Kumbay'all: The Whole Woman's Resource

Are you truly prepared for the pushing stage of labor, or could your pelvic floor be holding you back? In this special rebroadcast episode from the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Amanda Shipley joins Dr. Shannon O'Brien to share essential insights into one of the most critical aspects of childbirth—pushing. This episode dives into the physical and mental preparation needed to push effectively and mini...

Curious about home birth? Get the inside scoop from expert home birth midwives! In this enlightening episode, Amanda and Rebecca are joined by two seasoned Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), Missi Burgess and Tanya Trail. They delve into the nuances of home birth, demystifying common misconceptions and explaining the true essence of this birthing option. Both Missi and Tanya share their exten...

Struggling with pregnancy discomfort? Discover how chiropractic care can help! In this episode, Amanda is joined again by Dr. Shannon O'Brien, an experienced prenatal and pediatric chiropractor, to explore the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, with a focus on the Webster Technique. Dr. Shannon delves into common issues that pregnant women face, such as back pain, sciatica, headaches,...

Life can be wonderful and challenging at the same time. How can you appreciate the joyful times as well as the not-so-easy ones? We’re thrilled to have Stephanie Dorfman, a certified holistic doula and parent educator/coach, back on the podcast to help us understand how to not only navigate, but also honor, life transitions. In Kumbay’all episode 72, Stephanie shares insights on these questions an...

Did you know that maintaining proper alignment during pregnancy can significantly impact your labor experience? In this Twin Talk episode, Amanda and Rebecca delve into the crucial topic of maintaining physical balance during pregnancy and why it’s a game-changer for expecting mothers. While emotional and mental balance is important, today’s focus is on mechanical alignment within the body. They e...

Are you curious about the possibility of having a vaginal birth after a C-section? In this episode, Amanda sits down with Dr. Shannon O'Brien, a renowned chiropractor, to discuss the intricacies of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Dr. Shannon shares her professional insights and personal experiences, providing a comprehensive look into the benefits, risks, and preparation needed for a successf...

Having a baby is a hugely transformative experience. Not only does it change your way of life, but it can also greatly transform your relationship with your partner. You may have ideas of what kind of parent you want to be, but when you actually become a parent it can be a different story. So how can you stay connected as a couple during this time of immense growth, challenge, and change in your l...

If you’re doubting your ability to give birth without pain medication, then this episode is for you! In this solo episode, Amanda talks about this common concern that many women (including herself!) have before they give birth, and some things you can do to help overcome your doubts and fears. In Kumbay’all episode 68, Amanda discusses: Why it’s common to have doubts about your ability to give bir...

Are you planning to work up until your baby’s due date? Then this episode is for you! Both Amanda and Rebecca worked until their babies were due, and they wish they had followed this advice instead! No matter how long you decide to work before your baby arrives, this episode includes some key insights that can help you. In Kumbay’all episode 67, Amanda and Rebecca discuss: Why working right up to...

You may not know what your fascia is, but it’s affecting your health and your pregnancy. Today’s episode gets technical, and it will change your way of thinking about your body! We’re thrilled to have Dr Catherine Clinton, a quantum biology health educator, licensed naturopathic physician, and author join Amanda to discuss why you’ll want to know more about your fascia, and what you can do to star...

It’s your responsibility to get your needs met, but if you aren’t able to tap into what your body is telling you, you may not even be aware of what you need. This is a fantastic episode that will help you figure out what you want so you can move one step closer to getting it. This is the second episode in a two-part series with our guest, Tracy Brown, so make sure to check out episode 63 as well!...

Becoming a mother can be a huge catalyst for you to make healthy changes in your lifestyle. New motherhood is a powerful time but it can also be overwhelming! Parents get a lot of advice and pressure about how to best raise their kids to be healthy and happy, and what worked for your parents’ generation might not work for your family now. Today’s guest helps dispel myths and gives actionable advic...

The majority of us were raised by parents with unhealed wounds. As a result, we can end up wearing ‘masks’ to be who we think we need to be to fit into our family and our society, while we ignore or bury our own feelings. As we get older this can make us feel stuck and cause difficulty connecting with ourselves and our needs, which can affect all of our relationships. Our guest today shares a new...

New mothers face a lot of change, regardless of how many babies they’ve had before. One change that seems to be universal is the isolation new mothers feel after their baby arrives. Today we discuss this important topic with the founders of MESH Moms - a membership-based support network for moms with a special focus on pregnancy and the early childhood years. . In Kumbay’all episode 62, Amanda and...

Giving birth is a pivotal time in a birthing person’s life, but it’s often overshadowed by the focus that’s put on either being pregnant or the new baby. Baby showers, maternity photo shoots, and setting up the nursery seem to outshine the preparations for the actual labor and birth, although every person who has ever given birth knows how impactful that process is. In Kumbay’all episode 61 Amanda...

New moms often hear to ‘take it easy’ during the postpartum period, but how do you know if you’re doing too much? And how long does this postpartum period last? In Kumbay’all episode 60 Amanda shares the 5 main signs that you’re doing too much after baby arrives.  In this episode Amanda discusses and describes: The window she calls the ‘maximum protection phase’ - how long it lasts, the different...

Buying and selling a home is said to be in the top 5 most stressful moments of your life. But having a home that supports your life can remove a huge number of daily stressors, and can make a huge difference in the quality of your life! In Amanda’s private practice and with her online courses she’s passionate about helping people see a vision for what’s possible with their pelvic health. Oftentime...

The fourth trimester is a time of HUGE adjustment, no matter how many babies you’ve had, and our guest today will share some great advice and suggestions for how to help ease this transition. Today’s episode is part two of a two-part series on doulas. In episode 57 we learned about birth doulas and why you’d want to have one on your birth support team. You don’t have to listen to these in any part...

If you have a midwife or doctor attending your birth, why would you need a birth doula? Listen in to learn why and much more! This episode is the first in a two-part series about doulas. Today we’re going to learn about birth doulas and why you’d want to have one on your birth support team. Episode 58 will be about postpartum doulas - and if you didn’t know that there’s such a thing as a postpartu...

If you think detoxing is only about water fasts and special supplements, you’ll want to listen up! Even though today’s episode is geared towards detoxing considerations before and during pregnancy, it has wonderful information for everyone! Our guest, Dr Rachel Marynowski, joins us to talk about why and how to detox your body before you get pregnant. Dr Marynowski shares why detoxification is some...

Are you thinking of starting or expanding your family? Then you won’t want to miss today’s episode!  Our guest is Caitlin Samson, MSACN, MS - a clinical nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and homebirth mom of three, who will teach you why it’s important to think about healthy nutrition habits before you even start trying to get pregnant. She gives useful tips and actionable advice to help you ea...

Are you struggling with conscious parenting, despite your best intentions? Are you unsure of how to stay connected with your children and to other loved ones (including yourself) when stress and frustration get high? Today’s guest gives practical ways to implement conscious parenting and shares fundamental concepts of brain development that will help you understand yourself and your children bette...

You don’t want to miss our first episode of 2023 - it’s going to set you up for success for the year ahead! Bethany Baker, a Certified High Performance Coach through the High Performance Institute, joins Amanda in today’s episode to share her formula for how to have your best year ever!  In Kumbay’all episode 53 you’ll learn: - The steps to follow to have your best year ever - What’s more valuable...

Today is our last episode of 2022, it’s incredible to think that this year is almost over! Kumbay’all will take a break for the holidays and will return in January 2023.  Listen to this quick solo episode with Amanda for some timely year-end reminders and to learn about some of the exciting new things she has planned for 2023! - Amanda’s signature homebirth course - what she did that helped her pa...

Why is it important to know yourself? How can this knowledge help you in life? Today’s episode dives into this topic in an empowering way! Listen in for more details and to learn how knowing more about who you are and what brings you joy can be a powerful way to: - Love yourself - Reduce self-criticism and judgement - Live a more authentic, fulfilling, and joyful life In Kumbay’all episode 51 Aman...