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Birthing Instincts

Dr. Stuart Fischbein + Midwife Blyss Young

Dr. Stuart Fischbein and midwife Blyss Young, in their unique style of humor and wisdom, share insights and discuss what's changing in the world of health and birth.

  • 1 hour 30 minutes
    #387 High Risk - What Does It Really Mean?

    Obstetricians regularly use terms like high risk, safer, evidence based and standard of care as if they all have an agreed upon definition. THEY DON'T! Today Blyss & Dr. Stu discuss the use and misuse of language and the corruption of definitions in the maternity care world. What or who determines the standard of care? Are labels of high risk indicative of high risk? Who should determine what safe means? We offer some explanations and strong opinions, shockingly, as to the motivation behind the manipulation of these terms and suggest alternative definitions that we think just makes more sense.

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Defining Medical Terms and Standards
    • Pregnancy and High-Risk Conditions
    • Risk Assessment and Labeling in Healthcare
    • Questioning Evidence-Based Medicine and Safety
    • Exploring the Definition of Physiologic Birth


    Episode resources:


    This show is supported by:


    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    13 November 2024, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 37 minutes
    #386 We've Been Bamboozled, Musings on CTG with Dr. David Hayes

    Join us for an enlightening discussion as we welcome Dr. David Hayes, who brings his expertise to the complex realm of continuous fetal monitoring in labor rooms. Together, we highlight the importance of empowering laboring mothers with information about their birthing choices, as well as sharing our excitement about upcoming speaking engagements focused on home birth and physiologic birth. Blyss also gives us a sneak peek into her plans for mentorship and mom circles, aiming to create a supportive community for new mothers.

    Closing the episode, we take a historical journey through the evolution of obstetric practices, from the early days of fetal heartbeat detection to modern-day debates over unnecessary C-sections. We critically assess the pressures within obstetrics that lead to an over-reliance on technology, reflecting on initiatives like Breach Without Borders that advocate for informed and individualized care. Our discussion also questions the medicalized birth model, emphasizing the need for professionals to push beyond traditional methods for the benefit of laboring women worldwide.


    About Dr. David Hayes

    Doctor Hayes’ primary interests have been obstetrics and gynecology in resource poor settings, out of hospital birth, and critical care obstetrics. A long-time breech birth provider, he is currently the Medical Director of Breech Without Borders, an international non-profit dedicated to the resurrection and promotion of vaginal breech birth worldwide, and is teaching full time while continuing to support vaginal birth of breech presentations and multiples. He is also a co-author of, “A Guide to Physiologic Breech Birth” and the author of the upcoming “Companion Guide to Maternal Fetal Physiology and Fetal Monitoring”.

    He has worked for Médecins Sans Frontières in many roles including Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in multiple projects, a Fistula Repair program, Lassa Fever control program, and Emergency Department coverage. Dr Hayes also operated an out of hospital, full spectrum obstetric practice for twenty years.


    Connect with Dr. David Hayes


    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Birthing Choices and Continuous Monitoring
    • Obstetrics, Technology, and Changing Practices
    • Monitoring Methods in Birth Settings
    • Questioning Medicalized Birth Practices


    Episode resources:


    This show is supported by:


    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    6 November 2024, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 39 minutes
    #385 Co-Sleep Discussion with Integrative Infant Sleep Specialist, Brittany Chambers

    Join us for an enlightening conversation as Brittany Chambers, an integrative infant sleep specialist, shares her wisdom on co-sleeping—a practice that many parents naturally gravitate toward but find themselves battling against societal norms. Together, we challenge the conventional wisdom and prevailing beliefs around infant sleep, examining the intersection of modern science and ancient parenting practices. 

    As we continue our exploration, we turn our focus to the intricate mother-infant dyadic connection and how Western medical practices can sometimes interfere with this natural bond. Drawing from McKenna's research, we discuss the nature of this relationship and critique the modern emphasis on consolidated sleep, which often disregards infants' biological needs. We reflect on historical and cultural shifts in infant sleep practices, highlighting how the rise of hospital births and solitary sleep has suppressed maternal intuition. Our conversation encourages a critical reassessment of these entrenched beliefs and emphasizes the importance of trusting instinctive parenting.

    Finally, we address the complex and often misunderstood topic of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and safe sleep practices for infants. Brittany provides valuable guidelines for safe co-sleeping, highlighting the importance of parental awareness and a supportive sleep environment.

    About Brittany Chambers

    Brittany Chambers, MS, IFSS, is an Integrative Infant Sleep specialist who blends modern science with ancient wisdom to walk women back to their intuition. Britt founded Good Night Moon Child to bring the developmental science, anthropological realities, and neurobiological norms of infant sleep into the mainstream. She also runs Cuddle Crew, an online community for cosleeping moms and works 1:1 and in group settings with mothers all over the world on infant sleep, nervous system regulation, matrescence, and peaceful parenting. Britt incorporates myriad modalities into her work to decode sleep struggles and optimize outcomes for babies and their families. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two young kids.

    Connect with Brittany Chambers

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Co-Sleeping and Mother Nature
    • The Legacy of Infant Sleep Training
    • Safe Co-Sleeping Guidelines and Risk Factors
    • Understanding Safe Sleep Practices for Infants

    Episode resources:


    This show is supported by:


    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    30 October 2024, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 39 minutes
    #384 Aftershock, A conversation with Omari Maynard & Shawnee Benton Gibson

    In this episode, we are honored to feature Omari Maynard, an educator and artist, and Shawnee Benton Gibson, a trauma and grief expert. Omari shares his artistic journey, driven by the tragic loss of his life partner, Shamony Makeba Gibson, and Shawnee offers insights into her work with trauma, grief, and social justice. We explore the impact of systemic challenges in maternity care, emphasizing the need for partnership between healthcare providers and patients, and highlight the emotional journey of dealing with systemic failures. Additionally, we discuss the transformative potential of faith-based support in childbirth and the critical role of diverse birthing options in addressing racial disparities.

    Listen in as we tackle the systemic issues in healthcare, particularly the racial biases that disproportionately affect people of color. We discuss the emotional toll of navigating hospital failures during the pandemic, sharing personal stories of loss and the urgent need for change. We also celebrate the life of Shamony through the Aftershock event, blending art and advocacy to engage the community on maternal health issues. Finally, we explore the revitalization of wise medicine women and the importance of storytelling and art in education, introducing initiatives that support Black and Brown families in their maternal health journeys. Through genuine connections and collective support, we strive to empower and inspire our listeners to advocate for a more just and humane healthcare system.

    About Shawnee Benton Gibson

    Shawnee Benton Gibson, LMSW / FDLC, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spirit of A Woman (SOW) Leadership Development Institute; established in 2002 to educate, elevate and effect positive and sustainable transformation for individuals, groups, families, communities and leaders within institutions. Under Shawnee's leadership and vision, SOW offers innovative coaching, counseling and training experiences to those who are seeking to expand their power, purpose and impact in the world.

    Ms. Benton Gibson is a licensed practitioner with over 31 years of professional experience. She is also the Co-Founder of the ARIAH Foundation (The Advancement of Reproductive Innovation Through Artistry & Healing) which was created in memory of her eldest daughter, Shamony Makeba Gibson who passed away on October 6, 2019 due to complications associated with giving birth. Shamony’s story and Shawnee’s reproductive activism are depicted in the award winning documentary “Aftershock” which addresses the black maternal health crisis in the United States and its origins.

    Shawnee’s expertise ranges from substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, child welfare, youth development, individual, family and group counseling, trauma, grief, loss and bereavement, women’s health and leadership, birth equity, racial equity, social and restorative justice. Shawnee employs a holistic, cultural and spiritual approach to her work and applies a racial equity, social justice lens as the foundation for all of the programs and services that her company provides. Her principal teaching, training and healing tools consist of spiritual counseling, vision coaching, psychodrama, sociometry, sacred rituals, energy work, the performing arts and storytelling as mediums to ignite transformation and initiate catharsis. According to Shawnee, doing healing work is ""a labor of love and liberation"".

    Connect with Shawnee Benton Gibson


    About Omari “Muz” Maynard

    Omari Maynard is an educator by trade and an artist by craft. He has received his bachelor's degree in Marketing from Hampton University, an MBA and a Masters in Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida, and a Masters degree in Special Education from Long Island University. With these degrees, he has worked for the NBA, for sports marketing companies, not for profit organizations, and the Department of Education.

    As a child, he watched his uncle, Leo Carty, a highly accomplished artist, and Fulton Art Fair alumni, create beautiful masterpieces. He dabbled in exploring his artistry at an early age but did not pursue his artistic talents until he graduated from college. In 2016, Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business. Art-fulliving is a lifestyle and event planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned in October 2019, due to complications after giving birth to their second child. Her untimely passing has provided Omari with a drive to live his life as creatively and purposefully as possible.

    Today he draws his creative inspiration from his family, life experiences, cultural influences, and his environment. His use of color, dimension, and texture exhibits true, raw, and natural talent. The evolution of artistry is evident in his work. His pieces tell stories that are thought provoking, intellectually inspiring, and technically sound.

    Connect with Omari "Muz" Maynard


    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Healing Through Art
    • Challenges in Maternity Care System
    • Birthing Advocacy and Faith-Based Support
    • Navigating Hospital Failures and Loss
    • Celebrating Life and Maternal Health
    • Empowering Through Art and Advocacy


    Episode resources:


    This show is supported by:


    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    23 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 56 minutes
    #383 There Can Be Healing in Loss

    What if the moments of greatest sorrow could reveal the most profound truths about life? Join Dr. Stu and Blyss in a heartfelt discussion about stillbirth and loss as we navigate the complex emotions and challenges faced by families and healthcare providers alike. We promise to provide an understanding of the statistics and causes behind these tragic events while emphasizing the importance of compassion and communication in the healing process. Our journey includes personal reflections on loss, not only from a professional standpoint but also through poignant personal experiences, highlighting how grief shapes us and fosters a deeper connection to those around us.

    We dive into the systemic issues within healthcare systems that can hinder open dialogue and emotional processing, advocating for supportive measures that promote healing. From navigating difficult medical decisions in the wake of a traumatic loss to finding meaning amidst grief, we examine how society's disconnect from natural life processes can impact our understanding and acceptance of birth and death.

    We also provide practical ways of supporting grieving families and partners, offering strategies for comfort and thoughtful gestures that acknowledge their loss. By sharing human experiences and insights, we aim to foster an environment of open dialogue and understanding, encouraging listeners to embrace life's vivid contrasts and continue conversations about grief, resilience, and the enduring influence of those we've lost.

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Navigating Infant Loss and Stillbirth
    • Dealing With Loss and Grief
    • Understanding Stillbirth and Causes
    • Decision Making After Loss
    • Honoring Memories After Loss
    • Supporting Grieving Families and Partners


    Episode resources:


    This show is supported by:


    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    16 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 42 minutes
    #382 Tongue-Tie: A Discussion on a Multi-Disciplinary Approach with Dr. Chelsea Pinto & More Than Just a Mom, Cierra Rider

    Dr. Stu and Blyss are joined by Cierra Rider and Chelsea Pinto, two inspiring individuals championing maternal care. Cierra shares her transformative motherhood journey and the significance of tapping into maternal intuition. Chelsea, a dentist with a unique devotion to maternal and family care, provides insights into oral restrictions in children. Together, we foster a constructive debate on topics like co-sleeping and tongue-tie diagnosis, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives and informed decision-making in parental care.

    About Cierra Rider:

    I am a wife and a mother to two amazing kiddos, Knyte & Rebel. My pregnancy and birth with my 1st was an eye and full body opening experience, as it is for many moms. His birth was a rebirth for me. I was no longer the same woman I was before, nor did I want to be, even if society tried to tell me I should. I have the opportunity to walk alongside mothers during their rite of passage of going from maiden to mother through breastfeeding support, choosing a support team & planning their ideal pregnancy, birth, & postpartum, childbirth education, virtual doula services, and in 2025, cranial sacral therapy for breastfeeding support. I believe in supporting the mother-baby dyad and making decisions to reinforce this connection. Motherhood should and can be enjoyed with ease when a mother begins to tune into her God given intuition and realizes what's common isn't normal.

    About Dr. Chelsea Pinto:

    Dr. Chelsea Pinto is an educator and dentist in Woodland Hills/Los Angeles that has solely dedicated her practice to focus on Infant-Toddler Tongue and Lip Ties. Dr. Pinto earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the USC Ostrow School of Dentistry and completed a post-graduate General Residency Program. She has successfully treated thousands of babies with oral restrictions and proudly provides families with the knowledge to support their child’s oral motor skills, including appropriate therapeutic and feeding support referrals for an individualized and comprehensive approach.

    Connect with Cierra Rider:

    Connect with Dr. Chelsea Pinto:

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Empowering Birth Choices With Education
    • The Power of Motherly Intuition
    • Understanding Tongue Tie & Overdiagnosis
    • Clinical Perspectives on Tongue Tie Diagnosis
    • The Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Care
    • Navigating Tongue Tie Decisions for Parents
    • Community-Based Care for Tongue Tie
    • Holistic Approach to Infant Care

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    9 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 40 minutes
    #381 Triumphant Birthing with Twin Mom, Jamie Raisleger

    Jamie’s journey is nothing short of miraculous. After being told by doctors that she might never have children due to her extensive medical history, she found hope and healing at a holistic retreat in Michigan. This pivotal experience not only alleviated her chronic pain but also transformed her outlook on health and shifted her career path from medical school to holistic health. As Jamie shares her story, we learn about the profound impact these experiences had on her life choices, particularly in her journey to motherhood.

    Jamie’s personal narrative underscores the importance of self-advocacy. From preparing for a second child with spiritual intention to managing a twin pregnancy with meticulous care, her insights offer valuable lessons for expectant mothers. We discuss the complexities of labor, the emotional highs and lows, and the significance of creating a supportive birthing environment. Jamie's candid reflections remind us of the balance between medical interventions and personal instincts during pregnancy and childbirth.

    Join us as we explore the profound, spiritual, and sometimes unexpected journey of childbirth through Jamie’s eyes, celebrating the resilience and strength of motherhood.

    About Jamie Raisleger:

    Jamie Raisleger is a wife and mother to three children including a five-year-old and twin babies. She is a birth doula and childbirth educator with a Bachelor’s in Human Biology and caught the birth bug when she attended her first birth in 2009.

    Jamie's extensive experience as a patient within the medical system at an early age taught her to dig deeper when given boilerplate answers, navigate research articles, demand adequate and thoughtful care, and pursue solutions outside of the mainstream recommendations.

    In her childbearing years, she has become a huge advocate for bodily autonomy, access to birth options, and nervous system resilience work for her clients and herself. She chose a home birth for her first baby and continued to use her experiences, background, and Holy Spirit guidance to navigate her twin pregnancy and out-of-hospital birth in March of this year.

    Her days are now spent mothering her children, holding space for birthing families, and hosting The Triumphant Birth Podcast, a new show focusing on expert interviews, inspiring stories, and creating legacies of wholeness and healing through pregnancy and birth for our children's children's children.

    Connect with Jamie Raisleger

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Navigating the Journey to Motherhood
    • Preparing for Twin Pregnancy and Birth
    • Labor Signs and Arrival at Birth
    • Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage in Twins
    • Empowering Women in Birth Choices
    • Home Birth Advocacy and Childbirth Experience

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:


    2 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    #380 Birth Stories from South Sudan with Kristine Lauria

    This special episode is a re-release of episode 245 with the amazing Kristine Lauria.

    Kristine Lauria, an incredibly skilled midwife & storyteller, joins our podcast to share her amazing midwifery wisdom. Kristine specializes in high risk obstetrics and is a staunch advocate for autonomy in women's health, working internationally for MSF (Doctors Without Border) providing humanitarian aid. Blyss & Dr. Stu feel blessed by and in awe of her kindred spirit as she shares her stories, wisdom, and what happens when we don’t interfere in birth. 

    In this episode of the Birthing Instincts Podcast:

    • Kristine’s experiences working in high risk international births
    • The differences in birthing in South Sudan versus the U.S
    • How she keeps their cesarean rates so low
    • What happens in breech and twin births when there’s no intervention

    Follow Kristine:

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    25 September 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    #379 Oxytocin: What's the Story? With Dr. Sarah Buckley

    In this episode, we explore the intricacies of childbirth with the esteemed Dr. Sarah Buckley, a renowned medical doctor and family physician. Sarah shares her unique insights into the hormonal physiology of childbirth, shaped by her personal experiences of home births and the influential teachings of Michel Odent. Sarah's profound advocacy for natural birth processes, combining her medical expertise with personal experiences, offers invaluable perspectives for anyone in the birthing community.

    We discuss the implications of synthetic oxytocin and epidurals on labor, emphasizing the importance of natural oxytocin for pain relief, stress reduction, and mother-infant bonding. The conversation also highlights the significance of personalized midwifery care, skin-to-skin contact post-birth, and the holistic approach to labor that respects both hormonal and hemodynamic factors. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of these critical issues from both a scientific and evolutionary perspective.

    About Dr. Sarah Buckley:

    Dr. Sarah Buckley is trained as a family physician/GP with qualifications in GP-obstetrics. She has been writing and lecturing to childbirth professionals and parents since 1997 and is the author of the internationally best-selling book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering. Sarah has a special interest in the hormones of physiological labor and birth and the impacts of maternity-care interventions. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, researching oxytocin in labor and birth and the impacts of interventions.

    She has co-authored several papers on oxytocin in labor, birth, and breastfeeding, and is the author of the 2015 report Hormonal Physiology of Childbirth.

    Sarah is also the mother of four adult children, all born at home.

    Connect with Dr. Sarah Buckley

    Resources from Dr. Sarah Buckley:

    Key highlights:

    • Impact of Medical Interventions on Births
    • Effects of Pitocin in the Body
    • Effect of Oxytocin on Labor
    • Synthetic Oxytocin and Postpartum Depression
    • Effect of Epidurals on Babies
    • Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:


    18 September 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    #378 The Cost of Homebirth, Navigating Insurance in Midwifery

    Ever wondered what it takes to provide accessible midwifery care in today's complex healthcare landscape? Join Blyss as she chats with Fadwah Halaby, a seasoned certified nurse midwife, whose journey from being inspired by Ina May Gaskin's book to navigating the intricacies of midwifery practice is nothing short of fascinating. Fadwah's insights shed light on the vital differences between hospital and home births, and the struggle to stay true to midwifery principles within hospital constraints. You will hear how she finds fulfillment in delivering evidence-based, respectful care and her vision for building a dedicated team to serve diverse communities.

    Fadwah shares why it was important for her to contract with insurance companies to make home births accessible to all women. She sheds light on the struggles of getting fair compensation to ensure the sustainability of midwifery services which eventually led her to leave the insurance model and start a grassroots movement to make midwifery care more accessible. By gathering community support through her non-profit and removing financial barriers for families looking for midwifery care, Fadwah hopes to expand the movement to be able to help families on a larger scale and address systemic inequalities.

    About P Fadwah Halaby:

    Fadwah has worked as a nurse since 1992 (32 years) in various areas such as home health, ER, and L&D. For the past 18 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 10 years in her independent home birth practice. She has assisted over 2000 babies to be born with about 500 of those in the community birth setting. She has been offering breech and twin birth in her practice for 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.

    Connect with Fadwah Halaby:

    Key highlights:

    • Challenges of Midwifery Care Accessibility
    • Expertise in Breech and Twin Births
    • Navigating Midwifery Care Insurance Challenges
    • Equitable Compensation for Birth Workers
    • Accessible Midwifery Care Financing Solutions

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:


    11 September 2024, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    #377 Supporting Babies Through Cranial Sacral Therapy

    What if the secret to a balanced and healthy life lies in ancient healing practices? With Dr. Stu away in Australia, Blyss is thrilled to welcome Maura Moynihan, a versatile healer specializing in chiropractic, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and spiritual psychology. Maura shares her remarkable journey in the healing arts, her dedication to supporting families and babies, and the transformative power of breathwork and nature connections.

    Through engaging stories and enlightening encounters, Maura highlights how craniosacral therapy can help mothers and newborns by supporting the nervous systems. You'll learn about the contrasts between chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy, and why addressing traumatic births is crucial for long-term health.

    Maura shares her latest endeavors in doula training and spiritual psychology, emphasizing the need for a holistic, integrative approach to health. Whether you're a new mom, a healer, or someone eager to learn about holistic practices, this episode offers valuable wisdom for nurturing both body and soul. 

    About Dr. Maura Moynihan:

    Dr. Maura Moynihan D.C., M.A., started her career serving mothers and children by helping them connect to their innate healing capacity through chiropractic and craniosacral care. Dr. Maura now uses her background with nervous system regulation and the wisdom of the body in her soul-based coaching work with female entrepreneurs, healers, facilitators, and seekers. Dr. Maura and her husband certify practitioners in Revelation Breathwork, a somatic healing modality based on spiritual psychology. Dr. Maura currently works with clients in a 1:1 format, through workshops, doula trainings, mentorships, and MoonRise Mastermind. She lives in Asheville with Jason and their four sons.

    Connect with Dr. Moynihan:

    Key highlights:

    • Impact of Craniosacral Therapy on Babies
    • Supporting Babies' Nervous Systems
    • Spiritual Psychology and Holistic Healing
    • Embracing Authentic Emotions in Birth
    • Understanding Pain and Trauma in Birth

    Episode resources:

    This show is supported by:

    Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:

    4 September 2024, 10:00 am
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