The Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast and Blog

How Late is TOO Late for Birth Prep?

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We often get comments like, "I'm so sad I just found your podcast/birth course, I only have a few weeks until I give birth." To which we say, GREAT! That means you still have time to do tons of prep work. In case you're wondering about the very most important things you can do when you have just a few weeks to prepare, we break it down and give you our best advice! Make sure to have a pen and paper ready for this episode because it's jam-packed with all the pregnancy and birth prep goodness you can handle.

Show Notes

4:50 What you can skip when you're getting started preparing for birth when you're over 36 weeks.

6:05 Some things to definitely begin right away that will be super useful for birth.

9:00 Learn about these (get ready with your pen and paper). These are all the very best things you can do in the few weeks right before birth.

16:34 Mindset work may be one of the most important things you do to prepare for your birth.

26:12 It's never too late to change your birth...

Laboring Without Your Partner? Do THIS!

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After a long day of recording podcasts, we realized this one didn't save and we had to do it twice, which just means a lot more random thoughts and extra editing! Our title is a nod to women who may find themselves birthing "solo" or without a birth partner, whatever the reason may be.

Laugh along with us and we promise to give you actionable steps to prepare your birth space with as much support as possible and work through labor step by step by tuning in and listening to your body and what you've practiced during your pregnancy. These tips and tricks are useful and apply to every birthing mama so don't tune out just because you're planning on your birth partner being with you!

Women may find themselves birthing alone for any number of reasons:

Military
No partner or spouse in the picture
Hospital restrictions
The unexpected
Partner may need to stay home to tend other children

This podcast topic is likely NOT going to apply to the majority of you, but we want to provide support...

Is Birth Like Running a Marathon?

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Running a marathon was one of the most challenging, rewarding, and empowering experiences of my entire life, much like birth, and I am so excited to share this incredible story with all of you! Yes it's 100% true that you do not need to be able to run a marathon to give birth. I should know, I gave birth three times without ever being physically able to run a marathon. However, we often hear that the physical exertion required is about the same. So now that I have done both, I am anxious to tell you everything I've learned about the mental and physical powers of our minds and bodies.

Training for a marathon and training for birth have SO many similarities!

In both cases, you know the approximate date of when you need to be ready. So, if you knew you had 9 months to prepare, would you start preparing right away? I don't think most people would plan to "wing" a marathon, and you definitely can't "wing" birth!
I had to be committed & consistent with my runs. You need to be...

The Illusion of No Control

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Peace is a choice. We can choose to do those things that invite peace into our lives, even when so much around us seems out of control. And that's the topic that we want to introduce to you guys this week- what you can control in your pregnancy and birth. We fear that there's this illusion out there amongst birthing women, that there is no control.

In fact, what triggered this topic for us was coming across a birth story post on Instagram. This woman shared her rather traumatic birth story and concluded it by telling her followers that there's no point in having a birth plan or preparing for the experience because it's all out of your control.

Maybe having that perspective was a coping strategy for her, a way to process a disappointing experience. Because when you don't believe you can control anything, perhaps you're able to maybe more easily release the experience you've had, especially if it wasn't a great one. BUT! women who head into pregnancy and birth...

How To: Provider Scenarios

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Being knowledgeable about something inside of our heads doesn't always translate to a coherent and comfortable response to a provider. Don't stress though! We're going to walk you through some common pregnancy and birth scenarios with providers and help you find and form the response that's right for you!

[3:38] Labor rehearsals are your time to put what you are learning into practice and this is what good rehearsal looks like.

[8:21] The specific questions that make a difference for avoiding induction during COVID

[10:00] Pregnancy Scenario 1: Let's schedule that induction

[13:00] Pregnancy Scenario 2: Moving a due date in the third trimester

[16:20] Birth Scenario 1: In active labor and your well-meaning nurse says to your birth partner "we need to get her into the bed"

[17:57] Birth Scenario 2: Adding meds to the IV without formal consent, but more of a side note

[21:40] Birth Scenario 3: Your nurse picks up a low fetal heart rate.

[25:06] Want more scenarios? Join...

Is It Real Labor?

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As birth professionals, we get this question ALL the time and with our years of experience, we have some solid advice about when it's the real thing! We know just how exciting this time is, no matter which baby you're getting ready to meet and we promise you're not alone in your detective work to figure out when baby will make their big debut.

[2:21] What your body does when your approach birthing time (Braxton hicks, dropping, mucous plugs, all the fun stuff!)

[10:40] How do you really know when it's go-time?!

[16:18] How journaling can help labor begin.

[17:52] Concrete things to do to determine if this is real labor!

[21:10] Erratic contractions, not erotic...

[23:55] Put your knowledge to the test! What would you do in these situations?

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

If you haven't subscribed to the podcast yet, you definitely should! We love breathing life into our mamas and don't want you to miss a thing. Plus we have some neat bonus episodes...

Hollywood Birth: Where They Get It Wrong

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Birth always begins with either a pop-gush of waters breaking or a massive contraction, followed by screaming at your partner, and then squeezing his hand super hard while you push out a baby the size of a 2-month-old. That's Hollywood's version of birth, but how much of it is accurate? Hint: not a lot! We think you'll love listening to us debunk all the ways they get it wrong, why they do this, and what you can do about it.

[3:06] Pregnancy is always miserable & always a burden

[3:42] The father is always clueless

[5:13] Birth always begins with a gush of water or Level 10 contractions!

[6:40] Birth goes from zero to baby being born in a matter of minutes

[6:58] You have to fumble around just trying to get to the hospital

[7:51] The woman in labor screams at everyone and is angry at the father

[9:04] Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[9:25] Birth only happens in the back of the car or a hospital

[10:24] You give birth on your back with your legs in...

COVID-19: Birthing With Less Support

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If you are pregnant and preparing to give birth during the COVID-19 global pandemic, this episode is for you! With many hospitals pulling back birth support we are getting so many questions about what mothers should do. This episode will help you prepare, as needed, for a birth with less birth support.

[2:08] Can you really "prepare" to have less support for birth?

[3:38] Listening to these podcasts are part of the foundation you are laying for your birth prep.

[5:48] Your partner should be prepared, especially if they are your only birth support + prepare other birth support in case your partner has signs/symptoms of COVID-19 and is unable to attend your birth with you

[7:31] HOW you prepare! - Some of our favorite books and podcast episodes.

[8:32] Birth videos + IG Content

[9:15] FREE Downloads from us to prepare you

[11:04] Know what it is evidence-based or not + stay healthy & low-risk so you have more options

[11:57] Decrease stress, yoga, and...

Birth After 35

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With terms like Advanced Maternal Age and Geriatric Mother being thrown around, it's time we broke down all the facts surrounding being pregnant and giving birth after the age of 35- including the hot topic of stillbirth. Share this episode with your friends who are also having babies in their late 30's & beyond!

[4:03] Why "Geriatric" is not even close to an appropriate term for a pregnant woman.

[5:29] Why you need to have the correct information about giving birth over 35.

[6:31] Why women are choosing to have children later in life?

[7:15] Challenges for women giving birth after 35

[8:10] The Hot Topic: Stillbirth

[9:58] Relative vs. Absolute Risk

[11:43] Gestation and how it's different before and after age 35

[13:03] Why out of hospital midwifery care may be a great choice

[16:27] What stands in the way of a mother over 35 having her best birth?

[19:20] What you can do to have the best outcomes

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

If you...

Birth: Enneagram Type 2

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Need some "help" (pun intended for all our Type 2 moms- "The Helpers") embracing your birthing strengths and getting hints on what to watch out for during your pregnancy & birth? We've got you covered, sis! In this episode, we break down all the particulars and help you feel appreciated and loved along the way.

Supporting a Type 2 mom? There's an entire section for you too! Take a listen, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @myessentialbirth.

Feel free to not include any of the bold or use a few as highlights for that section

[2:11] iTunes Review Spotlight: MM1227

[4:15] Description of Enneagram 2 - The Helper

[5:30] Enneagram 2 birthing strengths: Nurse gifts, packing for baby, setting the tone for the birth space, preparing for birth.

[11:24] Watch out for: not giving yourself sufficient "me-time" or self-care, nurses, providers or other people's opinions overriding your own, emotions that force you to walk through some gunk to get...

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