Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

We hear this a lot as doulas and it seems to get a lot of attention once every month when women are approaching their due date...so is it true that a full moon brings on labor? You will definitely want to tune into this fun episode where we talk about the research, the personal and professional experiences we've had, and give you our take, as well as the facts, behind this concept. Don't...

We know you get to hear ALLLL of the craziest birth stories while you're pregnant and you're probably wondering, "How do I make sure my birth isn't like THAT?" Well, today we're answering your questions about what causes a longer or shorter labor and what you can do to have some control over it! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for eve...

We know this is a pretty hot topic right now and we've been getting quite a few questions about whether moms should bear down and push their babies out OR if they should let their body do the work on its own. Well, as per usual, we've broken down all of the details you will need in order to answer this burning question. We discuss the length of the pushing stage, what it looks like with...

You are not alone in wanting to know what happens if your water breaks and what you should do if it does. We hope you love how we broke this down into the different ways this can happen, funny scenarios of where it can happen, and even some role play to show you how you can safely and comfortably speak with your provider about when and if it's time to head into your birthplace. Plus, we take...

Perhaps you've heard of the stages of birth or labor before, and maybe you haven't, but once you understand what they are and how to tell when you've reached each stage, it will make a huge impact on how you and your partner work through the process of labor. This episode breaks down these highlights into what's happening in each stage as well as what you will feel or notice as...

We often get comments like, "I'm so sad I just found your podcast/birth course, I only have a few weeks until I give birth." To which we say, GREAT! That means you still have time to do tons of prep work. In case you're wondering about the very most important things you can do when you have just a few weeks to prepare, we break it down and give you our best advice! Make sure to...

Whether you're a Stay-At-Home, Work-At-Home, or Working mom, there are definitely some good things (benefits), some not-so-great things (risks), and ways to make it successful (preparation - sound familiar?). We are here to shower every mother, no matter the situation she feels is best, with love and support! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for even more grea...

The most intense, shortest, and possibly the most important part of the birth process, Transition not only moves you into the next stage of birth but also the transition into motherhood. This episode takes you through the mechanics of what's happening inside of the body during this stage, the spiritual side of transition, why surrendering is SO necessary, and what your partner must do to prep...

We asked, you told us, and then we made an entire episode quoting all of your incredible suggestions for what every mom should have during pregnancy, birth, & postpartum! We absolutely LOVE this birthing community that we get to be a part of. You are all so supportive, fun, and wise. We hope you enjoy this week's episode made BY you, FOR you! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @m...

The last two weeks of pregnancy can be a bit tricky because #1 you don't know when those last two weeks will actually be and #2 it feels exciting and exhausting all at the same time! We've broken it down into the most useful things you can do to transition from having baby inside to bringing home a newborn during that final countdown. We're talking about everything from prepping fre...

We talk A LOT about how to take care of yourself during pregnancy,  but what about that "Fourth Trimester" after baby is born? We had a very special interview with Jaren Soloff, RD (Registered Dietician), IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and author of The Postnatal Cookbook where we discussed the special nourishment a mother needs after giving birth to her baby...

Part 2!! We asked you what was ailing you and it turns out that the responses we got were a lot of the same pregnancy complaints- things that top the list for pregnant women all over the world. You are NOT alone! So we made our list, did the research, and we are excited to give you all the details about how you can find relief. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for...

We asked you what was ailing you and it turns out that the responses we got were a lot of the same pregnancy complaints- things that top the list for pregnant women all over the world. You are NOT alone! So we made our list, did the research, and we are excited to give you all the details about how you can find relief. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for even more...

Dr. Nate Fox, a Maternal Fetal Medicine (aka High-Risk) doctor, joins us to discuss how passionate he is about what he does as well and answers some questions from YOU! We hope you'll enjoy listening to a doctor who clearly respects women and the process of birth, and that you will use his example and the information he shares as information in finding the right provider for you. Don't f...

After a long day of recording podcasts, we realized this one didn't save and we had to do it twice, which just means a lot more random thoughts and extra editing! Our goofy title is a nod to women who may find themselves birthing "solo" or without a birth partner, whatever the reason may be. Laugh along with us and we promise to give you actionable steps to prepare your birth space...

With winter here to stay for a bit, we wanted to give you some tips and basic guidelines for how to stay healthy and low-risk as well as what you can do if you end up getting sick while you're pregnant! Pregnancy is a common time for mothers to find more natural and holistic means of preventing and treating ailments. We hope you can relate to some of our stories and enjoy these tips for pregn...

So often we are told the benefits of procedures during pregnancy and birth, but how often are we given the risks associated with those procedures too? True informed consent means getting both and then being given the opportunity to consent or decline. The tricky part can be in not really understanding the options. How do you really know if you're getting all the information? Well, that's...

Actually, instead of putting them up against each other, we should probably be putting them side by side since pushing out a baby and having a bowel movement are oddly similar. We are going to walk you through what it looks...and sounds like...when it's go-time, as well when it's time to wait a little longer before pushing (even though some well-meaning people in the room may be encourag...

It's true that heading into the holidays may increase the chance of unnecessary inductions and you may be surprised to hear that both moms and providers have their own reasons for recommending induction. So how do you know when it's a good idea to induce? We are going to walk you through the necessary and not-so-necessary scenarios in this episode as well as diving a little bit deeper in...

There are many pros to giving birth in a hospital setting and we wanted to encourage and support you if this is the path you have chosen or are leaning towards. We hope you enjoy this second part of our two-part series about why out-of-hospital birth or in-hospital birth may be the perfect choice for you. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for even more great info he...

This is part one of our two-part series going over why either out-of-hospital birth or in-hospital birth may be better for YOU. The truth is there are pros and cons to each and so, in the]is series, we will defend each one separately. No matter what, the one that is right for you, is right for you.  We hope these help you work through some personal thoughts on your own birth desires and also help...

Running a marathon was one of the most challenging, rewarding and empowering experiences of my entire life, much like birth, and I am so excited to share this incredible story with all of you! Yes it's 100% true that you do not need to be able to run a marathon to give birth. I should know, I gave birth three times without ever being physically able to run a marathon. However, we often hear t...

Recovery is just as important as the event itself and when we talk about recovery we mean the whole woman, not just the physical body. Whether or not a cesarean birth is a planned part of your birth story there are some important and helpful things to know for the recovery period including your mental and emotional health too.  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for...

We have come so far, built so many relationships and formed bonds with and helped mothers confidently prepare for their best births and it all started with the topic of "medicated vs unmedicated." We are very aware though that this topic, while very popular, deals with a much deeper issue of finding the support and education needed to make an informed decision that works for YOU and YOUR...

If you're planning on announcing any of the milestones that come with expecting a baby, we're going to take you through the basics of the best times to announce each, different ways to do it, and how to handle any of the  "Karens" that may unintentionally ruin these special moments. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth and for even more great info head...