What if the way we enter the world has consequences that reach far beyond the day we're born?

This week, Blyss and Stu dive into “Microbirth”, the 2014 documentary exploring the human microbiome and what happens during the extraordinary biological transition of birth. From exposure to maternal bacteria during vaginal birth to skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, antibiotics, cesarean delivery, and the hormonal physiology of labor.

At the heart of the conversation is a much bigger question: When we intervene in birth, are we considering only the immediate outcome, or the ripple effects that may follow a baby for years, and perhaps even generations?

Because birth isn't simply the moment a baby arrives. It may be one of the most important biological programming events of our lives.

Listen now and join us as we ask: How much does the way we birth really matter?

References:

Microbirth Film

https://play.xumo.com/free-movies/microbirth/XM0KT28KHM1VCA

Do Antibiotics Given to Pregnant Women Harm the Baby's Brain? By Jennifer Margulis

https://jennifermargulis.substack.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=192562195

Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.13601

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training

https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo

Discussed in This Episode

• Microbirth documentary
• Humans as Living Ecosystems
• What Happens to the Microbiome During Birth?
• Ripple Effects of Antibiotics
• The Incredible Biology of Breast Milk
• The Gut-Brain Axis
• What Is Vaginal Seeding?
• Does Too Much Protection Hurt the Microbiome?

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
• Subscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447

Thyroid health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pregnancy, but thyroid hormones play an important role in both maternal health and fetal development, especially during those early weeks when baby is relying on mom's thyroid hormones.

This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into thyroid disease in pregnancy. Stu breaks down the basics of how the thyroid works, the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's versus Graves' disease, and what TSH, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies can actually tell us. They look at the potential pregnancy risks associated with overt thyroid disease, why subclinical disease is a very different conversation, and why pregnancy itself can change thyroid lab values.

Together they answer the question, should every pregnant woman have her thyroid screened? And discuss how testing itself can sometimes set off an unnecessary cascade of referrals, surveillance, and intervention.

This one gets into the weeds, but it's an episode worth saving as a resource for pregnant families, birth workers, and anyone navigating thyroid disease during the childbearing years.

References:

Reclaiming Birth Gathering

reclaimingbirthconference.com/

 Birth and Birth Psychology Congress in Istanbul, Turkey

Instagram: @birthandbirthpsychology

Website: dogumicinelele.org/

Birthing Instincts Podcast Patreon

Patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast

Open Evidence Links

https://www.openevidence.com/ask/04b52887-1c7f-423d-aeb4-7d28376e225a

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy

www.ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003893

Maternal thyroid function during gestation is related to breech presentation at term

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19832853/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Discussed in This Episode

• Thyroid 101: TSH, T3, T4 & How It All Works
• Hashimoto's vs. Graves' Disease
• Why Thyroid Hormones Matter for Fetal Development
• Thyroid Disease & Pregnancy Risks: What Do the Numbers Actually Mean?
• Should Everyone Be Screened During Pregnancy?
• How Pregnancy Changes Thyroid Labs
• Hypothyroidism: When Pregnancy Symptoms Look Like Thyroid Symptoms
• Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Does It Need Treatment?
• What Thyroid Labs Should Actually Be Ordered?
• Treating Overt Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
• Hyperemesis and Thyroid Changes

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

This week, Blyss and Stu run the gamut, from joy and grief to frustration, research, and a whole lot of questions about who really gets to decide what “safe” birth looks like.

After sharing personal updates and a moving remembrance of Dr. Rob Biter, Blyss and Stu turn their attention to autonomy in birth. They discuss a mother struggling to find a midwife willing to truly meet her where she is, the ongoing fight over traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania, and what happens when regulation and institutional standards begin limiting the choices available to birthing families.

Then, Dr. Stu dives into new research examining oxytocin (Pitocin), TOLAC, and uterine rupture. What does the research actually tell us about uterine rupture when Pitocin is used during a VBAC? How much does the risk change compared with spontaneous labor? Does a higher dose matter? And perhaps most importantly, are we paying enough attention when a laboring body, or the woman herself, is telling us something isn't right?

Blyss brings the midwifery perspective to the data, questioning directed pushing, prolonged augmentation, hospital timelines, and what can happen when physiology is pushed rather than supported. Together, she and Stu unpack the difference between relative risk and absolute risk, how the same research can be used to either support or discourage VBAC, and why informed decision-making requires more than simply being told what the “standard of care” recommends.

References:

Reclaiming Birth Gathering

reclaimingbirthconference.com/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Inquirer Article: Why Pennsylvania quietly repealed its 1929 midwifery law — and is now getting sued for it

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/midwives-pennsylvania-budget-law-20260804.html

PubMed study: Maximum Oxytocin Dose and Uterine Rupture During Trial of Labor After Cesarean

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41325062/

Discussed in This Episode

• Remembering Dr. Rob Biter and his contributions to physiologic birth
• What’s happening with traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania
• How regulation can indirectly restrict access to home birth
• Newest Research on Pitocin use during TOLAC
• Uterine rupture rates with spontaneous labor vs. oxytocin exposure
• Relative risk vs. absolute risk when counseling families
• Why increased Pitocin doses may be telling us something about the labor itself
• Directed pushing, augmentation, and listening to the body
• How confirmation bias influences the way research gets interpreted

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

What happens when the medical record doesn't match the birth experience?

This week, Blyss and Stu dive into one of the most uncomfortable, but critically important topics in maternity care: documentation, informed consent, and the ways language can shape a family's entire birth experience.

Using real-world examples, published legal cases, hospital consent forms, and an anonymous patient story, they examine how documentation can influence clinical decisions, legal outcomes, and patient autonomy. They discuss the difference between genuine informed consent and liability-driven documentation, why wording matters, and how routine practices can become normalized before parents even realize they have options.

Whether you plan to birth at home, in a birth center, or in the hospital, understanding how consent, documentation, and communication intersect can help you become a more informed participant in your own care.

References:

Girls Who Know: girlswhoknow.com (code instincts for 15% off)

Case Law Update: Gawthrop v Bendigo Health [2026] VSC 157

https://bravelegal.com.au/gawthrop-v-bendigo-health-vaginal-examination/

Melissa Philippe Facebook Post

The Doula Group on Facebook

Johns Hopkins: Delivering Your Baby

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/delivery

Discussed in This Episode

• What true informed consent should look like
• How documentation can influence legal and medical narratives
• The difference between physiologic birth and procedure-based birth education
• Why coercive language matters
• A court ruling that recognized non-consensual vaginal exams as assault.
• How fear-based counseling can affect birth decisions
• Why birth education before labor is more important than ever

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome Doula Dude, Travis Stroud, whose perspective has captivated millions of viewers in just a few short months. Travis never imagined he'd become one of the loudest voices encouraging fathers to educate themselves about pregnancy and birth. But after preparing for nearly two years, he and his wife chose a wild pregnancy and freebirth at home that forever changed the course of his life.

Together they discuss why men have become disconnected from birth, what fathers lose when they're pushed to the sidelines, and why Travis believes childbirth is the "biggest rabbit hole" because it touches every aspect of health, family, and society.

Whether you agree with every perspective or not, this conversation challenges listeners to ask questions, become informed, and reconsider the role fathers can play in protecting and supporting mothers during birth.

About Travis Stroud:

Travis is a 31-year-old husband and father in the small town of Brunswick, Maryland. On Valentine's Day in 2024, he and his wife welcomed their daughter through a planned free birth at home Travis was the sole birth attendant, and together they managed every aspect of the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey, with the exception of some postpartum support from his mother-in-law.

The couple spent nearly two years preparing, beginning their research and planning back in 2022, before they had even conceived. Their birth experience profoundly changed Travis's perspective on pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood in ways he never expected.

Today, he is passionate about sharing their story and the lessons they learned, inspiring conversations about birth trust, and the incredible role fathers can play in the journey.

Instagram: @Doula.dude

Eyla Cuenca's Uncover Birth Doula Training (Use code STU for 10% off)

Dr. Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth book 

References:

Earthbound Parenting Podcast: Mentorship & the Things That Weave Us with Blyss Young

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentorship-the-things-that-weave-us-with-blyss-young/id1612737552?i=1000776872540

Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep6 Dr Stuart Fischbein: Twins, VBAC, disempowered doctors & hospital systems

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kef3azO2lkResOw4LMCmj?si=2vODGoHQS9Wr_9ikDMkMrg&nd=1&dlsi=f2411fe90011441d

Germany drops routine COVID vaccination advice for healthy people under 75

https://goodoil.news/germany-drops-routine-covid-vaccination-advice-for-healthy-people-under-75/#google_vignette

Discussed in This Episode

• Preparing for Birth Before Pregnancy
• Travis’ Wild Pregnancy & Freebirth Story
• Why Birth Became His Mission
• Who Controls Birth?
• Why Fathers Matter
• How Families Evaluate Risk
• The Importance of Informed Decision-Making
• Why Every Parent Deserves to Understand All of their Options

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

This week, Dr. Stu welcomes Florida midwife Fadwah Halaby for an inspiring conversation about evidence, autonomy, and trusting physiological birth. Before diving into an unforgettable breech twin home birth, Stu takes a deep dive into another one of obstetrics' commonly accepted practices, the "2-centimeter rule" for low-lying placenta, and uncovers the surprisingly weak evidence behind it. 

Together, Stu and Fadwah explore how outdated conventions become hospital policy, why individualized care matters, and what happens when skilled providers support families instead of protocols. From twin growth charts to cord prolapse, patient autonomy, and the realities of home birth, this episode challenges assumptions while celebrating the art and science of physiological birth.

About Fadwah

Fadwah has worked as a nurse since 1992 (34 years) in various areas such as home health, ER, and L&D. For the past 20 years she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife - 8 years in a busy OB practice facilitating hospital birth and office gynecology, and 12 years in her independent home birth practice. She has assisted over 2000 babies to be born with about 700 of those in the community birth setting. She has been offering breech and twin birth in her practice for several years, more often in the past few years since completing formal training through Spinning Babies and Breech Without Borders. The first birth she ever witnessed live (other than her own) was a breech birth, in 1986.

She is a divorced mother of 6 grown children with 5 granddaughters. Currently living in Palm Beach County, south Florida where she has her office and home birth practice, Midwife360. She is currently back to working in a solo practice with back up from various other home birth midwives in the area. She is limiting her practice to 4 births per month and willing to take on breech births from the community whenever she is able as there are no options for breech for most women. She is a licensed autonomous APRN in Florida.

In 2023, she decided to exit the insurance game completely, after offering in-network provision of care through most insurance companies, both private and public. The reasons for this are numerous, but mainly financial and emotional. To help offset the difficulty some families have in affording home birth midwifery (a concierge service to be sure) she started a non profit - Birth Equity Resource. A 501(c)3 designed to attract donors wanting to help those more financially challenged to be able to choose home birth midwifery.

Website: midwife360.com 

Non-Profit: birthequityresource.org

Instagram: @midwife360

References:

Placental edge to internal os distance in the late third trimester and mode of delivery in placenta praevia

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2003.02491.x

Vaginal delivery in women with a low-lying placenta: a systematic review and meta-analysis

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.15622

Fetal Imaging: Executive Summary of a Joint Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Radiology, Society for Pediatric Radiology, and Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Fetal Imaging Workshop

Placenta previa: distance to internal os and mode of delivery

https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2809%2900629-2/fulltext

Birthing Instincts Podcast 378: The Cost of Homebirth, Navigating Insurance in Midwifery, with Fadwah Halaby

A maneuver for head entanglement in term breech/vertex twin labor, by Dr. Stu Fischbein

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ca1028e4b05c5f2d7b157d/t/62e02090874eae67b683bc67/1658855570428/A+Maneuver+for+Head+Entanglement+Published.pdf

Discussed in This Episode

• Where the 2-centimeter low-lying placenta guideline actually came from
• Counseling families about twin pregnancy beyond fear-based statistics
• Fadwah's pathway from hospital midwifery to independent home birth practice
• Preparing for a planned breech twin home birth
• Managing cord prolapse in a breech presentation
• Home birth emergency preparedness and neonatal resuscitation
• The importance of individualized risk assessment over blanket policies

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

What happens when a traumatic first birth becomes the catalyst for a completely different second experience?

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome holistic esthetician Michelle Vaughn to share the story of two births that couldn't have been more different, and how those experiences transformed not only the way she views birth, but the way she approaches health, skincare, motherhood, and everyday living.

Michelle opens up about her husband's stage IV cancer diagnosis, the lifestyle changes that followed, and why she began questioning everything she was putting on and into her family's bodies. Together, they explore common skincare ingredients, sunscreen, deodorant, household products, and practical ways families can begin reducing toxic exposures without becoming overwhelmed.

Whether you're interested in physiologic birth, holistic wellness, or simply making more informed choices for your family, this episode offers thoughtful conversation, personal stories, and plenty to consider.

About Michelle

Michelle Vaughan is a holistic esthetician with 19 years of experience, wellness educator, mom of two, and co-owner of Alma Aesthetics Organic Wellness Spa in Santa Barbara. She’s passionate about helping women and families make informed, balanced choices through holistic skincare, mindful living, and simple everyday wellness. Michelle shares her journey through motherhood, beauty, and healthy living with an approachable, evidence-informed perspective while encouraging others to feel confident in making the choices that are right for them.

Instagram: @michellevaughanklett / @almaaesthetics

Clean Product Recommendations:

Primally Pure

Earth Mama Organics

Under Luna

Living Libations

Branch Basics

Wholesome organics Code Instincts for 20% off

References:

Joint Statement From NACPM and NARM Regarding MEAC’s Withdrawal from U.S. Department of Education Recognition: https://www.nacpm.org/news/joint-statement-from-nacpm-and-narm

Discussed in This Episode

• What MEAC's withdrawal from Department of Education recognition could mean for midwifery education
• Hospital birth versus home birth: one family's dramatically different experiences
• Trauma, healing, and trusting the physiologic birth process
• The connection between skincare, nutrition, inflammation, and overall wellness
• Sunscreen, deodorant, fragrances, household products, and reducing toxic exposure
• Simple swaps families can make without feeling overwhelmed

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Postpartum preeclampsia is one of the least talked about, but potentially most serious, complications after birth. This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss explore what we know, what we don't, and why every new mother should understand the warning signs, even after a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Together they review the latest evidence surrounding postpartum hypertension and postpartum preeclampsia, discuss risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and why postpartum care deserves far more attention than it often receives.

Whether you're currently pregnant, postpartum, or supporting growing families, this episode offers practical information, thoughtful discussion, and an important reminder to trust your instincts when something doesn't feel right.

References:

Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep3 Midwife Blyss Young: Legal restrictions, walking through life & death & advocacy

Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: https://www.ajog.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-9378%2820%2931201-1

Discussed in This Episode

• Researching Postpartum Preeclampsia (PPPE)
• PPPE Risk Factors 
• Symptoms of PPPE And When It Hits
• The importance of postpartum monitoring and listening to your body
• How postpartum hypertension differs from classic preeclampsia
• Current treatment recommendations
• Home blood pressure monitoring
• Recognizing warning signs
• Is PPPE Iatrogenic?
• Why postpartum care shouldn't end at hospital discharge

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

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#birthinginstinctspodcast #homebirth #midwife #BirthWithoutFear #PhysiologicBirth 

This week, we're setting aside our usual topic-driven format to share something even more meaningful: real stories from our fellow travelers.

Join us in reading one of the most moving letters we've ever received.

A certified nurse-midwife shares the heartbreaking story of carrying a daughter diagnosed with anencephaly. Although her daughter, Olivia, was stillborn, she describes her birth as the most beautiful experience of her life, not because of the outcome, but because she was respected, supported, and allowed to birth in a way that brought peace instead of trauma.

This episode is full of inspiring listener stories about twin births, breech births, home birth, and the power of education to preserve options for families around the world.

This conversation is ultimately about more than birth.

It's about autonomy.

It's about courage.

And it's about remembering that even in the hardest moments, peace is still possible. 

References:

Mentorship with Blyss, schedule your clarity call to join at woven-moon.com

What They Don’t Tell Us Podcast: He Was One of the Best OBs in the Country. Midwives Taught Him What He Was Missing.

Book: Between a Shot and a Hard Place, by Joel Warsh

@PerfectUnion on Instagram: "Watch Jacob Rockwell, a man fined for running a red light in Florida while being in Alabama, pop off against the use of the A.I. red light cameras that were used to "identify" him."

Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner

Discussed in This Episode

• The growing loss of human connection in healthcare why less intervention often creates more confidence
• Stillbirth becomes an experience of profound peace.
• Why respectful maternity care matters
• Twin birth stories that challenge common assumptions about "high-risk" pregnancy
• The importance of breech birth skills and preserving birth options
• How preparation, mindset, and autonomy shape lifelong birth memories
• Why confidence, not fear, changes birth experiences.

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

In this episode of Birthing Instincts, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in pregnancy.

Together they explore what lupus is, how it affects pregnancy, and what current evidence says about risks such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital heart block. 

Along the way, Stu revisits the decades-old Hadlock fetal growth curve and questions whether a single growth standard can accurately reflect diverse populations around the world. The conversation highlights the importance of individualized care, informed decision-making, and understanding risk without defaulting to fear-based management.

References:

Instagram Live with @Kristen_Nagle

Reclaiming Birth Gathering: reclaimingbirthconference.com

Made For Birth Podcast: Questioning The Standard of Maternity Care 

Discussed in This Episode

• What systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is and how it affects pregnancy

• Lupus flares, remission, and preconception planning

• Preeclampsia risk in women with lupus

• Hydroxychloroquine safety and use during pregnancy

• Antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy outcomes

• How lupus and preeclampsia can look similar

• The limitations of the Hadlock fetal growth curve

• Population differences in fetal growth and birth weight

• Why individualized care matters more than blanket recommendations

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome birth pioneer, author, filmmaker, and educator Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half-century.

Long before conversations about physiological birth, informed consent, and the over-medicalization of maternity care became mainstream, Suzanne was asking difficult questions. Her groundbreaking 1975 book *Immaculate Deception* challenged routine obstetrical practices and helped spark a movement that continues to influence birth professionals and families around the world.

In this fascinating and deeply personal conversation, Suzanne shares how her own traumatic birth experience and the birth of her daughter led her to investigate maternity care practices, interview women across the country, and ultimately write one of the most important birth books ever published.

This episode is part birth history lesson, part cultural critique, and part love letter to the women who have spent decades protecting physiological birth.

About Suzanne Arms:

Today on Birthing Instincts we're honored to welcome Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half century.

Suzanne is an author, filmmaker, educator, and advocate whose work has helped generations of parents and birth professionals rethink pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early bonding. She is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking book Immaculate Deception. Came out in 1975, which challenged many of the routine practices of modern maternity care, and became a catalyst for change in how birth is understood and supported. Over the decades, Suzanne has co-founded an early free-standing birth center, produced award-winning films about childbirth, and dedicated her life to exploring what she calls the primal period, the critical time from conception through a baby's first year.

Through her organization, Birthing the Future, she continues to champion the idea that how we care for mothers and babies shapes not only individual lives, but the future of our communities and culture. Suzanne's work has inspired countless midwives, doulas, physicians, educators, and families around the world.

Book: Immaculate deception: A new look at women and childbirth in America

Website: birthingthefuture.org

References:

Jennifer Margulis, Substack - The Valorous Vagina: Babies benefit from being born vaginally (moms do too)

The Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH) https://birthpsychology.com/

Pathways to Health pathwaystofamilywellness.org

ACOG Instagram: @acog_org

Discussed in This Episode

The origins of Suzanne Arms' groundbreaking book “Immaculate Deception”

The decline of midwifery and what was lost along the way

How birth practices influence bonding, breastfeeding, and early development

The role of fathers and partners in birth, then and now

Why home birth rates have declined despite growing awareness

The importance of understanding your own birth story

How fear shapes maternity care decisions

The connection between early life experiences, attachment, and culture

What Suzanne believes every pregnant woman should know today

The continuing fight to preserve physiological birth

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

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• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com