The MamasteFit Podcast

In this Birth Story Friday, Lucia shares the story of her second birth, an unmedicated hospital birth, as well as a bit about her postpartum recovery journey from her first birth with a hematoma. In her birth story, Lucia also shares how she prepared physically for her second birth, and how she benefited from the MamasteFit prenatal fitness program for her birth preparation and supported her postp...

This week Roxanne shares her postpartum healing journey 10 weeks after giving birth to her third baby. From having a postpartum hemorrhage through the six weeks postpartum, to her initial return to fitness, Roxanne takes us through the highs and lows of her experience and shares some of the knowledge she has acquired along the way.  Links Referred to in this Episode: Free Early Postpartum Recovery...

In this week's episode, Juliette shares her two birth stories. For her first birth, Juliette was preparing for a vaginal birth, but then found out that her baby was breech at 32 weeks. At 37 weeks, she opted for an ECV, but her baby did not tolerate the procedure, and she went in for a C-section that very day. This experience left her feeling a lot of anger and defeat after having spent months...

In this week's episode, we're going to be talking all about diastasis recti, also known as DRA, DR, coning, or abdominal separation. This is the normal abdominal separation that occurs during pregnancy. Join us as Gina and Roxanne chat about how to decrease the severity of diastasis recti, and also what you can do to heal it in the postpartum! Watch our video on how to minimize coning here...

In this episode, Carly shares her story of an unplanned induction after going past her due date thanks to low amniotic fluid measurements. After laboring for over two days, Carly adapts her original birth plan, opting for an epidural and Pitocin, and ultimately experiences a vaginal birth that left her feeling grateful and empowered! Carly also talks about how her son was rushed to the NICU due to...

In this episode, Gina sits down with Molly O'Brien, a midwife with over 25 years of experience. Molly is also an associate university lecturer, who created and currently teaches courses on biomechanics for birth for midwives and other births related professionals and their associates. Molly educates us on how the birth work model got to be so medicalized, why it’s outdated, and what we should...

In today's birth story episode, Trish will be sharing her three birth stories. Her first birth was an unplanned C-section after several hours of pushing. Trish knew that she wanted a VBAC (or a vaginal birth after C-section) for her next birth and the importance of being fully supported in that, so she switched providers and focused on her physical preparation for birth. In her second birth, s...

You asked, and we listened! We have recently seen questions via our Facebook group regarding how best to respond when someone makes a comment about our postpartum bodies. We sit down with Casey Backus, one of our dear friends and OG MamasteFit Moms, and discuss our own personal experiences, the responses we have found to be helpful, and what we recommend you say when interacting with a postpartum...

In today's birth story episode, we have Anna, who shares about her home birth experience in Canada. Anna describes how feelings of fear about an unfamiliar provider caused labor stalls during her birth, and after her story Gina and Roxanne break down strategies that you can use if you do experience a stall in your labor due to being afraid.  In this episode : 0:00 Introductions 02:24 Anna find...

In this episode, we're chatting with Jill Miller, who is a fascia expert with 30 years of corrective movement expertise that forges links between the worlds of yoga, massage, athletics, and pain management. Her signature self care fitness programs, Yoga Tune Up and The Roll Model, are found in gyms, yoga studios, hospitals, athletic facilities, and corporations worldwide. Jill sits down to dis...

Today we chat with Chelsea, who will be sharing her unmedicated hospital birth where she felt empowered and supported by all involved; to include her provider, the hospital staff, as well as her birth team of her mom, sister, and partner. Roxanne breaks down the stages of labor and she and Chelsea discuss what made Chelsea’s relatively quick first birth experience so positive!  0:00 Introductions...

In this episode, we chat with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Addie Holzmann all about how you can train with your menstrual cycle. When it comes to training with your cycle, we're not necessarily going to be completely omitting exercises or completely modifying our workout routine. Rather, we want to recognize the different phases within our cycles, which hormones are at play and how they...

In today's episode, Jordin shares her pregnancy and birth story. During her pregnancy, she was dealing with some prenatal anxiety, concerned that something might be wrong with her son. Jordin shares tips on what helped her overcome her anxiety and put her mind at ease. Jordin goes on to experience a very fast labor (6 hours, total!) and with Gina by her side as doula, changes her birth plan at...

In this episode, we're going to be breaking down what you need to know about choosing between VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean), and repeat C-sections. VBAC is an option for 30% of people who have previously given birth via C-section. Currently, in the United States, the C-section rate is around 30%, and of that 30%, a large majority are great candidates for a vaginal birth after C-section,...

In today's episode, birth doula Tammy Ireland shares her two birth stories from the early 2000's. Her first baby was a hospital birth with an epidural, Pitocin, and a provider who was completely detached and disrespectful, leaving her filled with doubt and regret. Her second birth was a much more positive hospital birth experience, and both have really shaped how Tammy approaches her birth...

In this special episode of the MamasteFit podcast, Roxanne shares her third birth story, the birth of Baby Joan! Roxanne gave birth in the hospital for her third baby. She had an unmedicated birth, but this birth was different than her previous ones and she shares how this mentally affected her during her labor. Roxanne did have a postpartum hemorrhage, and explains how this has affected her recov...

**TRIGGER WARNING** Part of Holly's story involves her discussing struggling with thoughts of suicide and thoughts of harming her baby. In this episode, Holly shares her unmedicated hospital birth after labor induction. Holly is also going to be sharing her postpartum story, during which she developed postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis that did results in an inpatient psychiatric t...

We are honored to chat with Lakeesha Murphy-Spencer and Renee Harvey, two certified nurse midwives whom Roxanne worked with previously as Labor and Delivery nurses. We discuss all things labor stalls! What causes a labor stall? What are the different things that we can do to help resolve those labor stalls? These two ladies are a wealth of information and experience, and we think you will enjoy ge...

In today's birth story, Angela shares about her first birth, a Cesarean birth, and how she then went on to have a VBAC (or a vaginal birth after C-section) for her second birth. Angela was really passionate about wanting to share her story because she had a really positive C-section experience, and she wanted others to know that it is possible to have a good experience, even with something tha...

In this episode, we discuss how to approach recovery immediately after a Cesarean birth, and beyond, with Casey Backus, physical therapist. Gina and Casey developed the MamasteFit C-Section Recovery Program that includes fitness programming and C-section scar mobilization to enhance your recovery after a Cesarean birth. So much of postpartum recovery treats C-section the same as vaginal birth but...

Olivia shares her hospital birth story with a planned epidural. She shares how she prepared for birth with an open mind, how the MamasteFit Birth Education course prepared her for navigating her water breaking before 37 weeks, an unexpected induction, and laboring for as long as she could before pushing with an epidural. In this episode: What is Premature Pre-labor Rupture of Membrane, AKA PPROM (...

Listen as we chat with Meg Scanlon, who placed first in the International Powerlifting Federation World Classic Powerlifting Championship in 2022, and second in 2023. She was around 19 months postpartum after a Caesarean birth with twin girls when she won a gold medal! Meg will be sharing her postpartum return to competitive lifting and the challenges she had along the way to earn her title as wor...

In this birth story, Sally discovers during her labor induction that her baby is breech and is rushed back for a Cesarean section. After her sudden C-section birth, Sally decides she wants a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) with her second baby. She hires Gina to be her doula, and wants to labor at home as long as possible before heading to the nearby hospital. Sally arrives at the hospital at...

In this episode, we chat with Sophia Pavia, a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in women's fertility. Sophia shares how we can optimize our fertility and the key things to know about your menstrual cycle that was missing from your high school health ed class! Sophia is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who specializes in women’s fertility. Her greatest area of expertise is he...

In this birth story, Lauren shares her second birth where she discovers her baby is breech near the end of her pregnancy. Lauren was planning a birth at a freestanding birth center, but scrambled to find a new provider that would support a vaginal breech birth! ------ Bio: Lauren is a mother of 2 boys, a birth doula, and a birth photographer living in the Denver area. She transitioned into birth w...