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Show Notes:

[1:10] This week’s reviewer of the week, hellotrb, said: “Starting listening during my first pregnancy and fell in love. Through the encouragement of this podcast, I switched my provider at 32weeks. I doubted my feeling about the previous provider, and once I switched, it was like a breath of fresh air. Now pregnant with my second kiddo and have started again to listen to this amazing podcast!”

I’m so glad you’re here and listening to this week’s birth story! There is so much to unpack and learn here!

Instead of letting birth just "happen" to you, be an active participant in it! Educate yourself, know your options, and stand up for yourself! Your baby and your body are working together to help you achieve your best birth.

[1:53] Cassidy Jacobsen introduces herself and her family. She’s been married for six years and is a mama of two! She originally lived in Utah and moved to Texas so her husband could attend medical school....

Show Notes:

"What can I do to treat my mastitis?" It happens to so many mamas, and it can be painful, overwhelming, and just the absolute worst. But don't worry, I've got some incredible birth professionals from the Milk Minute Podcast here to help!

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week is Shannon Venus Taylor, and she says: “Hi! I absolutely love this Podcast as a Doula and first time mom I started listening to this podcast when I was 8 weeks pregnant. The information you share with your community is golden. This podcast has not only helped me improve my methods as a Doula but also provided me with a sense of ease and confidence during my home birth and postpartum journey. I will continue to recommend your Podcast to future clients and anyone in the birth community. ”

To all of my birth professionals who are listening, thank you for following along! I hope this is a place where you can soak up all the information. If you’re a new mom, I hope you’re...

Show Notes:

[1:12] Our reviewer of the week is Leannachaves2, and she says: “Hi! Not sure what my username is on here, but my name is Leanna. I’m 20 years old and currently 16 weeks pregnant with my very first baby, and I’ve been listening to this podcast since I was 4 weeks pregnant! I’m a researcher. I won’t even take a medication until I’ve researched class, possible side effects, and interactions. This podcast has been such a good resource for me to jump off of, because the second I found out I was pregnant, I KNEW I had to find accurate and reliable sources about pregnancy and childbirth. Originally, I was hoping to specialize in pediatrics, but this podcast has made me want to change and specialize in obstetrics. I’m 100% feminist, and I want to give women a voice and the access to giving informed consent because there is so much misinformation out there. Thank you for everything that you do, and the countless hours that must go into...

Show Notes:

[1:12] Our reviewer of the week, ygbsbjx, says: “I’m in my third trimester and was very determined to not study up too much about giving birth just to preserve the mystery and romance and natural process of it. Then I stumbled upon this podcast, and now I can’t help but listen to every episode and am taking the online birth course. I can’t believe all of the information I have learned and now I have SOOOOO many questions for my next prenatal appointment. I also feel empowered that although I won’t be having a home birth (due to my husband's concerns), I know enough now to advocate for myself in the hospital to have the best birth I can try to have! I had no idea how many options, choices and decisions there are to be made that no one even talks to you about! Thank you!

 Here’s my advice for the not having a home birth statement really quick! 1.) Have your husband listen to the podcast! 2.) Schedule an appointment with a midwife...

Show Notes:

[1:11:] Our reviewer of the week, Leliz86, says: “Still in preconception here! ‍ I stumbled upon this podcast when I started searching for meaningful and educational podcasts that fit my hopes and dreams for my first time pregnancy at 36! I love the content - I feel so informed and empowered to make all the decisions, prepare myself to be my healthiest for me and my baby! I absolutely love that there’s even episodes that help new dads! I can’t wait to sign up for the birth course and love that they cover pregnancy, some preconception health, and birth stories! Determined to listen to every single episode - Thank you for all that you do! 

We love when we're able to hear from both mama and birth partner about the birth experience! Justina and Kace Knowles share about the unmedicated birth of their son in a hospital and how their faith, communication, and the birth course prepared them.

[2:30] Justina and Kace Knowles introduce...

As with every test or procedure during pregnancy, I want mamas to know about options, benefits, and risks. This week's podcast episode is about nonstress tests: when you need it, when you don't, and how to prepare! Whether you decline the test, ask for a second opinion, wait a few days, etc. ultimately, the choice is up to you! I want you to be informed and empowered by your knowledge. It's a quick, informative episode that I hope you'll benefit from!  

Show Notes:

[1:12] Apple Podcasts didn’t like me this week and wouldn’t let me see my reviews. It is what it is! ‍

[2:05] This episode is going to be a quickie but a goodie! If you are coming up to your guess date, you’re pregnant with multiples, have low amniotic fluid, feel decreased movements from your baby, or for any other reason your provider has ordered a nonstress test or NST, this episode is for you. 

[2:53] What is a non stress test? A nonstress test is a prenatal test used to...

 Show Notes:

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week, lulu_daisy_1001, said: “This was the first podcast I listened to when I found out I was pregnant. Information was presented in such a fair, balanced, and non-judgmental way. In particular, I LOVED hearing different birth stories - they reinforce what an amazing and positive experience birth should be! I had a beautiful, natural birth on my own terms armed with so much knowledge from this podcast!”

This is exactly what I hope every single mom is able to say at some point. That you had a positive birth experience, whatever that looks like for you, and that the podcast was part of that knowledge and preparation. 

 A few weeks ago, I felt a little down trying to balance all the roles of being a mom, running a business, homeschooling, being a wife, and just life in general. But I read a few reviews, and it reminded me of why I do this! I have such a great desire to help other women through birth and postpartum....

 Show Notes:

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week is Courtney Clare, and she says: “I love this podcast so much, not only as a pregnant mama myself, but as a Registered Labor and Delivery Nurse! Stephanie does such a great job at covering ALL the relevant and important topics in digestible segments of information, and then turning that information into concrete resources and talking points for women to bring to their birth team. AND offers such a great balance of clinical and “crunchy.” Thank you for the work you do getting this essential information into the hands of moms everywhere!”

This week, I’m bringing even more evidence-based, excellent conversation today! Something we probably don’t spend enough time talking about is pelvic health during pregnancy and postpartum. If you’re anything like me, even with all of my study of birth, you may not even know that pelvic floor therapists are a thing. Well, lucky for you . . . that’s...

Show Notes:

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week is Madi Mackley, and she said: “I started listening to the podcast as soon as I found out I was pregnant. My goal was to give birth at the hospital with a walking epidural, and I was hoping to be induced. After listening to every episode and learning every unbiased aspect of birth, my perspective changed, and I had an unmedicated birth at a birth center at 41 weeks and 1 day! I owe it all to this podcast and the My Essential Birth course for achieving the birth I wanted! :) Just found out baby number 2 is on the way and it’s time to start listening to every episode again!

We’ve had Madi on our podcast before, and she shared her birth story! You can listen to it here! Thank you to all of those who love listening to the podcast and who have left a review!

While it's so important to be prepared for birth, labor, and delivery, at the end of the day, you need to get out of your own way! You can do all the things, but your...

Show Notes:

[1:16] Our reviewer of the week is JumelleT, and she says: “This is the best pregnancy and birth podcast ever! I am just about 25 weeks pregnant and have been SO enjoying your podcast. Every day I try to listen to a new podcast from the past. I've found your content so educational, fun and motivational. Because of listening to you and learning so much, I've been working hard on my birth plan. We are a military family and relocating from California to North Carolina when I will be 30 weeks. Ugh! After a ton of searching, I finally found a provider that I'm excited about - a midwifery in Wilmington, NC. I'm also doing pelvic floor PT as well. To those other mamas who may be moving or considering switching providers in your second trimester or later, this podcast has a ton of related birth stories and tips to help. Just wanted to say thank you for your content - I've been deeply enjoying it and will continue to!”

I love the action of creating a birth plan! We...