Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy
Birth is amazing, beautiful, wonderful . . . and it can throw you for a loop! Despite our very best birth “plans,” we can find ourselves taking some twist and turns during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that we don’t expect. Enter the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Hey mama! My name is Stephanie, and I’m a mom of three boys, and two girls, a professional doula, childbirth educator, and the creator of the Online Birth Course - My Essential Birth www.myessentialbirth.com. I love to help mothers just like you feel empowered and confident during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood by taking...
Your Legal Rights in the Birth Room with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein
Signing the general consent form when you walk into the hospital does not mean you have agreed to everything that follows.
Not the Pitocin.
Not the vaginal exam.
Not the electronic fetal monitor.
Not the cesarean.
Not the hospital policy.
Every single one of those still requires your informed consent.
I had the privlege of sitting down with Hermine Hayes-Klein, an attorney who has spent 25 years specializing in women's rights in pregnancy and childbirth.
She moved to the Netherlands while pregnant with her first baby, watched a complet...
The Truth About Gestational Diabetes Testing, Nutrition & Birth with Midwives, Bonnie Baker & Karina Robinson
Gestational diabetes is one of those topics that every pregnant mama needs to understand way before she ever gets to that 28 week test, whether she thinks it applies to her or not.
And I could not be more excited about who I brought in to talk about it today.
Bonnie and Karina are midwives in Davis County Utah and two of my favorite people in the birth world.
I met them early in my birth work journey and I have never stopped being grateful for it. Bonnie has a background in nutrition and ha...
Tongue Ties, Breastfeeding & Baby Development: Everything You Need to Know with Michelle Emanuel
Is your baby fussy, clicking while nursing, struggling with tummy time, or just not quite seeming like themselves, and nobody can give you a straight answer about why?
In this episode, I sit down with Michelle Emanuel, pediatric occupational therapist, board-certified lactation consultant, and one of the leading experts in tongue tie and oral function, and we take a deep dive into all things tongue-tie.
Because tongue tie is not just about nursing pain or a string under the tongue.
It is connected to how your baby breathes, how they move their body, w...
Birth Story: A Birth Center Water Birth & Letting Her Body Lead w/Kyla & Gabe
After giving birth at 28 weeks with her first baby, Kyla knew that this pregnancy was going to look different.
She was intentional about every decision: her providers, her preparation, her birth space, and her mindset going in. And when the time came, all of that work showed up in the most beautiful and amazing way.
Kyla woke up one morning at 39 weeks with a belly that looked completely different.
Contractions started mid-morning and she basically ignored them for most of the day. By 9pm she and Gabe were loading up the car for a t...
Can You Say No to Your Doctor During Pregnancy?
You leave your prenatal appointment and get in your car. And something just feels off.
You are confused. Unsettled.
Maybe a little worried about your body or your baby. And you spend the whole drive home trying to figure out what just happened in there and what you are supposed to do about it.
In this episode, I am walking you through exactly what to do when something does not feel right with your provider.
Whether it is an induction conversation that caught you completely off guard, a big baby warning t...
Before You Say Yes In Labor, Ask These Three Questions
What would you do if you were deep in labor and someone walked in and said it was time to talk about Pitocin, breaking your water, or maybe even a cesarean?
I am you through the exact moment that catches most mamas completely off guard in the birth room (myself included, and I share about it), and the three questions that can slow everything down, get you the information you actually need, and help you make decisions from a place of confidence...
Eating for Your Cycle, Gut Health & Fertility with Nora DeBora
What if understanding your menstrual cycle could completely change the way you prepare for pregnancy and transform how you feel in your body every single month?
I sat down with Nora DeBora, functional fertility coach, holistic nutritionist, fertility awareness practitioner, and host of the Ultimate Pregnancy Prep Podcast, to talk about everything from eating for your cycle and seed cycling to gut health, hormone testing, and the fertility information most conventional providers are simply not sharing with their patients.
Whether you are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or just want to understand your hormones better, t...
Birth Story: Pitocin Induction, 24 Hours of Unmedicated Labor & a 9lb 12oz Baby — Mary Richardson's Story
Birth doesn't always go the way you planned, but preparation never goes to waste.
In this encouraging birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Mary Richardson shares her journey from planning a home birth to an unexpected hospital transfer, a Pitocin induction she never saw coming, and over 24 hours of unmedicated labor that pushed her further than she ever thought she could go.
From the daily prep she did throughout pregnancy, to the moment everything shifted at 41 weeks and three days, to delivering a 9lb 12oz baby boy, I just...
Tylenol, Vaccines & Autism: What Every Pregnant Mom Needs to Know with Dr. Ari Calhoun
Is Tylenol really safe during pregnancy? Does it cause Autism? What about vaccines? And are you getting the nutrients your baby's brain actually needs?
What if the most important health decisions you make during pregnancy are the ones nobody told you to think about?
In this incredible & informational episode, I sit down with Dr. Ari Calhoun, naturopathic doctor, mama of two, and founder of Wholesome Brain Medicine.
We're diving into the hot topics moms are actively Googling but rarely getting straight answers on: the ...
Birth Story: When Birth Brings Both Loss and Healing | Sarah’s Story
What would you do if the pregnancy you carefully prepared for suddenly took an unexpected turn?
In this powerful and deeply meaningful birth story, My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah, joins me to share the journey of her second pregnancy — one that began with a clear vision for a very different birth experience after a difficult first birth.
Determined to do things differently, Sarah switched providers, chose midwifery care, hired a doula, and intentionally prepared both mentally and physically for the low-intervention birth she hoped to have. But during a ro...
Birth Story: Early Labor, Life Flight Refusal & a 32-Week Baby Who Stunned His Nurses with Christa & Morgan
In this incredible birth story, My Essential Birth parents Christa and Morgan take us through one of the most incredible journeys I have ever had the honor of sharing on this podcast.
From a heartbreaking miscarriage to living on the road during pregnancy, to refusing a life flight and driving eight hours home, to an unmedicated delivery nobody saw coming (and a 32-week baby who left every nurse in the NICU completely speechless) this story will stay with you long after you finish listening.
This episode is PROOF that when y...
3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead)
What if the birth plan you worked so hard on… actually set you up for disappointment?
Most moms spend hours researching, Googling templates, and checking every box, and still walk away from birth feeling blindsided, unprepared, or like the whole experience just happened to them.
And it's not their fault. It's because nobody ever showed them what a birth plan is actually supposed to do, or the mistakes that quietly sabotage even the most prepared moms in the birth room.
...
Before You Say Yes to an Induction, Ask These 3 Questions
What would you do if your doctor mentioned induction at what felt like a totally routine appointment, and suddenly you were nodding along to something you weren't even sure you agreed to?
In this week's episode, I'm walking you through what's really happening when induction comes up, why it feels so hard to push back in the moment, and the three questions that can completely change the conversation with your provider.
Whether you're 37 weeks and caught off guard or just want to feel prepared before that moment comes, this e...
Placenta Encapsulation: Should You Eat Your Placenta? Benefits, Risks & Postpartum Recovery w/Dr. Sophia Johnson
Some moms swear placenta pills changed their postpartum recovery…others say they did nothing. So what’s actually true?
Today I'm sitting down with Dr. Sophia Johnson. She's a physician, researcher, and author who spent a decade studying the placenta inside a university lab in Germany.
(Fun fact: in Germany, the placenta is literally called Mutterkuchen: "mother's cake." 🎂 After this episode, you'll understand why. )
We're diving into the actual science of consuming it: which preparation methods preserve the most hormones, the GBS case every encapsulating mom needs to know about, what ho...
Birth Story: Her Husband Caught the Baby Before His Coffee Was Ready - Veronica's Home Birth
What would you do if your baby came so fast… your husband hadn't even had his morning coffee yet?
Veronica planned a home birth... she just didn't plan for it to look like this: her husband catching their daughter in their bedroom, the midwife and doula still an hour away, and a baby who had absolutely no interest in waiting for anyone.
And she definitely didn't plan for her placenta to be so rare that a midwife with YEARS of experience had never seen anything like it...
... Or for that same placenta to be...
Reclaim Your Birth: Sovereignty, Intuition & the Dad's Surprising Role with Midwife, Catalina Clark
What if the most powerful voice in your birth room isn't the doctor's — it's your husband's?
In this episode, I sit down with Catalina Clark, a licensed home birth midwife in Sonoma, California, who has spent 11 years at the crossroads of spiritual midwifery, birth sovereignty, and the sacred side of birth that nobody in the hospital is talking about. From the father's role in the birth room to why Pitocin may be affecting us on a cultural level, we talk about it all — and I think you're going to want to listen to it more than once.
Hospital Birth: The System is Broken, Not You
Over the years, birth has slowly shifted from a natural, woman-centered experience to something much more medicalized — and most pregnant moms have no idea why.
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how modern maternity care evolved, why so many women are left feeling like their bodies are broken (or are told something along those lines), and what you can do right now to walk into birth feeling confident, informed, and supported.
Because the truth is… your body isn’t broken.
When you understand how birth actually...
Birth Story: "Any Woman Who Wants an Unmedicated Birth Absolutely Can" w/Haley Sampson
What does it look like when a pelvic floor physical therapist uses everything she knows — plus the My Essential Birth course — to prepare for her own unmedicated birth? It looks like THIS episode.
Haley Sampson is a labor of love kind of mama. She stayed active, did her prep work, went to 41 weeks and 3 days, had her water break, and pushed her baby out using tools, visualization, and a birth partner who truly showed up. Whether you're curious about pelvic floor prep, what unmedicated contractions actually feel like, or how to push effectively — Haley gives us every amazin...
What No One Told You About Fertility & Gestational Diabetes w/ Dr. Kiltz
Is everything we’ve been told about fat… wrong?
In this episode, I sit down with Reproductive Endocrinologist & Fertility Specialist, Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility, to talk about infertility, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, and the controversial idea that eating more fat — not less — may be the key to healing.
Dr. Kiltz shares his personal health journey, how he began questioning conventional nutrition advice, and what he started noticing in his fertility practice when patients shifted toward paleo, keto, and even carnivore-style eating. We discuss rising infertility rates, pregnancy nutrition myths, blood sugar balance, liver he...
VBAC Success Story w/ Sarah Agus-Bina
If you're aiming for a VBAC this pregnancy, this one is for you mama!
I had a wonderful conversation with My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah. She shares how she navigated pregnancy, labor, and birth with confidence — even when things didn’t go exactly as planned. We discuss everything from preparing her mindset during pregnancy to advocating during labor and embracing the beauty of her baby’s arrival. This episode is full of encouragement for any mama preparing for birth...and especially for my VBAC mamas!
Here are some highlights from the episode:
• How Sarah pre...
Early Brain Development in Pregnancy with Neuroscientist, Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum
"It's our birthright to be deeply connected to our babies and to grow from it." - Dr. Kirshenbaum
What if the most important thing you could do for your baby’s brain… isn’t something you buy, schedule, or optimize — but in the way you nurture & feel?
This week, I sit down with Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum — neuroscientist, author of The Nurture Revolution, and former doula — to talk about what modern neuroscience says about pregnancy, birth, infant sleep, and the first three years of life. We talk about how your emotional ex...
Top 16 Birth Myths from 1940's to Today
“Don’t lift your arms over your head.”
“First babies always come late.”
“Hospital birth is the only safe option.”
If you’re pregnant, you may have already heard at least one of these — maybe from a well-meaning family member… or maybe from your doctor.
In this episode, we’re having a little fun (and a lot of truth-telling) as we walk through 16 of the most common pregnancy and birth myths, from the 1940s all the way to today. Some are funny. Some are outdated. And some are still quietly shaping how women experience p...
From Fight Camp to Birth: How a Pro Fighter Prepared for Labor w/Madie Meacham
I never thought I would hear birth compared to fighting… but honestly, it might be one of my favorite analogies ever.
In this episode, I’m joined by Madie — a professional fighter, dog trainer, and mom — who shares how she approached pregnancy and birth with the same mindset she brings to fight camp: strategy, mental strength, and trust in her mind and body.
We talk about what it’s like to navigate pregnancy when you can’t workout, how she chose the right midwife, and how she learned to make intuitive decisions in labor — including whether or not...
Pregnancy Nausea? Do THIS Before Medication
If you’re pregnant right now, chances are your mornings—or really, your entire day—feel like a constant battle with nausea. 🤢 And that means this episode is 100% for you!
In this episode, we uncover the real reasons pregnancy nausea hits so hard — especially early on — and why crackers, ginger, and “just push through it” just don't work. From hormones and blood sugar to minerals, hydration, and lab tests, we break down the root causes behind morning sickness and share strategies that actually help you feel better.
I loved recording this episode because so many moms feel helples...
Choosing ONE Word or Intention for Your Birth Experience
Choosing one word may seem simple, but it can completely transform the way you experience pregnancy and birth.
In this episode, I share how selecting a single intention or birth word can help you focus your energy, calm your nervous system, and step into labor feeling empowered and grounded. From reflecting on your pregnancy to setting meaningful goals and aligning your mindset, this episode is full of practical guidance, real-life examples, and mindset shifts that can make a big difference — even before your baby arrives.
I loved diving into this topic, walking through wh...
REBROADCAST: Birth Story: Unmedicated Birth Story of Embracing the Beauty of Natural Childbirth with Morgan Adams
What would you do if your labor moved so fast… you barely made it to the hospital?
This birth story is our most downloaded episode of the entire year!
In this powerful birth story, My Essential Birth Course student Morgan Adams shares her journey through pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and two very different birth experiences — including an incredibly fast, unmedicated hospital birth where she met her baby just 15 minutes after arriving. From navigating induction conversations with her provider to trusting her body and preparation, Morgan’s story full of wisdom for every pregnant mom.
I absol...
From Hospital to Birth Center: An Empowering Second Birth Story w/Rebekah Foderaro
What happens when the birth you thought you’d have turns into something even more powerful?
In this incredible unmedicated birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Rebekah Foderaro shares her journey from planning a hospital birth to unexpectedly falling in love with birth center care. Along the way, she opens up about pregnancy challenges, navigating provider options, trusting her intuition, and how preparation—both mental and physical—completely changed her birth experience.
Rebekah’s story is one so many moms will recognize: doing the research, asking the hard questions, and learning to listen to your body and...
10 Contractions & a Toilet Baby: Positive Home Birth Story w/Ashley & Bryan Worley
Can you imagine having only about 10 contractions and your baby being born?! This is seriously the BEST birth story!
In this unforgettable (and honestly unbelievable) birth story, My Essential Birth students Ashley & Bryan Worley share their second birth experience — from preparing for pregnancy while parenting a toddler, to doing deep mental work for birth, to a labor that went from “hmm, maybe something’s happening” to baby in arms in less than about 10 contractions 🤯.
I absolutely loved sitting down with Ashley and Bryan to walk through this birth story together. They talk openly...
Home Birth Story: Prayer, Prenatal Depression, & the Best Birth Story w/Kaitlyn & Kale Hallman
This birth story is such a beautiful reminder that preparation, prayer, and unwavering partner support can truly transform the labor experience.
In this episode, Kaitlyn and her husband Kale share their faith-filled home birth journey — from unexpected pregnancy challenges and prenatal depression to the incredible moment Kale caught their baby in the birth tub.
You’ll hear the raw realities of third-trimester pain, mental health struggles, intentional birth prep as a couple, and the powerful role prayer played when their birth took an unexpected turn. This episode is packed with encouragement for moms prepa...
From Induction Plans to Roadside Baby: Birth Story w/MEB Mama, Karlen Barr
What would you do if your baby came so fast… there was no time to make it to the hospital?
In this unforgettable, heart-melting birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Karlen shares her journey with us through a challenging pregnancy, an unexpected early labor after planning for induction, and a completely unplanned roadside birth with only her husband by her side. From the moment she realized, “I’m doing this right now,” to the incredible birth that follows, I know you're going to love this birth story as much as I do!!
I abso...
I Love My Baby… AND I’m Struggling | Why This Is NORMAL in Motherhood with Dr. Margo Lowy
“I love my baby… AND I’m struggling.”
If you’ve ever thought that and immediately felt guilt, shame, or fear that something was wrong—you are not alone.
In this deeply moving and much-needed episode, I sit down with Dr. Margo Lowy, author of the powerful new book Maternal Ambivalence, to talk about the full emotional reality of motherhood—starting in pregnancy. This conversation is profoundly healing. It normalizes the feelings so many mothers carry silently: the love, the overwhelm, the resentment, the doubt, and the deep devotion that all exist at t...
9lb 12oz Baby Home Birth — No Cervical Checks, No Stitches, Taylor's AMAZING Birth Story
If you’ve ever wondered what a peaceful, physiological, deeply empowering home birth can look like — especially with a big baby — this episode will become your new obsession.
Today, Taylor Ward walks us through her beautiful birth story of her 9 lb 12 oz baby boy born at home… after going 8 days past her due date… with zero cervical checks, no stitches, and the most intuitive, grounded labor mindset you’ve ever heard.
If you’re craving real-life encouragement, home birth inspiration, mental preparation tips, and reassurance that your body...
Stop Worrying About Sleep Training - Do THIS Instead!
Pregnant and already worried about how your baby will sleep? Forget cry-it-out and rigid sleep methods — there’s a gentler, biology-based way to support your baby’s rest. In this episode, Pediatric Sleep Expert Louise Herbert shares what every pregnant mom needs to know before your little one even arrives.
Learn how to set up your baby’s environment, support their natural rhythms, and protect your own mental health...yep that matters and we talk about why in this episode!
Some Highlights!!
1:23 – Louise’s inspiration
Her personal jou...
Getting Ready for Birth: What Most People Aren't Telling You
Join the My Essential Birth Course by Nov 7 and get TWO exclusive bonuses: The Belly Mapping Guide + Partner Belly Binding Video! Help your baby get into the best position for birth and support your healing postpartum.
You’ve been prepping for birth, but with so much conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel nervous or unprepared… and you’re not alone! In this episode, I’m breaking down what most people don’t tell you about getting ready for labor — from birth myths and epidurals to baby positioning, mindset, and practical...
Is My Baby on Track? What Every Mom Should Know About Milestones, Feeding & Early Development
Join the My Essential Birth Course by Nov 7 and get TWO exclusive bonuses: The Belly Mapping Guide + Partner Belly Binding Video! Help your baby get into the best position for birth and support your healing postpartum.
You know your baby better than anyone — but when it comes to milestones, feeding, or development, it’s easy to second-guess yourself...and you're not alone! In this episode, I’m joined by Jordyn Gorman of Eat, Play, Say — a pediatric therapist and mama who helps parents support their baby’s growth holi...
Birth Story: Her Water Broke Early...and Everything Changed w/Lisette & Doug Boal
Join the My Essential Birth Course by November 4th and get TWO exclusive BONUSES: The Belly Mapping Guide & Partner Belly Binding Video Tutorial. It's everything you need to help your baby be in the perfect position for birth AND to support your belly postpartum!
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One day she sneezed... and everything shifted. 😳 When Lisette’s water broke before 36 weeks, her home birth plans changed in an instant — but her confidence didn’t. What followed was a powerful story of faith, flexibility, and teamwork that shows how beautiful births can happen any...
The Gut-Baby Connection: What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know
Your gut isn’t just about digestion — it’s shaping your baby’s health from the very first bite!
In this episode, we uncover the surprising ways your gut impacts baby’s immune system, brain development, and even lifelong wellness.
From what to eat each trimester, to testing negative for Group B Strep, to preparing your body for birth and postpartum recovery — we’re covering the gut secrets every pregnant mom needs to know.
Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
1:01 – Your gut = your baby’s gut!
How every...
Birth Story at a Military Hospital: Fast, Faith-Filled, and Unmedicated
This week I'm chatting with Daizjah, who shares her incredible first birth story at a military hospital.
From finding out she was pregnant just weeks before her wedding, to preparing with CrossFit up until 34 weeks, mental rehearsals, the role that faith played, and a labor playlist... to the big day—Daizjah takes us through every detail.
You're going to love this inspiring, and faith-filled birth story!
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
2:04 – Meet Daizjah: Military Vete...Pregnancy & Postpartum Nutrition: Myths, Milk Supply & Weight Loss
Join the My Essential Birth Course by October 7th and get exclusive Affirmations BONUSES:
featuring a calming Birth Affirmations Audio Track and 25 beautifully crafted, printable Birth Affirmation Cards to keep you grounded, confident, and inspired for birth.
Grab it Here: https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
Everywhere you turn, someone has an opinion about what you should eat during pregnancy, how fast you should bounce back postpartum, or the “magic foods” that will skyrocket your milk supply. But how much of it is actually true?
In this week...
"BIG" Baby?! The Exact Steps to Take Right Now!
Join the My Essential Birth Course by October 7th and get the exclusive Rise & Birth Pack (My Essential Birth Course PLUS downloadable Birth Affirmations Audio + Affirmation Cards) Grab it here: https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted
If you've ever been told you have a suspected "BIG" baby, you know that the stress of hearing that statement can be overwhelming. Talks of extra ultrasounds, monitoring, induction, and even cesarean birth start becoming part of your regular office visits. You want to make the very best, and safest decisions for your baby during this pregnancy and...
