Aligned Birth

Send us a text In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon interviews Crystal Bailey, a naturopath, nurse midwife, and embodiment coach. She is the founder and owner of Moonlight Midwifery and Wild Herb Women's Wellness. They talk about Crystal's journey into midwifery and how that branched into becoming a naturopath and embodiment coach. Some key topics discussed include: The integration of naturopathy with women's health is essential for holistic care.Feminin...

02-19

01:05:42

Send us a text Finding out you're pregnant is an exciting and life-changing moment—but what comes next? In this episode of The Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon Doula and Rachael break down the essential steps to take after that positive test. From choosing the right prenatal care provider to understanding the importance of prenatal vitamins, safe food choices, and stress management, they cover everything you need to know to navigate early pregnancy with confidence. They’ll also dive i...

02-05

55:32

Send us a text In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael delve into the essential aspects of preconception health. They discuss the importance of managing stress, optimal nutrition, physical health preparation, movement and exercise, and understanding hormonal health to optimize fertility. Takeaways Preconception health is crucial for both partners.Nutrition plays a significant role in fertility and pregnancy health.Exercise and movement can enhan...

01-22

56:03

Send us a text In this episode of The Aligned Birth Podcast, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael share life updates, touching on parenting challenges, school transitions, youth sports, and personal growth. They explore mental health, self-care, and balancing work with family life, while reflecting on their podcast journey. The discussion highlights resilience, advocacy, and creating sustainable practices in both personal and professional spheres. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Life Updates 03:00...

01-08

01:05:23

Send us a text In this special episode, we’re thrilled to share some exciting changes coming to The Aligned Birth Podcast. We’re transitioning to a new seasonal structure, complete with intentional breaks for rest and creativity. This shift will allow us to dive deeper into specific topics that matter most to you. As part of this new direction, we’ll be bringing in expert guests for insightful interviews and exploring fresh content formats to keep our discussions engaging and relevant. We're ...

09-11

22:25

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael explore the often-overlooked but essential aspect of self-care: rest. Rest is much more than just sleep—it's a holistic practice that encompasses physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual well-being. They dive into why prioritizing rest, even in our busiest moments, is crucial for maintaining balance and resilience. Discover how incorporating rest into your daily routine can enhance your overall we...

09-04

01:25:36

Send us a text In this episode Dr. Shannon interviews Brenda Parrish, a certified professional midwife, about midwifery care and postpartum care. Brenda shares her journey into midwifery, her passion for providing mothers with the kind of birth experience she wished she had, the importance of postpartum care and the challenges faced by midwives in Georgia. They discuss the importance of informed decision-making and the need for balance between home birth and hospital birth. Brenda also highli...

08-28

52:54

Send us a text Stress can play a complex role in our lives—while certain types of stress, like eustress (good stress), can be beneficial, chronic stress can have negative impacts on your physical and emotional well-being. In this episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon explore 7 practical ways to manage stress during challenging times, drawing from a blog Dr. Shannon wrote several years ago. They delve into how these strategies can be particularly effective in navigating the natural and unexpe...

08-21

01:16:10

Send us a text Rebroadcast 143.We spend so much time during pregnancy focusing on labor and birth. We get it. That’s where most of the fear and the unknown occurs, during labor and birth. It would make sense to focus on that. However, once baby arrives, it can be a literal whirlwind, and it can be very difficult to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually if you haven’t put some thought into planning for the postpartum. In today’s ...

08-14

43:43

Send us a text In today’s episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discuss managing expectations as it pertains to birth (and beyond). As a doula and a prenatal chiropractor, we are intimately involved in helping women navigate not only the physical side of birth, but the emotional aspect too. In this episode, they cover: Diving deeper into how you were informed about childbirth.How to prepare for childbirth in a meaningful and effective way.How to navigate the birthing process and the importan...

08-07

52:41

Send us a text Rebroadcast of ep 124: As you near the end of your pregnancy, and if you’re planning to birth at a hospital, then you might be wondering “when during my labor, do I need to go to the hospital?” In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael chat about the benefits of laboring at home as long as possible as it pertains to potentially avoiding interventions and using the comfort of your own home to move through early labor. They discuss: The stages of labor and an overview ...

07-31

01:05:24

Send us a text This conversation explores the importance of pushing positions during labor and childbirth. Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discuss the myth of a single pushing position and emphasize the benefits of using gravity and changing positions. They highlight the downside of pushing on your back and the importance of listening to your body's natural instincts. The role of comprehensive childbirth education and the support of a doula in advocating for pushing positions in a hospital sett...

07-24

51:44

Send us a text Rebroadcast of episode 126 Birth has a way of transforming us. Bringing forth new life requires us to dig deep, to find a part of ourselves that is bigger than ourselves, that you may not even know you have, that asks you to surrender and turn inward and trust. This episode is loosely based on a Pathways to Family Wellness Article - titled The Treasure Box. Where a midwife discusses with a client how transformative birth can be. Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael ...

07-17

36:18

Send us a text During labor, a beautiful dance occurs between oxytocin, endorphins, adrenaline, and cortisol. The body's innate wisdom craves calmness, peace, safety, and security, which helps labor progress more smoothly and allows hormones to work efficiently. However, the sights, sounds, and smells of hospitals can sometimes disrupt this flow, making it harder to enter the optimal "labor land" mindset where you feel safe, comfortable, and private. Whether planning a home or hospital birth,...

Send us a text Rebroadcast of Episode 146: Birth not only impacts mom, but baby as well. In this episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon chat about specific questions she asks during her pediatric chiropractic exams and why those questions are important. These questions are related to baby position in the womb as well as the entire birth process because the physical aspects of birth (mode of delivery, fast labor, slow labor, baby position) can relate to how baby is processing livin...