Birth, Baby! | Guidance for Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, and Parenting

Comparing Midwifery Care In And Out of Hospital

There is a difference in midwifery care depending on where you’re giving birth. Midwifery care with a home birth midwife, birth center midwife, or a hospital-based midwifery practice are all going to have their own unique dynamics. Tune in to hear what those differences are so you can navigate the type of care that would match your needs the best! Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcastEmail: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.comWebsite: www.BirthBabyPodcast.com Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!
(00:00) - Understanding Midwifery Models
(10:59) - Exploring Birth Centers
(17:34) - The Home Birth Experience

Exploring Cultural Practices with the Placenta

This episode is a fun chat with Lisa Kestler of Hill Country Placentas. We discuss the cultural beliefs and practices around the placenta for different countries! To reach out to Lisa directlyWebsite: https://www.hillcountryplacentas.com/contact-usIG: @hillcountryplacentasPlease feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby!Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcastEmail: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.comWebsite: www.BirthBabyPodcast.com Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!
(00:00) - Cultural Perspectives on Placenta Usage
(07:33) - Unique Traditions Around the World
(10:42) - The Significance of the Placenta in Different Cultures

Birth Stories: Elaine Shares the Birth of Lando - A Stillbirth Story

In this special birth story episode, we’re joined by Elaine Nguyen. She shares the story of the stillbirth of her son, Lando, and how this experience changed her.  Elaine is a pediatric Speech and Language Pathologist and mama of two - one earth baby and one angel baby, who was born sleeping in April 2024. Since this devastating loss she has felt an inner nudge from her spirit baby, Lando, to create ATX Loss Mama, a community for all types of loss moms - miscarriages, TFMR, stillbirths, infant loss, and child loss. She has become passionate about spreading awareness on the realities of what loss families experience as well providing tangible resources for the community to close the gap between the hospital doors and a loss family’s home. For more information, you can find her on IG at @embracingwholeness. If you are in a position to donate funds to this group, please consider doing so. The proceeds donated allow loss families to access healing events, grief yoga sessions, etc. at minimal to no cost. The link to donate is: https://forms.gle/z8p2vKrvt4qHcE9M8.  Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.com Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!
(00:00) - Introduction to Pregnancy Loss Awareness
(02:36) - Elaine's Pregnancy Journey
(06:09) - The Heartbreaking News
(12:41) - Navigating Labor and Delivery
(20:33) - Holding Lando: A Mother's Heartbreak
(30:43) - Creating a Community: ATX Loss Mama
(51:23) - Grieving and Healing: A Personal Journey

The Partner’s Purpose During Pregnancy

It seems the resources for partners of pregnant parents are lacking. Matthew and Shanon Morris join us on this episode to discuss their experience of becoming pregnant, navigating their new roles, and preparing for the birth of their daughter. Their book “The Partner’s Purpose During Pregnancy” is an incredible resource for expecting parents.If you’re interested in grabbing a copy of their book… Website: www.thepartnerspurpose.com IG: @‌thepartnerspurpose Book can be purchased on Amazon. SPECIAL OFFER FOR LISTENERS: Coupon link (20% off) for listeners: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?xdrqz4LjSL1bZTQAEO7VoJUfDABmRdElLn8GMeVIfV3Matthew Morris is a United States Marine Corps Veteran and former AH-1Z pilot who within one year of being medically separated from the Marines became a father, published his first book and traveled to 15 countries in an attempt to answer the question "What is the partner's purpose during pregnancy?" Matthew was only able to take this time and focus on building a strong foundation for his new family due to the lessons in professional real estate that he learned from his father, who was both a teacher and a real estate investor. What started as scraping and painting single-family rental homes in central Texas turned into a 6-figure retirement at the age of 34. Matthew now resides in Chicago with his wife (editor and illustrator) and infant daughter. Together they enjoy pole fitness, studying Chinese, and are preparing for their second book "The Partner's Purpose Postpartum." Shanon Morris, a Navy veteran, military spouse and founder of “Hop On and Hold On”, is passionate about building resilient relationships at home and in the workplace. With a background in research, digital marketing and strategic communications, Shanon leverages her expertise to drive impactful initiatives for global clients ranging from SMBs to large tech companies and government organizations.Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!

Amniotic Sac Donation: Helping People Heal

Tune into this podcast episode where we learn about the benefits of the amniotic sac with Lisa Kestler of Hill Country Placentas! Whether or not someone wants to encapsulate their placenta, that can donate the portion of the amniotic sac to help people heal. Bandages that help heal persistent wounds are being made with the amniotic sac. Lisa has been involved in the birth world for over two decades. She was a NICU Respiratory Therapist for five years before deciding that her true passion lies with helping mothers. She first heard about placenta encapsulation from a Canadian midwife in 2009 and in 2011 finished her first of two placenta encapsulation certifications. She obtained her second certification in 2015 and during that same year opened the first stand-alone commercial kitchen solely dedicated to placentas in the central Texas area. Lisa was also instrumental in having the Texas state law changed in 2015. This law requires that all hospitals in Texas give the mother her placenta if she requests it. Before this law, hospitals could require a court order if a mother wanted to keep her placenta. In 2023 Lisa completed her Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling at Texas Tech and is an associate licensed professional counselor in Texas. As a mother to seven children (six living,) Lisa understands the challenges that pregnancy, birth, and postpartum bring. Lisa has dedicated her life and career to helping new mothers have the best postpartum recovery possible. Special offer for listeners: $25.00 off encapsulation package for mentioning Birth Baby Podcast under referral on their reservation page!  Website: www.hillcountryplacentas.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hillcountryplacentas Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hillcountryplacentas Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify! 

Breastfeeding Support: Ancestral vs. Modern Practices

Janet Jones and Lauren Reyes, IBCLCs and co-founders of Breastfeeding Success, join us to talk about how breastfeeding support has evolved and changed over time. We talk about the ancestral practices and how they differ from modern practices. Breastfeeding Success is a minority and woman owned company established in 2014 with the mission to provide access to high quality lactation care and education to all families regardless of income or insurance. Because of this mission, they never turn any family away. In 2023, close to 50% of the service they provided was uncompensated care. They are the largest provider of lactation services and employer of IBCLCs in the state of Texas with services spanning from Dallas/Fort Worth to Kyle Texas. On average, they serve 4,000 families each month with compassionate, evidence based, patient-centered care. JANET JONES, IBCLC, RLCCo-CEO, Chief Culture OfficerAn International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2009, Janet is a former Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and Women Infants Children (WIC) participant. She cares deeply about equitable access to lactation care, and strives to remove barriers to lactation care — both for families who need it and for a diverse field of individuals who feel called to provide it. Janet serves the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) as Treasurer, and has four breastfed children. She enjoys nurturing all sorts of growing things, from families and babies to her backyard garden and sourdough starter. LAUREN REYES, IBCLC, RLCCo-CEO, Chief Innovation Officer Lauren has been in the lactation field since 2004 and an IBCLC since 2009. Proud to have started her career as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Lauren believes that the lactation profession is strongest when providers reflect diverse education and demographic backgrounds. Lauren is a past board member of United States Lactation Consultants Association (USLCA) and a breastfed breastfeeder of five beautiful sons. On weekends, you’ll find Lauren driving kids around Central Texas, training for her next half-marathon, and learning about new tools for her various home improvement projects. Website: www.BFSuccess.comHotline 512-8080-BFS (237) Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!

Fresh Test: An Alternative Approach to Glucose Testing in Pregnancy

On this episode, we have special guest Jacqueline Berg Ramsey. She is the founder of Fresh Test, LLC - a natural FemCare company based in Los Angeles CA. Fresh Test, LLC, founded in 2018, launched a more natural diagnostic glucose beverage which has been begged for by healthcare providers, laboratories and women for decades. Ciarra and Samantha often have birth doula clients that don't want to drink the glucola drink and have been thrilled with the option of using the Fresh Test! Jacqueline shares her knowledge and helps answer some common questions we hear about this test. Website: http://Thefreshtest.comSocials: @‌thefreshtestDiscount Code: Get 10% off when you use code BIRTHBABY With 15 years of work in Endocrinology, Obstetrics and OUS Medical Device Business Development, Jacquie was poised fortuitously to enter the Gestational Diabetes market. The founder’s passion for this start-up was sparked when she was asked to drink traditional "glucola" in her 1st pregnancy; Jacquie was shocked by the product’s dyes, flavoring, BVO and unnecessary preservatives. Like many other women, Jacquie was accustomed to reading labels, and because of her background in diabetes education, she refused to drink the 1970s formulated glucose beverage.  We laugh because Jacquie is known for eating termites and grasshoppers on the CBS Show, Survivor (where she also met her husband) yet refused Glucola. After bouncing around from OB to OB she decided to take on the challenge of launching a more natural and palatable version of the glucose beverage used in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus screening. Throughout the founder’s career in Fortune 500 Medical Device companies, Jacquie’s “why” has been strengthening the voice of female patients.  This has created a strong brand for The Fresh Test™ - evident in the company’s rapid growth.  In addition, Jacquie’s business development experience, outside the USA, has lent itself to a robust global perspective in Women’s Healthcare.  The Fresh Test® is now one of the top 3 glucose beverage brands in the USA and expects to be in Canada and the UK within the year.Jacquie lives in Los Angeles CA. She has two kids (5 and 7) who often help with The Fresh Test® and use the lemonade at their lemonade stands. She grew up in Minnesota and received her bachelor's degree in Business/Healthcare Management at UW Madison. She’s remarried her husband 20 times in 20 different countries, was on the show Survivor and a Japanese game show called Spinsanity. Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcastEmail: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.comWebsite: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!

Birth Stories: Giving Birth as a Birth Doula

Sarah Hughes, a mother of two and a birth doula, joins us on this episode to share her birth stories. Her first baby was prior to becoming a birth worker and her second was after years of experience as a doula. She dives into the difference between her mindset, pregnancy experience, and how her labors were vastly different. We explore topics such as secondary infertility, prodromal labor, and the menta and emotional toll of relying on the people around you.  Find Sarah atwebsite: Sarah Hughes Birth Services (shbirthservices.com)IG: @SHBirthServices Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.com Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!

Nourishing Parenthood: Exploring Functional Nutrition

What is functional nutrition? Amber Frauenholtz joins us to shed light on the transformative potential of functional nutrition in supporting fertility, pregnancy, and parenthood. Whether you're on the journey to conception, navigating pregnancy and postpartum, or simply seeking to optimize your family's health, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for nourishing parenthood from the inside out. Join us as we explore the intersection of nutrition and wellness in the journey of birth and beyond.Amber is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Restorative Wellness Practitioner (RWP), and Health Coach who specializes in helping women feel their best through custom, holistic health plans that start with food. She is passionate about helping others avoid the nutritional depletion and stress that accompanies being a woman in our culture today. Find her on Instagram at @‌amberdawn_wellness or athttps://amberdawnwellness.com/https://www.instagram.com/amberdawn_wellness/Nourish Yourself First Challenge: https://amberdawnwellness.myflodesk.com/nyfchallengeThe Self-Care Guidebook: https://amberdawnwellness.myflodesk.com/self-careListener bonus -> I'll wave the blood testing fee in either of my 1:1 programs. Just say you came from the podcast, no code required.Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcast Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com Website: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!

Breast is Best or Fed is Best: Navigating the Rhetoric

What’s Best? Breast? Or Fed? As a new parent, it can be overwhelming to hear these slogans and discern what is best for your own family and situation. Janet Jones and Lauren Reyes from Breastfeeding Success in Austin, Texas join us on this episode to help break down what these slogans mean. The Breast is Best campaign was an effort to raise public awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding, but it has faced criticism for creating guilt and pressure on parents. The Fed is Best movement emerged as a response to address the diverse needs and challenges of infant feeding. It emphasizes the importance of supporting families in making informed choices and providing high-quality lactation support. The conversation also highlights the need for healthcare providers to offer non-judgmental support and prioritize lactation support for all families. About our guest, Janet Jones, IBCLC, RLCCo-CEO, Chief Culture OfficerAn International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2009, Janet is a former Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and Women Infants Children (WIC) participant. She cares deeply about equitable access to lactation care and strives to remove barriers to lactation care — both for families who need it and for a diverse field of individuals who feel called to provide it. Janet serves the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) as Treasurer and has four breastfed children. She enjoys nurturing all sorts of growing things, from families and babies to her backyard garden and sourdough starter. About our guest, Lauren Reyes, IBCLC, RLC Co-CEO, Chief Innovation Officer Lauren has been in the lactation field since 2004 and an IBCLC since 2009. Proud to have started her career as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Lauren believes that the lactation profession is strongest when providers reflect diverse education and demographic backgrounds. Lauren is a past board member of United States Lactation Consultants Association (USLCA) and a breastfed breastfeeder of five beautiful sons. On weekends, you’ll find Lauren driving kids around Central Texas, training for her next half-marathon, and learning about new tools for her various home improvement projects. To learn more about Breastfeeding Success, go to www.BFSuccess.com IG: @breastfeedingsuccess  Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby! Instagram: @‌BirthBabyPodcastEmail: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.comWebsite: www.BirthBabyPodcast.comIntro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!