S2, Ep.22: Stress & trauma during pregnancy: the role of the birth worker with Ja'Neen Jenkins Washington

What is a compound presentation and how can it make the birthing process potentially more challenging for both the one giving birth and baby? In this episode Chiropractor and Dynamic Body Balancing maven, Kristen Hosaka joins us! She shares absolutely fascinating insights into how she learned to identify compound presentations in utero, what to do to help baby, and why we should even consider how the baby is experiencing the birthing process and the lasting implications. 

Kristen explains how observing a baby's sleeping position can give us big clues into their go-to position in utero. We discuss how baby’s experience of the birthing process can have lasting effects and what we can do to support their best journey. The conversation moves into a beautiful articulation of the role our stress plays and the beauty of  not just a down regulated but a truly responsive nervous system. 

Kristen reveals that she herself had 2 really challenging births with her first two babies in compound presentations and talks through how that had a lasting impact on the work she does today. I share a birth story from a VBAC client over a decade ago through the new lens of Kristen’s explanation of compound presentations and have a lightbulb moment that this may have been what was at play way back then. So fascinating!

We learn signs and symptoms during pregnancy that a compound presentation might be present and what to do about it during pregnancy and at birth. Even though we get nerdy on pelvic imbalances, we also share many actionable tips for birth pros and families.

Don’t miss out on this episode!

Websites: https://welladjustedbirth.com | http://icpa4kids.com
Show Notes: https://www.serola.net/research-education | Witnessing the Miracle of Birth - video by Dr. Carol Phillips | The Anatomy of the Baby’s Journey - book by Spinning Babies

In this episode, Adriana Lozada of the Birthful podcast joins us to jam out on all things physiological pregnancy prep and birth support. What does the term “physiological birth” even mean? How do our minds influence our physiology? How do chemicals influence our physiology? And, what is considered an intervention. Does more technology equal a “safer” birth? Is a home birth the only way to have a physiological birth? And, what is the role of the doula in supporting a physiological birth? Statistics show having a doula in the birthing space improves birth outcomes. What is the superpower that doulas specifically bring to the birth?

Adriana talks about her own birth. She mentions how it went well ‘on paper’, but it was not the experience she desired. She talks about the importance of internal work i.e the mindset along with the external work. Everything else we do will not help if we are not equipped with the mental tools we need to have a safe and calm birth.

In addition, we discuss the importance of hormones. Especially unhindered flow of the oxytocin in labor and how the modern day birthing environment is inhibiting it. We discuss inhibitors such as the pressure of giving birth on or before the due date, continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labor for low risk birthers, and the importance of surrendering to your intuition for physiological birth.

In this episode Adriana really breaks it down into actionable ways we, as birth workers and families, work towards getting the pregnancy, birth and recovery desired.  

 
Website: https://birthful.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthfulpodcast/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birthful/id948399815

“There’s got to be more to it.” This is what physical therapist and PRI teacher Hayley Kava said to herself about pelvic floor care when she was dealing with her own pelvic floor health. Nuance is key when it comes to pelvic floor care, birth prep, birth support tools and really health in general. 

We are all unique beings and need unique solutions! Yet too often we slap the same quick fixes on everyone. Such as the kegel. Hayley talks about what she found to really help herself and others find the path to healing and empowerment. Yet our society is filled with quick fixes. While they may get a lot of likes and comments on social media, do they really help people see lasting change and benefit? Probably not.

Hayley shares so many knowledge bombs about the body, pelvic floor care, and birthing process. And, how we can work with people in a more empowering and impactful way. What helps someone with a certain body pattern may not be the best for someone in a different pattern. So what may be extremely beneficial for one individual, might not work at all for another. Let’s learn how to meet the body where it’s at. Let’s break out of the boxes we have placed ourselves in and learn how to support lasting shifts in the body and in birth.  The body is wise and birth is a normal physiological process that sometimes requires medical support. Not an emergency that sometimes happens physiologically.

We need to start learning how to speak the language of the body and of birth and support the physiological processes. We can then help ourselves and our clients work towards healing their bodies, having easier births, and really showing up in the world in the unique way they are meant to. 

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hayleykavapt
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hayleykava
Website: http://www.hayleykavapt.com
Podcast: Don't Beat Around the Bush 

Today we are joined by Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist, Lindsey Vestal to talk all things myths and mysteries of the pelvic floor. We start with discussing what the pelvic floor really is and what it consists of. What is its actual job? Why is this area of the body so filled with shame, trauma and tension? Does it really get more loose down there post birth or is this just a myth? 

We discuss the role of the nervous system in pelvic floor health. What fear does to the birthing person’s pelvic floor and how letting go of our fears and tensions can really help us. Not only during birth but also in our day to day life.

What is the role of breathing in pelvic floor health? What is a simple way to connect with one’s pelvic floor? Are Kegels the solution? Is there ever a place for Kegels? Who might benefit from them and who might get even more dysfunctional after doing lots of kegels?

Lindsey sheds light on the mysteries of the pelvic floor and what a more holistic, individualized approach can look like (hint: kegels aren’t it!). She sheds light on the role perinatal professionals who are not pelvic health therapists themselves play in helping their clients and patients thrive. She also shares tips on how to find the perfect pelvic practitioner for you.

Lindsey and I also dig into the difference between the overactive vs underactive pelvic floor. Are there any self-checks we can do to evaluate our pelvic floor health? She goes into great detail about training and retraining your bladder to be more functional and responsive.

We dive deep into the myths and mysteries of the postpartum period and discuss realistic healing timelines, strategies and why there’s so much more to it than just going to a therapist and getting a pelvic floor release. 

Lindsey offers us hope that the body is adaptable and that we do not have to “just deal” with pelvic floor dysfunction because we have given birth. We are honored to have her back as BRM® faculty!

 
Website: https://www.functionalpelvis.com/
Podcast: https://podfollow.com/ots-in-pelvic-health/view
Show notes: Checklist to assess your own pelvic floor health | Body Ready Method® Training 

In this episode we sit down and chat about birth advocacy, prenatal prep, postpartum healing and much more with experienced doula and BRM® Faculty, Denise Bolds!

Denise shares her family history and what brought her into birth work. We discuss what is important to know for your client and for you as a doula, before going into a birth where you are not sure the doctor and the client are on the same page. How do we strategize for an optimal birth outcome? What do we do when we see the provider is going against the client’s wishes?

We also discuss birth advocacy. How to actually support your clients to advocate for what they want for their birth. How can we truly shift the paradigm of birth? And, what it looks like to doula through a medically complex birth or in a less than supportive environment. How much is too much advocacy? Should we speak on the birthing person’s behalf? Do we just come in with guns blazing or is there a different approach that tends to work better?

We come together and also discuss the importance of prenatal prep, communication, education, and collaboration between the birthing person, their support team and their care providers. Denise shares about the importance of making hospitals more ‘family friendly.’ Ensuring that not only are they designed to support the baby and the birthing person but also the support team.

How do we address the racial disparity in postpartum healing? As a birthworker, what is our role in supporting postpartum people? Should we really leave new parents alone until the first check-up at 6 weeks postpartum? Denise also shares incredible wisdom and insight on what role, if any, the insurance companies have to play in shifting the paradigm and culture of pregnancy, birth, and postnatal recovery.

Join us for this powerful episode!

Website: https://www.bolddoula.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bolddoula/
Show notes: https://www.blackwomendovbac.com/ | https://bodyreadymethod.com/

Stress and trauma. We hear that we shouldn’t stress during pregnancy. That stress is bad for our health. But how can we take an action-based approach to stress and trauma reduction and nervous system regulation? What are the options provided for someone struggling with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) apart from medications? How can we, as birth professionals, identify and encourage a client to seek support? Is there a way that we can *actually* address the poor maternal health outcomes that are only getting worse in our society? And, how can we address our own stress and trauma so that we do not take it into our work. 

In this episode we’re joined by Ja'Neen Jenkins Washington to chat about all things stress and trauma during pregnancy. Touching also on how our society is set up in a way that disproportionately impacts black and brown families. How can we help? Racism is deeply rooted and can affect not only the physical outcomes of a birth but also the mental health outcomes of these populations.

Ja'Neen brings us some really important and helpful ideas. She’s someone we should all get to know. The amazing work she’s doing is combining mind and body to help the perinatal population to thrive. She takes an individualized, client-focused approach to stress and trauma. Bringing together mental health, somatic body awareness, and so much more to provide her clients with a holistic experience. Stacks the cards in their favor for a better experience.

We also discuss how critical it is that birth pros do more than just ask their clients to meditate or take deep breaths for dealing with stress. It’s important for birth workers to have their own inner resources and coping strategies. And, we discuss the importance of the post birth ritual in helping birth workers to find joy in their job and avoid the burnout that is so prevalent in our industry. Let’s shift the paradigm, together!

Website: https://www.covered318.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covered318/
Show Notes: Covered Services | BRM® Professional Training

Today we chat with Lauren Ohayon, creator of Restore Your Core® and co-creator of Body Ready Method®! This is a candid conversation about the embodied approach.

How do we meet our clients where they’re at and empower them to experience new patterns in their body? And do it in a way that does not induce shame, blame and negative thought patterns. How do we shift the "right vs. wrong" narrative? Too often, we think we are suppose to rush in, take charge and “save” our clients. This puts them in the same place that the modern industrial medical complex puts them. They end up outsourcing their own inner knowing, wisdom and embodiment to a perceived expert.

Diastasis recti during pregnancy is expected, so why do we need core and pelvic floor prehab and rehab work? We talk about how society makes pregnant and postpartum people think that their body is not good enough. And the notion that there is always some ‘work’ to do.

 With great knowledge comes great responsibility. Lauren and I discuss the importance, as professionals, of both understanding and being able to assess and work with clients through the deep scientific lens of movement patterns. And, doing so in an empowering way that firmly places the power back into the hands of the human in front of us. How do we educate and train our clients without inducing fear, hyper-vigilance and self blame? How do we educate and train our clients in the embodied approach? I invite you to listen in on this conversation.

This episode also shares more about the background story of how Lauren and I came to join forces. We truly feel we are here  to bring this work to the world and we hope our work embodies our passion!

Website: https://restoreyourcore.com/
 Facebook Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/restoreyourcore
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenohayon/  
Show Notes: https://restoreyourcore.com/professional-training/ 

If you’ve been around the birth world for any amount of time you have likely heard of Spinning Babies®. Today Gail Tully, founder and visionary behind Spinning Babies® joins me at my home to talk all things physiological birth and shifting the paradigm. Gail is truly a trail blazer who has and continues to inspire the next generation of birth professionals, and parents to continue to stay curious, to learn and deepen their awareness, and to heal birth on earth.

In this heart to heart episode, Gail goes nostalgic and shares what inspired her to get into this work. She shares the story of her first pregnancy and birth as a teen and how that got her interested in birth work. We get a glimpse of her relationship with her midwife. And, how beautiful a birther's experience can be when we are all on the same side.

Gail and I also discuss how births have changed over the years. Including the possible reasons why births are not like how they used to be in the 70s and the 80s. We also discuss physiological births and what impacts it the most.

Creating a balance in the birth practice is important; knowing what to do when, when to use physiological techniques, when to use medical interventions and when to just wait and watch, letting nature do its work. Providing individualized care to each client according to their labor patterns and their physical needs is SO needed! 

Listen in to catch SO many mic-drop quotables and stories from Gail. If you’re a complete birth nerd like me, you’ll truly enjoy this one.

It is an honor to have Gail joining us again as faculty for the Body Ready Method® Professional Training. Her insights, wisdom, and stories are just the balm our birth pro souls need.

Website: https://www.spinningbabies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpinningBabiesLady/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinningbabies/
Show Notes: Support physiological birth research | Body Ready Method® professional training

What happens when two longtime birth and body workers get together and hit record? Magic, I tell you! Listen in on a very candid conversation on the evolution of birthwork, bodywork within different populations and demographics, breech baby and so much more!

Adrienne Caldwell is faculty for the Body Ready Method® our professional training for birth pros and an absolute genius bodyworker. She has helped thousands of families prepare their bodies, find balance, and help breech babies find their best position for birth. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on the podcast for round two!

Adrienne and I have been in the same birth circles for over 15 years! Back in the day we would often share clients. They would come to me for doula support and exercise and Adrienne for bodywork. When my team and I were talking about professionals as faculty for our pro training, Adrienne was at the top of my list.

Listen in as we chat about the importance and relationship between exercise and bodywork and how the same conditions may be caused by different reasons in different bodies. Because, as we know it is not a one size fits all when it comes to pregnancy and birth. Each birth is so different. How we support the birthing person truly depends upon how they give birth! From unmedicated births to epidural birth and also cesarean births, every birthing person needs and deserves proactive prep during pregnancy and unconditional support during birth. 

We also touch on how everything is ALL connected in the human body going into a deep discussion on breech birth and the efforts to normalize and support them by OBs around the world.

And, we don’t stop there! We also chat about the best approach to shifting the paradigm of childbirth, birthing in the modern world, athletic bodies preparing for birth, and the soft tissues of the body that give it its shape.

Birth nerds? This is truly a treasure trove of helpful information. From the evolution of birthwork to the niche topic of pregnancy within the athlete population. You won’t want to miss it!

Website: https://adriennecc.massagetherapy.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriennecc.massagetherapy/

On this episode of Pros Talk Pregnancy my husband Matt McCoy joins me to share all about our 4th (surprise!) birth. Our final birth story unravels as a completely unplanned pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born with a critical congenital heart defect that required a lot of medical care including open heart surgery at 2 months old, we were surprised to find out we were expecting again.

We had to work through the trauma of that 3rd birth experience going into our next experience. We talk through the depression that Matt was struggling with at the time and strategies we used to be able to come together and support one another during a stressful and challenging season of life. Matt sheds some light on how to support your partner when you are not your best self either. We discuss how partners have stuff going on in their lives too and a good birth team will not only support the birthing person but support the partners too.

Although this was an unplanned pregnancy, this time we had such a strong community supporting us. I truly had a hard time picking a doula and a midwife! Tune in to listen to why we went with a different midwife this time and what was the deciding factor when choosing one.

You will also hear some never before shared tidbits about the beginning of Body Ready Method®, including my best attempt at creating videos during that pregnancy. We also hear about my experience breastfeeding through a pregnancy, going post dates (again), afterpains (yes seasoned doulas struggle with them too!), and more!

Matt also shares a golden nugget of advice for partners working 9-5 jobs and talks about the importance of showing up as much as possible in the postpartum period. We discuss how we were able to divide our responsibilities during this unplanned pregnancy according to what worked best for our family. You really get a good look behind the curtain in this one!

Website: http://bodyreadymethod.com
Facebook: BRM Private Community
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyreadymethod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bodyreadymethod
Show Notes: Death of a Song Bird by M.R. McCoy