Evidence Based Birth®

In this episode, I am joined with Brett Iimura to discuss global childbirth education and birth in Japan. Brett has had a varied career, including being a hansom cab driver in New York City, an ASL interpreter, field producer for Japanese TV, literacy tutor and childbirth educator, and doula. She has facilitated in-person classes as a certified childbirth educator and is the director of the Childbirth Education Center, the CEC, based in Japan. Brett has provided childbirth education classes in the United States for 25 years as well, adding a remote or virtual option nine years ago. More than 2000 birthing people and their support partners from over 80 countries have attended CEC’s classes to date. CEC also runs a program that offers a certification in the art of childbirth education for student midwives. We talk about navigating to find a supportive birthing team in Japan, Japan’s medical approaches to birth, along with childbirth education compared to the United States. We also speak about the differences in

**Trigger Warning: This podcast contains content on the topic of obstetric abuse and birth trauma.** In this episode, I interview Brittany “Tru” Kellman, the Founder and Executive Director of Jamaa Birth Village in Ferguson, Missouri. She is a mother and wife, certified professional midwife, certified doula and doula trainer, breastfeeding peer counselor, and author. In 2015 she launched her community campaign to improve birth, maternal, and infant care, and the overall wellness of families in and around St. Louis by launching the non-profit that is today the Jamaa Birth Village.  Through the midwifery model of care, Tru has seen hope restored, thriving pregnancies, and healthy births and postpartum periods. In 2019, Tru became Missouri’s first Black certified professional midwife, in order to serve families in the provider role. She is a recipient of the prestigious Dr. Corinne Walentik Leadership in Health Award, through the Missouri Foundation for Health. We talk about Tru’s start in birth work, the import

n this episode, I interview an Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class parent, Caitlyn Martens from Mesa, Arizona. Her son - now more than a year old - arrived a month early. Caitlyn took the EBB Childbirth Class with Instructor Lora Fiala, and had a doula. At 28 weeks Caitlyn switched her prenatal care from an OB practice to a midwife team, who were able to attend her at her planned hospital birth. **Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss birth trauma, and an experience of newborn resuscitation with intubation is described.** Caitlyn had a full spectrum of birth experiences - including a very long labor, nitrous oxide, an eventual c-section, and a few complications. We talk about how everything transpired, and her very healthy reflections and framing of these challenges. We also talk about the latest evidence on VBAC in birth centers.  For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth® , visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EvidenceBasedBirth/), Instagram (https:/

In this episode, I interview Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Tara Thompson. Tara is a certified birth doula with CAPPA, a Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and a licensed massage therapist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum. She has taught classes to expecting couples for more than ten years at a women’s center in Atlanta, Georgia. She’s also been teaching privately for over three years. Tara teaches the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class online, and has also taught the EBB Comfort Measures Workshop for L&D nurses. She recently facilitated a training to more than 250 birth professionals at a large hospital to help lower the Cesarean birth rate, and educate staff on comfort measures during labor. We talk about Tara’s unique insights into hospital birth, policies, and culture, as well as the impact and importance of childbirth education. She and I also talk about the beginnings of Evidence Based Birth®. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find u

In this episode, I interview JaMichael Perryman, who is husband of Evidence Based Birth Professional Membership Coordinator and EBB Instructor Chanté Perryman. JaMichael is father to five children, and has experienced a wide variety of births - ranging from an emergency Cesarean to three VBACs which have all been precipitous births. He has been joining Chanté during her childbirth classes to offer a dad’s perspective for partners. In 2018 he was a speaker at Kentucky’s March for Moms.  JaMichael hosts a weekly discussion called HIMbracing Fatherhood under the name Mr. ManDoula where he gives real world and practical advice for dads and partners. We talk about the history of fathers and partners in the birth room, and the importance of encouraging dads to have a hands on approach and to use their voice during the birth process. 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.

In this episode I answer several questions about natural labor induction: Can eating pineapple help induce labor contractions? What about having sex? Is that really effective for starting labor!   Natural induction techniques continue to be among our most searched and requested topics at Evidence Based Birth®. I'm excited to share with you the evidence on these common labor induction techniques! For all the scientific references mentioned in this podcast, visit our blog post at ebbirth.com/144  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://evidencebased

In this episode, the Minnesota Healing Justice Network is taking over the podcast! In this very important episode, our guest speakers are Ihotu Ali, Daniela Montoya-Barthelemy, and Shayla Walker. **Content warning** this podcast includes discussion of racial violence and racial health disparities. Ihotu Jennifer Ali, MPH, LMT (she/her), is an integrative medicine doctor in training and doula with a decade of experience in public health and traditional practices around emotional support, pregnancy, and family and healthy reproductive cycles. Ihotu offers abdominal and craniosacral therapy, herbs and nutrition, birth and postpartum care, with plans to open a healing justice and integrative medicine center for families, children and holistic mental health. Ihotu is the self-published author of "Seven Portal Sky: Afrofuturist Medicine from Minneapolis." Daniela Montoya-Barthelemy, MPH (she/her) is a queer Chicana from a small town in Northern New Mexico. Daniela’s business, Mama Sin Vergüenza, was born out of

Today, I am excited to continue our important 3-day series about the Minnesota Healing Justice Network! **Content warning: In this episode, we talk about the uprisings after George Floyd’s murder and safety concerns during birth due to racial traumatic event. We also discuss an event in which parents were temporarily separated from their newborn baby, which may be disturbing to listen to.** In this episode, you'll hear from new parents Jenae Herron and Marcel Malekebu. Jenae is a housing case manager, and Marcel does podcast production. Jenae and Marcel took the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class co-taught by EBB Instructors Heather Christine Struwe and Rhonda Fellows. Rhonda was also their doula, and she was featured on yesterday's podcast about birth in Minnesota. Towards of the end of Jenae's pregnancy in June, the COVID-19 pandemic was already in full swing, and then George Floyd was murdered. The day Jenae's water broke at 37 weeks, they were unsure what to do because of elevated safety concerns in t

Today is a special day, as we are starting a 3-day podcast focus on the amazing work being done by the Minnesota Healing Justice Network! In today's episode, I am joined by EBB instructor, Rhonda Fellows and Dr. Jennifer Almanza to talk about birthing and disparities in Minnesota. **TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode, we talk about racial violence and Black and Indigenous maternal health disparities.** Rhonda Fellows is a Certified Birth Doula and Evidence Based Birth® Instructor who has 20 years of working with youth and families in the nonprofit world as an after-school program director, co-director of an overflow homeless shelter, tutor and counselor of high school students, teen mission trip facilitator, and healthy relationships guest speaker in health classes. Rhonda serves family in the Twin Cities Area, and she loves teaching childbirth education classes to help parents realize their rights, options, and feel empowered to advocate for themselves. She is also a teacher of the Evidence Based Birth Child

In this episode, I interview parents Kristin and Zach Crosby, who live in Alabama with their four children. Kristin is a Registered Nurse, and has been a stay at home mom since the birth of their third child. They recently adopted a two year old. Zach is a systems administrator, and runs a locksmith company. They took the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class with EBB Instructor Traci Weafer. We talk about Kristen’s first two hospital births, and what led her to take a different approach with her third - where she opted for a home birth. We also discuss their journey of self-advocacy in birth, and the importance of making informed decisions. "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Kobo, Apple books, and more!  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/ebbir

In this latest episode in our series on natural labor induction, I cover the evidence on consuming red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy. Can red raspberry leaf tea assist with natural labor induction? How effective is it to prevent a cesarean birth? Have there been any randomized trials on the use of red raspberry leaf for pregnancy or labor induction? What does the evidence say about its effectiveness and safety? I’ll answer all these questions and more – and share the latest research on this popular herbal tea! 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

In this episode, I interview women’s health expert Bianca Marie Roberson. Bianca is located in Maryland, and has over 17 years of experience working in the public health field, including serving as a health services administrator for the military, healthcare insurance operations analyst for the Georgia Department of Community Health, and a corporate healthcare accounts manager for CareerBuilder. **Content warning: This episode includes a description of obstetric violence After years of program management, health disparities research, and community advocacy, Bianca Marie answered her personal calling to become a mom and full-spectrum doula, a motherhood transformational coach, and a doula business coach. She is also founder of Blooming Mamas Wellness Institute - an organization providing trauma counseling and health education for parents, as well as doula services to uplift clients across the country. Bianca Marie holds a Bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and pubic health, and an MBA in healthcare administr

In this episode I am joined by Bryn Huntpalmer, an Austin, Texas-based podcaster and mother of three young children. She is the founder of The Birth Hour podcast, which was featured in Time Magazine as one of the top 50 podcasts to listen to. The Birth Hour has nearly 500 episodes, and more than 10 million downloads to date. Bryn recently published her first book, The First Time Mom’s Pregnancy Handbook: A Week-by-Week Guide from Conception Through Baby’s First Three Months. She is passionate about helping women prepare for childbirth through the sharing of empowering and informative birth stories. We talk about the power of sharing experiences, the deep impact of education on birth, and connecting with your community to develop the birth plan you want. We also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. birth experience, and the evidence on vaginal breech birth. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth , visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EvidenceBasedBirth/

In this episode I welcome Jennie Joseph, one of the world’s most respected midwives and authorities on women’s health. She’s a true advocate for systematic reform that puts families first in health care. Jennie is the founder and executive director of Commonsense Childbirth, Inc., and is also creator of The JJ Way, a patient-centered model of care.  Jennie has worked in European hospitals, American birth centers, clinics, and home birth environments. She’s been instrumental in the regulation of Florida midwives, and currently owns a Florida-licensed midwifery school, the Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery. Jennie speaks worldwide to doctors, other practitioners, policy makers, and members of the U.S. Congress, including testifying at Congressional briefings on Capitol Hill.  Jennie and I talk about solutions for the crisis in American maternity care. Don’t miss this powerful conversation. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram

In this episode, I interview Miranda Kelly, a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and childbirth educator who has worked for ten years in Indigenous people’s health planning, policy education, and research. Miranda holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology, and a Master of Public Health degree. She is a mother of two girls, and is a member of the ekw’í7tl (pronounced ah-quay-tull) doula collective in Vancouver. Miranda is passionate about indigenous peoples reclaiming their authority as decision makers in their own health and wellbeing, and I’m thrilled to welcome Miranda to the podcast to let us know about the work that she and other community organizers are doing for the Indigenous community. We also discuss the evidence on amniotic fluid. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find

In this episode, I cover the evidence on evening primrose oil (EPO) for natural labor induction. This oil is extracted from the seed of the evening primrose plant, which grows wild in North America and some parts of Europe. It’s a rich source of omega six essential fatty acids, as well as other compounds which are thought to help ripen the cervix for labor. I share the results of randomized control trials for administering EPO vaginally and taking it orally, as well as observational studies, a case report, and studies looking at EPO for cervcial ripening for non-pregnancy gynecological procedures. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class. RESOURCES: Click here for the Evidence Based Birth article,

In this episode I interview Dr. Heather Maguire, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) with a doctorate in educational psychology. Dr. Maguire has spent over a decade studying behavior and working with children, parents and educators. She’s a proud mom of two kids, a professor teaching school psychology, and the founder and CEO of Prism Behavior, which helps parents manage challenging behaviors with confidence. She also hosts the Prism Behavior Podcast. We discuss the transition from birth to infant and toddlerhood, parenting while pregnant, perinatal depression, tantrums, discipline, and the seasons of parenthood. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class. RESOURCES: Click here for i

In this episode I interview Ambrosia Meikle, a Los Angles-based Evidence Based Birth Instructor, CAPPA-certified birth and postpartum doula, and a full-spectrum doula. She is also a lactation educator specialist and childbirth educator, Ambrosia also volunteers to teach childbirth classes and provide doula services at a high school for pregnant teens. She is a mother of two. This show has a trigger warning for pregnancy termination related to a fatal birth defect. Before entering birth work, Ambrosia was a surrogate for a family from overseas. In her practice, Ambrosia serves an extremely diverse community, and she is passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to the type of support that is best for them.  We talk about Ambrosia’s surrogacy - including some very difficult decisions she had to make during that pregnancy, and the moment she felt empowered in her labor to birth the baby when she felt the time was right. We also talk about the importance of childbirth education and support for pregnant

In this episode, I cover all the latest evidence on the use of Pitocin during the third stage of labor - which is also the topic of the latest Evidence Based Birth Signature Article, released this week!  The third stage of labor, or placental stage, begins after the baby is born and ends after the birth of the placenta (sometimes called the “afterbirth”). It follows the first two stages of labor - the dilation stage and the pushing stage. In practice, there are three main approaches to care for the birth of the placenta - active management, expectant management, and mixed management. Some of these methods include the use of Pitocin - a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin. I cover the pros and cons of each of these, as well last the latest research and recommendations. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor

In this episode I talk with Isis Rose, a full spectrum doula, home birth mom, certified lactation counselor, and placenta encapsulation specialist. She lives in Urbana, Illinois. Isis is starting midwifery school in July, with plans to become a Certified Professional Midwife, and she’s a member of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives. Isis co-hosts the Homecoming Podcast alongside Chae Pounds, which launched in 2018 to tell stories of Black families who give birth at home. Isis and I discuss her birth story, including her unique approach to prenatal care, and hemorrhaging she experienced immediately after her home birth. We also talk about the ongoing advocacy work seeking licensure for CPMs in Illinois, and the latest research on the safety of home birth in the U.S. For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and