Yoga Birth Babies

Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies is the brilliant Gina Conley — perinatal fitness trainer, seasoned birth doula, mother of four, and founder of MamasteFit. She’s also the author of Training for Two. She is also the author of Training for Two, a powerful resource that provides evidence-based strategies for movement, pelvic health, and birth preparation. In our rich and candid conversation,...

Parents today are bombarded with advice from every angle- social media, friends, family, and news sources. It can be nearly impossible to know who to trust and what advice to follow… And furthermore how to discuss it with your pediatrician. In this episode, we discuss how to sift through the endless parenting information, as well as how to build a strong relationship with your pediatrician. Joinin...

Today on Yoga| Birth| Babies, we have a special community birth story from Paige Host. Paige had been coming to PYC a lot during her pregnancy (and still is postpartum!) and served as a major support and friendly face to other students. Her story is inspiring as it revolves around the ideas of letting go of control and self-trust. Paige has lived in NYC for over a decade, where she met her husband...

"Failure to progress in labor. " Can we all agree this is a horrible name and can impact someone’s view of their ability to give birth! For years, birthing people have been expected to follow “Freidman’s Curve” a standard set by a trial of only 500 participants conducted nearly 50 years ago. Recently, ACOG has set new standards. Unfortunately many hospitals and practices have been slow to put thes...

Did you know that a reported 1 out of 5 people who give birth experience PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders)? However, the professionals I have spoken to believe the number is closer to 1 in 3. Today we explore the world of PMADs- how to recognize the line between baby blues and PMADs, when it might be time to seek support, and where to find the help you need. Joining me today on Yoga| Bi...

Even if a medical intervention isn’t in your birth plan, you should still be educated on it; because, at the end of the day, no one can predict their birth!  Today is all about: epidurals. Joining me today on Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have Erin Capnerhurst. Erin is a wife, mother of three, and a Registered Nurse who has been supporting families through pregnancy and childbirth for 15 years in the hos...

Joining me today to share her birth story on Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have Agathe. Originally from Paris, Agathe moved to New York City nine years ago, where she met her husband and, in November 2024, welcomed their baby girl. In this episode, Agathe opens up about the mindfulness practices she created throughout pregnancy in order to help navigate the anxiety she was experiencing during this time....

Today we’re diving into a topic I’ve wanted to explore for quite some time now: External Fetal Monitoring (EFM). I held off, however, because I wanted to ensure we had the right medical professional to guide us through this important conversation- and I’m thrilled to say that we do. To have this conversation today with me on Yoga| Birth| Babies I have Caroline Jones. Caroline is a certified nurse...

Newborn babies have some peculiar quirks, habits, and bodily functions. If you’re entering parenthood unfamiliar with what’s normal and what isn’t you might be scared or deeply concerned by things that are pretty routine for new babies.  To have this conversation today with me on Yoga| Birth| Babies I have Dr. Tracey Agnese. Tracey received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware....

In today’s episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we’re diving into some of the common—yet often overlooked—stressors of pregnancy. We explore everything from hormonal changes and PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders) to the profound life shifts that come with this transition. We also take a closer look at trauma-informed care: what it really means, how trauma is defined, and how to effectively...

Today’s episode features one of my favorite kinds of conversations- a community birth story. It’s always such a joy to hear and share the birth stories of students I’ve had the honor of working with in class, throughout their pregnancies, and today’s story is no exception. To have this conversation today with me on Yoga| Birth| Babies I have Mia DiBiase. Mia is 33 years old and lives in Jersey Cit...

What do you do when motherhood feels challenging—when it doesn’t come as naturally as you expected? This episode was inspired by honest conversations in my prenatal yoga classes, where some students shared fears about entering parenthood. One even admitted, “I don’t know if I’m very maternal.” That vulnerability struck a chord, and I knew we needed to explore it further. In this episode of Yoga |...

Today we are talking about stalling versus flow, in birth, and how your body’s balance, and alignment can play a major role in that process. What does it even mean to be balanced and aligned? To have this conversation today with me on Yoga| Birth| Babies I have Lindsay McCoy.  Lindsay McCoy is an exercise physiologist, an experienced birth doula, and a childbirth educator of 12 years. She combines...

Taking medication while breastfeeding, even taking something as common as Tylenol can be controversial. So what about parents on or who need to start taking medicine like Zoloft, Prozac or other psychotropic medications? Is it safe for both parent and new baby? Today we’re going to talk all about postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression medication and breastfeeding. There are lots of thoughts,...

Today, we’re diving into one of my favorite types of conversations- a community birth story. What makes this episode extra special is that it actually includes two birth stories. My guest reflects on both her first and second births, sharing how the challenges she faced during her initial pregnancy and postpartum experience shaped the decisions she made the second time around. To have this convers...

Many times, I hear my prenatal students express feeling disconnected from their care provider or uneasy about hospital policies. However, they’ve hired a doula in hopes that that will help them navigate and achieve the birth experience they want. Today, we’re diving into how and why birth preparation goes beyond simply hiring a doula. To have this conversation with me today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I...

Today, we’re diving into the relationship between birth and the pelvic floor. First, we’ll cover the basics: What is the pelvic floor? What is its function? How does one even connect with their pelvic floor? We usually aren’t taught about the pelvic floor growing up, and lack an awareness of it, in part because it’s a group of muscles we do not see. However this mysterious group of muscles doesn’t...

Today, we’re diving into our current parenting culture- does it support or hinder parents and kids? To have this conversation with me today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Emily Edlynn, PhD. Emily is a licensed clinical psychologist, international speaker, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, and award-winning author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Co...

Having a baby is expensive! So, how can we prepare for the expected and unexpected costs that come with having a child? In this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies I speak with financial educator and founder of Smart Money Mamas Chelsea Brennan. From getting a clear picture of your current financial state, to understanding how to prioritize and prepare for baby expenses, Chelsea gives simple exercises...

Today, we have a very special community birth story. I love when I get to hear the birth stories of not only our student community, but also of our teaching community. Today, we have a story of the latter! Today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Meredith Witte. Meredith Witte is a functional strength coach and a yoga instructor with a Master’s in Exercise Physiology. She is the founder and owner of The...

Today, we're diving into the topic of VBACs—Vaginal Birth After Cesareans. We'll explore the most common reasons for cesarean births, as well as the risks and benefits of choosing a VBAC. Additionally, we'll discuss factors that might make someone risk out of a VBAC, and compare those risks to those of a repeat cesarean. To have this conversation today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Meagan Heaton. Me...

The other day I overheard some students discussing whether to hire a doula for their birth, or rely on the support of labor and delivery staff. As L&D nurse experiences vary from hospital to hospital, I felt this was an important topic to explore. In this episode, we’ll dive into the role of a labor and delivery nurse, what to expect, and some insider tips—straight from an L&D nurse herself! Today...

If you could choose between a functional efficient labor or a dysfunctional and inefficient labor, I’m guessing you would choose functional and efficient labor. I have been to many births as a doula and I’ve had 2 kids of my own. While the body may need time to open to let the baby descend and rotate, it can be a lot on the parents and support team to go through the experience of a long labor! Tod...

Today we have a remarkable and empowering community birth story. Today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Amber Hogue. Amber is a proud mom of two boys, Finn and Wally, and lives in the Bay Area with her family. She works in clinical research with a focus on patient engagement, leveraging her expertise to create meaningful connections and improve healthcare outcomes. A yoga teacher for over 10 years, Amb...

A few months ago, before teaching my postnatal class, my students were sitting in a circle sharing their experiences about postpartum and all the surprises this phase brought. In other words, they were discussing all the things no one had told them about postpartum.  Today on Yoga|Birth|Babies I have Tina Goldstein. Tina facilitates the New Parent Support Group at PYC, and is a postpartum doula, c...