Yoga Birth Babies

What happens when pregnancy and birth become an opportunity to lean into strength, trust, and community? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we hear Rosario Del Valle’s deeply personal birth story, from preparing for labor during pregnancy to navigating the unexpected challenges of birth and the emotional experience of meeting her baby for the first time. Rosario shares how her mindset aroun...

Diastasis recti and pelvic floor health are two topics that come up frequently during pregnancy and postpartum, but there is often confusion about how they are connected and what it actually takes to heal. In this re-release, we revisit our conversation with women’s health and fitness specialist Dr. Sarah Duvall to break down the relationship between the abdominal wall, core strength, posture, and...

What can you do to support a physiologic birth when you’re planning to give birth in a hospital? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we’re joined by Dr. Melanie Jackson, also known as Melanie the Midwife, to explore the preparation, environment, movement, support, and mindset that can help create the conditions for labor to unfold as physiologically as possible. Melanie and Deb talk abo...

Stillbirth is a topic that many expectant parents know very little about, yet it is an important part of pregnancy education and care. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we’re joined by Liz O’Donnell, co-founder and Director of Education of PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, to have an open and empowering conversation about stillbirth prevention, awareness, and how parents can feel more informed...

In this deeply personal episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we sit down with Caitlyn Sunseri, a doula and prenatal yoga teacher based in Bakersfield, CA, to talk about healing after a difficult birth and how that healing shaped a completely different second birth experience. Caitlyn opens up about her first birth with her son Ryder, the vision she held for it, and how reality diverged from that...

Pushing is one of the most anticipated and often most misunderstood stages of labor. In this episode, we sit down with Liz Wade and Shaina Brickner, The Birth Nurses, to break down what effective pushing actually looks like, what tends to go wrong, and how positioning can make all the difference in how labor unfolds. Liz and Shaina share what they commonly see in the delivery room that isn’t alway...

In this episode, we’re joined by Nicole Kruck, L.Ac., L.M.T., founder of Fertile Garden Wellness in New York City, for a warm and informative conversation about acupuncture, bodywork, and integrative care throughout fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Nicole shares how she approaches women’s health through an integrative lens and explains how acupuncture and bodywork can complement fertil...

A difficult or traumatic birth experience can have an impact long after the baby is born. In this episode, Deb sits down with Dr. Kenga Sivarajah, a Consultant Obstetrician with expertise in high-risk obstetrics, maternal medicine, and perinatal mental health, to explore what birth trauma can look like, why it can be difficult to recognize, and what healing can involve. Dr. Sivarajah brings both a...

In a world where information is always at our fingertips, it's easy to believe that if we just learn enough, plan enough, and prepare enough, we can control pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. But what if the real work is learning to embrace the unknown? In this episode, Deb is joined by Dr. Britta Bushnell, author of Transformed by Birth, childbirth educator, and relationship guide, for a thoughtfu...

Birth can be wonderfully unpredictable. In this Community Birth Story episode, Deb sits down with Eyal Meir, an IBCLC and prenatal and postpartum nutritionist, to hear the incredible story of her second birth—from arriving at triage to meeting her baby just minutes later. Eyal reflects on how this pregnancy differed from her first, how prior birth experience shaped her mindset, and the surprising...

Labor can feel mysterious, overwhelming, and full of conflicting advice. In this episode, Deb sits down with board-certified OB-GYN and IBCLC Dr. Jennifer Lincoln to separate fact from fiction and discuss what every expectant parent should know before giving birth. Drawing from her new book, The Birth Book, Dr. Lincoln offers evidence-based guidance to help parents approach labor with greater conf...

Many people are told that leaking urine, pelvic pain, or feeling "off" after pregnancy is simply something they have to live with- but that's far from the truth. In this episode, Deb sits down with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Sneha Gazi to unpack some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding pelvic floor health during pregnancy and postpartum. Together, they explore what pelvic floor dysf...

Birth doesn't always begin the way we imagine it will. In this Community Birth Story episode, Deb sits down with Elena Santoro to hear the story of how a routine 38-week prenatal appointment unexpectedly turned into the birth of her baby. What began as a regular check-up quickly shifted into an induction, requiring Elena to adjust her expectations and embrace an entirely different birth experience...

Tantrums are a normal part of childhood, but that doesn't make them any easier to navigate. In this episode, we revisit a valuable episode “from the vault,” in which Deb sits down with Dr. Cindy Hovington to explore the science behind tantrums and emotional regulation. Together, they unpack what's actually happening in a child's brain during a meltdown and why understanding brain development can h...

Before your child ever needs extra support, it's helpful to understand how to navigate the systems designed to help them. In this episode, Deb speaks with attorney and mental health clinician Paula Yost about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), advocating within the school system, and how parents can confidently speak up when they know something isn't quite right. Paula shares practical guid...

What makes the Prenatal Yoga Center Teacher Training so unique? In this special episode, Deb sits down with PYC graduate and mentor Phoebe to explore her journey through the training and how it transformed her approach to teaching yoga. Together, they discuss the evolution of the PYC Method, the shift to hybrid learning during the pandemic, and why the training continues to resonate with yoga teac...

Birth rarely unfolds exactly as we imagine, yet many expectant parents enter labor with expectations shaped by stories, social media, classes, and conversations with care providers. In this episode, Deb sits down with doula, Lamaze childbirth educator, and lactation counselor Robin Gibson Douthit to explore how those expectations influence the birth experience—and what happens when reality takes a...

Travel looks different once kids enter the picture- but that doesn’t mean adventure has to stop. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb sits down with Bri Hepworth, mom of four and founder of Mini Voyager, to talk about the realities of traveling with children and how families can make trips feel more enjoyable, flexible, and memorable. Bri shares how her perspective on travel evolved after...

In this deeply honest community birth story, Deb talks with Nitzan Auz about the emotional complexity of welcoming her third baby during a season of uncertainty, stress, and shifting expectations. As she approached her due date, Nitzan found herself navigating not only the physical and emotional intensity of late pregnancy, but also the weight of global events unfolding in Israel that deeply impac...

Vaginal exams are one of the most common procedures during pregnancy and labor, but are they always necessary? In this episode, Deb sits down with certified nurse midwife Kara French to unpack when and why vaginal exams may be offered, what information they actually provide, and how parents can make informed decisions about their care. Together, they explore the role of vaginal exams both before a...

What does excellent doula support actually look like- from pregnancy through postpartum? In this candid and practical conversation, Deb sits down with birth doula Taylor Lee Bello to explore what families should know when choosing a doula, what healthy communication and expectations look like during labor, and the often-overlooked support needed in the immediate postpartum period. Together, they u...

Vaccines can feel like one of the most overwhelming topics for expectant and new parents—especially when information online is conflicting, emotional, and constantly changing. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb sits down with Flor M. Muñoz to unpack what parents actually need to know about vaccination during pregnancy and infancy. Together, they explore how maternal vaccines help protec...

Welcoming twins into the world often comes with extra layers of planning, medical decision-making, and learning to adapt when things don’t go exactly as expected. In this community birth story, Deb talks with Isabel Low about her emotional two-year fertility journey, the surprise and excitement of learning she was pregnant with twins, and how carrying two babies reshaped her expectations for pregn...

Feeding your baby can feel like one of the most emotionally loaded parts of early parenthood—and for many families, the conversation around formula feeding is still wrapped in stigma and silence. In this episode, Deb speaks with Jayne Freeman, a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, and breastfeeding counselor who is passionate about expanding the narrative around infant feeding. Together, they e...

Potty training can feel surprisingly simple for some families—and incredibly challenging for others. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Heather Wittenberg, child psychologist and founder of BabyShrink, to unpack why that divide exists and what parents can do when things don’t go as planned. We explore how potty training is more than just a practical skill—it’s a complex developmental milestone t...