Podcasts about nurse midwives

*Content warning: pregnancy, birth, infant & pregnancy loss, medical negligence, medical trauma. *Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: somethingwaswrong.com/resources Amy Giles' Birth Center & Bio:Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness: https://allenmidwifery.com/ Amy's Bio: https://nursing.baylor.edu/person/l-amy-giles-dnp-cnm-cne-facnm *Sources:After a C-section, women who want a vaginal birth may struggle to find carehttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/c-section-vbac-vaginal-maternal-health American College of Nurse Midwiveshttps://midwife.org/ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)https://www.acog.org/ Cardiac conditions in pregnancy and the role of midwives: A discussion paperhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articlesC-Section Rates By Hospitalhttps://www.leapfroggroup.org/sites/default/files/Files/C-Section-Graphic-final.pdf March of Dimeshttps://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/about-us Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC)https://www.meacschools.org/ National Midwifery Institutehttps://www.nationalmidwiferyinstitute.com/midwifery North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)https://narm.org/ Postpartum Hemorrhagehttps://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/postpartum-hemorrhage Postpartum Hemorrhagehttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22228-postpartum-hemorrhage Practice profile of members of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9277066/ Salary and Workload of Midwives Across Birth Center Practice Types and State Regulatory Structureshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35191600/ State investigating Dallas birth center and midwives, following multiple complaints from patientshttps://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/state-investigating-dallas-birth-center-midwives-following-multiple-complaints-from-patients/287-ea77eb18-c637-44d4-aaa2-fe8fd7a2fcef Texas Administrative Codehttps://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/publicTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ Thyroid Disease & Pregnancyhttps://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/pregnancy-thyroid-disease Zucker School of Medicine, Amos Grunebaum, MDhttps://faculty.medicine.hofstra.edu/13732-amos-grunebaum/publications *SWW S22 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 StewartFollow Something Was Wrong:Website: somethingwaswrong.com IG: instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast Follow Tiffany Reese:Website: tiffanyreese.me IG: instagram.com/lookiebooSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Jessica Brumley, a Certified Nurse Midwife and President of the American College of Nurse Midwives, joins Dr. Dekker to explore the transformative impact of respectful maternity care. Dr. Brumley reflects on her journey to midwifery, inspired by a lifelong commitment to equitable and compassionate healthcare. Together, they discuss the importance of supporting normal physiology in birth, the guiding principles of the midwifery model, and the need for systemic change to foster respectful care in hospitals. Dr. Brumley also shares insights from her work with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, including initiatives to reduce unnecessary interventions and amplify patient voices. Tune in to learn how respectful care can improve outcomes, build trust, and why a “midwife for every community” could change the landscape of maternal health in the United States. (00:07:30) Equitable and Respectful Maternity Care Advocacy (00:28:57) Promoting Respectful Maternity Care in Workplaces (00:30:28) Creating a Culture of Respect in Healthcare (00:30:49) Cultural Respect in Healthcare Settings (00:34:24) Promoting Equitable and Respectful Healthcare Practices (00:43:11) Elevating Midwifery Practice for Improved Healthcare (00:44:47) Retention Strategies for Midwifery Professionals   Resources: EBB 324 – Blending Birth, Science, Technology, and Storytelling with Erica Chidi, Co-founder and CEO of LOOM EBB 332 – Advocating for Yourself during Prenatal Visits with Retired Obstetrician Dr. Leslie Farrington, Co-Founder of the Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood Read Protecting Your Birth: A Guide For Black Mothers in The New York Times. Learn about the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the ICM's RESPECT Presentation (mentioned by Jessica) Learn about the Florida Perinatal Collaborative Learn more about Dr. Brumley and her work Learn about the American College of Nurse Midwives For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! 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.

Dr, Jessica Brumley, the current president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida in the Department of OBGYN joins host Chris Stallman, CGC. Dr. Brumley addresses the most common questions she gets about midwives, who they serve (hint: it's not just pregnant people) and where you can learn more about midwives in your area. Dr. Brumley has worked in her state on quality improvement work including the Promoting Intended Vaginal Delivery and Mother-Focused Care Initiatives. Her research has focused on group prenatal care implementation and human milk and lactation optimization. Dr Brumley is an internationally recognized expert in midwifery, physiologic birth, lactation, and respectful care. Resources mentioned in this episode: Find a Midwife American College of Nurse-Midwives (midwife.org)

Join me for this week's episode where I interview Andrea Cooper, MS, APRN-CNM, APRN-CNP. Andrea is a life coach for women and the founder of Coaching with Coop, LLC. She has cared for women as a midwife for over a decade, is a former board member for the Ohio Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In addition to coaching, she practices clinically and coordinates research on nurses' mental health. Tune in to hear... Why the PhD program wasn't right for her at the time Why coaching felt like the right fit What it means to honor autonomy for women (and why it matters) Contact Information for Andrea: Email: acoopercnm@gmail.com Instagram: @CoachingwithCoop

Tavis talks to Heather Clarke, president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, about the history of Black midwifery in the U.S. and disparities in Black maternal health.

The Atlanta Birth Center's Nurse-Midwives, Molly Jobe and Hannah Walters, and Childbirth Educator, Tracey Goddard-Johnson, will present its innovative Wellness Within Project. The Atlanta Birth Center is a Georgia-based non-profit organization that operates Atlanta's only freestanding, nationally accredited birth center, providing an optimal birth experience as anticipated by a childbearing woman and her family. They offer a home-like environment with a program of family-centered care before, during, and after pregnancy, labor, and birth. They adhere to eligibility guidelines set forth nationally by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers and the rules and regulations of the state of Georgia. Our guests will describe the Atlanta Birth Center and the Wellness Within project, which is a community-based research project taking place at the Center. The project aims to equip birth givers with the wellness skills taught in the Community Resiliency Model and to understand better how these skills can mitigate the impact of chronic stress and trauma during the perinatal period. The Atlanta Birth Center has Certified Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are implementing the project.

The Atlanta Birth Center's Nurse-Midwives, Molly Jobe and Hannah Walters, and Childbirth Educator, Tracey Goddard-Johnson, will present its innovative Wellness Within Project. The Atlanta Birth Center is a Georgia-based non-profit organization that operates Atlanta's only freestanding, nationally accredited birth center, providing an optimal birth experience as anticipated by a childbearing woman and her family. They offer a home-like environment with a program of family-centered care before, during, and after pregnancy, labor, and birth. They adhere to eligibility guidelines set forth nationally by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers and the rules and regulations of the state of Georgia. Our guests will describe the Atlanta Birth Center and the Wellness Within project, which is a community-based research project taking place at the Center. The project aims to equip birth givers with the wellness skills taught in the Community Resiliency Model and to understand better how these skills can mitigate the impact of chronic stress and trauma during the perinatal period. The Atlanta Birth Center has Certified Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are implementing the project.

The Atlanta Birth Center's Nurse-Midwives, Molly Jobe and Hannah Walters, and Childbirth Educator, Tracey Goddard-Johnson, will present its innovative Wellness Within Project. The Atlanta Birth Center is a Georgia-based non-profit organization that operates Atlanta's only freestanding, nationally accredited birth center, providing an optimal birth experience as anticipated by a childbearing woman and her family. They offer a home-like environment with a program of family-centered care before, during, and after pregnancy, labor, and birth. They adhere to eligibility guidelines set forth nationally by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers and the rules and regulations of the state of Georgia. Our guests will describe the Atlanta Birth Center and the Wellness Within project, which is a community-based research project taking place at the Center. The project aims to equip birth givers with the wellness skills taught in the Community Resiliency Model and to understand better how these skills can mitigate the impact of chronic stress and trauma during the perinatal period. The Atlanta Birth Center has Certified Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are implementing the project.

Last year was the year of AI, especially in the entrepreneur world. It's all about things being faster, easier, and automated. And this has been happening with birth for years. We've gotten so far away from mother nature's birth that we've completely changed what birth looks like. And it's not good for most mothers and babies. In this episode I discuss: - Automation fails from content creators. - The hospital is the most advanced option for birth and it's hurting moms and babies - The American College of Nurse Midwives statement on technology use in birth - How evidence shows that more isn't better in birth, and still automation is prioritized - The worst applications of technology in birth that we have today Listen to the podcast interviews mentioned in the intro: Under the Sun Podcast - How to have an informed hospital birth with Lizzie Down to Birth Show - The Birth of Fierce Lizzie: From Rule Follower to Autonomy Advocate Moms off the Record - Other episodes you may love: Avoiding Induction is not Enough 86: Why the hospital has routines Blame Henry Ford for your birth trauma xo, Lizzie Have questions? Birth Options Workshop: Get clarity on your next step, whether that is choosing a provider, deciding on a birth place or where to start with birth education. RSVP now. Ready to start your birth prep? Birth Prep Class: This 30 minute class will teach you what you can do now to help prepare your mind and body for an unmedicated birth. It's FREE ️ Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

What do midwives do, and why are more women turning to midwives for care?

Kristin Mallon is a highly accomplished and passionate board-certified nurse midwife with over 20 years of experience in women's health. Her expertise in menopause and feminine longevity has made her a respected and sought-after expert in her field and she is dedicated to providing the highest level of care to her patients as the CEO and Co-Founder of FemGevity.  Kristin has been recognized for her contributions to the field of women's health and has been published in several medical journals. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the North American Menopause Society.To get in touch with her clinic, go to https://www.femgevityhealth.com/ and follow her on Instagram at @femgevity, Feminine Longevity.In this episode, we discuss the following:- Why bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is still the therapy of choice for menopausal women.- Benefits of hormones for heart, brain and bones.- The new drug for hot flashes - Veozah.- Natural remedies for various menopausal symptoms are shown to be efficacious.And so much more!Support the showSHARE this episode with someone who may benefit & subscribe, rate & review. And follow me below!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandyknutrition/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sandyknutritionTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandyknutritionYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIh48ov-SgbSUXsVeLL2qAgTwitter: https://twitter.com/sandyknutrition

Carmen has decided to go through fertility preservation treatment, but feels disconcerted when loved ones aren't as supportive as she hoped. And Milan Chavarkar, a nurse practitioner specializing in fertility care, speaks with Juleyka about what to expect during an egg retrieval, and how to prepare for the emotional and physical stress along the way.Featured Expert: Milan Chavarkar, has been a women's health specialist for 25 years and a family nurse practitioner for 20 years. She has worked with people from all backgrounds and seen that conventional medical system has fallen short in achieving true healing. She is dedicated to helping her clients improve their health and vitality through a collaborative and integrative approach. She uses functional medicine, conventional western medicine, natural therapies, mindfulness techniques, medications, supplements, and herbal treatments to treat her patients. She firmly believes that an integrative approach is the future of healthcare. With a 25-year career in nursing, Milan Chavarkar has worked in many capacities in the health care system, nurse, nurse-practitioner, midwife, professor, and manager. Dr. Chavarkar genuinely wants to improve the health care system and is available to guide corporations and individuals as a speaker and consultant. Learn more about her work and practice here.Milan recommends Resolve, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American College of Nurse Midwives, The National Association for Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, as resources for anyone who wants to learn more about women's reproductive health and fertility treatments.If you liked this show listen to Speaking About Breast Health As a Family and Telling Mamí about My IUD.We'd love to hear your stories of triumph and frustration so send us a detailed voice memo to hello@talktomamipapi.com. You might be on a future episode! Let's connect on Twitter and Instagram at @TalkToMamiPapi and email us at hello@talktomamipapi.com. And follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

This episode HAS IT ALL! Spinning Babies CHECK. Functional Midwifery CHECK. Prenatal Nutrition CHECK. Birth Stories  CHECK. Have an amazing time listening to Rhea, one of my favorite Nurse Midwives and Spinning Babies instructors! This episode is jam packed. You may even want to take some notes! XOXO- Heids You heard Kristen chat about her experience taking Birth Story Academy! I hope you will jump into my class soon too! It's 6 hours of self-paced content spread over 20 modules....everything you need for your best birth is included down to the birth plan templates and recorded birth affirmations! Head over to BIRTHSTORY.COM and use code BIRTHSTORYFRIEND for $20 OFF.  Resources: Birth Story Academy Online Course Shop My Birthing Workbooks and Guides   3 Key takeaways from the podcast What to do if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes How do know if you are in active labor What is Spinning Babies and how is it applied for vaginal births I'm Heidi, a Certified Birth Doula, and I've supported the deliveries of over one thousand babies in my career. On the Birth Story Podcast, I'll take you on a journey through your pregnancy by providing you education through storytelling. I provide high-level childbirth education broken down to make it super digestible for you because I know you are a busy parent on the go. Plus, because I am so passionate about birth outcomes, you will hear from many of the top experts in labor and delivery. Connect with Me! Instagram YouTube My Doula Heidi Website Birth Story Media™ Website  

We are so honored to have today's guest, Henci Goer, joining Meagan today. Henci has made it her life's work to help women make informed decisions about their care in the birth space. She has written multiple books, received countless awards, and has made current obstetric research more accessible to women worldwide. Henci defines uterine scar separation and talks about what factors may contribute to or help prevent this from happening. Meagan and Henci talk extensively about VBAC, VBA2C, birth plans, induction, and epidurals all using evidence-based research. We love that Henci's mission is to empower women and families to make the choices that are best for them. Here at The VBAC Link, our mission is the same!Additional LinksHenci's Blog: Is VBAC Safe?Henci's WebsiteLabor Pain: What's Your Best Strategy? By Henci GoerOptimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic ApproachNeeded WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode DetailsMeagan: Hello, hello. Welcome to The VBAC Link. This is Meagan and you guys, we have an amazing, amazing, amazing episode for you today. This episode has actually been kind of a long time coming. We have our friend, Henci Goer. She is just a wealth of knowledge. You're going to absolutely pick this episode apart. I know it. You're actually probably going to want a notebook so if you're one of the listeners that goes on walks or is driving, you might want to press pause or listen to it and come back with a notebook because I know you're going to want to write these stats down. We're talking about uterine scar giveaway, you guys. I know that this is something huge. All of our listeners, every single one of our listeners that has had a VBAC is aware of uterine scar separation so this is going to be a really great episode filled with wonderful evidence and all of the things for you. So buckle up. It's going to be amazing. Review of the WeekBut of course, we have a Review of the Week so I am going to quickly share that with you. This review today is actually on our How to VBAC: The Ultimate Parents Course. This is from Rosie. It says, “As someone who had an unplanned Cesarean myself and as a doula, I really appreciated how well-balanced this course is. There's no shaming. There's no bias. It's just the facts.”Thank you, Rosie. I'm so glad that you are enjoying the course or have enjoyed the course. And if you didn't know, we do have a How to VBAC Parents Course and a Doula Course for all of you birth workers out there who want to learn how to support your VBAC clients. We have this course. You can check it out at thevbaclink.com. Henci GoerMeagan: Okay, Ms. Henci. I am so honored to have you on the show today. I mean, really, it seems like we've been talking for months. I really think it was the beginning of the year, right? Henci: Something around there, yeah. Meagan: Yes. Oh my gosh, it's been so long. Just for anyone out there who wants to know a little bit more about Henci and why we are having her on the show today, she actually started out as a Lamaze teacher and a doula. Her life's work soon became analyzing and synthesizing obstetric research in order to give pregnant women, birthing people, and birth professionals access to what continues to be optimal care in childbirth. Just that right there, that little bit right there, I'm telling you guys, it really is her life's work. If you Google her name, you're going to find a ton of research. She's an author of four books. Four books, you guys. Labor Pain, What is Your Best Strategy?, Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for Physiological Approach with co-author Amy Ramana– is she on MSN and CNN or has been mentioned? Tell me about that. Henci: She's a nurse-midwife. That's Master of Nursing. Meagan: Oh, I was thinking CNM in my head. MSN, so what is that? Henci: It's a Master of something. I don't know what that degree is. She's a nurse-midwife. Meagan: She's a CNM. Certified Nurse-Midwife, yes. In my head, I read CNM. The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities. You guys. In addition, she has written numerous blog posts, articles, given lectures around the world, and here she is today on our podcast. I'm so honored. In recognition of her work, she has received among so many others, the American College of Nurse-Midwives' Best Book of the Year. Henci, congratulations on that. Henci: Yeah, that was a thrill. Meagan: That is amazing. Lamaze International Presidents Award, DONA International Claus– Henci: Both of their memories are a blessing. Meagan: I know. Seriously, a research award on that. Life Achievement Award, I mean, you guys. She has so many awards and here she is to talk with you, Women of Strength, all about one of the biggest topics in VBAC. Right? Uterine separation, also known as uterine rupture. When I started talking with Henci, I love that she was like, “You know, I don't love to call it uterine rupture. It's uterine separation.” I have really grown to love that over the last few months that we have been talking. Yeah, so let's talk about it. What is uterine scar separation, Henci? What is that? Henci: Well, before we get started because I think we are going to be giving a lot of information. I want to emphasize that one of the things that took so long is that what we decided to do is that I would do a blog post that had all of the detailed information in it.Meagan: And it does. Henci: So, not to worry. I imagine that with the notes for the podcast, you'll post a link to the blog post which will have detailed numbers in it. My life's work– and I love the review of your course because just sits where I sit. My life's work has been wanting to give women and birthing people the ability to make choices having all complete, accurate information on the pros and cons of their option which is really difficult to get as you probably know and your people probably know. Meagan: It is. Yes. Henci: What they choose to do with it, it's just that I'm there for the information. No judgment. I'm here to help people decide they want to plan a repeat Cesarean. Whatever it is, I want people to have accurate, balanced information to the best of my ability to create a space where they can make the choice that's right for them and their families. Meagan: Absolutely. I love that so much and that is really what we are here about at The VBAC Link. There's no shaming in choosing a repeat Cesarean. There's no shaming in choosing an epidural over unmedicated, right? There's no wrong way to birth, but the most important thing to us here at The VBAC Link is that you know the facts, you know the options, and you choose the best route for you. Henci: And then the other piece which is part of my work as well is to go beyond the information and say, “So now you have this information, what can you do with it?” What are the tips, ideas, and recommendations that will help you craft a plan that will help take you in the direction that you want to go? I'm very careful. This may be one of the more important things that I say to your group and it's not informational. I'm very carefully not saying “goal”. I think it's very important to distinguish intention from goal. Goal assumes that you have you get somewhere and if you don't get to that place then you failed, right? The intention– is this is the direction that you want to go in?To have that in mind helps you, first of all, to plan the journey in a way that's most likely to succeed in getting there, but it also helps you have your priorities so that if things happen along the way, you're able to be flexible to know what's really important, to navigate the space, but to understand that sometimes life has other plans so if you don't take anything else away from what I say today, please take away that because I think that's really key. Meagan: Yeah. As a doula, when we're doing prenatals with our clients, a lot of people will be like, “Can you help me write a birth plan?” I love the idea surrounding birth plans. Let's have this idea of how we want this birth to go, but I like to reference it more as birth preferences. “Here are my preferences and I'm going to label them from A to D, most important to less important, and have this idea and this plan, but then also know that there are other options and it's okay if I choose those. It's okay if my birth goes another route because I have these preferences and we're going to do everything we can to have them, but we know it doesn't always pan out that way. We know that. Henci: I think too that something has gone wrong. I talk about this in the introduction to my latest book. I think “plan” has gotten a bad rap. So a plan isn't a laundry list or a blueprint. It's more like, “Are you planning for a career? Well then, you're going to decide what you're going to do to take steps in that direction. Are you planning a vacation?” But it's not something that has checkboxes on it. Meagan: It's not a list. Henci: I think, if I may be so bold, the problem with preference is that at least, I think especially if you talk about preferences to medical staff, it becomes like, “Well, I think I'd rather wear a blue gown or have chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.” It doesn't have the same strength as saying– Meagan: “This is my plan.”Henci: And that can be internal to the woman or the birthing person. But yeah, let's get into the meat of what I want to say today. Meagan: No, I love that message though. I do love that message. I think it would be really good if we did stop because the reason why we change “plan” is because if things don't go as planned, we failed. That's how our minds work and it's not how it is, but that's how the world has–Henci: Right, but this I think is what happened when birth plans became a thing in the medical environment. It became a checklist. But when you say, “I'm planning a vacation,” if your plane flight gets delayed and you miss your connection to the cruise boat, you don't say, “Oh, I failed.” Right? Meagan: Right. Henci: It's a plan. “All right. How am I going to get to Costa Rica?” It's a very different mindset and I'd just like to relieve the audience from the idea that a plan is too limited. Meagan: Yeah. I love that. I love that. Let's talk about how when we are planning to have a VBAC and when we are going for a trial of labor after a Cesarean, we have a lot of providers talking about–Henci: I'm going to plan a VBAC trial. I think language is just so key to all of this. Meagan: Right? I know. Henci: A trial suggests that– Meagan: We're trying. We're trying. Henci: The other word that I'd just like to take out is “success”. You either plan a VBAC and have a VBAC or you plan a VBAC and you have a repeat Cesarean. Meagan: Like you say, those words are so important. We talk about VBAC and TOLAC language in our course and talk about how you might hear TOLAC and that actually might be triggering. It is to a lot of people because you are like, “I'm not trying to do anything. I'm going to have this baby. My goal or my plan is to have a vaginal birth after a Cesarean.” I don't love trial, but we talk about how that is how medical professionals will label it so we try to get comfortable with the term TOLAC so when we hear it at birth, we're not triggered, but knowing in our minds, we are planning to have this VBAC. So when we are planning for our VBAC, one of the number one things that focuses on that from a lot of providers is uterine separation. Henci: Right and even there, the language that the medical practitioners use is right with the language of failure. So let's even take that. You hear, “What are my odds of–” even if they don't call it uterine rupture? The thing is that there are a couple of really big studies, like 50,000 because now we have these big databases and in one of them, the likelihood of the scar giving way was 5 out of 1000 and in the other one, it was 3 out of 1000. What you have to think of is, in one of those studies, the odds were 995 out of 1000 that you wouldn't have a problem with your scar and in the other one, it was 997 out of 1000 that you would not have a problem with your scar. The other thing that people have to understand is that even if you do, even if the scar gives way, yes, it's an emergency. The odds of having something bad happen to your baby– Meagan: Catastrophic, yeah. Henci: Catastrophic happen to your baby are again, 997 out of 1000. When that problem happens with your scar, 997 times out of 1000, your baby is going to be just fine. You're going to have an emergency Cesarean, but your baby is going to be fine. Meagan: Usually Mom is fine too. Henci: Yes, absolutely. So you have to think in those terms so that the numbers are very low. The thing there is that it's a general number. Meagan: Right. It is a general number. That is something that we really, really need to keep in mind. This is a general number. Henci: I want to drill down and look at some things that affect that number. The first one, and don't worry, I go into details and give all of the numbers in the blog post. The first one is what I noticed when I started doing the research for this is that you have two factors that pull in opposite directions. One of them pulls towards having a problem with the scar and that is the use of induction or augmentation. The other pull in the direction of not having a problem with the scar and that's having a prior VBAC. Before we get to, “Well, my last baby was big. Does that increase my chance because I might have a bigger baby this time?” Those two things are key and one of them, you sort of have control over. Meagan: Yeah. Yeah, not inducing. Henci: What I can tell you is that it's pretty clear that the stronger the stimulus to the uterus, the more likely you are to have a problem with the scar. In other words, particularly the highest risk is if you are induced at all just with oxytocin and then if you're induced or augmented, it really goes up– this is really the key point– if you are induced when the cervix isn't favorable for labor and they give you an agent. Meagan: To help soften the cervix and get you ready for induction. Henci: Right. It does a great job of softening the cervix, but there actually may be a reason why the agents that soften the cervix are problematic for the scar because the cervix is made of connective tissue. What those agents do is that they cause the cervix to soften by pulling in water and softening the way you'd wet a sponge. Meagan: I love that analogy. I've never thought of that. Henci: Guess what the uterine scar tissue is made up of? Connective tissue. That could be where the problem is. But anyway, so the more you augment the uterus, the more likely you are to cause a problem with the scar if the contractions are stronger and longer and for longer periods of time. One thing to keep in mind is that induction is never an emergency or a necessity. If, for example, you do have a medical issue like your blood pressure is going up, there's a real reason that induction and getting the baby out sooner rather than later is possible. I'm going to put this on the back burnerhere are studies that show if you are really careful to induce to mimic as much as possible what the body does naturally, you can induce without overstressing the scar. That's something to say if, “Oh my god, if my only choice is induction or a repeat Cesarean, I guess I'd better choose repeat Cesarean,” then I would say, “Yes, there are ways to do this.” Like the wicked witch says, “These things must be done carefully.” That's one thing. The other thing is that there is very strong evidence that if you have had a VBAC, you are much less likely to have a problem with a scar. Having a prior vaginal birth, a vaginal birth before a Cesarean doesn't seem to have as much of an effect on that, but if you get a VBAC under your belt, you are very, very likely to go on having uneventful VBACs if you choose to have more children. Meagan: Why do you think that is? Just because the uterus has progressed and it has pushed a baby out? I read that question a lot and in my head, I know there is a showing that you are more likely, but in my head, I'm like, “Why? Why is it exactly why you are more likely to have a VBAC if you've had a vaginal birth and if you've had a VBAC, you're less likely to have separation when the uterus is doing the same chemical functionality?” It's contracting and squeezing and pushing a baby out.Henci: If that were true, then it wouldn't make a difference whether you've had a vaginal birth before you've had a Cesarean or you've had a VBAC after you've had a Cesarean. Meagan: It's really weird. Henci: So I have no idea. I'm just the literature lady. I just can tell you what the research says. Meagan: Yeah. Right? I don't know that either. I can't figure it out myself either. I don't understand why. Yeah. Okay, I had a vaginal birth and then I had a C-section and then now I don't have as high of a risk. It's just interesting. It's really interesting. Henci: Yeah, certainly. If you have had a VBAC, for anybody to say, “Oh, we just don't do VBACs and you really need to have a repeat Cesarean,” your best option is to plan a repeat VBAC. I mean, that is a really strong link there. Meagan: Right, but we're not having providers suggest it. We're still having providers saying, “It is your best option to have a scheduled repeat Cesarean.” Henci: Do they say why?Meagan: We have people writing all over. One, we just don't support it. Two, the vaginal birth that you did have– say if they had a vaginal birth– wasn't until 41 weeks so if you have a baby by 39 weeks, it's fine. You can have that but after 39 weeks you can't. Henci: Yeah, that's what I call a Cinderella VBAC. You can have a VBAC if you go into labor before 40 weeks and if your previous baby wasn't too big and if you make progress in labor, but you know, the basic reason is, “We don't do VBACs here because we can't handle obstetric emergencies.” Oh, wait. Let's think about this. You're a hospital. You have women coming in in labor. Some of them have high blood pressure. Go down the list and you're saying that you can't handle an obstetric emergency 24/7? You shouldn't be doing births here. Meagan: You shouldn't be having babies here. That happens a lot where you've got more rule areas like, “We can't support VBAC because we can't handle an emergency Cesarean.” It's like, “Well, if you can't handle an emergency Cesarean, then that's a big concern for anyone to give birth because VBAC or not, we know emergent Cesareans can be needed for first-time moms.” If they can't handle a VBAC Cesarean, then how are they totally able to handle someone who has an emergency Cesarean just in general?Henci: Unfortunately, this isn't something that your audience can change. They're not going to talk that hospital into changing, so it just hurts my heart that people are put in this sort of form of dilemma where they don't have a good option. They have a least worst option. Meagan: They feel stuck. That is the same thing with me. It hurts my heart that so many people feel so stuck out there. We have mamas that travel out of the country or out of the state just to find somewhere but that option isn't for everyone. So it's really hard if you feel stuck and you're not feeling supported in your community. So yeah. It hurts. That's a whole other type of podcast. Henci: That's a whole other topic. Meagan: Yeah, so let's talk about what uterine separation is. We talk about uterine separation. I'm going to use the word that a lot of providers use as rupture. So when we hear this really big word, when I picture a water balloon breaking– Henci: That's why I don't like that word. Meagan: That's what we hear. That's what we hear. We hear “rupture” and that's what I hear is a water balloon breaking and popping. That is really terrifying to hear and to think of when in actuality, it's not usually how that happens, right? Henci: Right. Meagan: Our uterus doesn't just break open and explode. It doesn't so let's talk about separation. What does it mean? What does that mean? And there are multiple types of separation. Henci: Actually, it's been interesting to see because I've actually been involved in this work since the 1980's so to watch the evolution when VBAC started coming in and went out again, as the research has grappled with an agreement on a definition of exactly what that meant because they find this all the time in repeat Cesareans that little windows can open up in the scar. It's not a big deal. Scars are tough. They don't cause any problems so what they finally ended up with is the scar completely gives way to form an opening in the uterus between the uterus and the abdominal cavity. That would be in combination with symptoms, usually heavy bleeding or the baby being in distress. Meagan: Or baby going high up. Henci: There is no clinical significance to a window. There are no symptoms. Nobody is hurt. Nobody is at risk, but if the scar gives way to the extent that there is heavy bleeding and in very rare cases, the baby or part of the baby can actually be in the abdominal cavity, that's a scary situation. Meagan: Yeah. Yeah, and talking about the uterine window– as she was saying, it's where it thins out so we've got this thinning. The crazy thing is that there really aren't any symptoms. Henci: There are none. Meagan: You really wouldn't know if you had a uterine window unless you were opened up. Henci: Unless you had a repeat surgery, yeah. So there is the interesting thing about that. One of the things they tried to do– and I hope that none of the doctors they are encountering are doing this– was they thought, “Hmm. Why don't we do an ultrasound to see how thin the scar is? Maybe that will help us predict whether the scar will give way.” It turns out and there is absolute agreement on this that you can't use that. It isn't accurate enough to tell you anything and what's more, the correlation in that study was when she was pregnant, we did this ultrasound and we measured the thickness of the scar. Then, when they had their surgery, we looked to see if in fact there was a problem with the scar. They found some little windows, but that didn't mean they would have had a problem if they would have gone into labor. So that whole idea of, “We have some way of predicting when the scar will give way so that we can advise whether it's a good idea to try a VBAC,” all of the studies that have been done of that have said that they aren't accurate enough to be used to counsel a person about VBAC. So anybody that's using that one is not scientific. Meagan: Yet we get those messages all the time. “Hey, my doc said I can't have a VBAC because my uterine thickness is too thin.” We get that reason all of the time, being told that they cannot VBAC because of that. It's so disheartening when we've got evidence showing certain things, but we have providers not following evidence-based information. Henci: Yes. You can always find a reason to do something you don't want to do. Meagan: Yes. That is what I was going to point out too. Sometimes when we have providers saying things that are completely opposite of what evidence even says or just don't support evidence in general. We got a message saying that they had a 60% chance of uterine rupture. Henci: Oh sheesh. Meagan: Yeah. They said that their uterine scar would give way 60% of the time. I'm like, “No way. No.” Where do we even get that? But a lot of the time, these providers are, like you said, saying things because they don't want to do things or they've seen things that make them scared so they put people under this general umbrella and they're like, “Oh, you've had a C-section. You're under this umbrella and this umbrella is not going to let you have a VBAC.” Henci: I have a dear friend who was interested. She was a marriage and family counselor and she was doing work with PTSD, child-related PTSD. We were sitting at a conference and there was an obstetrician who was lecturing who started actually talking about an emergency birth where things went wrong and she actually started to tear up. My friend had an epiphany. She said, “Oh my god. It's not just women who develop PTSD.”Meagan: Yeah. It's these providers. Henci: It's birth professionals as well and if you've been at a crisis birth even if everything turned out right, but if it was that sort of an emergency, “Oh my god, we might lose this mother or we might lose this baby,” that's going to change the way you practice because what is the signal effect of PTSD? It's intended to be protective. Your brain says, “I never want to be in that situation again. What do I need to do to avoid it?” Meagan: Right. Henci: I have compassion for that, but it doesn't help your audience who is stuck with these people who have no idea what is actually driving their decisions. Meagan: Right. I guess I want to mention that just because sometimes I feel like, and even on this podcast, we're guilty of saying things that make it feel like we're painting bad pictures of providers and putting them in a bad light. That's not the goal here in this podcast. That's definitely not what we want to do but we do know that a lot of people have been let down. Henci: Yeah. Meagan: I mean, here's this failed word but there are a lot of people out there who have been failed. Henci: They've been failed by their care provider. I will use failed in that case. Meagan: They've been failed by the staff or by their care provider or their location. A lot of the time, it's really hard because we don't know what that other person has experienced. We hope that those professionals will work through those and stop putting these general umbrellas over people, but we know that it's probably not going to ever stop happening. Henci: No, unfortunately. But I want to move back to how we just talked about a case where the research doesn't back up what the doctor says, but I want to talk about a couple of cases where- and this is where being more critical of what the research has to say. It does on the surface back doctors up. So now let's get into some of the categories for induction. The big one is, “We don't want you to get past 40 weeks because we know that with longer pregnancy duration, there is more chance for scar rupture.” That sounds good and it's actually in the research, but here's the catch. Underneath that is what happens at 40 or 41 weeks? They induce labor and there is research that shows that the reason that you get more is that all of the scar ruptures were in induced labor. We know that induction increases the risk of scar rupture. It creates the illusion that it's pregnancy duration. It's not. It's pregnancy management. The other one where that happens and it's actually in the research is women who are expecting a big baby or they think the baby is big. Meagan: Suspected big baby. Henci: First of all, if your doctor says, “Oh, you know. This baby is going to be on the big side. We did the ultrasound. I've been feeling your belly.” You might as well flip a coin because there is a 50/50 chance that that is incorrect and your baby isn't going to be on the big side. So number one, they may be anxious about something that isn't even true. Meagan: It's so true. Henci: The second thing is, then what happens next? Let's induce before the baby gets bigger. So again, you find an association between VBAC labors with bigger babies and an increased risk of scar rupture but that's not the root cause. The root cause is those laboring women were induced. So that is something to take into account when you hear those things and again, I've got the numbers. The reason I keep coming back to the importance of the blog post is one of the things that I think is less than helpful is vagueness like, “There is a chance.” The first question I'd have is, “How big?” so I wanted to as much as possible give people the numbers so that they can do what feels right for them but also know how those numbers are distorted by management. The VBAC rate itself is distorted by management because VBAC studies outside of the hospital coming from home births and birth centers show a VBAC rate in women who have not had any prior VBACs– the first birth was the Cesarean and this is the second delivery. The VBAC rate was 81%. Out of the hospital-based studies, they range up to the low 70 percentile, but the hospital studies don't get up that high.Here's the important thing. If it's at all possible, find a care provider who's really comfortable with VBAC and knows how to manage them because where do you see the bad outcomes? To a huge extent, they're in labors that were induced and labors in which there was a problem with the scar which is much more likely if they were induced or augmented or she wasn't given enough time and then she went to C-section.The complications happen in C-sections so the more you are able to have a birth that proceeds at its own pace with no stimulation and there is a spontaneous vaginal birth, your birth by your own efforts, that's when it's minuscule in terms of having complications. Meagan: Right. It's so hard because yes. We talked about this earlier. Oh, we've got hypertension and oh, we've got this thing and we have options. Do we induce or do we have a C-section? It still is very possible to have a VBAC with an induction. We're just talking about uterine giveaways and the chances. You increase your chances by choosing to be induced. That doesn't guarantee you're going to have that happen or anything but you have to know walking into it, “Okay, I have this, this, and this, and I'm going to choose to induce.” You have to know the risk that you are taking. We have to weigh out the risks and say, “Okay. I know it increases a little bit. I'm comfortable taking that risk or I am not comfortable taking that risk.” Henci: Right. Or how can I minimize my risk? Because it still is possible. You have to do it diplomatically but if you have a care provider who is willing to be flexible and is like, “Yeah, I'm not sure about this one,” but you're able to have that conversation where you feel like they can hear you and you're going to be respectful and hear them, then I think there's a lot that can be done. You can say, “No or not yet.” Meagan: Yep. We just made a post on Instagram and Facebook about that saying, “I appreciate the time that we just took. I'm going to choose to wait” or “Thank you so much for that, but I'm not going to do that.” Henci: The other thing I would suggest if you're in a situation where you're saying no is to have a discussion around which new information would change your mind because that again creates space with, “Oh, I don't have one of these patients that's just being difficult,” but to say and talk about, “If my blood pressure goes up–”. I don't know what it might be, but to have a conversation about under what circumstances might you consider changing your mind. Meagan: Right, yeah. It's powerful. Conversation and information are powerful. I always encourage someone to ask questions and to get their research. If we have a provider saying you have a 60% of uterine scar giveaway, let's talk about that. “Wow, that seems really high. Is there any way that you can provide me with that information so that I can study that and see what's comfortable for me?” And then you'll look and it and go, “Oh, there aren't statistics showing that I have that? Okay.” Then you might make a different choice, but if you just hear that number and don't ask any questions, then you automatically might say, “That seems really scary. I'm not even going to go there.” We have these myths and these numbers and if we don't ask for information, we're doing ourselves a disservice. Henci: I've got the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists practice bulletin. I wonder if there is any way– I mean, a summary of recommendations and conclusions backed by level A evidence, good and consistent scientific evidence. The first one on the list is, “Most women with one previous Cesarean delivery with a low transverse incision are candidates for and should be counseled about and offered TOLAC.” Meagan: Yes. Henci: My eye goes down and I want to talk about women who've had two prior Cesareans. I know we wanted to talk about that. Meagan: We do want to talk about that. Yes. Henci: I will say that they're not enthusiastic about it, but nonetheless, this is under level B evidence which is limited or inconsistent scientific evidence, and what it says is, “Given the overall data, it is reasonable to consider women with two previous low transverse Cesarean deliveries to be candidates for TOLAC and to counsel them based on the combination of other factors.” They have all of these VBAC predictions which I'm just going to be blunt, they're crap because they're evaluating the wrong thing. What they should be evaluating is the doctor's propensity to care for VBAC and their confidence in VBAC. Then you'd get the numbers that would really correlate with whether labor would end in VBAC or they wouldn't. Meagan: Right. Right. I know. Then just going one step further, vaginal birth after two Cesareans, then we've got people talking about vaginal birth after three or more. There's no evidence in there because we're not doing them very often. Henci: The evidence is not there for three. It is there for two, although again, you can get very low, again, the equivalent of sort of the average. There are some Israeli studies where there is a very large population of women there who have large families so you do get people with two Cesareans, but the thing there is they need to be managed carefully. In one case, it was like, “We don't do inductions other than by rupturing membranes in someone whose cervix is ready to go.” There are ways to do that. But what I wanted to say is that now here's a case where you have to look at the other side which is that there are studies that show there are consequences because as you accumulate uterine scars, the complications in subsequent pregnancies go up. So when you get to two prior Cesareans and there are studies that looked at the branch in the road. You had two prior Cesareans. Did you plan a VBAC or did you plan a repeat Cesarean? And guess what? The severe complication rates were identical. It was an identical rate of hysterectomies. There was the same rate of perinatal mortality so it's not like, “Oh, I'll just choose that safe third Cesarean.” There are increased risks, but there are also increased risks to taking another Cesarean on board. Meagan: And then to add to that, future pregnancies. With each Cesarean that we have, we have also risks in future pregnancies that are not discussed when we're counseling in this medical world from what we're finding. We're being counseled for VBAC. We're being counseled about the risk of uterine separation and the VBAC issues, but we're not talked to about the blood loss or the risk of hysterectomy. We're not talking about those things. Henci: Or chronic pain. Meagan: Chronic pain or dense adhesions or placenta accreta. We don't talk about these issues or even deeper issues. We're not talking about them. That is where I think is one of the places we're going wrong in this medical world. We're not truly counseling on all sides of things to really give people the opportunity to make that really informed decision. We're kind of just prefacing over here, but like, “Oh, but we could schedule your baby's birthday and get your hair done the day before because you know exactly when your baby is coming.” We're not counseling. Like you said, there are issues and there are risks. So with VBAC after two C-sections, through your education and ACOG not saying, “Yeah, go for it for sure, for sure,” But they're saying, “It should be reasonable.” Through your uterine scar separation research, is it substantially larger? I know there are going to be numbers in the blog and we talk about it in our course and things, but is it like you have a 0.4% to what? To 10% if you've had two to 1%? We've got people being told things all over the place. I guess my question is through your research with VBAC after two Cesareans, we're going to specifically talk about two Cesareans here, is it increased and truly that much higher? I mean, I know the answer, but let's talk about it. Is it really that much higher or is it pretty low statistically? Henci: Well, I actually turned to that page in the blog post and I had a couple of different studies. There was an increase in both studies. It was quite small. The difference in these studies, I really think, had to do with the fact that in one of the studies, that was the one where they would only allow the rupture of membranes as a means of induction. So in one case, it went from 3 per 1000 with planned VBAC after one Cesarean to 6 in 1000 with planned VBAC after two Cesareans, and in the other one, it went from 7 to 1000 to 16 per 1000. But that's still a 98% chance of not having a problem with your scar. Meagan: Right. Henci: The thing is, there is a consciousness, but if you're planning a large family, that maybe I think a lot of care providers will say, “Well, if you're only planning on having two children, it really is not that big of a deal to have another Cesarean.” But the thing with that is that I think it is really important to understand that you may plan to complete your family with two children. That doesn't necessarily mean that's what's going to happen. Meagan: That's true. That is so true. Henci: I think unless you or your intimate partner are planning on doing something permanent about your fertility, you have to consider the fact that you may choose to have another baby or you may find yourself pregnant and decide you're having another baby. Meagan: Right. Henci: I think you always have to take that possibility into consideration when you're making that first decision. Personally, this is totally my opinion and my judgment. No pressure here. I think the best thing that you can do is get off the Cesarean track if you can. Meagan: Mhmm, yeah. I mean, it really is. There's proof in the pudding that a vaginal birth is the ideal route in the long run overall. Henci: Yep. Meagan: I guess as we're wrapping up here, let's talk a little bit about, well, how you do you decide? How do we decide? Henci: I know that I wanted to get to something because we talked about this. I wanted to get to the epidural issue. Meagan: Epidurals yeah. Let's talk about that too. Yeah. Henci: What you are saying is you're hearing both sides. One is that you can't have an epidural and the other is that you have to have an epidural. Meagan: Literally, they say that you have to have an epidural to have a VBAC. Some of them are like, “Well, yeah. You can VBAC. Just know.” I feel like it's used as this fearful thing. “Just know that you can't have an epidural so you're going to have to go unmedicated.” Henci: Let's take care of that one that you can't have an epidural first because that's the easy one. Again, I go back to ACOG. Level A evidence. “Epidural analgesia for labor may be used as part of a TOLAC.” I mean, I was jaw-droppingly shocked because it's at least two decades since that myth about, “Oh, we can't give you an epidural because then we won't know if there is scar separation.” So that is totally bogus. But let's get to the, “You have to have an epidural.” The thing about that is that there are two problems, I think. First of all, the idea is in case there is an emergency, we can deal with it faster. The thing is, an epidural is problematic in a couple of ways. One is, one of the more common side effects of an epidural is that there is a drop in the mother's blood pressure and the baby's heart rate. Guess what is the best predictor that the scar has given way? The number one predictor that the scar has given way– and again, in most of those cases, it hasn't but nonetheless, it's a better predictor than pain, is the baby's heart rate. You are adding, number one, something that will possibly provoke concern and a Cesarean you don't need. But the other thing is that it interferes with mobility. I think the number one reason– I mean, you want everything in your favor in terms of making good progress and an epidural interferes with that. Plus, you then have the problem of epidural fever because obviously, they want to give you that epidural early. You'd maybe have it for hours and then you'd start to develop a fever and they'd be like, “Mmm, it's time to get the baby out.” An epidural actually decreases your chance of a VBAC. But about the emergency piece, the thing is if you have a sterile water lock where you've got the business end of the IV, the needle is there but it's not hooked up to anything. Meagan: Are you talking about the “just in case” epidurals? Henci: Right, the “We want you to have an epidural because of the emergency possibility. We'll already have you anesthetized.” We first talked about, “We've given you a procedure that may lead to an unnecessary Cesarean,” and they decreased your probability of progressing to a vaginal birth. So that's already like, “Umm, really? Do you want to do that to me? Why?” The answer is, “Well, in case there's an emergency.” You can do a spinal a lot faster than an epidural. It is perfectly possible to get you numb within a very short period of time and sufficient to do the Cesarean surgery. It really is kind of bogus. Meagan: Yeah. I want to talk about this too because if it is a true, serious, serious surgery where we've got minutes if that, we're going to usually be put under general anesthesia. Henci: Well, that's a possibility too. Meagan: Yeah, so that's the thing. Henci: The other thing is that I also want to move into that gray zone of, well, I just talked about the drawbacks of having an epidural, but I mentioned that there's a fair number of members of your audience who are thinking, “I'd really like to have an epidural.” For some of them, depending on what their first labor was like, it may have been like, “I can only contemplate VBAC if I can also contemplate having an epidural.” This is where my new book comes in. The full title is, Labor Pain, What's Your Best Strategy? Get the Data. Make a Plan. Take Charge of Your Birth. In that book, I give all of the evidence, pros, and cons of all of the different other methods of do-it-yourself comfort measures to epidurals and then the last chapter is again, the fork in the road. You would like to avoid an epidural and here are all the ways of doing that, and you would like you plan an epidural. You want to make an epidural plan A and then here are all of the ways of maximizing your chances of having one that goes smoothly. I don't think I need to go into all of the details here on the show, but if anybody is interested in finding out more about the pros and cons of their pain-coping options including epidurals and how to plan to avoid an epidural if it is plan A or the reverse, then I think my book could be helpful. Meagan: That is amazing. Just to let you guys know, we're going to have so many things in our show notes here. We're going to have, of course, the blog with all of the numbers going deeper into what we're talking about today. We're going to have a link to all of her books because I think it is important to know things from all of them. Henci: I mean, I would actually stop you because I think Thinking Women's Guide was a great book. It was published in 1999. Meagan: Yeah, so it's a little older. It's a little dated. Henci: Optimal Care was really intended for birth professionals. Meagan: We have a lot of birth professionals. Henci: Even that was in 2012. Meagan: We have a lot of birth professionals listening. Henci: So I really want to preface the new book. It's been out less than a year so it's really current. Meagan: Mhmm. We're definitely going to have that number one. I haven't read it yet, so I'm going to read it myself because I think it's important too. I know you and I trust you but I want to know even more so I can keep referring it out and also learn by reading it myself. Henci: Yeah, I think you'll get some ideas for your classes. Meagan: Yeah, for my clients, and keep referring them out. I mean, you guys. The more information you have, the better. The more knowledge that you have under your belt as you are entering into these births, it's going to help you along the way. It's going to help you feel more prepared, more educated, and more confident. Right, Henci? Don't you feel like confidence is something that no matter what, VBAC or not, just with birth in general that we need? Henci: That's why the name of my new series– I'm working on a book on induction– is Take Charge of Your Birth. You can't take control of your birth because you don't know what's going to happen. Life happens. But you can take charge in terms of having the information, having thought through what is really important to you, and there is actually research on this. Feeling in charge is the key component in having a positive experience. If you felt helpless, if you felt like you didn't have any say in what was going on and you were scared and you didn't feel supported, you could have a lovely, uneventful vaginal birth and be traumatized. If you were in charge, you were a full participant in all of the decisions, you felt like your options were presented, you made the best choices you could, the people around you were encouraging and supportive of what you were trying, and you could have a very difficult experience in terms of what actually happened and it would still be a positive experience. Trauma is a very personal experience. It's what you feel in the moment. No one can say of you that you shouldn't have been traumatized by that birth because it wasn't traumatic enough. It's subjective. Meagan: Right. Right. Henci: But as a whole, feeling like you are in charge is powerful.Meagan: It's really powerful and there are actual stats behind that. My second birth didn't go the way I desired. I still to this day believe that I wasn't allowed enough time or wasn't given enough resources that I deserved. But at the same time, once the decision was made to have a second Cesarean, a repeat Cesarean, there were a lot of things that I communicated. I took charge at this moment. “If this is how it's going to go, this is what I need and want.” My providers were really receptive to that. With my second Cesarean, although still not desired at all or even felt that it was necessary, I actually have a very different viewpoint on it because I was actively involved in that birth and in the decisions that were being made. Again, even though I didn't feel that the decision that I made for the repeat Cesarean was really warranted, it was a decision that I made. I accept that. The other decisions along the way, I literally can look back at that birth and say that it was healing. A lot of people are like, “Wait, what? You're saying that you didn't want your second C-section but it was healing?” I can say, “Yeah, absolutely. It was healing because I was able to really participate in this birth in a different way.” I just think it's so powerful because I could have looked back with a lot of anger and hate. I probably could have beat myself up even more, but I viewed that as a positive, healing experience. I think that's what I needed to end my C-section journey. I needed that birth to say, “Okay. This is a better experience. I'm ending the C-section journey now. VBAC from here on out, but I needed this experience to have a different view on the C-section experience as a whole.”Henci: I think I heard something else which is key and correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like when you agreed to the second Cesarean, you were making the best decision that you could at that time. You still had a decision. It sounds like you weren't sort of bullied into the repeat Cesarean. It sounds like there was a discussion and you felt like, “Yeah, I think I'll go along with the repeat.” I think that's key too is when you do make a decision and it is your decision and you can own it, I think that helps too because later, you can say, “You know, if I were in that same spot again, I might do something different. I've learned something from that. But you know what? That was also what made sense to me at the time and now I can let go of it.”Meagan: Yeah, you know, when I got my op reports when I was going to interview all of the providers for my VBAC after two Cesarean baby, which I wasn't even pregnant, but I started interviewing before, I was reviewing my op reports. As I was reading them, I did get a little triggered and I got a little bit angry. My husband looked at me as I had a tear rolling down my face saying, “These were unnecessary.” He said, “Babe? We made the best choice we knew at the moment with the information that was given to us at the moment.” Henci: Mhmm. Meagan: He said, “Do not ever shame yourself for making these choices because you were not given the information and you were not in a space mentally where you could be in that– oh, the statistics say–”. Right? That's one of the reasons why I think doulas are so important because they can help remind you of those things, but I wasn't in a space where I could go through my journal of information and say, “Oh, but this and this.” I was given these facts, this information, and I made a choice based off of the information that I was given. I can never shame myself for that. When he said that, I was like, “You know what? You're right.” I would go back and do things differently if I were to look back. If I were there again, I probably would have made different choices or I would have done different things, but I'm loving the journey that those experiences have given me and brought me to. Does that make sense? Henci: Yes. Meagan: This journey that I'm on right now, I probably wouldn't be on if I didn't have those experiences. I wouldn't be with all of you here today talking about VBAC and repeat Cesarean and what the evidence shows and sharing these absolutely amazing stories and bringing on these incredible professionals without those experiences. So yeah. I had two births that I didn't desire the outcome of the Cesarean, but I will be forever and ever grateful for those experiences. Henci: I will add that I wouldn't be who I was here today if I hadn't had an emotionally very negative experience. I talk about that in the prefaces of who I am today and why I wrote the book and the difference between my first birth and how I experienced my second. Well, the first one, I was delivered. The second one, I gave birth. That in a nutshell is the difference between the two and that started me on my journey. I wanted other women and birthing people to know that the choices that they made were crucial to how they were going to end up feeling about themselves, their partners, their babies, and their everything, that it was not trivial, and making my life's work looking at the research, because that's my skill so that they would have that information. Information that I didn't have until I started reading stuff after my first delivery. Meagan: Yeah. That's how a lot of us doulas and birth professionals start based on an experience where we want to help people have a different experience. We want to empower people. Henci: I'm so glad that you're in the world. It sounds like you are doing a great service for a lot of people out there. Meagan: Aww, well thank you so much, and likewise. You are incredible. All of your blogs are amazing. Seriously, people could spend hours and hours and hours on your blogs just picking apart the information and the stats and putting these large studies into English because honestly, that's one of the hardest things about studies. You go through and you're like, “I don't even know what this means. Can I just get a clear conclusion?” But your blogs make sense. They're English to me. Henci: Oh, thank you. Meagan: I know they will be for so many of our followers as well. Well, thank you so much for being here today. Seriously, I am so, so grateful. If you guys want to go follow Henci, like I said, we're going to have all of the links for all of the things in the show notes but you can also go onto Instagram and Facebook @takechargeofyourbirth.Henci: Yes. That is correct. Meagan: Or hencigoer.com. Henci: And actually, I think there are places on social media but if you go to hencigoer.com, you can also sign up for my newsletter. I have a monthly newsletter. Meagan: That's what I was just going to say, hencigoer.com. Like I said, we'll have this in the show notes. Go in there. Sign up for the newsletter. Sign up for all of the amazing things that she's putting out because you really are. You're a wealth of knowledge and it's really so fun and I'm so honored that you took the time today to be with us. Henci: Well, it's been my pleasure to be here. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Casey Cattell and Dr. Ginger Breedlove, co-authers of Nobody Told Me About That: Surviving and Thriving the Early Weeks of Parenting, join me on this episode to discuss the newly released 2nd Edition of their book, as well as navigating life after birth trauma. Their 2nd Edition brings realistic examples and insight from experts. Casey and Ginger share some of their highlighted topics and the importance of advocating for yourself, your family, and your community - in that order.On this episode, you will hear:-The difference in maternal health care between America and other nations.-Casey's maternal near miss story including Bilateral Pulmonary Emboli and PPH. - Ginger's traumatic breastfeeding story, including how it resurfaced during her daughter-in-law's postpartum experience.-The common experience of shame and denial in asking for medical help.-The little things providers can do that play a big role in the trajectory of healing.-Highlighted topics in the 2nd Edition: bringing baby home to pets, navigating balance, and finding your postpartum voice.-Covid isolation and the impact it has on postpartum recovery.-Becoming an advocate in the birth trauma and maternal near-miss space. You can find Ginger Breedlove's book Nobody Told Me About That: Surviving and Thriving the Early Weeks of Parenting  on Amazon available in hardcover, paperback, and on Kindle.https://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Told-About-That-Surviving/dp/B0C5G9L57H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22OACU18EO67F&keywords=early+parenting+ginger&qid=1687293275&sprefix=early+parenting+ginger%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1Guest Bios:Dr. Breedlove is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and has led many national initiatives to address and improve perinatal health in the United States. In 2017 she formed a consulting company Grow Midwives LLC that has expanded to include GM Billing & Recovery Services. She is a widely published author in numerous journals and publications, national speaker, and has received over $5 million dollars as principal investigator in grant-funded projects related to health care for women. In 2017 she co-founded March for Moms with Dr. Neel Shah, serving as President six years. In 2018 Dr. Breedlove edited and launched a best-selling book for new parents titled, Nobody Told Me About That! The 2nd Ed., newly titled, Nobody Told Me About That, Surviving and Thriving Through the Early Weeks of Parenting was published in April 2023. Casey Cattell is a biochemist who shifted into freelance patient advocacy after surviving two near-misses related to her first pregnancy. She has worked alongside many organizations such as ACOG, AWHONN and serves as a member of her state's Perinatal Quality Collaborative in addition to working alongside her local hospital. She has shared her story with many publications, including ProPublica, The New York Times and was featured on the Empowered Health Podcast. Casey facilitates an online peer-led support group for postpartum hemorrhage survivors and partners with Heroes For Moms, a platform that utilizes community blood drives to connect the dots between new mothers and the enormous need for blood. She blogs about severe maternal morbidity and the aftermath at www.theheartofhome.net. In 2018, Casey was invited to write a chapter about near-miss survivorship for the best-selling book, Nobody Told Me About That. The second edition, newly titled, Nobody Told Me About That: Surviving and Thriving Through the Early Weeks of Parenting was published in April 2023 and includes more information on mental health and recovery pathways. Find Casey on Instagram at @pphsurvivors.

How's your pelvic floor health? In good shape? Did you know you could be doing your kegels wrong? Did you know that overall being strong improves your pelvic floor health? Doing crunches for your core? Stop now.  A strong pelvic floor is not only an enabler… of better sex, and exercise for bone and muscle benefits, but it's a part of independence as we age. Find your pelvic floor answers in this episode with the Kegel Queen.   My Guest: Alyce Adams, RN is the Kegel Queen. Since founding KegelQueen.com in 2009, she's known as the most sought-after kegel exercise expert around the world, helping women who suffer with vaginal prolapse or urinary incontinence to avoid dangerous surgery and regain health and control of their body “down there.” She is famous for creating the Kegel Success in Minutes a Day Program, the only complete, no-devices, safe-at-home kegel exercise program created and tested by an RN. The Kegel Queen Program has reached over 3,584 women in 30 countries. Alyce has shared her kegel expertise as a guest blogger for the American College of Nurse-Midwives and a guest lecturer at Bastyr University in Seattle and the University of Rochester in New York. Most recently, she has consulted with the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship at Stanford University in California. Questions We Answer in This Episode:  How can exercise (for the rest of the body) put women at risk for pelvic floor problems?  How can exercise help? What about the emotional impact of pelvic floor problems? Why do you say so many women doing Kegels wrong? What is one thing every woman can do now to take better care of her pelvic floor?   Connect with Alyce:  https://www.flippingfifty.com/kegelqueen   Alyce on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hot.healthy.50   Other Episodes You Might Like:  How to Make (Sex and) Exercise More Effective: Pelvic Floor: https://www.flippingfifty.com/pelvic-floor-tips/ REASONS to EXERCISE AFTER 50 That Aren't Weight Loss: https://www.flippingfifty.com/reasons-to-exercise-after/   Resource:  Stronger: https://www.flippingfifty.com/stronger What, When & Why to Exercise for Women 40+: https://www.flippingfifty.com/womensexercise 

Is our understanding of menopause all wrong? Tune in to this inspiring discussion with Susan Wilson, CNM, on her new #book Making Sense of Menopause: Harnessing the Power and Potency of Your Wisdom Years.#MomentsWithMarianne with host Marianne Pestana airs every Tuesday at 3PM PST / 6PM EST and every Friday at 10AM PST/ 1PM EST in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Susan Willson, CNM, is a Yale-educated certified nurse midwife and certified clinical thermographer with more than 40 years of experience in the women's health field. She has taught at Omega Institute and is a frequent lecturer for the American College of Nurse-Midwives, where she lectures on women's health and the emotional work of menopause. www.makingsenseofmenopause.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com #bookclub #readinglist #books #bookish #psychology #author #authorinterview #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #lifeskills #KMET1490AM #radioshow #lifelessons #selfhelp #newlife #menopause #SusanWilson

Heyyy Doulas! Today I wanted to share a story with you that absolutely surprised me! This is the story of a school that actively graduated black nurses into Midwifery. What they did after the nurses completed the program and the reason they had this program in the first place- might surprise you. Here is the link to Luncinda Canty's thesis: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysndt/1081/

Susan Willson, CNM, is a Yale-educated certified nurse midwife and certified clinical thermographer with more than 40 years of experience in the women's health field. She has taught at Omega Institute and is a frequent lecturer for the American College of Nurse-Midwives, where she lectures on women's health and the emotional work of menopause. She lives and practices in Stone Ridge, New York. Today Susan shares: - Why the need to re-frame menopause - How to best prepare for this transition - That our earliest experiences shape our menopause - The gifts and tasks of this time of lifeConnect with Susan here:website: https://www.makingsenseofmenopause.comGet your copy of the Making Sense Of Menopause book here:https://www.makingsenseofmenopause.com/the-book#preorder Finally Thriving Program Are you ready to get out of a reactive survival mode and step into your natural state of thriving?Purchase Finally Thriving Here! Get my Finally Thriving book or audiobook.Finally Thriving Audiobook Purchase the Finally Thriving audiobook here!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showFollow me on Instagram:@allisonpelot_Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/AllisonPelot

Meghan Garland PhD, CNM has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife since 2002. Her clinical work focused on low-resource and farmworker populations, providing high-quality and respectful care. She also served her community to reduce rates of preterm birth and infant mortality on the board of Healthy Start. In addition to a long clinical career, she has many years' experience educating nurses to become Nurse-Midwives and Women's Health Nurse Practitioners at Frontier Nursing University as a preceptor, clinical faculty, and academic faculty. Early on in her career, Meghan developed a research interest about the benefits of physical activity during pregnancy. She contributed several chapters to the American Journal of Nursing award-winning textbook Best Practices in Midwifery: Using the Evidence for Change and the American College of Nurse-Midwives 2015 book of the year, Prenatal and Postnatal Care: A Person-Centered Approach. Meghan has also published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing, the Journal for Nurse Practitioners, Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing, and Nursing Research. She has given podium presentations at national and regional conferences on the topics of pregnancy physical activity, hypertension in pregnancy, determinants of physical activity and shared decision-making. Meghan completed a PhD at Rush University in 2022, she expanded her body of research to examine the gap between physical activity recommendations and physical activity behavior among pregnant women. She has published a 2019 systematic review on the determinants of pregnancy physical activity in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing Correlates of Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review with Implications for Evidence-based Practice. Meghan published her secondary analysis of physical activity determinants among Black mid-life women in Nursing Research Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectations, Group Social Support, and Adherence to Physical Activity in African American Women. Meghan's dissertation research examined the influence of theoretical and non-theoretical determinants of pregnancy physical activity among pregnant Black women. This foundational research will inform the development of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention. Connect with Meghan via LinkedIn or by email at meghangarland@msn.com Resources Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period (ACOG, 2020) 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy Support the show Thriving After Birth (an online course) Comprehensive Care 60 Min Consultation: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity You Tube Channel NEW Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers (an online course)

"I really like to remind women 'this is your time'. Claim your space. Claim your joy. Put pleasure back into your life and start to whittle away at some of the things you just do because you've been told you gotta do 'em". We are thrilled to welcome midwife and author, Susan Willson, to the show. Courtney sought out Susan for this episode after falling in love with Susan's book Making Sense of Menopause. It feels important to clear something up, first. Neither the book nor this episode is exclusively for "women of a certain age". This book and episode are about menopause, yes, and also nearly every other facet of what it's like to move through the world as a woman. Susan's lifespan perspective takes us from three months prior to our own conception through childhood, puberty, young adulthood, parenting, and into later life. Throughout the conversation she reiterates the importance of having information regarding how our genetic and environmental precursors will impact the menopause transition we may experience before we're actually experiencing it. Courtney and Susan discuss societal stories that attempt to dictate who we are supposed to be, how those influences shape our experiences, and the idea of the "grandmother hypothesis" bringing its own kind of liberation. They discuss what Susan describes as the "biological continuum of a woman's life" and describes the book as a book of "self-discovery". They talk adrenal fatigue, sex and sexuality through the lifespan, and the importance of women's voices being heard in our society. Due to recurring themes around curiosity, creativity, pleasure, joy, and purpose, this conversation has wide reaching applicability, even for those well ahead of, or even beyond, their own menopause transition. Don't have a uterus? That's ok! This conversation has information for you, too! Don't be shy....join this transformational discussion! About our guest: Susan Willson, CNM is a cross-cultural midwife. She has always seen the body as intelligent and capable, and has spent her career helping to support and empower women to trust their bodies and work with the plan Nature intended. Her original degree was in Psychology and English at Emory University. Once she understood how much of our trajectory is influenced in the womb and at birth, she began her study of midwifery and returned to Emory for a nursing degree and for a Master's degree at Yale University. She has had a life-long interest in other cultures and what birth traditions tell us about them. She has worked among the Navajo, in Africa, with Alaskan natives and Pacific Rim cultures. She is always looking across a broad spectrum for what connects us as human beings, as well as the differences in each culture that add spice to the basic recipe. Her last two decades have been spent working with women during the menopausal transition. Listening to women's stories and challenges led her to want to describe the continuum of our biological lives as a framework that is both purposeful and positive. She has generated a reframing of menopause as it fits within this continuum, building on what came before, and showing how our earliest experiences shape our menopause, not just our genetics or physical health. Willson lectures domestically and internationally on Women's Health at Midlife, Breast Health, Re-framing breast cancer, Hormone balance, and Recognizing signs of Sex Trafficking in one's Clinical Practice. She has taught at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies and is a frequent lecturer at the annual meetings of the American College of Nurse Midwives. She conducts workshops on the Emotional Work of Menopause. As always send feedback to courtney@shineandsoar.com, share with a friend, and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you are listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pragmaticalchemy/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pragmaticalchemy/support

In this special Bonus episode of the Forgotten America podcast, Amanda Kieffer, Communications Director for the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia hosts an episode focused on maternity care access in rural America and the role midwives play in caring for women.  Our guest this week is Beth Redden, a Certified Nurse Midwife from Southern West Virginia and fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Amanda and Beth discuss who midwives are, what they do, and the regulations that impact maternity care, especially in rural America. Amanda also shares a few tidbits from her personal experience as a new mother who received midwifery care.  If you or someone you love is a mother, we hope you'll listen to this episode and share it so that we can raise awareness of the regulatory burdens that are preventing women in America from receiving the quality care they need and deserve. Thanks for your support, and we hope you enjoy this special episode of Forgotten America!  ----------Guest Host & Executive Producer Amanda Kieffer Communications Director - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy  Produced & Edited by Tony Reed Associate Director of Operations - @treed1134 International Center for Law & Economics  Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram  Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

Despite the fact the vast majority of OB-GYNs do not perform abortions, the message from the American College of Nurse-Midwives is “embrace the culture of death, or choose another career.” AAPLOG is constantly confronting actual misinformation about abortion. Learn more about them at www.aaplog.org. 

It's Amy here, and I'm so excited to sit down in person with Amber Latsch, who is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Amber works right here in Madison, Wisconsin and we got to know her as a part of the midwife team for one of our employees, Lacey. In this episode, Amber shares how she got interested in becoming a midwife, and what the process to become one looked like for her. She talks about who would be a good candidate for midwife services, things women can do in pregnancy to set themselves up to be successful, and a whole lot more. I know that I learned so much from Amber during this conversation, and that you will too. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it into your Instagram Stories and tag us, @expectingandempowered. As Amber says, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth journey! Links & Resources:Learn More About Amber SSM Health - Madison American College of Nurse-MidwivesAmerican Midwifery Certification Board Madison Area Midwives The Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin Heal Your Birth Story: Releasing the Unexpected by Maureen Campion Learn more about the Expecting and Empowered App and all new Empower Your Core Program: https://www.expectingandempowered.com/e-e-appExpecting and Empowered App: https://app.expectingandempowered.comExpecting and Empowered Website: www.expectingandempowered.comExpecting and Empowered Instagram: http://instagram.com/expectingandempowered

This month Live Culture offers a discussion with members of the exhibition Undue Burden: Privacy, Protection and Politics, a project and sale to benefit Planned Parenthood of Southern New England including artist and exhibit organizer Linda Lindroth, and exhibiting artist Scott Schuldt, along with Planned Parenthood of Southern New England President & CEO, Amanda Skinner to discuss what the local impact of the overturning of Roe Vs Wade is having on the organization and how artists and others can get involved. Undue Burden: Privacy, Protection and Politics takes place October 4 – 30, 2022 The Da Silva Gallery, 899 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT. There will be Two public reception events featuring the artists will be held on Sunday October 16 from 3-5 pm and Saturday, October 29 from 3-5pm, as a part of Artspace New Haven's Open Source Festival. Posters have played a role in America's political landscape since 1824 when John Quincy Adams used one to announce his presidency. Each of the 20 artists in Undue Burden: Privacy, Protection and Politics have used their considerable talents to weigh in on the Dobbs Decision which essentially has overturned the 50 year precedent of Roe v Wade. This exhibition features original poster-sized works on paper, which are each for sale for $250 with all of the proceeds going to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. The exhibition is curated by Linda Lindroth and Sally Hill. Featuring the work of : A. Kimberlin Blackburn Patrick Carroll Colleen Coleman George Corsillo Jeanne Criscola Sheila Levrant de Bretteville Alex Girard Ruby Gonzalez Hernandez Elena Grossman Luke Hanscom Sally Hill Beth Klingher Shirley Parker Levine MD Martha Willette Lewis Diane & Tim Nighswander Scott Schuldt Kevin Van Aelst Brenda Zlamany Scott Schuldt is a self-taught multimedia artist. His work has been collected by the Museum of Art and Design and several public collections. His focus for the last 3 years has been sewing large bead embroidery pieces. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Linda Lindroth is an artist and educator. Her work is in the collections of a dozen museums including MoMA and The Met. She received her MFA in Art from the MGSA at Rutgers. Amanda N. Skinner, is President & Chief Executive Officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern new England. Skinner, a nurse midwife, is a graduate of Rice University with a BA in philosophy and managerial studies. She holds an MSN from the Yale School of Nursing and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. Skinner spent ten years in clinical practice as a nurse midwife, serving for four years as the Chair of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives. During her tenure, she led a major legislative effort that ensured increased access to care for women in Connecticut, expanded the scope of practice for nurse midwives, and provided liability protection for collaborating physicians.

Today, Jessica Henman, owner of Primrose Midwifery joins me on the podcast and did an incredible job explaining to us what midwifery is really all about. She begins by telling us the origins of her profession and quotes her favorite verse in Exodus chapter one, "So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous."  Jessica shares her incredible wisdom and helps break down some of the common misunderstandings about midwives, versus obstetricians, versus doulas. Listen, learn, and share all with all of your friends. I know that everyone can learn a thing or two from this conversation with Jessic. Please check out her website listed below for more details on this topic. Please continue to share the mission and passion of this platform as we work towards breaking down the stigma with mental health issues in motherhood and find the perfect resources that make the most sense for you.    Ways to Contact Jessica: Website: Welcome to Primrose Midwifery | Primrose MidwiferyEmail: jessica@primrosemidwifery.com Jessica Bio: Jessica Henman APRN, CNM, CPM, received her Master's degree from Frontier Nursing University in 2010. Prior to becoming a midwife, Jessica worked internationally in humanitarian aid, practiced as a nurse in ER and cardiac surgery, and was a childbirth educator and doula here in St Louis. Jessica is very active in family and church life and supports the midwifery and mothering communities through her role on the Boards of the Missouri Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives and The Sparrows Nest Teen Maternity Home as well as many other educational and community activities. She has lived in St Louis for most of her life and loves being a wife and the mother of 3 wonderful big kids.Embrace. Live. Thrive.:Website: Embrace, Live, Thrive! (embracelivethrive.com)FB: @embracelivethriveInstagram: @embracelivethrive

Amber Price DNP CNM. CEO and President, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center  Dr. Price received a Bachelor in Behavioral Science from the University of Maryland, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University. She completed her graduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, graduating with a Master of Nursing in Midwifery, and a post-Masters certificate in Global Women's Health. She received her Executive Doctorate in Nursing from The Johns Hopkins University, with a research focus on Change Leadership. Dr. Price served as President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in Virginia, and serves as a board member for the March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House, as well as on state maternal mortality and perinatal quality boards. She was nominated for Birth Advocate of the Year in 2015 and for Global Women's Health leader in 2018. In 2017, she won the prestigious Monarch Award for Innovation in Nursing.  Originally from Holland, Dr. Price trained in New Zealand, and has worked in women's and children's health clinically and as an administrator for more than 30 years. Dr. Price currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. In 2020, she was named a ‘Woman to Watch' by Nashville Medical News.  Dr. Price is a regular speaker on respectful maternity care, and has published numerous articles, as well as a recent book chapter on Women's Voice in maternal health. Her passion and expertise surrounding consent, and her unique perspective as a Nurse-Midwife and hospital administrator make her an expert on the patient experience for women of childbearing age. Dr. Price works within her corporation and with other organizations on a state and national level to improve outcomes for women and children, and to increase access to respectful woman-centered care.  Books  Dr. Price is an accomplished speaker and has a chapter on "Finding Your Voice" in the new book "Nobody Told Me About That". For more information and to purchase a copy go to: http://nobodytoldmeaboutthat.com She is presenting in Birth Trauma and the Professional: Care for the Staff on September 21, 2022 at noon Eastern time on The Impact of Secondary and Personal Trauma on Respectful Maternity Care. You can see more about this series at:https://prenatal-and-perinatal-healing-online-learning.teachable.com/p/birth-trauma-and-the-professional-care-for-the-staff

As an intimate wellness brand for people with vulvas, Rosebud Woman denounces the recent SCOTUS decision to deny a woman's basic human right to bodily sovereignty in the United States of America. This ruling allows regressive and misogynistic states, dominated by men, to codify forced birth, which at its essence is womb slavery. This decision will kill women: it is no less than murder via religious dogma and political repression.Every informed healthcare organization treating women has stated that this decision is bad for women, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The American College of Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, the American Academy of Sexuality Educators, The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health- as well as anti-sexual violence organizations such as the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, among thousands of others. On the “other side”: politicians and white evangelical protestant preachers. This decision is not only bad for women, it's bad for men, it's bad for children and families, and it's bad for the country.We see a future where comprehensive sexuality education, a full range of readily available birth control methods and a complete medical toolkit for women's sexual and reproductive health are the norm. To us, full spectrum medical care includes period equity, fertility support, pregnancy termination, healthy pregnancy, birth and postpartum care, female sexual wellness, rape and sexual violence prevention and care, and menopause care. We see a world where women's choices for their bodies are unquestioned by governments and churches. We support the Women's Healthcare Protection Act, which takes this issue out of the now very partisan courts and into the legislature.We note that the procreative yes is more likely to come in a world that is welcoming to children after they are born. A world that is economically supportive of families, with health systems, educational systems, and ecosystems that provide the hope of a positive future for all beings. Perhaps those that would overrule women's health experts might instead focus on creating a country more worthy of bringing children into, where they don't go hungry, aren't debt slaves in exchange for a functional education,and aren't killed at school, the grocery store, in church or at the movie theater by men wielding assault rifles: a truly pro-life world.We remain committed to creating beautiful products, accurate educational materials, and inspiring content for a full, happy, self-determining sensual, sexual and reproductive life in a female body. Our community honors the deep evolutionary wisdom of the feminine, the natural intelligence of women's bodies, and trusts women to make the right choices for themselves and their families.Christine MasonFounder, Rosebud Woman & Sensing Woman See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Although we love bringing you as many stories from our certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioners as possible, our number one goal is always to provide you with as much value as possible. Since our listening audience is predominantly women, we wanted to bring on a special guest today, Alyce Adams (AKA the “Kegel Queen”)!  In this episode, Alyce Adams, RN sheds light on a topic that is too often stigmatized. Detective Ev was not only shocked to learn about how many women deal with vaginal prolapse and urinary incotinence, but how many women (potentially needlessly) get SURGERY for these issues, not ever being told about alternative options. Even if the issues discussed today don't affect you directly, you certainly have a friend (or several) who ARE impacted. By listening, you just may be the difference between them getting surgery vs. finding natural solutions. We hope you enjoy the interview! About Alyce: Alyce Adams, RN is the Kegel Queen. Since founding KegelQueen.com in 2009, she's known as the most sought-after kegel exercise expert around the world, helping women who suffer with vaginal prolapse or urinary incontinence to avoid dangerous surgery and regain health and control of their body “down there.” She is famous for creating the Kegel Success in Minutes a Day Program, the only complete, no-devices, safe-at-home kegel exercise program created and tested by an RN. The Kegel Queen Program has reached over 3,011 women in 27 countries. Alyce has shared her kegel expertise as a guest blogger for the American College of Nurse-Midwives and a guest lecturer at Bastyr University in Seattle and the University of Rochester in New York. Most recently, she has consulted with the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship at Stanford University in California. Where to Find Alyce:  KegelQueen.com There are only a FEW days left before the FDN course increases by $1000! Go to FDNtraining.com/summer to catch the last of our events or FDNtraining.com/call if you want to talk to someone to secure your spot.

My guest today is Cheri Van Hoover. She has been an ardent advocate for women, families, and the profession of midwifery for more than 4 decades. She became a midwife in 1987. A native of Washington State, she lived in California for 32 years, where she received her midwifery education and provided full-scope care for widely diverse populations in varied settings, culminating as assistant clinical professor with the UCSF Faculty OB/GYN Group. Since returning to rural Washington 15 years ago, her clinical practice has focused on outpatient reproductive health and she has served as distance faculty for the Midwifery Institute of Philadelphia University, now Thomas Jefferson University. This is how I know Cheri. She was first my professor for a health policy course and then we worked together during the years that I was faculty at PhilaU. Her scholarly publications cover diverse topics: health policy education, midwives in politics, midwives as palliative care clinicians, and body art. She is an active member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and has won numerous professional awards. Cheri is the third of 4 birth professionals to share her birth story, which of course is also the birth of a mother and a midwife. ResourcesAn interview with Suzanne Arms and her website.Apgar score (ACOG)27:45 Cheri talks about dopplers. She is talking about most common tool that we use to listen to the heartbeat of a fetus. A handheld doppler allows you to hear and count the fetal heart rate. It is the same technology used with continuous fetal monitoring. Unfortunately, despite its widespread use, it has not been shown to significantly improve outcomes in low-risk pregnancies, it is associated with false positive results and therefore leads to an increased use of cesarean sections.Continuous fetal monitoring (Evidence Based Birth)Rh-negative blood type and Rhogam (ACNM)Story of Kate Bowland NOTE: The author defines lay midwives as, “Midwives who are not nurses.” Later, she defines it as, “midwives without institutional training.” Neither of these definitions are accurate today. They were at the time because the CM and CPM credential did not yet exist. Also, this article is not about “Granny midwives” despite their mention and this is touched on too superficially to do this part of the discussion justice. Addressing racism in midwiferyBirth It Up By Leisel Teen, Mommy Labor Nurse, check out her podcast, episode #74 to hear our conversationOnline Childbirth Education. Choose the program that is right for you! Pop Up Courses for people with Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and professionalsSupport the show

"I think a lot of our problems with our health, when it comes to women, is how we're valued or not valued in our communities." — Nicolle L. Gonzalez In this episode of Moonwise, we speak with Diné nurse and midwife Nicolle L. Gonzales about her mission to make birth sacred again. We talk about birth equity, trauma and weaving traditional practices with medical care. Nicolle shares her experience of growing up with ceremony, birthing her own children, the challenges of leadership and carving her own path to promote reproductive wellness and community care. We also talk about: Systemic racism and inequity in maternal care Engaging a community in preparing for birth The benefits of culturally appropriate care The challenges of work/life balance as a midwife Speaking up and self worth as a woman The importance of sharing women's joy Nicolle L. Gonzales is the Founder of Changing Woman Initiative whose non-profit mission is to “renew cultural birth knowledge to empower and reclaim indigenous sovereignty of women's medicine and life way teachings to promote reproductive wellness, healing through holistic approaches.” She received her Bachelor's of Nursing and her Masters of Nurse-Midwifery at the University of New Mexico. She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives and is certified with the American Midwifery Certification Board. She has over 12 years' experience as a nurse and has worked as a Nurse-Midwife doing full-scope midwifery for the last 10 years. Links: Changing Woman Initiative Rooted pregnancy journal —> Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, and get a shout out on the show! —> Enjoy the show? Get access to bonus content, seasonal herb guides, meditations and more by joining our community on Patreon: patreon.com/moonwise Thank you for your support! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/moonwise/message

Episode Summary:Anyone going through the fertility slug can acknowledge the effect it can have on our sex life. If you are struggling with sexual connection as you try to make a baby, then this session is for you. In this week's episode, we are joined by Dr. Denise Wiesner L.Ac, who is an acupuncturist, intimacy coach, fertility expert and author of Conceiving With Love. She has been featured in Goop, Psychology Today, and many other publications touting the importance of igniting that "flame." Though Denise acknowledges that you don't need intimacy to make a baby, she believes in leading with love and maintaining a sexual connection. Denise takes us through typical conversations with her patients that help them re-establish intimacy. She believes that this loving connection is important for everything from baby making to child rearing, and overall satisfaction with your relationship. With humorous anecdotes, she touches on communication tips and other tricks to help us reconnect. This episode is not to be missed! Important Links:www.instagram.com/naturna_lifewww.instagram.com/naturallycbwww.facebook.com/Naturnalifewww.facebook.com/DrChristinaBurns Guest Bio:Dr. Denise Wiesner, DACM, L. Ac, Dipl. Ac has been in practice since 1994 with an emphasis on women's issues and pain control. She treats women's conditions in various stages of life – from menstrual disorders, infertility, pregnancy to menopause. She has experience treating women using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), including assisting embryo transfers at many fertility clinics. She is board certified by the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). She has interned with Randine Lewis, Ph.D., author of The Infertility Cure, and is a charter member of the Fertile Soul™ Clinic Excellence in Fertility program. She is also certified in the Hunyuan Fertility Method. She is the author of the upcoming book,  Conceiving With Love, a whole-body approach to creating intimacy, reigniting passion, and increasing fertility.She has taught MD Obstetrician-Gynecologists and Nurse-Midwives professional seminars on applying for Chinese Medicine in obstetrics and gynecology. She is also a faculty lecturer for the Doctorate Fertility Program at Yosan University.Guest Links: https://naturalhealingacupuncture.com/https://www.denisewiesner.com/https://www.instagram.com/denisewiesnerlac/ Thanks for Listening:Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!www.naturnalife.comSubscribing to The Podcast:If you want to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!Leave Us an Apple Podcasts Review:Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a revie

On today's podcast we are excited to feature Feminist Midwife, Stephanie Tillman (she/her), a midwife at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Stephanie is on the Board of Directors of Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Midwest Access Project. Stephanie is also a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives Ethics Committee and is an advisory committee member of the Queer and Transgender Midwives Association.  We talk about Stephanie's journey to becoming a midwife involved in trauma-informed care. We also talk about the importance of active consent regarding pelvic exams and forced medical interventions in birth work. Stephanie also shares her thoughts about the ARRIVE trial's effects on 39-week elective inductions in the Chicago area. **Content Warning: We will be talking about obstetric abuse, sexual assault, trauma, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and gaslighting.** RESOURCES: Learn more about Stephanie Tillman and “Feminist Midwife” here (https://www.feministmidwife.com/). Read Stephanie's article “Consent in Pelvic Care” here (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jmwh.13189). Follow Stephanie on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FeministMidwife/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/feministmidwife), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/feministmidwife/).  Learn more about the American College of Nurse-Midwives here (https://www.midwife.org/default.aspx).  Learn more about Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health here (https://www.nsrh.org/).  Learn more about the Midwest Access Project here (https://midwestaccessproject.org/).  Learn more about the Queer and Transgender Midwives Association here (https://www.elephantcircle.net/qtma).  For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EvidenceBasedBirth/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ebbirth/), and Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/ebbirth/). Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/become-pro-member/). Find an EBB Instructor here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/find-an-instructor-parents/), and click here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/childbirth-class/) to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

Even in early nursing school Ginger felt she would write a book someday.  Finding a need while working with her new daughter-in-law gave her the much-needed topic.  Surviving in postpartum should not be as hard as it was for Ginger’s loved one or many other new mothers.  To create a template for thriving and celebrating life with a new baby, Ginger called upon 15 other experienced postpartum professionals and parents, and they created a book that can be used by parents and professionals Listen in as we discuss the book, changes needed in our healthcare system for postpartum families in the first six weeks, and more!  Dr. Breedlove is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2017, she formed a consulting company, Grow Midwives LLC, to educate physicians and hospitals while supporting midwives in the design and scaling of best practices in collaborative care models. Prior to consulting, she was on faculty a combined 17 years as Professor of Nursing and Midwifery at Shenandoah University and University of Kansas School of Nursing founding program director. She co-founded the first free-standing birthing center in Topeka, Kansas in 1979, the first Midwife service in Kansas City, Missouri in 1994, and established the University of Kansas Midwifery program in 1999. In 2016 she co-founded March for Moms with Dr. Neel Shah and has served as President four years. In 2018, Dr. Breedlove edited and launched a book for first-time parents navigating the first six weeks of pregnancy titled, Nobody Told Me About That!  Listen and Learn:  How a lack of educational support before and during postpartum negatively impacts bringing baby home  The mental and emotional impact of  feeling unprepared   How postpartum deaths could be prevented with accurate information   One of the most important tools for new parents is learning to use their voice  How to create  a safer postpartum system by using inter-professional contact after leaving the hospital  Change can happen when demand comes from parents, employers, legislators, community members and healthcare professionals  About postpartum concerns from 16 women’s health professionals         Resources & Mentions:  www.nobodytoldmeaboutthat.com   www.Marchformoms.org   www.Growmidwives.org     Related Products from InJoy  Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care  Understanding Fatherhood  Parenting BASICS 0-6 months, Self-Care for Moms 

Even in early nursing school Ginger felt she would write a book someday.  Finding a need while working with her new daughter-in-law gave her the much-needed topic.  Surviving in postpartum should not be as hard as it was for Ginger’s loved one or many other new mothers.  To create a template for thriving and celebrating life with a new baby, Ginger called upon 15 other experienced postpartum professionals and parents, and they created a book that can be used by parents and professionals Listen in as we discuss the book, changes needed in our healthcare system for postpartum families in the first six weeks, and more!  Dr. Breedlove is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2017, she formed a consulting company, Grow Midwives LLC, to educate physicians and hospitals while supporting midwives in the design and scaling of best practices in collaborative care models. Prior to consulting, she was on faculty a combined 17 years as Professor of Nursing and Midwifery at Shenandoah University and University of Kansas School of Nursing founding program director. She co-founded the first free-standing birthing center in Topeka, Kansas in 1979, the first Midwife service in Kansas City, Missouri in 1994, and established the University of Kansas Midwifery program in 1999. In 2016 she co-founded March for Moms with Dr. Neel Shah and has served as President four years. In 2018, Dr. Breedlove edited and launched a book for first-time parents navigating the first six weeks of pregnancy titled, Nobody Told Me About That!  Listen and Learn:  How a lack of educational support before and during postpartum negatively impacts bringing baby home  The mental and emotional impact of  feeling unprepared   How postpartum deaths could be prevented with accurate information   One of the most important tools for new parents is learning to use their voice  How to create  a safer postpartum system by using inter-professional contact after leaving the hospital  Change can happen when demand comes from parents, employers, legislators, community members and healthcare professionals  About postpartum concerns from 16 women’s health professionals         Resources & Mentions:  www.nobodytoldmeaboutthat.com   www.Marchformoms.org   www.Growmidwives.org     Related Products from InJoy  Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care  Understanding Fatherhood  Parenting BASICS 0-6 months, Self-Care for Moms 

Part 1: Carrie Levine CNM, founder of Whole Woman Health & Beautiful Messy Wholeness, is a Certified Nurse Midwife & Functional Medicine Practitioner with over 20 years of combined clinical experience working with thousands of women.  In this episode, she dispels the myths many think about when they think of Nurse Midwives and explains how they can help a woman not just during pregnancy, but through their whole life.  She also discusses how functional medicine helps to get to the root cause of illness & disease to help people heal and live life fully. Known for her ability to relate to her patients, Carrie welcomes the beautiful mess in each of them. Her process is centered around nutrition and lifestyle by understanding the biochemistry of physiological imbalances, recognizing symptom patterns, honoring each individual, and allowing space for mystery.  Carrie addresses health issues at every stage of a woman’s life: From teenage hormone imbalances to pre- and post-pregnancy challenges, menopause, digestive issues, depression and everything in between. Her ability to hold space for women, connect the dots of seemingly unrelated symptoms, and identify underlying causes, allows her patients to thrive – emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  This show aired originally on WLOB radio on 5/9/21.  We had a lot to talk about so we continued the show off air and spoke in depth about the Covid vaccination.  This is the full episode including that off air discussion.  Enjoy!

Are you pregnant and wondering if you need to scale back your exercise routine? Or are you coming into pregnancy with a little extra weight and wanting to know how to have the healthiest pregnancy? Gone are the days of taking it easy and “eating for two.” We now know that exercise is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, and that you do not need to eat twice as much food to feed your developing baby.   Tune in this week as obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Diana Ramos, shares insights from Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Ramos discusses the many benefits of exercise during pregnancy (including building endurance for labor), what exercises are safe during and after pregnancy, and what precautions to be aware of when you are exercising during pregnancy. And, for women who are concerned about their weight, she shares some helpful insights that might be wise to consider long before a pregnancy. Join us for this evidence-based, fact-filled episode of Mom Enough!   ARE YOU PREGNANT AND WANTING TO BE MORE ACTIVE? What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? What physical activity might you consider adding to your daily routine? When would you know that you are over-doing it?    WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PRENATAL HEALTH & WELLBEING? ❉ AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS. Evidence-based information on women's health, including pregnancy.   ❉ WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS FOR PREGNANCY CARE AND BIRTH PLANNING? When you decide to have a baby you begin a journey with countless decisions along the way. These days options abound in terms of pregnancy care and birth planning, and being well-informed is key to making good decisions for you and your baby. Diane Feller, Director of Nurse Midwives at Park Nicollet Clinics, joins Marti and Erin to help you consider your options.   ❉ EXERCISE AND MENTAL HEALTH: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EXERCISE. Dr. Beth Lewis discusses ways to stick to an exercise program, how to help your children make exercise a regular part of their routine, and how much exercise we need in order to reap optimal benefits for our physical and mental health.

Warning: The following contains discussion of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sex trafficking, which may be disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. You're listening to episode #95 with Megan Lundstrom. In this episode we talk about Megan's personal story with sex trafficking, as well as signs to look for, and red flags when it comes to human trafficking. Megan also dispels some myths that many people have bought into when it comes to sex trafficking and conspiracy theories that are currently rampant. Learn more about Megan: Megan Lundstrom is the founder and Executive Director of Colorado-based, nationally serving non-profit, Free Our Girls since 2014. The organization is dedicated to the economic empowerment of survivors of domestic sex trafficking and specializes in programming and advocacy in rural areas. Ms. Lundstrom is also the Co-Director of Avery Research & Consulting, an agency dedicated to survivor-centered academic applied research on the commercial sex trade. Ms. Lundstrom began consulting with Larimer County's Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children's Multi-Disciplinary Response Team in 2017 and has remained a steering committee member through the present. Ms. Lundstrom has been a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, and Polaris Project on On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes, as well as Integrating Survivor Voice into Research. She has created and delivered numerous training and educational presentations both in the academic community as well as for agencies such as UC Health, Planned Parenthood, Delta Airlines, American College of Nurse-Midwives, United States Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Organization for Victims Advocacy, Girls Education and Mentoring Services, and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Institute at Villanova University Law School. Megan is currently a fellow for the Office for Trafficking in Persons' Human Trafficking Leadership Academy. Ms. Lundstrom was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Colorado Front Range Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Free Our Girls was awarded the Education and Innovation Award in 2018 from Group Publishing and the Right on the Money award from the Consumers United Association for Taking Flight, the organization's economic empowerment direct service program and financial literacy curriculum for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Ms. Lundstrom's research on cultic theory was internationally published through United Nations University's Delta 8.7 and presented at the International Cultic Studies Association annual conference, both in 2018. Megan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Sociology, both from the University of Northern Colorado. Connect with Megan Lundstom: Megan's Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/iamaveryday (https://www.facebook.com/iamaveryday) The Avery Center Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/theaverycenterorg (https://www.facebook.com/theaverycenterorg) The Avery Center Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theaverycenterorg/ (https://www.instagram.com/theaverycenterorg/) Want more of The We Podcast? To listen to more awesome episodes on Loudspeaker.fm or on any of your favorite podcasting apps. The We Spot is your go-to place for intentional growth, connection, authenticity, and encouragement. We would love to connect with you! Find us on: https://www.facebook.com/thewespot (Facebook) https://www.instagram.com/thewespot/ (Instagram) https://www.thewespot.com (www.thewespot.com) Thank you for listening and being a part of this community! It means a lot to us! Editor's Note: We fully understand that not all people involved in platforms like OnlyFans and PornHub are victims and everyone has a right to their own sexual expression. Some of the claims about these platforms have been disputed. And, as in everything there are two sides of the coin. In this episode we... Support this podcast

Warning: The following contains discussion of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sex trafficking, which may be disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. You're listening to episode #95 with Megan Lundstrom. In this episode we talk about Megan's personal story with sex trafficking, as well as signs to look for, and red flags when it comes to human trafficking. Megan also dispels some myths that many people have bought into when it comes to sex trafficking and conspiracy theories that are currently rampant. Learn more about Megan: Megan Lundstrom is the founder and Executive Director of Colorado-based, nationally serving non-profit, Free Our Girls since 2014. The organization is dedicated to the economic empowerment of survivors of domestic sex trafficking and specializes in programming and advocacy in rural areas. Ms. Lundstrom is also the Co-Director of Avery Research & Consulting, an agency dedicated to survivor-centered academic applied research on the commercial sex trade. Ms. Lundstrom began consulting with Larimer County’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children’s Multi-Disciplinary Response Team in 2017 and has remained a steering committee member through the present. Ms. Lundstrom has been a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, and Polaris Project on On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes, as well as Integrating Survivor Voice into Research. She has created and delivered numerous training and educational presentations both in the academic community as well as for agencies such as UC Health, Planned Parenthood, Delta Airlines, American College of Nurse-Midwives, United States Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Organization for Victims Advocacy, Girls Education and Mentoring Services, and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Institute at Villanova University Law School. Megan is currently a fellow for the Office for Trafficking in Persons’ Human Trafficking Leadership Academy. Ms. Lundstrom was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Colorado Front Range Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Free Our Girls was awarded the Education and Innovation Award in 2018 from Group Publishing and the Right on the Money award from the Consumers United Association for Taking Flight, the organization’s economic empowerment direct service program and financial literacy curriculum for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Ms. Lundstrom’s research on cultic theory was internationally published through United Nations University’s Delta 8.7 and presented at the International Cultic Studies Association annual conference, both in 2018. Megan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Sociology, both from the University of Northern Colorado. Connect with Megan Lundstom: Megan's Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/iamaveryday (https://www.facebook.com/iamaveryday) The Avery Center Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/theaverycenterorg (https://www.facebook.com/theaverycenterorg) The Avery Center Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theaverycenterorg/ (https://www.instagram.com/theaverycenterorg/) Want more of The We Podcast? To listen to more awesome episodes on Loudspeaker.fm or on any of your favorite podcasting apps. The We Spot is your go-to place for intentional growth, connection, authenticity, and encouragement. We would love to connect with you! Find us on: https://www.facebook.com/thewespot (Facebook) https://www.instagram.com/thewespot/ (Instagram) https://my.captivate.fm/www.thewespot.com (www.thewespot.com) Thank you for listening and being a part of this community! It means a lot to us! Editor's Note: We fully understand that not all people involved in platforms like OnlyFans and PornHub are victims and everyone has a right to their own sexual expression. Some of the claims about these platforms have been disputed. And, as in everything there are two sides of the coin. In this Support this podcast

Dr. Price received a  Bachelor in Behavioral Science from the University of Maryland, followed  by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University. She  completed her graduate degree at the University  of Cincinnati, graduating with a Master of Nursing in Midwifery, and a  post-Masters certificate in Global Women's Health.  She received her  Executive Doctorate in Nursing from The Johns Hopkins University, with a  research focus on Change Leadership. Dr. Price  served as President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in  Virginia, and serves as a board member for the March of Dimes and Ronald  McDonald House, as well as on state maternal mortality and perinatal  quality boards. She was nominated for Birth Advocate  of the Year in 2015 and for Global Women's Health leader in 2018. In  2017, she won the prestigious Monarch Award for Innovation in Nursing.Originally from Holland,  Dr. Price trained in New Zealand, and has worked in women's and  children's health clinically and as an administrator for more than 30  years. Dr. Price currently serves as the Chief Operating  Officer for the TriStar Centennial Women's Hospital, and for the  Children's Hospital at TriStar Centennial in Nashville. This year, she  was named a ‘2020 Woman to Watch' by Nashville Medical News.Dr. Price is a regular  speaker on respectful maternity care, and has published numerous  articles, as well as a recent book chapter on Women's Voice in maternal  health. Her passion and expertise surrounding consent,  and her unique perspective as a Nurse-Midwife and hospital  administrator make her an expert on the patient experience for women of  childbearing age. Dr. Price works within her corporation and with other  organizations on a state and national level to improve  outcomes for women and children, and to increase access to respectful  woman-centered care.In this podcast, we discuss Dr. Price's weight loss journey. She has been able to go from a size 22 to a size 8, and has a goal of a BMI below 25. Once nearly 300 pounds, she has documented her weight loss journey on social media. She encourages people to reach out to her there, and to document their hikes to lose weight with #hikeitoff.  

Producer/Host: Ron Beard What is the history of midwifery? What is the current status of midwifery in Maine? What are the challenges to access to care, especially to women in rural areas… how does midwifery play a role in this? How does someone become a midwife? ( education and levels of practice) What are the advantages and challenges of starting an independent private practice. How are midwives/ midwifery care incorporated into Family Practice Residencies? What is the student experience, advantages of being a student in Maine and challenges with finding preceptors and meeting practice requirements. What are the key challenges to unlocking the promise of midwifery for Maine, and your hopes for the future? Guests: Cathy Heffernan, Certified Nurse Midwife, Bridgton Linda Robinson, President, Maine Affiliate American College of Nurse Midwives, Bar Harbor Kristen Hayward, Certified Nurse Midwife, Owner Anchored Women's Health, Ellsworth Angela Ripley, Faculty, Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, Augusta Nakeisha Lindsey, midwifery student , Georgetown University, Bangor About the host: Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals. The post Talk of the Towns 12/9/20: The Promise of Midwifery for Maine first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Ron Beard What is the history of midwifery? What is the current status of midwifery in Maine? What are the challenges to access to care, especially to women in rural areas… how does midwifery play a role in this? How does someone become a midwife? ( education and levels of practice) What are the advantages and challenges of starting an independent private practice. How are midwives/ midwifery care incorporated into Family Practice Residencies? What is the student experience, advantages of being a student in Maine and challenges with finding preceptors and meeting practice requirements. What are the key challenges to unlocking the promise of midwifery for Maine, and your hopes for the future? Guests: Cathy Heffernan, Certified Nurse Midwife, Bridgton Linda Robinson, President, Maine Affiliate American College of Nurse Midwives, Bar Harbor Kristen Hayward, Certified Nurse Midwife, Owner Anchored Women’s Health, Ellsworth Angela Ripley, Faculty, Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, Augusta Nakeisha Lindsey, midwifery student , Georgetown University, Bangor About the host: Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Today we discussed evidenced based birth with none other than Dr. Rebecca Decker. Rebecca L. Dekker, PhD, RN, LCCE, is the founder and CEO of Evidence Based Birth®, and author of the bestselling book, “Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered.” Dr. Dekker received her Master of Science in Nursing and her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Kentucky.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.Dr. Dekker has built a strong reputation in maternal and infant health circles for her pioneering work as the founder of Evidence Based Birth.® The mission of EBB is to raise the quality of childbirth care globally, by putting accurate, evidence based research into the hands of families and communities, so they can make informed, empowered choices.Dr. Dekker serves as a peer reviewer for maternal health research journals, volunteers on the advisory boards for Improving Birth and DONA International, and has presented to a number of leading organizations in the childbirth field, including the American College of Nurse Midwives, the March of Dimes, the American Association of Birth Centers, Lamaze, and DONA International. Dr. Dekker is also a board-certified adult clinical nurse specialist (ACNS-BC), an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), and a Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE).You can learn more by visiting: https://evidencebasedbirth.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fuelingher/support

Follow us on the socials! @milk_minute_podcast on Insta and @MIlkMinutePodcast on Facebook, where you can join our thriving community! We'd love to hear from you: email at milkminutepodcast@gmail.com. To support the show (which we'd love for you to do! And, get bonus content, and more!), our Patreon is patreon.com/milkminutepodcast.Table of Contents: Choosing a Birth Place and Provider1:14 Hospitals2:00 Birth Centers, Homebirth, and Midwives- 5:14Pediatricians and GP's- 9:32Planning Your Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Birth- 14:03Fluids- 14:10Skin to skin- 16:19Delayed cord clamping- 18:22Delaying bath- 25:00Sources:McDonald SJ, Middleton P, Dowswell T, Morris PS. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD004074 . DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004074.pub3. American College of Nurse Midwives. Delayed umbilical cord clamping. Position Stawtement . Silver Spring (MD): ACNM; 2014. Available at: http://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/000000000290/Delayed-Umbilical-Cord-Clamping-May-2014.pdf. Retrieved September 1, 2016.https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2017/01/delayed-umbilical-cord-clamping-after-birthhttps://evidencebasedbirth.com/tag/skin-to-skin/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480510/ https://evidencebasedbirth.com/iv-fluids-during-labor/Thanks to Bella Zucker for our theme music, Heather ONeal for our editing, and Maureen Farrell for research and notesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/milkminutepodcast)

Since 1981, the OHSU Nurse-Midwifery Faculty Practice has been offering a wide variety of professional career pathways for students. Beyond pregnancy and childbirth care, Nurse-Midwives provide primary care, well-woman gynecology, family planning, fertility, and newborn care during the first 28 days of life. Guests include: Julia Vance – Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Clinical Nursing/NW Lisa Scott - Instructor, Clinical Nursing/MW Claudia Berg-Graessle – Instructor, SoN Nurse Midwifery Program/CNM

I could have called her a midwife, but isn’t the word midwifery (pronounced MID-wiff-ree) cool? Midwives act as emotional support, an educational resource and healthcare advocates for pregnant women. Roughly 97% of Cheryl’s mothers want a home birth. And 85% of them will have a home birth, with 15% going to a hospital instead. This is a hands-on relationship, with long, regularly scheduled appointments to check up with expectant mothers and their partners and listen to them and their concerns. It’s a close relationship, with many families coming back more than once for repeated home births. “We’re coming to your environment, and we’re helping you to have your baby your way,” Gates says. It’s a matter of preference. Other expectant mothers will only relax and feel safe in a bed at a top-notch hospital to give birth. Cheryl remembers, after a brain injury, how nice it was to get out of the hospital and into her own bed at home. She doesn’t dig hospitals. The clients she can’t, in good conscience, take on? Those who say “no matter what” they won’t go to the hospital for a birth. That’s a dangerous choice, she says, as the health of mother and child before, during or after birth may necessitate a move to the hospital. “You have to be willing to get help when you need it,” she says, “because that’s how it stays safe.” Learn about what life is like for a midwife and for expectant mothers who don’t want to give birth in a hospital, what racism looks like in the hospital room, and how one generation’s bad childbirth experiences can haunt the next.  (Photo courtesy Pixabay; no, that's not a Cheryl-midwifed baby) WANT TO KNOW MORE? > Learn more about what midwives and nurse-midwives do as well as doulas. > It was only one incident in many years of midwife work, but Cheryl mentions years ago that one healthcare provider had a sign on the wall that said expectant mothers who had a doula or had taken a Bradley class were not accepted as patients. The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (what Cheryl calls “ACOG” in the podcast) play nice together now. > Twilight sleep, knocking expectant mothers out during childbirth, many strapped to their beds, was totally a thing. Yuck. > Cheryl mentions the 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born (The Business of Birth Control is up next from the filmmakers.) You can stream it free right now. Here are a few reviews here, here and here. 

In today’s episode, Nicole and Shanna sit down and talk with Meredith Wu - Certified Nurse-Midwife at Northwestern Medicine. We learn about the different types of midwives - Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife, and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). We also learn that midwives aren’t just attending to pregnant women - they can essentially be a replacement to your OB-gyn at any age or life stage. We do dive into the experience of working with a midwife vs. an OB for a pregnancy, and the fact that only 9% of births in the US are attended by them - a stark difference to the model of care in say the UK. In the “You Want Me To Do What??” section, Nicole goes into detail about her experience having two kids under the care of the midwife practice. She details the experience from the standpoint of an unmedicated birth, and talks about things you should think about if you do want to go that route.  Episode Recap: Interview with Meredith - 1:35  “You Want Me To Do What??” section - 35:18 Highlights: Midwives are an option for your gynecological care, and tend to take a more women centered approach when working with their patients There are three most common types of midwives - Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife, and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), with Certified Nurse-Midwives being the large majority in the USA 9% of births in the US are attended by midwives - a stark difference to the model of care in some European countries Nicole had her two children under the care of a midwife practice, and talks about her experience going through pregnancy with them as well as having unmedicated labors Resources: Where to find Meredith: https://680obgyn.nm.org/ Midwife Stats, American College of Nurse Midwives: https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/cclibraryfiles/filename/000000007531/EssentialFactsAboutMidwives-UPDATED.pdf

"Can I just say 'No' to an episiotomy? Do I have to give birth on my back? I want to be free to walk around in labor. I don't want to be hooked up to an IV. I believe in skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth." Do you ever feel like what you want - or don’t want - in your birth experience is at risk of not happening for you? This episode spells out the research on various Evidenced Based Birth practices so you can feel confident and comfortable in the choices you make around your birth experience. Grab a pen and your partner, and listen in because you don’t want to miss this essential information.The evidence presented and statements made in this episode apply to normal, healthy, low-risk pregnant women seeking a low-intervention birth. The statements made are supported by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The commentary around the statements are our own opinions and are not medical advice. American College of Nurse MidwivesACOG Committee Opinion #766: Approaches to limit intervention during labor & birthSkin to skin care in preterm infantsOptimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic Approach* * * * * * * * * *If you enjoyed this episode of the Down To Birth Show, please share with your pregnant and postpartum friends!Between episodes, connect with us on Instagram @DownToBirthShow to see behind-the-scenes production clips and join the conversation by responding to our questions and polls related to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. You can reach us at Contact@DownToBirthShow.com or call (802) 438-3696 (802-GET-DOWN). We are always happy to hear from you and will strive to feature your questions and comments on upcoming shows.You can sign up for online and in-person HypnoBirthing childbirth classes for pregnant couples taught by Cynthia Overgard, as well as online breastfeeding classes and weekly postpartum support groups run by Cynthia & Trisha at HypnoBirthing of Connecticut. Please remember we don’t provide medical advice, and to speak with your licensed medical provider related to all your healthcare matters. Thanks so much for joining in the conversation, and see you next week!

Tune in to our very first episode where Cynthia, Trisha, and Zuzana talk about how they met and why they do what they do. They discuss the significance of birth choices and why a healthy mom and baby is NOT all that matters when it comes to having a baby. This is about women finding their own voice in pregnancy, and about having a birth that's not only safe, but leaves you feeling respected, heard and honored. It's about having a birth that leaves you feeling at peace. Because isn't that ultimately everything?Episode Resources:Taking Charge of Giving Birth: https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Pregnancy-Birth/taking-charge-of-giving-birth.htmlAmerican College of Nurse Midwives: https://www.midwife.orgAmerican College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists: https://www.acog.orgPostpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.netHypnobirthing of Connecticut: http://hypnobirthingct.comLife After Birth: https://www.lifeafterbirthct.comMidwives Alliance of North America: https://mana.orgWorld Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality* * * * * * * * * *If you enjoyed this episode of the Down To Birth Show, please share with your pregnant and postpartum friends!Between episodes, connect with us on Instagram @DownToBirthShow to see behind-the-scenes production clips and join the conversation by responding to our questions and polls related to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. You can reach us at Contact@DownToBirthShow.com or call (802) 438-3696 (802-GET-DOWN). We are always happy to hear from you and will strive to feature your questions and comments on upcoming shows.You can check out online and in-person prenatal, breastfeeding, HypnoBirthing childbirth classes and postpartum events at HypnoBirthing of Connecticut.Please remember we don’t provide medical advice, and to speak with your licensed medical provider related to all your healthcare matters. Thanks so much for joining in the conversation, and see you next week!

Listen as host Danny Scalise talks with WVU Medicine's dual-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife Kelly Lemon as they discuss addiction, pregnancy & NAS.Kelly Lemon is a West Virginia native and WVU graduate. She is a dual-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife who practices full-scope Midwifery and Women’s Health Care in Morgantown, WV. She sees patients at multiple clinic sites, and attends births every week at Ruby Memorial Hospital. She is the Principal Investigator for the “ACE” Program. ACE stands for Assist, Connect, and Encourage, and is the WVU Drug Free Mom and Babies program that is funded through the WV Perinatal Partnership. She is active in her national Midwifery organization, and is currently the Vice-President for the WV Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. She is married to her high-school sweetheart, and resides here in Morgantown with her husband and a very spoiled cat.

"We care so much about our communities and the folks we serve." In this episode, Leah Coplon talks about her path to becoming an abortion care provider, how abortion fits into the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, what it's really like in the clinic, and what it means to connect with other independent abortion care providers. This episode was made in collaboration with Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a nonprofit membership organization for independent abortion clinics. Independent clinics — like Maine Family Planning, where Leah Coplon works — provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. ACN provides the staff of those clinics with support, training, and resources.   Leah Coplon MPH, RN is the Program Director at Maine Family Planning, overseeing abortion care and strategizing for innovative ways of reaching rural patients to increase access to abortion, contraception, and transgender health services. Leah worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of New England. She has practiced full-scope midwifery, worked as a labor and delivery nurse, and has been in the field of reproductive health for over 25 years. Leah received a BA in sociology/anthropology from Carleton College and her BSN from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science from Philadelphia University and a Master of Public Health from the University of New England and is board certified as a Nurse Midwife with the American College of Nurse Midwives.

“We cannot be generative if we are afraid.” We are so hype for you to hear and learn from the wisdom and electric energy of Dr. Monica McLemore, Assistant Professor of Family Health Care Nursing at UCSF. Together, we talk about health injustices faced by Black mothers and the amazing work of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In addition, we talk about the importance of Reproductive Justice frameworks and the brilliant work that Dr. McLemore has done and continues to imagine with love for the health and well-being of Black mothers. We hope that by the end of this episode, listeners are encouraged to create change within their institutions and communities for Black mothers, children, and families. #ThisCouldAllBeDifferent and it will be. Bio: At the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Monica McLemore is an assistant professor in the Family Health Care Nursing Department, an affiliated scientist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, and a member of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. She maintains clinical practice as a public health and staff nurse at San Francisco General Hospital in the Women's Options Center. McLemore's research is geared toward understanding women's health and wellness across the lifespan. She is an elected member of the governing council for Population Reproductive and Sexual Health section of the American Public Health Association and a recipient of the 2015 teaching award from the American College of Nurse Midwives. She received the 2018 Person of the Year Award from the Abortion Care Network. Her work embraces complex and intersectional problems associated with sexual and reproductive health, including health disparities, stigma, incarceration, unintended pregnancy, and difficulty accessing services.

We ask midwives about their vision for the future of our profession, on location in Washington, D.C., at the American College of Nurse-Midwives annual meeting, May 2019.

HSC’s Elizabeth Dwyer talks with Certified Nurse Midwives Noelle Borders, Thanh-Tam Ho, and Tamara Gardner about their award-winning services, recently recognized by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

In today’s episode we welcome Ginger Breedlove, PhD, to talk about the Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States. Ginger has been a Midwife and OB Nurse 40 years. Her decades of experience shine light on the worsening crises in supporting and caring for new moms and babies in the U.S. As past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Founder and President of March for Moms, Founder of Grow Midwives Consulting, LLC and widely known speaker on improving maternity care, her current focus is encouraging consumers to find voice and engage in decision-making to save lives and improve their health. Ginger also recently edited the book “Nobody Told Me About That: The First 6 Weeks”. This book covers many critical issues confronting the first few weeks of parenting. Nobody receives a comprehensive education on how to be a new parent. The authors are experienced professionals from a variety of disciplines dedicated to helping families of newborns. In this episode, Ginger and Darcy discuss the reasons why the maternal healthcare system in America is failing so many mothers and families, why we all need to raise awareness of the lack of medical attention to some mothers, and how you can reclaim your power to ensure a healthy, happy experience giving birth and becoming a mother. Key Takeaway: We all must work together to improve the way mothers are cared for in this country. Empowering women to be more verbal with their healthcare providers, preparing them for obstacles they may face, and encouraging them to find the support the need, will ultimately decrease the maternal mortality rate and usher in a new age of healthcare in America. Highlights:  What is causing this epidemic? How to help others to use their voice in order to take back control during their healthcare experience. Strategies to stand up for yourself The deadly “Deny and Delay” in healthcare Midwife vs OB Maternal Health Care System in different countries Birth has become far too medicalized in American Self-education and know/plan what you want! Shared-decision making How March for Moms happened Advocacy App The importance of marching on the mall and being visible to Congress “Nobody told me about that……” Postpartum facts Your Birth Your Worth Podcast Website: https://www.yourbirthyourworthpodcast.com/ Darcy Sauers Website: http://www.thedouladarcy.com/ https://www.thirdtrimesterthrive.com/ Blog: http://www.thedouladarcy.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedouladarcy/ Ginger Breedlove Website: http://www.growmidwives.com/who-we-are/ginger-breedlove/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerbreedlove Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Told-Me-About-That/dp/1790133637 March for Moms Website: http://www.marchformoms.org/  

Suzanne discusses the position statements from organizations representing over 700,000 health care providers such as The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and breaks down the impact on the health of millions who potentially may no longer be able to access vital healthcare services. Suzanne brings a midwife's vision, compassion and expertise to this discussion.

According to the CDC “Report from Nine Maternal Mortality Review Committees,” approximately 700 women across the United States (U.S.) die each year as a result of pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications. Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, a certified nurse-midwife, the President of Frontier Nursing University and the President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, joins Nursecast to help us better understand the underlying causes and approaches to curb the increasing number of American women dying during childbirth.

In today's podcast, we talk about the types of different home birth midwives in the U.S. This podcast will prep you to attend the free public webinar all about the evidence on home birth. To register for the webinar (only available through May 8, 2018), visit https://ebbirth.com/homebirthwebinar To learn more about the EBB Professional Membership, visit https://evidencebasedbirth.com/become-pro-member/ and visit EBB PDF library here:  http://evidencebasedbirthacademy.com/dashboard/pdf-library/   Here are the references we used to create today's podcast: American College of Nurse Midwives (2017). Comparison of Certified Nurse-Midwives, Certified Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives. Accessed online April 4, 2018. Available at: http://www.midwife.org/index.asp?bid=59&cat=12&button=Search&rec=254 The Big Push for Midwives (2018). CPMs Legal Status by State. Accessed online April 4, 2018. Available at: http://pushformidwives.nationbuilder.com/cpms_legal_status_by_state MacDorman, M. F. and Declercq, E. (2016). "Trends and Characteristics of United States Out-of-Hospital Births 2004-2014: New Information on Risk Status and Access to Care." Birth 43(2): 116-124. Click here. Midwives Alliance of North America (2016). About Midwives: Types of Midwives. Accessed online April 4, 2018. Available at: https://mana.org/about-midwives/types-of-midwife. Marzalik, P. R., Feltham, K. J., Jefferson, K., et al. (2018). "Midwifery education in the U.S. - Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife." Midwifery 60: 9-12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29471175

Well, the last episode of my podcast was about pregnancy and sexuality, and it seemed to make sense to go right into the next obvious topic, which is postpartum sexuality. Talk about a lot of change to adjust to! You've got not only the physical impact of carrying and birthing a baby, but you've got the emotional, the psychological, and the relational impacts as well. Life is not the same once you've had a baby. It's a complex time with a lot of changes and challenges. You're going to be exhausted. You're going to be focused on the baby. You're going to have trouble getting the bandwidth to take care of other things in your life right away. You've got the transition of your role with your partner now that you're a mom or a dad. Everything is different, and it really can throw your sex life for a loop. The physical changes are often expected and anticipated, but the psychological challenges are hard to imagine ahead of time. Not only do you probably need to wait some amount of time before you resume sex, that's just before you are allowed to resume sex. Then there's the issue of when do you want to? How do you get back in a state of mind where you want to engage physically with your partner? How do you nurture that? How do you communicate about it with your partner? Do hormones play a role in all of this? There's a lot of transition to go through. Tammy Senn is a certified nurse midwife and a women's health nurse practitioner and she's practicing in central Maryland. She's got over 20 years of experience guiding women through pregnancy, birth and new motherhood and working with families in those same stages of life. She provides reproductive and gynecologic care for women of all ages, and she's received advanced training in sexual concerns, including evaluation and treatment as well as counseling and education. I think she's the perfect person to talk about everything that happens when you add the baby to the family: the impacts on sex, what you can expect (although there's not just one thing to expect) and what you can do about it. We talk about how a six-week check-in is based more on tradition than evidence and is only a guideline. This leads us to cover how there is no "normal" and that it is important to listen to your body. Everyone is different. You will be ready when you feel ready. We also cover some postpartum depression issues, including how it can often manifest in the partner, and how awareness and early communication are key to addressing any issues before they grow. Tammy will be a presenting an educational session entitled Beyond the Pink Pill: A Step-wise Approach to Female Disorders of Desire and Arousal, at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in May of this year. Listeners can learn more about Nurse-Midwives and the personalized care they provide at http://www.midwife.org More info: Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/ Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/ If you're enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will receive an advance copy of a chapter of my new book. And for $10 per month, you get all that plus an invitation to an online Q&A chat with me once a quarter. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/bettersexpodcast Better Sex with Jessa Zimmerman https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/better-sex/More info and resources: How Big a Problem is Your Sex Life? Quiz – https://www.sexlifequiz.com The Course – https://www.intimacywithease.com The Book – https://www.sexwithoutstress.com Podcast Website – https://www.intimacywithease.com Access the Free webinar: How to make sex easy and fun for both of you: https://intimacywithease.com/masterclass Secret Podcast for the Higher Desire Partner: https://www.intimacywithease.com/hdppodcast Secret Podcast for the Lower Desire Partner: https://www.intimacywithease.com/ldppodcast

Well, the last episode of my podcast was about pregnancy and sexuality, and it seemed to make sense to go right into the next obvious topic, which is postpartum sexuality.Talk about a lot of change to adjust to! You've got not only the physical impact of carrying and birthing a baby, but you've got the emotional, the psychological, and the relational impacts as well. Life is not the same once you've had a baby. It's a complex time with a lot of changes and challenges.You're going to be exhausted. You're going to be focused on the baby. You're going to have trouble getting the bandwidth to take care of other things in your life right away. You've got the transition of your role with your partner now that you're a mom or a dad. Everything is different, and it really can throw your sex life for a loop.The physical changes are often expected and anticipated, but the psychological challenges are hard to imagine ahead of time. Not only do you probably need to wait some amount of time before you resume sex, that's just before you are allowed to resume sex. Then there's the issue of when do you want to?How do you get back in a state of mind where you want to engage physically with your partner? How do you nurture that? How do you communicate about it with your partner? Do hormones play a role in all of this? There's a lot of transition to go through.Tammy Senn is a certified nurse midwife and a women's health nurse practitioner and she's practicing in central Maryland. She's got over 20 years of experience guiding women through pregnancy, birth and new motherhood and working with families in those same stages of life.She provides reproductive and gynecologic care for women of all ages, and she's received advanced training in sexual concerns, including evaluation and treatment as well as counseling and education.I think she's the perfect person to talk about everything that happens when you add the baby to the family: the impacts on sex, what you can expect (although there's not just one thing to expect) and what you can do about it.We talk about how a six-week check-in is based more on tradition than evidence and is only a guideline. This leads us to cover how there is no "normal" and that it is important to listen to your body. Everyone is different. You will be ready when you feel ready.We also cover some postpartum depression issues, including how it can often manifest in the partner, and how awareness and early communication are key to addressing any issues before they grow.Tammy will be a presenting an educational session entitled Beyond the Pink Pill: A Step-wise Approach to Female Disorders of Desire and Arousal, at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in May of this year. Listeners can learn more about Nurse-Midwives and the personalized care they provide at http://www.midwife.orgMore info:Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will receive an advance copy of a chapter of my new book. And for $10 per month, you get all that plus an invitation to an online Q&A chat with me once a quarter. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/bettersexpodcastBetter Sex with Jessa Zimmermanhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/better-sex/

Well, the last episode of my podcast was about pregnancy and sexuality, and it seemed to make sense to go right into the next obvious topic, which is postpartum sexuality.Talk about a lot of change to adjust to! You've got not only the physical impact of carrying and birthing a baby, but you've got the emotional, the psychological, and the relational impacts as well. Life is not the same once you've had a baby. It's a complex time with a lot of changes and challenges.You're going to be exhausted. You're going to be focused on the baby. You're going to have trouble getting the bandwidth to take care of other things in your life right away. You've got the transition of your role with your partner now that you're a mom or a dad. Everything is different, and it really can throw your sex life for a loop.The physical changes are often expected and anticipated, but the psychological challenges are hard to imagine ahead of time. Not only do you probably need to wait some amount of time before you resume sex, that's just before you are allowed to resume sex. Then there's the issue of when do you want to?How do you get back in a state of mind where you want to engage physically with your partner? How do you nurture that? How do you communicate about it with your partner? Do hormones play a role in all of this? There's a lot of transition to go through.Tammy Senn is a certified nurse midwife and a women's health nurse practitioner and she's practicing in central Maryland. She's got over 20 years of experience guiding women through pregnancy, birth and new motherhood and working with families in those same stages of life.She provides reproductive and gynecologic care for women of all ages, and she's received advanced training in sexual concerns, including evaluation and treatment as well as counseling and education.I think she's the perfect person to talk about everything that happens when you add the baby to the family: the impacts on sex, what you can expect (although there's not just one thing to expect) and what you can do about it.We talk about how a six-week check-in is based more on tradition than evidence and is only a guideline. This leads us to cover how there is no "normal" and that it is important to listen to your body. Everyone is different. You will be ready when you feel ready.We also cover some postpartum depression issues, including how it can often manifest in the partner, and how awareness and early communication are key to addressing any issues before they grow.Tammy will be a presenting an educational session entitled Beyond the Pink Pill: A Step-wise Approach to Female Disorders of Desire and Arousal, at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in May of this year. Listeners can learn more about Nurse-Midwives and the personalized care they provide at http://www.midwife.orgMore info:Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will receive an advance copy of a chapter of my new book. And for $10 per month, you get all that plus an invitation to an online Q&A chat with me once a quarter. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/bettersexpodcastBetter Sex with Jessa Zimmermanhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/better-sex/

When you are on the right path you don’t always recognize it at first. Roadblocks often seem like the perfect place to give up. Laura, the co-host of the Motherbirth podcast, didn’t give up. She has been pursuing her life’s calling of becoming a nurse-midwife for years. During this episode, Laura shares the intimate details of her personal journey, her ups and downs, how her determination has paid off, and the reason she energetically advocates for women’s healthcare issues. Laura believes passionately in the midwifery model of care.  She would like to see all women receive the support of a midwife or doula offers in terms of holistic care.  Throughout her challenging journey to be able to provide this kind of care to women herself, Laura has worked as a doula, labor and delivery nurse, and is now finishing her doctorate in Midwifery.   Advocacy on behalf of immigrants, minorities and people without access to health care is a big part of her her work and the passion that she cultivates daily in her education and practice as a birthworker. Hearing behind the scenes of how Laura got to where she is today and how she is able to bring so much wisdom and experience to Motherbirth was a true joy; and we know you will love learning more about her journey too!   In This Episode: ● How the role of a midwife differs from an OB/GYN ● How laws for midwives differ by state ● The importance of engaging in women’s healthcare rights ● The close personal relationship between a doula and a mother-to-be ● How women should trust their intuition and their bodies ● How a culture shift is needed in the U.S. surrounding women’s healthcare rights ● How insurance companies treat women differently than men   Show Notes: Birthing Stone — Baby Sleep Program Birthingway College American College of Nurse-Midwives  

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with author and  Lamaze Program Co-Director, Dr. Judith Lothian. We explore the idea of pain for a purpose in childbirth. Dr Lothian offers her insight as to how women can use the pain of labor to inform their body how to move, moan and get lost in “nature’s narcotic,” Please enjoy! In today’s Episode:  How Dr. Lothian got started on the path to being a childbirth educator.Her deep involvement with the Lamaze Institute.The three major hormones of labor and their role in ensuring labor functions well.How pain is central to the natural design of childbirth.Helping women to trust the pain and listen to their body’s desire to move, moan, and breathe.What happens when we take the pain away, does that hinder the progress of labor?Exploring an article Dr Lothian wrote, “In a very real sense, the pain of each contraction becomes a guide for the laboring woman.” The difference between pain and suffering in childbirth.How a woman can identify pain that is purposeful rather than that which may indicate back labor or that something is wrong.Ideas and advice for a woman who is overwhelmed by the fear of pain in labor.About Dr. Lothian:  Judith Lothian, Ph.D., R.N.,FAAN Graduate Chair and Professor – Graduate Dept. Seton Hall University College of Nursing Dr. Lothian has been a maternal/child nurse, childbirth educator, and an advocate for birthing women for over 4 decades. The focus of her practice has been childbirth education. She is currently the Chair of the Certification Council for Lamaze International that is responsible for developing the international certification examination for Lamaze certified childbirth educators. She is also the Associate Editor of the Journal of Perinatal Education and write a regular column for the JPE. Her advocacy work includes national leadership positions in Lamaze International and national work with Childbirth Connection, the American College of Nurse Midwives,and the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. Dr. Lothian is the co-author of The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence. Her research interests are breastfeeding and childbirth. She is currently completing a qualitative research study of the experience of home birth for women and their midwives. https://nyclamaze.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Helen Noble, Associate Editor EBN, talks to Constance Guille, Medical University of South Carolina, about her recent article Telephone delivery of Interpersonal Psychotherapy by Certified Nurse-Midwives may help reduce symptoms of Postpartum Depression in EBN journal. Full article >> http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/1/12

Sarah DeGroff and Angy Nixon are both leaders in the natural birthing and parenting community. Sarah is a childbirth educator, lactation counselor, natural health educator, essential oils instructor, and a mom of 5. Angy Nixon is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, has her Masters of Science in Nursing, and was recently inducted to be a Fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Join us as we discuss natural alternatives that are safe for pregnancy and labor, the current state of the healthcare system, the importance of community, and steps that can be taken to help create a more natural and safe birthing experience. I loved this conversation and I hope you do too! These two ladies have an incredible amount of knowledge to share! Resources Discussed in Today's Episode: The Business of Being Born-Documentary mothersadvocate.org evidencebasedbirth.org Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth, & Babies by Stephanie Fritz Modern Essentials --essential oil resource book Keep up with Sarah and Angy on Social Media! Facebook: Sarah DeGroff, Angelita Nixon, Scenic Drive Midwives   And, if you have any questions at all for me, please reach out at drkaseyajohnson@gmail.com   Credits:  Music: www.bensound.com

We celebrate International Day of the Midwife by getting real with Whitney’s own midwife. We candidly discuss the midwifery model of care for pregnant women, teen girls, and the whole family. Plus, Drew talks about disrupting the Trump rally and teaching his girls about civil disobedience. And Whitney wants a night out as long as it means her baby never grows up. Resources & Links from this episode: -- Mothers day wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day -- Khristeena Kingsley’s website: http://www.wnymidwife.com/ -- Video of the procedure Whitney had done to flip Ceci from breech: http://tiny.cc/iwp2ay -- Multiple book recommendations from Khristeena: http://tiny.cc/2up2ay -- International Day of the Midwife: http://www.internationalmidwives.org/events/idotm/ -- Midwives Alliance of North America: http://mana.org/ -- American College of Nurse Midwives: http://www.midwife.org/ -- NYSALM: http://newyork.midwife.org/ -- Drew’s pick: PUNCH BALLOONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlrGw_0Dw6U -- Whitney’s pick: Little Free Libraries https://littlefreelibrary.org/ Just a Phase is produced by Whitney Crispell. Theme music is “Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix)” by spinningmerkaba, and used under a Creative Commons license.

We are pleased to have Author Patricia Harman back with us on DivaTalkRadio. Her last appearance was 4 years ago, almost to the day, and she returns to discuss the power of optimism and love to overcome the most trying circumstances and times. For many years, Patricia (Patsy) worked as a midwife, delivering babies and caring for women across the US and in rural communes. Her story is encouraging, empowering, and exciting.  Patsy has published in The Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health and The Journal of Sigma Theta Tau for Nursing Scholarship as well as alternative publications. She is a regular presenter at national midwifery conferences and her first novel, The Midwife of Hope River was awarded book of the year by the American College of Nurse Midwives in 2014.  About her latest book: The Reluctant Midwife The Great Depression has hit West Virginia hard. Men are out of work; women struggle to feed hungry children. Luckily, Nurse Becky Myers has returned to care for them. While she can handle most situations, Becky is still uneasy helping women deliver their babies. For these mothers-to-be, she relies on an experienced midwife, her dear friend Patience Murphy. Though she is happy to be back in Hope River, time and experience have tempered Becky’s cheerfulness-as tragedy has destroyed the vibrant spirit of her former employer Dr Isaac Blum, who has accompanied her. Patience too has changed. Married and expecting a baby herself, she is relying on Becky to keep the mothers of Hope River safe. But becoming a midwife and ushering precious new life into the world is not Becky’s only challenge. Her skills and courage will be tested when a calamitous forest fire blazes through a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. And she must find a way to bring Isaac back to life and rediscover the hope they both need to go on.

This podcast episode is a quick introduction to The United Nurses associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), the largest nurses' union in Southern California, representing over 22,000 Registered Nurses and other health care professionals, including Optometrists; Pharmacist; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapist; Nurse Midwives, Social Workers; Clinical Lab Scientist; Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE), and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Listen NowFor decades the US has experienced the highest infant mortality rate of high income countries.  The US also ranks poorly on other birth outcomes such as pre-term births, low birth weight and Caesarean sections.  Infant mortality rates for non-hispanic blacks is twice that of the national average.  In sum, about 25,000 infants die each year in the United States.  During this 37 minute interview Dr. Lubic explains briefly nurse midwifery and its peri-natal goals, she discusses at some length the gradual acceptance of nurse midwives from the 1930s through the 1960s, the Family Health and Birth Center's "care in a social context" and birth outcomes its achieved, i.e., a 66% reduction in both pre-term births and Caesarean sections and a 75% reduction in low birth weights.  For more on midwifery outcomes see this recently published article in the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health:  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.12003/fullDr. Lubic's midwifery career began in 1962 when she was graduated from the country's first nurse-midwifery program, the Maternity Center Association in NYC.  In 1970, Dr. Lubic became General Director of the Association (now called Childbirth Connection) and opened the first state-licensed birthing center in the country in 1975.  Eventually the Morris Heights Childbearing Center opened in the South Bronx, bringing quality obstetric care to underserved, low-income women.  The moneys she received from a MacArthur Foundation genius award enabled her to replicate her NYC midwifery model in 2000 by opening the Developing Families Center in Washington, D.C.  Among other numerous credits and awards Dr. Lubic was elected to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine and is the recipient of its Lienhard Award.  The American Academy of Nursing, also in 2001, named her a Living Legend.   The American College of Nurse-Midwives honored her with the Hattie Hemschemeyer Award.   In 2006, the American Public Health Association conferred its Martha May Eliot Award and she also is the recipient of eight honorary doctorate degrees.  Dr. Lubic was awarded a nursing degree from the U. of Pennsylvania and was graduated from Columbia University with a Ph.D. in applied anthropology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

Ruth Watson Lubic is a nurse-midwife and applied anthropologist. Known for her work in developing the freestanding birth center model, Dr. Lubic has received honorary degrees and special recognitions from eight universities and is the first nurse to have received a MacArthur Fellowship. She served for two years as an Expert Consultant to the Assistant Secretary for Health in Washington. She has published widely, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences? Institute of Medicine and in 2001 received its prestigious Lienhard Award. The American Academy of Nursing, also in 2001, named her a Living Legend. The American College of Nurse-Midwives honored her with its highest recognition, the Hattie Hemschemeyer Award. She has been made an Honorary Member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society. In 2006, the American Public Health Association conferred its Martha May Eliot Award. At an international Strengthening Midwifery Symposium held in Washington in 2010, and sponsored by eight international organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the International Confederation of Midwives, Dr. Lubic was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

With so few midwives, are we missing an opportunity?

Guest: Sabina Dambrauskas, CNMs Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Sabina Dambrauskas, a retired certified nurse-midwife and Instructor at the College of Nurse-Midwives at the University of Illinois at Chicago is discussing the clinical impact that a midwife can have in medical care.