Birthful

Adriana celebrates a decade of podcasting by sharing some of the most badass moments she’s witnessed as a doula, including an unassisted waterbirth at the hospital, a uniquely calm and undisturbed physiological birth (in the hospital lobby!), and more moments where her clients embraced their roles as protagonists of their labors, leaned into what they needed, and asked their teams to step up, even if that meant going outside of how things "are usually done."

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Michelle Rose describes her birth as that of her dreams, despite having a two-and-a-half-day-long induction for preeclampsia with a low platelet count, enduring a magnesium drip, a non-working epidural, a horrific vaginal check, hemorrhaging badly enough to require a blood infusion, and feeling like her body was in trauma response during the whole time she was at the hospital… all of that on top of a difficult IVF journey with four miscarriages! She shares with Adriana how EMDR trauma therapy has been key for her healing journey, and how her experience increased her determination to work through the challenges, dr...

What do you do when your water breaks and FOUR days later, there’s little sign of labor? For Sivan Dirks this meant almost drinking a castor oil smoothie! Instead, she leaned into the holistic and intuitive tools she’d gathered over her previous -and varied!- birth experiences, to have her most connected and physiologic birth yet. She shares with Adriana her three experiences which include a belly-birth breech preemie and two fast VBACs. They also talk about the importance of being intentional in your birth preparation to strike a balance between informed choices and a heart-centered approach.

What better way to celebrate this incredible 10-year milestone than by having Adriana share her own birth story? But there’s a twist… actually more than one! First, it's Adriana’s daughter, Persephone (Seph), doing the interviewing. They’ll be sharing the evolving tradition Adriana started when Seph was one, of telling her birth story on her birthday, and how impactful that has been in normalizing birth for her (and how Adriana found out that Seph had started to listen to the podcast!). And finally, by dusting off this episode (originally published to celebrate our 100th episode), Adriana gets to refle...

One of the biggest surprises for Ujarak Appadoo when she first got pregnant was that she would need to prepare or adjust for living in a pregnant body and giving birth. She’d figure she’d just carry on doing life as she’d seen her peers do, and that everything would unfold without much fuss. So began her long journey of transformation through four births, which included having to accept not being able to birth with midwives in her location of choice due to lack of access; experiencing, birthing, and grieving the 19-week pregnancy loss of her third daught...

Even though 5 doctors had cleared Jessica Pinney for a vaginal delivery with her rare placental conditions of vasa previa and velamentous cord insertion, she listened to her intuition and decided to have a planned surgical birth for her first child. For her next pregnancy, listening to her intuition led her to have a homebirth. She shares with Adriana how these different circumstances led to very different models of care, how they impacted her postpartum experiences, and how much her confidence and knowledge have grown because of it. 

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Even though Tabitha DeLorio had a long pushing stage (and we’re talking 6 to 7 hours long!) at no point was she discouraged that something was wrong. She shares with Adriana how the trust she had in her body and her team, their loving support, and constant reassurance (as well as her baby showing no signs of distress) allowed her to power through despite her baby’s head being tilted to one side with a hand in front of their face. Tabitha also shares the cozy sweet times her family had after the birth, soaking in all the love and help...

What happens when a baby suddenly turns breech at 36 weeks? For Kaitlin Moore, this meant a hard pivot and lots of research to weigh her options between trying to get her baby to flip back or having a surgical birth. She shares the difficulties of finding the right provider to do an External Cephalic Version (ECV), and how elated she was when the ECV was successful and she could wait until her (now head-down) baby was ready to be born, to ultimately have the mostly unmedicated vaginal birth she had hoped for (despite it starting with an induction for...

If birth and death are liminal bookends to our human experience, what conversations emerge as a pregnant funeral director is attended by a grieving midwife? Anna Walsh shares the story of her two fast births, and how she felt safe, heard, and respected as she transferred to the hospital for a retained placenta after her first birth (and cheered the second one when it came easily!). In this season of introspection and remembrance, Anna shares with Adriana her insights on the power of companionship through these connected spaces, how she intentionally combined two comfort measures to help her through...

Can a chaotic labor with a myriad of interventions for preeclampsia and several failed epidurals be a positive experience? Olivia Styons shares with Adriana the hard pivots she and her team had to make and how crucial it was for her to speak up for her needs - from getting a shower to holding her premature baby for a few minutes - to resiliently turn a 5-day induction into a beautiful experience. 

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Doula and perinatal dance instructor Kemeera Nimahat has given birth four times and is the self-proclaimed queen of ignoring early labor. She shares with Adriana how tuning into her intuition has been pivotal in deciding where and with whom to give birth (she switched from homebirth to hospital for her first) and the deep work she did in preparation for her most recent birth, which was surprisingly fast, and pain-free. 

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Danielle Fetty-Lovell has been through a lot in her births! But probably the most unexpected moment was when her first daughter had the hiccups while she was crowning for a really long time (making it both comical and excruciating). She shares with Adriana how being deeply focused on her labor meant that she didn’t care they got her dilation wrong (going from 8 cms back to 4!) and how trying to make sure her 34.5-week preemie gained weight, along with a stressful job and a neverending pumping regime contributed to her postpartum depression and mood disorders (PMADs).

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Toni Shama’s first birth asked for movement, and her third birth asked for much vocalization. Her second birth, however, asked for tons of intimacy with her husband. She shares with Adriana how when they fueled that passion, labor became so fast they barely had a chance to call their midwife before their baby was born. And how if any of them had known the baby was breech, it would have been a very different –and much less blissful– birth. 

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Emily Salahuddin set out to have an unmedicated birth at a birth center, but trying to remain within the risk boundaries of that facility turned into an all-consuming mind game, bringing with it an onslaught of non-medical interventions. Ironically, it was after being transferred to the hospital that she was able to have a more hands-off experience… until the baby was born. She shares with Adriana how it was then that she and her husband had to lean into their advocacy skills to minimize unnecessary interventions for both her and her baby.

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Given that Pitocin contractions can be so intense, most people who have inductions also tend to have epidurals – but not Meredith Finch! Listen as she shares with Adriana how her preparation, flexibility, the crucial support from her husband and her doula, and a profound emotional release with her careprovider helped her through her two inductions, ultimately letting her experience the fetal ejection reflex.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on The Induction Proc...

What’s more stressful: a panic attack right before a surgical birth that takes your breath away and leaves you with memory gaps, or your baby’s shoulders getting stuck on the pubic bone after the head is out and needing a manual placental extraction? 

For today’s birth story, doula, lactation specialist, and childbirth educator Morgan Moy shares with Adriana how she prepared (or didn’t) for her first birth that left her with significant trauma, and how being very intentional in her preparation to have a VBAC made for a healing and redemptive experience, despite having un...

Figuring out a newborn’s needs can be tricky, and sometimes a baby will cry no matter what you do. Wouldn’t it be great to have a tool to help you automatically soothe your child? One that also reduces your stress? Join Adriana in this In Memoriam episode, as she revisits her conversation with the renowned Penny Simkin to discuss the profound impact of singing to your baby in utero. Discover this invaluable life-long bonding tool that’s fully portable and affordable!

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A former labor and delivery nurse and childbirth educator, Vanessa Janek thought she knew what to expect from birth. Going into it, she was a bit leery of transition… but nothing could really prepare her for the exhaustion, fear, and overwhelm she felt when contractions went away, just after she got to 10 cms. She shares with Adriana how she was able to get past those feelings to push her baby out just in the nick of time, despite being taken to her edge. 

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Even though you may not have met them before, labor and delivery nurses are an essential part of your hospital birth team. In this episode, Registered L&D Nurse Mandy Irby talks with Adriana about why nurses may love and hate birth plans, how to navigate triage, the difference between hospital rules and body rules, why IV sticks can be so tricky, the poorly named “fundal massage,” how to foster a connection with your nurses, and oh, so much more!

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Mandy Alexander got pregnant at 40, having had bariatric surgery 7 years before that. During what she describes as her ‘bariatric-geriatric’ pregnancy, she worked through her fear of childbirth and ended up with the unmedicated and collaborative birth experience she was looking for. However, breastfeeding was a whole other beast. Mandy was prepared for many difficulties, but not that her body might just not make milk. 

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Gestati...

Here’s the thing about preparing for birth: you can read all the books, take all the classes, listen to all the podcasts, set up a dream birth team, but no amount of preparation will get the birthing done for you. Shalome Stone tells Adriana why pregnancy is the ideal time for doing the inner work that will allow you to step up and own your birth and how that may look for you.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page. 

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What does a self-described Type A do when her birth plan derails? Tara Langsdorf (who finished her second master’s degree and took a promotion managing a team of 25 while pregnant!) shares with Adriana how leaning on the structures and support she’d set up during pregnancy allowed her to go deep into her labor process, despite her starting to develop preeclampsia and having a cascade of interventions. 

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

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Certified Nurse-Midwife Dr. Stephanie Mitchell shares with Adriana a few tools from her step-by-step guide to building a birth plan, and discusses why getting your plan together—and onboarding everyone on your birth team—can help ensure you are respected and heard during your birth experience.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our episode on how to Know What You're Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital and our short episode on How to...

Danielle Ford has had two very distinct births, with her first happening with minimal preparation and many interventions. It wasn’t until getting pregnant 10 years later that she realized she carried a lot of trauma from birth number one. She shares with Adriana how taking a deep dive into her birth options, and intentionally preparing to have a more connected birth allowed for a birth imbued with confidence and flexibility, despite facing the possibility of another induction.

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Today we’re going beyond the birth plan to talk about birth principles! Although a well-crafted birth plan can be a powerful tool, more often than not they're formulaic, and outcome-focused nature can give a false illusion of control, and even elicit eye rolls from jaded caregivers. Jessie Harrold shares with Adriana how your efforts may be better spent on first crafting your own set of birth principles.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

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Great childcare— so, a solution that you can afford, has availability, works with your schedule, and can provide loving and safe care for your child— can be hard to find! Most often than not, you will have to concede some trade-offs. Leslie Borrell explains the different childcare options out there, the reality behind economic subsidy programs, and how to communicate your non-negotiables to those caring for your child. She also shares with Adriana why it can be life-changing to practice broadening your community circles of support when your baby is little, so that you build a community care network that...

You can have a fabulous birth experience at a hospital, but it requires thoughtful preparation. Adriana Lozada helps simplify this process by going through some of the best practices to get you there.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about how your place of birth can impact your outcomes, and this interview on shared decision-making with your care provider.

You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us...

Some people say that nursing your baby is "free” — and while there certainly are unique cost savings associated with feeding human milk, there can be expenses associated with it, too. How can you maximize your lactation-related benefits? And what does the law have to say? Adriana shares practical tips about the financial side of infant feeding.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How Does Milksharing Work? and our episode on How Ni...

Michelle Peterson shares with Adriana a fantastic framework for setting up your postpartum village of support that spreads the responsibility over many people (seven to be exact) so that you are well-resourced beyond the first few weeks of postpartum. She explains how to prepare and why you’ll need a team leader to coordinate it all to make sure you not only receive the care you need, but that your dishes end up in the right place and your laundry is folded just how you like it.

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Dr. Amber Thornton worked hard for a healthy pregnancy and an unmedicated vaginal birth, but she didn’t expect her water to release before 39 weeks. Despite an early hospital admission, labor progressed right along… until it didn’t. She shares with Adriana the fears she had to contend with while having an unplanned surgical birth, and how having intentionally set up her village of mutual support was invaluable in getting through early nursing difficulties and her cesarean recovery.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes...

When it comes to postpartum, EVERYONE needs support. And even after accepting that you WILL need the help, it can be tricky figuring out how to ask for it, especially when most of our friends and family members don’t really know how to help (nor have the time!). Kaitlin McGreyes talks with Adriana about how combining community help with professional support can set you up for the perfect combination of care and knowledge to have the amazing postpartum experience you deserve. She also shares insightful tips on how to afford it! 

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Having had two flawless postpartum periods under her belt, Kayla Sanmiguel didn’t know how to cope when postpartum anxiety and severe panic disorder came out of nowhere after her third birth. She shares with Adriana how being blindsided by the experience compelled her to bolster her future postpartum plans, and approach the birth of her fourth baby with new tools and wisdom. 

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your...

Understanding your parental leave benefits —with all its overwhelming fine print— can be a daunting task! To make the process easier, human resource professional extraordinaire Katy Dahl shares with Adriana how to approach the process so that you can not only maximize your benefits, but also understand if your time off will impact your health insurance, your paycheck, or your retirement age. Katy brings clarity and levity to the topic, to help you avoid unfortunate surprises during postpartum!

Read up on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the PUMP Act, and state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws at ab...

Ivy shares with Adriana the overwhelming challenges of her postpartum experience after being overjoyed by her fast and furious unmedicated hospital birth. She explains the lactation issues that lead her to exclusively pump and the difficulties in healing her pelvic floor, as well as why she recommends everyone have a Pelvic PT assessment and be familiar with their breast pump before their baby arrives.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Un...

Perinatal health consultant Arianna Taboada goes through the ins and outs of paid and unpaid parental leave in the United States. She shares with Adriana Lozada how to be realistic about your options for the best possible return to work for you and your family, while lessening the overwhelm.

To read up on state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws go to abetterbalance.org

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

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Laura Loos has had two non-medicated vaginal births, with her second one happening so super fast, that it involved birthing while in a moving car! She shares with Adriana how connecting with her inner voice and trusting the abundant preparation she had done during pregnancy allowed her to be calm, present, and pragmatic during the unexpectedness of it all. So much so that, once she got to her hospital room, she took full charge of the birth of her placenta. 

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on it...

Babies use a set of coordinated movements and specific reflexes that allow them to participate in the birthing process. Adriana Lozada explains how this fascinating process works, and how it helps get them earthside.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Baby's Position and Labor Flow and our episode on how to Have an Easier Pregnancy (and Birth!) with Chiropractic Care. 

You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram and...

Maya Ehnat was brought up to be comfortable with birth, and so from the get-go, her language and approach weren’t fear-based. Beyond that, much of the preparation she did during pregnancy was guided by a desire to minimize trauma and bring heaps of pleasure and joy into the experience. She shares with Adriana how although her first birth was long and quite challenging, she wouldn’t describe it as painful. Now her second birth? That one was filled with power, permission, fluidity, and delight.

Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, tran...

If you want to minimize sensations of pain and even move them into pleasure, this episode is for you! Debra Pascali-Bonaro and Adriana explore how you can bring more pleasure and joy into your birth, and why doing so can help you not only have a better experience, but also help support your birth physiology for a more flowing birth. Debra shares with Adriana a wide range of actionable suggestions on how to prepare during pregnancy, what to set in place and advocate for during birth, and ways to continue to show up–from a place of pleasure and jo...

When Danellia Arechiga became a gestational surrogate, she felt strongly about having an unmedicated birth at a birth center. Even as her labor plan derailed into an induction, she pushed for few interventions and worked with her physiology, ultimately experiencing the elusive Fetal Ejection Reflex. She tells Adriana Lozada why doing so was important for her, the baby, and the intended parents.

As a musician, Danellia (Dané Reál) has created the song Mother as an anthem gifted to those whose relationships with their mothers have not always been warm and loving. The song is her contribution to...