In this episode, Adriana Lozada of the Birthful podcast joins us to jam out on all things physiological pregnancy prep and birth support. What does the term “physiological birth” even mean? How do our minds influence our physiology? How do chemicals influence our physiology? And, what is considered an intervention. Does more technology equal a “safer” birth? Is a home birth the only way to have a physiological birth? And, what is the role of the doula in supporting a physiological birth? Statistics show having a doula in the birthing space improves birth outcomes. What is the superpower that doulas specifically bring to the birth?Adriana talks about her own birth. She mentions how it went well ‘on paper’, but it was not the experience she desired. She talks about the importance of internal work i.e the mindset along with the external work. Everything else we do will not help if we are not equipped with the mental tools we need to have a safe and calm birth.In addition, we discuss the importance of hormones. Especially unhindered flow of the oxytocin in labor and how the modern day birthing environment is inhibiting it. We discuss inhibitors such as the pressure of giving birth on or before the due date, continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labor for low risk birthers, and the importance of surrendering to your intuition for physiological birth.In this episode Adriana really breaks it down into actionable ways we, as birth workers and families, work towards getting the pregnancy, birth and recovery desired.   Website: https://birthful.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthfulpodcast/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birthful/id948399815

“There’s got to be more to it.” This is what physical therapist and PRI teacher Hayley Kava said to herself about pelvic floor care when she was dealing with her own pelvic floor health. Nuance is key when it comes to pelvic floor care, birth prep, birth support tools and really health in general. We are all unique beings and need unique solutions! Yet too often we slap the same quick fixes on everyone. Such as the kegel. Hayley talks about what she found to really help herself and others find the path to healing and empowerment. Yet our society is filled with quick fixes. While they may get a lot of likes and comments on social media, do they really help people see lasting change and benefit? Probably not.Hayley shares so many knowledge bombs about the body, pelvic floor care, and birthing process. And, how we can work with people in a more empowering and impactful way. What helps someone with a certain body pattern may not be the best for someone in a different pattern. So what may be extremely beneficial for one individual, might not work at all for another. Let’s learn how to meet the body where it’s at. Let’s break out of the boxes we have placed ourselves in and learn how to support lasting shifts in the body and in birth.  The body is wise and birth is a normal physiological process that sometimes requires medical support. Not an emergency that sometimes happens physiologically.We need to start learning how to speak the language of the body and of birth and support the physiological processes. We can then help ourselves and our clients work towards healing their bodies, having easier births, and really showing up in the world in the unique way they are meant to. Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hayleykavaptFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/hayleykavaWebsite: http://www.hayleykavapt.comPodcast: Don't Beat Around the Bush

Today we are joined by Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist, Lindsey Vestal to talk all things myths and mysteries of the pelvic floor. We start with discussing what the pelvic floor really is and what it consists of. What is its actual job? Why is this area of the body so filled with shame, trauma and tension? Does it really get more loose down there post birth or is this just a myth? We discuss the role of the nervous system in pelvic floor health. What fear does to the birthing person’s pelvic floor and how letting go of our fears and tensions can really help us. Not only during birth but also in our day to day life. What is the role of breathing in pelvic floor health? What is a simple way to connect with one’s pelvic floor? Are Kegels the solution? Is there ever a place for Kegels? Who might benefit from them and who might get even more dysfunctional after doing lots of kegels? Lindsey sheds light on the mysteries of the pelvic floor and what a more holistic, individualized approach can look like (hint: kegels aren’t it!). She sheds light on the role perinatal professionals who are not pelvic health therapists themselves play in helping their clients and patients thrive. She also shares tips on how to find the perfect pelvic practitioner for you. Lindsey and I also dig into the difference between the overactive vs underactive pelvic floor. Are there any self-checks we can do to evaluate our pelvic floor health? She goes into great detail about training and retraining your bladder to be more functional and responsive. We dive deep into the myths and mysteries of the postpartum period and discuss realistic healing timelines, strategies and why there’s so much more to it than just going to a therapist and getting a pelvic floor release. Lindsey offers us hope that the body is adaptable and that we do not have to “just deal” with pelvic floor dysfunction because we have given birth. We are honored to have her back as BRM® faculty! Website: https://www.functionalpelvis.com/Podcast: https://podfollow.com/ots-in-pelvic-health/viewShow notes: Checklist to assess your own pelvic floor health | Body Ready Method® Training

In this episode we sit down and chat about birth advocacy, prenatal prep, postpartum healing and much more with experienced doula and BRM® Faculty, Denise Bolds!Denise shares her family history and what brought her into birth work. We discuss what is important to know for your client and for you as a doula, before going into a birth where you are not sure the doctor and the client are on the same page. How do we strategize for an optimal birth outcome? What do we do when we see the provider is going against the client’s wishes?We also discuss birth advocacy. How to actually support your clients to advocate for what they want for their birth. How can we truly shift the paradigm of birth? And, what it looks like to doula through a medically complex birth or in a less than supportive environment. How much is too much advocacy? Should we speak on the birthing person’s behalf? Do we just come in with guns blazing or is there a different approach that tends to work better?We come together and also discuss the importance of prenatal prep, communication, education, and collaboration between the birthing person, their support team and their care providers. Denise shares about the importance of making hospitals more ‘family friendly.’ Ensuring that not only are they designed to support the baby and the birthing person but also the support team.How do we address the racial disparity in postpartum healing? As a birthworker, what is our role in supporting postpartum people? Should we really leave new parents alone until the first check-up at 6 weeks postpartum? Denise also shares incredible wisdom and insight on what role, if any, the insurance companies have to play in shifting the paradigm and culture of pregnancy, birth, and postnatal recovery. Join us for this powerful episode!Website: https://www.bolddoula.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bolddoula/Show notes: https://www.blackwomendovbac.com/ | https://bodyreadymethod.com/

Stress and trauma. We hear that we shouldn’t stress during pregnancy. That stress is bad for our health. But how can we take an action-based approach to stress and trauma reduction and nervous system regulation? What are the options provided for someone struggling with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) apart from medications? How can we, as birth professionals, identify and encourage a client to seek support? Is there a way that we can *actually* address the poor maternal health outcomes that are only getting worse in our society? And, how can we address our own stress and trauma so that we do not take it into our work. In this episode we’re joined by Ja'Neen Jenkins Washington to chat about all things stress and trauma during pregnancy. Touching also on how our society is set up in a way that disproportionately impacts black and brown families. How can we help? Racism is deeply rooted and can affect not only the physical outcomes of a birth but also the mental health outcomes of these populations. Ja'Neen brings us some really important and helpful ideas. She’s someone we should all get to know. The amazing work she’s doing is combining mind and body to help the perinatal population to thrive. She takes an individualized, client-focused approach to stress and trauma. Bringing together mental health, somatic body awareness, and so much more to provide her clients with a holistic experience. Stacks the cards in their favor for a better experience. We also discuss how critical it is that birth pros do more than just ask their clients to meditate or take deep breaths for dealing with stress. It’s important for birth workers to have their own inner resources and coping strategies. And, we discuss the importance of the post birth ritual in helping birth workers to find joy in their job and avoid the burnout that is so prevalent in our industry. Let’s shift the paradigm, together! Website: https://www.covered318.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covered318/Show Notes: Covered Services | BRM® Professional Training

Today we chat with Lauren Ohayon, creator of Restore Your Core® and co-creator of Body Ready Method®! This is a candid conversation about the embodied approach.How do we meet our clients where they’re at and empower them to experience new patterns in their body? And do it in a way that does not induce shame, blame and negative thought patterns. How do we shift the "right vs. wrong" narrative? Too often, we think we are suppose to rush in, take charge and “save” our clients. This puts them in the same place that the modern industrial medical complex puts them. They end up outsourcing their own inner knowing, wisdom and embodiment to a perceived expert.Diastasis recti during pregnancy is expected, so why do we need core and pelvic floor prehab and rehab work? We talk about how society makes pregnant and postpartum people think that their body is not good enough. And the notion that there is always some ‘work’ to do. With great knowledge comes great responsibility. Lauren and I discuss the importance, as professionals, of both understanding and being able to assess and work with clients through the deep scientific lens of movement patterns. And, doing so in an empowering way that firmly places the power back into the hands of the human in front of us. How do we educate and train our clients without inducing fear, hyper-vigilance and self blame? How do we educate and train our clients in the embodied approach? I invite you to listen in on this conversation.This episode also shares more about the background story of how Lauren and I came to join forces. We truly feel we are here  to bring this work to the world and we hope our work embodies our passion!Website: https://restoreyourcore.com/ Facebook Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/restoreyourcore Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenohayon/  Show Notes: https://restoreyourcore.com/professional-training/

If you’ve been around the birth world for any amount of time you have likely heard of Spinning Babies®. Today Gail Tully, founder and visionary behind Spinning Babies® joins me at my home to talk all things physiological birth and shifting the paradigm. Gail is truly a trail blazer who has and continues to inspire the next generation of birth professionals, and parents to continue to stay curious, to learn and deepen their awareness, and to heal birth on earth.In this heart to heart episode, Gail goes nostalgic and shares what inspired her to get into this work. She shares the story of her first pregnancy and birth as a teen and how that got her interested in birth work. We get a glimpse of her relationship with her midwife. And, how beautiful a birther's experience can be when we are all on the same side.Gail and I also discuss how births have changed over the years. Including the possible reasons why births are not like how they used to be in the 70s and the 80s. We also discuss physiological births and what impacts it the most.Creating a balance in the birth practice is important; knowing what to do when, when to use physiological techniques, when to use medical interventions and when to just wait and watch, letting nature do its work. Providing individualized care to each client according to their labor patterns and their physical needs is SO needed!  Listen in to catch SO many mic-drop quotables and stories from Gail. If you’re a complete birth nerd like me, you’ll truly enjoy this one.It is an honor to have Gail joining us again as faculty for the Body Ready Method® Professional Training. Her insights, wisdom, and stories are just the balm our birth pro souls need. Website: https://www.spinningbabies.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpinningBabiesLady/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinningbabies/Show Notes: Support physiological birth research | Body Ready Method® professional training

What happens when two longtime birth and body workers get together and hit record? Magic, I tell you! Listen in on a very candid conversation on the evolution of birthwork, bodywork within different populations and demographics, breech baby and so much more! Adrienne Caldwell is faculty for the Body Ready Method® our professional training for birth pros and an absolute genius bodyworker. She has helped thousands of families prepare their bodies, find balance, and help breech babies find their best position for birth. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on the podcast for round two!Adrienne and I have been in the same birth circles for over 15 years! Back in the day we would often share clients. They would come to me for doula support and exercise and Adrienne for bodywork. When my team and I were talking about professionals as faculty for our pro training, Adrienne was at the top of my list.Listen in as we chat about the importance and relationship between exercise and bodywork and how the same conditions may be caused by different reasons in different bodies. Because, as we know it is not a one size fits all when it comes to pregnancy and birth. Each birth is so different. How we support the birthing person truly depends upon how they give birth! From unmedicated births to epidural birth and also cesarean births, every birthing person needs and deserves proactive prep during pregnancy and unconditional support during birth.  We also touch on how everything is ALL connected in the human body going into a deep discussion on breech birth and the efforts to normalize and support them by OBs around the world. And, we don’t stop there! We also chat about the best approach to shifting the paradigm of childbirth, birthing in the modern world, athletic bodies preparing for birth, and the soft tissues of the body that give it its shape.Birth nerds? This is truly a treasure trove of helpful information. From the evolution of birthwork to the niche topic of pregnancy within the athlete population. You won’t want to miss it!Website: https://adriennecc.massagetherapy.com/home Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriennecc.massagetherapy/

On this episode of Pros Talk Pregnancy my husband Matt McCoy joins me to share all about our 4th (surprise!) birth. Our final birth story unravels as a completely unplanned pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born with a critical congenital heart defect that required a lot of medical care including open heart surgery at 2 months old, we were surprised to find out we were expecting again.We had to work through the trauma of that 3rd birth experience going into our next experience. We talk through the depression that Matt was struggling with at the time and strategies we used to be able to come together and support one another during a stressful and challenging season of life. Matt sheds some light on how to support your partner when you are not your best self either. We discuss how partners have stuff going on in their lives too and a good birth team will not only support the birthing person but support the partners too.Although this was an unplanned pregnancy, this time we had such a strong community supporting us. I truly had a hard time picking a doula and a midwife! Tune in to listen to why we went with a different midwife this time and what was the deciding factor when choosing one.You will also hear some never before shared tidbits about the beginning of Body Ready Method®, including my best attempt at creating videos during that pregnancy. We also hear about my experience breastfeeding through a pregnancy, going post dates (again), afterpains (yes seasoned doulas struggle with them too!), and more!Matt also shares a golden nugget of advice for partners working 9-5 jobs and talks about the importance of showing up as much as possible in the postpartum period. We discuss how we were able to divide our responsibilities during this unplanned pregnancy according to what worked best for our family. You really get a good look behind the curtain in this one!Website: http://bodyreadymethod.com Facebook: BRM Private CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod Show Notes: Death of a Song Bird by M.R. McCoy

Yes! You read that right, 43+ weeks pregnant and, true story, a news crew capturing the whole experience for the local news! In this episode I am joined by my husband, Matt Mccoy to share the story of our 3rd birth. This was my first birth after having become a birth professional. It was my longest pregnancy and birth process, but also the birth I consider my easiest birth (although, postpartum was a completely different story. But, that’s a story for a different day!).This story is really a journey into trust and intuition. Something I consider crucial throughout pregnancy and especially when due date arrives.Listen in as Matt and I talk through making decisions that were right for us, especially as we went weeks past our guess date. How important the “bubble of peace” was in remaining calm and confident. And, what Matt as a birth partner did to help keep both of our nervous systems from going into fight or flight mode.I discuss the ways I visualized this birth to go (I wanted it to be LONGER than the last ones! Yes you read that right.) and how it actually played out in reality. I touch on birth at 43+ weeks after becoming a birth professional. I was now teaching exercises and childbirth classes. How did this impact my experience, birth choices, etc.? Can knowing more about the ins and outs of birth make us more confident or more nervous during the whole process? Where is the fine line? Tune in and find out our take on all things pregnant and overdue!Website: http://bodyreadymethod.comFacebook: BRM Private CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod

In this episode we talk all about birth partner support with my husband, Matt McCoy! We often forget about how overwhelming the journey to baby can be for the partners. Pregnancy, birth and recovery are huge physiological events and it’s really easy for birth partners to feel like a deer caught in headlights and freeze or sink into a corner when things get intense. Many partners want to be involved, but just don’t know how or what to do and just need a bit of extra support and encouragement.But what if we empowered the birth partners? Prepare partners so that they could show up in the way the birther needs them to. What if working together in this way could be a catalyst for even deeper connection. What if it could be a catalyst for your partner finding their flow as a parent (if your birth partner is also your parenting partner).Yes, just like we can prepare during pregnancy for birth, partners can prepare to give the support needed! Birth support for each person looks different. There are birthers who’ll want someone near, someone holding their hand. There are birthers who’ll want their space. This is just one small example of how support can vary from person to person. Matt and I talk about our own birth experiences. We touch on ways to get the birther and the birth partner in tune to know what will be needed when the moment comes.It is not about becoming an expert about birth. Practicing a few things together not only helps you to recall it at birth it also helps you to connect. Join us as we discuss what it means to be ‘partner ready’ and what you can do, together, to make this your reality. In this episode we talk through our stories and tips to make you feel more prepared, together. I encourage you to listen!Website: http://bodyreadymethod.comFacebook: BRM Private CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod

On this episode Matt and I chat about our second birth and what a different birth experience it was. Have you ever had an experience that altered the course of your life so deeply and profoundly that you knew your life would not be the same without it? Our first birth wasn’t the experience we’d hoped for. And after this birth, in our own ways, we became obsessed with figuring out why and what could be done differently.Matt, as my birth partner, dived into research to learn more about how he could actively support a birth better. I really got into reading and learning more about pregnancy and birth and how I could incorporate my background in exercise science into it. This led us to make very different choices for our 2nd birth experience two and a half years later, which led to a profoundly different experience. An experience so deep and profound, an experience so autonomous and empowering, that it altered the entire course of our lives. This was the birth that led me to step fully into my power as a birth worker. I thought I was leaving exercise science and my  job as an exercise physiologist behind… little did I know that I would someday combine the two to create what is now known as the Body Ready Method®.Listen in on this episode to hear what the McCoy’s did differently and how these choices altered our lives forever! There are a few tips and tricks you can take into your next birth or your next client’s birth that may just make the difference in the type of birth you experience.Webite: www.bodyreadymethod.comFacebook: BRM Private CommunityInstagram: www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod.com

Join me and my amazing husband, Matt McCoy, as we recount the story of our first pregnancy and birth, from 2006/2007. Picture two young adults who thought they had it all figured out. Who figured “people have been having babies forever, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” Who wanted a natural first birth, but didn’t really have a plan as to how to get there. At the time, I was finishing up my Exercise Science degree and was teaching almost every fitness class possible. From bootcamp to water aerobics to spinning. You name it, I was teaching it. I read all the right books and even googled “doula near me,” but found none nearby. Needless to say, our first birth didn’t go the way we had hoped. We ended up at the hospital, tubes everywhere and I ended up getting an epidural. When this happened, being the research nerd that I am, I needed to know why. Really, this is the story of how an exercise physiologist, who said she’d never go into birth as the daughter of an L&D nurse and granddaughter of an OB/GYN, started the ball rolling to what would eventually become the realization of her life’s calling. It’s also the story of a partner learning what true support means during pregnancy, during birth, and during postpartum. Learning to become a parent.As Matt and I discuss our first birth for the first time in almost 15 years, we interweave helpful tips and tricks that you can take into your own pregnancy and birth experiences. It is often difficult  to see how far we have grown until we look back at a former version of ourselves, with love and appreciation, yet here we take a look at a former version of us and the birth that started it all.Website: http://bodyreadymethod.comFacebook: BRM Private Community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod

Have you ever heard of the flow state? Have you ever felt “in the zone?” That zone where you seem to have effortless momentum, where time seems to melt away and you are just flowing? Maybe you were running a race, writing, or doing artwork. Maybe you’ve also felt what it feels like to be out of “the zone”. Where everything just feels more challenging and you just can’t seem to find your flow. This is a researched state of being known as the flow state. Research has identified how to get into the flow and stay in the flow. It has also identified what keeps us out of the flow.  Did you know that we can use the flow state and the research behind it to have a better birth? When we are able to get in and stay in our labor flow state during birth, not only do we have more access to our intuition to know what to do, we also have access to more natural pain relief. In this episode we dive into three main things that can help or hinder the birthing person’s labor flow state. As a birth pro, there are things you can do during a birth to help your client stay in their labor flow state. Ask yourself, ‘what are some things that could be a great distraction to my client’s labor flow state?’ ‘How can I minimize these distractions?’ ‘How can I help them get back into the flow?’My birthing friends, take some time during your pregnancy and think about some of the things that would make you feel really good in your birthing space. Make a list of these things and share it with your birth team. I’ve seen it all from adding twinkle lights around the birth room  to covering the clocks and monitors in the room with blankets. Nothing is too out of the box, we need to do what makes sense to us.Getting into the labor flow state is something that we can prepare for and should prepare for. Listen to this episode to learn how to prepare in pregnancy and what to do in birth to find and stay in the flow! Website: www.bodyreadymethod.comFacebook: BRM Private CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/

Have you ever thought or heard that the best way to have an easier birth is to stretch a lot? Or that flexibility = better birth? Sometimes being too flexible can actually create some problems. While yes, it is important to be mobile, there is a difference between mobility and flexibility. This episode is all about being “too flexible” during pregnancy. We are joined by Physical Therapist and creator of Train4Birth, Monika Patel.Did you know joint laxity increases by about 10% during pregnancy?In this episode, Monika talks about the lack of information on the musculoskeletal changes in pregnancy available to expectant parents especially if they are hypermobile. We chatted about what hypermobility is, how much of a culprit relaxing is, issues that can present themselves during pregnancy and birth, and what we should do about it. Monika shares with us the type of movements that are recommended for hypermobile people to prepare their bodies for birth. She also shares some great nuggets, including simple questions that she asks her clients who may be showing signs of being “too flexible”.We also discuss how the labor and birth of a hypermobile person can be different from those who aren’t hypermobile. If you work in the perinatal space you will have a client with hypermobility at some point. It’s so important that as birth pros, we understand what’s going on and what we can do about it, ensuring our clients can have the most efficient birthing experience.Website: www.train4birth.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Train4BirthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/train4birth/

In this episode we talk about the twists and turns of becoming a parent with Nikki Johnston Beaudoin. Nikki is a Body Ready Method® pro, expecting mom, and collaborating author of the newly released The Mom Babes, An Anthology of Motherhood.Nikki gets really vulnerable as she talks through her unique journey to becoming a parent. She discusses her fertility, pregnancy, birth, and recovery journey. She sheds light on the taboo of discussing fertility issues openly and why she thought sharing her own journey will help other people. What does it look like to use holistic support alongside the need for medical intervention? And, how do we as a birth pro and/or birthing person live in that space between? Do we have to choose between one of the two paths, or is there a middle ground?Nikki is also a pre and post-natal Fitness Specialist who has dealt personally with fertility struggles, premature birth, and at the time of recording was expecting her 2nd child! She discusses her NICU journey with her first baby and talks through what she is doing differently this time and the unique struggles of being an expectant perinatal professional. She also sheds light on how being a Body Ready Method® Pro has changed her perspective towards birth.We also discuss the power of prenatal prep, and the role of doulas at birth. The presence of a well prepared doula can support the birthing person in many ways to shift the birth environment. As a birth pro, we get so obsessed with the to do's that we sometimes don't let ourselves just be. A doula in the birthing room allows us to let go while they do the observing and suggesting. This is a great episode that both birth pros and expecting folks can truly enjoy!Website: https://www.nikkijfit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seatoskyfitness/ Show Notes:  The Mom Babes, An Anthology of Motherhood

Navigating stress. Trauma. Drama… We all deal with it in one way or another. How do our lived experiences and that of our ancestors impact our bodies, our births, and even what we pass on to kids? When we are living in a prolonged state of stress it can become our baseline. Maybe we always feel rushed. Or on edge. This not only impacts our mental health, it impacts our physical health as well. And that of our children. Our brains are powerful. And learning how to hone the power of our brains can allow us to change our world (including our pregnancies, births, recoveries, and even the stress response of our kids). Yet too often we may feel like our brains are working against us. We have negative coping mechanisms that we can’t seem to take control of. We yell, freak out, or sometimes we shut down. And then we are expected to be calm during birth? It’s normal and sometimes necessary to react with fight-flight or freeze. This is our nervous system’s way to protect us from danger. What happens with trauma, however, our bodies internalize and store that. Essentially we are ‘running from danger’ internally, all the time. Causing not only mental struggles, but physical as well. In today’s episode we dig deep into the stress and trauma response including studies looking at prenatal stress and trauma’s impact on the developing fetus and go into ways to take control rather than feel controlled. Website: https://www.themindbodybirth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/themindbodybirth

On this episode we speak to Amanda Gorman all about postpartum planning. While getting ready for a baby, oftentimes we miss one of the most important pieces of postpartum; planning for the 4th trimester. That immediate recovery time can be intense and incredibly overwhelming, especially if we aren’t ready for it. Having to care for a newborn baby within a day is a huge transition for many. We spend a good deal of time getting ready for birth, and that’s important too. However, not preparing adequately for postpartum is akin to preparing for the wedding, but not the marriage. The wedding is very important, don’t get me wrong. But without preparing for the marriage, there is likely to be more struggle. We must take the time and the forethought to get ourselves ready for the big transition into caring for a tiny human while also recovering from the process. Postpartum planning should be what you want your postpartum period to look like, what is healthy for you, plus the reality of what your unique situation is, how much is doable and what more you need to do to achieve what you want.Amanda and I chat about the importance of setting expectations between partners and asking for help, what postpartum planning should look like, items that we should include in our postpartum plan, hormonal changes that impact the postpartum period and get real about the ways our society fails to support new families. We talk about how postpartum planning is much more than just meal planning. Listen in and learn what postpartum planning should really look like.Website: https://www.findingyourvillage.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvillageTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingyourvillageShow Notes: https://pregnancytopreschool.net

Let’s face it, we live in a culture that allows for fatphobia. Where mocking larger bodies is socially acceptable. A culture that glorifies a certain body type as the epitome of “health.” This has created a lot of issues in maternal health care, and healthcare as a whole. This also makes those living in larger bodies feel as if size correlates to health. This causes internalized fatphobia, thinking that all their ailments are due to their size. “Just lose weight,” they’re often told. The weight stigma in the medical system often shames larger bodied folks into not receiving the care they really need. In this episode we are joined by Brooke Patmor to discuss how fatphobia affects not only larger people, but all of us in some way or the other. A lot of people constantly live under the stress of gaining weight and often may resort to fad diets to fit in, causing adverse health outcomes. Because let's be honest, most of those fad diets aren't about health, but about being smaller. Brooke joins us to discuss how it is never okay to discuss and police someone’s body size. Especially not while they are pregnant or postpartum, being in an already vulnerable state. So what is really going on? And is it really just that they need to lose weight? Does “optimal” weight really equate to health? If a pregnancy is labeled as high risk only because of the birther's BMI then is it really evidence-based? And where did the BMI even come from?Join this revealing episode with the amazing Brooke to learn more about fatphobia. We discuss the barriers faced by large bodies in the birthing world; what is really going on, how to be size inclusive in birth work and how we can support our larger bodied clients better. Website: https://www.borncollectivesf.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/borncollectivesf/ | https://www.instagram.com/thedykedoula/Show Notes:  https://www.amazon.com/Fearing-Black-Body-Racial-Origins

Join me, Lindsay McCoy as I hit “record” and jam out on all things professional birth support. There is a revolution in birth support. While holding the space and offering sips of water and a cool cloth is really important, there’s also so much more a doula can be doing! In this episode, I talk about the role of a doula and their impact on the client’s birth experience, and what it really looks like to support birth physiology as a doula. I believe we can do more than just randomly using comfort measures. If a doula knows the biomechanics of labor and birth; the science of what to do when in labor and the “whys” of it, they can really make a difference in the client’s birth experience! What do clients really need in a doula? Our job is to help the clients protect their space, help them find their voice and achieve the birth they want; and that not only means hands on labor support but also working with the client prenatally to prepare their body for labor so that they can have a smoother, uneventful birth. I also talk about the essential skills in professional birth support. With over a decade of being a doula and helping pregnant families achieve the birth they desire, I have seen it all! In this episode I wanted to share why this role is not “less than” but complimentary to the provider role and should be treated as such. Website: http://bodyreadymethod.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod