Podcasts about maternity care

Today, the largest review of it's kind in NHS history has found major failings in maternity care at a hospital trust in Nottingham. The report found that hundreds of babies and mothers died or were harmed due to the “deep-rooted, systemic failures”.Leaders at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust have apologised, and the Health Secretary says the government will respond by taking “immediate steps”. Adam is joined by Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan. Plus, Helen MacNamara, former top civil servant, discusses how Team Burnham seems to be preparing for his increasingly likely premiership. Information and support for the issues raised in this podcast can be found on BBC Action Line: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Ellie House and Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Maternity care and its shortcomings will be in the spotlight over the next fortnight, as the biggest maternity inquiry in the history of NHS England prepares to report its findings. The independent review by former midwife, Donna Ockenden, has looked into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Meanwhile new figures from the Royal College of Midwives show that more than nine out of 10 of those polled felt unsafe staffing levels are directly impacting the quality of care they provide for women and babies. Next week we'll also hear the recommendations of a national review by Baroness Amos. BBC's social affairs correspondent, Michael Buchanan, talks to presenter Nuala McGovern about what we know so far. Joanna Cherry was elected as an MP in 2015, part of the SNP landslide when they took 56 out of 59 Scottish seats, just a year after the referendum on Scottish independence resulted in a No vote. Her memoir, Keeping the Dream Alive, captures the disappointment and euphoria of that time. Joanna went on to lose her seat in 2024 and has become a vocal critic of the party, and of Nicola Sturgeon's leadership. She was also well-known for expressing gender-critical views and concerns at a time when the SNP was trying to deliver a gender self-ID law in Scotland. She joins presenter Nuala McGovern to talk about that "tumultuous decade" in Scottish politics.A new study from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol is looking into how heavy periods impact daily life. Led by Gemma Sharp, a Professor of Epidemiology at Exeter, researchers will collect real-time data from thousands of participants to help us understand the relationship between periods - particularly heavy periods - and our energy levels, sleep and mood. Did you know that mini golf has feminist roots? A playful and ‘playable' exhibition, The Art of Mini Golf, has just opened at the Battersea Arts Centre in London, channelling the inclusive, subversive spirit of the game's female founders. Nuala's joined by curator Grace Herbert and one of the featured artists, Delaine Le Bas, to hear more about mini golf's hidden history and the art it's inspired.Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The concept of a rigid 40-week due date is one of the most deeply entrenched myths in modern maternity care. Today I cast a critical eye over the historical and mathematical flaws behind how Estimated Due Dates (EDDs) are calculated, and why treating day 280 as a strict deadline creates unnecessary interventions.  Related episodes to queue up next: Episode 181 - Induction of Labour Part 1 Episode 182 - Induction of Labour Part 2 Episode 143 - Declining medical recommendations Episode 186 - Is your baby too big or too small? Episode 84 - The myth of the failing placenta This episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. Poppy is offering Great Birth Rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth Box. Use the code Melanie at the checkout to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox. You can watch this episode on YouTube here Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast. DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Over the past decade, dozens of maternity wards have shut down across California, and that raises risks for pregnant patients. At one rural Monterey County hospital, family medicine doctors are stepping in to help fill the gaps in service. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU A controversial proposal to tax California billionaires has qualified for the November ballot. In Orange County, workers earning six figures can now qualify for low-income housing. Reporter: David Wagner, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Episode 52 of the official Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime podcast. About this episode: She told every mother who asked: "With over 2,000 babies delivered ... not one baby has ever been hurt." She was lying. And she had been lying for a very long time. This is the full story of Yolande Maritz Fouchee - owner of You and Me Midwife-led Maternity Care in Pretoria East, and the subject of a six-year investigation by Carte Blanche that exposed one of the most sustained patterns of medical harm ever documented in South African private midwifery. The harm didn't begin in 2019 though. And this is the full story of what is now known about the disturbing and extensive horrific actions of Yolandi Fouchee. For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format. SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book: https://shop.bellamonsoon.com/collections/books Mental Health Resources: If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength. A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14. Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/BellaMonsoon PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bellamonsoon Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss various pregnancy myths, debunking common misconceptions about exercise, cravings, and dietary needs during pregnancy. They emphasize the importance of movement, clarify the truth behind cravings, and address the myth of 'eating for two.' The conversation also touches on travel during pregnancy and the impact of stress on maternal health, providing listeners with evidence-based insights and practical advice.TakeawaysExercise during pregnancy is beneficial and recommended.Cravings do not necessarily indicate the baby's needs.Eating for two is a myth; caloric needs are not doubled.Traveling during pregnancy can be safe with precautions.Stress does not inherently harm the baby; it's chronic stress that can be problematic.Movement can alleviate discomfort during pregnancy.Consult healthcare providers for personalized advice.Enjoying food is important, but balance is key.Hydration and stretching are crucial when traveling pregnant.Understanding your body can help manage cravings effectivelySupport the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Ireland

Maternity care touches nearly every corner of the U.S. health system. About 25% of all hospitalizations involve a mother or newborn, and maternity spending accounts for roughly 0.8% of U.S. GDP — making it one of the most economically significant service lines in health care. Against that backdrop, a little noticed decision to unbundle maternity billing codes represents a generational shift in how pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care are paid for. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rae Woods sits down with Neel Shah, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Maven Clinic, to break down what the new maternity billing codes mean for providers, health plans, and patients. Together, they explore why the old bundle broke down, how unbundling could reshape care delivery, and what health leaders should be doing now as 2027 approaches. We're here to help: Read Neel's article | The great unbundling - by Neel Shah, MD - The Preprint Episode | Ep. 261: Maven Clinic on how holistic women's health is the key to reducing cost and engaging employees Quick guide | Guide to today's top women's healthcare trends Learn more about Advisory Board's 2026 summit series. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

When people think of midwives, they often think about pregnancy and birth, but the reality of modern midwifery is far broader.  In this episode of Behind the Genes, our guests explore the many different roles midwives play across healthcare, from clinical care and safety improvement to research and genomics.  The conversation looks at how midwives are helping shape the future of maternity care through research, supporting families to make informed decisions about genomic testing, and contributing to studies like the Generation Study.  Our host, Sharon Jones is joined by:  Katie Handley - maternal and child health clinical lead for the Generation Study,  Fiona Smith - research midwife for the Generation Study at Rosie Hospital in Cambridgeshire  Jess Fletcher - safety and quality midwife at the Rosie Hospital and a participant on the Generation Study  You can find out more about the Generation Study via the study's official website.   “ The more brave we are as midwives, and the more that we're willing to be curious about what we can do to improve our care, the better we're going to be at our profession. All midwives want to do is to provide safe, effective care that is what is in the best interest of that woman. We are advocates for women and for their families.” You can download the transcript or read it below. [00:00:00] Sharon Jones: Welcome to Behind the Genes. How is genomics changing midwifery, and what role are midwives playing in shaping the future of genomic healthcare? Also, do midwives just deliver babies, or is their role much broader than many people realise? [00:00:16] My name is Sharon Jones, and in this podcast we cover everything from cutting-edge research to real life stories in genomic healthcare. [00:00:23] Joining me today are Katie Handley, Fiona Smith, and Jess Fletcher. Katie is Maternal and Child Health Clinical Lead for the Generation Study, Fiona is a research midwife for the Generation Study at Rosie Hospital in Cambridgeshire, and Jess is a safety and quality midwife at the Rosie Hospital, and a participant on the Generation Study. [00:00:42] Together, we'll be exploring how midwifery's evolving, where research fits into clinical practice, and what genomics mean for maternity care now and in the future. We kicked off this one by asking Katie what roles midwives play day to day. [00:00:56] Kate Handley: I think when people think of midwives, they think of helping a lady to have a baby. [00:01:01] We're there for the birth, we're there to catch the baby, but it is so, so much more than that. We're there from the moment a woman becomes pregnant or even before that. We can help with prenatal, uh, preconception care. We're there all the way through the pregnancy, for the birth, and then afterwards as well, we'll look after the lady, her family, until, until we hand the baby and, and her over to the health visitor or to whoever's next in her care pathway. [00:01:25] But that's just looking at clinical midwives for the... that are involved directly in that particular pregnancy. There's midwives doing all sorts of other roles. I think I'm a really good example of that. So I am a clinic- I was a clinical midwife. I am a registered midwife, but now I work as a clinical lead, so I'm using my midwifery background and my midwifery skills in a research environment, but to help people who don't know as much about midwifery to implement a research study, and how we can make a research study real in a clinical environment. [00:01:59] So that's one example, but there are so many other things, and we have midwives doing screening roles and lots and lots of midwives working in research as well. [00:02:08] Sharon Jones: That's interesting. I've got a couple of friends who are midwives, and I would never have known, like, the extent and scope of their role. [00:02:14] Kate Handley: Yeah, I think people might be surprised to hear that you can be a midwife but never actually even see a pregnant person. So we have midwives that are academics, for example, or midwives that are lecturing at universities, midwives that are working behind the scenes in risk and governance and looking after the safety aspect. [00:02:30] Sharon Jones: That's amazing. I would never have known that. So Fiona, how has your role as a midwife changed over the years? Because you've gone through quite a bit of a transition, haven't you? [00:02:39] Fiona Smith: I have. Before I even became a midwife, I was, I was nursing. That nursing pathway was not academic, as we now have to undertake academic training to become a midwife. [00:02:50] So we... the training was very different. It was very hospital-based, and this is what you do, this is what we do. You would do some observation. You'd have a go. You'd get signed off. That really was my nursing background, and then when I started to explore midwifery, and it was much more academic, and that I was going to do the university pathway, I doubted that that would be something that I could actually even contemplate. [00:03:15] Moving forward 20 years, here I am. I've had various roles: community midwife, running birth centres, and then more recently, the last six years, joining a university hospital which has a, a, a big emphasis on research and academic training, brought in lots of students, medical students, and others. I saw some research that was happening at the hospital and became quite curious, took the plunge, and the last two years I've been working as a research midwife, which was a real surprise to me to find that this is where I am, and to actually be working on a genomic study is an even bigger surprise. [00:03:57] If you'd asked me 20 years ago that this is where I'd be, I'd probably have laughed and said, "No, that's not something that I could even be contemplating." [00:04:07] Sharon Jones: That's fascinating. It's fascinating, the journey you've been on and how midwifery and nursing training has evolved more broadly. So Jess, how does that compare with your own journey in midwifery? [00:04:19] Jess Fletcher: Similarly, actually, like off the back of what Katie and Fiona are saying, you do kind of go into midwifery thinking that your career is going to very much look like providing labour care and catching babies, which is a wonderful part of the job. And that is very much my background, is that I have been, like, a labour and delivery midwife, usually on the birth centre or in the community doing home birth. [00:04:43] So, and never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would pivot and go into something specialist. I think you k- ... Well, in my case, certainly, I kind of fell into it, quite literally, uh, because I broke my ankle and then had- ... to work from home for quite some time. I was offered to be off sick, and I was working at a new trust, and I kind of wanted to, so to speak, keep my foot in the door. [00:05:05] And I said, "Oh, I, there must be something I can do from home." And they set me up to do some auditing, which quite frankly, a few years prior I would've ... Yeah, you couldn't have paid me all the money in the world to do auditing. And then, lo and behold, I found it so fascinating, not just the process, but kind of seeing how that then would kind of implement us in clinical practice. [00:05:28] And now I'm a safety and quality improvement midwife. My office is on a birth centre though, so it does mean that I still very much work clinically. So yeah, so a similar story. [00:05:38] We're such a highly skilled profession that we can apply it in so many different ways. And now of course, I'm on maternity leave with my third baby. [00:05:46] Sharon Jones: Congratulations. [00:05:47] Jess Fletcher: And so taking a little, a little break, but really lovely to talk about it all today actually. [00:05:52] Sharon Jones: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that. [00:05:53] So as mentioned, alongside clinical care, midwives are, are playing this increasingly important role in research. [00:06:00] And though it's something that people might not necessarily realise and they might not associate with the profession, I'd love to explore what that actually means in practice and how midwives have become involved in this space. So Katie, where does research fit in with midwifery today, and how do midwives get involved in that space, and is that something that all midwives are engaged with? [00:06:21] Or is it a more specialist kind of pathway? [00:06:23] Kate Handley: It can be a specialist pathway, but I think what's really, really important to realise here is that every single midwife is involved in, in research, whether they realise it or not, or midwifery care, has got to be evidence-based. Everything we do is evidence-based, um, because that's what keeps midwifery care as safe as it possibly can be, and we can only get that evidence base from doing research. [00:06:46] So even if midwives aren't taking part in a research study themselves, if they're not, you know, getting consent from people to do research studies, the care that they are giving comes from research that has been done in some space. Even if that's not within the UK, it's research that has been done. So research is incredibly important. [00:07:03] That's how we evolve, um, our care, how we evolve our pathways, evolve our guidelines is through that, through that research. [00:07:11] Sharon Jones: So can you talk to the audience about what is a research midwife versus a clinical midwife? [00:07:16] Kate Handley: So a clinical midwife generally is somebody that will have hands-on care during the antenatal and intrapartum or, or postnatal period. [00:07:24] A research midwife, often that will be someone who still works on a ward, in a hospital, but is helping to put research into place. So that may be running a study and taking consent from women to take to be part of that study, and then doing whatever the study needs. Or it can be actually conducting their own research, it can be writing, it can be an academic form of, of midwifery as well. [00:07:49] It's really, really important, and it really depends on the hospital and on the trust how much that research is incorporated into the clinical care, and sometimes it can be quite separate. But both very, very important. And the Royal College of Midwives are really, really trying to work on making research part of general midwifery care. [00:08:09] It's something that undergraduates need to do now as part of their, their degree, which all midwives have to do a degree to become a midwife. They have to do research. They have to be involved in research. Midwives in their first year of being qualified should still be having a research role and looking at how research can broaden their clinical skills, and it's something that should be going on throughout their entire career [00:08:32] Sharon Jones: Yeah, that's great. [00:08:33] Fiona, what does a typical day look like in your kind of research-focused role? [00:08:38] Fiona Smith: Firstly, just to say, when I moved from a clinical role into the research role, I thought I was going to miss that kind of adrenaline rush that does come with being a clinical midwife. And so I thought, it-- this is so quiet, it's just a really very different pace. [00:08:54] But actually, there are deadlines and things like that. So yeah, on a daily basis, it is really... it's a really busy day. [00:09:02] So we can be answering our emails and inquiries about research. We're liaising with the clinical team, so I'm involved in a screening study, so we, we need to collect samples. So we go and collect samples, we register those samples. [00:09:19] We're then approaching our patients or ladies that come in to have scans, or they might be in the antenatal ward. We liaise with the community midwives who might have people that want to take part in the study, so we do a lot of communication with the women through that way. [00:09:38] And having the background as a midwife, having that holistic approach has really, really broadened, you know, and really helped support my role as a midwife. Having-- transferring those skills has been incredible. [00:09:53] Sharon Jones: So what kind of studies do midwives support? [00:10:03] Fiona Smith: So apart from the genomic studies, uh, because a, a lot of genetic-based studies are going on within our trust. Where they're looking at trying to understand why things happen and see if there's a genomic h- component that might be attributed to conditions. We've got observational studies where we use lots of questionnaires to ask patients about their experiences. We've got interventional studies, so that could be testing a new drug or an interventions, just testing something that might work and, and might build that into that evidence base to - [00:10:32] You know, to put into practice. I'm really surprised at the portfolio of, of studies that is available. So they could be, um, not just maternity-based, but the obviously obstetric-based and studies, and we do a lot of gynae studies as well, so we work alongside the gynecologists. [00:10:51] Sharon Jones: So Katie, genomics is becoming more visible in healthcare. How is that showing up in maternity care more broadly? [00:10:58] Kate Handley: So I think what's really important to note here is that genomics has always been really important in, um, maternity care. [00:11:04] It's just that midwives potentially didn't know that they were doing it. Um, so from the very moment that we book a pregnancy, so when, when a woman has her first appointment at, you know, 8-10 weeks, we're already using genomics to plan her, her care. So we're asking about family history. We're asking about a predisposition to, um, heart disease, for example, or heart conditions or diabetes, or things that we will then use to plan a, a pregnancy going forwards. [00:11:30] We're looking at, yeah, family history. Uh, we're doing screening, antenatal screening, which, uh, some of the tests there are genomic based. And then after the 20-week scan, for example, if we find some sorts of congenital abnormalities, we can use genomic testing then to find out what, what is potentially wrong with the baby and what we can do about it. [00:11:50] And then moving forward throughout that pregnancy, genomics is also really important in bereavement care. So if there's a history of multiple miscarriages, for example, or if a baby is stillborn, we can use genomic testing to find out any reasons for that and to hopefully improve, um, care for that woman going forwards as well. [00:12:08] The big thing that's going on at the moment for genomics in maternity and midwifery is, uh, newborn screening At the moment, our newborn screening is looking for, uh, nine or 10 different conditions, um, which are very rare, but do have some treatment if they are caught early. What we're doing with whole genome sequencing, where genomic testing is looking to see whether we can find a much larger range of conditions much earlier in the baby's life to see if we can improve outcomes for those babies. [00:12:38] And so that's a huge role of genetics. Yeah, absolutely. [00:12:41] Sharon Jones: So Fiona, how confident do midwives generally feel about discussing genomics with families, even though Katie's just said it's not sort of nothing new and it's always sort of been there, maybe badged differently. How do you feel that midwives feel about talking about it when they are talking to families? [00:12:59] Fiona Smith: They probably don't feel, you know, very confident speaking about it. And I definitely wouldn't have been able to speak confidently in a comm- as a community midwife, uh role. But what, what is great about the hospital is that we know that they're where to refer to. So we've got the fetal medicine midwives who are available at any point to talk us through what to say to women or to help us, and the screening team are really useful and are on hand to, again, help us navigate that and what to, you know, what to say to parents. [00:13:36] We've got a really good patient record system as well, so we should, we, you know, the notes are very accurate. We should be able to, uh, follow through from what the parents have been told already, what their journey looks like. So although we're not 100% confident, but I think the students coming through, they're going to have res- acquire a lot more knowledge. [00:13:59] And also our midwifery standards imply that genomics should be part of that everyday conversation that midwives are having. So although it isn't something that's familiar within our parlance. I think going forward, I think it definitely will become much more mainstay, if you like, just- [00:14:20] something that we will be naturally talking about because you know, let's face it, genomics is here. I want to say being part of the Generation Study team, because I'm quite visible and everybody seems to know me because I've, I've transitioned from one role to the other, you know, we are visible. I'm stopped quite a lot, and midwives are asking the questions and, "Well, why?" [00:14:43] You know, "Why is it important?" Just even to be able to talk about, you know, that we've, we're building up a database, data that's going to be used for future reference. Being able to have those conversations with, with the midwives now will really help that confidence. It's something that I didn't think I'd ever have a conversation with. [00:15:02] I don't have very deep conversations, but I know where there are people if I do need to get those answers. [00:15:09] Kate Handley: No, um, I think going with what, what Fiona says, I think it's really interesting that pregnancies generally now are becoming a lot more complex. Um, we're seeing a lot more high-risk pregnancies, and I think that we will find that, that women and their families, their knowledge of genomics is probably going to increase as well because we're going to see genomic testing more widely in, in healthcare, and that's going to have to then flow through into maternity and into midwifery knowledge because women are coming in with more of a baseline knowledge as well. [00:15:40] And when we're dealing with more complex pregnancies and more high-risk pregnancies, genomics is a huge part of that. We, you know- Mm ... because we're going to be looking at things like pharmacogenetics, where we can see what kind of treatments are going to be best for these women and how that can then impact on their pregnancies. [00:15:56] I think epigenetics is becoming more and more talked about and more interesting in maternity, you know, and it's really important that midwives are aware that we've been speaking for years about the impact of smoking, alcohol, all of the outside factors on a pregnancy. But when we actually consider that from a genetic point of view, and that these genetic changes could potentially then be feeding down through generations, it brings a whole new level to the, to that aspect of maternity that, that midwives do need to know about. [00:16:27] So I, I think Fiona's right. I think that there is a lack of confidence when you hear the word genomics, but as soon as you explain what genomics actually means, then that confidence can be boosted. And I think that as we go forwards, there's so much work being done in the training and education systems for universities, for midwives that are already practicing. [00:16:53] We're really trying to, to improve that confidence and competence. Within the Generation Study, that's something that we're working really, really hard on, is to make sure that we're giving all the really appropriate training to the midwives that are involved in it, and that's not just the research teams that are, uh, that are asking consent from the participants, but that's for the wider team as well to, to help the, the midwives who are taking samples, for example, understand why they need to take that particular blood sample, the importance of taking it at the time, and what that means for the family and how that can impact on, on the future. [00:17:26] Sharon Jones: So it's kind of a whole literacy raising across the piece, isn't it? Just to sort of go back to a couple of things you said there, for those who might not know who are listening, would you mind just explaining about, um, pharmacogenomics and epigenetics? Because I just wanted to make sure that we put it across for everyone who might not know those terms. [00:17:44] Katie Handley: So epigenetics, for example, that's looking at how environmental factors can influence gene expression. So how the impact of something on the outside can impact what's going on in the inside. And we do know now that, that environmental factors can change the way that your genes in your body work. So that can not only impact the individual, those gene changes can be passed down through to the next generations as well. [00:18:12] And we know that this can happen across the placenta, so what a mum does in her pregnancy can then change the gene expression of the baby as well. And then we've got pharmacogenetics, which is looking at how certain drugs and certain treatments can be individualised for personal care. So looking at a person's genome, looking at the way their individual genes all work together, and then seeing how specific drugs, specific treatments can be used for that individual rather than as a population level. [00:18:43] Sharon Jones: That's really helpful. Thank you. So Jess, did being a participant on the Generation study change how you approach conversations as a midwife? 'Cause you're kind of like in both camps, which is a quite rare and interesting position to be in. [00:18:58] Jess Fletcher: Yeah, it's been a really amazing insight actually. Um, it definitely will, and I think this will kind of, uh, piggyback off of what, uh, Fiona was, and Katie was saying about how confident are midwives when, when they're counselling for studies. [00:19:10] So, you know, I'm, I'm particularly passionate about, and I mean mostly all midwives are, but I'm very passionate about making sure, ensuring that the people that we're providing care for are making truly fully informed decisions. Like very informed, you know, not, not just signposting, but making sure that they understand, you know, what does this mean for you? [00:19:31] Like what could these results mean for you and your family? Because I think the, I mean, this is a wonderful approach in some ways, but very often we'll be met with people under our care that go, "Yes, of course. Like sign me up for absolutely everything." Like the, the more we know, the better. Mm. And actually, I think it's- Then having that discussion about, well, actually, knowing things can be very complex because it then opens up a lot more questions for you and your family, and I'm not, not suggesting that ignorance is bliss, but actually, you know, really ensuring that they truly understand what this could mean for them and for their babies. [00:20:09] And the positives of that as well, what this could, you know, how this could really optimise your, your child's health throughout their life. And so for me, you know, I've always been very passionate about discussing studies with, with the people that I'm caring for. But it was really amazing actually being on the other side and applying that to me and my family and my baby. [00:20:32] What I talk about this, you know, every day, and actually Fiona's right, they're a very visible team, and it's, and it's amazing because, well, for Fiona, because often if she's on the birth centre and a bell goes, she's often having to get stuck in clinically in emergencies anyway. So you get a little touch of that every now and then, don't you, Fiona? [00:20:49] But it means that they are very accessible. I felt I had a really good understanding, but suddenly it felt very personal. And I can't quite remember how it went, whether Fiona approached me or I approached her, because we see each other so frequently at work. I think that when my pregnancy became, you know, common knowledge, correct me if I'm wrong, Fiona, it was more of a like, [00:21:11] "Oh, here we are again meeting in a corridor. Oh, yay, I can do the study," type of thing. [00:21:16] Fiona Smith: I think you came and sat in my office to do the consent. [00:21:19] Jess Fletcher: And that was a really interesting part for me because, of course, as a midwife, you know, you don't get to see behind the curtain, so to speak, as much as what I got to do as a participant. So I got to come and sit with Fiona in the office with the team. [00:21:33] It was wonderful from the perspective as a pregnant person, but also as a midwife, I've learnt quite a lot, and I think that, of course, I'm not at work, you know, currently, but when I return, um, certainly the way in which I signpost and, and the way that I talk about research and this, and the Generation Study in particular, all of that will still be there. [00:21:54] But I, I do wonder if there's going to be, there's a much deeper understanding on my side And yeah, I think undoubtedly that's probably going to, uh, I will adapt how I then, um, talk to people about the study because I've, you know, had more of an opportunity to delve into, you know, some of the great stories that have come out of it [00:22:15] and some of the real successes that have been shared from the team. I think there was very recently a case where a genetic condition was found, but it was found so early that actually his quality of life is now going to be, you know, really optimal. And I just found the whole story really fascinating. So I suppose it's opened a bit more of a door for me on a personal side and a professional side to read more, and I found it, you know, that much more intriguing, I suppose. [00:22:41] Sharon Jones: Yeah, I suppose it piques that curiosity and also just hearing those good news stories. Yeah, kind of showing how, you know, a family's life has been impacted in such a, sort of the early part instead of having that massive journey of finding out what possibly could be the challenges a child is facing and not knowing, having that result so much early on makes such a difference to, to a family. [00:23:03] Jess Fletcher: Absolutely. And, and also just I think as well, because I work in safety and quality, you know, the, a huge part of my role is looking at patient experience. It's been great to be on the other, I mean, yes, this is third time around, but this was the first time that I had a baby at this current trust that I'm working at. [00:23:18] So, you know, it was really great being on the other side of that and actually seeing how streamlined it was, how the communication between the research team and myself as the pregnant person, how efficient it was that I was receiving various things in the post and through the kind of patient portal that we use. [00:23:36] And then how swift the results were as well. [00:23:39] I mean, that, I'm sure that can vary between participants, but for me, you know, you're so caught up in the, in the newborn weeks that you can almost forget you were part of a study. And then I, and then I got the results through and I went, "Oh my gosh, of course. I mean, what a wonderful thing to participate in." [00:23:54] And the fact that we're still a part of it really until he's 16 years old and beyond, if he consents. So I just think, yeah, it's been a really great experience to participate, but it will undoubtedly change how I then talk about it moving forward because I've had this personal experience. [00:24:11] Sharon Jones: Yeah, yeah. Kind of hearing that seamless experience kind of builds on the trust that, you know, you have in the study and, and, you know, the sort of people behind it essentially, which is, is really important when you're kind of giving your genomic data essentially. [00:24:25] So it's, it's really good to hear that. Yeah. So looking to the future, it's clear that genomics is going to play a growing role in healthcare, so I'm really interested in what that means for midwifery. How might the role evolve, and what does that mean in terms of supporting midwives who need to feel confident in this space? [00:24:43] Kate Handley: I think that genomics is going to have a huge impact on maternity care, and I think it's going to be really great to see how we can really improve the personalised care that we give to individuals that come through the maternity system. We try really hard as midwives to treat every single woman that comes through our care as an individual, to personalise her care plan, and the more information that we've got about somebody, the more information they want to share, the better we can look after them and the better care plan we can actually put in place. [00:25:17] So by using any genomic data that we have, we can really improve that, that care. If whole genome sequencing does become part of newborn screening in the future, we can potentially find these babies every day that we think may have a rare condition, and we can do something to improve their quality of life. [00:25:37] Sharon Jones: Yeah. That's, that's incredible. If the study continues and, and rolls out into healthcare, that will be, um, such an impactful and, like, really game-changing Sort of effect for everyone. [00:25:49] Kate Handley: It will be really impactful and game-changing as long as we do it properly, and I think what Jessica was saying is really, really important about genomics can have huge implications for families and for people. [00:26:00] So it is so important that people understand what they're signing up for in any kind of genomic testing, not just in the Generation study. And because of that, the training that we give to midwives in the future, and I say we, I mean that as universities, as midwives teaching each other, as all education bodies, the information and the education that we give to midwives is so important because the only way that we can ensure that the individual signing up for any kind of genomic testing are giving informed consent is by making sure the people taking that consent are fully informed as well. [00:26:34] As us going forwards, if all midwives can just embrace genomics, everybody will help each other build to a position where we can provide really, really good care. [00:26:44] Jess Fletcher: From the perspective of, yes, a midwife, but also someone that's fairly freshly postnatal, you know, decision-making during a pregnancy is actually really complex. [00:26:53] There's a lot of grey areas, and I think that decision-making, that can be really tough if it's your first experience or if you're suddenly dealing with something in a pregnancy that is more complex than you anticipated, and there's no right or wrong answer, and you're having to make decisions with perhaps not quite all of the information. [00:27:14] I mean, Katie touched on the non-invasive prenatal testing when we are, yes, we're, we're screening in, in early pregnancy for a number of conditions, but the non-invasive prenatal testing, it's not 100%, but it, it gives us a lot more to work with. And I think everyone interprets risk differently, don't they? [00:27:34] So if you're given a one in something chance that your baby might have a condition, it's very, can be really difficult and, and a very emotional process to make decisions around that. What's my next move going to be? So if we have the ability with genomics to actually provide a lot more information and kind of broaden the decision-making process, then - [00:27:59] that can only, I think, be a positive thing, or give them the opportunity to then opt out of any further testing, which is equally as important. [00:28:08] Sharon Jones: Giving you as much agency to choose without pressure and just giving you as much knowledge that you need to make the best decision that you can in that, in that situation. [00:28:17] Jess Fletcher: Yeah, the situation that's right for, for you and for your family, which is going to look different for every family, isn't it? [00:28:23] Kate Handley: And midwives are in such a privileged position because of the amount of time that we potentially spend with a woman and to get to know that woman. We have got the ability to actually explain things in a way that, that woman may be able to understand as well, as long as we've got the knowledge. [00:28:40] So, you know, genomics can be really, really complex. Mm. And it can be really difficult for people to understand, even if we do have all that information. So by using the relationships that we can build with those women, I'm thinking particularly community midwives or people during the labour room that are building these really intense relationships really, really quickly. [00:28:58] We really need to be able to use that to our advantage when it comes to actually information given to, to patients as well, and to women and their families. [00:29:06] Jess Fletcher: We're in a really unique position in our profession because we're very highly skilled at having to explain something quickly and under pressure, and try and capture and provide all of the information possible. [00:29:18] But also we work as part of a multidisciplinary team, so we've got access to a lot of professionals that can provide input and help with educating the patient, but also educating us. So our knowledge is always growing, especially around kind of research and genomics in, in particular. Yes, it's becoming so much more a part of midwifery. [00:29:41] So I think, yeah, I, I feel really lucky that, you know, we're not just in a profession that, it, you know, we do this day to day and that's it. It just feels like that there's always a chance to learn and to grow as a professional, and then impart that on the people that we're caring for [00:29:57] Sharon Jones: So coming to my final question, if you could leave our listeners with one message about midwives and research, what would it be? [00:30:05] Fiona Smith: I'd say even though it does sound like it's a scary subject, I think we need to embrace it. The technology that's there, you know, we've got it. It's here to stay. Yeah, just don't be scared. Be curious and excited. [00:30:22] Jess Fletcher: Yeah, and I, I do think... I, I think midwives in general, I feel like when we qualify, we also qualify with a bit of an inferiority complex, you know? [00:30:30] That we worry about what we don't know, and actually, you're right, Fiona, we really mustn't be scared of this. We, we carry so much knowledge. Our profession is, as we've already spoken about, it's so... It's amazing how much we actually do as midwives and, and how broadly we practice, that actually it's absolutely okay if we're not confident in delivering this information, or we're not confident about, you know, where research is going. [00:30:55] The most important thing is, is, is accessing support so that we can make sure that we are, for ourselves and for the people that we're looking after, we have a- as deep of an understanding as we possibly can. [00:31:06] Sharon Jones: Definitely, and, and talking about sort of multi-skilling and, and being kind of pretty amazing, Jessica, I'm, I'm very impressed with our guest that has joined us on, on your shoulder [00:31:26] Jess Fletcher: The generation study baby! [00:31:28] Sharon Jones: A newborn baby. A Generation Study baby, that you've, uh, done this entire podcast with your baby. [00:31:32] Jess Fletcher: He's done amazingly well, hasn't he? [00:31:35] Sharon Jones: Yeah, he's done very well, and that really does, uh, sort of show the power of your, of your skills, not just a midwife, also as a mum, as we know. [00:31:43] Jess Fletcher: Always a juggle. [00:31:45] Sharon Jones: It certainly is. Katie, did you want to add any more about leaving our listeners with a, a message about midwives and, and research? [00:31:50] Kate Handley: Yeah. I, um... Fiona used the word curious, which I think is, is brilliant. I think if we can all be curious about research, we're already onto a winner. And Jessica said about being brave. The more brave we are as midwives, and the more that we're willing to be curious about what we can do to improve our care, the better we're going to be at our profession. All midwives want to do is to provide safe, effective care that is what is in the best interest of that woman. [00:32:07] We are advocates for women and for their families. We want what they want. But in order to do that, we have to embrace research, along with safeguarding and health and safety, I feel like it needs to be everyone's responsibility. You know, we all have this responsibility to improve care for, for the women that we're looking after, and research is at the heart of that. [00:32:30] And the more research that we can do, that we can be part of and that we can implement, the better that our profession will be and the safer that our women will be. [00:32:39] Sharon Jones: Thank you. Thank you to our guests, Katie, Fiona, and Jessica, and Jessica's newborn baby, for joining me today and sharing your insights into the evolving role of midwives. [00:32:50] It's been fascinating to hear how midwives are not only supporting families day-to-day, but also contributing to research and helping to bring genomic medicine into routine care. If you'd like to hear more like this, please subscribe to Behind the Genes on your favourite podcast app. Thank you for listening. [00:33:06] I've been your host, Sharon Jones. Behind the Genes is produced by Deanna Barac, Florence Cornish, Sophie McLachlan, and Patrick Wallace at Bespoken Media.  

Being pregnant may be the very first reason you've had prolonged exposure to the health care system. Interacting with the maternity care system can feel confusing and frightening and some women feel pressured and coerced into accepting testing, screening, treatments and medicines that they didn't really want, but didn't know how to say NO or negotiate other options. In this episode Mel shares her thoughts and strategies that you can use when advocating for yourself in the maternity care system Other relevant episodes for this podcast: Episode 173 - How to give great birth support Episode 170 - Managing labour without pain medication Episode 151 - What is it like to be in labour?   Get Mel's Guide to Giving Birth Without Pain Medication here. This great birth rebellion podcast episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox You can watch this episode on Youtube here.    Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast. DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

HOST: Dr. Daina Parent, ND GUEST: Sarah Thompson, Dpl.OM, L.Ac., CFMP, and Birth Doula Sarah Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on preparing for motherhood and maternal care. Host Dr. Daina Parent, ND and Sarah Thompson, Dpl.OM, L.Ac., CFMP, and Birth Doula, engage in an important conversation around the need for improved care for the mother in preconception, fertility and pregnancy. They discuss how whole food nutrition, lifestyle, functional lab testing and interpretation, and collaborative care can significantly improve pregnancy outcomes for mom and baby. Throughout the episode Sarah offers clinical pearls on how to improve diets of pregnant patients and influencing positive lifestyle changes. Sarah Thompson is the author of Functional Maternity - Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes and Beyond Results – A Practitioner's Guidebook to Functional Lab Analysis in Pregnancy. She is a certified functional medicine practitioner, licensed acupuncturist, board-certified herbalist, birth doula, and educator with a passion for pregnancy care. She is a leader in the practice and education of maternity functional medicine. Sarah combines evidence-based research in prenatal and maternity nutrition with functional medicine and nutrition principles. Sarah's clinical experience spans nearly 20 years. Highlights of the episode include: Foods for preconception – antioxidants from colorful whole food fruits and vegetables, omega-3s, and more The Whole Food Matrix – benefits of consuming vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in a whole food form Functional approach to interpreting labs during pregnancy   Podcast Summary 2:15 Discovering the passion for functional maternity care 5:32 Inspiring birth stories and navigating fear around childbirth 6:52 Opportunities for growth and improvement in conventional model of pregnancy care 8:06 "Prenatal care is the care of the baby. Maternity care is the care of the mother. We have lost the care of mothers through the care of pregnancy." 9:00 How nutrition and lifestyle affects mother and baby 13:07 Preconception preparation – preparing the body for pregnancy 18:34 Foods for preconception – antioxidants from colorful whole food fruits and vegetables (polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and others), omega-3s, and more 22:54 Oxidative Stress Defined 25:22 The Whole Food Matrix – benefits of consuming vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in a whole food form 28:09 Managing cravings for unhealthy foods during pregnancy and balancing with nutrient dense foods 30:04 "How do I make what you're doing work better for you?" - individualized nutritional support 33:04 Simple ways to add polyphenols to meals 36:19 Elevating everyday recipes to increase nutrient density and phytonutrient content 39:42 An individualized approach to herbs in pregnancy 42:52 Functional Medicine approach to common issues in pregnancy 49:43 The interconnectedness of systems and functions of the body in pregnancy 50:59 Modifiable lifestyle factors to improve pregnancy complications 53:47 Functional approach to interpreting labs during pregnancy 1:04:00 Collaboration in Care – it takes a village of practitioners working together to deliver holistic pregnancy care 1:06:00 Advice to practitioners and patients: importance of individualized maternal care and focusing on aspects of pregnancy and birth we can control  

In this episode, we explore the critical factors shaping maternal and neonatal outcomes in the pre-hospital environment, bringing together expert insights from Camella Main, Dawn Kerslake, and Stephanie Heys. Camella, a Consultant Midwife with over 12 years' experience across both hospital and pre-hospital settings, shares her perspective from her roles with the London Ambulance Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service, where she leads on improving maternity care through evidence-based practice.The conversation focuses on the realities of managing high-risk pregnancies and neonatal care outside the hospital, particularly in rural and remote settings. We examine current guidelines, emerging trends, and practical strategies to optimise outcomes for both mother and baby. A key theme is the immediate care of the newborn, with a detailed discussion on thermal management, why it matters, common pitfalls, and the techniques and equipment that can make a critical difference in those first minutes after delivery.We also explore the broader system challenges: how paramedics are trained and supported in maternal and neonatal care, the role of clinical governance, and the importance of structured follow-up and ongoing support for patients. The panel addresses a significant gap in pre-hospital maternity research, highlighting both the challenges and the urgent need for further evidence to guide practice.This episode offers a comprehensive and practical look at pre-hospital maternity care, combining frontline experience, clinical expertise, and a forward-looking discussion on how the field must evolve to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns. You can listen to the separate previous episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vjqHk5SZXeW5HMjtZuGfmhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-future-of-pre-hospital-maternity-care/id1441215901?i=1000648721307This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you're working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That's exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They've partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn't chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

The medicalisation spectrum is 101 when it comes to understanding how to plan pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. In this episode Mel explains the medicalisation spectrum with reference to where your care provider and chosen birth location would also fit along the spectrum. Mel discusses 2 birth philosophies and encourages you to explore where you sit, so you can match your philosophy to the rest of your care. This information is the secret sauce to planning a satisfying pregnancy, birth and postpartum. The visual representation that Mel referred to in this episode can be found @melaniethemidwife and @thegreatbirthrebellion on instagram and also accessible at anytime for those on the podcast mailing list in the resource folder for this episode Get The Great Birth Rebellion Catalogue for the first 200 episodes here. This great birth rebellion podcast episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to https://hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast. DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the essential role of doulas in the birthing process. They explore how to choose the right doula, the different types of doulas available, and the key questions to ask when selecting one. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust, emotional support, and effective communication between the birthing person and their doula. Listeners are encouraged to consider their own birth philosophy and intuition when making decisions about their birth support team.Support the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

We know sun contains nutrients, vitamin D is one of the most well-known, but there are other health properties that are garnered from sunlight both directly on our skin and indirectly that are essential for health. Listen to see if you are harvesting what your body needs from the sun. You can learn more about todays guest Max Gulhane at  https://drmaxgulhane.com/ Click here to see Max's Circadian Health Retreat  Get my Guide to giving birth without pain medication here… it's just $27 This great birth rebellion podcast episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox. Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast. DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using the analytical framework of reproductive justice, Borders, Citizenship, and Pregnancy: Migrant Women's Experiences of Pregnancy and Maternity Care in the UK (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Gwyneth Lonergan examines migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care within the broader context of gendered and racialised discourses and policies around health, reproduction and citizenship, austerity and an expanding border regime. Based on interviews and focus groups with migrant mothers, third sector workers and NHS staff, this open-access book explores how immigration policies impact reproductive practices and unevenly distribute access to essential resources and support. The book provides valuable insights into the underlying social causes behind migrant women's relatively poor maternal outcomes and contributes significantly to scholarship on the intersections of citizenship, reproduction and expanding border controls. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

Your circadian rhythm is part of a web of body clocks that keep your body ticking through the day and regenerating and repairing through the night. In this episode, medical doctor Max Gulhane explains the parts of the circadian rhythm and how to optimise them with appropriate light and dark exposure. He includes how to optimise eating times to improve your health through pregnancy, parenting and all of life! Humans lead cyclical lives and honouring the night and dark cycles facilitates healthy function of your body. This conversation is essential listening if you are interested in understanding your body and improving your short and long term health.  If you are looking for other ways to optimise the function of your body during labour and birth, consider My Guide to giving birth without pain medication and get your free checklist, High Powered Hospital Bag checklist available here.   Other Great Birth rebellion episodes that complement this one include: Episode 122 - getting your baby to sleep Episode 85 - Light messes with labour You can learn more about todays guest Max Gulhane at  https://drmaxgulhane.com/ Click here to see Max's Circadian Health Retreat  This great birth rebellion podcast episode is generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast. DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we reflect on our unplanned hiatus, the concept of wintering, and how embracing seasons of rest can impact personal growth and creativity. We also share personal stories about family, pets, and the importance of making core memories.00:00 The Unplanned Hiatus03:49 Embracing the Wintering Season06:31 The Joys and Challenges of New Pets12:03 Navigating Parenting and Technology16:30 The Dark Side of Data Tracking17:12 Navigating the Dark Side of Health Tracking19:11 The Importance of Rest and Self-Awareness20:28 Creating Core Memories with Family23:30 The Impact of Family Traditions and Inside Jokes27:32 The Value of Presence Over Perfection29:10 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and ReflectionsSupport the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

Today's episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, makers of luxuriously soft bamboo sheets, blankets, and sleep essentials. Because your rest matters, mamas. Cozy Earth makes it easier to get the cozy, breathable sleep your body (and your little one) deserve. Use code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off your order and treat yourself to the sleep you've been dreaming of. In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe sits down with OB-GYN Dr. Kirti Patel, host of The Gynarchy Podcast, to unpack how patriarchy has shaped women's health, maternity care, and the way society talks about our bodies. With more than 25 years in obstetrics, Dr. Patel brings both experience and perspective to a conversation that challenges a lot of the norms we've been taught to accept. They talk about what “gynae” really means, why Dr. Patel intentionally centers women's voices, and how sexism has historically influenced medical training, leadership, and the care women receive. HeHe and Dr. Patel also explore the displacement of midwives, the slow shift toward more women in OB-GYN leadership, and the reality that women's bodies are often treated like public property when it comes to birth control, abortion, and fertility. The conversation dives into medical paternalism in labor and delivery, why informed consent is still a major issue in maternity care, and the very real physical, emotional, and career sacrifices that often come with pregnancy and motherhood. They also talk about the need for better support systems, the importance of community and “the village,” and why men sharing the mental load at home is part of the cultural shift families need.   Guest Bio: Dr. Kirti Patel is a board-certified OB-GYN with over 25 years of experience and the host of The Gynarchy Podcast. Known for her bold, feminist perspective and evidence-based approach, she's passionate about challenging outdated narratives in women's health and calling out misinformation. Through her work, Dr. Patel blends science, advocacy, and real talk to help women better understand their bodies and feel more confident navigating their care. www.thegynarchypodcast.com The Gynarchy is a podcast at the intersection of women's health and feminism, hosted by ob/gyn Dr. Kirti Patel. @thegynarchy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thegynarchy TikTok, and Bluesky, Find The Gynarchy on most podcast platforms and YouTube SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/  BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what's really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy And if you haven't grabbed it yet… Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app-download-page

Melanie welcomes back Dr. Kirsten Small, author of the book Monitoring Your Baby in Labor, an evidence-based guide to help you plan your birth, to delve deep into the culture, safety, benefits, and potential side effects of fetal monitoring during labour. How your baby will be monitored in labour has both risks and benefits and the decision is YOURS to make. In order to make an informed decision you have to KNOW. This episode will grow your knowledge so you can make informed decisions. Dr Kirsten Small is an Academic specialising in foetal monitoring and a retired obstetrician. Her work is accessible to anyone making decisions about foetal monitoring and we encourage you to explore: book sales: https://education.birthsmalltalk.com/monitoring-your-baby-in-labour the blog: https://birthsmalltalk.com/ Join Kirstens newsletter: https://education.birthsmalltalk.com/sign-up-for-newsletter This episode has been generously sponsored by Poppy Child from @popthatmumma. She is offering great birth rebellion listeners 25% off the Birth box which includes the oxytocin bubble tracks. Use the code Melanie at the check out to claim your discount. Just go to hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox Link to watch on Youtube Get more from the Great Birth Rebellion PodcastJoin the podcast mailing list to access the resource folder from each episode at www.melaniethemidwife.comJoin the rebellion and show your support! Grab your Great Birth Rebellion merchandise now at www.thegreatbirthrebellion.comFollow us on social media @thegreatbirthrebellion and @melaniethemidwifeIf this podcast has improved your knowledge or pregnancy, birth or postpartum journey please consider thanking us financially by leaving a tip to support the ongoing work of this podcast.DisclaimerThe information and resources provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with it's application intended for discussion between yourself and your care provider and/or workplace if you are a health professional.The Great Birth Rebellion podcast reserves the right to supplement, edit, change, delete any information at any time. Whilst we have tried to maintain accuracy and completeness of information, we do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss, damage or unfavourable outcomes howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.This podcast is not a replacement for midwifery or medical clinical care.All transcripts are generated by ai and may contain errors

How do trauma-informed care and Respectful Maternity Care converge to strengthen readiness across maternity care settings? Our guest experts discuss where practice gaps persist and how new and revamped tools support more consistent, respectful, and trauma-responsive care throughout the perinatal continuum. Listeners will gain practical perspectives on aligning these complementary frameworks, strengthening clinical readiness, and fostering systems that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and psychological safety for birthing individuals. Nursing Contact Hours: 1.0 nursing contact hours (NCPD activity available through 1/20/2029) To receive contact hours for this continuing education activity, participants must: Listen to the entire podcast episode. Add episode evaluation to your cart. Access the post-episode evaluation in the AWHONN Learning Center. Claim Your Credit: Access the evaluation and documentation Meet our guests: Shawana Burnette, DNP, NEA-BC, ANLC-P, CLNC, FAWHONN Read More Shawana Burnette is an innovative thought leader with over 20+ years of nursing leadership experience and 22+ years of experience as an OB nurse. Shawana works closely with AWHONN's efforts to impact cultures of Respectful Maternal Care (RMC), serving as a member of the evidence-based group to develop the framework and toolkit for RMC initiatives. She is currently the Director of Nursing Excellence Programs for Advocate Health Enterprise Nursing, where she supports the ANCC designation program portfolio through resource alignment and strategic collaboration. Shawana has been recognized as one of North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses, a Daisy Nurse Leader award recipient, and an inaugural AWHONN Fellow. She is an ardent advocate for rightful care outcomes with a commitment to creating inclusive care cultures for all. Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM (she/her) Read More Maggie Runyon is a nurse, educator, writer, and speaker. She began her nursing career in 2009 and has since practiced in hospitals and communities around the country. In 2019, Maggie founded the non-profit Your BIRTH Partners with a mission to cultivate inclusive, collaborative birth care environments rooted in autonomy, respect, and equity. Maggie is currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing and loves educating, mentoring, and learning alongside nurses. She recently authored her first book, I Thought I Was Here to Help, which chronicles her early career journey and the lessons she has learned. Her advocacy focuses on improving perinatal care in hospital environments through trauma-informed care, affirming nurses' agency, and community collaboration. Episode Resources AWHONN Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Program  RMC Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Program  RMC Designation  The Trauma Informed Birth Nurse Program  Runyon, M. C., Burgess, A., & Spielman, K. L. (2025). Attitudes about trauma-informed care among nurse and physician leaders in birthing hospitals in Maryland. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2025.11.005.  Author's Perspective Video  Runyon, M. C., Irby, M. N., Rojas Landivar, P., and Pascucci, C. (2025). Reframing obstetric violence culture: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70323.   Embodied Trauma-Informed Care Framework  Traumatic Stress Institute – Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC)  The Trauma-Informed Climate Scale-10 (TICS-10)     Accreditation Statement The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. AWHONN is also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP580 The post Leveraging Tools for Trauma-Informed, Respectful Maternity Care appeared first on AWHONN.

Ten of Oregon’s 34 rural hospitals have no labor and delivery units, and even more are at risk of shutting their doors. This raises concerns for those seeking maternal healthcare in rural areas as residents face high drive times to the remaining providers, limiting their access to prenatal visits and increasing risk in cases of emergency.   Late last month, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced $15 million in funding for maternity care in rural hospitals across the state. This will provide payments to rural hospitals with labor and delivery units that have “fewer than 50 beds and may or may not be within 30 miles of another hospital.”   Jeanna Romer is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Nora Hawkins is a direct-entry midwife in Wallowa County. They both join us to give us a sense of what that funding might mean, and the general state of obstetric care in Northeast Oregon.    

In the forty-fifth episode of The Motherwhelm, I am joined by Ciara to talk about the winding, often unseen road to motherhood. Ciara shares her experience of an ectopic pregnancy and the profound impact her loss had on her body, her mental health, and her sense of self. We explore her IVF journey, the hope, heartbreak, and resilience required to keep going when the path to becoming a mother is anything but straightforward.We discuss perinatal mental health and Ciara's experience of postnatal depression, unpacking how it showed up for her, what helped, and what she wishes more people understood about the postpartum period. Ciara offers insight into the experience of black mothers within the maternity healthcare system, and explains its far-reaching impact on the maternal mortality rate in the US.Texts mentioned in this episodeBooks:'The Nurture Revolution: Grow Your Baby's Brain and Transform Their Mental Health through the Art of Nurtured Parenting' by Greer KirshenbaumInstagram:@herblackwellness@antiracistnursecollective@thesleepdoctor@bundlebirthnurses

Everyone deserves a safe and dignified birth, but when Louise Thompson gave birth to son Leo, she was left with post-traumatic stress disorder.In this chat with Fearne, Louise talks through how her PTSD manifests, the way she disassociates, and the therapies she's tried to work through it, including CBT and EMDR.She explains why her own experience has led her to petition the government. She wants to appoint a Maternity Commissioner to improve maternity care for mums and babies in the UK.Four years post-birth, Louise is reflecting on the ways she's grown from her trauma, and is exploring how she can allow herself to slow down while maintaining her ambitious nature.Louise and Fearne also both share how they use busyness as a distraction from their uncomfortable thoughts, and wonder what being ‘likeable' even means...Sign Louise's Maternity Commissioner petition here If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Davina McCall Liberty Mills Ellie Simmonds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of this week there are eight counties in northwestern Pennsylvania without a hospital where a person can give birth. Warren County is the latest addition to the region’s expanding maternity care desert. Some public health experts worry the Trump administration's new vaccine guidelines could harm immunity from highly contagious diseases. An analysis of school vaccination data finds that vaccine rates were already declining. A new program being developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging would create community-based groups to address protective services cases for older adults. The pilot program includes several central PA counties. Police have charged an 11-year-old Perry County boy with homicide after they say he shot and killed a 42-year-old man that neighbors identify as his father. Dina Powell McCormick, the wife of U.S. Senator Dave McCormick is the new president and vice chairman of Meta, the parent company of Facebook. The Mike Tomlin era with the Pittsburgh Steelers is over. The longest tenured head coach in major American professional sports stepped down Tuesday after yet another quick playoff exit. Latvia is the first country that will have to make an injury replacement for the men's hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Forward Eriks Mateiko was sliced by an opponent's skate blade while playing in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears. Did you know that if every sustaining circle member gives as little as $12 more a month, we'd close the gap caused by federal funding cuts? Increase your gift at https://witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow to help build a sustainable future for WITF and public media. Thank you.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hospital systems across the country are consolidating maternity care, leaving large geographic areas with limited services.

CTL Script/ Top Stories of December 19th Publish Date: December 19th   Pre-Roll: From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast  Today is Friday, December 19th and Happy Birthday to Al Kaline I’m Chris Culwell and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal Sawnee EMC announces a balanced rate approach for 2026 Northside Hospital Cherokee named one of the best in U.S. for maternity care School board honors retiring Chief of Staff Mike McGowan Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats As well as Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  Here is Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre Commercial: THE STRAND STORY 1: Sawnee EMC announces a balanced rate approach for 2026 Sawnee EMC has some good news for its members heading into 2026—most will see their monthly bills drop slightly in January compared to December. It’s not a huge change, but hey, every little bit helps, right? Here’s the deal: the Board of Directors voted to lower the Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) by $4.72 per month for accounts using 1,500 kWh. At the same time, they approved small increases to base charges—about $2 to $3 per month. The net result? A $2 monthly savings for most members using 1,500 kWh. For those using less energy, the savings will be smaller, but still there. Sawnee says it’s committed to keeping rates affordable and only making changes when absolutely necessary. Serving over 203,000 accounts across seven counties in north Georgia, they also offer energy-saving tips, rebates, and incentives to help members cut costs. Questions? Call 770-887-2363 or visit www.sawnee.coop. STORY 2: Northside Hospital Cherokee named one of the best in U.S. for maternity care Northside Hospital Cherokee just snagged a big honor—it’s been named one of the nation’s top hospitals for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report. The “High Performing” rating puts it in the top 10% for uncomplicated pregnancies, making it one of only seven hospitals in Georgia to earn the distinction. Last year, nearly 3,000 babies were born at the Canton hospital, which also holds a Level III maternal care verification. Christina Roberts, director of women’s services, called the recognition a testament to their “high-quality, compassionate care.” Oh, and it’s not just maternity—Northside Cherokee also excels in 15 other areas, from cancer surgeries to heart failure care. STORY 3: School board honors retiring Chief of Staff Mike McGowan  After nearly 30 years with the Cherokee County School District, Mike McGowan is hanging up his hat—and the farewell was as heartfelt as you’d expect for someone who’s been a cornerstone of the district. At his final school board meeting last week, McGowan, CCSD’s first-ever chief of staff, was showered with gratitude, stories, and a few tears. Here is Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis and several school board members thanking McGowan for his service to CCSD. VO CLIPS From “hall monitor” to “everybody’s best friend,” McGowan’s legacy is clear: he made things better—for students, staff, and the entire community. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.    We’ll be right back. Break: Ingles Markets 8 STORY 4: Names approved for new Cherokee High School athletic facilities Tommy Baker Field isn’t going anywhere—at least in name. Cherokee County’s school board made it official on Dec. 11: the new Cherokee High School’s football field will still be called Tommy Baker Field, while the stadium itself gets a fresh name, Warrior Stadium. For Cherokee’s athletic director Jeremy Adams, keeping the name alive wasn’t up for debate. The original Tommy Baker Field, home to the Warriors for 70 seasons, was named in 1958 after Tommy Baker, a student who passed away tragically in 1957. His legacy? Still strong. BRAVES: Ha-Seong Kim is staying put in Atlanta—at least for another year. The 30-year-old shortstop signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Braves on Monday, locking him in as the team’s starter for 2026. Not bad, considering he turned down a $16 million option just last month and walked away with an extra $4 million. Kim joined the Braves late last season, claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Sept. 1. He made an immediate impact, hitting .309 with a .372 OBP, three homers, and 12 RBIs in his first 19 games. Sure, he cooled off at the end—1-for-19 in the last five games—but the Braves clearly see his potential. Kim’s journey hasn’t been without bumps. Injuries sidelined him for much of 2025 with the Rays, where he hit just .214 in 24 games. But let’s not forget—this guy won a Gold Glove with the Padres in 2023 and has 84 career stolen bases. The Braves are betting on a bounce-back. And if Kim can channel his San Diego form, he could be a 3-4 WAR player. High hopes, but hey, the talent’s there. I’m Keith Ippolito and this is your tribune ledger sports minute. STORY 5: Tanner Place in Canton will soon welcome its first residents  Come January 1, the first families will finally move into Tanner Place, a long-awaited affordable housing community in Canton. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday wasn’t just about opening doors—it was about honoring a legacy. Pat Tanner, the neighborhood’s namesake and a former Canton City Council member, stood alongside her 98-year-old mother, Ozella Tanner, as she cut the ribbon. “This is humbling,” Tanner said, her voice full of emotion. “We knew this city needed safe, decent housing, and today, we’ve made that happen.” Tanner Place replaces 39 old units with 70 new ones, funded through state tax credits, HUD vouchers, and local contributions. Mayor Bill Grant called it “money well spent,” noting it’s the first new public housing in Canton in over 50 years. CHA Director Jacquelyn Loberg said 18 units are ready now, with more to follow in January. This project is just the beginning—next up, the redevelopment of Oakside Drive. And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats Commercial: We’ll have closing comments after this.   COMMERCIAL: VILLA RICA WONDERLAND TRAIN   SIGN OFF –   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.tribuneledgernews.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally uploaded December 12, reloaded Dec. 19th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Tonyie Andrews-Johnson, DNP, RN, C-EFM, HN-BC, Director of Women's & Pediatric Services, University of Michigan - Sparrow, Lansing, MI Welcome Tonyie, please share a bit about UMH Sparrow, the Women's & Pediatric Services department and your role? Process & Team: This award evaluates hard data like C-section rates and breastfeeding success. What specific changes or initiatives did your team implement over the last few years that you believe directly led to these improved outcomes? Patient Impact: For an expecting parent reading about this 'High Performing' designation, what does that actually mean for their experience and safety at UM Health-Sparrow, from prenatal care to going home with their newborn? Community Role: U.S. News also highlights hospitals that serve as critical access points in 'maternity care deserts.' How does this national recognition reinforce UM Health-Sparrow's role and responsibility to the broader mid-Michigan community? Staff Culture: Awards like this are ultimately about people. How have you seen your staff's dedication and teamwork manifest in daily practice, and how do you plan to celebrate and sustain this culture of excellence? Future Focus: With this as a benchmark, what are the next goals for your women's and pediatric services? Where is there still room to grow or innovate in maternity care? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ University of Michigan Health-Sparrow earns national recognition for maternity care LANSING, Mich. – The stork is flying in with an award: University of Michigan Health-Sparrow has been recognized as a 2026 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the nation's top hospitals for labor and delivery services. The "High Performing" designation is the highest award level and is based on excellence across multiple quality measures. These include C-section rates, newborn complication rates, breastfeeding support, episiotomy rates and adherence to federal "birthing-friendly" practices. “This national recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team, our physicians, midwives, nurses, lactation consultants and support staff, who provide compassionate, evidence-based care to every family we serve,” said Tonyie Andrews-Johnson, director of women's and pediatric services at UM Health-Sparrow. “Our focus is always on ensuring the safest and most supportive birth experience.” The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings are designed to help expectant parents make informed decisions. A record 899 hospitals nationwide participated in the annual survey. “Achieving this distinction reflects our health system's system-wide commitment to clinical excellence and continuous improvement in women's health,” Andrews-Johnson said. “We are honored to be trusted by our community and proud to be recognized on a national stage.” UM Health-Sparrow is the leading birthing center in Mid-Michigan, with over 3,500 births annually. UM Health-Sparrow Lansing also boasts the region's only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for our smallest patients. The 2026 ratings are published on Health.UsNews.Com/Best-Hospitals/Area/Mi/Sparrow-Hospital-6441595/Maternity. For more information on maternity services at UM Health-Sparrow, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org/departments-conditions/all-departments/labor-delivery.

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of 'unacceptable care' that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC's Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss the review and what comes next.Wages for housework was a feminist mantra in the West in the 1970s – feminist campaigners arguing for recognition of the economic value of domestic labour. The debate has been revived in India over the last decade with an estimated 118 million women across 12 states now receiving unconditional cash transfers from their governments. Devina Gupta, a reporter based in Delhi, and Professor Prabha Kotiswaran from King's College in London unpick the impact of ‘wages for housework' on women's lives and the Indian economy.When Kaitlin Lawrence was just 22 years old, she collapsed whilst playing netball for the then Super League side Surrey Storm. She was eventually diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic condition she never knew she had. Following this, she was forced to give up her dream of playing professionally for Scotland and has gone on to successfully campaign to get cardiac screening introduced in the Netball Super League next season. She tells Anita her story. They were joined by Presenter Gabby Logan, whose younger brother died suddenly at the age of 15 years old from an undiagnosed heart condition. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.A new report highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Over 90% of respondents to a survey who gave birth at UHK had a good to very good overall experience of maternity care, according to the results of a new survey by the Health Information and Quality Authority. Treasa spoke to Conor Foley, HIQA’s Programme Manager of the National Care Experience Programme.

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of "unacceptable care" that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC's Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss those initial reflections and what comes next. We examine a new report which highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss. Yesterday, nurse Sandie Peggie, who objected to sharing a female changing room with a transgender doctor, won part of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife. She was suspended from her job after she confronted Dr Beth Upton in 2023. The tribunal ruled she was harassed by NHS Fife but other allegations of discrimination and victimisation were dismissed. We hear more from Lorna Gordon, the BBC's Scotland Correspondent, who has been following the case. From Kate Garraway's iconic jumper on The Celebrity Traitors to Lily Allen's album launch dress, bows are everywhere right now. But are they practical or a deliberate gesture of femininity? And why have we seen this resurgence of bows in fashion? The Guardian's fashion and lifestyle editor Morwenna Ferrier and Dr Sarah Grant from the V&A join Krupa to discuss the history and sudden popularity of bows. Presented by: Krupa Padhy Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Send us a textIn this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael reflect on their podcast journey over the past year, discussing their approach to sustainable podcasting, the importance of interviews, and the insights gained from various birth topics. They also share personal experiences of balancing motherhood and work, the significance of mindfulness and self-care routines, and the impact of technology on wellness. The conversation highlights the growth and evolution of their podcast while looking forward to future episodes.TakeawaysReflecting on the past year helps recognize achievements.Sustainable podcasting focuses on quality over quantity.Interviews bring diverse perspectives to the podcast.Engaging conversations can inspire new ideas.Balancing family and work is a continuous journey.Finding contentment amidst busyness is essential.Mindfulness practices can enhance well-being.Technology can aid in tracking health and wellness.It's important to embrace the challenges of motherhood.The podcast will continue to evolve and grow.Support the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This disclaimer includes all guests or contributors to the podcast.

Join some of the Perinatal Nurse Outreach Coordinators from around North Carolina for this lively discussion of AWHONN's Respectful Maternity Care initiative.  You'll learn what Respectful Maternity Care is, what it means for patients and clinicians, and how it helps to improve health outcomes. They will talk about how this program is implemented, and provide resources for you to learn more about bringing this to your practice.ResourcesAWHONN Respectful Maternity Care toolkitNorth Carolina Respectful Care hubWe would love your feedback on our podcast!  Please take our listener survey to provide your comments.Follow us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramMusic credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Please provide feedback here:https://redcap.mahec.net/redcap/surveys/?s=XTM8T3RPNK

Send us a textIn this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon and Kristin Mize delve into the complexities of maternal mental health, parenting styles, and toddler behavior. They explore how childhood experiences shape parenting approaches, the importance of emotional regulation, and the role of co-regulation in managing children's behavior. Kristin shares insights from her practice, emphasizing that understanding attachment styles and the impact of stress can help parents navigate the challenges of motherhood more effectively.  Kristin also shares her insights on parenting, focusing on emotional regulation and co-regulation techniques. She emphasizes the importance of understanding toddler behavior, the need for practice in emotional regulation, and the differences in how boys and girls may express their emotions. Mize also discusses when to seek professional help for children and the significance of connection and compassion in parenting. The conversation highlights practical strategies for parents to create a calm environment and foster emotional intelligence in their childrenTakeawaysMaternal mental health is crucial for effective parenting.Parenting styles can be influenced by one's own childhood experiences.Attachment styles play a significant role in child development.Chronic stress can have a lasting impact on mental health.Co-regulation is essential for managing children's emotions.Parents often overcompensate for their own childhood experiences.Emotional regulation is key to responding appropriately to children.Understanding that children are having a hard time can shift parental responses.Energy and emotional states are contagious between parents and children.It's normal for parents to feel overwhelmed and imperfect.  Calm in the home leads to fewer meltdowns.Co-regulation techniques can transform family dynamics.Breathing exercises help both parents and children regulate emotions.Understanding toddler behavior requires a nervous system perspective.It's normal for toddlers to express big emotions.Different strategies may be needed for boys and girls.Professional help may be necessary for persistent issues.Connection and compassion are key in parenting.Practice emotioSupport the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This disclaimer includes all guests or contributors to the podcast.

Send us a textIn this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon and guest Kristin Mize, a licensed clinical social worker, delve into the complexities of maternal mental health. They discuss the impact of motherhood on emotional regulation, the mind-body connection, and the importance of self-care. Kristin shares her personal journey and professional insights, emphasizing the need for awareness of stress responses and practical strategies for emotional regulation. The conversation highlights the challenges mothers face and offers hope and guidance for navigating these experiences. Kristin also discusses the importance of emotional regulation in parenting, the impact of childhood wounds on current behaviors, and the role of the nervous system in managing stress. She emphasizes the need for practice in recognizing triggers and developing healthier responses, as well as the significance of connection in parent-child relationships. The discussion also touches on the challenges of modern parenting and the necessity of self-care for effective parenting.TakeawaysMotherhood significantly impacts emotional regulation.Authenticity in mental health work is crucial.Many women struggle with anxiety rather than depression postpartum.Understanding the mind-body connection is essential for mental health.Recognizing stress responses can help in managing emotions.Self-care is often neglected by mothers but is vital.Emotional regulation involves responding, not just reacting.Identifying triggers is key to managing stress.Practicing mindfulness can improve emotional responses.It's okay to seek help and not have all the answers. It's essential to notice and pause before responding.Emotional regulation takes practice and awareness.Many parents were not taught emotional management skills.Childhood experiences shape our current emotional responses.Connection with children is crucial for effective parenting.Self-care is not selfish; it's necessary for parenting.Understanding triggers can help in managing reactions.The nervous system plays a significant role in emotional responses.Reparenting ourselves is part of modern parenting.Calmness can be cultivated through consistent practices.Support the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This disclaimer includes all guests or contributors to the podcast.

Dr. Maria Muzik is a professor of psychiatry and OB-GYN at the University of Michigan, co-director of Zero to Thrive & Strong Roots Programs, medical director of Perinatal & Reproductive Psychiatry, medical director of MC3 Perinatal, co-director of Partnering for the Future Clinic, and more. In this episode of Rural Health Today, Dr. Muzik shares how perinatal psychiatry plays a vital role in maternal and infant health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/maria-muzik-md-mschttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-muzik-zero-2-thrive/  Resources https://zerotothrive.org/ https://zerotothrive.org/strong-roots/perinatal-dbt/ https://mc3michigan.org/

In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, an obstetrician with decades of experience advocating for physiological birth, midwifery collaboration, and informed consent. Dr. Stu shares his journey from medical student to outspoken advocate for respectful maternity care.They discuss the importance of understanding the risks associated with various birth methods — including breech births and VBACs — and emphasize the need for individualized care in obstetrics. This conversation shines light on the challenges within the maternity care system and the importance of trusting women's bodies during childbirth.⸻What You'll Learn: • How Dr. Stu's journey into obstetrics began unexpectedly • Why informed consent is often misunderstood in the medical system • The importance of midwives in supporting physiological birth • Why VBAC should be viewed as a standard variation of normal birth • How “high risk” is often defined by provider comfort rather than evidence • The decline of breech and twin birth skills — and why they matter • The dangers of profit-driven maternity care • How to rebuild trust in nature's design for birth⸻Guest Bio:Stuart J. Fischbein, MD is a community-based obstetrician and an Associate of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He is the author of Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife, and A Mom and several peer-reviewed papers including Homebirth with an Obstetrician, Breech Birth at Home, and Twin Home Birth: Outcomes of 100 Sets of Twins in the Care of a Single Practitioner.After completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Stu spent 24 years assisting women with hospital births before transitioning to homebirth obstetrics for over 12 years. Since retiring from attending births in 2022, he has focused on teaching and advocacy — traveling internationally to reteach breech and twin birth skills, promote respect for physiological birth, and uphold informed consent.He co-hosts the Birthing Instincts Podcast with Blyss Young, offering hope, reassurance, and evidence-based guidance to families who understand that pregnancy is a normal, healthy function — not a medical condition to be feared.

We're back and ready to rage hard and dive deep into this week's mosh pit of anti-abortion ass-wagging with y'all! Prepare thyself for a full breakdown of Pregnancy Justice's study on the shocking rise in the criminalization of pregnancy, abortion and miscarriage. Plus, hold onto your cheeks, ‘cause your Buzzkills are blowing Pam Bondi's latest scam wide open: hijacking a federal law meant to protect abortion providers and turning it against protesters. Party of free speech, our adorable asses.    GUEST ROLL CALL Eliana Rodriguez, a Colombian student activist who met with Lizz in Colombia while speaking at the Human Rights Film Festival is in the house! Eliana's here to share the tactics and strategies she and her community used to bring Colombia from decriminalization to full legal abortion rights through the Green Wave Movement! PLUS! Bringing the hehes and the hahas is AAF ride or die comedian Jenny Zigrino! She pops by to dish on her fertility journey, the ish surrounding the Riyadh Comedy festival, and her new comedy tour called “Afterbirth.” Yes, we said afterbirth.  Listen, you're just gonna have to tune in to find out, okay?  Scared? Got Questions about the continued assault on your reproductive rights? THE FBK LINES ARE OPEN! Just call or text (201) 574-7402, leave your questions or concerns, and Lizz and Moji will pick a few to address on the pod! Times are heavy, but knowledge is power, y'all. We gotchu.  OPERATION SAVE ABORTION: Check out our NEW Operation Save Abortion workshop, recorded a live  from Netroots Nation 2025 that'll train you in coming for anti-abobo lawmakers, spotting and fighting against fake clinics, AND gears you up on how to help someone in a banned state access abortion. You can still join the 10,000+ womb warriors fighting the patriarchy by listening to past Operation Save Abortion trainings by clicking HERE for episodes, your toolkit, marching orders, and more. HOSTS:Lizz Winstead IG: @LizzWinstead Bluesky: @LizzWinstead.bsky.socialMoji Alawode-El IG: @Mojilocks Bluesky: @Mojilocks.bsky.social SPECIAL GUESTS:Eliana Rodriguez IG: @ElianaCRod Jenny Zigrino IG: @JennyZigrino TikTok: @JennyZigrinoComedy GUEST LINKS:Latin America's Green WaveINSTAGRAM: Causa Justa Por El AbortoINSTAGRAM: Karol Solís MencoJenny Zigrino's WebsiteJenny's LinktreeTICKETS: Jenny's Afterbirth TourJenny's PatreonJenny's Youtube NEWS DUMP:Anti-Abortion Leaders Blast Fda's Quiet Approval of a New Abortion PillWhy Men Need Abortion Healing — and How the Church Can HelpMichigan's Abortion Access Amendment Survives Right to Life SuitPope Leo XIV: Support for Death Penalty Is ‘Not Really Pro-Life'Hundreds of US Women Charged With Pregnancy-Related Crimes Since Fall of Roe EPISODE LINKS:10/5: Atlantic AnticWATCH: No One Asked You ScreeningsADOPT-A-CLINIC: Women's Health Center of MD Wishlist6 DEGREES: Bad Bunny Tapped for Super Bowl Halftime, Spotlighting Latin Pride and His Clashes With TrumpOperation Save AbortionExpose Fake ClinicsBUY AAF MERCH!EMAIL your abobo questions to The Feminist BuzzkillsAAF's Abortion-Themed Rage Playlist SHOULD I BE SCARED? Text or call us with the abortion news that is scaring you: (201) 574-7402 FOLLOW US:Listen to us ~ FBK Podcast Instagram ~ @AbortionFrontBluesky ~ @AbortionFrontTikTok ~ @AbortionFrontFacebook ~ @AbortionFrontYouTube ~ @AbortionAccessFrontTALK TO THE CHARLEY BOT FOR ABOBO OPTIONS & RESOURCES HERE!PATREON HERE! Support our work, get exclusive merch and more! DONATE TO AAF HERE!ACTIVIST CALENDAR HERE!VOLUNTEER WITH US HERE!ADOPT-A-CLINIC HERE!GET ABOBO PILLS FROM PLAN C PILLS HERE! When BS is poppin', we pop off! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textHere are the takeaways from our Postpartum Thriving Kit:Postpartum is often misunderstood and requires more societal attention.Preparation for postpartum should start during pregnancy.Resting and caring for oneself is crucial in the early postpartum period.Physical recovery varies between vaginal and cesarean births.Lactation support is essential for breastfeeding success.Emotional well-being is as important as physical recovery.Professional support can help navigate postpartum challenges.Creating a comfortable environment aids in recovery.Having essential items readily available can ease the transition.Rest is a form of productivity during the postpartum period. Newborns require a lot of contact and sleep.Understanding the fourth trimester can ease postpartum challenges.Newborns typically do not sleep through the night for weeks.It's important to embrace the 24-hour clock mentality for newborns.Partner communication is crucial for shared responsibilities.Mental health strategies are essential for postpartum recovery.Anxiety can be common in the early postpartum period.Professional support can significantly aid in postpartum recovery.Breathwork and relaxation techniques can help manage stress.Building a supportive community is vital for new parents.Support the showWant to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth CommunityInstagram: Aligned Birth Email: alignedbirthpodcast@gmail.com Find us online:Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness North Atlanta Birth Services Editing: Godfrey SoundMusic: "Freedom” by RoaDisclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This disclaimer includes all guests or contributors to the podcast.

Today we're talking about maternal health sepsis and barriers to sepsis care. Dr. Melissa Bauer is here to share her perspective and insight as a birthing center anesthesiologist and leader in maternal health sepsis prevention. We'll talk about diagnosing sepsis and serious maternal health conditions, equipping patients with the education they need, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPodhttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest on social media! https://www.facebook.com/dukehealthhttps://x.com/DukeHealthhttps://www.instagram.com/dukehealth/# https://www.linkedin.com/company/duke-university-health-system/

What if your pregnancy care was centered on your values, offering personalized support every step of the way? In this episode of Fertility Forward, licensed midwife Casey Selzer shares her two decades of experience advocating for holistic, patient-focused maternity care and demystifies the role of midwives in today's healthcare landscape. We explore how midwifery offers a holistic approach to pregnancy and birth that complements nursing and doula care. Casey explains different care models and encourages early reflection on birth values to help patients choose the best provider and setting. You'll also learn how innovative practices like Oula Health (where Casey is Senior Director of Patient Programs) integrate midwives, OBGYNs, doulas, and specialists in a team-based model that prioritizes education and continuity of care, ultimately transforming maternity care to be more accessible, supportive, and aligned with patient needs. Tune in for valuable insights on navigating pregnancy care options, dispelling misconceptions, and advocating for your unique journey toward parenthood! 

Two lawsuits testing the limits of religious protections, deportations and due process, and rural maternity care. Plus, a hippo's mom stare, Daniel Suhr on religious freedom in the federal workplace, and the Tuesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Dordt University, where pre-med students gain knowledge through undergraduate research and hone skills through hands-on simulations. Dordt.eduFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Investments — personal investments that build churches. 5.05% APY on a three-month term. WatersEdge.com/investWatersEdge Kingdom Investments - WatersEdge securities are subject to certain risk factors as described in our Offering Circular and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. This is not an offer to sell or solicit securities. WatersEdge offers and sells securities only where authorized; this offering is made solely by our Offering Circular.And from Covenant College. Rigorous academics, grounded in Reformed theology, lived out in Christ-centered community. covenant.edu/WORLD

Sophie Walker, host of the Australian Birth Stories podcast and author of The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth and The Complete Guide to Postpartum: A Mother-Focused Companion for Life After Birth, joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker to explore what it really takes to plan for a nourishing postpartum experience and the challenges and strengths of the Australian birth system. Sophie shares how a traumatic first birth sparked her passion for informed decision-making, why continuity of midwifery care matters, and how her country's publicly funded postpartum home visits and mothers' groups create critical support networks. Together, Sophie and Dr. Dekker unpack the postpartum cliff that so many new parents face, discuss how to prepare mentally, emotionally, and physically for life after birth, and offer tips on everything from pelvic floor recovery to sleep expectations to navigating newborn feeding.   (02:28) Sophie's Birth Story and What She Learned from Trauma (06:07) Why Listening to Birth Stories Can Be a Powerful Tool (09:25) Models of Maternity Care in Australia (13:10) Strengths and Gaps in the Australian System (17:33) Midwifery Burnout and Access Issues (20:32) Rise of Doulas and Student Midwives (25:03) Postpartum Home Visits and Maternal Health Nurses (29:51) Mistakes to Avoid When Planning for Postpartum (35:01) Pelvic Floor Recovery, Lactation Support, and Mental Health (42:04) Infant Sleep: Expectations vs. Reality (46:49) Balancing Birth and Postpartum Prep (48:26) Making a Mental Health Safety Net (51:33) Listening to a Range of Birth Stories—Even the Hard Ones   Resources Explore Sophie's podcast and books: australianbirthstories.com Follow Sophie on Instagram: @australianbirthstories EBB 155 – Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Dr. Juan Michelle Martin EBB 256 – Top 3 Recommendations for Preventing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction after Birth with Dr. Sarah Duvall, Founder of Core Exercise Solutions EBB 118 – How to Have a Healthy Postpartum Transition with Dr. Alyssa Berlin   For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.    

Licensed community midwife Grace Flannery and doctoral student Ihotu Ali, founder of the Oshun Center for Intercultural Healing, join Dr. Rebecca Dekker for a moving conversation about burnout, boundaries, and building sustainable birth work. Together, they explore the root causes of burnout in maternity care, from systemic extraction to internalized pressure, and how the path to healing lies in slowing down, reconnecting with purpose, and redefining productivity. Ihotu and Grace share the origin of their collaboration through the Sweetwater Alliance, the transformative “One Main Thing” meditation, and their four-part framework for reclaiming balance: Seasons, Smallify, Support, and Spirit. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to anyone holding space for others while feeling the weight of burnout.   (04:27) Grace and Ihotu's Birth Work Journey (07:54) The Roots of Burnout in Maternity Care (13:19) Presence, Boundaries, and the Burnout Cycle (18:33) Symptoms and Signs of Burnout (27:06) The “Four S's” Framework for Sustainable Practice (30:08) Accountability, Rest, and Seasonal Rhythms (38:21) The “One Main Thing” Meditation Practice (44:28) Reconnecting with Purpose and Capacity (58:51) Final Reflections on Slowing Down and Healing   To sign up for the EBB Summer Series, visit ebbirth.com/summer!   Resources Learn more about the Oshun Center: oshuncenter.com Follow Ihotu on Instagram: @ihotuali Learn more about Trillium Midwifery Care: trilliummidwives.com Follow Grace on Instagram: @midwifegracef For a full list of resources, including links to the free One Main Thing Meditation, visit ebbirth.com.    For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

*Content warning: death, infant loss, pregnancy and birth trauma, medical trauma, medical neglect, racism*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: somethingwaswrong.com/resources ABC's new show, Familicide: https://www.familicide.net/Melissa Espey-Mueller's North Dallas Doula Associates:Website: https://www.northdallasdoulas.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northdallasdoulas/ Moms Advocating For MomsS23 survivors Markeda, Kristen and Amanda have created a nonprofit, Moms Advocating for Moms, in hopes to create a future where maternal well-being is prioritized, disparities are addressed, and every mother has the resources and support she needs to thrive: https://www.momsadvocatingformoms.org/take-actionhttps://linktr.ee/momsadvocatingformoms Please sign the survivors petitions below to improve midwifery education and regulation in Texas:https://www.change.org/p/improve-midwifery-education-and-regulation-in-texas?recruiter=1336781649&recruited_by_id=74bf3b50-fd98-11ee-9e3f-a55a14340b5a&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_medium=copylink Malik's Law https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4553 M.A.M.A. has helped file a Texas bill called Malik's Law, which is intended to implement requirements for midwives in Texas to report birth outcomes in hopes of improving transparency and data collection in the midwifery field in partnership with Senator Claudia Ordaz. *Sources:Best Doulahttps://bestdoulatraining.com/ CAPPAhttps://cappa.net/training-certification/ DONA Internationalhttps://www.dona.org/ Madriellahttps://madriella.org/ ProDoulahttps://www.prodoula.com/ American College of Nurse Midwiveshttps://midwife.org/ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)https://www.acog.org/ A Brief History of Midwifery in Americahttps://www.ohsu.edu/womens-health/brief-history-midwifery-america CDC, Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2023/maternal-mortality-rates-2023.htm CDC, Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortalityhttps://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/maternal-mortality.html Geospatial distribution of relative cesarean section rates within the USAhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9284873/ In Mexico, Midwives Offer Care Rooted In Ancestral Traditionhttps://www.pih.org/article/mexico-midwives-offer-care-rooted-ancestral-tradition Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparisonhttps://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison?utm_source=chatgpt.com March of Dimeshttps://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/about-us Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care in the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countrieshttps://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/nov/maternal-mortality-maternity-care-us-compared-10-countries National Midwifery Institutehttps://www.nationalmidwiferyinstitute.com/midwifery North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)https://narm.org/ Racism During Pregnancy and Birthing: Experiences from Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern Womenhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9713108/ Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ US Has Highest Infant, Maternal Mortality Rates Despite the Most Health Care Spendinghttps://www.ajmc.com/view/us-has-highest-infant-maternal-mortality-rates-despite-the-most-health-care-spending What is a freebirth?https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/what-is-freebirth *SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: Thank you so much to Emily Wolfe for covering Glad Rag's original song, U Think U for us this season!Hear more from Emily Wolfe:On SpotifyOn Apple Musichttps://www.emilywolfemusic.com/instagram.com/emilywolfemusicGlad Rags: https://www.gladragsmusic.com/ The S23 cover art is by the Amazing Sara StewartSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.