Evidence Based Birth®

EBB Childbirth Class graduate Krista DeYoung joins us from her hospital room to share her journey through a high-risk pregnancy, an extended antepartum hospital stay for partial placental abruption, and preparing for a scheduled Cesarean at 37 weeks. Krista opens up about the challenges of long-term hospitalization, advocating for herself in a complex medical system, and the emotional toll of bein...

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker is joined by Trish Ware, Registered Nurse, childbirth educator, and host of The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama . With 16 years of labor and delivery nursing experience, Trish shares her journey from feeling disempowered during her first birth to becoming an advocate for changing the birth culture one birth at a time. Tune in as Trish and Rebecca discuss...

Jen McLellan, founder of Plus Size Birth and host of the Plus Mommy Podcast, is joining Dr. Dekker to explore how birth workers can provide compassionate, size-inclusive care for people in larger bodies. Jen shares her journey to founding Plus Size Birth , the impact of size bias in healthcare, and practical advice for both expectant parents and birth professionals. Together, they discuss how to c...

In this very important episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker is taking a look at the updated evidence on Vitamin K for newborns. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is a rare but serious condition that can lead to life-threatening complications in infants. Dr. Dekker breaks down what Vitamin K is, why newborns are at risk for VKDB, and the different supplementation options available—including the Vitamin K...

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker and investigative journalist Sarah Kliff of The New York Times explore the intricate world of cord blood banking. Sarah shares insights from her article, "Promised Cures, Tainted Cells," which explored cord blood banking practices, their marketing claims, and the stark contrast between public and private banking systems.   Together, they discuss: The differences...

Porsche Holland-Otunba, CEO of Reclaim Black Motherhood , joins Dr. Dekker to share her personal journey from trauma to advocacy in the birthing world. Porsche opens up about her own traumatic birth experience, which ignited her passion for fighting for better care for Black families. She discusses how a lack of informed choice, systemic biases, and inadequate lactation support affected her pregna...

In today's episode, we're revisiting an inspiring birth story featuring Emily Chandler and Taylor Washburn, graduates of the Evidence Based Birth ® Childbirth Class. They share their journey of navigating an informed and empowered hospital birth experience, along with the challenges they faced during an extended hospital stay for their newborn's jaundice diagnosis.   Emily, a marine scientist, and...

Dr. Rebecca Dekker welcomes Dr. Kat Kaeni, a perinatal mental health certified psychologist, author of The Pregnancy Workbook , and host of the Mom & Mind podcast. Dr. Kat shares her personal journey with postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD, and how it shaped her commitment to supporting parents during the perinatal period. They explore the spectrum of perinatal mental health conditions, from...

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Morgan Richardson Cayama, EBB Research Fellow and doctoral candidate in public health, are sharing the top 10 evidence-based strategies for reducing your risk of a Cesarean birth. Drawing from the latest research, including insights from the ARRIVE trial and EBB's Signature Articles, Rebecca and Morgan discuss actionable methods such as choosing a provider a...

In this episode, learn how Dr. Kimarie Bugg's lifelong dedication to lactation and health equity is transforming lives nationwide. Dr. Bugg is President of Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) and the first African American International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Dr. Bugg shares her journey into the field of lactation, sparked by personal challenges breastfeeding her first se...

Happy New Year to all our listeners! Join us in listening to a mini story about how our team got together last fall... and be the first to learn about a major event we're planning for you in 2025! To get on the waitlist for the upcoming event, visit ebbirth.com/waitlist

Happy New Year! Join Dr. Rebecca Dekker and EBB research fellows Morgan Richardson Cayama and Sara Ailshire as they celebrate the evidence from 2024. From updating key research on waterbirth, doulas, and elective inductions to launching new handouts, webinars, and pocket guides, it was a busy and rewarding year for Team EBB. Plus, get a sneak peek at what's ahead in 2025, including an updated virt...

Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with EBB Childbirth Class graduates Kat Sullivan and Ben Winston about their journey through pregnancy and birth. Kat shares her deeply personal experience of living with emetophobia—the fear of vomiting—and how it impacted her pregnancy and decision to pursue a home birth. From navigating intrusive thoughts and panic attacks to finding a supportive care team and discoveri...

Dr. Rebecca Dekker and EBB Research Fellow Morgan Richardson Cayama tackle your questions about the ARRIVE trial and elective inductions at 39 weeks. They explore the evidence behind this controversial study, discuss the implications for Cesarean rates, and unpack the concept of patient autonomy in maternity care. Plus, they share practical tips for managing pressure to induce and delve into how t...

Dr. Jessica Brumley, a Certified Nurse Midwife and President of the American College of Nurse Midwives, joins Dr. Dekker to explore the transformative impact of respectful maternity care. Dr. Brumley reflects on her journey to midwifery, inspired by a lifelong commitment to equitable and compassionate healthcare. Together, they discuss the importance of supporting normal physiology in birth, the g...

In this episode, I'm joined by Camden Crane Wachowiak—a health coach, EBB Childbirth Class graduate, and new mom—who shares her high-risk pregnancy and birth journey. Camden walks us through her induction experience after her water broke at term and her decision to labor with non-pharmacological comfort measures. We also talk about Camden's approach to navigating unique health considerations durin...

Team EBB's Chanté Perryman, Rikki Jenkins and Sara Ailshire are taking over the podcast to share their tips for transitioning home from the hospital and supporting new parents postpartum! Rikki, a seasoned childbirth educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Instructor Program Coordinator at EBB, stresses the importance of having a strong support system and being open about...

We're celebrating the upcoming release of the brand new Pocket Guide to Newborn Procedures! Join us as Dr. Dekker explores essential aspects of newborn care: the evidence on 1) pain management during newborn procedures, 2) baby's first bath, and 3) whether and how newborns should receive screening for low blood sugar. In this episode, you'll learn about newborn comfort techniques like skin-to-skin...

Join Dr. Rebecca Dekker and EBB Research Fellow Morgan Richardson Cayama as we explore the ARRIVE Trial and its impact on elective induction at 39 weeks. Together, we'll break down what elective induction involves, examine the trial's findings and critiques, and discuss the latest evidence on this increasingly common practice. Elective inductions have surged since the Trial's release. In this podc...

In this episode, we're talking about uterine fibroids and their impact on pregnancy and birth with Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a board-certified OB/GYN and nationally recognized expert in fibroid treatment. Dr. Gillispie-Bell shares her wealth of knowledge on this critical, yet often overlooked, topic—explaining everything from what fibroids are to the various treatment options available. We cove...

Dr. Leslie Farrington, an African-American retired OB/GYN, birth justice advocate, and co-founder of the Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, shares how her early experience with midwifery inspired her passion for patient-centered care. As a physician who later recognized the harmful effects of "physician supremacy" in the medical system, she details her transformation into an advocate for liberat...

Chiropractor Dr. Lisa Vawter is all about women's health, especially when it comes to prenatal and postpartum care. With certifications in the Webster technique, Spinning Babies ® , and BirthFit™, she's got all the tools to support expectant and new moms in a holistic way. Dr. Vawter is a firm believer in the power of chiropractic care to ease pregnancy symptoms like low back pain and sciatica, fo...

In this episode, we're joined by EBB Childbirth Class graduates Dr. Emily Guilfoy and her husband, Doug, as they share their unmedicated birth story. Dr. Emily, a chiropractor, walks us through her preparation for birth using self-hypnosis and the mental and physical strategies she employed for a calm, empowering labor. Together, they discuss their experience in the EBB Childbirth Class, working w...

In this episode, we're exploring the fascinating science of blood types and blood incompatibility in pregnancy. You'll learn about the basics of blood types, how they are inherited, and why knowing your blood type is crucial—especially during pregnancy. Rebecca and Sara also discuss the implications of Rh incompatibility, ABO incompatibility, and other rare blood types on maternal and fetal health...

Neysha Reyes Cruz's journey to becoming a birth doula was sparked by witnessing the inadequate support and resources during a friend's hospital birth in Puerto Rico. Her personal experiences and those of her family have further fueled her commitment and passion for advocating on behalf of women, particularly within Hispanic and Latinx communities. Neysha recognizes the significant need for more bi...