Birth With Power

In this rebroadcast episode, we revisit my conversation with Dr. Anne Kennard about nutrition, supplements, and environmental toxins during pregnancy. Anne and I talked about nutrition during pregnancy, why weight gain isn't the best indicator of your health during pregnancy, supplements moms should look for, and why she takes an integrative health approach with her moms-to-be. We also chat a...

In this episode Cortnie joins us to talk about her recent experience navigating her second pregnancy, genetic testing, and pregnancy loss amidst a pandemic. After finding our her baby had trisomy 13, Cortnie and her husband had to make some very difficult decisions and faced huge challenges getting the care and support they needed. She's generously sharing her story to help other families who...

Jen McLellan joins us today to talk about pregnancy for plus-sized people, how providers can provide more compassionate care, and shifts she's seeing in the medical field now. We cover common misconceptions people have about plus size pregnancies, why we must be aware of our own biases when providing care, and how to have a great pregnancy and birth experience as a plus size parent. Check out ...

In this episode I'm talking about episiotomy - what it is, how often it's done, risks associated with the procedure, and what you need to ask your provider. I'll tell you why episiotomies are no longer performed routinely and talk a bit about the fairly rare circumstances in which they are needed. Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episode78  for complete show notes, and join my email list at ...

In this birth story episode, Amber Manning returns to the podcast to tell us how her natural birth went, why she decided to switch providers at 32 weeks, and why she threw her birth plan out the window. Amber was the first guest I had on the podcast who was still pregnant at the time, so it was incredibly fun to get an update on how she and her family are doing now.  Check out  ncrcoaching.com/epi...

My first daughter was born premature and had to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (AKA the NICU or the ICU nursery). This week's episode has all the information I wish I'd known then, and I am so happy to be sharing it with you. Today we're joined by Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, a practicing medical doctor and champion for premature babies and their families.  Dr. Terri and I...

In this episode I'm talking through the benefits and risks to consider when deciding whether circumcision is right for your newborn son. You'll learn what circumcision is, some of the different techniques used for the procedure, and why some families choose to have this elective procedure performed for their babies.  Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episode75  for complete show notes, and join m...

In this inspiring birth story episode, Parijat Deshpande shares her family's journey through fertility treatments, pregnancy complications, the NICU, pregnancy loss, and surrogacy.  Parijat is a high-risk pregnancy expert, mind-body health specialist, author, speaker, and advocate for moms with high-risk pregnancies and pre-term birth. Parijat's own experiences have hugely influenced her w...

In this episode I chat with a fellow OB-GYN, Dr. Christine Sterling, about why it is so important to prepare parents for the postpartum period. After her own difficult postpartum experiences following the birth of her first baby, Dr. Sterling decided to make it her mission to educate parents about the postpartum period, including warning signs to watch out for, how to advocate for your mental heal...

This episode is a bit different than what I usually talk about on the podcast, but I hope that you will tune in and learn something new about maternal healthcare and racism in our country.  In this episode I'm talking about the disparities we see in maternal healthcare & outcomes for Black mamas and their babies. I describe some of the structural racism we see in the medical field, what im...

Before we start in on this story about giving birth during COVID-19, I want to acknowledge the huge protests going on in America and abroad at the time of this recording. These protests, begun after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer, are happening in response to the racism that is embedded into our societies and institutions. I have always worked to lift up and serve all mamas, but pro...

Today I'm talking about the two main reasons for labor induction, how labor is induced, what a "failed induction" is, and questions to ask before induction. I have gotten a ton of requests to talk about this topic, and I believe it is incredibly important for you to be informed about the process of labor induction whether you are having a medical or elective induction. Check out  ncrco...

Laurel Wilson is a lactation consultant, doula, and speaker, and today she joins us to talk all about breastfeeding and how to handle its common obstacles. Laurel talks about how human milk is designed to nourish babies and their microbiomes. We also talk about the importance of skin-to-skin contact well beyond the "golden hour" after birth and how we can support families' choices abou...

In this birth story episode, Jessica shares her hospital birth experience. She talks about choosing induction at 37 weeks due to a history of preeclampsia and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss what the postpartum period has been like and how COVID-19 is (and isn't) changing pregnancy & birth right now. Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episode68 for complete show notes, an...

Planned Cesarean births (or C-sections) aren't spoken about as much as other births, but every parent should know what a C-section entails. Even if you want to have a vaginal delivery, it is good to be prepared in case a C-section becomes the safest way to bring your baby into the world. In this episode I'm talking about the different reasons for planned C-sections, when they are carried o...

Today I'm joined by Alice Turner, the creator of SupportingHer - a childbirth education class for whomever is going to be supporting you during labor. We talk about why it's so important for your support partner to be knowledgable and prepared going into your birth. Alice shares tips about what the supporting partner should and shouldn't do, along with her favorite advice for providing...

In this birth story episode, Amy talks about her uneventful pregnancy, having her water accidentally broken at 39 weeks, and her episiotomy. Amy and I talk about how she knew she wanted an epidural, how it felt, and why she was overall very happy with her hospital birth experience. We also discuss the episiotomy she received and what's so upsetting about that. Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episod...

When I started my podcast I never planned on talking about home birth. Not because I don't support women who plan to have a home birth, but because my expertise lies in hospital births and my work focuses on helping women have a beautiful experience there. However, in light of the COVID-19 crisis we are experiencing, a lot more women are considering home births rather than going into the hospi...

In this episode, you'll learn about creating a healthy mindset, controlling your environment, getting great support, and preparing for your labor and birth. These tips are all especially helpful as we contend with the coronavirus pandemic, but you can apply these lessons about wisdom and preparation any time. Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episode63 for complete show notes, and join my email list...

This week we're chatting with Dr. R. Keith Bell about Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and integrative medical care before, during, and after your pregnancy. Dr. Bell has a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. We discuss the importance of taking an integrative health approach with patients, how acupuncture can help during labor and delivery, and some of the research behind Chinese medi...

In this uplifting birth story episode, Emilee Wilson talks about learning to have healthier pregnancies after dealing with preeclampsia during her first. We also discuss how her first pregnancy changed her approach to life and wellness and why she decided to have unmedicated births. Check out  ncrcoaching.com/episode61 for complete show notes, and join my email list at ncrcoaching.com/email-signup...

Today I'm answering common questions about pregnancy: do you have to sleep on your back? Should you avoid caffeine? Why should you avoid changing the kitty litter? Is sex during pregnancy okay? And several more. Check out ncrcoaching.com/episode60 for complete show notes, and join my email list at ncrcoaching.com/email-signup/ ! Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amaz...

I've been looking forward to doing this episode for a while because birth photography has been on my radar a lot more lately. I used to think it was a bit of a luxury, but the more I learn about it the more I think all moms should consider whether they'd like to have a photographer present for their birth. To talk about all things birth photography, we're joined by the wonderful Tavia...

I have a special, timely episode for you today about COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus). Some listeners asked me what they need to know about how coronavirus could affect their pregnancy and baby, so this episode should help answer some of those questions. In this episode, I'll give you an overview on what this coronavirus is, how this outbreak has spread so far, and what symptoms to watch f...

I have another wonderful birth story episode for you today! This time, we're joined by Savanna, a Physician Assistant and mom of one. who lives in Georgia with her family. Savanna had a relatively uneventful pregnancy and scheduled her induction around 40 weeks. After being induced, her labor only lasted about 12 hours in total. Once her baby was born, however, things got a bit more interestin...