Yoga Birth Babies

When taking a Childbirth Education class, you may assume that all the information you are receiving is given in hopes of best supporting you, the birthing person. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Depending on where you take your class, the information may not be based on best care practices for the birthing person, instead you may be hearing a curriculum aimed more at supporting hospita...

Ever wonder why at all of your prenatal visits with your care provider you have your blood pressure checked and often leave urine sample? It’s because your care provider is checking for a serious condition called preeclampsia. Never heard of it? No worries! In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, I speak with community education & engagement manger of the Preeclampsia Foundation, Rebecca Britt. Re...

An article from Midwifery Today sited a study concluding “Participants who read positive, empowering birth stories reported an average of 33% less fear about their upcoming birth.” That great increase in personal confidence was the reason I decided to continue to share positive community birth stories on Yoga | Birth | Babies. In this episode I speak with second time community member, Lauren Seidm...

The current US cesarean rates hover around 33%. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the cesarean rate should fluctuate between 10-15%. They even state “Cesarean section rates higher than 10% are not associated with reductions in maternal and newborn mortality rates” and that “every effort should be made to provide caesarean sections to women in need, rather than striving to ach...

According to the Listening to Mothers iii Survey, 41% of the people indicated that their care provider tried to induce their labor, with three out of four of those women (74%) indicating that it did start labor, resulting in an overall rate of medically induced labor of 30%. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with midwife, writer and presenter, Dr Rachel Reed. She speaks very candid...

“All birthing people will face a crisis of confidence at some point during a physiological labor.” This one powerful discussion point still sticks out in my mind from my juicy conversation with childbirth educator, doula and counsellor, Rhea Dempsey. In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, Rhea and I dive deep into the world of birth, ways to truly prepare for birth, and embracing functional pain...

Navigating a satisfying sex life with your partner during pregnancy and postpartum can be a bit challenging for many. Fear of hurting the baby, working through body image issues and share logistics can create a gap in a sexual relationship. In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, I speak with New York City based sex and relationship expert, Alexandria Ross from the V Club, a new wellness center in...

Not every entrance into parenthood is easy and joyful with a soundtrack of birds singing blissfully as you walk carefree through the park. You may even mutter under your breath, “This is really f**king hard, what have I done?” In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak openly with co-founder of Soul Camp and Soul Camp Creative, Michelle Goldblum. In this refreshing conversation Michelle hon...

Matrescence, a seldom heard word that names the shift into motherhood, stemming from on the word, adolescence. Funny that the metamorphosis into adolescence is socially viewed with compassion, support and a general understanding of tremendous and uncontrollable change while the same slide into motherhood is often met with high expectations of “maternal instincts” and an innate understanding of how...

The day your child is born, you assume a completely new persona and identity. Many grapple with this shift from maiden to motherhood and embracing this new title and responsibility can be challenging. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Dr. Britta Bushnell discusses working through the bumps of the 4th trimester and maintaining a sense of self while adjusting to this new role. Learn more abo...

Reducing stress and depression, increasing self awareness and happiness are just some of the amazing benefits of mediation. In this episode of Yoga | Birth |Babies, I speak with Vedic Meditation teacher and founder of The Spring Meditation, Arden Martin. Our deep and lively talk reveals what brought Arden to her meditation practice and how it has shaped her life and pregnancy. Her calm and assurin...

Once the dust settles on the new expansion to your family, plans may need to be considered about child care and extra support. There are several options, day care, family help or hiring an in home nanny. In this episode, I speak with Christa Nader, founder of Kith and Kin Household Staffing Agency. Christa goes through the do’s and don’ts of hiring a full-time or part-time nanny, the scope of work...

An epidural is a very familiar term for most, but how much knowledge do people have about it? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with anesthesiologist and yoga teacher, Claire Sandberg. Claire breaks down common myths and misconceptions about epidural anesthesia and clearly present the facts about epidurals so listeners can make an educated, informed choice. If you enjoyed this epis...

Within the hustle and bustle of NYC, it is essential to find community and support, especially for a new parent. In this week’s episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with devoted yogini and mother, Kristina Podsiadly. Kristina’s natural optimism and easy going nature was what helped her adjust when her original birth plan had to quickly change. Listen and get inspired by Kristina’s pregnancy,...

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Stephanie Heintzeler, midwife, doula, and IBCLC. Stephanie’s vast experience as a birth worker ranges from delivering babies as a midwife in Germany to supporting women as a board certified lactation consultant. Stephanie and I talk about getting the medical support you desire and key differences between the midwifery model of care and more tr...

Baby stuff everywhere! Why does it feel like having a baby comes with so much equipment and accessories? Have you ever stopped to think about what is truly necessary and what is just really good marketing? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Adriane Stare, owner and founder of the Brooklyn eco-friendly maternity, baby and lifestyle store, Wild Was Mama. Adriane and I break down what...

In this episode, I speak with IBCLC, Lori Isenstadt, from the podcast, All About Breastfeeding. Lori breaks down some of the misconceptions about the first few days of breastfeeding and offers honest and practical information for anyone looking to breastfeeding their newborn. She also discusses the role of a lactation consultant and what one can expect from this working relationship. For the full...

In today’s episode I speak with accomplished author, health psychologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett. We dive deeply into an important and timely discussion about racial disparity and the effects of breastfeeding and infant mortality. Black babies are more then three to four times likely to die then a white baby from pregnancy related causes...

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with the founder of VBAC Facts, Jen Kamel. Jen and I go deep into myths and misconceptions about VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and ways to advocate for the birth you want. This episode is will bring fire and confidence to any person unsure of the facts of VBAC and may help in selecting a care provider who can support the choice of VBAC. Learn...

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with author and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Nany Mohrbacher about how to support breastfeeding women at work and help them navigate pumping. For any person facing the end of maternity leave and wondering about they will be able to manage keeping their supply and breastfeeding routine going outside the home, this episode wi...

Today on Yoga| Birth|Babies I speak with PYC community member, Emeline Foster. Emeline is a second time mother who openly shares her struggles with deciding if she should have a second cesarean or explore a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Emeline is open and honest about her experience and the challenges she faced along with adjusting to life as her family expanded with the birth of her son. ...

In today’s episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies I have the pleasure of speaking with Jeanne Faulkner R.N. Jeanne initially wrote for FitPregnancy, penning the column “Ask a Labor Nurse.” She has since written 2 books, Common Sense Pregnancy and The Complete Illustrated Birthing Companion. She hosts 3 podcasts Common Sense Pregnancy (she had me as a guest too, check out ep #106), CARE Action!, and Activi...

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with licensed social worker and Program Director of the Motherhood Center of New York, Paige Bellenbaum. This deeply honest and moving discussion needs to be heard and discussed with all expectant women, partners and support people. It is reported that 1 in 5 women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. It’s important to note that this st...

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with founder of the CrunchyRadish.com, registered dietitian, and natural foods chef Miranda Hammer. We discuss nutrition, food preferences and aversions during pregnancy, and how to get optimal nutrition for mom and baby. We also talk about the reality of finding a balanced and healthy diet during the exhausting “4th trimester.” Miranda shares some...

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with anthropologist, Dr. Meredith Small, about how our biology, culture and history influence how we parent our children. In this fun, lively conversation, Meredith and I discus and compare different cultures and their approach to child raring. Some of the way we care for our children come from the societal rules and cultural acceptance and other...