For Nurse's Week 2024, we wanted to share a replay of one of our favorite episodes at EBB, and that is an interview with Melissa Anne DuBois about shifting from hospital labor and delivery nurse to home birth advocate.

Content note: Discussion of obstetric racism and graphic description of obstetric violence.

Melissa Anne DuBois is an experienced perinatal nurse living in Central Massachusetts. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Nursing in 2006 and has worked in a variety of perinatal settings since 2007 including in-patient labor and delivery, high-risk obstetrics, outpatient OB-GYN, homebirth, and postpartum home health. Melissa Anne became a childbirth educator in 2011 and a lactation counselor in 2014 and currently teaches childbirth classes for babiesincommon.com. Melissa Anne is also the mother of three children.

In today’s replay, you’re going to listen to Melissa tell her birth story, as well as her unique perspective on labor and delivery nursing, which came out of her own traumatic birth experience, witnessing obstetric violence and obstetric racism for many years as a labor & delivery nurse, and seeing outdated procedures being performed in hospital settings. Melissa went on to have a healing birth at home, and to get involved in advocacy for expanding home birth options for families. At the end of the podcast, we will share a brief update on what Melissa is up to now! 

Resources:

• Learn more about Melissa Anne DuBois and Babies in Common here. Listen to Melissa’s podcast, “Babies in Common Show” on Apple here and Spotify here. Follow Babies in Common on Facebook and Instagram.
• View “The Business Of Being Born” here.
• Learn about Krysta Dancy and Birth Trauma Support.
• Learn more about the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
• Learn more about the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Click here to see the Evidence Based Birth® list of Birth Justice Resources, including research on racism and maternal health.

 

EBB Resources:

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

Join us in diving deep into Myla Flores' incredible story of becoming a leader and visionary in the birth field! From Myla's early experiences as a birth doula to her ongoing advocacy for safe, dignified birth options, Myla's passion shines through as she discusses the challenges and triumphs of birth work. 

Discover how The Womb Bus, a mobile wellness hub, brings essential education, resources, and outreach to blossoming families in under-resourced areas. Learn about Myla's vision for The Birthing Place, a future birth center that will offer midwifery-led collaborative care, and about group efforts to expand access to safe, informed reproductive care for all. Tune in to hear firsthand accounts of the impact The Womb Bus has had on neighborhoods in NYC, providing vital services and support to those who need it most. From fibroid screenings to lactation support, Myla and her team are breaking down barriers and creating pathways to reproductive wellness and empowerment.

Learn more about The Birthing Place and The Womb Bus here! Follow The Birthing Place on Instagram here. Follow Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness on Instagram here. The Birthing Place is launching a capital campaign! Learn more and support their growth.  

EBB Resources:

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

Dr. Rebecca Dekker is joined by Joyce Dykema, doula and EBB Instructor, and Brianna Fields, a labor and delivery nurse, to discuss advocating for positive shifts in birth culture, particularly in Nebraska. Joyce shares her journey into birth work and the impact of the Evidence Based Birth Instructor program on accessing research evidence, highlighting changes in hospital practices and provider attitudes that support more diverse birthing options.   Brianna discusses her experience in Joyce's EBB Comfort Measures Workshop—which covers the importance of language, positioning, acupressure, and eating and drinking during labor. Together, Joyce and Brianna talk about the need for ongoing education for nurses so that they can provide optimal support during childbirth. Joyce also opens up about the legislative challenges facing the birth community in Nebraska. Tune in to this episode learn about doulas and nurses advocating together, using research evidence to make positive changes in birth culture.   Resources: Check out EBB Continuing Education events (including the EBB Comfort Measures Workshop) for Professionals here. Get on the wait list for the EBB Instructor program here. Visit Joyce's website and see her upcoming events here! Follow Joyce on Instagram here.

 

EBB Resources:

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

What is a doula, and what are the different types of doulas? How many people use doulas during childbirth, and what does a doula actually do? Are there any randomized, controlled trials on doula support? What are the benefits and risks of having a doula, if any? And if the evidence shows that doulas improve health outcomes… then why are some hospitals around the world unsupportive of labor companions? And how can you find a doula if you’re interested in having one at your birth?   

Today’s podcast episode with Dr. Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA, is chock full of research from our peer-reviewed Evidence Based Birth® Signature Article: The Evidence on Doulas.  

To learn more, download a free one-page handout, and view all the research references, go to ebbirth.com/doulas.   

EBB Resources:  

• Access all the scientific references and a free 1-page handout at the EBB Signature Article: Evidence on Doulas here.     

• If you’re a visual learner, watch a video about the Evidence on Doulas on the EBB YouTube channel here!  

• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship program, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a full-length printable PDF on "Evidence on: Doulas") by joining here. 

• Learn comfort measures and advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.  

EBB Podcasts: 

• EBB 195 – Grief & Healing through Pregnancy and Infant Loss with Full Spectrum Doula, Rose Rankin 

• EBB 207 – Gender Affirming Birth Work and Education with Full-Spectrum Doula and Childbirth Educator, Moss Froom 

• EBB 211 – Supporting Expectant Families through Birth and Lactation with Birth Doula and EBB Instructor Coordinator, Rikki Jenkins 

• EBB 229 – Evidence on Doulas with Community-Based Models and Reimbursement 

• EBB 252 – A Candid Conversation about Doula Advocacy with Doula and EBB Instructor Leslie Greene 

• EBB 285 – Creating a Sustainable Career in Birth Work with Jessica Diggs, Doula Mentor and Co-Founder of Centered.  

 

Curious which toxins should be most avoided for people of reproductive age and their children? In this episode, Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo, LM, CPM, MPH, PhD unravels the intricate connection between environmental exposures and their profound impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. We will explore the hidden risks associated with heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.

You'll learn about the research on how environmental exposures contribute to issues like reduced birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental delays. Plus, Dr. Taiwo teaches about the unequal distribution of these exposures across populations, what parents can do to test their environments for unwanted elements, and how midwives can be part of the solution for environmental justice.

Content Note: Listener discretion is advised. This episode includes a stark discussion of common environmental exposures, social factors, and their impact on pregnancy and infant health outcomes. Toward the end of the episode [from 37:12 to 41:08], there is a brief discussion of traumatic historical events (including the Holocaust and chattel slavery) and their subsequent impact on environmental toxins.

 

Resources:

• Learn more about the Environmental Working Group
  • Download EWG's Healthy Living app here.
• Check your cosmetics with the California Breat Cancer Prevention Partners
• Check out The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)

Read Some of Dr. Taiwo's Work:

• The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States
• Maternal Prenatal Stress and Child Neurodevelopment
• Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder and Reproductive Justice: Examining Unmet Needs for Mental Health and Social Services in a National Cohort

EBB Resources:

• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

Follow Evidence Based Birth:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X

   

In this episode, Ellora La Shier, graduate of the EBB Childbirth Class, shares about her struggle with six years of unexplained infertility and how it impacted her eventual birth story. Listen in as Ellora describes the frustration of unexplained infertility, suffering through years of increasingly painful periods, and the relief of finally receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis. Despite facing numerous challenges and undergoing various treatments, including intrauterine insemination (IUI), Ellora remained determined and resilient.   Finally, after years, Ellora underwent surgery to remove the abnormal tissue caused by endometriosis. Following surgery, she and her husband were overjoyed to discover that they quickly became pregnant. Although this pregnancy marked the end of a long and challenging infertility journey, Ellora still had to process the many years of healthcare dismissal and her complicated relationship with pain, and how this would impact her eventual unmedicated birth. Ellora's story highlights the importance of perseverance, self-advocacy, and finding supportive healthcare providers in navigating the complexities of infertility and reproductive health.   Resources

• Find evidence-based information about infertility here.

  EBB Resources:

• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

  Follow Evidence Based Birth:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X

As we wrap up the celebration of World Doula Week, explore the transformative journey of pregnancy and childbirth in the Indian context with Divya Deswal and Neha Misra, founders of The Doula Collective©️. In this interview, Divya and Neha shed light on the unique challenges and triumphs faced by expectant families in India. You'll learn how The Doula Collective©️, with its culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach, is reshaping the landscape of birth support! 

Also... have you ever heard of a year-long doula training program? Divya and Neha share the intricacies of their in-depth doula training program and how it goes beyond traditional methods to create a profound impact on both birth practitioners and families. Join us as we confront the barriers that doulas face in a system where their role is often misunderstood. We end with an exploration of the soulful aspects of birth trauma, physical challenges of birth and birth work, and the power of resilience.

Learn more about The Doula Collective here: https://thedoulacollective.in/

Follow their work on Instagram: @thedoulacollective.in

EBB Resources:

• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

Follow Evidence Based Birth:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X

You're going to love this family-centered birth story with Dr. Dekker's brother John DeYoung and his wife Krista DeYoung! On today's episode, Krista and John (who are graduates of the EBB Childbirth Class with EBB Instructor Chanté Perryman) get vulnerable and open up about their complex pregnancy and son Eli's miraculous birth story. In addition to facing a pregnancy with a prior diagnosis of Crohn's disease, they also had to cope with lockdowns during the pandemic, genetic concerns including an initial diagnosis of triploidy, a HUGE and abnormally low-functioning placenta, potential growth restriction, a 39-week induction, and placental retention that led to abnormal postpartum bleeding.

In addition to being inspired by John and Krista's unique story, you will also learn about the emotional rollercoaster of confronting a fatal genetic diagnosis that turns out to be a false positive. You will also hear from John about how active participating in childbirth and parenting has been an incredibly healing process for him— as John was adopted as a child and had no known blood relatives before Eli was born. And don't miss the end of the episode, when you find out about a surprise condition that was the cause of Krista's placental abnormalities.

Tune in for an empowering and insightful discussion that sheds light on the complexities of high-risk pregnancies and the role of evidence-based care in navigating challenging pregnancy and birth scenarios.

Content Note: This episode discusses high-risk pregnancies, history of bonding difficulties related to being adopted, concerns about fatal genetic diagnoses that may result in termination, false-positive genetic diagnoses, medical interventions, the potential of losing a baby in pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, and abnormal postpartum bleeding. Although everything turns out okay for our guests in this episode, we recognize that not all pregnancies with genetic complications have happy endings.

Resources  

• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here!
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

Other Resources

• Learn more about Antiphospholipid Syndrome here.
• Learn about pregnancy and Crohn's Disease here, from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation

Follow Evidence Based Birth

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Welcome to a special Q &A episode of the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast! Today I address some of your burning questions on key childbirth topics!

In this episode, I share evidence on the (unproven) relationship between synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) administration and postpartum depression, the complexities of delayed cord clamping and the power dynamics around requesting delayed cord clamping, the use of Nubain (an IV opioid) for pain relief during labor and its potential impact on babies, and the latest insights into consuming the placenta—whether it's dehydrated, freeze-dried, or consumed raw.

EBB Resources:

• The EBB Pocket Guide to Interventions
• Evidence on: Pitocin During the Third Stage of Labor
• Effects of IV Opioids during Labor
• The Evidence on Placenta Encapsulation
• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

In this episode, we chat with obstetrician Dr. Danielle Jones, aka Mama Doctor Jones, about challenging norms in pregnancy and childbirth. Dr. Jones passionately advocates for patient autonomy as we dive into the resistance to eating and drinking from the anesthesia community, debunk myths on this hot topic, and call on healthcare professionals to prioritize evidence-based practices.

We also discuss the challenges nurses and obstetricians face in changing hospital policies, especially when confronted by powerful figures resistant to evidence-based approaches. Dr. Jones urges professionals to find allies and use data-driven discussions to challenge outdated norms. We wrap up by discussing other prevalent myths in pregnancy and childbirth, emphasizing the tactics of misinformation spreaders and the importance of critical thinking in evaluating online information.

Content Note: This episode includes discussions on the Dobbs decision, abortion for fetal abnormalities, and life-threatening medical complications.

EBB Resources:

• Evidence on: Eating and Drinking During Labor
• The Evidence on: Breech Version
• Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
• Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
• Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.

Keep Learning from Mama Doctor Jones:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• X

Delve into a powerful and emotional conversation with the incredible Kellie McKinnon, a military spouse, San Diego-based personal trainer, and graduate of the Evidence Based Birth®️ Childbirth Class! In this episode, Kellie shares her unique and challenging journey through pregnancy while her partner was deployed. We explore the emotional and logistical aspects of facing pregnancy and childbirth without the physical presence of a partner. Discover the importance of a doula, the role of childbirth education, and the unexpected challenges within the military healthcare system.

If you're an expecting military spouse, Kellie's experiences offer valuable insights into the strength, resilience, and the unique challenges faced by many military families during this transformative journey.

Content Note: This episode contains emotional discussions separation anxiety due to partner deployment, experiences of loneliness and isolation, and challenges within the military healthcare system.

Learn about perinatal and postnatal fitness with Kellie on Instragram: @kel.mck.fit  

EBB Resources: 

• EBB Signature Article on PROM
• EBB 75: Birth in Twilight Sleep—The Experiences of Rebecca's Mom
• EBB 83: Why Families Need Postpartum Care
• EBB 286: The Importance of Postpartum Support, with the Founder of InKind Boxes Maria Berglund
• EBB 114: Fighting for Birth Needs as a Single Parent, with Jenny Russell