Aligned Birth

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael delve into the essential aspects of preconception health. They discuss the importance of managing stress, optimal nutrition, physical health preparation, movement and exercise, and understanding hormonal health to optimize fertility.  Takeaways Preconception health is crucial for both partners. Nutri...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Aligned Birth Podcast , Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael share life updates, touching on parenting challenges, school transitions, youth sports, and personal growth. They explore mental health, self-care, and balancing work with family life, while reflecting on their podcast journey. The discussion highlights resilience, advocacy, and creating sustainable pract...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we’re thrilled to share some exciting changes coming to The Aligned Birth Podcast. We’re transitioning to a new seasonal structure, complete with intentional breaks for rest and creativity. This shift will allow us to dive deeper into specific topics that matter most to you. As part of this new direction, we’ll be bringing in expert guests for insightful i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael explore the often-overlooked but essential aspect of self-care: rest.  Rest is much more than just sleep—it's a holistic practice that encompasses physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual well-being. They dive into why prioritizing rest, even in our busiest moments, is crucial for maintaining balance...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Dr. Shannon interviews Brenda Parrish, a certified professional midwife, about midwifery care and postpartum care. Brenda shares her journey into midwifery, her passion for providing mothers with the kind of birth experience she wished she had, the importance of postpartum care and the challenges faced by midwives in Georgia. They discuss the importance of informed...

Send us Fan Mail Stress can play a complex role in our lives—while certain types of stress, like eustress (good stress), can be beneficial, chronic stress can have negative impacts on your physical and emotional well-being. In this episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon explore 7 practical ways to manage stress during challenging times, drawing from a blog Dr. Shannon wrote several years ago. They...

Send us Fan Mail Rebroadcast 143.We spend so much time during pregnancy focusing on labor and birth.  We get it.  That’s where most of the fear and the unknown occurs, during labor and birth.  It would make sense to focus on that.  However, once baby arrives, it can be a literal whirlwind, and it can be very difficult to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually if y...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discuss managing expectations as it pertains to birth (and beyond). As a doula and a prenatal chiropractor, we are intimately involved in helping women navigate not only the physical side of birth, but the emotional aspect too. In this episode, they cover: Diving deeper into how you were informed about childbirth. How to prepare fo...

Send us Fan Mail Rebroadcast of ep 124: As you near the end of your pregnancy, and if you’re planning to birth at a hospital, then you might be wondering “when during my labor, do I need to go to the hospital?”  In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael chat about the benefits of laboring at home as long as possible as it pertains to potentially avoiding interventions and using the comfort of...

Send us Fan Mail This conversation explores the importance of pushing positions during labor and childbirth. Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discuss the myth of a single pushing position and emphasize the benefits of using gravity and changing positions. They highlight the downside of pushing on your back and the importance of listening to your body's natural instincts. The role of comprehensiv...

Send us Fan Mail Rebroadcast of episode 126 Birth has a way of transforming us.  Bringing forth new life requires us to dig deep, to find a part of ourselves that is bigger than ourselves, that you may not even know you have, that asks you to surrender and turn inward and trust.   This episode is loosely based on a Pathways to Family Wellness Article - titled The Treasure Box.   Where a midwife di...

Send us Fan Mail During labor, a beautiful dance occurs between oxytocin, endorphins, adrenaline, and cortisol. The body's innate wisdom craves calmness, peace, safety, and security, which helps labor progress more smoothly and allows hormones to work efficiently. However, the sights, sounds, and smells of hospitals can sometimes disrupt this flow, making it harder to enter the optimal "...

Send us Fan Mail Rebroadcast of Episode 146: Birth not only impacts mom, but baby as well.  In this episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon chat about specific questions she asks during her pediatric chiropractic exams and why those questions are important.  These questions are related to baby position in the womb as well as the entire birth process because the physical aspects of birth (mode of de...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Doula Rachael discusses effective communication with your birth team and managing expectations. The main topics covered include building your birth team, effective communication strategies, managing expectations, and handling challenges and conflict. Doula Rachael emphasizes the importance of effective communication in staying in contr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon interviews Hannah Meurer, a certified nurse midwife and founder of Haven Miscarriage Clinic. They discuss the need for a specialized clinic for early pregnancy loss and the lack of support and resources available to women who experience miscarriages. Hannah shares her personal experience of having complicated pregnancies an...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Lotem Schulke, a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor in the metro-Atlanta area joins us on the show today to share her surrogacy journey.  We talk about: Her decision to become a surrogate The entire process from finding an agency, the criteria for selecting intended parents, and the medical screening and legal clearance phases  All of the medical phases involved from taking b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss and myth-bust some common misconceptions about prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care. They address concerns about the safety and forcefulness of chiropractic adjustments for babies and pregnant women.  They emphasize the importance of finding trained professionals who are knowledgeable about working with pediatric patients...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the connection between the jaw and the pelvic floor. They provide an anatomy lesson, explaining the embryological and anatomical connections between the jaw and the pelvis. They also discuss the internal and external anatomical connections, as well as the nerve connections. They highlight the importance of releasing tension in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon and guest Dr. Amanda Shipley discuss the muscles of the pelvic floor and their role in pushing during labor and birth. They emphasize the importance of pelvic floor physical therapy and debunk misconceptions about tight and loose muscles. They also highlight the interconnectedness of the pelvic floor with other parts of the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the feminine cycle and how to embrace and honor it. They cover topics such as menstruation, the follicular phase, and ovulation. They emphasize the importance of understanding and tracking your cycle, as well as listening to your body's needs during each phase. T They also touch on the nutritional aspects of supporting yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Imani Byers-Quarterman discuss the importance of processing your birth story, whether it goes according to plan or not.  They emphasize the need to create a birth plan or preference list, while also acknowledging the unpredictability of birth. They highlight the importance of informed consent and being knowledgeable about interventions and options....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the concept of Spinning Babies. They explain the main principles of balance, movement, and gravity, and how these principles can help optimize fetal positioning and promote efficient labor.  They also highlight the importance of resting smart and incorporating daily exercises into pregnancy routines. The conversation emphasize...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon interviews Caitlin Wimberly, a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer, about her experiences with prenatal and postpartum fitness. Caitlin shares:  her birth histories and her support systems emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and seeking help for postpartum depression.  the role of the nervous system in postpartum reco...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss key pregnancy hormones and their roles in conception, pregnancy, and labor. They emphasize the importance of honoring and understanding these hormones to support a healthy and empowered pregnancy journey. The hormones discussed include relaxin, HCG, estrogen, oxytocin, progesterone, and prolactin. This conversation explores th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Aligned Birth podcast, Dr. Shannon interviews Dr. Twila Blossom Jones, a chiropractor and mother of three. They discuss:  Dr. Twila's journey into chiropractic, her experiences with pregnancy and birth, and the influence of chiropractic care on her pregnancies.  Her decision to choose home birth for her third child and the benefits she experienced.  The...