Birth Matters

Today’s birth story, which is the 2nd part of two consecutive episodes, will be especially helpful for expectant parents whose baby gets a clubfoot diagnosis. Joe & Beckie share their journey of their son, Elliot, getting this diagnosis early in pregnancy. They also detail their birth story of a long, 30-hour induction several weeks before their due date due to low amniotic fluid. Beckie share...

Today’s birth story, which will be broken up into two consecutive episodes, will be especially helpful for expectant parents whose baby gets a clubfoot diagnosis. Joe & Beckie share their journey of their son, Elliot, getting this diagnosis early in pregnancy. They also detail their birth story of a long, 30-hour induction several weeks before their due date due to low amniotic fluid. Beckie s...

Jennifer shares her story of an IVF-conceived pregnancy in which more than one doctor suggested scheduling a cesarean due to the size of her baby. She shares about her journey toward the decision to at least have what we call a “trial of labor” toward the vaginal birth that she desired. You'll hear how she impresses everyone by giving birth vaginally to an almost 9-pound baby. Listen to hear...

This episode will be the shortest interview we’ve shared thus far. In this birth story, Dara describes her experience of giving birth as “magical & frustrating”. This is the story of a first-time labor and vaginal birth working with a midwifery practice at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Hospital. She shares about using nitrous oxide (or laughing gas) for pain relief, very briefly, and then getting a...

Today you’ll hear Mariko’s & Rick’s story of hiring a doula very well-suited to them for Mariko’s labor and who served them in very practical and holistic ways throughout pregnancy, labor, and into postpartum. Right around 40 weeks, Mariko’s OB decides there’s a bit of concern about baby’s well-being due to lack of movement, so they check into their Long Island hospital, Winthrop, for an induc...

Today you’ll hear a birth story told by Leah & Trevor, first-time parents. Leah is a hospitalist physician, and she’ll detail how her professional background informed the way she approached assembling her birth & pediatrician team. Her partner, Trevor, will share his insights about the experience of supporting her through labor. Leah & Trevor will talk about their uncomplicated birth w...

In this episode, Kat & Tom share their positive, empowering story of their 2nd son’s rather efficient birth at home with midwife Cara Muhlhahn (who just happens to both have been host Lisa's midwife for my 2nd baby in Ep. 3 and also is the main midwife featured in the documentary THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN). Other birth support team members were their doula and a friend, who just happens...

Ariel’s birth story includes laboring at home for a good, long time until active labor (6cm), then moving on to epidural once at the hospital, and an efficient pushing stage. She also details the importance of doula support and taking birth classes. Finally, Ariel describes her experience with breastfeeding, highlighting the importance of reaching out for lactation consultant support, shares her s...

On today’s episode, Julie shares the story of struggles to conceive for 6 years and ultimately conceiving via IVF, and then goes on to tell her son Cian’s birth story. Her water breaks as the first sign of labor and she proceeds to have a 22-hour induced, but otherwise unmedicated, labor. This is a great birth story to learn some of the benefits of hiring a doula -- also known as professional labo...

This birth story is one of Lisa's favorites because it was the very first time a student’s water broke in class, right in the middle of a meditation/relaxation exercise! It’s the story of a 5-hour, unmedicated vaginal birth, with some complications and a necessary surgical procedure after the birth due to how quickly the labor progressed. Listen as Brooke shares details about the overall comp...

In this episode, Host Lisa and her husband, Bryan, share their first baby’s birth story. It’s a story of giving birth in an in-hospital birthing center in Manhattan at Mt. Sinai West in 2005. You’ll hear about a textbook-length 20+ hr labor with the expert labor support of a doula, and you’ll hear about the gamechanger self-advocacy tips and strategies that they used (and you can use!) to avoid in...

On Episode 3, you’ll hear host Lisa's second (kinda crazy, and by that we mean crazy wonderful) birth story, in which Lisa changed care providers several times and switched from planning to give birth in an in-hospital birthing center to giving birth at home in her 3rd trimester. You’ll hear quite a bit of talk about the perks of working with a midwife and will hear about a couple of differen...

This episode provides a brief introduction to the podcast and your host. Lisa explains the vision for this podcast and the topics you'll hear -- parents' shared journeys on all things birth, breastfeeding, trying to conceive/fertility, pregnancy, parenting, and postpartum. Be sure to grab your free "Pack for Your Best Birth" packing list at birthmattersonline.com/pack -- you&ap...