Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Unmedicated Girlies | Empowered + Informed Birth Education with Fierce Lizzie
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Did your OB lie to you? 3 stories with common red flags | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:28:02 | |
What happens when the person you trust to guide you through birth isn’t giving you the full story? In this episode I'm sharing 3 stories that raise some serious red flags and what you can do to protect your birth experience from similar situations. Join Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com Start the birth prep list: unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist | |||
| When pregnancy makes you question (and research) literally everything , with Courtney Gackstetter | 03 Oct 2026 | 00:31:15 | |
Did pregnancy make you start reading every ingredient label and questioning things you’d never thought twice about? Girlie, you’re in good company. In this episode, I’m joined by Courtney Gackstetter, founder of Jane and Thunder Apothecary, to talk about the personal journey that led her to create products for moms and families. Courtney shares how navigating a severe soy allergy shaped her pregnancy decisions, her three unmedicated births, and the business she built when she couldn’t find what she needed. Explore Courtney’s products at janeandthunder.com, and use code GIRLIES10 for 10% off. Courtney shares her personal experiences and perspectives. This conversation is for informational purposes and isn’t individualized medical advice. | |||
| Avoiding a 'Holiday Induction' | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:14:55 | |
Whether your already thinking about the holiday or not, now is actually the time to start the birth prep routine that will help you avoid an unnecessary holiday induction that you don't want. Tune in for what the holiday induction phenomenon is and what you can do now to avoid one if your plan is an unmediated birth. Get the BIRTH PREP LIST: unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist JOIN Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| Being the Unmedicated Girlie, 'Fake it til you make it' to your unmedicated birth | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:25:16 | |
A little it of 'fake it til you make it' and also 5 tangible things you can do now to control the controllable when it comes to unmedicated birth prep. Join us inside the birth class for Unmedicated Girlies: unmedicatedgirlies.com Get the LIST unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist | |||
| Yay or nay, placenta encapsulation? Evidence on placenta encapsulation | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:11:08 | |
I've officially changed my mind about placenta consumption, plus the traumatic placenta experience with my third. In this episode, we’re digging into why moms consume their placentas, what the research actually says about the supposed benefits, and why some moms are just keeping their placenta in the freezer for years. ___ Human placenta processed for encapsulation contains modest concentrations of 14 trace minerals and elements: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531716300227 Join Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| Most moms don't know enough about birth | 20 Aug 2026 | 00:12:30 | |
Most moms just don’t know enough about birth... and honestly, it’s keeping you scared of things that are completely normal. In this episode, we’re talking cord around the neck, meconium, long labors, cervical lips, and other things that get treated like problems when they can actually be part of normal birth physiology. If you want to walk into birth feeling less afraid and more like you actually understand what your body is doing, listen to this one. Start the FREE birth prep: unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist Join our birth class: unmedicategirlies.com Follow U|G on IG: Follow Lizzie on IG: | |||
| Eat like a marathon runner for birth | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:12:08 | |
What labor snacks should I have on hand for birth?? Easy to eat and digest foods, and think like a marathoner. Because birth IS a marathon. We're also going to cover three reasons moms don't eat in labor, how it can cause more interventions, and what to do if you cannot stop throwing up. Download the U|G birth prep list: unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist Start our birth class today (best time to start is 30 weeks or earlier!): unmedicatedgirlies.com Follow us on IG: @theunmedicatedgirlies | |||
| Hospital, Birth Center, Home Birth… Which is best? A mom of 6 shares, with Callie Harris | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:58:12 | |
👋 Meet Callie, she's had 2 births at the hospital, 2 at a birth center, and 2 at home. And she's sharing what she has learned from having unmedicated births in every setting. In this episode, we talk about the differences between birth environments, why education and advocacy matter no matter where you plan to give birth, and how understanding physiology can change your entire birth experience. Plus, Callie shares how faith shapes the way she prepares women for birth. ____ DM Callie on instagram at @thecallieharris | |||
| Precipitous Birth + Hospital Triage: Unhinged birth advice, part 2 | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:20:45 | |
Y'all flooded my DMs and comments after the Dani Austin unmedicated hospital birth episode… and some of the responses were wild. So today we’re unpacking it.
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| If Dani Austin Were My Client: Unhinged (and must have) advice for unmedicated hospital birth | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:21:52 | |
Y’all sent me this video over and over again… so let’s talk about it. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what I would coach Dani Austin on if she were my client to have a more powerful, confident unmedicated hospital birth. This is the behind-the-scenes prep that actually changes how birth feels in your body and in your mind. You’re going to want to open your notes app for this. These are the strategies, mindset shifts, and birth prep hacks that turn “just get through it” into “I felt strong, calm, and in control.” If you’re planning an unmedicated hospital birth, or you just want to feel way more prepared than the average mom, this one’s for you. -- Join Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| When first-time moms choose home birth, Morgan's two home birth stories | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:18:26 | |
In this episode, Morgan shares what led her to choose home birth as a first-time mom and how trusting her body completely shaped her birth experience. From a calm, steady first home birth to an unassisted, very fast second home birth, Morgan’s stories are a powerful example of what birth can look when physiology is supported and you’re surrounded by the right support. --- Follow Morgan on Instagram: Order NORA & use code GIRLIES10 unmedicatedgirlies.com/nora Learn more about Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| Red Raspberry Leaf Tea or.. NORA? , with Morgan Spencer of Mama Bear Supply Co | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:12:56 | |
Meet NORA ✨ She's the glow up version of red raspberry leaf tea and represents a truly wholistic approach to pregnancy and birth prep. Listen in to hear Morgan answer all your RRL and NORA questions, like... when should I start? how do I brew it? what if I don't like tea? and why are we even drinking NORA in the first place?? It's everything you need to know about using NORA tea for pregnancy and birth. Use code GIRLIES10 and order your NORA today: Follow Morgan on Instagram: | |||
| My Water Broke… and Labor Didn’t Start for 32 Hours, Kelsey’s Homebirth Story | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:40:24 | |
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This story includes an intense birth journey with some complications arising during labor. When Kelsey’s water broke early in the morning she decided, "let's just go about our day." And they ended up waiting 32 hours for labor to start. In this episode, Kelsey shares exactly what she did while waiting for labor (spoiler: she didn't run to the hospital but instead the beach 🌊) and then the unexpected turns (yes, plural) her birth took and how informed decision-making, intuition, and a deeply supportive provider kept her and baby girl safe. Her story is a powerful example of how some risk can be thoughtfully managed at home and why choosing a provider you trust matters. --- Follow Kelsey on Instagram: Watch her reel here. Read all the birth details on her blog: https://www.soulshinebirth.com/post/kelseys-homebirth-story-of-willow-rae | |||
| Birth Plans vs. Birth Preferences, Why Language Matters | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:13:21 | |
Why I don’t love the term birth preferences and why I still believe in calling it a birth plan. While birth can take many normal variations, that doesn’t mean women should be coached into passivity or told to “go with the flow.” We’ll talk about ownership, flexibility, and why planning doesn’t set you up for disappointment... it prepares you to make informed, confident decisions even if the plan changes. Get our Birth Plan Template (and all our freebies actually): unmedicatedgirlies.com/waitlist Join our community & class: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| What is Precipitous Birth? Marissa's "drive-by" birth story | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:33:05 | |
What is precipitous birth, and how do you know if it’s happening to you? In this birth story episode, I’m joined by Unmedicated Academy birth worker Marissa Bergman to break down what precipitous birth actually is (and why it can feel so shocking when it starts at full speed). Marissa shares her unforgettable “drive-by” hospital birth, from first contraction to baby in her arms in just over two hours, including Marissa’s go-to coping tools for intense, rapid labor. What helped her stay calm, grounded, and in control when there was no time to ease into it. ___ Join our birth program: unmedicatedgirlies.com Follow Marissa on IG: Subscribe to Mom to Mom on YouTube | |||
| If you are due in 2026, START HERE | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:21:03 | |
If you’re due in 2026 and wondering where to start with birth prep, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down the foundational steps every pregnant woman should take early on, from interviewing your provider and using nutrition to support a low-risk pregnancy, to starting birth education sooner rather than later. Join us inside Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 209 | Why don't hospitals have birth combs? | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:14:18 | |
Birth combs work. Moms swear by them. Thousands of unmedicated girlies have used them to cope through contractions and yet hospitals don’t have a single one on the unit. Why? In this episode, I break down the real reason hospitals skip the simplest, cheapest, most mom-approved coping tool: because it isn’t billable, it isn’t profitable, and it isn’t “evidence-based” by their standards. And this tells us a lot about the hospital setting as unmedicated girlies. --- Join Unmedicated Academy unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 208 | TREND ALERT: Continuous Fetal Monitoring, What the Unmedicated Girlies need to know | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:09:53 | |
Continuous fetal monitoring is all over the internet (thanks New York Times), but the Unmedicated Girlies have been talking about it for years. Lets break down why hospitals love it (spoiler: liability), how it affects your unmedicated birth, and what to ask for instead. ___ Get informed with Unmedicated Academy unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 207 | The birth you didn't plan (aka the Cascade of Interventions) | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:20:39 | |
Everyone talks about “avoiding the cascade of interventions,” but what if the cascade isn’t something that just happens? What if it’s actually part of the hospital’s plan? In this episode, learn about the cascade of interventions: what it really means, how it starts, and why it’s not just a slippery slope, but a sequence built into hospital birth. From continuous monitoring to Pitocin to the “necessary” cesarean, you’ll see how the hospital already has a birth plan for you. Get informed & empowered with the Unmedicated Girlies: | |||
| 206 | START HERE for writing a birth plan | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:16:32 | |
Q: I need to write a birth plan, but where do I start?? 😩 Most women write a birth plan the WRONG way and then wonder why nothing in it actually happens. In this episode, I break down exactly how to start writing a birth plan that actually works in a hospital setting. We’re not copy-pasting cute Pinterest templates or writing “preferences”… we are getting INFORMED and creating a plan based on physiologic birth, hospital routines, risks vs benefits, and what YOU really want. You’ll learn:
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| 205 | Write 3 birth plans and thank me later | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:15:50 | |
Most moms write 0-1 birth jplans, but we're going to be a little extra and write 3. I’m sharing the birth plan strategy no one’s talking about: why you need three different birth plans... one for the hospital staff, one for your partner, and one for laboring at home. You’ll learn:
___ Download our birth plan at unmedicatedgirlies.com/birth-prep-class (scroll to the bottom to download all the freebies) Join the girlies inside the birth class meant of moms wanting unmedicated hospital births at unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 204 | Healing Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Root-Cause Roadmap with Jes Reynolds | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:40:38 | |
Meet Jes, holistic hyperemesis gravidarum expert and morning sickness coach. Jes shares her own HG story, multiple hospitalizations, prescriptions, and the moment she said “there has to be a better way”, and how she reverse-engineered her HG by targeting root causes instead of masking symptoms. In the episode, we dig into:
If you’re in the thick of HG, planning another pregnancy, or you simply want a healthier baseline before conception, this episode is for you. -- Get Jes’s mineral guide:
@the_wellness_element on instagram and The Wellness Element podcast. | |||
| 203 | Fentanyl, Morphine & Stadol: What you're really saying yes to | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:11:26 | |
Everyone knows about the epidural, but you also need to understand the hospital’s so-called “low-intervention” option: IV narcotics. Spoiler: they’re not as low-risk as they sound. In this episode, I’m breaking down:
If you’re planning an unmedicated birth, you don’t want to miss this one. Listen in, then grab our free Unmedicated Birth Toolkit for tools that actually work with your body. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Download the U|G's Toolkit: unmedicatedgirlies.com/toolkit Listen to episode 173: Why you haven'r heard of nitrous oxide | |||
| 202 | Processing Birth Trauma: The Prep No One Talks About, with Brigid Tebaldi | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:47:36 | |
If you’ve ever felt like “something wasn’t right” about your birth, this episode is for you. Processing what happened is the prep no one talks about—but it might just be the most important part of planning for an empowered, unmedicated birth. Brigid went through her own traumatic birth, and now she helps moms process their experiences so they don’t carry that trauma into motherhood—or into their next birth. In this episode, she shares her story and gives us some insight in to the tools we all could use post birth. We talk about why trauma shows up in sneaky ways (even years later), the connection between your nervous system and your ability to cope in labor, and how unprocessed trauma can spill over into motherhood. --- Connect with Brigid Website: loretowellness.com Podcast: The Discerning Mother Instagram: @brigid.tebaldi | |||
| 201 | From 'high-risk' to heart-mending, Sarah's story of her unmedicated VBAC | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:42:47 | |
From a home birth transfer and cesarean to a powerful unmedicated VBAC, Sarah’s story is pure redemption. Hear how she turned a high-risk pregnancy into a healthy, healing experience that will bring you to tears. -- Join Sarah & the other Academy Moms: | |||
| 200 | 🔥 Ring of Fire: Sarah’s Why, Cravings & Coping Tools | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:04:52 | |
In this brand-new Ring of Fire segment, Sarah is the first to take the birth stool and answer five rapid-fire questions about her unmedicated birth. From her biggest “why” behind wanting an empowered birth to the one coping tool that truly carried her through labor,. You’ll hear her cravings, her mindset shifts, and the one piece of advice she wants every mama preparing for birth to know. This short, fiery episode is your sneak peek into Sarah’s full birth story (airing in the next episode) and trust me, you won’t want to miss it. --- Join Sarah and the other Academy Mom's Inside the program ⬇️ unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 199 | I didn’t get my unmedicated birth… Now what? | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:15:05 | |
You planned for an unmedicated birth… and it didn’t happen. Now you’re wondering how to set yourself up for a different outcome next time. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do, starting before you’re even pregnant again, to heal, prepare, and build your confidence for your next birth. --- Learn more about Unmedicated Academy ⬇️ unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 198 | What birth taught me about selling, showing up and not shutting up, with Lisa V | 06 Aug 2025 | 00:37:54 | |
In this episode, I’m joined by the one and only Loudmouth Lisa... and trust me, you’re going to love her. Lisa Villani is a birthy business powerhouse with a bold story and even bolder mission. She shares how she went from the typical hospital experience (aka not it) to the unmedicated birth she craved so badly. A birth that cracked her wide open and changed everything. We talk about what it really means to be empowered, in birth and business. Lisa drops some serious truth bombs about sales, helping doulas grow without burnout, and being loud (on purpose) in a system that wants women to stay quiet. If you’re into birth, business, or both, you don’t want to miss this one. --- Find Lisa on instagram @thelisavee Download "5 Silent Killers Hiding in Your Doula Business" -- Download "Done-For-You Birth Class: Earn your first $1k" 🔗 unmedicatedgirlies.com/dfy | |||
| 197 | PART 5: Be the boss of your birth | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:18:19 | |
☀️ Summer Series: PART 4 ☀️ Empowered moms know they are the boss Not only do empowered moms know their rights, they do not allow anyone to take their power away. Being a powerful woman outside of the birth space is different than being the boss inside the birth space, as evidenced by the celebrity examples in the episode. The first step to being the boss is knowing your birth rights, and then step two, speaking up for them. Enroll in the Academy for an advocacy birth education. | |||
| 196 | PART 4: Prioritizing an undisturbed birth | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:15:58 | |
☀️ Summer Series: PART 4 ☀️ Why Physiology is QUEEN 👑 There are TWO things you need to learn: Unfortunately they are not the same. And this was true 10 years ago when I had my first baby, it was true 5 years before that when the business of being born came out, and IT'S TRUE TODAY. And unfortunately we are getting further and further from how birth is meant to be. Empowered moms know this and know how to support the birth they want. Get the resources >> Join the POD CLUB Next Wednesday's Episode >> why Physiology is QUEEN Follow along on the Chat Thread Unmedicated Academy - enrolling now for moms due in Oct & Nov ️ | |||
| 195 | PART 3: Prenatal Care YOUR Way | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:18:59 | |
☀️ Summer Series: PART 3 ☀️ Here is your permission to NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION. Empowered moms know the routine prenatal care, ask for their legally protected options and alternatives, and they are MORE in control of their birth because they started taking ownership during their prenatal care. Get the resources >> Join the POD CLUB Next Wednesday's Episode >> why Physiology is QUEEN Follow along on the Chat Thread Unmedicated Academy - enroll by Friday (7/16- 7/18) and grab a BONUS 30 minute birth planning session with Lizzie or a printed copy of our Academy Workbook ️ | |||
| 194 | PART 2: Drink all the raw milk you want | 09 Jul 2025 | 00:29:56 | |
☀️ Summer Series: PART 2 ☀️ Taking control of your nutrition and knowing what holistic approaches exists for staying low risk is a really impactful way to take control of your birth because the more low risk you are- the more untouchable your birth is. Empowered Moms take control of their birth by nourishing their bodies in pregnancy. Get the resources >> Join the POD CLUB Next Wednesday's Episode >> Doing Prenatal Care YOUR Way Follow along on the Chat Thread The Retrievals podcast on Apple Unmedicated Academy - DM me your enrollment questions | |||
| 193 | PART 1: Your permission to fire your crappy provider | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:15:57 | |
☀️ Summer Series: PART 1 ☀️ What do you do before choosing someone to reno your kitchen? Or cut your hair? You look at the results they have gotten for other clients! We should not be putting more research into our hair than our births. Hair grows back, you are only giving birth a handful of times. Empowered Moms interview their provider to find one that is in line with their values and wants for birth. Get the resources >> Join the POD CLUB Next Wednesday's Episode >> Using Nutrition to Stay Low Risk Follow along on the Chat Thread . | |||
| 192 | Empowered Mom Summer Series, It’s Time to Take Control of Your Birth | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:17:25 | |
☀️Summer Series☀️ We're getting empowered birth prep doesn’t take a summer break and neither do we. Here’s what we’ll be covering in the next five weeks:
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| 191 | Want to avoid cesarean? Do this. | 27 May 2025 | 00:15:40 | |
✨Mini-Series: What the Unmedicated Girlie Needs to know about Cesarean ✨ part 3 Push play for 6 clear, simple strategies to reduce your risk of an unnecessary cesarean. If your plan is an unmedicated or vaginal birth, these strategies will inform you on how to protect your birth plan before labor even starts. --- The best time to start Unmedicated Academy is around 24 weeks. Learn more at unmedicatedgirlies.com | |||
| 190 | When is a cesarean really necessary? | 20 May 2025 | 00:37:30 | |
✨Mini-Series: What the Unmedicated Girlie Needs to know about Cesarean ✨ part 2 Not every cesarean is a true emergency. In fact, many are performed out of fear, hospital policy, or convenience, aka they're not always necessary. In this episode, we’re digging into the top 10 reasons cesareans are performed and calling out the ones that are overused and not always necessary. ---- Join us inside Unmedicated Academy
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| 189 | 10cm and still a Cesarean | 05 May 2025 | 00:21:39 | |
✨Mini-Series: What the Unmedicated Girlie Needs to know about Cesarean ✨ part 1 April is Cesarean Awareness Month — but the truth is, we need to be having this conversation all year long. Why? Because 1 in 3 births in the U.S. end in cesarean… and many of them happen after a mom has already labored unmedicated all the way to 10 cm. In this episode, we’re talking about a trend I’m seeing more and more:🛑 Cesareans being called during the second stage of labor — during pushing. Let’s talk about why this is happening — and how to prevent it when it’s not truly necessary. This episode covers: ✨ The common mistake moms make when planning for unmedicated birth, it's more than pain management 💥 The two most common reasons for second stage cesareans 🧠 Why certain interventions increase the risk of cesarean 💡 The truth about ACOG’s guidelines for when a cesarean is appropriate __ Ready to learn more? Unmedicated Academy has the roadmap for natural birth in any setting. | |||
| 188 | Circumcision Deep Dive: What to know before you decide | 16 Apr 2025 | 00:49:34 | |
🇺🇸 In the United States, routine infant circumcision is still fairly common. What most parents don’t realize is that American moms are some of the only women in the world still facing this decision. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the why behind the U.S. circumcision rate, the real risks and benefits, what the research says, and what major medical organizations actually recommend. You’ll learn about the physiology of the penis, what the procedure involves, and the long term impacts that aren’t often discussed in the hospital. If you’re considering circumcision for your baby boy, this episode will give you the full picture, so you can make a decision you feel truly informed about. ___ Mentioned on the Show: Child Circumcision: An Elephant in the Hospital by Professor R. McAllister 🔗 https://youtu.be/7ud-cTDfKd8?si=JPwQuQ-oh1ayAOQY American Circumcision on Amazon Prime Your Whole Baby 🔗 https://www.yourwholebaby.org/ Moms off the Record Podcast 🔗 https://momsofftherecordpod.com/ ______ Learn more about Unmedicated Academy 🔗 https://unmedicatedgirlies.com/ | |||
| 187 | The Informed Consent Crisis: Hear from the experts inside the hospital | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:37:56 | |
What’s really happening with informed consent in hospitals? In this episode, I sit down with experienced doulas and birth educators to uncover the truth about what moms are facing during labor and birth. 💡 What’s missing from birth education? The key information hospitals aren’t teaching you. If you’re planning a hospital birth, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s make sure you walk into birth fully informed, fully confident, and fully in control. ___ or DM "enroll" on IG Get informed on hospital birth in a weekend with the Informed Mom Bundle ____ Follow the experts:
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| 186 | Going all in: Audie’s fifth and final birth story | 23 Mar 2025 | 00:40:01 | |
Fifth times a charm. ✨ After four very different birth experiences Audie knew she wanted her last birth to be exactly what she envisioned. Audie is sharing what she learned from each birth, and how she went all in with pregnancy five. Catch up on the Forever Informed Series ⬇️ 184 | Why mom advice is so confusing, modern motherhood vs. physiology 185 | Defining Informed Consent, here's what your not being told __ Go all in with Unmedicated Academy | |||
| 185 | Defining informed consent, here's what you're not being told | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:26:11 | |
Informed consent is much more than just a signature on a form—it’s a conversation, a right, and a crucial part of making empowered decisions about your birth. But here’s the truth: hospitals rarely provide true informed consent. They give you a watered-down version, leaving you with only the options they prefer. In this episode, we’re breaking down: 🩺 What informed consent really means (and why it includes informed refusal) ⚖️ The manipulative verbiage ACOG uses with “shared decision-making” ❌ Why signing paperwork is not the same as being truly informed 📢 How to advocate for yourself and make decisions with full confidence __ Learn more about Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com Or DM me 'enroll' on IG | |||
| 184 | Why Mom Advice is So Confusing: Modern Motherhood vs. Physiology | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:27:29 | |
One mom says to trust your instincts. Another tells you to sleep train by 8 weeks. The breastfeeding book you read says you should breastfeed for up to 2 years, but your pediatrician hands you a formula sample at your baby's first appointment. The contradictions in motherhood are everywhere—and it’s no wonder moms feel overwhelmed. In this episode, we’re breaking down why so much of the advice you hear about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and infant care are totally... opposite. Note: In the episode I said "scheduled cesarean" when I meant to say "elective cesarean." Yes we get juicy, y'all. Join us inside the U|G birth program that is ALWAYS based in physiology for the mom birthing in the modern world. https://unmedicatedgirlies.com/ or DM me "enroll" over on IG | |||
| 183 | Hospital birth is a system (and here's how it works against you) | 19 Feb 2025 | 00:31:32 | |
Have you ever heard a doula or birth worker call hospital birth “the system”? That’s because it is—and it wasn’t designed with you in mind. From standardized routines to liability concerns, efficiency protocols, and financial incentives, every part of hospital birth is structured for the hospital’s benefit. Empowerment ahead ➡️ You can opt out of the system’s default routine. You just need to know how it works and how to advocate for yourself. Tune in to learn: 🩺 Why hospital routines prioritize efficiency over individualized care ⚖️ How liability concerns lead to over-monitoring and unnecessary interventions 💰 The financial incentives behind hospital birth policies, does your OB actually get paid more for a cesarean?? 🏡 Why more women are choosing home birth after learning how hospitals operateIf you’re planning a hospital birth and want to stay in control of your experience, this episode is a must listen. Let’s get you informed, empowered, and ready to be the BOSS of your birth. __ Enter the giveaway: instagram.com/theunmedicatedgirlies or DM me "RSVP" on instagram Join Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com or DM me "enroll" on instagram | |||
| 182 | Kicked out of the birth center: Vanessa’s medicated, no-epidural birth story | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:47:04 | |
What happens when one high blood pressure reading gets you kicked out of the birth center? For Vanessa, it meant signing an AMA form, switching to a hospital birth, and watching her birth plan go out the window. In this episode, Vanessa, the creator ofBirth to Boob, and one our very own Unmedicated Academy Ambassadors, shares the story of her first birth—a medicated, no-epidural hospital birth that wasnothing like she planned. And this time? She’s doing it all differently. Tune in to hear how she’s taking back control for baby #2 and why she’s choosing thesecret third option: hiring a birthkeeper. Follow Vanessa @birthtoboob on IG:https://www.instagram.com/birthtoboob Enroll inBirth to Boob to get Unmedicated Academy & Breastfeeding Support | |||
| 181 | Every intervention except the epidural: The untold story of my 'natural' births (part 2) | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:34:29 | |
In part 2 , I’m taking you back to my waters breaking (again?!) on New Year's Eve, I was told to stay in the hospital bed, Pitocin was pushed at shift change, and—something I’ve never shared before—I was talked into fentanyl (spoiler: there's a good learning point here). Add in a cervical lip being manually pushed back, and coached pushing so intense I popped every blood vessel in my face... and it's the "perfect" no-epidural hospital birth. __ Have a better hospital birth, join us inside of Unmedicated Academy ⬇️ OR DM me "enroll" on Instagram | |||
| 180 | Every intervention except the epidural: The untold story of my 'natural' births (part 1) | 28 Jan 2025 | 00:30:35 | |
AKA the ONLY thing unmedicated about it was that I didn't have an epidural. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my first birth experience and sharing the details of what I used to call an “unmedicated” birth. Spoiler alert: while I didn’t have an epidural, my birth was still FULL of interventions. I’ll also share how this birth taught me valuable lessons and set the stage for my journey into birth work. Whether you’re planning your own birth or just love a good story, tune in to hear the truth about hospital births, interventions, and what I wish I’d known back then. _ 💃 Join as an Ambassador: fiercelizzie.com/ambassador DM me "ambassador" for the link on IG _ 👖 Try Nuuly and save $30: https://share.nuuly.com/lizzie728 DM me "nuuly" for the link on IG _ ✨ Learn more about Unmedicated Academy: unmedicatedgirlies.com DM me "enroll" for the link on IG Don't forget to leave a review 🫶 | |||
| 179 | The Hospital's Birth Plan: Cascade of Interventions | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:25:37 | |
When you walk into the hospital for birth, are you stepping into their birth plan? In this episode, we’re breaking down the cascade of interventions and how it’s more than just a snowball effect—it’s often a prearranged set of interventions that makes up the typical hospital birth experience. Learn how common interventions like continuous fetal monitoring, pitocin, and epidurals fit into this plan, why it matters, and what it takes to have a better birth. Join the unmedicated girlies: unmedicatedgirlies.com DM "enroll" for the link on IG Grab the free class for Unmedicated Pregnancy: fiercelizzie.com/birthprepclass DM "free" for the link on IG Learn more about getting your colors done! https://www.instagram.com/thecolorkey_ DM "colorkey" for the link on IG | |||
| 178 | Which birth interventions are really necessary? What you need to know to get informed for birth | 23 Dec 2024 | 00:15:17 | |
"How do I know which interventions are really needed?" In this episode, I’m answering a listener question, and the truth is—it’s not one-size-fits-all. But what works every single time, for every mom and every intervention, is getting informed. Tune in to learn how to make decisions based on you, your baby, and your birth goals so you can have a truly empowered birth. Get informed with the Unmedicated Girlies | |||
| 177 | She refused to have another unnecessary cesarean, Nina's unmedicated VBAC in the hospital | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:43:49 | |
Nina went from being terrified of birth to a typical cascade of intervention experience with her twins—leading to an unnecessary C-section—to achieving the unmedicated VBAC she was 100% committed to. With her husband stepping up as her biggest advocate and her own stubborn streak driving her forward, she got her unmedicated VBAC. Join Unmedicated Academy | |||
| 176 | Epidural Diaries: Why your bestie got an epidural and how to be more prepared | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:26:20 | |
How many of your friends wanted a natural birth but ended up getting an epidural?? We're breaking down why many moms say “yes” to the epidural, what makes it so tempting, and how you can be more prepared to stay on track with your unmedicated birth plan. From long labors and Pitocin contractions to the hospital environment itself, we’ll dive into the top reasons moms opt for pain relief and share the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts you need to manage labor without an epidural. Episode 132 | Get informed on the epidural Get all the strategy & HOW TO for having a natural hospital birth | |||