The MamasteFit Podcast

*Trigger Warning* This episode discusses multiple pregnancy losses Paige shares her four pregnancy stories and two birth stories in this episode.  Paige’s first pregnancy was an early pregnancy loss within days of finding out she was pregnant, which happened to be at the beginning of the pandemic and left her feeling felt isolated and confused.  During Paige’s second pregnancy, she attempted to pr...

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Gina and Roxanne discuss biomechanics of effective pushing during childbirth. The aim is to create more space in the pelvis to aid in Baby’s final rotations through the pelvis to be born. They talk about the importance of internal rotation of the femurs and its connection to creating more space in the pelvic outlet. They also delve into positioning that e...

Dani shares her two birth stories in this week’s Birth Story Friday.  For her first birth, Dani did not do much preparation outside of exercising (which she felt comfortable doing after finding MamasteFit, and was able to wade through endless misinformation about the safety of prenatal fitness).  Dani was not aware of her options in a hospital setting, and after her provider recommended an electiv...

In this episode, Gina sits down with Heather Helton, a certified nurse midwife in North Carolina.  Heather uses social media to educate patients on pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, and more, as everyone deserves the same access to care and education to make informed decisions on their own experiences.  She shares how you can optimize your time with your OB provider, especially if you have li...

Madison shares her experience of an unmedicated hospital birth, which progressed more quickly than staff expected, taking place in a bathroom after flagging down a nearby nurse to catch the baby! Madison discusses her pregnancy journey, preparation for birth, and her rapid labor process. She speaks about her decision to have an unmedicated birth and how she navigated through emotional and physical...

Hosts Gina and Roxanne sit down with Jenni Sills, a functional hormone specialist and founder of Life Simply Balanced. Jenni openly discusses her personal conception journey, where she struggled for a long time before choosing to use an egg donor and IVF to conceive. Her story is impactful as she highlights her process of acceptance and her bond with her baby. She also shares insights on the impor...

Join us for the birth story of Lauren, who shares her experiences between her two births. Her first birth was unmedicated induction at 37 weeks due to high blood pressure, which led to pushing for four hours. For her second birth, despite the baby being in unstable lie (flipping positions from breech to head down frequently), a successful ECV leads to another induction where she pushed for only 12...

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Gina is joined by her husband, Barron, as they share their personal journey of navigating pregnancy after experiencing two miscarriages. They discuss the emotional challenges they faced, the difficulty in feeling confident about subsequent pregnancies, and how they coped with the anxiety. The couple also highlights the importance of a supportive community...

In this Birth Story Friday, first-time mom Becky narrates her empowering unmedicated hospital birth story. She shares all her experiences leading up to the birth, including the preparations and affirmations she practiced during her pregnancy to prepare both mind and body for an unmedicated experience. Becky also talks about the unexpected postpartum complications she faced, such as postpartum hemo...

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne invite Dr. Sibyl Knight, a doctor of osteopathic medicine based in Monterey, California, to discuss the nature and benefits of osteopathic medicine. Dr. Knight explains the key differences between osteopathic medicine and traditional medicine, elaborating on the holistic approach osteopaths take toward treatment. She covers various...

In this Birth Story Friday, Petra passionately shares her empowering journey of giving birth vaginally after three C sections! She discusses her personal experiences and complications in each of her C-sections, as well as her journey towards a vaginal birth after that (VBAC). The episode discusses the importance of advocating for oneself during pregnancy and birth. Using the acronym BRAIN, Gina an...

In this episode Gina and Roxanne explain the anatomy of the pelvis and the importance of opening each level during childbirth. This episode focuses on how the top of the pelvis, or inlet, opens; and how certain exercises and movements can aid in creating more space in this area during pregnancy and birth. The hosts share insightful information about the three distinct levels of the pelvis and the...

In this  Birth Story Friday, Elysia shares her unique birth story which involves a diagnosis of preeclampsia, a two vessel cord in her baby, and PPROM when her water broke before the 37 week mark. Despite these challenges, and having to be induced with Pitocin (something she had been hoping to avoid), Elysia was able to have a smooth birth, much like the one she had desired, with the help of her m...

Gina and Roxanne sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Johanna Provencher to discuss the important role physical therapy plays in prenatal care and how rehabilitation of the pelvic floor can impact pregnancy and birth. Johanna emphasizes the importance of working with a physical therapist who takes a holistic approach and examines the whole body, instead of focusing solely on symptoms...

In this Birth Story episode, Hannah shares her unique journeys through two distinct births. After her first birth involving an unplanned C-section and her second being a Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC), her experiences led her to become a childbirth educator and birth doula. Full of insights and providing educational resources and courses for families and doulas, Hannah offers invaluable advi...

Gina and Roxanne, discuss personal and professional approaches to preparing for conception. The discussion includes the importance of understanding your menstrual cycle, fitness, diet, sleep, and finding support for your specific needs through blood work, and supplements. Gina, who plans to conceive her fourth child, shares her personal journey and the strategies she's putting into place. The...

In this Birth Story Friday, Dilshoda shares her birth story, focusing particularly on her experience of developing postpartum preeclampsia. Roxanne elaborates on the symptoms of this dangerous condition, which include elevated blood pressure, persistent headaches, abdominal pain, and vision changes. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle and maintaining fitness throughout pregnancy, Dilshoda develope...

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne, experts in perinatal fitness, debunk common prenatal fitness myths. They explore the importance of movement for pregnant women, explaining why it is not only safe but beneficial for both mother and baby. They discuss prenatal fitness's role in enhancing resilience to stress, brain development, and health outcomes for babies, as...

In this Birth Story Friday, Victoria, shares her journey of an epidural hospital birth where her baby needed NICU support due to meconium aspiration. Victoria bravely shares about her battle with postpartum anxiety and depression, including how medication became a crucial part of her recovery. Gina shares her own personal experience with postpartum mood disorders, and our hopes to change the stigm...

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne engage in an enlightening discussion about pelvic organ prolapse, its impact, and how it can be managed. The topic holds significance for pregnant women, mothers, and anyone involved in perinatal fitness and health. It commences with an overview of what pelvic organ prolapse entails and the fear it often brings. They emphasize that...

This Birth Story Friday features Holly, a doula client of Gina’s, who shared her birth story. Holly experienced gestational hypertension, which led to a hospital induction. Having planned a natural birth without intervention, Holly navigated the unexpected circumstances with resilience and flexibility. She relives her pain and discomfort during pregnancy, the intensity of her induction, and the ra...

In this episode Gina and Roxanne welcome yoga teacher and author, Sarah Ezrin, to discuss the role of yoga in prenatal fitness and preparation for birth. Throughout the discussion, the trio tackle topics such as the importance of empowering mothers to understand where and when they may need modifications, and recognizing when a movement may or may not be suitable- rather than focusing solely on wh...

As the holiday season is officially upon us, Roxanne and Gina share their tips for traveling with young children. They’ve conquered it all, from flying across the globe to road trips across the country, and they sit down to discuss what has worked best for them when traveling with kids ages infant through six years!  — Links Referred to in this Episode: Sign up for our newsletter here (scroll to t...

In this episode, Vicky's shares her home birth story, where she went into labor at nearly 42 weeks. Her partner was not able to physically support her during her labor because he had brain surgery a few weeks prior, and so she relied heavily on her doula. Vicky’s baby also presented with a shoulder dystocia at her birth, which her midwife was quickly able to resolve with no complications! Vick...

In this episode we discuss the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and beyond with Webster Certified pediatric and perinatal chiropractor, Dr. Savannah Gardner. Dr. Gardner shares her own healing journey and discusses what exactly chiropractic care is and how it can be a beneficial addition to our perinatal journeys.  -- Links Referred to in this Episode: Find  Dr. Gardner on Instagram...