAC after two Cesarean stories coming to you today from our friend Maria. Hello, Maria.Maria: Hi.Meagan: Thank you so much for being here and sharing your stories. We were just chatting a little bit before we got started about kind of where her birth took place, and she'll tell you more. But the VBAC was in Texas, right?Maria: It was. Yes, it was in Texas.Meagan: It was in Texas. So Texans. Texans? I don't know. we have Floridians, Utahns. Is it Texans?Maria: Texans. Yeah. Yep. And you know, Texas is a huge state, so this is central Texas in the Austin area. Yeah, because it's such a big state. It is.Meagan: It is very huge. We know people have to sometimes drive really far away to find support. And when it comes to VBAC after multiple Cesareans, we know sometimes that can be really challenging. And when I say sometimes, it's often. It is often challenging to find that support. So I really like to show everybody where you are in a way because we want people who are in Texas or who can get to Texas or who find it manageable, that they know that there is a supportive provider there. We'll learn more about that. But also, just a reminder, guys, if you're looking for a supportive provider, we have a supportive provider list. How many times can I say "supportive provider" in three seconds? A lot, apparently. Go to Instagram and hopefully at this point we'll have it on our website, so check our website too, but we will have that list.If you want to submit your provider, please let us know. Okay. We have a Review of the Week, so I want to get into that. This is by Whitney Goats, and the review title is "Amazing" on Apple Podcasts. It says, "I've been wanting to write a review for a while, but wasn't sure what I could say that would explain how much The VBAC Link meant to me. I had an unplanned Cesarean with my first and for the longest time, I felt broken and defeated. When I heard Julie and Meagan share their VBAC stories on the podcast, I cried. It was the first time that I felt understood and like I was not alone. Listening to their podcast has lifted my spirits, healed my emotional scars from the previous birth, and given me the confidence in myself and my body again. "I am now 28 weeks pregnant and preparing for my VBAC. Instead of being scared for this upcoming birth, I feel excited sometimes. I never thought it would happen. Thank you, Julie and Meagan, for the work that you have done connecting and educating all these amazing moms, and thank you for reminding me that I am a Woman of Strength even when I doubted it myself." Oh, that gave me chills. That gave me chills reading that. Oh my gosh. We love your reviews. That is amazing. And girl, Whitney Goats, I hope that you had the most amazing birth ever, and thank you for being here. Just like Maria and all the storytellers that have become before her, you guys, they're amazing and so are you. These storytellers are here to do that- uplift you, motivate you, educate you, and find the healing within yourself because it can happen, right Maria?Maria: Absolutely. 100%.Meagan: It absolutely can happen. Okay, you guys, as always, if you do not mind and if you are enjoying the podcast, will you leave us a review? You can go to Apple Podcasts. You can go to Google even and leave us a review there. You can go on Spotify or really wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave us a review. If you feel extra special and the platform that you're listening on can leave a comment, leave us a comment. You never know, it may be read on the next podcast. Okay, Maria, I want to turn the time over to you to share these stories.Maria: Thank you so much, Meagan, and I just want to say again how excited I am to be here. I agree 100% with that reviewer. This podcast was so impactful for me, and I hope that it can continue to be that for other women. I was also so excited that you're getting so many VBAC after two stories because I hope that that will continue to normalize that instead of it being this crazy thing that we're doing. Meagan: Yes.Maria: That's so exciting that it's becoming more common.Meagan: I know. It's actually making me smile so big because in the beginning, back in 2018, we had to search, and I mean search. We had to go on forums and type in "VBA2C" and really look for stories and almost had to seek them out. We had to go and ask, "Hey, would you be willing to share your story on the podcast?" And now we're just getting a flood of submissions which is so awesome. I love seeing it, and I would love to hear even more VBAC after three or four or five Cesareans because it is possible. It's not as easy to navigate through, but it is possible. And yes, there are risks. There are risks with anything that we do including a repeat Cesarean, but I want to help normalize this because, I mean, there are so many women just like Maria and myself who have gone on, done the work, got the education, and been able to have a vaginal birth. So. All right, well, we know with every VBAC or VBAC after two Cesareans, there's at least one Cesarean involved, so let's start with that story.Maria: Yeah. Okay. Thank you. So when I got pregnant with my first baby, this was in 2018, it didn't take me very long to find my way to the natural birth world. I watched The Business of Being Born like a lot of women, and I was fully convinced that I wanted to birth vaginally and naturally if possible. So, when my husband and I decided to move to Costa Rica halfway through my pregnancy, the very first thing I did was research the C-section rate versus natural birth rates in the country. I was pretty disappointed, although I wasn't surprised, to find that the rates there are pretty high. I mean, they're about the same as the US but a bit higher in the private hospital setting which is where I was going to give birth.I didn't want to let that deter me, and I was determined to build my team. From when I was still here in the States, I started researching the best OBs and doctors in the area and hospitals. I found two in the city of San Jose which is where we were living, the two most quote unquote natural OBs.Another interesting thing I found out was that midwives are actually not legally permitted to work in Costa Rica independently.Meagan: Really?Maria: Yeah, at least back in 2018. I don't know if things have changed since then, but they are not allowed to work independently. They are allowed to work alongside an OB. So I was like, okay. I went with one of these OBs, and there was one midwife who practiced in the city of San Jose, and they worked together as a team. And so I was like, okay, all right, well, I guess this is it. I have my team, and I thought I was done. I don't think that I fully understood the intensity of birth or the mental and physical stamina that would be required of me because it was my first baby.Meagan: You don't know what you don't know.Maria: You don't know. Exactly. I took a Bradley birth course with my husband, and I just assumed that everything would be fine as long as I had a good team, and I'd be able to escape the dreaded cascade of interventions that I'd heard so much about. I wasn't informed, but I don't know. I was very intellectually informed, but I didn't really know how intense labor is. So intellectually, I knew what I had to do. But anyway, we were living abroad. I went into labor naturally at 40 weeks, and I had a very long labor which began in the middle of the night which was a common theme in all my birth. They always started in the middle of the night which I think is pretty common. And because it was my first baby and I was so excited, I was unable to really stay calm and rest.I got very ramped up way too soon.I burned through a lot of my energy in the first 24 hours of what I now know was very early labor. So by the time it was actually more intense and I made it to the hospital, I was exhausted because I slept so little. We get to the hospital and my labor slowed down, which again, I know is not uncommon, but I think I was also just not feeling very relaxed. I started actually feeling uncomfortable with this midwife /doula as she told me she was. She said, "I'm a midwife/doula." I later learned that is not a thing. It's like, either you're one or the other. I just didn't feel like she was really supporting me as I expected she would. It seemed to me like she wasn't really a doula. I started realizing, okay, this is not what I was expecting. She was more of a quasi-nurse, really, for the OB and just assisting him. She was like his private nurse, basically. She was sitting there in the room either watching me. She'd come in and give me a position, but then just sit back and she was on her phone. At least that's how I was perceiving it. I just started kind of not feeling very safe with her, and I just shut her out. In hindsight, I think I should have asked her to leave. But at the time, I didn't really know that I could do that, and that I could really advocate for myself in that way, so I just kind of shut her out. She probably felt that it just wasn't a good click. So then I began to feel pressure by the team because I'd been there for probably, what is it, maybe 8 hours or so? They started pressuring me to get things going. And so the OB approached me about using what they call natural oxytocin which is what they call Pitocin.Meagan: Pitocin, yeah.Maria: Yeah. But they're like, "No, no, it's natural oxytocin." And I was like, "Okay, I know what that is." I could already see that I was being slowly kind of backed into this corner. I refused it several times, but I finally agreed to it. Of course, my contractions became excruciating, but I just was just determined to not have the epidural so that I could walk, even though I was already plugged into the IV and really not walking as free as I wanted. Eventually, one of the nurses, after a while, came in and she asked me when the last time I peed was. I couldn't remember. That's when I was like, "Oh yeah, it's been a long time." Nobody reminded me. I just didn't think about it. I had been drinking water, so they had me try, and I just couldn't pee. It's like my body just kind of shut down. So they decided to try and insert a catheter to see if it would empty my bladder and help baby descend. So I was laying on the bed. I had five people around me trying to place this catheter in me. I was on Pitocin, so I was having these intense contractions, and they weren't able to insert it. They said it was because of the way my body was. I guess my urethra was towards the back or something, and they just weren't able to do it. That was really disappointing because I was really hoping that that would be the magic thing that would help baby descend. Finally, the OB came in and was like, "Listen, if you want to avoid a C-section, you should just do an epidural so that your body can relax, and maybe that could help us place up the catheter and then, baby will descend." I was like, "Okay, all right. Let's do it." They did it. It felt amazing for a couple of minutes, and then immediately, my baby's heart rate dropped. The OB basically just called in an emergency, and I was whisked off to the operating room for an emergency C-section. I was traumatized because I legitimately thought I was dying. I thought it was a true emergency. I was like, oh my gosh. I can't believe it. I'm gonna die. Of course, I've learned since then that a baby's heart dropping after an epidural is pretty common.Meagan: Pretty common, yeah.Maria: And that it wasn't really a true emergency that merited a C-section right then and there. That's been a really hard thing to process.Meagan: And frustrating, too, because he was like, "If you want to avoid a Cesarean, this is what you have to do," and then you did that, and then it immediately went that way.Maria: Yeah. I honestly thought he was. I think he was probably just prepping me in advance to just have the epidural so we could just go there.Meagan: Yeah, that's hard.Maria: Yeah. After baby was born, the hospital policy required me to go into the post-op room for 30 minutes to recover, and I would then be rejoined with my baby.Meagan: Oh, so your baby wasn't allowed to be with you?Maria: No. Meagan: What?Maria: Yeah. So my first 30 minutes as a mom, I was separated from my baby. He was with my husband. I was taken to this room where I was recovering alongside other people that I didn't know who were also recovering from other types of surgeries.Meagan: Whoa.Maria: Yeah, so I was like on this bed paralyzed still because of the epidural and shivering. It was a really surreal moment because I felt like, oh my gosh. I just had a baby. Wait, why am I here? What is happening? It was really, really traumatizing, and that was just their policy at that hospital. So it was really traumatizing for me. I was eventually joined back with my husband and baby, but needless to say, it really affected me.I did struggle with postpartum depression and anxiety for a long time. I had a very hard time bonding with my baby for that first year. I felt really robbed of that dream birth I had envisioned, and I felt robbed about the golden hour right after when you get to enjoy your baby and celebrate the fact you just had a baby. I felt like I never got that.Meagan: That would be very difficult. There are a lot of people who get their babies taken away, and it is so frustrating. I just wanted to give a little reminder that if you don't have your baby and you want your baby, it's okay to demand your baby and find someone who will do anything in their power to get that baby back to you.Maria: Yeah, so that was my first birth. So the second birth took place about two years later, and we were back in the US due to the pandemic. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I was actually in Costa Rica when I found out I was pregnant, and then we moved back to the US halfway through my pregnancy. I just knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was going to try for VBAC. I was extremely confident that I could do it because I felt that if I found a truly supportive provider, there just was no reason why it wouldn't go smoothly. I had a lot of unprocessed anger and trauma that I hadn't fully worked through. I was still very angry at my OB, at the midwife, at the hospital, even though I did do therapy actually in Costa Rica, but I don't think I fully worked through this part. Even though none of it was truly 100% their fault, I still felt really let down, and of course, I felt anger at myself even for my perceived failure of my body to birth my baby. My way, at the time, of avoiding a repeat of this was to just completely avoid the hospital setting and go the complete opposite direction. So I opted for full midwifery care and home birth. I just didn't want anything to do with the hospital. It was traumatic. I was like, no hospital. At the time, we were living at my parents' home in their hometown. I basically hired the only midwife that I knew in town. I didn't really interview anyone else. I just went with her. I think in my mind at the time, as long as you were a midwife, she would be 100% better than an OB. Again, I was very angry at OB at the time. But also, I did meet the midwifery team and they seemed experienced and I liked them, so I felt really confident that everything would work out like it was going to work out. There was no plan B. Meagan: Yeah. Maria: In terms of preparing for my birth, I didn't really do much outside of remaining active. I did prenatal workouts. I walked. I was healthy. I thought that was pretty much what you had to do. I just thought again that not being in a hospital would solve all my problems, and that was the only ingredient I was missing for my dream birth, which, of course, I later learned was just part of the equation.So this time, my labor started actually pretty slowly. I had a premature rupture of membranes. It was a very slow trickle. It took over 24 hours of that for my labor to actually start. That was even after some homeopathic pellets. I don't really know what it was, but my midwife gave it to me and some castor oil that I took. I'm a pretty anxious person, so I was getting very anxious about my labor not starting because I had it in my head that I couldn't go too long without my water breaking. In my mind, I was on this timeline. I don't do well under pressure, so right off the bat, I was already in my head about it.Meagan: Yeah.Maria: I was so antsy to get labor going that I just wouldn't let myself rest. I actually went walking in the middle of the night with my husband instead of trying to rest. I was like, I will get this labor to start. I was just not really saving my energy. I was getting revved up again too soon. So again, once labor got going, I was exhausted.This time, I'd opted to give birth at my parents' home which in hindsight was probably not the best idea because I felt their presence in the home. I'd sense their worry and their concern over me, at least in my head. I was mostly in their bedroom, so I started getting claustrophobic in there. I felt like a caged lion at one point. I was like, ah. Now nobody was actually pressuring me, but I felt it. I just felt like my whole family knew I was in labor. Everyone was waiting for me. Again, hindsight is 20-20, right? I was like, man, I could have asked them to just leave for a while, but I just didn't feel like I could.Meagan: Yeah, it's their house. It's their house. It's their space. Yeah, it's weird. But I will just point out that who you have in your space and where you labor can impact your labor for sure because you're in your head.Maria: Yes, 100%. It took me two labors to learn that. Especially if you're a sensitive person and feel energy and if you're anxious, you have to be really aware of is somebody helping you or not? And if they are re not, then you can say you can ask them to leave. I just didn't know that I could do that.Anyway, I powered through it. Even despite that, I think labor was better in my home than it was at the hospital. I definitely felt more comfortable. I was more free. I was trying all these different positions and shower, bathtub, you know, everything. I felt really powerful. It was really positive at first. It was, despite the fact that I was really tired too. But it was a very long labor. Once again, my body shut down and I could not pee even though everybody was trying to remind me to go. I was trying to go, and there just came a point when my body just stopped wanting to go. We got to that point where they were like, "Okay, well let's try and place a catheter." They were not able to do it. I guess I have a very small urethra or something. Something happens in my body during labor. It's hard to get to it. This was a home birth, so they had their equipment on hand. They didn't have all the options that maybe they would have in a hospital of different sizes or something, so they just weren't able to place it. It was very, very disappointing. They also felt that I was getting weak, and I didn't want to eat anymore. They hooked me up to an IV. They gave me oxygen. This started triggering this fear in me that this was heading in a direction that I didn't like. It wasn't feeling like the peaceful home birth I had envisioned. I eventually got to 10 centimeters, and they said I could start pushing even though I didn't really feel much of an urge to push but I was like, okay, I'm 10 centimeters. I guess I'll try pushing. I started pushing for multiple hours, but the baby just wasn't descending. And at one point, the midwife could see the baby's head higher up, and she actually attempted to pull the baby out with her hands.Meagan: Kind of went in like a soft forceps.Maria: Yeah, exactly. It was very painful. Super traumatic. I was like, oh, my gosh. This is not what I envisioned. But she wasn't able to do it. He was just too high up. After that, I just remember seeing her throw up her hands and with her body just kind of say, I give up. There was nothing more that she could do for me. At that moment, with a surprising amount of clarity and conviction, I decided to call it and request to be transferred to the only hospital in my town that accepted VBAC, any other hospital would have had me go straight for a C-section. So this was my last chance because I wasn't done trying to VBAC. I was like, okay, home birth isn't gonna happen, but maybe VBAC will at a hospital. And so, we got to the hospital. When I got to triage, they checked me, and they actually said I was nowhere near complete and that I was 8 centimeters dilated, and that I was very swollen.Meagan: That's what I was gonna just ask. I'm wondering if you got swollen.Maria: I was definitely very swollen, but they also said I wasn't 10 centimeters. I was like, "What? What do you mean?" Because in my mind, I was like, I'm almost there. I'm 10 centimeters. Maybe all I need is an epidural maybe. Maybe I just need that final little push. At that point, I was okay with drugs. I was like, "Give me whatever." I'm so close, right?Meagan: Yeah, yeah.Maria: But no, they were like, "No, you're 8 centimeters." And also, my contractions had really spaced out, so they gave me an epidural. They gave me Pitocin, and they let me rest.Meagan: Did they give you a catheter and empty your bladder?Maria: Yes, they gave me a catheter to empty my bladder, but baby was just not coming down. And also, the epidural did not sit well with my baby again. They didn't whisk me away to a C-section this time, but they were starting to bring up, "Okay, it's been a long time." They also were pretty concerned that my water had broken two days before, and that was a big red flag for them. They started mentioning C-section as the safest route for me. After, I don't know, probably 8 hours there, I just kind of said, "Okay, let's just do a C-section, and we just went with it." This time was less traumatic because it wasn't an emergency. I chose it. I was also never separated from my baby, and that was very huge.Meagan: Yes.Maria: That was huge. Yeah, 100%. Like, I got to carry him immediately after birth. I was able to breastfeed him. I was like, nobody is separating me from this baby right now, and they didn't. So that was very healing, and I was very grateful for that. That was that birth. After the birth, the midwives did come to see me at my house, and when I asked them what happened, they weren't really able to give me an answer. The final consensus was that my hips were likely too narrow. At the time, this diagnosis actually gave me comfort because at that point--Meagan: It validated you.Maria: Yeah, it validated me. I felt like, okay, I tried everything. It felt like an answer. It was a neat and clean end to this journey. There was a lot of mourning still. It was a heavy weight on me, this disappointment of a failed VBAC and something that I would need to process for a long time because I felt really cheated. I really felt like I'd run an entire marathon, and that I could see the finish line only to find myself pulled back to the starting line again and have to run another marathon.I felt like I had gone through two whole births, the super intense home birth and then C-section. So I felt like, oh my gosh. I was wiped out. So, yeah. Those are my two C-sections.Meagan: Yeah. I mean, lots of really forward-moving progress with the second for sure and still work to be done. But also, you had some validation for you at the time. It felt better. Overall, it went better.Maria: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It definitely was better. It was better, but it was, in a way, almost more frustrating though because I got so close. I was like, I'm so close and yet I was pulled back to the exact opposite birth.Meagan: Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about swelling because swelling can happen. You can be 10 centimeters. Swelling can happen. It causes puffiness and causes our cervix to swell which then presents as not 10 centimeters. There are a lot of different factors like a baby that is maybe not putting equal pressure on the cervix during pushing or pushing before our body is really ready for us or going in there and doing that, I call it, soft forceps. This is just me making this up, but my fingers are a lot softer than forceps. So her doing some soft forceps was in effort to help baby come down and move but could have disturbed the cervix a little bit and then sitting in on the way. So I just wanted to point out that is it possible that you could have been 10 centimeters? Yes. Is it possible that swelling could have caused the regression? Yes, there are some hem-- oh my gosh. How do you say it? Hemopathic. Is that how you say it? Hemopathic. They're little tablets.Maria: Homeopathic.Meagan: Homeopathic. Why do I say hemeo all the time? Homeopathics. Just like they had given you those little tablets that can actually help with swelling of the cervix. So if you have a midwife or you want to look into that and have that in your bag at the hospital, if that happens, you might want to check that out. While you're telling your third story, I will see if I can find the exact name because I cannot place it in my mind right now, but I've seen midwives use it, so that's another thing. And then sometimes Benadryl. A lot of the time, I'll see moms be given Benadryl for swelling.Maria: Yeah, I don't think they gave me any of that. I think at the hospital they were just kind of like, "Oh, 48 hours. Okay, let's--".Meagan: Yeah, the typical.Maria: And yeah. I think they knew from the beginning probably that I'd end up in a C-section. I don't know.Meagan: Might have. Yeah. So baby one, baby two. How did things change with baby number three?Maria: Everything changed. So when I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I, was very surprised and excited. But as soon as I actually thought about the birth you, I felt dread. I knew I was out of options mostly because my fate had been sort of sealed with this diagnosis of narrow hips. I was pretty much certain that my only choice was a third C-section. That really filled me with dread because I had a really rough recovery with my second C-section. I was really unhappy with my scar. I just felt really not looking forward to a third C-section. So I was like, okay. It felt very scary. I decided to approach my husband about trying for a VBAC again. I was sort of certain he would be nervous about supporting me about that. I felt like it was gonna be like, "Maria, you've tried twice. Let's just accept it. Let's move on." But surprisingly, he was actually supportive and he told me to just start with doing some research about VBACs after two and to get some opinions. So I did. The first thing I actually did though was I looked into gentle C-sections because I was like, "Okay, I'm going to get my kind of worst-case scenarios out of the way just in case. If I'm going to have a C-section, I want it on my terms." I looked up the best gentle C-section OB in the area. I was like, "Okay, I've got something there." Then I reached out to my midwife for my second birth and asked for her opinion about going for a VBAC again. I reached out to a few birth centers in the area, and my midwife pretty much told me that she did not think I was a good candidate for VBAC again and that I would end up likely in a C-section. Again, because she was like, "You did everything you could. It just didn't work. I just don't think you're a good candidate." And then most of the birth centers in the area declined me because they only did the VBACs after one.Meagan: After one. Yeah.Maria: Only two birth centers in the area accepted VBAC after two. I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna go see one of them and just get a second midwife opinion."Meagan: Yeah.Maria: When I got there, this place inspired a lot of peace and comfort. It was this really cozy little space. It was a little cottage near hospital. The midwife I met with, her name is Galyn. Can we give you the name?Meagan: Yeah, yeah. Uh-huh.Maria: Yeah. So this is called The Family Birth Center. It's just amazing and Galyn is amazing. So she just was very confident. I told her my entire birth story. I was sure to add every single complication and also tell her what my previous midwife had said. I honestly painted a really dire picture for her. I was like, "I have really long labors. I can't pee." You know, blah, blah, blah. I was prepared for her to tell me that I was not a big candidate. Honestly, I almost wanted her to say that so that I could just close that chapter and go get my scheduled gentle C-section and move on because that felt easier and safer. Yet her response was not a no. It was actually a non-hesitant, "Absolutely, you can do this." I was shocked. I mean, she obviously asked for my op-reports and everything, but she said that she didn't see why I wouldn't be able to. She had a ton of experience with VBAC after multiple C-sections. She even said that she had a very special place in her heart for these mamas because, as she called us warrior mamas, who really, really wanted it. She did not believe that I was too narrow because that's actually quite rare. She thought it was likely that the baby was simply badly positioned. So right off the bat, she was like, "Okay, I would start you on some Vitamin C to strengthen your bag," which I didn't even know a thing. She was like, "Pelvic floor therapy right off the bat, and you need a proper doula." I was like, "Yes, yes, yes." I'll do all those things because I realized I had not really had a proper doula in my previous birth. And honestly, every concern or worry that I brought up, she was able to talk through it with me, provide a solution or just remind me that no birth is the same. She couldn't really control or predict the outcome of the birth but there were lots of things that we did have control over.One of the things that I was really worried about was my inability to pee during labor. She was like, "Okay well, we'll place a catheter." I was like, "Yeah, but they tried both times and it didn't happen." And she was like, "Well, I'll get you a really tiny one." I was like, "Okay." So she didn't seem worried about that. I just went with it and went with her confidence. I think I decided then and there that I wanted her because I just felt really heard and I don't know. She provided lots of practical and realistic solutions that we could control. Anyway, this time around, I hired a doula. Shout out to Jenna, my doula. Also an amazing, amazing woman. I went to pelvic floor therapy. I also did therapy again to process my past births. I worked really, really hard on radically accepting whatever this birth came to be. So unlike my first two births where I had a really rigid idea of what it would be, this time I worked really hard to just sort of surrender to whatever it ended up being. I also read several books, including how to Heal From a Bad Birth.Meagan: Yes.Maria: A really good book, and Birthing From Within which I also loved. It was a really impactful book, actually. I started doing some art therapy just to process some of my feelings and just about this pregnancy and birth. I listened to every single episode you guys had on VBAC after two. I took The VBAC Link course. Honestly, I hardly worked out mostly because I had two little boys under four, and I just did not have it in me. But I was still very active with just normal life and taking care of two little kids. I did walk a bunch and did some gentle, prenatal yoga. I also did some exercises recommended by my doula from Spinning Babies. The other thing which was different was that I was really mindful of my body positioning throughout my pregnancy. I was always trying to listen to my body and be mindful of my alignment. When I was watching TV or sitting at my desk, I'd sit on a ball. I'd sit on the floor. I love to go on my hands and knees. That felt really good on my back. So just kind of listening to what my body was asking me to do and just being more aware of my body. My whole motto was, throughout the whole time was, "Get out of my head into my body." Preparation felt really different for me this time. I felt like I was preparing my body from the inside out physically speaking. Like I said, I was going to pelvic floor therapy. I was also making room in my uterus for my baby with these exercises to be in the best position possible but I was also really focused on my mind, my spirit, processing all my fears, my traumas. It felt just so much more holistic. I did HypnoBirthing with an app. I wrote down my own prayer affirmations which actually became a really central anchor during my labor. I felt just really ready this time in a new way. And not just because of my dream team but because I was really just ready to surrender to whatever was to come. And also, what was driving me was this new goal which was this idea of just giving my body a chance to labor was the best thing both for me and my baby regardless of the outcome of the birth. Even if it ended up in a C-section, I was still doing what was best for my body and my baby. That's what I kept repeating to myself. It just gave me a lot of peace because the success of this birth was not tied to what kind of birth it was. You know what I mean?Meagan: Yes, yes.Maria: It removed a lot of that pressure, a lot of that fear, and that was just such a game changer for me. Yeah, that was the preparation. A few weeks before the birth, I'd been starting to get more intense Braxton Hicks, but nothing really consistent. I was really just trying to practice the art of basically ignoring them because my goal for my early labor was to just pretend like they weren't happening. I didn't want to get too excited too fast. I wanted to ignore them for as long as possible especially if they started in the middle of the night which is kind of a theme for me. It ended up being really great practice to do that because on Labor Day, of course, I started getting my first contraction at 2:00AM and I just denied it. I was like, nope, they're Braxton Hicks. I just wasn't allowing myself to get riled up. I managed miraculously to doze off for 20 minutes at a time until they started coming on stronger. Once I realized that this was early labor, I had decided before that I wanted to labor alone for a while. This was actually something that I'd been wanting to do just to have this early early labor be a sacred moment for me and my baby. I wanted to be able to pray, to talk to my baby and to prepare together for the work which we would be doing together, both of us. I went into the living room. I let my husband sleep a bit longer, and it was a really special time for me. I'm so happy that I did that.Meagan: Yeah, I was just going to say that is a very powerful moment. Our babies are so connected and if you can have any time, even if it's just like 20 minutes. "Hey, I'm going to the bathroom." Take 20 minutes in the bathroom and connect with your baby. I just think it's so powerful.Maria: Yeah. Yes. It was amazing because I did feel connected the whole labor in a way that I did not in my previous ones where I was very disconnected to what was happening in my body. I was in my head a lot. So at about 6:00am, my contractions were getting stronger and I was like, okay, it's a reasonable time. I'm going to go ahead and wake my husband up. I also knew that my boys would be waking up soon, so I wanted my husband to focus on them and get them breakfast. And then I explained to my boys that baby was coming soon, that they were going to go stay with their cousins for a night or two. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to fully relax if they were still in the house. It felt really important for me to say goodbye and to make sure that they were going to be happy and in a safe place. As soon as my brother-in-law picked them up, I just really felt my body, okay, let go and things just started picking up. I took a shower. I had breakfast. I knew it would probably be a very long labor, so I wanted to eat. I called my doula. She came over and her presence was just such a game changer because she was just this calm, comforting presence. Not to say my husband was not, but she's just more-- this is her job. She's more objective. She was able to suggest different positions. She knew when to let me be. She pushed me when I had to be pushed and let me be when I had to be left alone. But the best thing she did was she did not let me head to the birth center too soon. I wanted to go and she'd be like, "Okay, let's just wait for 30 more minutes. Can you do 30 more minutes? Yeah, let's try this position. Let's walk a little bit. Let's do this and that." That was so important because I would have gotten there way too soon. She and my husband were in touch with Galyn, the midwife. Everyone was just super chill and relaxed. Everyone ate lunch. I don't think I did, but everyone else did. It was just a nice day. It was a cool rainy day. And then at about 2:00 PM my contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart. They were lasting about a minute, and they were getting intense. I was like, "Okay, I need to go." They were like, "Okay, yeah, let's go." We got to the birth center. I was just wrapped in this fluffy blanket. I just picked it up like I was in this daze. I was listening to my HypnoBirthing app. And Galyn, she was so relaxed about everything. Everyone was just very relaxed. It was during the daytime. She'd come in. She'd leave. I got in the bathtub at point. At one point, she checked my dilation and asked me if I wanted to know. And I said, "Nope, I don't want to know because I don't want to get in my head." She was like, "Even if you're 9 centimeters?" And I was like, "No." Okay. That was so amazing. That was such a push of encouragement. And so that was very helpful. Once again, I ran into the issue of being unable to pee. Of course, not surprisingly. So Galyn asked me want if I wanted a catheter. I said, "Okay, let's try it," but I was super nervous about it.Meagan: Yeah.Maria: But this time it was super easy. It was amazing. It went in right away. She had the right size. I don't know what it was, but--Meagan: Right size, pelvic PT.Maria: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was easy. I had a ton of pee. After that I was like, oh, my gosh. I surpassed these two huge obstacles of being really well-dilated and also, an empty bladder. Like, I got this. It's amazing. I felt this new surge of energy. After that, I just focused on one contraction at a time. Each one lasted four breaths for me. Each breath coincided with a short prayer that I would say to myself. The hardest breaths were always breath two and three because it was the peak of the contraction. But I knew the pattern in it, and so I knew what to expect. I just remember opening my hands every time and surrendering and just trying to just relax my body and just accept it, and let it wash over me. I was doing a lot of visualization of my body, my pelvis opening, my baby coming down. I was so connected to my body and my baby. I just remember communicating with her and visualizing her coming closer to me. And this, like I said, was something so new for me, this connection. After about two hours of labor, there I was fully dilated. They had me do some focused pushing. Unfortunately, I never really felt that overwhelming urge to push that I'd read so much about and that I had wanted to feel. My pushing was more directed, but it felt a lot less forced than with my second birth. I decided to push on the bed on my hands and knees. My husband and doula were each holding a hand. Galyn was encouraging me. Every time I pushed and she would feel the baby come down, she'd let me know. That was really encouraging to know that it was productive pushing. I was just so focused. After about 40 minutes of pushing, she told me, "Okay, the next push, you're going to feel a burn." Before I knew it, it was the ring of fire I'd heard so much about. Although it was painful, I was just in awe that I was feeling it. I was like, oh my gosh, this means something. I'm so close. It was surreal. I was experiencing it in this weird, out-of-body way. And then the next push, baby was born. I was just in shock. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't fully believe that I did it. They passed her to me immediately. I was still on my hands and knees. I will just never, ever forget the feel of her body and her skin when I held her for the first time. It was the birth of my dreams. I think one of the other things I just loved was just that time afterwards that I never got to experience and that moment of coziness where we were just laying in this queen bed, my husband and I and my baby, and just eating together, holding her immediately, breastfeeding her like it was just a dream. I got to take a bath with some healing herbs. It was amazing. And then, after several hours, we just drove home with our baby.Meagan: Just amazing. That is what birth is about right there. All of those feelings, all of those smells and experiences and bonding moments. I am so happy for you. Let's just say you debunked the myth. Your pelvis was great. Your pelvis and your hips were just fine. It really just took someone educated to know that your baby was in a poor position and that okay, instead of doing this size catheter, let's do a smaller catheter. It's just these little things that made such a big difference. I think it's really important to vet our providers when we are interviewing them. I love that you were like, I gave her all the bad. Like, all of it. I just laid it on her. I wanted her to know everything that I was being told or that was said or that had been done. And then for her to be like, "Okay yeah, I hear those. I see these op-reports, but still don't believe there's anything that makes you not be able to," is just so powerful. So those are the types of providers, and if there really, really, really is a medical reason, they can back it up. "Okay, let's consider something." But I do love that you just came in with all of it, just all of it, and expecting her to be like, "No." And then when she said yes, you're like, "Wait, what?"Maria: What?Meagan: "Wait, what? Can you repeat that?" We really are getting more of that flack and doubt, so it's so great to hear that there's such a supportive provider out there in your area because every area needs it. I would love to see more support coming in because the fact of the matter is, it can happen. It can happen. It is possible, and really, the risk is relatively low, right? It's low, and it's something. And then we do know that to some people, it's not acceptable, and that's okay. But know that the risk is relatively low and that the world paints it to be so much bigger than it is.Maria: Right. Well and also, nobody talks about the risks of repeat sections. Right? Nobody mentions it. I'm like, why is this not being even mentioned at all?Meagan: We talk about it here because it isn't talked about. We have providers say, "Oh, uterine rupture, uterine rupture this and that," but they're not like, "Hey, dense adhesions connecting to your bladder for life, scar tissue gaining for life, back pain that you may discover in your 50s that is related to your Cesarean adhesions and pain." And then, not to mention there are a lot of things like hysterectomy, increased blood loss. You guys, there are things to talk about and complications that can come forth in the future pregnancies as well. We don't talk about those to scare you. We don't talk about uterine rupture here to scare you. We don't talk about uterine rupture or share uterine rupture stories to scare you. We are here to educate you. We want you to know there are pros and cons on both sides. If you find a provider who is all about sharing the risk about VBAC instead of repeat Cesarean, you might not want to be with that provider because there are risks for both sides so if you're getting a one-sided risk, there are some concerns there.Maria: Yeah. Yeah, exactly.Meagan: Well, thank you again so much for sharing your stories. Congratulations. I'm so happy that you found the right provider. You found the dream team. Everyone was on your side and supporting you along the way.Maria: Thank you, Meagan. Again, I think that's only one part of the equation. We as the moms have that other responsibility of really healing ourselves and our past traumas and doing more than just, I guess, working out. A lot of people don't think about the inner work that we have to make for our pelvic floor and even the uterus with making space for your baby in there for optimal positioning. I never heard of these things before you. All of that knowledge was very helpful.Meagan: Yeah, there's a lot of work. Before we started recording you were like, "With my second birth, I just hired a midwife and put it in her hands and was like, hey, I did the work. I hired a midwife," but there's so much more than that. And yeah, finding a supportive provider, getting the education, but there's so much work. We talk about this in our VBAC course-- mental and physical prep. We talk about it early on in the book because it is such a big part of how things can go and if we don't do those things, it can impact us. That doesn't mean you can't get through it and have a VBAC. I don't want to say if you don't go to therapy, you won't get a VBAC or if you don't do these things, but these things will impact you in a positive way more than a negative. I also want to talk about trauma and birth and going through and working through it from the inside out. It's not even birth. It's life. It's affecting us for life. We hold trauma in our body. We hold emotions. We pent them up and yeah, it's just you. We gotta work through them. We can't just shove them in and be like, "Well, that was that. I'll let it go," because it's not going to be let go. It's inside of us.Maria: Yeah.Meagan: Yeah. It'll show up. It will show up. It might be years. It might be months, you never know, but it's important to work through it. Okay, well I will not take any more of your time because I know you've already been with me for a bit, and I just wanna thank you again.Maria: Thank you so much, Meagan. It's been such an honor.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

Episode 2609 - Vinnie Tortorich takes some caller questions and underscores the power of taking personal accountability, the effects of seed oils, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/02/personal-accountability-episode-2609 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Personal Accountability Vinnie acknowledged personal responsibility in his company's struggles, explaining how he initially blamed supply chain issues but later discovered internal mismanagement was the root cause. (03:41) He used this as a learning experience to improve operations, making the company leaner and more effective. Mitchel, a caller, shared his personal experience of how eliminating seed oils significantly reduced shoulder inflammation from an old car accident injury. (05:46) The inflammation returned immediately after accidentally consuming seed oils again, providing real-world evidence of their negative effects. Vinnie described his 17-year cancer survival journey, noting how he exceeded typical survival expectations through lifestyle changes. When his oncologist showed interest in his methods, Vinnie offered to share his approach but was dismissed as 'anecdotal.' (18:48) If one knows they feel better on a healthier lifestyle, there is your "anecdotal" evidence. Second caller Mariano admits he feels pain in his joints when he goes off NSNG. (37:00) Vinnie asks what makes him go off plan if he knows he'll be achey. Planning for a LIL ("Life Into Living") moment is good; however, it's even better to plan how you are getting back on track and recovering from it. (48:30) Mark Tortorich, Vinnie's younger brother, joins the call. (57:30) Mark shared his recent experience with testicular cancer surgery and his commitment to exercise, starting with 10 minutes of daily cycling. He is gradually increasing the duration. He's also maintaining a carnivore diet and has already noticed improvements in his energy levels. Mark described the ubiquitous presence of sugar in unexpected places, from Big Lots to Aldi, noting how every corner features candy and processed foods. Vinnie observed Lowe's hardware store strategically placing sugary snacks to target contractors. (01:04:11) They also discuss the impact of social media criticism on health transformation journeys. More News If you are interested in the NSNG® VIP group, register here! Don't forget to check out Serena Scott Thomas on Days Of Our Lives on the Peacock channel.  “Dirty Keto” is available on Amazon! You can purchase or rent it . Make sure you watch, rate, and review it! Eat Happy Italian, Anna's next cookbook is available!  You can go to You can order it from . Anna's recipes are in her cookbooks, website, and Substack–they will spice up your day! There's a new NSNG® Foods promo code you can use! The promo code ONLY works on the NSNG® Foods website, NOT on Amazon. https://nsngfoods.com/ [the_ad id="20253"] PURCHASE  DIRTY KETO (2024) The documentary launched in August 2024! Order it TODAY! This is Vinnie's fourth documentary in just over five years. Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: Then, please share my fact-based, health-focused documentary series with your friends and family. Additionally, the more views, the better it ranks, so please watch it again with a new friend! REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! PURCHASE BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE (2022) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! FAT: A DOCUMENTARY 2 (2021) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: FAT: A DOCUMENTARY (2019) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: