The Birth Lounge Podcast

How much does your partner know about your menstrual cycle? How much consideration of your period do you take when planning your monthly schedule? Author of the book, Manstration, Alyx Coble-Frakes is joining me to talk about how to become a 'cycle scientist' to make your cycle work for you! We talk about how to bring your partner into this conversation, using a period planner and how legislation muddles things. *This episode contains strong language! Bio: Alyx Coble-Frakes is a passionate social entrepreneur. She has 10 years of experience in business, and 8 years of experience working in health and wellness. When she returned from the Peace Corps in 2015, she felt out of touch with her own health, so she began a path of healing. This led her to launch a health coaching company, and subsequently The Agenda. She has recently authored a book called “Manstruation” which is opening up conversations around periods with men. The Agenda: https://www.theagendaperiod.com/ Join The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Giving birth in a U.S. hospital can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be—especially with Dr. Nicole Rankins in your corner. I am honored to have an an Obstetrician that truly values patient autonomy and shared decision making with her patients to help them have an empowered birth experience and avoid birth trauma! We are discussing all of the pain relief options in the hospital (yes, epidurals! But so many other options too!) plus everything you need to know about each option to make an informed decision about coping with the sensations of labor! Our Guest: Dr. Nicole is a Duke University-trained, board-certified, practicing OB/GYN and mom of two who empowers first-time moms to have the beautiful birth experience they deserve. Over her 20 year career, she’s helped more than 1,000 babies into this world, and is a proud HBCU grad (Spelman College & North Carolina A&T State University). Her popular podcast, All About Pregnancy & Birth, is a top 50 parenting podcast with over 1.5 million downloads. Find the latest episodes here! Join The Birth Lounge here for judgement free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!

Casey Lewis is a NICU Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Neonatal Therapist & Certified Lactation Counselor who experienced placental abruption that led to an emergency c-section and in an unexpected twist, she found herself receiving care as NICU parent rather than giving care as a clinician. In today’s episode, she shares the physical and emotional demands of your baby being in the NICU, tips for coping and how to effectively communicate with medical staff about your preferences for your baby’s care. She also tells her birth story and how she knew something was wrong. This is such an informative episode that makes NICU parents feel seen and non-NICU parents feel prepared. SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram Connect with Casey on IG BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience. Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress. And if you haven’t grabbed it yet… Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor. Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way. Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum evidence based articles you can use anytime, anywhere.

Have you ever thought about how birth trauma impacts your partner? Or, how that subsequently impacts your relationship? Your intimacy? Your postpartum experience? What if you feel like your partner even played a role in your birth trauma? Ashley Mariani joins me to today to chat about how to identify if your birth trauma is impacting your relationship with your partner and how to navigate this space with the goal of reuniting. We dive into emotional attainment, effective communication in postpartum and how to deal with the mental load of birth trauma. A don't miss episode for anyone who is struggling with birth trauma after birth and wondering if this is your new normal. Bio: Ashley Mariani is a registered social worker specializing in couples perinatal mental, emotional and sexual health, while also fiercely advocating against obstetric violence. She has seen the implications of birth traumas impact on the mental, emotional and sexual lives of couples and strives to help couples and individuals in prevention and resilience building. Ashley’s academic background includes degrees in sexuality, counseling, individual and couples work. The lens she works most passionately from is rooted in the body’s innate wisdom, the nervous system. Ashley works with her clients from a holistic framework that utilizes, movement, nutrition, plant medicine, vagus nerve toning, and functional medicine. Ashley is also a mother to three free spirited children, including twins. The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Connect with Ashley: https://mindonline.ca/ Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therogue.therapist/

Today’s guest, Dr. Q, is joining me to discuss pain in labor! Everyone wants to have a pain free birth, but something always left out of the conversation is our individual PERCEPTION of pain! Dr. Q is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, childbirth educator and postpartum doula! She specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and conditions that affect the bladder, bowel, and reproductive systems. This episode will help you have a deeper look at the neuroscience behind pain! Dr. Q will teach us how your perception of pain can impact your labor, how medications (pain relief meds + labor augmentation meds) impact your pelvic floor and how you can learn to work with your body in terms of the fear-pain-tension cycle to have your best birth! The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Connect with Dr. Q: drqdpt.com

Today’s guest, Dr. Q, is joining me to discuss pain in labor! Everyone wants to have a pain free birth, but something always left out of the conversation is our individual PERCEPTION of pain! Dr. Q is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, childbirth educator and postpartum doula! She specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and conditions that affect the bladder, bowel, and reproductive systems. This episode will help you have a deeper look at the neuroscience behind pain! Dr. Q will teach us about qualifying vs quantifying pain and the different types of pain + what they are telling us! The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Connect with Dr. Q: drqdpt.com

Have you ever thought about using donor milk? Did you know it was an option? Do you know where you can donate? How do you sign up to be a milk bank recipient? How do you know if you are eligible? Are there benefits to donor milk? This episode will help your options when it comes to donor milk! Sterling shares what parents need to know and how to navigate the milk bank system to best advocate for yourself and your baby. We will talk about the many processes and paperwork involved in being, both, a donor and a recipient. Sterling is a full spectrum doula and certified lactation specialist— not to mention she has breastfed 3 babies of her own! She also serves parents in-person around the Metro Atlanta area and offers virtual services otherwise. The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Home Visits with Sterling Virtual Meetings with Sterling Digital Breastfeeding Training Educational Breastfeeding Coloring Book

Did you know there is an app that can help reduce the risk of stillbirth in the end of pregnancy? I know a big fear of many moms out there is how to know if your baby is healthy as your pregnancy gets closer to your due date (and even beyond your due date). You can easily add in an evidence-baed approach of daily kick counts to your routine to check-in on baby's well-being. Joining me today is Emily Price, the CEO of Count the Kicks, to discuss stillbirth rates in the US, why there are such racial disparities and risk factors you need to know about. Most importantly, we will dive into the common myths around stillbirth and what not to do if you think your baby's movements have reduced compared to their normal patterns! Count the Kicks has a public health campaign that educates and empowers expectant parents to track their babies' movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Count the Kicks: https://countthekicks.org/

The most dangerous time in pregnancy is actually postpartum; particularly, days 43-365. Postpartum Mood Disorders can be serious, resulting in harmful or dangerous behaviors and thoughts. However, there are a number of evidence-based options to help support new parents and families in this transitional time. Dr. William Leininger, OBGYN, is joining us to discuss the options around postpartum anxiety, depression, and other mood challenges that may arise after having a baby. We dive into the non-pharmacological options, the holistic and lifestyle options and the taboo options. This episode will also include information about the new postpartum medications zuranolone, and what you need to know! The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com Patients and Supports Teams: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline – 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) --has translators for 60 languages Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org) – 988 English and Spanish Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.org): Text “HOME” to 741-741 Postpartum Support International - https://www.postpartum.net Mother to Baby – Information about Medications in Pregnancy and Lactation https://mothertobaby.org/ National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, NIHhttps://www.nccih.nih.gov/ BUMPS – Best Uses of Medicine in Pregnancy – UK https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/ NIH Medical Information Search site – medlineplus.gov Professionals ACOG Perinatal Mental Health Resources https://www.acog.org/about/leadership-and-governance/board-of- directors/iffath-a-hoskins-md/minding-mental-health Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance - https://www.mmhla.org/ Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health - https://www.2020mom.org/ National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, NIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/ Regional Organization – Roanoke, VA - https://www.huddleupmoms.org State Organization – Massachusetts - https://www.mcpapformoms.org

Reflux in babies can be challenging and overwhelming. There are so many questions that parents have and very little places to turn for answers. What causes it? How do you know if your baby is experiencing normal spit up or reflux? What is silent reflux and what causes it? Does burping after feed help or hinder reflux? What remedies exist? How do you settle your reflux baby in those long hours of crying fits and discomfort? Aine Homer joins us today to discuss everything you need to know about baby reflux, evidence-based resources and how to get answers for your family! Join The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com (Doors are only open September 4th-9th!) Aine’s website: https://www.thebabyrefluxlady.co.uk Resources: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acid-reflux-gastroesophageal-reflux-in-babies-beyond-the-basics https://llli.org/why-infant-reflux-matters/ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/gerd

It’s no secret that the healthcare system is a profit-driven industry that needs an immediate overhaul to improve patient outcomes and start centering patient preferences. We all know that many hospital practices aren’t evidence-based but rather designed to move the bottom line, financially, for the institution. Billie Harrigan is a Traditional Birth Companion and owner of Birth Trauma Ontario in Canada who has been serving families for over 40 years. With extensive international experience, Billie understands the complexities of modern maternity services and the pervasive issues that contribute to birth-related trauma and negative outcomes. Today’s conversation will challenge your assumptions of the medical system and push you to expand the perspectives in which you see the delivery of healthcare in the US & Canada by discussing common tactics used by cults and the resemblance of hospital care. We dive into the impact of non-trauma-informed care on patients’ short-term and long-term well-being. Buckle up because this episode is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced! The Birth Lounge doors are open!!! Join here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/join Billie’s Traditional Birth Companion Program: https://billieharrigan.com/becoming-a-traditional-birth-companion Is hospital care actually evidence based? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241518/ The System Isn’t Broken: https://billieharrigan.com/blog/2019/11/6/the-system-isnt-broken-but-its-people-are

Season Opener!!! This episode is jam packed with data and discussion points to help you have an informed conversation around finding your perfect induction equation so you can have a positive induction experience! The choice to be induced is a very personal one and one that should be made very intentionally. This episode dives into 4 options of induction that you probably have never heard of! These options can help decrease your risk for cesarean and reduce the need for additional interventions! The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com Induction Equation Video: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/induction-equation Induction Cheat Sheet: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/induction Oral Miso: https://www.cochrane.org/CD001338/PREG_oral-misoprostol-induction-labour Outpatient Ripeners: https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(22)00798-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_aip_email https://www.obgproject.com/2023/05/10/outpatient-labor-induction-with-misoprostol-impact-on-length-of-stay-and-vaginal-delivery-rates/?mc_cid=83f577ac38&mc_eid=854ebe014b https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027046/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871519220302845 Melatonin: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/12/3252 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2019.00616/full https://www.cochrane.org/CD010527/PREG_giving-melatonin-women-pregnancy-protect-babys-brain-and-improve-long-term-outcomes-baby https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R21-HD086392-01 (Brigham & Women’s Hospital) https://fetalmedicine.org/abstracts/2022/var/pdf/abstracts/2022/03846.pdf https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34058776/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7044825/ EPO: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-evening-primrose-oil-epo/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382022000257 https://brieflands.com/articles/fga-130352.html

The truth is-- unbiased care does not exist. If everyone from your doctor to your mom to the stranger in the super market has biases, what are you supposed to do? Plus, do those biases increase your risk of experiencing birth trauma? This episode will tell you exactly why it's important to be able to spot bias and what to do with it if you encounter provider bias that is impacting your care. I also share tips to reducing your risk of birth trauma. Questions to ask your provider: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Interviewing-Providers The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Work with me: https://www.tranquilitybyhehe.com/

Unnecessareans (Unnecessary c-sections) are on the rise in America and for many reasons! So many women prepare for labor from a place of wanting to avoid a c-section but fail to understand what actually CAUSES unnecessary cesareans! Without understanding WHAT causes them, it will be very hard to implement HOW to actually avoid one! There are things you can do, decisions you can make and conversations you can have that will mitigate your risk of unnecessary intervention and allow you to avoid having a cesarean birth when that is not your plan! This episode will teach you the three most influential things you can do to avoid an unnecessarean! Join The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/join Sources for this episode: Spontaneous Labor: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/215/4538/1396 https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(98)00058-X/abstract https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0137188 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1948087/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26776817/ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/11/definition-of-term-pregnancy https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/when-pregnancy-goes-past-your-due-date https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2020/01/macrosomia Labor at home: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/american-obstetrics-in-the-1950s/ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3660040/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595201/ Failure to Progress: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010088.pub3/full https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery

HeHe and Deb connect to discuss the Mind-Body Connection and its' impact in labor'. The importance of movement in pregnancy How that builds a mind-body connection What that connection means for your labor experience Yoga can feel intimidating if you have never done it before --Deb shares the best ways to ease yourself into a practice that will benefit you and your baby plus help you have a smoother labor! Follow Along with Deb: Prenatal Yoga Center Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast Instagram More About Deb: Deb Flashenberg (CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP) is the director of The Prenatal Yoga Center in NY and host of the Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast. Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula, childbirth educator and mother, Deb hopes to support the pregnant person with functional yoga asana to create a functional birth and ease into parenthood feeling empowered and honored on this sacred journey of birth and beyond.

HeHe sits down with Nurse Beckie to discuss: Trauma informed breastfeeding support in the hospital How to have your breastfeeding goals heard and respected in the hospital How to best set yourself up for a successful breastfeeding journey Connect with Nurse Beckie at @nursebeckie_ on Instagram or on her website at www.bestfeedinglc.com

Jen Kamel is the CEO and Founder of VBAC Facts® whose mission is to increase access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through education, legislation, and amplifying the consumer voice. VBAC Facts® helps perinatal professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on the VBAC evidence through their educational courses, continuing education training programs, and consulting services. As an internationally recognized consumer advocate, Jen supports perinatal professionals around the world through her online professional membership, travels throughout the United States training perinatal professionals, presents Grand Rounds at hospitals, and works as a legislative consultant throughout the US focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations that threaten VBAC access. Over the years she has testified multiple times in front of the California Medical Board and legislative committees, educating legislators on the importance of VBAC access, and has served as an expert witness and consultant in legal proceedings. VBAC Facts® envisions a time when every pregnant person seeking VBAC has access to unbiased information, respectful providers, and community support so they can plan the birth of their choosing in the setting they desire. Special Offer: 15% off courses for parents and professionals using coupon code BirthLounge at checkout. Go to vbacfacts.com/courses to enroll. Follow along with Jen: https://vbacfacts.com

Episode 2 of 2 with Julia Karol. Today we hear from Julia ALL about her birth! This is an amazing birth story you won't want to miss. Julia Karol is building a family. Along the way, she is asking anyone and everyone about how they came to make the decisions they did regarding family life. She's opening up an honest, funny, raw, and earnest conversation looking at what creating a family really means and how it might show up differently than expected. Join Julia as she explores the concept of today’s modern family. Episodes feature everyday friends, family, neighbors, and experts sharing their own journey to define and create a family. Julia's Website: www.storkdpodcast.com

Sit down and get cozy! This solo episode with HeHe Stewart dives into the glaring issues with in-hospital childbirth education. So before you sign up for your local hospitals class, make sure to give this one a listen! If you are listening along with us live during the first week of December, be sure to catch The Birth Lounge while doors are open HERE! Link mentioned in episode: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241518/

Julia Karol is building a family. Along the way, she is asking anyone and everyone about how they came to make the decisions they did regarding family life. She's opening up an honest, funny, raw, and earnest conversation looking at what creating a family really means and how it might show up differently than expected. Join Julia as she explores the concept of today’s modern family. Episodes feature everyday friends, family, neighbors, and experts sharing their own journey to define and create a family. Julia's Website: www.storkdpodcast.com

Erika is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of Massachusetts. She completed her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Regis College in Weston, MA, and she also received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University. She has a diverse background working with infants, children and teens in school-based settings, early intervention, and private practice. Erika has trainings in tethered oral tissues, Michelle Emmanuel's Tummy Time! Method, visual-vestibular techniques, reflex integration, feeding, and oral motor skills. Additionally, she is trained in Handwriting without Tears. Erika lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She is the mother to Jordan (3) and Lila (infant). In her spare time, she enjoys playing outside with her children, jogging, watching Boston sports and meditating. Erika is a level I Reiki practitioner.

Today HeHe is sitting down with Malia Funk of The POV. Covering everything you need to know about using this FemTech tool to find a provider that you want and deserve. The POV is a curated marketplace of modern healthcare offerings designed for women+. Our goal is to help women and uterus-owners choose the best care option available. Follow along with POV: Thepov.us

How young is too young? The benefits of chiro care, babywearing, the impacts of vaginal vs c section delivery on musculoskeletal structure and development, oral ties and tethers, and how to find a pediatric chiropractor in your area! Dr. Ashtiani is the owner and treating chiropractor at Essence Chiropractic & Wellness located in San Antonio, Texas. Chiropractors focus on the structure and condition of the body influences and body functions and its ability to heal itself. The mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes. Dr. A specializes in pediatric and the perinatal period. www.essence-chiro.com

Melissa Chappell, LDEM, CPM is a midwife and owner of two birth centers in Utah, as well as a doula trainer of over 20 years. She is passionate about women’s health from a holistic and nourishing perspective, and advocates for women’s wellness in all areas of their lives. She has worked with midwives and birthing women all over the world, including in Haiti, Ethiopia, and Kenya, and loves seeing how women’s lives improve with access to safe and effective midwifery care. She’s the owner of Fresh Melissa, a company dedicated to creating tasty treats that are also healthy. She is the mother of 4 children and 3 grandchildren that she adores. In between catching babies, Melissa loves to explore as much of the world as she can – from international travel to exploring the mountains in her backyard.

Melissa Chappell, LDEM, CPM is a midwife and owner of two birth centers in Utah, as well as a doula trainer of over 20 years. She is passionate about women’s health from a holistic and nourishing perspective, and advocates for women’s wellness in all areas of their lives. She has worked with midwives and birthing women all over the world, including in Haiti, Ethiopia, and Kenya, and loves seeing how women’s lives improve with access to safe and effective midwifery care. She’s the owner of Fresh Melissa, a company dedicated to creating tasty treats that are also healthy. She is the mother of 4 children and 3 grandchildren that she adores. In between catching babies, Melissa loves to explore as much of the world as she can – from international travel to exploring the mountains in her backyard.

A former communications strategist at a top public affairs firm in Baltimore, Maryland, Cristen Pascucci is the founder of Birth Monopoly and Birth Monopoly's Doula Power group, co-creator of the Exposing the Silence Project, and, from 2012 to 2016, vice president of national advocacy organization Improving Birth. She has run an emergency hotline for women facing threats to their legal rights in childbirth, created a viral consumer campaign to “Break the Silence” on trauma and abuse in childbirth, and helped put obstetric violence and the maternity care crisis in national media. Today, she is a leading voice for women giving birth, speaking around the country and consulting privately for consumers and professionals on issues related to birth rights and options. Cristen​ ​is also the host of Birth Allowed Radio as well as executive producer of a documentary film planned for release in 2020 to start a national conversation on obstetric violence, birth trauma, and women's rights in birth. facebook.com/birthmonopoly instagram.com/birthomonopoly

As fall and winter weather approaches and we all begin reaching for those coats we are re-sharing our episode about carseat safety with Dahlia Rizk of Buckle Me Baby Coats. About Dahlia: My 3 kids, 2 cats, dog and I live in New Hampshire where winter is long and cold and like you our lives are super busy. I want my kids to be safe and warm in the winter but I found myself too tired to wrestle their winter coats off in the car seat every single trip. One day, feeling overwhelmed with all the taking the coat off - put the coat on, I thought if the zipper wasn’t in the middle this wouldn't be a problem… and I realized I had a super simple and easy fix to the winter coat problem!! Excited, I spoke with every coat manufacturer imaginable. I thought they would jump on the idea and together we would quickly get the coat out to all parents but none of them believed that coats needed to be redesigned for the car seat. They weren’t in the trenches though – I was – and I knew other parents needed car seat coats too but this was pre-social media and I didn't have a way to talk to parents directly so I focused on my growing family and going back to school and getting a degree. A few years ago on a grey depressing March day I saw a mom in a parking lot. Her daughter was screeching while wrapped in a blanket that was dragging through the slush. I looked at the moms face and she looked as tired and defeated as I felt when I thought of the coats. I knew that look and felt her pain. I thought to myself who needs the big guys Ill tell parents myself, so I had a sample made, made a video with my nephew and posted to Facebook. My post went viral - parents loved them! In a few short years Buckle Me Baby Coats has grown from shipping out of my kitchen to shipping all over the world. Outside of Buckle Me Baby Coats I'm also a mental health counselor – running a mental health private practice where I treat adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Follow along: www.bucklemecoats.com

THIS IS OUR 200TH EPISODE!! I can not believe that we have had 200 hang outs, 200 conversations about your rights and 200 times that you prioritized yourself and your birth so you can have a better birth! This is the way to a world that has no birth trauma and women are truly in control of their birth experiences again! Exciting news in that The Birth Lounge doors are open! They are open September 5th-9th! You can join at https://www.thebirthlounge.com/join In this episode, I will teach you how to can respectfully navigate the conversations around your birth goals and have your preferences honored! We are going to talk about declining routine cervical exams, declining an IV and continuous fetal monitoring as a low risk laborer, advocating for pushing in any other position than on your back and how to decline an unnecessary induction that does not feel aligned with you. Links mentioned in the episode: Evidence-Based Induction Guide: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/induction History of Lithotomy position: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.77.5.636 Failure to Progress: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Failure-to-Progress-Handout.pdf Inducing for Due Dates in *NOT* evidence based: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/

Leslee is a registered dietitian who specializes in gestational diabetes. She has been working with pregnant moms for eight years and is passionate about women advocating for their health. Lesley founded the better blood sugar Method coaching program for Gestational diabetic moms in January 2020. In the program Leslee teaches women how to enjoy the foods they love while managing blood sugars confidently! She also has a husband and two young boys that keep her very busy! Leslee enjoys to be outdoors in her free time either hiking, gardening, or watching her boys play sports! She also has a husband and two young boys that keep her very busy! Leslee enjoys to be outdoors in her free time either hiking, gardening, or watching her boys play sports! Follow along: @gestational.diabetes.nutrition

HeHe sits down with Cassidy Piney to share Cassidy's breech birth story. Cassidy is a mother of two daughters, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. Her first baby was born at home with midwives. Her second baby was breech and was born vaginally in hospital with a team of midwives. You don't want to miss this one!

HeHe is sharing carseat safety with Dahlia Rizk of Buckle Me Baby Coats. About Dahlia: My 3 kids, 2 cats, dog and I live in New Hampshire where winter is long and cold and like you our lives are super busy. I want my kids to be safe and warm in the winter but I found myself too tired to wrestle their winter coats off in the car seat every single trip. One day, feeling overwhelmed with all the taking the coat off - put the coat on, I thought if the zipper wasn’t in the middle this wouldn't be a problem… and I realized I had a super simple and easy fix to the winter coat problem!! Excited, I spoke with every coat manufacturer imaginable. I thought they would jump on the idea and together we would quickly get the coat out to all parents but none of them believed that coats needed to be redesigned for the car seat. They weren’t in the trenches though – I was – and I knew other parents needed car seat coats too but this was pre-social media and I didn't have a way to talk to parents directly so I focused on my growing family and going back to school and getting a degree. A few years ago on a grey depressing March day I saw a mom in a parking lot. Her daughter was screeching while wrapped in a blanket that was dragging through the slush. I looked at the moms face and she looked as tired and defeated as I felt when I thought of the coats. I knew that look and felt her pain. I thought to myself who needs the big guys Ill tell parents myself, so I had a sample made, made a video with my nephew and posted to Facebook. My post went viral - parents loved them! In a few short years Buckle Me Baby Coats has grown from shipping out of my kitchen to shipping all over the world. Outside of Buckle Me Baby Coats I'm also a mental health counselor – running a mental health private practice where I treat adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Follow along: www.bucklemecoats.com

Bianca Snyder, Founder of High Society Mama and Society's Plant High Society Mama inspires CannaMoms to feel comfortable and confident in their choice to use plant medicine, while also laughing and having fun in the process. Society's Plant is a seed to smoke artisanal hemp company that is grown with love by High Society Mama and High Society Papa. They have the mission to introduce society to the healing benefits of cannabis through smoking CBD flower. Follow Along: Www.societysplant.com Save with code: Tranquility30

Today's guest, Dr. Nathan Riley, The Holistic Obgyn shares with us the birth story of his second child during the pandemic. Nathan shares with us his thoughts on holistic women’s healthcare and what that journey has looked like throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for his wife, Stephanie, and their family. As a provider, Nathan's goal is to provide patient-centered, freedom-focused practices helping women find their healing signal through the noise. Nathan's Bio: Hi, I’m Nathan, and I’m a recovering conventional doctor. I was in school for most of life, trained in two medical specialties, then looked back and found myself disillusioned with the conventional maternity care model. Now, instead of serving the medical industrial complex, I serve women and their partners in achieving vitality. I have done extensive study in holistic lifestyle medicine, and my practice is based on the midwifery model. I borrow from Eastern traditions like Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I provide holistic support to healing and pregnancy long before I recommend surgery, hormonal contraception, or other pharmaceuticals. Follow Nathan: www.belovedholistics.com

HeHe sits down with Allison Carlson of The Good Birth. Allison is a mother of 2, a midwife apprentice, a childbirth doula, and the founder of The Good Birth. Her first birth was an induction resulting in a 19 hour labor within a hospital setting. Her second birth was a 39 minute labor and birth at home (accidentally a free birth)! I'm so excited to share Allison's story with you! Follow Along: @thegoodbirth

Jen McLellan is a published author, founder of Plus Size Birth, and host of the Plus Mommy Podcast. She helps people navigate the world of plus size pregnancy, shares tips for embracing your body, and laughs her way through the adventures of parenthood. Jen has grown a community of over 230,000 via the Plus Mommy Facebook page. Her work has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, Glamour, Today's Parent, Huffington Post, and International Doula. She authored the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide and co-wrote the Amazon bestseller, The Peachie Moms Guide to Body Love for Moms. She also has an essay in Jes Baker's book Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls. As a public speaker, Jen has spoken at numerous events, including presenting at the National Institutes of Health. Jen is also a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother to a charismatic eleven-year-old. Follow along with Jen: https://plussizebirth.com/ Use code: 'birthlounge' for 20% off the 'My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide'

HeHe sits down with M'Kaela Tremaine who shares the story of her firstborn and her experience with Bandl's Ring. A Bandl’s ring is a rare birth complication in which a constricting ring forms from thickened muscle tissue between the upper and lower segments of the uterus. The baby becomes trapped by the ring and cannot descend. It creates a risk of uterine rupture as well as significant trauma to the baby if the ring is not diagnosed and a Cesarean performed to deliver the baby. Thank you M'Kaela for sharing your story with us!

Britt Pados is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner & Nurse Researcher AND founder of Infant Feeding Care. Britt is a neonatal nurse practitioner with a clinical background in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She has a PhD in Nursing focused on feeding in infants and has done research on flow rates from bottle nipples. She owns Infant Feeding Care where she provides breastfeeding and bottle-feeding support to infants in Massachusetts. Follow along with Britt here: www.infantfeedingcare.com

Today HeHe is chatting with Dr. Sarah Leahy, of Birth Uprising. Sarah is sharing the story of her unassisted birth at home. You DO NOT want to miss this one! Sarah is the founder of Birth Uprising. Birth Uprising provides both inspirational birth art & re-education, helping you to take back control of your pregnancy and birth. Follow along: www.birthuprising.com www.instagram.com/birthuprising

HeHe sits down with Sarah King to discuss navigating pregnancy after an eating disorder. Sarah and her team of allied health professionals specialize in helping women ditch disordered eating, recover their period from hypothalamic amenorrhea, and improve their body image so they can regain their health and their life. Follow Sarah: www.sarahlizking.com

Krystle Howald DPT educates and empowers women to take hold of their physical health. She specializes in orthopedic and women's health- treating patients in her clinic Empower Movement Physical Therapy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. She also owns Expecting and Empowered- a prenatal and postpartum business aimed at helping women navigate both periods with safe and effective workouts. E + E also disseminates as much free information as possible to help every single woman understand the pregnancy and postpartum process better. Krystle is the co-founder of Expecting and Empowered. After going through our first pregnancies (our first kiddos are 6 months apart) we realized that women were being told, "Just listen to your body and do whatever you were doing before pregnancy." This type of message wasn't going to cut it, and women deserve better. Our DREAM was to use our professional expertise to help women thrive from their pregnancy journey through postpartum. We created a roadmap for each period - one that accounts for all the changes and modifications that need to come with each phase of motherhood. We know that mamas are short on time, so our guides are made with that in mind to help you exercise efficiently to feel your best! We are mamas who are passionate about giving ALL women the knowledge and tools to empower them to feel confident in keeping their baby safe during pregnancy and to heal properly during recovery from a c-section or vaginal birth. Your Website:: Www.expectingandempowered.com

Mandy Major is on a mission to change how America handles the fourth trimester. After learning first-hand how little we support and inform new parents during postpartum, she left her 10+ year career in digital media to dedicate herself to birth work and closing the gap in postpartum care. Today, she’s a certified postpartum doula PCD(DONA), founder of virtual postpartum care company Major Care, and creator of the My Fourth app, the first daily tracker devoted to postpartum parents. She has been a spokesperson for Philips Avent and currently serves as the postpartum expert for BabyCenter’s medical advisory board. She holds a M.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and has written as a perinatal expert for HuffPost, Healthline, Motherly and more. Socials Instagram @DoulaMandy and @MajorCareDoulas Links My Fourth: https://www.majorcaredoulas.com/my-fourth MomStrong culture article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/postpartum-support-mothers-united-states_n_60f42d83e4b01ba8eed7084b Code for your community: LOUNGE30 Download app with link above, head to Subscribe and enter the code for 1 free month of our doula texting plan/premium subscription.

Kaytee Crawford supports families in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum as a childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula, and babywearing educator. She uses her training, combined with a wealth of experience parenting four boys, to create personalized care as well as fun, insightful social media content. Kaytee is passionate about sharing her experiences in pregnancy and as a Black woman and a person living in a larger body in order to create safer, trauma-free experiences for others. Kaytee lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with her husband and four sons. She owns and operates Doula Kaytee, her birthwork business, as well as Ahava Creative Co, where she creates art and graphic design. Follow along with Kaytee: Www.DoulaKaytee.com Special offer: $5 off a babywearing consult. Sign up on Kaytee's website and put “podcast” in the notes during checkout!

HeHe sits down with Dr. Nidhi Kotak, pediatric dentist to discuss taking your baby in the dentist for the first time. We break down when, where to find a dentist, how to talk to your child about the dentist to get them prepared, etc. Dr. Nidhi Kotak discusses when to start brushing, how we should be using toothpaste, types of brushing, teething, and so much more! Follow Along with Dr. Nidhi Kotak: @babytoothdentist

HeHe sits down to chat with Tatiana Koontz- Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, monitrice (advanced birth doula), postpartum doula, placenta encapsulator, and childbirth educator. Tatiana owns a home birth practice in San Diego, CA. Tatiana and HeHe have PLENTY in common as birth workers, but today they are connecting on their shared experiences as birth workers without children or personal birth experience. Tatiana has devoted her life to birth and postpartum work since she trained as a doula in 2006 and has been privileged to walk with hundreds of families on parts of their special journeys. She has a deep love for postpartum support, helping families transition as they integrate their babies and overcome challenges. Tatiana has a passion for birth options, informed consent, improving connections within families, and aiding them in building their community both before and after birth. Tatiana is a dog lover that is fluent in Spanish after living in South America for several years. She loves to travel whenever possible, watch movies outdoors, and enjoy the sunshine. Follow along with Tatiana: https://www.birthwavesmidwifery.com/ Facebook or Instagram

Amanda Janzen is a registered nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant. With 8 years of L&D, postpartum, and special care nursery experience she has worked in a hospital setting, free-standing birth center, and now in private practice as a birth/postpartum doula and lactation consultant. As a mom of two, she knows the realities of postpartum and honors every parents "intuitive knowing" when something "feels off." She strives to bring all options to the table so parents can feel confident in their choices even if they go against the grain. Amanda landed a job as a new graduate in labor and delivery and began to recognize patterns that led to the rarest/scariest birth complications. She questioned the "norm" early in her career and now realizes these experiences have shaped her into the practitioner she is today. These same questions carried over into her postpartum nurse role when educating parents about the "ABCs" of sleep at hospital discharge. She was secretly bed-sharing (safely) with her own baby at home, yet telling parents this was not an option for them with a hospital "gag order" in place. She refuses to teach abstinence only education when parents want more information on bed-sharing and believes lives can be saved when we intentionally teach parents how to make this a safer practice. Follow along with Amanda: www.midwestmommacollective.com Generously, Amanda has offered $25 off a virtual safe sleep consult. These consults look at each families unique medical histories, feeding practice, sleep situations, and home/bedroom setups to help determine if bed-sharing is right for you. Mention you heard the podcast on The Birth Lounge!

Join in today as HeHe sits down to discuss homebirth with Anne Margolis, CNM, LM, MSN, BSN, RN. Anne Margolis is a Licensed Certified Nurse Midwife, Licensed Femme! Teacher, Certified Clarity Breathwork Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and practitioner. She is a 3rd generation guide to mommas birthing babies in her family. Anne has helped thousands of families in her 25+ year midwifery practice and has personally ushered the births of over 1000 healthy babies into the world. She has also guided countless human beings to heal from emotional pain, inner stress and trauma, tap into their strength and power, live fully and vibrantly, and reclaim their radiance, joyfulness, calm and overall sense of well-being. Through her online childbirth course 'Love Your Birth', her online and in-person midwifery for pregnancy and postpartum support coaching, her birth professional mentoring, holistic gynecology, Clarity Breathwork, Yoga and Femme! experience offerings she infuses wisdom, compassion, inspiration, and joy into the entire process of women’s health care from teenaged years to menopause, as well as facilitating incredible healing and wellness for both men and women of all ages. Anne is a two times number one national and international best selling author of 'Natural Birth Secrets: An Insiders Guide How To Give Birth Holistically, Healthfully and Safely, and Love the Experience', and also 'Trauma Release Formula: The Revolutionary Step by Step Program for Eliminating Effects of Childhood Abuse, Trauma, Emotional Pain and Crippling Inner Stress, to Living in Joy without Drugs or Therapy' both out in second edition. Anne’s work, insights and advice have been seen on TV shows and movies including 4 episodes of 'A Baby Story' on TLC Discovery Channel, and the award winning feature documentary, 'Orgasmic Birth' and 'The Human Longevity Project.' She has been interviewed for multiple local, national and international radio programs, shows and podcasts. Anne has also been a featured speaker and expert panelist at distinguished events for Weil-Cornell School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, RCC State University of New York School of Nursing, and Birthnet Association of Childbirth Professionals and Hudson Valley Birth Network to name a few. Anne's Clarity Breathwork and Femme! healing movement workshops have been hosted at numerous private events, as well as several yoga studios and wellness centers, including the conscious, high vibration and transformational community at The Assemblage in NYC. Anne is a proud founding member of The Health and Wellness Business Association, which was created to promote initiatives that support better collaboration, interaction and ethical business practices within the health and wellness business community. She has midwifed mommas and babies for over two decades, and guides individuals to birth themselves as healthy and whole human beings capable of immense joy and inner peace. Her clients describe her as “passionate, sensitive, big hearted, and a playful ball of light.” When she’s not helping mommas around the world you can find her doing yoga (anywhere and everywhere), dancing, riding her bike, paddle boarding, swimming, taking or facilitating powerful growth and healing workshops, enjoying family time and watching comedy and historical drama. Follow Along with Anne: https://homesweethomebirth.com

Today HeHe sits down with Kayla Bitten to discuss Diversity in Lactation Support. Kayla Bitten is a black, queer medical racism and equity activist, educator, and writer with over ten years in the world of birth work and her work in rooted in tradition, advocacy, and her Southern culture. She is a student midwife in Alabama and working to provide equitable support and options for BIPOC families and educate fellow birth workers on the importance of skills and cultural humility through her business The Southern Midwife. She is also the owner of Alabama’s first black-owned lactation clinic, The Postpartum Clinic, providing accessible lactation and postpartum care that goes beyond the American standard and prioritizes the uninsured and BIPOC postpartum families. Follow along with Kayla here: www.thesouthernmidwife.work

Today, HeHe is sitting down to chat childcare options with Carole Kramer Arsenault, RN, author of the award-winning book Newborn 101 and founder of Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny As a labor and delivery nurse and parent educator working in Boston, Carole interacted with many families and saw that there was a need for top-notch newborn care. She founded Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny over a decade ago to support new and expecting parents. Over the years families have trusted and relied on BBN&N for high-end newborn care. In the last few years they have received many inquires for additional childcare options so they expanded their services to include nanny placements. Given the new demands brought on by Covid-19 and remote learning, they recently added Nanny Educator and Tutor Services so parents can feel confident that their children are getting the education they deserve. BBN&N prides itself in educating and providing in-home consultations to families and on-going trainings to their childcare providers. they are excited to serve families in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Reach out to the BBN&N team today for an individual consultation to determine which service will best meet the needs of your family.

Rixa Freeze, PhD studied at the U of Iowa and is a researcher, professor, and mother of 4 children. Her current research specialization is vaginal breech birth. She is president of Breech Without Borders, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. She blogs at Stand and Deliver (rixarixa.blogspot.com) and is passionate about all things birth- and breastfeeding-related. Content Warning: We discuss statistics of infant and maternal mortality.

HeHe is sitting down with Lara and Sarah, co-owners of Dynamic Doulas of London. Together, they are sitting down to share and dish about the secrets they have learned as doulas! Dynamic Doulas of London work with birthing people and their families to direct them to the best sources for information, support, and health care and encourage them to grow into confident, strong, happy humans. For more about HeHe follow along: @tranquilitybyhehe / @the.birth.lounge For more about Dynamic Doulas of London follow along: @dynamicdoulas