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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Rethinking the Pushing Stage and our episode on The Power in Writing Your Story.

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

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on  Cesarean Risk: What’s Your Place of Birth Got to Do With It? and our episode on Informed Consent.

You can connect with Mandy on Instagram @thebirthnurse. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. 

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on How Does Milksharing Work? and our episode on How Nipple Shapes Can Impact Breastfeeding. 

You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. 

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Adriana has a candid conversation with Professor Monica McLemore about the lack of policies and practices that support new parents in the U.S. They discuss how paid family leave and the Black Maternal Health Caucus’ “Momnibus” legislative package fit into the need to reform, retrofit, and reimagine the perinatal health care system so it can truly support the courageous families that are bringing children into this world.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview laying out your options for parental leave, or this episode about birth rights.

You can learn more about Monica on Twitter @mclemoremr. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Adriana goes through positions for your body before, during, and after birth, and what makes each of them work for different stages of the birthing process.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows.

Somatic practitioner and author Kimberly Johnson shares the lessons she learned while writing about “the fourth trimester” and what it takes to fully recover—physically and mentally—after giving birth, including paying attention to what you eat, who supports you, and more.

Here's the original episode in full.

For more Birthful, visit the show page. For new episodes, subscribe to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com

Adriana explains all the remarkable benefits of doing skin-to-skin with your baby—immediately after they’re born and through the first months of life—and how such a simple practice can bring your whole family closer together.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

After an initial cesarean birth due to preeclampsia, IVF warrior Desirae Whittle knew it was paramount to gather a birth team that would truly encourage a vaginal birth. She shares with Adriana Lozada the many joyful moments during the long vaginal labor of her second child, and how her team enabled her informed decision-making at every step of the experience.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about VBAC facts, or this episode to learn about preeclampsia. For more information on the Walcher's position, visit the Spinning Babies website.

You can follow Desirae at @harmonybirths. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Adriana Lozada explains why and how tearing can occur during birth, and why episiotomies are increasingly rare. Plus, what you can do to avoid tearing.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Motherhood transition coach Stepha LaFond explains how parents can be weighed down by society’s expectations, and shares many ways for parents and parents-to-be to dismantle that “mom guilt.”

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on helping fathers navigate their transition into parenthood, and this “Best Of Birthful” on the identity shift of becoming a parent.

You can learn more about Stepha on Instagram @mamaslaylife. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Yoga instructor Chelsea Morriss Croy shares how her belief in the strength of her own body allowed her to give birth to unexpected twins—at nearly 41 weeks! She tells Adriana Lozada how even through this unforeseen surprise, she leaned on her birth team and trusted the process.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this recent interview about homebirths, and this episode that explains newborn sugar levels.

You can follow Chelsea’s yoga studio @waimeayoga. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows.

Michelle Emanuel, neonatal/pediatric occupational therapist and founder of the TummyTime!™ Method, demystifies why using their tongues and mouths properly is so important in newborn babies. She links it to overall health and offers easy techniques you can apply at home.

Here's the original episode in full. For more Birthful, visit the show page. For new episodes out each week, subscribe to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows.

Cristen Pascucci, founder of Birth Monopoly, raises awareness about what she coined as “obstetric violence” and advocates for human rights and informed consent in perinatal care. She talks about how to protect your rights as a pregnant person, and what to do if they are being violated.

Here's the original episode in full. For more Birthful, visit the show page. For new episodes out each week, subscribe to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Dealing with Family & Visitors and our episode on Hormones After Birth.

You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. 

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Despite the many course-corrections during the birth of her third child, Amy Silva did not lose sight of her right to choose during each step of her birthing process. She tells Adriana how her decision to refuse a pointless COVID swab during labor changed protocol in her local hospital system.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about the induction process, and this birth story with another person advocating for their birth rights.

You can follow Amy on Instagram @journeyandbloomyogadoula. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

One in six women experience mistreatment during childbirth. Birth-justice attorney Indra Lusero talks to Adriana Lozada about how to defend your and other pregnant people’s birth rights.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this short episode on advocating for yourself in a hospital and this interview on managing interventions during your birth experience.

You can find Indra Lusero on Twitter @IndraLusero. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Adriana Lozada offers practical advice on how to make a mindful feeding plan that protects your milk supply and supports your long-term breastfeeding plans.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about milk supply, or this interview about understanding your baby’s sugar levels.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at info@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Dana Saccomano did not expect her second birth to be what’s medically called “precipitous.” Even though it was so fast, she later realized how much all her practice and preparation paid off.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about knowing when to begin pushing during labor, and this short episode on electronic fetal monitors.

You can learn more about Dana @dana_breastfeedingcounselor. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at info@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Continuous electronic fetal monitoring, or EFM, can have a negative impact on your birth experience. Adriana Lozada explains how. And what you can ask care providers for to alleviate the complications it can cause.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on building a collaborative relationship with your care provider, or this short episode on what not to worry about during birth.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Caregiving gives parents unmatched skills, and TendLab CEO Amy Henderson tells Adriana Lozada why it’s crucial to support them in bringing all that valuable knowledge and experience to the workplace.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode on how to navigate identity shifts when you become a parent, and this birth story from a mom learning to navigate the postpartum life with her partner.

You can find Amy Henderson at tendlab.com or on Instagram @amytendlab. 

Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Kristina Colangelo visualized a flowing birth, but the reality caught her by surprise. Fortunately, her dad, mom, doula, and midwife supported her through a long labor due to a posterior baby, prolonged hyperemesis gravidarum, and the fear of tearing. She tells Adriana Lozada how her team made meeting her baby the most interconnected experience.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview all about birth doulas, and this short episode on eight questions to ask your care provider.

You can learn more about Kristina @power_baker. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Adriana Lozada goes through simple ways to measure how much you’re producing while nursing, and shares useful facts that lead to successful breastfeeding.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode all about what to expect when breastfeeding, and this story about how to overcome breastfeeding problems.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Ob-gyn Dr. Meedlen Charles walks us through the common changes you can expect –physically and mentally– during the postpartum period. She and Adriana Lozada break down which symptoms are red flags to discuss with your care provider.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview with a pelvic health physical therapist, this episode about the changes your body goes through in pregnancy and postpartum, and this short about postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.

You can find Dr. Meedleen Charles at @meedlencharles. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Your baby will arrive at the right time, regardless of your due date. Adriana Lozada explains how due dates are influenced by factors out of your control, and why you shouldn’t worry too much about them.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview with more information about due dates.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Family-Centered Cesareans and our episode on Supporting Healthy Families in the U.S.: Has Anything Changed?

You can connect with Dr. Thorton on Instagram @dramberthornton. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. 

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Parents, particularly mothers, and especially during the pandemic, are under extreme psychological pressure. Adriana Lozada gives you a host of helpful tips to protect your mental health and ensure a more fair work balance among parenting partners.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about navigating identity shifts, and this episode about entering fatherhood.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

OBGYN Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins breaks down the leading causes of what’s usually called a cascade of labor interventions—like an induction leading to a cesarean. She and Adriana Lozada offer insight into the risks and benefits of interventions, and help inform your decision-making during birth.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode on inductions, and this short about what to ask your care provider.

You can find Nicole Rankins @drnicolerankins. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Myra Flynn set out to have as few interventions as possible during the birth of her daughter. She tells Adriana Lozada what it was like to stand up for herself--and adapt to the circumstances--during her five days in labor.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about navigating the U.S. hospital system, and this episode all about the induction process.

You can learn more about Myra and her music at MyraFlynn.com or on Instagram @BabyMamaMyra. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

High-risk pregnancy and somatic trauma specialist Parijat Deshpande talks with Adriana Lozada about the importance of connecting with your body to release trauma, increase resiliency, improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, and get out of survival mode so you can truly start thriving.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode on the primal nature of shaking.

You can find Parijat Deshpande at @healthy.highriskpregnancy and find more resources at parijatdeshpande.com. Connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Adriana Lozada dispels nine common worries of expectant parents, and explains why you can just let them go.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about the pushing stage, and this episode about protecting your perineum.

 You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Emma Parnell was adamant about planning a vaginal birth for her second pregnancy, even though she was having twins—and they were both breech. She tells Adriana Lozada about the strength she gained from her own body’s intuition.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about shared decision-making.

You can find Emma Parnell on Instagram at @emmaroseparnell. Connect with Birthful @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Adriana Lozada shares facts about the magnificent protective and self-clamping abilities of the umbilical cord. She also explains why there’s still disagreement in the medical field about how long to wait.

To learn even more, listen to this interview all about delayed cord clamping.

You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ shows.

Psychotherapist Sophie McEntee, is dedicated to supporting new parents through the early transitional and utterly transformational start of parenthood. She helps you navigate both the beautiful and messy aspects of becoming a parent. 

Here's the original episode in full.

For more Birthful, visit our website. For new episodes each week, subscribe to Birthful. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Adriana Lozada shares facts about the prevalence of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, or PMADs.And she encourages us to acknowledge the combined mental health impact of postpartum experiences during Covid. Plus suggestions on the signs to look out for. 

If you liked this episode, listen to this one on childbirth PTSD and this one on grief during and after pregnancy.

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Author, life coach, and plus-size model Rosie Mercado experienced postpartum depression with three of her four children, in addition to other personal and physical challenges. She tells Adriana Lozada how she learned to listen to her body, to ask for help, and to admire her own strength.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about Setting Up Your Postpartum Support. 

You can find Rosie Mercado on Instagram at @rosiemercado. Connect with Birthful @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Letting Go of "Mom Guilt" and our episode All About Postpartum Doulas

You can connect with Kaitlin on Instagram @behervillage, and You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. 

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Parenting facilitator Leslie Arreola-Hillenbrand talks to Adriana Lozada about starting Latinx Parenting to help families decolonize oppressive parenting practices and jettison cultural discipline techniques their parents used—that many say they’d never use on their own children.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about your baby’s experience of the world, and this episode on how to understand your newborn.

You can find Leslie Arreola-Hillenbrand on Instagram at @latinxparenting and at her website, latinxparenting.org. Connect with Birthful @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Adriana Lozada explains the process of triage, which happens before you’re admitted to the hospital to give birth. She covers it all, from the steps to confirm you’re in labor, to potential inconveniences and discomfort, to concrete ways to advocate for yourself and your birth plan from the moment you step into the hospital.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on knowing what you’re up against when giving birth in a hospital, and this episode with insider tips from a labor and delivery nurse.

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Trystan Reese assembled a birth team that included his partner, dad, mother-in-law, and the head nurse at the hospital to ensure his birth experience as a trans man was exactly what he wanted. He tells Adriana Lozada how communicating what he expected from each of them made all the difference as he welcomed his son Leo.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to what the induction process is all about, or these insider tips from a labor and delivery nurse. 

You can find Trystan Reese on Instagram at @biffandi. Connect with Birthful @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Adriana Lozada tackles a question parents ask her often: how to introduce your other children to their newborn sibling. There isn’t one right way to do it, so Adriana has suggestions to make the intros and transition easier—and joyful!

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview on dealing with family and visitors, or this episode on how to truly understand and calm your baby.

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Doula and birth photographer Karissa Raya balances supporting people in childbirth and documenting the magic of a family’s history. She offers insights and tricks of the trade for documenting your birth experience with photos, including framing those special moments—all while staying in the moment.

Listen through to the end for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us.” Every week, she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about your baby’s birth experience, or this episode about the identity change of becoming a parent.

You can find Karissa Raya on Instagram @olivelavida. Connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Hypnosis in childbirth, often known as HypnoBirthing, is one tool you can use to lessen pain perception and let your oxytocin flow. Adriana Lozada breaks down the origin of this tool, and how you can practice it ahead of giving birth.

If you liked this episode, listen to this birth story for a first-person account of using hypnosis during childbirth, and this full episode on using self-hypnosis for pain management.

You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Taylor Walker Sinning breaks down exactly how she trained herself for months to use hypnosis to relieve her pain during birth. And makes clear to Adriana Lozada just why it became her most powerful tool during childbirth.

Listen through to the end of the episode for Adriana’s “Two Things to Do: One for You, One for the Rest of Us” as she selects actions, books, and other resources to further inform your intuition and support others on their birth journeys.

If you liked this episode, listen to this episode about shaking during birth and this interview about hypnosis in birth. And look out next week for a special episode on the origin of hypnosis in birth!

You can find Taylor Walker Sinning on Instagram at @taylorwalkerfit. You can connect with Birthful on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

October is Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Awareness Month. The topic has been in our social media feeds for the last week after Chrissy Teigen and John Legend shared their painful experience losing a pregnancy. They broke open a taboo topic that we at Birthful have been thinking a lot about: how to talk about miscarriages and pregnancy and infant losses. This week Adriana Lozada takes a few quiet moments to talk directly to you, our mighty listeners, about the realities and misconceptions of an event experienced by too many people.

If you want to learn more from expert interviews, listen to these episodes about miscarriages and stillbirths and infant deaths.

Dr. Altaf Saadi's powerful article titled "The Silence and Sorrow of Miscarriage" was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests!

Since they aren't growing a baby inside their bodies, it usually takes a bit longer for partners and dads-to-be to realize the magnitude of changes coming their way. What are some ways to prepare for becoming a dad, connecting with your kids, and showing up in a way you can be proud of? JaMone Alexander has answers. 

Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-fatherhood

Please follow Birth Center Equity Fund and Ancient Song Doula services and consider giving them some of your time, goods, or funds.

If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe!

Sign-up for my Thrive with Your Newborn online postpartum preparation course

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Title music: "Vibe Ace" by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)

Sponsorship music: "Air Hockey Saloon" by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)

Kids aren't born racist, so how do these biases get absorbed? What can you do to intentionally bring up anti-racist kids? Is it ever too early to start talking about race, and what are some ways to do so with your babies, toddlers, kindergarteners, and older children? Dr. Qadira Ali Huff has answers.

Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-antiracist-children

If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe!

Click to grab your birth-prep Questions to Ask during COVID handout

Check out our Birthful.com/COVID resource page

Sign-up for my Thrive with Your Newborn online postpartum preparation course

Title music: "Vibe Ace" by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)

Sponsorship music: "Air Hockey Saloon" by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

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

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

If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on What Actually Happens After Giving Birth, Physically and Emotionally. 

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

If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.

Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Instead of posting a new episode, this week we are amplifying the voices of Black podcasters.

We encourage you to take the time you would have used to listen to this week's Birthful episode to expand your listening options. 

Hear what they have to say:

• All About Pregnancy and Birth Podcast
• Birth Stories In Color Podcast
• Natal
• Homecoming podcast
• Fertility Friday
• Dem Black Mamas
• Woke Mommy Chatter
• Experiencing Motherhood: Single & Black
• Mahogany Momology
• Black Mom Diaries
• That Black Couple

If you have other shows you would recommend, please share them with us.

We are @birthfulpodcast on Instagram and @birthful on facebook. 

For her third birth, Melonie Fitch was planning a birth center birth, but when the quarantine began, she and her husband decided to have a home birth instead. All that changed when at 39 weeks and five days, her blood pressure unexpectedly skyrocketed, instantly risking her out of a home birth and causing her to be medically induced for preeclampsia.

Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-preeclampsia-COVID-story

Go to birthful.com/simplybreastfeeding and use the code Birthful for 15% off their breastfeeding course.

If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe!

Click to grab your birth-prep Questions to Ask during COVID handout.

Visit our Birthful.com/COVID resource page.

Sign-up for my Thrive with Your Newborn online postpartum preparation course

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)

There are so many opinions and judgments around how and where infants should sleep, that it can be hard to figure out what would work best for your family. How did we get here? What are an infant’s biological sleep needs? What risk factors should you consider when setting up the sleep environment? Is bed sharing as dangerous as we are led to believe? Dr. James McKenna has answers. 

Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the show notes page at birthful.com/podcast-infant-sleep

Go to birthful.com/simplybreastfeeding and use the code Birthful for 15% off their breastfeeding course.

If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to subscribe!

Click to grab your birth-prep Questions to Ask during COVID handout.

Check out our Birthful.com/COVID resource page.

Sign-up for my Thrive with Your Newborn online postpartum preparation course

Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY)

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)