Birthful

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows. Michelle Emanuel, neonatal/pediatric occupational therapist and founder of the TummyTime!™ Method, demystifies why using...

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows. Cristen Pascucci, founder of Birth Monopoly, raises awareness about what she coined as “obstetric violence” and advocates...

Despite the many course-corrections during the birth of her third child, Amy Silva did not lose sight of her right to choose during each step of her birthing process. She tells Adriana how her decision to refuse a pointless COVID swab during labor changed protocol in her local hospital system. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every we...

One in six women experience mistreatment during childbirth. Birth-justice attorney Indra Lusero talks to Adriana Lozada about how to defend your and other pregnant people’s birth rights. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on t...

Adriana Lozada offers practical advice on how to make a mindful feeding plan that protects your milk supply and supports your long-term breastfeeding plans. If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about milk supply, or this interview about understanding your baby’s sugar levels. Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter ! Don't miss even...

Dana Saccomano did not expect her second birth to be what’s medically called “precipitous.” Even though it was so fast, she later realized how much all her practice and preparation paid off. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others...

Continuous electronic fetal monitoring, or EFM, can have a negative impact on your birth experience. Adriana Lozada explains how. And what you can ask care providers for to alleviate the complications it can cause. If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on building a collaborative relationship with your care provider, or this short episode on what not to worry about during birth. Down...

Caregiving gives parents unmatched skills, and TendLab CEO Amy Henderson tells Adriana Lozada why it’s crucial to support them in bringing all that valuable knowledge and experience to the workplace. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and suppor...

Kristina Colangelo visualized a flowing birth, but the reality caught her by surprise. Fortunately, her dad, mom, doula, and midwife supported her through a long labor due to a posterior baby, prolonged hyperemesis gravidarum, and the fear of tearing. She tells Adriana Lozada how her team made meeting her baby the most interconnected experience. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things...

Adriana Lozada goes through simple ways to measure how much you’re producing while nursing, and shares useful facts that lead to successful breastfeeding. If you liked this episode, listen to this episode all about what to expect when breastfeeding, and this story about how to overcome breastfeeding problems. Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter !...

Ob-gyn Dr. Meedlen Charles walks us through the common changes you can expect –physically and mentally– during the postpartum period. She and Adriana Lozada break down which symptoms are red flags to discuss with your care provider. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further...

Your baby will arrive at the right time, regardless of your due date. Adriana Lozada explains how due dates are influenced by factors out of your control, and why you shouldn’t worry too much about them. If you liked this episode, listen to this interview with more information about due dates. Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter ! Don't miss...

Parents, particularly mothers, and especially during the pandemic, are under extreme psychological pressure. Adriana Lozada gives you a host of helpful tips to protect your mental health and ensure a more fair work balance among parenting partners. If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about navigating identity shifts, and this episode about entering fatherhood. Download Birthful's...

OBGYN Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins breaks down the leading causes of what’s usually called a cascade of labor interventions—like an induction leading to a cesarean. She and Adriana Lozada offer insight into the risks and benefits of interventions, and help inform your decision-making during birth. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every...

Myra Flynn set out to have as few interventions as possible during the birth of her daughter. She tells Adriana Lozada what it was like to stand up for herself--and adapt to the circumstances--during her five days in labor. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform y...

High-risk pregnancy and somatic trauma specialist Parijat Deshpande talks with Adriana Lozada about the importance of connecting with your body to release trauma, increase resiliency, improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, and get out of survival mode so you can truly start thriving. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she sel...

Adriana Lozada dispels nine common worries of expectant parents, and explains why you can just let them go. If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about the pushing stage, and this episode about protecting your perineum.  You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com . Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our we...

Emma Parnell was adamant about planning a vaginal birth for her second pregnancy, even though she was having twins—and they were both breech. She tells Adriana Lozada about the strength she gained from her own body’s intuition. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further info...

Adriana Lozada shares facts about the magnificent protective and self-clamping abilities of the umbilical cord. She also explains why there’s still disagreement in the medical field about how long to wait. To learn even more, listen to this interview all about delayed cord clamping. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com . Download Birthful's...

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows. Psychotherapist Sophie McEntee, is dedicated to supporting new parents through the early transitional and utterly transfo...

Adriana Lozada shares facts about the prevalence of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, or PMADs. And she encourages us to acknowledge the combined mental health impact of postpartum experiences during Covid. Plus suggestions on the signs to look out for.  If you liked this episode, listen to this one on childbirth PTSD and this one on grief during and after pregnancy. You can connect with Birt...

Author, life coach, and plus-size model Rosie Mercado experienced postpartum depression with three of her four children, in addition to other personal and physical challenges. She tells Adriana Lozada how she learned to listen to her body, to ask for help, and to admire her own strength. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, sh...

Parenting facilitator Leslie Arreola-Hillenbrand talks to Adriana Lozada about starting Latinx Parenting to help families decolonize oppressive parenting practices and jettison cultural discipline techniques their parents used—that many say they’d never use on their own children. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she select...

Adriana Lozada explains the process of triage, which happens before you’re admitted to the hospital to give birth. She covers it all, from the steps to confirm you’re in labor, to potential inconveniences and discomfort, to concrete ways to advocate for yourself and your birth plan from the moment you step into the hospital. If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on knowing what you’r...

Trystan Reese assembled a birth team that included his partner, dad, mother-in-law, and the head nurse at the hospital to ensure his birth experience as a trans man was exactly what he wanted. He tells Adriana Lozada how communicating what he expected from each of them made all the difference as he welcomed his son Leo. Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One fo...