S1 Ep4 Bodywork for Fertility and Pregnancy: An Interview with Susana Montoya Pelaez

en-gbMarch 13, 2023

The Mother Podcast

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

About this Episode

In this first of a 2-part episode, Suzanne speaks to Susana Montoya Pelaez, a body worker who uses physiotherapy, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, applied kineseology and other modalities to heal and bring balance to people's bodies. A talented, learned and inspired healer, Susana explains how a woman's body can be helped by bodywork to conceive, and how a woman's body can be physically prepared for pregnancy and birth.

This information is a practical yet radical look at how women's bodies can be helped to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, and a look at many different ways a body can be subtly compromised and how it can be helped to adjust to a place of vigour and vitality.

It is important information not only for mothers and mothers-to-be but also for all birth workers.

Resources

Understanding the Messages of your Body by Jean Pierre Barral.
The Endless Web by Schultz and Feitis
A Pathway to Health - How Visceral Manipulation Can Help You by Alison Harvey.
The Body says Yes by Priscilla Kapel
The Power and the Grace by Joanne Elphinstone
Core Awareness by Liz Koch

Susana can be reached at chameleontherapies@icloud.com

Suzanne's website - podcast, blog, booking and resources:
www.motherheal.com

Suzanne is mother.heal on Instagram

Suzanne is at Suzanne.mother.heal on Facebook

music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
https://www.shooglenifty.com/

The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier

Recent Episodes from The Mother Podcast

S2: Ep7 Preparing for Breastfeeding with Kat Prangle of Breastfeeding Lens

In this episode Suzanne and Kat Prangle of Breastfeedinglens offer practical tips and considerations when preparing to breastfeed.

Pregnant women often say they want to breastfeed, but go into the experience with little or no preparation or education. Many factors can influence the ease of the breastfeeding journey. What happens during labour and the birth, and in the first few days and weeks afterwards, makes a big difference to how successful breastfeeding is.

Listen to this episode to find out:

the importance of skin-to-skin - what it is, and how to use it
how labour and birth can affect a baby's ability to feed
how often newborns need to feed
what are feeding cues - how to recognise them
how to tell your baby is getting enough milk
why it's not a good idea for other people to handle your baby in the first days
antenatal hand expressing - should you do this?

If you're in the East Lothian area of the UK, follow Kat's Facebook page here

Breastfeedinglens info is here

The Mother Podcast

en-gbMarch 06, 2024

S2: Ep6 Healing after Abortion. A discussion with India Elyn, author of Honouring the Loss

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with India Elyn – folk herbalist, birthkeeper, artist and a healer who helps people tend the threshold of pregnancy loss.

India is the author of the book Honouring the Loss: A Holistic Guide to Healing with Ritual and Herbal Medicine after an Abortion.

As a society, do we care for women who have made the difficult decision to have an abortion?

When women have medical assistance for an abortion -whether that is in hospital or clinic, or even these days completely within their own home – do they have the knowledge to care for themselves emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally?

As women, do we care for each other after abortion?

Do we know how to honour the loss?

Do we feel deserving of that honouring and care?

Should we honour our losses through abortion?

How can we care for ourselves or other women after an abortion?

These are the questions we explore.

India can be found at www.indiaelyn.com

and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/_india_elyn/

The Mother Podcast

en-gbFebruary 22, 2024

S2: Ep 5 Homeopathy for Pregnancy and Postpartum with Lyssa Clayton

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Lyssa Clayton, a homeopath who is passionate about working with women and families.

Homeopathy is an intricate interplay of healing substances and a person's energetic balance, along with close connection of the practitioner to their client. Yet, like many holistic healing practices, you can buy do-it-yourself kits! And a popular one is the homeopathic kit for labour and birth.

Listen to this episode to find out:

Do these remedies work without the input of an experienced practitioner?
Where does homeopathy come from?
How homeopathy can be helpful during pregnancy, the birth and the recovery
How homeopathy can be used with babies

Lyssa can be found at www.lyssaclaytonhomeopath.co.uk

and is available at her in-person clinic in East Lothian and for online consultations for those further afield.

and is on instagram

The Mother Podcast

en-gbFebruary 12, 2024

homeopathy

pregnancy

postpartum

S2: Ep4 Helping Babies Sleep with Helen Cummings

Helen Cummings is the Calm Baby Sleep Expert.

Helen educates pregnant parents in how to care for their newborn babies. She is a maternity nurse who can help with feeding, daily caring tasks and most importantly – helping people learn how to soothe and calm their babies into a restful sleep.

Helen is a qualified nursery nurse, and began working as a maternity nurse 20 years ago. Since then, Helen has helped all kinds of parents learn how to recognise their baby’s cues for sleep, and how to help the baby self settle, which can allow parents to have a better quality of sleep themselves.

Listen to this podcast episode to find out:

what babies need for good sleep
how to become aware of when a newborn is tired, and able to sleep on their own
how newborns can sleep “not on a parent”
how newborns can learn to self settle
why Helen thinks sleep regression isn’t really a thing
how to help with sleep regressions
different needs for different weights of babies – and why
if there a difference between sleep times for formula fed or breast fed babies
where newborns should sleep
how to safely swaddle
what newborns should wear to sleep
that parents are not taught how to look after their newborns
when and how to move a baby to their own room overnight
what the startle reflex is and how to help babies with this
when to work with multiples
why to look at baby’s behaviour and feeding/awake periods over a 24 hour period

Helen on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/helenthecalmbabysleepexpert/?hl=en

Helen on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076355500476

The Mother Podcast

en-gbJanuary 11, 2024

S2: Ep3 Using Herbal Remedies in the Home with Medical Herbalist Lucie Bradley

In this episode, medical herbalist Lucie Bradley talks about how she was initially led to explore alternative health options when medical treatment for persistent vaginal thrush failed to work for her. This enquiry led her to study medical herbalism, and subsequently spend time in Africa working with nurses and doctors in integrated clinics, using herbal medicine alongside medical practices.

Her exploration of local uses of herbs in Tanzania led her to then complete a Masters degree in ethnobotany while living and working as a single mother in Africa.

On returning to the UK she set up a clinical herbalist practice in Edinburgh, and is now based in Glasgow with a busy herbal practice. Lucie is eager for people to be able to take more control over their own health, and so also runs a course on using herbal remedies to treat simple ailments in the home.

Lucie Bradley embodies the values and aims of The Mother Podcast, to empower women to take more control over their health by exploring and learning about alternatives to Western medicine. Lucie has worked tirelessly through her life to teach people to not only use, but integrate, plant medicine into their lives.

Listen to this episode to find out:

How persistent vaginal thrush led Lucie to find alternative health practices
The connection between the food we eat and our health
How our past experiences and trauma can affect our health
How plant medicine is used in malaria treatment
The challenge of being a successful practitioner and running a business
Working with money blocks to be able to earn money as an alternative health practitioner
How practitioner-grade herbs are more effective
How the processing of herbs determines its effectiveness
How plants work synergistically, and pharmacological medicines don’t
Reasons why people are suspicious of herbal medicine, and how herbal medicine got pushed out of mainstream culture
How understanding your own constitution is important for taking control of your health
That most herbs are safe in pregnancy
Why it is important to maintain your health – and gut health – to stay well, and why it is even more important for pregnant women to keep themselves healthy
How to use garlic and onion as antimicrobials
How to make fire cider
Making your own berry tincture in the autumn to stay well in winter
How staying well includes treating our stress levels
Adaptogens and their importance in keeping stress levels healthy
Finding reliable information on herbal medicine
How to use herbal baths for infants and children

Lucie can be found at https://www.luciebradley.co.uk/

Lucie's instagram handle is lbradleymedicalherbalist
You can access Lucie's Herbs for Simple Ailments online course through her Instagram

The Mother Podcast

en-gbDecember 14, 2023

S2: Ep2 Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Lena Fong

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Lena Fong, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner who uses acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion and cupping to heal to maintain vitality and wellbeing. Lena is a highly learned and experienced practitioner and explains the TCM approach to health.

Lena is also a yoga teacher and a doula, and is passionate about working with pregnant and postpartum women to maintain health and wellbeing.

Listen to this episode to find out:

the TCM approach to fertility
the TCM approach to reproductive health
how TCM approaches health in an individualised way
how TCM uses holistic means in convalescing from an illness or surgery
what cupping is and how it works
the intricacy of TCM - pulse taking as a diagnostic skill so different than the Western approach
different pregnancy conditions that TCM is useful for, including hyperemesis and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction)
how moxibustion works for breech presentation - or any fetal positioning you'd like to encourage to move
acupuncture for a postdates pregnancy to help stimulate spontaneous labour
acupuncture with mastitis
the TCM approach to postpartum care - the mother's 40 days and how to care for her
the difference between acupuncture delivered from a TCM approach and acupuncture from a Western approach

Further Reading

The Spark in the Machine by Dr Daniel Keown

Lena can be found at www.lenafong.com

The Mother Podcast

en-gbNovember 29, 2023

S2: E1 Pelvic Steaming with Postpartum Doula Jenny Smith-Nicol

Pelvic steaming. Vaginal steaming. Yoni steaming.

In this episode Suzanne speaks to postpartum doula Jenny Smith-Nicol about the reasons for and methods of pelvic steaming.

This episode is for you if:

steaming is something you have heard of and are wondering what it is
you are someone who has ventured to try steaming but are not clear on the details of the practice
you are a women's health practitioner looking for ways to help women with their reproductive health
you are postpartum and wanting to help your recovery
you are a woman looking for ways to heal from, and prevent, many common women's health ailments

Using herb-infused steam to clear out, tone and bring circulation to a woman's pelvic organs is an ancient practice. It is used to regulate periods, treat uterine fibroids and endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapses and minor recurrent infections like thrush or bacterial vaginosis. It is also used to as a regular practice to keep the vagina, cervix and uterus healthy in order to avoid developing these conditions.

Listen to this episode to find out:

when to start steaming postpartum
when to steam in your menstrual cycle
how steaming works in your body
the history of steaming and the cross-cultural references to it
how exactly to do it in your own home
benefits of steaming postpartum, and in a menstrual cycle
what herbs to use
results of a recent study on postpartum steaming

Resources

Jenny Smith-Nicol's website:
https://www.yogalinks.co.uk

Fourth Trimester Steam Study info:
https://www.steamychick.com/4thtristudy/

The Mother Podcast

en-gbNovember 03, 2023

postpartum doula

pelvic steaming

innate postpartum traditions

jenny smith-nicol

yoni steaming

S1: Ep11 Birth Trauma with Gemma Nealon

In this episode, Suzanne speaks to midwife and birth trauma expert Gemma Nealon.

Listen to this episode to hear:

what trauma is
what the symptoms of trauma are
why some people experience birth trauma and others don't
the effect of the love hormones of birth
how to boost the love hormones in cases where the birth has medical intervention
why finding peace during birth is important
why feeling deeply loved during birth can prevent trauma
Gemma's 3 stages of healing trauma
how the birth attendant affects the birth
why it is important to support birth workers
that trauma can be misdiagnosed as depression
how trauma is different from a mental health disorder
how our nervous systems affect each other

Resources:

Gemma's trauma help website:
https://www.gemmanealon.com/

Gemma's hypnobirthing website:
https://positivebirthscotland.com/

Gemma's social media:
https://www.instagram.com/gemmanealon/

https://www.instagram.com/positivebirthscotland/

Books on trauma:

Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

The Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges

When the Body Says No: the Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Mate

en-gbJune 25, 2023

S1:Ep 10 Doulas and Birth Choices with Daisy Dinwoodie

In this episode, Suzanne talks to Daisy Dinwoodie, a doula living and working in the Edinburgh area. Their discussion focuses on choice in childbirth - how it is influenced by the medical establishment and how birthing families navigate their own birthing journeys. Daisy has been supporting parents with their birth experiences for many years and also trains doulas around Scotland.

Listen to this episode to hear:

why people hire doulas
what type of support doulas can give and why that support is important
the problems with perceived choice in childbirth
how birth within the medical model affects choice
the importance of intuition in birth, but how do we respect this?
issues with communication around choice and how we can improve this
using Talking Mats antenatally to help parents clarify their feelings around birth options
some reasons why women choose to free birth

Daisy can be found at:

Daisy's website

Daisy's instagram

Daisy's facebook

Conscious birthing

Scottish Doula Network

en-gbJune 13, 2023

S1: E9 Hypopressives with Abby Lord

In this episode Suzanne speaks with Abby Lord, director of Hypopressives Scotland and a founding member of the International Hypopressive Council.

Hypopressives use breath work and posture to help tone the pelvic floor, and can be used to help with prolapses, urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders.

In this episode you will hear:

what hypopressives are
how they were developed
how they work to pull up the pelvic floor
the anatomy involved
how they help with pelvic organ prolapse and diastasis recti
why pelvic organ prolpase can sometimes happen in menopause
what can cause pelvic organ prolapse
how the psoas muscle works to help a baby get into a good position for the birth
how hypopressives help with adrenal fatigue
how hypopressives differ from Uddiyana Bandha
how hypopressives increase enjoyment of sex

and also Abby takes us through a lovely breath and then later talks us through doing some hypopressives!

Resources

Abby on YouTube

Abby on Instagram

Abby on Facebook

Hypopressives Scotland website

en-gbMay 28, 2023

Ask this episode Anything

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?