Podcast
Birthing Instincts
Hosted by Dr. Stuart Fischbein + Midwife Blyss Young · EN
The birth world can be overwhelming for parents and practitioners alike. Dr. Stuart Fischbein and Midwife Blyss Young and their combined 55+ years of experience are here to support you in this beautiful rite of passage.Join the weekly conversation as we blend wisdom and humor in discussing our recent births, the latest research, traditional healing, and instinctual birth.
34episodes
Episodes
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#477: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR): Our Chat with Doula Dude, Travis Stroud
1w ago01:35:26Tap to summarizeThis week, Blyss and Stu welcome Doula Dude, Travis Stroud, whose perspective has captivated millions of viewers in just a few short months. Travis never imagined he'd become one of the loudest voices encouraging fathers to educate themselves about pregnancy and birth. But after preparing for nearly two years, he and his wife chose a wild pregnancy and freebirth at home that forever changed the course of his life.Together they discuss why men have become disconnected from birth, what fathers lose when they're pushed to the sidelines, and why Travis believes childbirth is the "biggest rabbit hole" because it touches every aspect of health, family, and society.Whether you agree with every perspective or not, this conversation challenges listeners to ask questions, become informed, and reconsider the role fathers can play in protecting and supporting mothers during birth.About Travis Stroud:Travis is a 31-year-old husband and father in the small town of Brunswick, Maryland. On Valentine's Day in 2024, he and his wife welcomed their daughter through a planned free birth at home Travis was the sole birth attendant, and together they managed every aspect of the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey, with the exception of some postpartum support from his mother-in-law.The couple spent nearly two years preparing, beginning their research and planning back in 2022, before they had even conceived. Their birth experience profoundly changed Travis's perspective on pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood in ways he never expected.Today, he is passionate about sharing their story and the lessons they learned, inspiring conversations about birth trust, and the incredible role fathers can play in the journey.Instagram: @Doula.dudeEyla Cuenca's Uncover Birth Doula Training (Use code STU for 10% off)Dr. Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth book References:Earthbound Parenting Podcast: Mentorship & the Things That Weave Us with Blyss Younghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentorship-the-things-that-weave-us-with-blyss-young/id1612737552?i=1000776872540Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep6 Dr Stuart Fischbein: Twins, VBAC, disempowered doctors & hospital systemshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1kef3azO2lkResOw4LMCmj?si=2vODGoHQS9Wr_9ikDMkMrg&nd=1&dlsi=f2411fe90011441dGermany drops routine COVID vaccination advice for healthy people under 75https://goodoil.news/germany-drops-routine-covid-vaccination-advice-for-healthy-people-under-75/#google_vignetteDiscussed in This EpisodePreparing for Birth Before PregnancyTravis’ Wild Pregnancy & Freebirth StoryWhy Birth Became His MissionWho Controls Birth?Why Fathers MatterHow Families Evaluate RiskThe Importance of Informed Decision-MakingWhy Every Parent Deserves to Understand All of their OptionsPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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#476: Questioning the 2 cm Placenta Rule & A Remarkable Breech Twin Birth with Fadwah Halaby
2w ago01:27:39Tap to summarizeThis week, Dr. Stu welcomes Florida midwife Fadwah Halaby for an inspiring conversation about evidence, autonomy, and trusting physiological birth. Before diving into an unforgettable breech twin home birth, Stu takes a deep dive into another one of obstetrics' commonly accepted practices, the "2-centimeter rule" for low-lying placenta, and uncovers the surprisingly weak evidence behind it. Together, Stu and Fadwah explore how outdated conventions become hospital policy, why individualized care matters, and what happens when skilled providers support families instead of protocols. From twin growth charts to cord prolapse, patient autonomy, and the realities of home birth, this episode challenges assumptions while celebrating the art and science of physiological birth.About FadwahFadwah has worked as a nurse since 1992 (34 years) in various areas such as home health, ER, and L&D. For the past 20 years she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife - 8 years in a busy OB practice facilitating hospital birth and office gynecology, and 12 years in her independent home birth practice. She has assisted over 2000 babies to be born with about 700 of those in the community birth setting. She has been offering breech and twin birth in her practice for several years, more often in the past few years since completing formal training through Spinning Babies and Breech Without Borders. The first birth she ever witnessed live (other than her own) was a breech birth, in 1986.She is a divorced mother of 6 grown children with 5 granddaughters. Currently living in Palm Beach County, south Florida where she has her office and home birth practice, Midwife360. She is currently back to working in a solo practice with back up from various other home birth midwives in the area. She is limiting her practice to 4 births per month and willing to take on breech births from the community whenever she is able as there are no options for breech for most women. She is a licensed autonomous APRN in Florida.In 2023, she decided to exit the insurance game completely, after offering in-network provision of care through most insurance companies, both private and public. The reasons for this are numerous, but mainly financial and emotional. To help offset the difficulty some families have in affording home birth midwifery (a concierge service to be sure) she started a non profit - Birth Equity Resource. A 501(c)3 designed to attract donors wanting to help those more financially challenged to be able to choose home birth midwifery.Website: midwife360.com Non-Profit: birthequityresource.orgInstagram: @midwife360References:Placental edge to internal os distance in the late third trimester and mode of delivery in placenta praeviahttps://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2003.02491.xVaginal delivery in women with a low-lying placenta: a systematic review and meta-analysishttps://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.15622Fetal Imaging: Executive Summary of a Joint Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Radiology, Society for Pediatric Radiology, and Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Fetal Imaging WorkshopPlacenta previa: distance to internal os and mode of deliveryhttps://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2809%2900629-2/fulltextBirthing Instincts Podcast 378: The Cost of Homebirth, Navigating Insurance in Midwifery, with Fadwah HalabyA maneuver for head entanglement in term breech/vertex twin labor, by Dr. Stu Fischbeinhttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ca1028e4b05c5f2d7b157d/t/62e02090874eae67b683bc67/1658855570428/A+Maneuver+for+Head+Entanglement+Published.pdfDiscussed in This EpisodeWhere the 2-centimeter low-lying placenta guideline actually came fromCounseling families about twin pregnancy beyond fear-based statisticsFadwah's pathway from hospital midwifery to independent home birth practicePreparing for a planned breech twin home birthManaging cord prolapse in a breech presentationHome birth emergency preparedness and neonatal resuscitationThe importance of individualized risk assessment over blanket policiesPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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#475: Birth Story & Body Health with Holistic Aesthetician, Michelle Vaughan
3w ago01:34:54Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a traumatic first birth becomes the catalyst for a completely different second experience?This week, Blyss and Stu welcome holistic esthetician Michelle Vaughn to share the story of two births that couldn't have been more different, and how those experiences transformed not only the way she views birth, but the way she approaches health, skincare, motherhood, and everyday living.Michelle opens up about her husband's stage IV cancer diagnosis, the lifestyle changes that followed, and why she began questioning everything she was putting on and into her family's bodies. Together, they explore common skincare ingredients, sunscreen, deodorant, household products, and practical ways families can begin reducing toxic exposures without becoming overwhelmed.Whether you're interested in physiologic birth, holistic wellness, or simply making more informed choices for your family, this episode offers thoughtful conversation, personal stories, and plenty to consider.About MichelleMichelle Vaughan is a holistic esthetician with 19 years of experience, wellness educator, mom of two, and co-owner of Alma Aesthetics Organic Wellness Spa in Santa Barbara. She’s passionate about helping women and families make informed, balanced choices through holistic skincare, mindful living, and simple everyday wellness. Michelle shares her journey through motherhood, beauty, and healthy living with an approachable, evidence-informed perspective while encouraging others to feel confident in making the choices that are right for them.Instagram: @michellevaughanklett / @almaaestheticsClean Product Recommendations:Primally PureEarth Mama OrganicsUnder LunaLiving LibationsBranch BasicsWholesome organics Code Instincts for 20% offReferences:Joint Statement From NACPM and NARM Regarding MEAC’s Withdrawal from U.S. Department of Education Recognition: https://www.nacpm.org/news/joint-statement-from-nacpm-and-narmDiscussed in This EpisodeWhat MEAC's withdrawal from Department of Education recognition could mean for midwifery educationHospital birth versus home birth: one family's dramatically different experiencesTrauma, healing, and trusting the physiologic birth processThe connection between skincare, nutrition, inflammation, and overall wellnessSunscreen, deodorant, fragrances, household products, and reducing toxic exposureSimple swaps families can make without feeling overwhelmedPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Transcribe →#474: The Mystery Of Postpartum Preeclampsia
4w ago01:39:05Tap to summarizePostpartum preeclampsia is one of the least talked about, but potentially most serious, complications after birth. This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss explore what we know, what we don't, and why every new mother should understand the warning signs, even after a healthy pregnancy and birth.Together they review the latest evidence surrounding postpartum hypertension and postpartum preeclampsia, discuss risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and why postpartum care deserves far more attention than it often receives.Whether you're currently pregnant, postpartum, or supporting growing families, this episode offers practical information, thoughtful discussion, and an important reminder to trust your instincts when something doesn't feel right.References:Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep3 Midwife Blyss Young: Legal restrictions, walking through life & death & advocacyPostpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: https://www.ajog.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-9378%2820%2931201-1Discussed in This EpisodeResearching Postpartum Preeclampsia (PPPE)PPPE Risk Factors Symptoms of PPPE And When It HitsThe importance of postpartum monitoring and listening to your bodyHow postpartum hypertension differs from classic preeclampsiaCurrent treatment recommendationsHome blood pressure monitoringRecognizing warning signsIs PPPE Iatrogenic?Why postpartum care shouldn't end at hospital dischargePodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com•••#birthinginstinctspodcast #homebirth #midwife #BirthWithoutFear #PhysiologicBirth Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Transcribe →#473: Pursuing Peace With Courage & Confidence
Jul 801:16:06Tap to summarizeThis week, we're setting aside our usual topic-driven format to share something even more meaningful: real stories from our fellow travelers.Join us in reading one of the most moving letters we've ever received.A certified nurse-midwife shares the heartbreaking story of carrying a daughter diagnosed with anencephaly. Although her daughter, Olivia, was stillborn, she describes her birth as the most beautiful experience of her life, not because of the outcome, but because she was respected, supported, and allowed to birth in a way that brought peace instead of trauma.This episode is full of inspiring listener stories about twin births, breech births, home birth, and the power of education to preserve options for families around the world.This conversation is ultimately about more than birth.It's about autonomy.It's about courage.And it's about remembering that even in the hardest moments, peace is still possible. References:Mentorship with Blyss, schedule your clarity call to join at woven-moon.comWhat They Don’t Tell Us Podcast: He Was One of the Best OBs in the Country. Midwives Taught Him What He Was Missing.Book: Between a Shot and a Hard Place, by Joel Warsh@PerfectUnion on Instagram: "Watch Jacob Rockwell, a man fined for running a red light in Florida while being in Alabama, pop off against the use of the A.I. red light cameras that were used to "identify" him."Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitionerDiscussed in This EpisodeThe growing loss of human connection in healthcare why less intervention often creates more confidenceStillbirth becomes an experience of profound peace.Why respectful maternity care mattersTwin birth stories that challenge common assumptions about "high-risk" pregnancyThe importance of breech birth skills and preserving birth optionsHow preparation, mindset, and autonomy shape lifelong birth memoriesWhy confidence, not fear, changes birth experiences.Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Transcribe →#472: Lupus in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks Without the Fear
Jul 101:14:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Birthing Instincts, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in pregnancy.Together they explore what lupus is, how it affects pregnancy, and what current evidence says about risks such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital heart block. Along the way, Stu revisits the decades-old Hadlock fetal growth curve and questions whether a single growth standard can accurately reflect diverse populations around the world. The conversation highlights the importance of individualized care, informed decision-making, and understanding risk without defaulting to fear-based management.References:Instagram Live with @Kristen_NagleReclaiming Birth Gathering: reclaimingbirthconference.comMade For Birth Podcast: Questioning The Standard of Maternity Care Discussed in This Episode• What systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is and how it affects pregnancy• Lupus flares, remission, and preconception planning• Preeclampsia risk in women with lupus• Hydroxychloroquine safety and use during pregnancy• Antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy outcomes• How lupus and preeclampsia can look similar• The limitations of the Hadlock fetal growth curve• Population differences in fetal growth and birth weight• Why individualized care matters more than blanket recommendationsPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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#471: How Birth Shapes Mothers, Babies, and The Future, with Suzanne Arms
Jun 2401:26:56Tap to summarizeThis week, Blyss and Stu welcome birth pioneer, author, filmmaker, and educator Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half-century.Long before conversations about physiological birth, informed consent, and the over-medicalization of maternity care became mainstream, Suzanne was asking difficult questions. Her groundbreaking 1975 book *Immaculate Deception* challenged routine obstetrical practices and helped spark a movement that continues to influence birth professionals and families around the world.In this fascinating and deeply personal conversation, Suzanne shares how her own traumatic birth experience and the birth of her daughter led her to investigate maternity care practices, interview women across the country, and ultimately write one of the most important birth books ever published.This episode is part birth history lesson, part cultural critique, and part love letter to the women who have spent decades protecting physiological birth.About Suzanne Arms:Today on Birthing Instincts we're honored to welcome Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half century.Suzanne is an author, filmmaker, educator, and advocate whose work has helped generations of parents and birth professionals rethink pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early bonding. She is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking book Immaculate Deception. Came out in 1975, which challenged many of the routine practices of modern maternity care, and became a catalyst for change in how birth is understood and supported. Over the decades, Suzanne has co-founded an early free-standing birth center, produced award-winning films about childbirth, and dedicated her life to exploring what she calls the primal period, the critical time from conception through a baby's first year.Through her organization, Birthing the Future, she continues to champion the idea that how we care for mothers and babies shapes not only individual lives, but the future of our communities and culture. Suzanne's work has inspired countless midwives, doulas, physicians, educators, and families around the world.Book: Immaculate deception: A new look at women and childbirth in AmericaWebsite: birthingthefuture.orgReferences:Jennifer Margulis, Substack - The Valorous Vagina: Babies benefit from being born vaginally (moms do too)The Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH) https://birthpsychology.com/Pathways to Health pathwaystofamilywellness.orgACOG Instagram: @acog_orgDiscussed in This EpisodeThe origins of Suzanne Arms' groundbreaking book “Immaculate Deception”The decline of midwifery and what was lost along the wayHow birth practices influence bonding, breastfeeding, and early developmentThe role of fathers and partners in birth, then and nowWhy home birth rates have declined despite growing awarenessThe importance of understanding your own birth storyHow fear shapes maternity care decisionsThe connection between early life experiences, attachment, and cultureWhat Suzanne believes every pregnant woman should know todayThe continuing fight to preserve physiological birthPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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470: "Allowed" To Birth with Documentary Filmmaker, Jacinta Lagos
Jun 1701:11:48Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a birth photographer picks up a camera and decides she can no longer stay silent?This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome Jacinta Lagos, an award-winning birth photographer, doula, filmmaker, and creator of the powerful new documentary, Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife.Born and raised in Argentina, Jacinta grew up believing cesarean birth was simply "how babies were born." After immigrating to the United States and discovering the world of birth photography, she witnessed both the beauty of physiological birth and the realities of obstetric violence. Armed with a single camera, relentless determination, and a passion for storytelling, she set out to create a documentary that challenges the stories we've been told about birth.Centered around the extraordinary work of global midwife Kristine Lauria, Allowed to Birth weaves together voices from around the world to explore the tension between physiology and policy, autonomy and authority, fear and trust.Birth belongs to women. Stories preserve wisdom. And sometimes all it takes to change hearts and minds is one person willing to press record.About Jacinta Lagos:Jacinta is an Argentinian 40 year old, a mom of 3. She's married to the guy who got a job offer in the USA and decided to move in 2017. She has had a camera in hand since ever. Video and film has always been a passion of her, since she was a little girl. Back in Argentina, she had a successful business in the wedding videography industry, and when she moved to the states with 2 little kids, she decided to stop giving away all of her weekends to attend weddings. That was when she found out that birth documenting was a thing: in Argentina, that would be completely unheard of.She started doing birth videography and photography in 2019, got her doula training in 2020 and has attended 200 births since. She has won many awards, she's been published and is considered one of the best birth documentarians in the world. She finds birth work to be her true calling in this life.In 2024 started working on her first documentary feature film ""Allowed to birth: the journey of a global midwife"", which will come out at the end of the summer.Website: allowedtobirth.com / jacintalagos.comInstagram: @allowedtobirth / @jacintalagosbirthservicesDiscussed in This EpisodeArgentina's Cesarean CultureThe surprising origin story behind the documentary Allowed to BirthThe significance of the word "allowed" in maternity careBirth Around the World: Perspectives beyond American maternity care.The difference between hospital policy and patient rightsKristine Lauria's impact as a teacher and global midwifeAn award-winning documentary with one camera and determinationThe Hidden Message About Female ObstetriciansWhy documenting birth can become a powerful form of advocacyPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Transcribe →#469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?
Jun 1001:33:41Tap to summarizeThis week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected “big babies”.Prompted by a recent social media post from a prominent obstetric influencer, they examine two studies being used to justify earlier inductions for "big babies" and ask an important question: do the data actually support the conclusions being promoted?Along the way, Blyss and Stu challenge listeners to look beyond headlines and social media summaries, examine how studies are designed, and consider whether interventions are being recommended based on meaningful risk reduction, or simply because they can be.The episode emphasizes the importance of respecting nature's design, individualizing care, and helping families understand the difference between relative risk, absolute risk, and true informed choice.References:AJOG MFM Article: Induction at 38 weeks for large-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses decreases the incidence of cesarean delivery: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialshttps://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(26)00008-X/fulltextThe Lancet Article: Induction of labour versus standard care to prevent shoulderdystocia in fetuses suspected to be large for gestational age in the UK (the Big Baby trial): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trialhttps://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2825%2900162-XBirthing Instincts Podcast #431: "Hold Your Beer" It's Fetal Macrosomia Guidelineshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1MJg92Du4WLUn7P8ypPBVc?si=SJ6YtH6CRMKClgCDGdXXqwDiscussed in This EpisodeAnalysis of the BIG BABY TrialWhy statistical significance does not always equal clinical significanceWhat shoulder dystocia rates actually meanLarge-for-gestational-age (LGA) v true macrosomiaAccuracy limitations of estimated fetal weightHow labels like "big baby" often trigger cascades of interventionDifferences between physiologic birth and hospital managementWhat informed consent should actually look like when discussing risksThe often-overlooked downstream consequences of routine inductionPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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#468: Everybody's Doing It", Not A Legal Standard Of Care With Hermine Hayes-Klein, ESQ.
Jun 301:43:20Tap to summarizeWhat happens when hospitals decide informed consent no longer applies to breech birth?In this powerful and deeply important episode, Blyss and Stu welcome back attorney and birth rights advocate Hermine Hayes-Klein to unpack a landmark Oregon malpractice trial centered on coercion, informed consent, and the growing normalization of mandatory cesarean sections for breech babies.This is not just a conversation about breech birth. It’s a conversation about power, coercion, medical culture, and whether women still have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies during childbirth.If you care about birth autonomy, informed consent, or preserving disappearing birth skills, this is an episode you cannot miss.About Hermine Hayes-Klein:Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an attorney and advocate for reproductive justice and human rights in pregnancy and childbirth. Hermine works on legal actions and advocacy projects related to preventable injury and informed consent violations in childbirth, and advocacy for access to midwives and doulas around the US and beyond. Hermine began her international advocacy for the recognition of human rights in childbirth when she was teaching law at The Hague University in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2012, and organized 6 international conferences on that topic in the US, Europe, South Africa, and India. She has worked on many cases related to breech birth for both plaintiffs and defendants.Website: https://fringeheals.com/Instagram: @fringehealsBlog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.Email: hi@fingeheals.com References:Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbeinhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHACHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDEDMentorship with Blyss: wovenmoon.comElena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?https://elenabridgers.substack.com/p/to-home-birth-or-not-to-home-birth?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=l982rDr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickhamhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2VxDiscussed in This EpisodeThe dangerous misuse of the phrase “standard of care”Why informed consent is a legal duty, not a physician preferenceHow hospital policies quietly override individualized careThe lasting trauma many women experience during cesareans and epiduralsThe legacy and flaws of the infamous Term Breech TrialWhy bodily autonomy in childbirth matters now more than everPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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