Unapologetically Unmedicated | Empowered & Informed Birth Education with Fierce Lizzie

Fierce Lizzie

Welcome to Unapologetically Unmedicated, the podcast for moms who want to be informed, empowered, and educated for birth and beyond. We know that an empowered birth leads to an empowered motherhood, and we know that it takes going against the status quo to get there. We are standing up for our values and we are doing it unapologetically. read less

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Welcome to Season 3

Welcome to Season 3

SEASON 3 launches February 1st Welcome to Unapologetically Unmedicated, the podcast for moms who want to be informed, empowered, and educated for birth and beyond. We know that an empowered birth leads to an empowered motherhood, and we know that it takes going against the status quo to get there. We are standing up for our values and we are doing it unapologetically. There is a way that you can walk into your birth and motherhood feeling confident and prepared for anything, unapologetically advocate for the things that are important to you, and have an amazing birth story that you love sharing. I’m Lizzie Bolliger, aka Fierce Lizzie. I’m a homeschooling mom, huge birth nerd, and I am passionate about moms having birth experiences where they are the boss. I have had three hospital births, all without an epidural. And while I really wanted a home birth with my last baby, it just wasn’t a possibility. So I vowed to do that birth my way, without being bullied or coerced into routine procedures. That third birth was by far my best birth. And I am on a mission to help moms have powerful births like I did with my third, without having to do it the wrong way first two times. This is not your typical birth education, because on this podcast you will learn about: >>the undisturbed process of birth >>all of your options when the medical system says otherwise >>empowering messages to give you the confidence to take control of your birth >>the spiciest topics that only unmedicated girlies will understand Ready to start your birth prep? Birth Prep Class: This 30 minute class will teach you what you can do now to help prepare your mind and body for an unmedicated birth. It's FREE ️ Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message Join the community over at @unapologeticallyunmedicated on Instagram Watch bonus episodes on YouTube.com/@fiercelizzie

Episodes

149 | You need to know the stages of labor

149 | You need to know the stages of labor

Yes, this is important knowledge to have and you need to understand the stages of labor on a deeper level than just centimeters dilated. Knowing the stages of labor is even more important for hospital birth moms and can help you take control of your labor in severals ways. In this episode I discuss: The idea of surrender versus taking control and how that balance can change based on where you are giving birth. Understanding the stages of labor can help you to avoid cervical checks. The knowledge is power approach included knowing the stages of labor in depth and it has many benefits for the mom wanting an unmedicated birth. ___ Ready to start your birth prep? Birth Prep Class: This 30 minute class will teach you what you can do now to help prepare your mind and body for an unmedicated birth. It's FREE ️ Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club

148 | Fear mongering, what it looks like and doesn’t look like

148 | Fear mongering, what it looks like and doesn’t look like

The term fear mongering comes up often in the discussion of our medical system, and our maternity care is no different. Knowing what it is and isn't is helpful in being able to identify the red flags and stand up to fear mongering if it happens to you. In this episode I discuss: The definition of fear mongering and what it can look like in your maternity care. The red flags of fear mongering and what the opposite of fear mongering, which is the informed consent process. Fear isn't a bad thing and can actually be helpful as you prepare for birth. How the knowledge is power approach can help you feel confident, even when faced with fear mongering. Mentioned on the show: Get NORA notifications for the upcoming restock. Grab the replay for Home Birth in the Hospital - limited time only! Enroll in Unmedicated Academy and work with me each week

147 | The role of your OB, Midwife, MFM and understanding informed consent

147 | The role of your OB, Midwife, MFM and understanding informed consent

Have you ever said, "the hospital won't let me..."? Then you need to learn more about the role of your OB, midwife, MFM or really any medical provider because they hold no power over you. Tune in to learn more about informed consent and evidence based care and how you are the actual boss of your medical care. In this episode, I discuss: Informed consent is a discussion that includes getting fully informed so you can make the final decision. Why I think the term shared decision making actually is making the power dynamic worse for mothers.The three components to evidence based care.Birth is a physiologic event that doesn't typically need intervention. Ready to start your birth prep? Birth Prep Class: This 30 minute class will teach you what you can do now to help prepare your mind and body for an unmedicated birth. It's FREE ️ Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

146 | Wild pregnancy, prenatal care outside of the regulated medical system, Katherine Sigblad

146 | Wild pregnancy, prenatal care outside of the regulated medical system, Katherine Sigblad

What is WILD pregnancy? We have one of our good friends from the Moms off the Record podcast, Kat Sigblad, sharing about her current pregnancy with baby number two. With her first birth, Kat thought she prepared the right way, from firing her provider and switching to home birth to being educated on all things natural birth, but what she learned is even home birth midwives can be captured by the system. Not wanting her next birth to be sabotaged as well, Kat did everything differently, starting before conception and by doing her own prenatal care and having a truly autonomous pregnancy. In this episode, Kat gives all the juicy details on her wild pregnancy, including: The scare tactics and manipulation from her home birth midwives that ultimately led her to having a 72 hour induction and failure to descend leading to an unnecessary cesarean. Her promise to not outsource her intuition to someone bound by rules and regulations and the experts she is turning to instead. The typical mindset and belief that more technology and more experts equals a safer birth, and the fallacy of having technology in the birth space. The downsides of the prenatal routine and exactly what Kat will be opting out of and including in her prenatal care, including gestational diabetes screen, blood pressure monitoring, ultrasounds, gbs and fetal monitoring. More resources for wild pregnancy: Kat's Substack - https://katherinesigblad.substack.com/ Moms off the Record Podcast Follow MOTR on IG Anisa Woodall - Holistic fertility & nutrition Free Birth Society Podcast

145 | What I wish I knew as a first time pregnant mom

145 | What I wish I knew as a first time pregnant mom

The ONE thing I wish someone had told me when I was pregnant with my first. Here I am telling it to you if you haven't heard me say it already. In this episode I discuss: The 7Bs of attachment parenting and the intuitive way to parent your baby.In 2013, I read food blogs when I should have been finding the home birth corner on the web.The gaps in our prenatal care, specifically the lack of options and informed consent that come with the typical hospital prenatal. Subscribe to Launch Your Micro Mom Business - NOW on Apple and Spotify Grab a spot in Home Birth in the Hospital on May 23 at 6pm Download the FREE Birth Prep Class Get educated, informed, and empowered with Unmedicated Academy

144 | "You're the only one who can do this," 31 hours of back labor without an epidural, with Katie Nichols

144 | "You're the only one who can do this," 31 hours of back labor without an epidural, with Katie Nichols

This is an incredible birth story that you won't want to miss. Katie shares her amazing journey from finding the online birth community in pre-conception to her long, tough back labor in the hospital, completely unmedicated. Katie's favorite part of her story, was reaching down to catch her own baby. She calls it the best gift she's ever received. In this episode, Katie shares: What she did to prepare for her natural hospital birth, and all the mindset work behind believe she could do it.Why she chose to birth in the hospital, even though she wanted a home birth.How preparing her husband with Unmedicated Academy helped him to trust birth too.All 31 hours, starting a home with losing her mucous plug, to her doula walking in to help, to leaving for the hospital to use their birth tubs, to finally catching her baby.The feeling of empowerment that came with her birth, and how she feels like she can do anything now. Grab a spot inside Home Birth in the Hospital Due in August? Enroll now in Unmedicated Academy

143 | The ONE question to ask your OB

143 | The ONE question to ask your OB

Why do I have a consult appointment with my oral surgeon but not my OB? Home birth midwives generally do free consults as well. Want a more home birth like hospital birth? Run your own consultation and ask the right questions to see if your provider is the right fit for what you want in your birth. And if you are currently seeing an OB or a practice with OBs do not skip this ONE question. More questions to ask in the episode on Finding Your Unicorn OB Grab a spot inside Home Birth in the Hospital Ready to join Unmedicated Academy? The program is a combination of birth prep, planning and education using what I call the birth immersion protocol that will turn you into a birth expert just in time for your due date. Join the empowered moms club.

142 | 5 things to make hospital birth feel more like home birth

142 | 5 things to make hospital birth feel more like home birth

If you can't have a home birth, for whatever reason, I get it. That was me too. That is why my area of expertise is helping moms have hospital births that feels more liek home births. Why? Because moms who birth are home are more likely to feel supported, have lower risk outcomes, have fewer interventions, and they always hit their goal of an unmedicated birth. The hospital is nothing like a home birth but there are some home birth practices that we can bring in to our hospital births. In this episode I discuss five things to plan for if your goal is an unmedicated hospital birth. Sign up for Home Birth in the Hospital Use code FIERCELIZZIE on your next Just Ingredients order Order NORA Ready to enroll in Unmedicated Academy? This program is my signature method for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club

141 | A first time mom's birth plan, 11 years later

141 | A first time mom's birth plan, 11 years later

Travel back in time with me as I go line by line through the birth plan I wrote as a first time mom in 2013. Back before there was a birth side of instagram and no one was listening to podcasts (or at least, I wasn't). In the episode I discuss each request from my birth plan, the biggest mistake I made, and if I actually got what I wanted. More episodes you'll love: 49: Using my super simple birth plan template 71: Hypnobirthing didn't work for me 105 | Home births don’t need birth plans, hospital births need more than a birth plan 116 | 3 things that will sabotage your birth plan Ready for an advocacy based birth program where you get support from me each week from now through the day your baby is born? Join the empowered mom club

140 | 6 ways to avoid cesarean, the importance of preventing primary cesarean

140 | 6 ways to avoid cesarean, the importance of preventing primary cesarean

April is cesarean awareness month. Approximately 1.3 million women in the United States undergo a cesarean section every year. It is the most common surgery done in the United States. And our cesarean rates have actually gone up in recent years, meaning it's more important now than ever to understand the risks, especially of repeat cesareans, and how to avoid an unnecessary c-section. In this episode I discuss: C-section being a neutral tool with risks and benefits, that is being overused. Even the World Health Organization agrees and states that cesarean rates should be 10-15% for the best overall outcomes for moms and babies.The most disgusting thing I saw online last week from an OB celebrating 100 c-sections performed.The definition, and impact of a primary cesarean. In the US, the rate of cesarean is 32.1% overall and primary cesarean rate is 22.5%How one hospital proves that you don't need to follow the ARRIVE trial guidelines to lower the risk of primary cesarean. Research on reducing primary cesarean Leapfrog Hospital Ratings Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club

139 | The real reason women are getting off birth control, with Carly Hartwig

139 | The real reason women are getting off birth control, with Carly Hartwig

The Washington Post said women are spreading “misinformation” about birth control in a recent article and many women in our community were PISSED. Myself included. SO I asked my good friend Carly Hartwig on today to talk about it- the REAL reason women are not okay with hormonal birth control and why we are choosing just as effective alternatives to the IUD, nuvaring, and the pill. Carly is a holistic reproductive health practitioner and certified fertility awareness educator. In this episode we are calling out the misinformation claim, let’s get informed instead. In this episode, we discuss: The illusion of empowerment that birth control has and how it is actually the opposite of what true empowerment is. The importance of informed consent in birth and birth control, and how if we had known the risks of birth control we would have never agreed to be on it. How women are gaslit in our medical system, in birth, and in this Washington Post article on birth control. Alternative methods of birth control are being suppressed and called “misinformation” to keep you weak, sick, and disempowered which creates a pharmaceutical and fertility client for life. All of your birth control options, including cycle tracking options. How the rhythm method and use of period tracking apps are less effective, and true fertility awareness is the more effective natural method and just as effective as pharmaceutical birth control when done correctly. Resources to get started with fertility awareness method. Resources mentioned on the show: Book a free consult call with Carly Fifth Vital Sign and Taking Charge of Your Fertility on Amazon The Business of Birth Control Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a friend, or share to your socials and tag @unapologetucallyunemdicated and @cleanlivingwithcarly Connect with Carly https://www.cleanlivingwithcarly.com/ Want to work with Lizzie? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club

138 | the root cause approach to labor pain

138 | the root cause approach to labor pain

You’ve got a medicine cabinet full of herbs and natural remedies but are you applying the same approach to your birth? You have left the mainstream version of healing your colds but are you still taking the mainstream route to birth? Let’s talk about it! Get your medal for your unmedicated birth In this episode I discuss: - Why I don’t take prescription drugs or typical over the counter remedies for both my headaches and my anxiety, even though I am the perfect candidate for zoloft. - The root cause approach to healing and how you can apply that mindset to your labor pain. - What stood out to me when my kids and I watched a dog giving birth on youtube. - One thing you can do to support physiology that has the biggest impact on your birth. More episodes you’ll love: 90 | Labor pain has purpose, how feeling the pain of birth is helpful to your baby85: Signs your induction is BS Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

137 | Are you really overdue? The definition of post-term

137 | Are you really overdue? The definition of post-term

Just like a batch of cookies has directions to bake for 10-13 minutes, your baby has a range to bake for 37-42 weeks. Yet, hospital practices have lowered the average length of gestation because they are inducing almost everyone. What are so many moms being induced? And are you really overdue after 40 weeks? In this episode I discuss: -The accuracy of due dates and why it should be called a guess date instead. -The controversy around inducing just because a mom is 40 weeks-Why women risk out of home birth at 42 weeks and can still have a low risk birth.-The reason so many women are induced. Mentioned on the show: US birth weights drop due to rise in Cesarean births, inductionsOther episodes you’ll love: 132 | Get informed on the epidural, pros and cons of the epidural in birth 117 | If labor is more than 24 hours, 3 things to do in case labor is long 105 | Home births don’t need birth plans, hospital births need more than a birth plan Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

136 | One sneaky people pleasing habit in even the most assertive birth plans

136 | One sneaky people pleasing habit in even the most assertive birth plans

People pleasing shows up in birth a LOT. But this one sneaky way of people pleasing also tends to show up even in the most experienced, assertive and unapologetic birth spaces. In this episode I discuss: -People pleasing practices in the birth space are what hospitals are used to and staff may be shocked when you are assertive. -Evidence can be a useful tool in decision making but we don't need to use it to please others. -Evidence is based in the medical model and not physiology, it's not the end all be all for moms who want unmedicated, physiologic births. Other episodes you'll love: 111 | Be more UNAPOLOGETIC 110 | Unmedicated birth is not always empowering, natural, or orgasmic 116 | 3 things that will sabotage your birth plan

135 | 5 lessons from an inexcusable red flag, don’t page Dr Fran

135 | 5 lessons from an inexcusable red flag, don’t page Dr Fran

When an OB takes to the internet to say “women’s bodies are historically bad at birth” you better believe the birth community is showing up. Today we are talking about the viral #dontpagedrfran movement on Instagram, exactly what the OB said that has the birth community enraged, and the lessons you can apply to your birth. In this episode I discuss: -The reel from @pagnigdrfran where she said “women are historically bad at birth” and that “our bodies are trying to off us every time we are pregnant”. And how the birth community showed up with #dontpagedrfran -Our current maternal mortality rate is telling of the United States as being bad at birth.-The perfect example of a provider and hospital saying one thing, then doing another. The typical bait and switch that many women have experienced. -How invalidating positive home birth stories on the basis of survivors bias is hypocritical coming from the medical model. -The importance of personality versus practice when it comes to hiring (and firing) your provider. Other episodes you’ll love: 80 | The bait & switch birth 77 | Birth centers aren’t what they seem 34 | Finding your unicorn OB Ready to start your birth prep? Birth Prep Class: This 30 minute class will teach you what you can do now to help prepare your mind and body for an unmedicated birth. It's FREE ️ Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

134 | How to find and hire a doula, your doula questions answered

134 | How to find and hire a doula, your doula questions answered

Episode 2 for World Doula Week. In this episode I am answering all your doula questions from finding and hiring a doula to what it’s like being a doula! I answer the following questions: Where do I find a doula local to me? Questions to ask before hiring a doula. How much do doulas cost? How to become a doula What does getting started with a new client look like? Why don’t they protect physiologic birth anymore? Do you think doulas should have babies before becoming doulas (i low key think they do)? Did you get a doula? Have you ever felt like you had a client/patient who was out of your skill set? Would you/have you declined working with someone wanting a birth you didn’t agree with?Other episodes you’ll love: 70 | Doula certifications suck, with Kallie Caton 100 | Becoming a self taught doula 133 | What doulas do for you, World Doula Week pt. 1 Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

133 | What doulas do for you

133 | What doulas do for you

Welcome to World Doula Week! Did you know that doulas love to bring awareness to the benefits of doulas during WDW? If you've wondered what a doula does during your birth, or maybe what a doula doesn't do, or If you have questioned wether you need a doula or not, you are in the right place. In this episode I discuss: -The role of the doula and how it is different than the midwife. -What I do with my client as their doula -Why you still need childbirth education, even with a doula. Doulas do not replace childbirth education. -How doulas support birth partners and the important role of dads during birth -My surprising answer to , do I need a doula? Other episodes you'll love: 70: Doula certifications suck, with Kallie Caton 100 | Becoming a self taught doula 124 | Biased doulas for biased moms, finding the right doula, with Sydney Taylor Get the NEW Birth Prep Class Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

132 | Get informed on the epidural, pros and cons of the epidural in birth

132 | Get informed on the epidural, pros and cons of the epidural in birth

If you are having your baby in the hospital, you need to be informed about the epidural, whether your plan is to utilize it or not. In fact after this episode you may decided to definitely not use the epidural and it may be easier for you to avoid the epidural after you learn all about it. Let’s get informed on the epidural! In this episode I discuss: -Risks and benefits of the epidural, the most popular form of pain management in the hospital birth. -How the epidural is placed and the two most common ingredients, bupivacaine and fentanyl. -What to expect if you ask for an epidural, and how being partially informed while in labor is not fair to moms, nor is it true informed consent. -Alternatives to the epidural and the pros and cons to IV narcotics, nitrous oxide and unmedicated pain management tools More episodes you’ll love: 122 | the 90% epidural rate makes natural birth in the hospital almost impossible 120 | There wasn’t an epidural at this hospital, a first time mom’s planned unmedicated hospital birth, with Ariana Heisler 90 | Labor pain has purpose, how feeling the pain of birth is helpful to your baby 73: Deep Dive on Newborn Screening Want to work with me? Unmedicated Academy: The signature program for moms who want to be the boss of their unmedicated birth and be educated, informed and empowered. We will chat each week and you'll be blown away by how much support is inside. Join the empowered mom club Submit a question or testimonial for the show: Leave me a voice message

131 | One thing that will change your birth experience for the better

131 | One thing that will change your birth experience for the better

There is no quick fix, one and done, just do this and get the birth you want. But there IS one thing that is going to help you encompass all those 'tips and tricks' and that is taking radical responsibility. In this episode I discuss: -Taking responsibility IS radical, because the average mom walking into the hospital is asking to be told what to do. -Why taking radical responsibility is needed, and all because of phrases like "we need to.." and "you're not allowed to" -Four tips on taking responsibility and control of your birth Get the Birth Prep Class straight to your inbox next week Join Unmedicated Academy for the most empowered birth prep More episodes you’ll love: 63: Radical Responsibility, with Rebekah Richardson Feeling empowered vs being empowered 104 | A mindset shift to stay more accountable to your birth prep 111 | Be more UNAPOLOGETIC

130 | Pain free hospital birth and her husband caught their baby, with Kerissa Ransbury

130 | Pain free hospital birth and her husband caught their baby, with Kerissa Ransbury

Academy mom Kerissa Ransbury shares her two birth stories. Her fist where she was underprepared and ended up pushing for 6 hours versus the birth she loves to share because it was so positive. She prepared the right way and everything went exactly how she imagined, she labored at home, had zero pain, and her husband caught her baby. All in the hospital! In this episode, Kerissa discusses: -Her first birth started with cytotec after her waters broke. She ended up getting an epidural, which slowed things down and ended up pushing on her back for 6 hours. -She started preparing for baby 2 as soon as she found out she was pregnant, and she went all in with books, social media and of course, Unmedicated Academy, -Unmedicated Academy worked so well because she knew everything, being informed meant her voice was heard and respected in her prenatal care and birth. -Staying home as long as possible, she waited til contractions were 2 minutes apart, as a way to not be coerced or be on the hospital’s timeline. -She got her pain free birth and her husband (and daddy doula) caught her baby as she birthed upright on the side of the tub. Other birth stories on the podcast: 120 | There wasn’t an epidural at this hospital, a first time mom’s planned unmedicated hospital birth, with Ariana Heisler 96 | Asynclitic to unmedicated, Eden shares her Irish twin birth stories, with Eden Overaker