We continue on our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Last summer, while relating her birth stories, Chantal Shelstad surprised us all by sharing she was pregnant again. So she’s back to tell the tale of how she went from a Cesarean, to a VBAC, and to a home waterbirth, because as she says, “she likes to challenge herself”. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory25
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
We continue with our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today’s story comes from Elizabeth Nigro, who first broke up with her OB, then was in denial that labor was even happening, but once she let go of perfect, she ended up with an amazingly beautiful birth where she felt safe, supported and like a super woman. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory24
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
We continue with our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today’s story comes from Naomi Wilcox-Lee, who shares how she prepared to bring joy and bliss to her birth, along with all the little ways her family and husband helped her do that, and how she ended up birthing like a rock-star without having to actually push. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory23
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Birth Story - Today’s story comes from Shelley Wylie, who shares how the shower beats the tub, how birth is not as horrendous as the Machu Picchu trail, and how you can absolutely have a lovely birth, even if you have to come undone and regather yourself in the process. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory22
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
We continue with our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today’s story comes from Jessica Winquist, who was determined to have a vaginal birth, even though her daughter was breech. As it turns out, pregnancy ended up being the most stressful part of her experience. Go check out her breech homebirth story.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory21
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Happy Summer, northern hemisphere! With this episode we kick off our 2017 “Birth Stories for the Summer” series!
For the next 11 weeks, I’m switching the spotlight from the birth pros to the mighty mamas, who share what real-life birth looks like. Today, Kally McConnell shares her glorious VBAC story, all the things she did differently to prepare compared with her first birth, and how there was no time for the tub. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/birthstory20
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to having a vaginal birth after a cesarean, with many people being told they are not allowed to VBAC. Often the risks of having a VBAC are exaggerated, while the risks of repeat cesareans are downplayed or not even brought up. That’s an unbalanced conversation that does not allow you to make a true informed choice. What are the facts? Jen Kamel has answers. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastvbacfacts
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
If you have a baby in your life, it’s a given that you’re not getting enough sleep, but how does that deprivation affect your mind, body and mood? How does it relate to weight gain? Can your body adapt to the lack of sleep? Do micro-naps help or hinder? What about regular naps? Dr. Kimberly Fenn has answers. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastlackofsleep
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Birth is filled with uncertainty, and with that come the fears and what ifs: what if something goes wrong, what if the pain is too much, what if my wishes aren’t respected, What if I need a cesarean, what if I poop? All are valid, but not very helpful feelings. So how can you deal with them? Alexia Leachman has answers. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastbirthfears
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
When it comes to pregnancy, birth choices and baby care, everyone seems to have an opinion. So what happens when your choices don’t line up with the preference of those who surround you, and may even be involved in the care of your baby? Kate Turza tells us more. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcasthelpersnotvisitors
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
When returning to work, it’s not uncommon for baby to start waking more at night. What can you do ahead of time to support better sleep and minimize these wakings? If your baby starts waking more often, what can you do to survive and better the situation? Kim West has answers. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastbacktoworksleep
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
If you’ve ever said that you don’t have time to meditate, or that you won’t know if you’re doing it right, or frankly, you’re not convinced that it will work, then this episode is for you! Anna Gannon is here to address all those resistance points, along with the wonderful benefits of meditating for fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastmeditation
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Today we’re taking a look at how the hospital you choose, can be your #1 risk of having a Cesarean. Cesarean rates have increased 500% in one generation, and they are now the most common surgery performed on human beings anywhere in the work. About of them half may be unnecessary. How did we get to this, and what can you do about it? Dr. Neel Shah has answers. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcasttopcesareanrisk
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
For a lot of people, the idea of gaining weight -even if for such a fabulous cause as pregnancy- can be stressful. Genevieve Howland is here to talk about ways you can tackle your anxiety, triggers, and body image issues as well how to easily establish good nutrition habits that can serve you past pregnancy and postpartum. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastweightgain
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Babies are constantly and very specifically communicating their needs to us. So what are some ways they do that? How can you tune into and translate their messages? And what if you have a baby that needs more help navigating the world? The fabulous Carrie Contey has answers. Check it out.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastunderstandingbaby
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
It’s been nearly two years since I first spoke with Rebecca Dekker from EBB about eating and drinking during labor, and the importance of evidence based information and practices. Recently, Rebecca and her team updated their article on the evidence of “Eating and Drinking During Labor” and -not so surprisingly- not only does the previous evidence still hold, but there is further data support it. This is great news for laboring mamas- but you’ll have to listen until the end to get the nitty-gritty on the update. Along the way, you’ll also hear about what constitutes evidence based care, and why it’s important. (Hint: many hospital labor practices are not based on evidence, and can in fact be detrimental to the process.) Listen to find out how you can know what is what.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcasteatingduringlabor2
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Nicolle Kasch shares her personal story of persistence and success, along with specifics on how to navigate what can be a truly cumbersome process. Although filled with trial and error, her 8 months of determination resulted in full reimbursement. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/homebirthreimbursement
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
How your baby is born will determine what microorganisms get where, when. It’s a beautifully orchestrated process with lifelong implications for your baby’s health. So what if you have a cesarean birth, take antibiotics, or are not able to breastfeed? Toni Harman tells us more. Stay tuned.
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastmicrobiomeandimmunesystem
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Is a little stress good for your baby? What about chronic stress? Are there ways to deal with the anxiety and guilt? What if you have a high-risk pregnancy? How does it all affect you? Parijat Deshpande tells us more. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastpregnancystress
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
During this episode, Anika Rothfuss (aka my daughter) does a podcast takeover to celebrate Birthful’s one hundred episode and her birthday. During this interview/birth story hybrid, Anika gets to ask questions as I share her birth story. We’ve been sharing her birth story with her every year since she was one. It’s a fabulous and evolving tradition that has showed her how cool birth can be. Check it out!
Your "party favor": Get $10 off my “Birth Partner’s Ultimate Labor Support Toolkit” by going to birthful.com/toolkit and entering the promo code ANIKA100 during checkout. Yay!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastAnika100
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
In this episode we talk about the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ new recommendations on “Limiting Interventions during Labor and Birth”. Do you need to be continuously monitored? Does your bag of waters need to be broken? Do you have to hold your breath to push? How about IV fluids? It turns out that “many common obstetric practices are of limited or uncertain benefit”, and it’s time to change things up. Sharon Muza tells us more. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastlimitInterventions/
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Up to 45% of women report that their births were traumatic, and around 3% will experience PTSD. What are the differences between the two? What are the symptoms and risk factors for childbirth PTSD? What about PostTraumatic Growth? Cheryl Tatano Beck tells us more. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastbirthptsd/
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
When talking about birth, words that tend to come up are fear and pain. But what if instead of trying to get rid of the fear and pain, you focused wholeheartedly on bringing heaps of joy and pleasure to your birth instead? Angela Gallo tells us more. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastpleasure/
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
During pregnancy and birth, it has somehow become OK for others to tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies, even when being subjected to unsafe care and in violation of their human and legal rights. So what can you do about it? Cristen Pascucci tells us more. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastinformedconsent
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)
Figuring out how much your birth will cost is a daunting proposition composed of many confusing and expensive parts. But what if you could navigate it in an non-overwhelming manner, that could potentially save you thousands of dollars? Nate Dallas is here to share his step-by-step secrets. Check it out!
Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastbirthfinances/
If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!
And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at:.
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)