- 1 hour 21 minutes#478: Deception In Documentation Is Pervasive & Pernicious
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
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands12 August 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 35 minutes#477: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR): Our Chat with Doula Dude, Travis Stroud
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
Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep6 Dr Stuart Fischbein: Twins, VBAC, disempowered doctors & hospital systems
Germany drops routine COVID vaccination advice for healthy people under 75
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands5 August 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 27 minutes#476: Questioning the 2 cm Placenta Rule & A Remarkable Breech Twin Birth with Fadwah Halaby
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
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands29 July 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 34 minutes#475: Birth Story & Body Health with Holistic Aesthetician, Michelle Vaughan
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:
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands22 July 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 39 minutes#474: The Mystery Of Postpartum Preeclampsia
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands15 July 2026, 7:00 am - 1 hour 16 minutes#473: Pursuing Peace With Courage & Confidence
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
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands8 July 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 14 minutes#472: Lupus in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks Without the Fear
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands1 July 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 26 minutes#471: How Birth Shapes Mothers, Babies, and The Future, with Suzanne Arms
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
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands24 June 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 11 minutes470: "Allowed" To Birth with Documentary Filmmaker, Jacinta Lagos
What happens when a birth photographer picks up a camera and decides she can no longer stay silent?
This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome Jacinta Lagos, an award-winning birth photographer, doula, filmmaker, and creator of the powerful new documentary, Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife.
Born and raised in Argentina, Jacinta grew up believing cesarean birth was simply "how babies were born." After immigrating to the United States and discovering the world of birth photography, she witnessed both the beauty of physiological birth and the realities of obstetric violence. Armed with a single camera, relentless determination, and a passion for storytelling, she set out to create a documentary that challenges the stories we've been told about birth.
Centered around the extraordinary work of global midwife Kristine Lauria, Allowed to Birth weaves together voices from around the world to explore the tension between physiology and policy, autonomy and authority, fear and trust.
Birth belongs to women. Stories preserve wisdom. And sometimes all it takes to change hearts and minds is one person willing to press record.
About Jacinta Lagos:
Jacinta is an Argentinian 40 year old, a mom of 3. She's married to the guy who got a job offer in the USA and decided to move in 2017. She has had a camera in hand since ever. Video and film has always been a passion of her, since she was a little girl. Back in Argentina, she had a successful business in the wedding videography industry, and when she moved to the states with 2 little kids, she decided to stop giving away all of her weekends to attend weddings.
That was when she found out that birth documenting was a thing: in Argentina, that would be completely unheard of.
She started doing birth videography and photography in 2019, got her doula training in 2020 and has attended 200 births since. She has won many awards, she's been published and is considered one of the best birth documentarians in the world. She finds birth work to be her true calling in this life.
In 2024 started working on her first documentary feature film ""Allowed to birth: the journey of a global midwife"", which will come out at the end of the summer.
Website: allowedtobirth.com / jacintalagos.com
Instagram: @allowedtobirth / @jacintalagosbirthservices
Discussed in This Episode
Argentina's Cesarean Culture
The surprising origin story behind the documentary Allowed to Birth
The significance of the word "allowed" in maternity care
Birth Around the World: Perspectives beyond American maternity care.
The difference between hospital policy and patient rights
Kristine Lauria's impact as a teacher and global midwife
An award-winning documentary with one camera and determination
The Hidden Message About Female Obstetricians
Why documenting birth can become a powerful form of advocacy
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
- Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands17 June 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 33 minutes#469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?
This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected “big babies”.
Prompted by a recent social media post from a prominent obstetric influencer, they examine two studies being used to justify earlier inductions for "big babies" and ask an important question: do the data actually support the conclusions being promoted?
Along the way, Blyss and Stu challenge listeners to look beyond headlines and social media summaries, examine how studies are designed, and consider whether interventions are being recommended based on meaningful risk reduction, or simply because they can be.
The episode emphasizes the importance of respecting nature's design, individualizing care, and helping families understand the difference between relative risk, absolute risk, and true informed choice.
References:
AJOG MFM Article: Induction at 38 weeks for large-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses decreases the incidence of cesarean delivery: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(26)00008-X/fulltext
The Lancet Article: Induction of labour versus standard care to prevent shoulder
dystocia in fetuses suspected to be large for gestational age in the UK (the Big Baby trial): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2825%2900162-X
Birthing Instincts Podcast #431: "Hold Your Beer" It's Fetal Macrosomia Guidelines
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MJg92Du4WLUn7P8ypPBVc?si=SJ6YtH6CRMKClgCDGdXXqw
Discussed in This Episode
Analysis of the BIG BABY Trial
Why statistical significance does not always equal clinical significance
What shoulder dystocia rates actually mean
Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) v true macrosomia
Accuracy limitations of estimated fetal weight
How labels like "big baby" often trigger cascades of intervention
Differences between physiologic birth and hospital management
What informed consent should actually look like when discussing risks
The often-overlooked downstream consequences of routine induction
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
- Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands10 June 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 43 minutes#468: Everybody's Doing It", Not A Legal Standard Of Care With Hermine Hayes-Klein, ESQ.
What happens when hospitals decide informed consent no longer applies to breech birth?
In this powerful and deeply important episode, Blyss and Stu welcome back attorney and birth rights advocate Hermine Hayes-Klein to unpack a landmark Oregon malpractice trial centered on coercion, informed consent, and the growing normalization of mandatory cesarean sections for breech babies.
This is not just a conversation about breech birth. It’s a conversation about power, coercion, medical culture, and whether women still have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies during childbirth.
If you care about birth autonomy, informed consent, or preserving disappearing birth skills, this is an episode you cannot miss.
About Hermine Hayes-Klein:
Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an attorney and advocate for reproductive justice and human rights in pregnancy and childbirth. Hermine works on legal actions and advocacy projects related to preventable injury and informed consent violations in childbirth, and advocacy for access to midwives and doulas around the US and beyond. Hermine began her international advocacy for the recognition of human rights in childbirth when she was teaching law at The Hague University in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2012, and organized 6 international conferences on that topic in the US, Europe, South Africa, and India. She has worked on many cases related to breech birth for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Website: https://fringeheals.com/
Instagram: @fringeheals
Blog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.
Email: [email protected]
References:
Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHA
CHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDED
Mentorship with Blyss: wovenmoon.com
Elena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?
Dr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickham
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2Vx
Discussed in This Episode
The dangerous misuse of the phrase “standard of care”
Why informed consent is a legal duty, not a physician preference
How hospital policies quietly override individualized care
The lasting trauma many women experience during cesareans and epidurals
The legacy and flaws of the infamous Term Breech Trial
Why bodily autonomy in childbirth matters now more 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
- Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!
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
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands3 June 2026, 10:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App