Birthful

A former labor and delivery nurse and childbirth educator, Vanessa Janek thought she knew what to expect from birth. Going into it, she was a bit leery of transition… but nothing could really prepare her for the exhaustion, fear, and overwhelm she felt when contractions went away, just after she got to 10 cms. She shares with Adriana how she was able to get past those feelings to push her baby out just in the nick of time, despite being taken to her edge. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Rethinking the Pushing Stage and our episode on The Power in Writing Your Story. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Even though you may not have met them before, labor and delivery nurses are an essential part of your hospital birth team. In this episode, Registered L&D Nurse Mandy Irby talks with Adriana about why nurses may love and hate birth plans, how to navigate triage, the difference between hospital rules and body rules, why IV sticks can be so tricky, the poorly named “fundal massage,” how to foster a connection with your nurses, and oh, so much more! If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Cesarean Risk: What’s Your Place of Birth Got to Do With It? and our episode on Informed Consent Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Mandy Alexander got pregnant at 40, having had bariatric surgery 7 years before that. During what she describes as her ‘bariatric-geriatric’ pregnancy, she worked through her fear of childbirth and ended up with the unmedicated and collaborative birth experience she was looking for. However, breastfeeding was a whole other beast. Mandy was prepared for many difficulties, but not that her body might just not make milk. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Gestational Diabetes and our episode on Shaking and the Primal Nature of Birth. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Here’s the thing about preparing for birth: you can read all the books, take all the classes, listen to all the podcasts, set up a dream birth team, but no amount of preparation will get the birthing done for you. Shalome Stone tells Adriana why pregnancy is the ideal time for doing the inner work that will allow you to step up and own your birth and how that may look for you. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on Pleasure & Joy During Birth. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What does a self-described Type A do when her birth plan derails? Tara Langsdorf (who finished her second master’s degree and took a promotion managing a team of 25 while pregnant!) shares with Adriana how leaning on the structures and support she’d set up during pregnancy allowed her to go deep into her labor process, despite her starting to develop preeclampsia and having a cascade of interventions. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Epidurals & Breastfeeding and our episode on Evidence & Eating During Labor. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Certified Nurse-Midwife Dr. Stephanie Mitchell shares with Adriana a few tools from her step-by-step guide to building a birth plan, and discusses why getting your plan together—and onboarding everyone on your birth team—can help ensure you are respected and heard during your birth experience. If you liked this episode, listen to our episode on how to Know What You're Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital and our short episode on How to Have a Great Hospital Birth You can connect with Dr. Stephanie Mitchell on Instagram @doctor_midwife Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Danielle Ford has had two very distinct births, with her first happening with minimal preparation and many interventions. It wasn’t until getting pregnant 10 years later that she realized she carried a lot of trauma from birth number one. She shares with Adriana how taking a deep dive into her birth options, and intentionally preparing to have a more connected birth allowed for a birth imbued with confidence and flexibility, despite facing the possibility of another induction. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on The Induction Process and our episode on Preeclampsia Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today we’re going beyond the birth plan to talk about birth principles! Although a well-crafted birth plan can be a powerful tool, more often than not they're formulaic, and outcome-focused nature can give a false illusion of control, and even elicit eye rolls from jaded caregivers. Jessie Harrold shares with Adriana how your efforts may be better spent on first crafting your own set of birth principles. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on The Identity Shift of Becoming a Mom, and our episode on Healing Your Birth Story, with Pam England. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Great childcare–so, a solution that you can afford, has availability, works with your schedule, and can provide loving and safe care for your child–can be hard to find! Most often than not, you will have to concede some trade-offs. Leslie Borrell explains the different childcare options out there, the reality behind economic subsidy programs, and how to communicate your non-negotiables to those caring for your child. She also shares with Adriana why it can be life-changing to practice broadening your community circles of support when your baby is little, so that you build a community care network that will grow with your child that you can then combine with whatever transactional forms of childcare you decide to pursue (or not!). If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Lessons in Decolonizing Parenting and our episode on How to Bring More Joy into Your Parenting Experience Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Some people say that nursing your baby is "free” — and while there certainly are unique cost savings associated with feeding human milk, there can be expenses associated with it, too. How can you maximize your lactation-related benefits? And what does the law have to say? Adriana shares practical tips about the financial side of infant feeding. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How Does Milksharing Work? and our episode on How Nipple Shapes Can Impact Breastfeeding. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Michelle Peterson shares with Adriana a fantastic framework for setting up your postpartum village of support that spreads the responsibility over many people (seven to be exact) so that you are well-resourced beyond the first few weeks of postpartum. She explains how to prepare and why you’ll need a team leader to coordinate it all to make sure you not only receive the care you need, but that your dishes end up in the right place and your laundry is folded just how you like it. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Dealing with Family & Visitors and our episode on Hormones After Birth. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dr. Amber Thornton worked hard for a healthy pregnancy and an unmedicated vaginal birth, but she didn’t expect her water to release before 39 weeks. Despite an early hospital admission, labor progressed right along… until it didn’t. She shares with Adriana the fears she had to contend with while having an unplanned surgical birth, and how having intentionally set up her village of mutual support was invaluable in getting through early nursing difficulties and her cesarean recovery. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Family-Centered Cesareans and our episode on Supporting Healthy Families in the U.S.: Has Anything Changed? Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

When it comes to postpartum, EVERYONE needs support. And even after accepting that you WILL need the help, it can be tricky figuring out how to ask for it, especially when most of our friends and family members don’t really know how to help (nor have the time!). Kaitlin McGreyes talks with Adriana about how combining community help with professional support can set you up for the perfect combination of care and knowledge to have the amazing postpartum experience you deserve. She also shares insightful tips on how to afford it! z If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Letting Go of "Mom Guilt" and our episode All About Postpartum Doulas Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Having had two flawless postpartum periods under her belt, Kayla Sanmiguel didn’t know how to cope when postpartum anxiety and severe panic disorder came out of nowhere after her third birth. She shares with Adriana how being blindsided by the experience compelled her to bolster her future postpartum plans, and approach the birth of her fourth baby with new tools and wisdom. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on What Actually Happens After Giving Birth, Physically and Emotionally. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Understanding your parental leave benefits —with all its overwhelming fine print— can be a daunting task! To make the process easier, human resource professional extraordinaire Katy Dahl shares with Adriana how to approach the process so that you can not only maximize your benefits, but also understand if your time off will impact your health insurance, your paycheck, or your retirement age. Katy brings clarity and levity to the topic, to help you avoid unfortunate surprises during postpartum! Read up on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the PUMP Act, and state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws at abetterbalance.org If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on the Emotional Prep for Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding and our episode on Back-to-Work Sleep Considerations. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Ivy shares with Adriana the overwhelming challenges of her postpartum experience after being overjoyed by her fast and furious unmedicated hospital birth. She explains the lactation issues that lead her to exclusively pump and the difficulties in healing her pelvic floor, as well as why she recommends everyone have a Pelvic PT assessment and be familiar with their breast pump before their baby arrives. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Understanding Acupuncture From a Physiological Lens, our episode on Talking Pelvic Health with a PT, and our episode called All About Pumping! Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Perinatal health consultant Arianna Taboada goes through the ins and outs of paid and unpaid parental leave in the United States. She shares with Adriana Lozada how to be realistic about your options for the best possible return to work for you and your family, while lessening the overwhelm. To read up on state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws go to abetterbalance.org If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Why Employers Need to Value Your Parenting Skills and our episode on Working while Breastfeeding Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Laura Loos has had two non-medicated vaginal births, with her second one happening so super fast, that it involved birthing while in a moving car! She shares with Adriana how connecting with her inner voice and trusting the abundant preparation she had done during pregnancy allowed her to be calm, present, and pragmatic during the unexpectedness of it all. So much so that, once she got to her hospital room, she took full charge of the birth of her placenta. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on the Third Stage of Labor and our episode on How to Sleep Better While Pregnant Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Babies use a set of coordinated movements and specific reflexes that allow them to participate in the birthing process. Adriana Lozada explains how this fascinating process works, and how it helps get them earthside. If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Baby's Position and Labor Flow and our episode on how to Have an Easier Pregnancy (and Birth!) with Chiropractic Care. Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Maya Ehnat was brought up to be comfortable with birth, and so from the get-go, her language and approach weren’t fear-based. Beyond that, much of the preparation she did during pregnancy was guided by a desire to minimize trauma and bring heaps of pleasure and joy into the experience. She shares with Adriana how although her first birth was long and quite challenging, she wouldn’t describe it as painful. Now her second birth? That one was filled with power, permission, fluidity, and delight. If you liked this episode, listen to our episode on Real Talk About Vaginal Tears and Episiotomies and our interview on How Prenatal Yoga Can Help Protect Your Energy (And Why This Is Important!) Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on this episode’s show notes page at Birthful.com. While you’re there, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands