This summary covers:- Prediction and Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth - Practice Bulletin #234 - Published August 2021- Management of Preterm Labor - Practice Bulletin #171 - Published October 2016

Prediction and Prevention

Five Pearls

* PTD at <34 wga carries higher mortality and morbidity risk to newborn in delivery and long-term morbidity

* History of PTD is the greatest risk factor for PTD in a current pregnancy

* Progesterone supplementation can be considered regardless of history of PTD

* In patients w/ singleton pregnancy and history of PTD, cerclage should be offered if CL <25 mm is detected on TVUS at 16-24 wga

* Omega 3s, low-dose aspirin, lifestyle modification, and smoking cessation are also important considerations in decreasing our national PTD rate

Background

* rates of preterm delivery in the U.S. has been pretty stable

* "Although risks are greatest for neonates born before 34 weeks of gestation, infants born after 34 weeks of gestation but before 37 weeks of gestation are still more likely to experience delivery complications, long-term impairment, and early death than those born later in pregnancy"

* risk factors for PTD: prior PTD (1-2x ↑ risk), short cervical length (<20mm if no history of PTD; <25mm if prior history), vaginal infection in pregnancy, vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, UTI in pregnancy, or periodontal disease in pregnancy (treatment of any of these won't normalize risk, though), low maternal BMI, smoking, substance abuse, and short inter-pregnancy interval

* in case you were wondering, history of LEEP of CKC for cervical dysplasia has not been found to be a risk factor after all according to ACOG but there are studies that support this (and my own direct clinical experience reflects the alternative)

* White women have the lowest rate (9.3%), Hispanic women (10%), American Indian and Alaskan native (11.5%), Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (11.8%), with highest rates seen among black women (14%)

Who should be screened and how?

* the purpose of screening is to identify patients in whom intervention will be helpful

* really the only patients who qualify for screening are those with a history of prior PTD, PPROM, multiple gestations, but ACOG feels it’s reasonable to screen universally as 5% of all women could potentially give birth preterm

* a systematic review looked at 14 studies and found that:

“a cervical length less than 25 mm before 16-24 weeks of gestation had a sensitivity of 65.4% for preterm birth before 35 weeks of gestation, with a positive predictive value of 33.0% and a negative predictive value of 92.0%. Sub-analysis of the studies that included only women whose risk factor was prior spontaneous preterm birth found a similar sensitivity and a positive predictive value of 41.4%”

* get a baseline transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and repeat this evaluation every 1-2 weeks to assess for change (limited data on time interval)

* measure three times, and go with the average

* "fetal fibronectin screening, bacterial vaginosis screening, and home uterine activity monitoring have been proposed to assess a woman’s risk of preterm delivery" and none of them have panned out as useful predictors of PTD in asymptomatic women

* recent data suggests that it might actually be cost-effective to universally screen for shortened cervix in patients without history of PTD (study 1, study 2), but, for now, ACOG states it's reasonable to offer but not necessarily recommended universally

When and how to prevent PTD?

No history of PTD

* Extensively studied as a means to reduce the risk of preterm birth in asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy, short cervix, and no prior preterm birth.

* a meta-analysis of five randomized trials of vaginal progesterone versus placebo in patients with a singleton pregnancy, a short cervix, and no prior preterm birth was performed, including patients from the 2019 OPTIMUM (Does Progesterone Prophylaxis to Prevent Preterm Labour Improve Outcome?) trial who did not have other risk factors, and standardizing the threshold definition of shortened cervix at 25 mm or less for their analysis. Patients treated with vaginal progesterone had a significantly reduced risk of any preterm birth before 34 0/7 weeks of gestation (14.5% versus 24.6%; RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44–0.82), spontaneous preterm birth before 34 0/7 weeks of gestation (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44–0.88), neonatal respiratory distress, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. The meta-analysis authors calculated that 14 patients would need to be treated to prevent one spontaneous preterm birth before 34 0/7 weeks of gestation.

* Vaginal progesterone is recommended for asymptomatic individuals without a history of preterm birth with a singleton pregnancy and a short cervix. 200 mg per vagina nightly is the best studied regimen

History of PTD:

* Before the PROLONG trial (2020), a metaanalysis was published in 1990 that showed demonstrable evidence of the benefits of 17-OH-P in preventing recurrent PTD, which led to a large multicenter RCT of 463 patients. They were randomized to receive either 250 mg 17-OHPC IM or placebo, starting between 16 0/7 and 20 6/7 weeks of gestation. Administration of 17-OHPC reduced the rate of preterm birth before 35 weeks of gestation by one third, leading ACOG and SMFM to recommend this intervention universally to women with history of PTD.

* Then came the PROLONG trial, which evaluated the efficacy of 17-OHPC 250 mg intramuscular injection weekly compared with placebo on preterm birth and neonatal morbidity among women with a singleton pregnancy and prior spontaneous preterm birth. Large, international, multicenter double-blind RCT. 1740 women randomized (of 1877 eligible). No statistical difference found in the two primary outcomes of preterm birth before 35 0/7 weeks of gestation or maternal/neonatal outcomes.

* On April 5, 2023, the FDA withdrew its approval of 17-OHP for prevention of preterm birth as a result of the PROLONG trial

* Data comparing vaginal to IM progesterone supplementation continues to roll in, so no definitive conclusions can be made yet

* In the meantime, SMFM discourages clinicians from using IM 17-OHP off-label

* Recommended to screen cervical length every week from 16-24 weeks and to offer cerclage if it measures <25 mm, though this intervention was best studied for women with history of PTD <34 weeks

* it may be more cost effective to forego cervical shortening screening altogether in those without this history

Cerclage

* Short cervix found on ultrasound: uncertain effectiveness in patients with a short cervix and no history of preterm birth. However, there is evidence of potential benefit in patients with a very short cervical length (<10 mm)

* Open cervix on physical exam: Individuals with cervical insufficiency based on a dilated cervix on a digital or speculum examination at 16 0/7–23 6/7 weeks of gestation are candidates for a physical examination-indicated cerclage (but data is mixed)

* unclear if 17-OH-P plus cerclage are additionally helpful together compared to either intervention alone

* An interesting side note: there’s no evidence, per say, that suggests that it’s a terrible idea to place an US-indicated cerclage after 23 6/7 weeks; this is merely “expert opinion”

* Because cervical insufficiency traditionally is defined as painless cervical dilation in the 2nd trimester, this restriction presented no issue when viability did not begin until the 3rd trimester and indeed may have arisen to discourage the treatment of patients with threatened preterm labor with cerclage

* But now that we have better means of keeping 23+ weekers alive in the NICU, it seems that little investment has been made to prevent babies from coming super early

* What if a specific institution doesn’t have the full capacities for keeping these very preterm babies alive? Should we not then consider an early 3rd trimester cerclage? Why not? Very little data to continue this conversation…(much of this is paraphrased from a bada$$ article that was recently published in the Green Journal)

Notes on cerclages...

There are three indications:

* Ultrasound-indicated: what we've already described

* History-indicated: cerclage placed at conclusion of first trimester and after prenatal screening has been completed in patients with cervical insufficiency

* Physical exam-indicated (e.g. rescue cerclage): option if cervical dilation >2cm is visualized on speculum exam or ultrasound <24 wga

There are three techniques (all call for Mersilene suture):

* McDonald: performed vaginally under regional anesthesia using the purse-string technique at the cervicovaginal junction; bladder emptying is recommended, but mobilization is not required

* Shirodkar: performed vaginally under regional anesthesia using purse string technique after emptying and mobilizing the bladder

* Transabdominal: performed laparoscopically or open, placing the suture in purse-string fashion at the cervicoisthmic jxn (**will require c-section); recommended if vaginal placement is determined not possible or if cervix is too short that vaginal effort is unlikely to be successful

If a patient has a cerclage in place and presents in active labor, you must remove the cerclage to avoid cervical laceration, which can lead to outrageous brisk bleeding (you can't stop active labor)

Other options

* if birth was preterm due to other comorbidities, low-dose aspirin has been demonstrated in some studies to prevent preclampsia and thus prevent indication for iatrogenic preterm birth

* tighter control over BPs in cHTN may also decrease our PTD rates

* presence of funneling hasn't been found to significantly influence the risk of PTD

* "indomethacin or antibiotics, activity restriction, or supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids have not been evaluated in the context of randomized trials for women with short cervical length, and are not recommended as clinical interventions for women with an incidentally diagnosed short cervical length."

* stop smoking

* omega 3 fatty acids show some promise (2018 Cochrane review)

* decreasing allostatic load (think: improve our racist, inegalitarian society)

* treat UTIs and vaginal infections when they arise

* avoid licorice root?

* false unicorn root

* wild yam

* uva ursi (indirectly through flushing urinary tract)

* history of PROM: check electrolytes or hair mineral analysis

Management of Preterm Labor

Five Pearls

* Preterm labor carries significant risks to the newborn: the more premature, the worse the outcomes

* Given high risk for long-term morbidity in extremely premature infants, focusing on comfort as opposed to aggressive resuscitation at time of delivery is reasonable through a shared medical decision-making process

* Corticosteroids can improve outcomes for newborns at risk of preterm birth at <34 wga (and some as late as 36w5d) if delivery anticipated within the next 7 days

* Latency antibiotics can improve outcomes for newborns in the setting of PPROM at <34 wga

* Magnesium sulfate can improve outcomes for newborns at risk of preterm birth at <32 wga

Background

* around 10% of babies are born before 37 wga

* why are we concerned? higher risk of neonatal mortality, respiratory distress, sepsis, intracranial bleeding, and long-term issues like neurodevelopmental challenges

* preterm labor definition: regular uterine contractions + cervical dilation ≥ 2 cm between 20 wga and 36w6d ga

* <10% of women who present that meet these criteria actually deliver within 7 days

So a patient presents with contractions preterm...

* you could look with a speculum exam, collect fetal fibronectin, and/or get an endovaginal ultrasound

* utility of ultrasound and FFN haven't been validated through RCTs, though observational data suggests they may be helpful in identifying patients truly at risk for preterm birth; FFN alone has poor predictive value (CONSIDER THE WHOLE CLINICAL PICTURE)

* if she looks like she's in labor, especially if >32 wga, digital exam of the cervix may be warranted - we will review prevention of preterm labor in a future episode...

When should we be worried about preterm delivery?

* consistent regular contractions and evidence of cervical dilation are good sign that preterm delivery may be happening

* in 30% of patients presenting w/ preterm prodromal labor, the process will cease spontaneously; only 50% of patients admitted for preterm labor concerns will end up delivering at term (SO BE JUDICIOUS AND THOUGHTFUL)

Pearl: ~20% of patients who present with preterm contractions without cervical dilation will deliver before 37 wga; <5% will deliver within 2 weeks of presentation

Can we stop preterm labor?

* Sometimes, but tocolytic therapy is only thought to be effective for 48 hrs (just so happens to buy you enough time to get corticosteroids on board if indicated)

* tocolysis is generally not recommended after 34 wga

* since 30% of preterm labor will resolve without any intervention, even patients with advanced cervical dilation (2 cm) at <34 can generally be observed without tocolytics, and particularly so if no cervical dilation is found

* b-adrenergics don't tocolyze well and carry significant maternal cardiovascular risks (but OK for antepartum uterine tachysystole)

What's the cut off for viability?

* <20 weeks is considered previable (no intervention indicated)

* 23 wga to ~26 wga can be considered periviable

* this NICHD calculator can be used in your counseling to guide delivery/management plan

Pearl: Just because we can resuscitate a baby doesn't mean that we should. Delivery of a peri-viable newborn must include risks and benefits of delivery methods to mom and risk and benefits of preterm delivery and resuscitation to the newborn.

What's the role of corticosteroids?

* stimulates the development of alveoli in premature fetal lungs in order to optimize transition to external environment

* can significantly improve outcomes

* recommend a single course if patient presents with preterm labor (or need for delivery due to maternal health concerns like early-onset severe preeclampsia) between 23 wga and 33w6d if you anticipate delivery within 7 days

* can repeat the course if greater than 2 weeks have passed after first course

* can recommend single course between 34 wga and 36w5d if i) no prior steroids, ii) membranes intact, iii) patient not diabetic (and don't delay delivery to complete course)

Regimens:

a. betamethasone 12-mg IM q24 hrs for 2 dosesb. dexamethasone 6-mg IM q12 hrs for 4 doses

Should I mag or should i not?

* if <32 wga, start mag for fetal neuroprotection

* mag isn't a reliable tocolytic agent

* if patient is on mag for fetal neuroprotection, adding on a tocolytic agent can still be considered, but be careful with b-agonists and Ca-channel blockers (synergistic w/ mag sulfate, so may cause hypotension); go with indomethacin

Should I recommend antibiotics?

* intrauterine infection is a well known cause of preterm labor and delivery

* antibiotics haven't been found to be helpful outside of PPROM at <34 wga ("latency" abx)

* latency antibiotics have been found to improve interval from time of PPROM to delivery, ↓ risk of chorio, neonatal infection, and need for neonatal oxygen therapy (Cochrane Review) in patients who present w/ PPROM at <34 wga

The regimen:

2x days ampicillin 2 g IV q6hr PLUS erythromycin 250 mg IV q6hr THEN 5x days amoxicillin 250 mg PO q8hr PLUS erythromycin 333 mg PO q8hr

* erythromycin and azithromycin are equally efficacious, but the latter is cheaper and better tolerated from GI standpoint

* amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (augmentin) associated with higher risk of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in some studies, therefore not recommended

If PCN allergic:

Azithromycin 1 g PO x1 at time of admission PLUS 2x days cefazolin 1g IV q8hr THEN 5x days cephalexin 500 mg PO four times daily

* if severe PCN allergy, substitute cephalosporins for gentamicin/clindamycin

* at 34 wga, it's prudent to recommend IOL (risks versus benefits)

What can be done to prevent preterm delivery?

* hydration, bed rest, nor tocolytics in asymptomatic women have been found to be helpful prophylaxis against preterm delivery

* plus there's potential harm from decreased activity: ↑ risk VTE, ↑ bone demineralization, and general de-conditioning

* Atosiban is a maintenance tocolytic that isn't FDA approved for use in the US

What about preterm delivery in multiple gestations?

* no clear data to support the benefit of steroids or mag sulfate for fetal neuroprotection in multiple gestations

* many experts extrapolate that benefits outweighs risk, though

* tocolytics: risks outweigh benefits in multiple gestations

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Notes for this episode are found on Substack

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Dr. Powell is a naturopathic physician with her master’s degree in public health. She’s a doula, as well, as she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to interpreting stool analyses and supporting the gut in pregnancy and postpartum. We met when I called Genova Diagnostics for support in interpreting a client’s GI Effects stool analysis. Now we’re friends, and I wanted to share her with the world.

Speaking of stool analyses, the reason that I prefer GI Effects is because I have run all of the major stool analyses (GI-Map, GI360, etc.), and GI Effects found several problem areas that were missed by the others. GI Effects gives you an impression of the degree of inflammation in the gut, pancreatic function, gut flora, presence of parasites, and digestion and absorption of proteins/fats/carbs. Plus, when I started running these analyses on clients, I loved that I was able to arrange for consults with Genova consultants to go deep into the results.

In this conversation, Dr. Powell teaches me about:

* What can a stool analysis tell you about your health?

* What is the optimal frequency and consistency of poop? (We say poop a lot in this episode…try to get over it)

* What might reflux or bloating tell you about your gut function?

* How do you select a probiotic?

* What role does diet play in gut health?

* What role does the gut play in hormone health?

* How can you optimize gut function in pregnancy and postpartum?

* Chiropractics and gut function

* Calcium D-Glucarate, vitamins, fermented foods, milk thistle, and more…

We go deep in this one. Enjoy.

Find Lahnor Powell, ND, MPH on Instagram. Her practice is called Okana Care.

Notes for this episode

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Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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This one pairs nicely with the 2020 Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon (Organic)

Five Pearls

1. Normal physiologic changes in pregnancy that are relevant in anemia: blood volume expands by 50% (increased iron requirement), red blood cell mass increases by 25% in a singleton pregnancy, and increased iron stores in the female body during pregnancy help to sustain the increased demand.

2. Low serum ferritin is the most sensitive and specific single lab finding in iron deficiency anemia. And yet, it’s specificity isn’t great.

3. The CDC recommends universal screening for iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy along with universal supplementation.

4. B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are common causes of macrocytic anemia; folate deficiency much more likely than B12.

5. Blood transfusions are almost never indicated in pregnancy, apart from the rare case of a large, concealed placental abruption (Hgb <6 g/dL is associated with abnormal fetal oxygenation --> non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns, reduced amniotic fluid volume, fetal cerebral vasodilation, and fetal death)

Definition of anemia in pregnancy

Hgb = hemoglobin; HCT = hematocrit

- Hgb <11g/dL or HCT <33% in the first/third trimesters

- <10.5 g/dL or <32% in the second trimester

- everybody should be screened in the 1st trimester and at 24-28 weeks

- If hematocrit level is less than 33% in the first and third trimesters or less than 32% in the second trimester, you need to investigate the cause. If iron deficiency is ruled out, other etiologies should be investigated

- Living at a high altitude and tobacco use cause a generalized increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, and consideration of these factors may be appropriate when interpreting test results

Classification of anemia

Physiologic changes in pregnancy that may lead to anemia

- blood volume expands by 40-50% (increased iron requirement)

- red blood cell mass increases by 15-25% in a singleton pregnancy

- increased iron stores in the female body during pregnancy help to sustain the increased demand

**UK guidelines on iron deficiency anemia: https://www.bsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Iron-Deficiency-Anaemia-in-Adults.pdf

“An SF level of <15 µg/L is indicative of absent iron stores, while SF levels of less than 30 µg/L are generally indicative of low body iron stores. The lower limit of normal for most laboratories, therefore, lies in the range 15–30 µg/L.”

Structure of hemoglobin

- four polypeptide chains + heme

- the six chain types: alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), delta (δ), epsilon (ε), and zeta (ζ)

- adult hemoglobin consists of two alpha chains + either two β-chains (hemoglobin A), two γ-drains (hemoglobin F), or two δ-chains (hemoglobin A₂)

- hemoglobin F predominates in the developing fetus from 12 -24 wga, after which hemoglobin A begins to increase

Iron deficiency anemia

- 2% prevalence in general female population (2x higher for black women compared to white)

- “An assessment of iron status in pregnant individuals in the United States using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (known as NHANES) from 1999 to 2006 found that iron deficiency prevalence increased significantly with each trimester (mean ± standard error, 7%, 14%, and 30%, in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively) and was higher in Mexican American pregnant women, non-Hispanic Black pregnant women, and women with parity greater than 2”

- in pregnancy, higher prevalence by far in 3rd trimester

- associated with low birth weight, preterm delivery, and perinatal mortality

- there may also be an association with postpartum depression and worse mental and psychomotor performance testing in offspring

- diagnosed by lab analysis OR if there's an increase in Hgb by 1g/dL after iron treatment OR by the absence of bone marrow iron stores on bone marrow biopsies

- iron storage may be low (iron depletion), or stored + transport iron are low (decreased erythropoiesis), or stored + transport + functional iron are all low (full blown iron deficiency anemia, yeehaw!)

- on iron studies, iron deficiency anemia presents as: microcytic, hypochromic, iron store depletion, low plasma iron, increased total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), low serum ferritin, and increased free erythrocyte protoporphyrin

- serum ferritin levels are most specific and sensitive for the diagnosis (<10-15 mcg/L is diagnostic)

- CDC recommends universal screening of pregnant women along with universal supplementation (unless the patient has hemochromatosis)

- typical American diet provide 15 mg of elemental iron per day (recommended: 27 mg daily iron intake)

- extended-release formulations are less effective

- foods rich in iron: shellfish, beef, organ meats, turkey, beans, and lentils

- foods that enhance iron absorption from the gut: citrus, strawberries, broccoli, and peppers

- foods that impair iron absorption: dairy, soy, spinach, and coffee

Macrocytic anemia

- two general categories: megaloblastic (B12 or folate deficiency, pernicious anemia) and non-megaloblastic (liver disease, myelodysplasia, increased reticulocytes, aplastic anemia, and hypothyroidism)

- mean corpuscular volume (MCV) >100 fL is characteristic of macrocytic anemia

- if >115 fL, diagnostic for folate acid or B12 deficiency (confirm by checking serum folate acid or B12 levels)

Click for source

- in the U.S., macrocytic anemia in pregnancy is due almost exclusively to folate deficiency

- recall: folic acid should universally be supplemented at 400 mcg per day in pregnancy

- however: 40-60% of the U.S. population carries of a variant of a mutation within the gene that encodes for the MTHFR enzyme, and folic acid is useless in that case

More on folic acid versus folate from Lily Nichols, RDN

- folate deficiency can be caused by diets deficient in leafy vegetables, legumes, or animal proteins (or taking antacids) - changing the diet should do the trick (you can also increased folic acid supplementation to 1 mg daily along with increasing iron supplementation)

- B12 deficiency can be seen in women who have undergone partial or total gastric resection or in Crohn disease

- treatment includes supplementing with 1000 mcg of B12 (intramuscular) monthly

What if a patient has laboratory evidence of anemia but is asymptomatic?

- mild: reasonable to investigate further through iron studies, RBC indices, etc. (otherwise you may just recommended dietary changes without investigation)

- moderate: definitely investigate the etiology (CBC, RBC indices, iron studies, blood smear), consider Hgb electrophoresis if patient is of African, Southeast Asian, or Mediterranean descent; reasonable to treat empirically with iron while awaiting further studies (you should see results in a few weeks)

When should transfusion be considered?

- almost never in pregnancy, apart from the rare case of a large, concealed placental abruption (Hgb <6 g/dL is associated with abnormal fetal oxygenation --> non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns, reduced amniotic fluid volume, fetal cerebral vasodilation, and fetal death)

- postpartum is a different story: coagulopathy (HELLP, DIC, etc.), uterine atony, placenta previa/accreta, and placental abruption may all result in the need for transfusion postpartum

- if the patient becomes symptomatic or hemodynamically unstable then it's a no-brainer

When should iron infusion be considered?

- useful for the rare patient who can't tolerate oral iron or those who have severe malabsorption issues

- 1% chance of anaphylaxis (iron dextran more likely to cause a reaction than ferrous sucrose)

- faster immediate results from IV iron compared to oral for most patients, but by day 40 after treatment, the two routes of comparable

- insufficient data to guide decisions around erythropoietin treatment in pregnancy

Click for source

My approach:

* Evaluate for all potential causes of anemia before treatment (Ready —> Aim —> Fire; Not the other way around). Often iron deficiency plays a role, but rarely is it just about iron.

* Instead of repleting iron willy-nilly, try to determine if absorption is the underlying issue. Adding acids like apple cider vinegar or HCL capsules to the diet can help with reabsorption. Calcium-rich foods can impede absorption. You can bet that absorption is at least partially responsible if ferritin is low, although ferritin itself is wildly misunderstood (including by me). For example, there is little if any iron found in a molecule of ferritin, so what’s the deal? Well, while ferritin reflects overall “iron stores”, this association is more likely indirect. Ferritin is more likely a powerful antioxidant. My clinical experience tells me that iron deficiency anemia will at least be partially corrected for (with improved outcomes) if low ferritin is managed by focusing on absorption of iron. Bear in mind, also, that the antioxidant response element, which is regulated by Nrf2, a master gene in the regulation of our response to oxidative stress, regulates the expression of the gene that is responsible for ferritin production, meaning foods and supplements meant to regulate Nrf2 can also have an impact on ferritin levels. Note: this means foods and supplements that flood the body with antioxidants may be impactful to iron storage and utilization, but, again, I haven’t figured this out entirely. But others are also asking these questions…

* I always aim for a serum ferritin level of at least 50 ng/mL

* Adequate nourishment through whole foods, namely beef liver, bivalves like oysters, bone broth, fermented cod liver oil, and farm-fresh eggs are all helpful for the increased demand on RBC production. There’s no question about this. You’ll have adequate amounts of folate (Vitamin B9), other B vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, Omega 3s, Cu/Zn, Se, Mg, and other nutrients critical for healthy absorption, transport, and storage of iron (and general health before, during, and after pregnancy).

* I don’t generally recommend supplemental iron, as you’ll get more bang for your buck (and avoid constipation) by striving to acquire these nutrients from whole food sources.

* Address underlying inflammation, which can be tricky to identify while in pregnant state, which is, in some regards, an inflammatory state in and of itself.

* We could go much deeper…but for the every day practitioner, this is hopefully a good start.

Notes for this episode are found on Substack.

Questions? Leave a comment.

Work with Nathan:

Beloved Holistics | Born Free Method | Clear & Free | Twins-Breech

Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Born Free Method: The Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thanks for reading Born Free Method: The Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it.

As a dietitian, Kate Morton strongly believes in a food-first approach. That's why she created Funk It, a women's health company that makes all-natural food-based products for the menstrual cycle, including seed blends.

At its core, seed cycling is a straightforward practice that involves taking pumpkin and flax seeds daily during the follicular phase of your cycle and sunflower and sesame seeds during your luteal phase. I’ve seen so many women benefit from seed cycling, experiencing a resolution of their menstrual issues, from fertility challenges to thyroid and adrenal problems and more. Something packed into these incredibly nutrient and energy-rich seeds does wonders for women's menstrual cycles.

[00:08:37] The Birth of Funk It

[00:11:54] Kate’s Extensive Background as a Dietician

[00:19:18] How Your Lifestyle Affects Your Hormones

[00:31:04] The Power of Data

[00:37:00] The Goal Is Your Normal Consistent Cycle

[00:50:09] Disordered Eating

[00:55:13] Principles of Eating For Your Menstrual Cycle

[01:07:04] Seed Cycling

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/101

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Website | FunkItWellness.com

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Period Chats Podcast

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Our cultural conditioning tells us that women aren’t capable of giving birth independently and that we should apply every possible intervention to reduce the difficulties associated with childbirth. For Michel Odent, that’s a neutralization of the laws of natural selection.

Early in his career, Michel worked as the only doctor in a maternity unit with six midwives. He took a deep interest in their experiences and asked them questions that changed his thoughts on birth work. As a general surgeon, he credits a lot to his interdisciplinary perspective. He believes that’s what allows him to make connections that other overly-specialized people do not.

Michel is a legend in the maternity care space and has been a hero of mine for many years. This interview was such an honor, and I am very grateful to host this conversation for you on the podcast. You're going to love this one.

[00:10:42] An Alternative View of Practicing Medicine

[00:12:02] Rethinking the Process of Birth

[00:22:33] Cultural Misunderstanding of Physiology

[00:26:51] The Socialization of Childbirth

[00:36:21] Shifting to a New Paradigm

[00:45:43] Interdisciplinary Perspective

[00:49:11] Avoiding Death

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/100

(Transcript HERE)

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Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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For almost nine years, Natasha Kingsbury battled with bulimia. For years before that, she fought anorexia. The whole time, nobody knew. Her story highlights the fact that no one look signals an eating disorder. It could be the ultra-thin model, the ripped athlete, the guy always showing off his abs or the sexy Playboy Club host.

Disordered eating and body dysmorphia are something I’m seeing come up more and more in my practice and among friends and family. It’s much more common than we think, and it shows up in unexpected ways.

I am so delighted that I have a person in my life who's willing to come on and talk about this issue which is often kept under wraps. Tash's story is so illuminating, and she shared so many insights not only for people who may be struggling with disordered eating but also for those who think it might be affecting someone they love.

[00:12:06] Background & Family Life

[00:14:29] Natasha’s Origin Story

[00:20:54] An Evolving Relationship with Self

[00:28:22] From Restriction to Purging

[00:35:24] Getting Off Track

[00:42:29] Blossoming Into Her Womanly Body

[00:48:50] The Healing Journey

[00:57:16] A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/98

Made possible by:

FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!

Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Pumpkin Spice Gold Latte! "It's like autumn, and a marshmallow had a baby!"

BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only magnesium supplement you'll ever need!

BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!

Connect with Natasha Kingsbury

Instagram @livingwiththekingsburys

Connect with me

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

“If you’re going to make it in this world as a couple, hard conversations are important.”

Every single person I bring to this podcast is someone who I know will be open to having the heartfelt conversations that need to happen about how we care for ourselves and one another.

What makes today different is that I’ve let go of my role as interviewer, and I’m sitting side by side with my wife, Stephanie Riley, to talk about vasectomies and healing after pregnancy loss.

In this candid and necessary dialogue, we opened up about what was a difficult time for both of us and explored how our perceptions have shifted over time as we’ve integrated the experience.

This discussion wasn’t easy, and it’s a true reflection of the flexibility that you need to have a lasting, healthy partnership. You’re not entitled to have a joyful relationship that lasts a lifetime. It takes real work. You have to be willing to be humbled and to compromise and to learn to flow together.

I hope that this conversation provides insight into how much empathy is needed on both sides when it comes to talking about contraception and whether you want to grow your family further.

[00:14:34] The “Easy” Decision

[00:22:42] A Dark Pit of Despair

[00:32:58] A Rollercoaster of Emotions

[00:42:49] The Bumpy Path to Surgery

[01:00:12] The Procedure

[01:04:32] Our Reflections on the Journey

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/96

Made possible by:

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

BIRTHFIT - use our code BELOVED to get one month FREE in the B! Community!

FullWell - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their high-quality prenatal vitamins!

Immune Intel AHCC - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their incredible immune-boosting product!

Connect with Stephanie Riley:

Instagram @ohgeezow

Connect with me:

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

The opportunity to connect with your baby’s soul energy starts long before conception.

Today’s special guest, Emily Greene, is a Psychic Medium and Spirit Baby Medium who has a beautiful ability to put clear language to something that is otherwise abstract. With her connection to spirit, Emily has helped many women conceive by opening their awareness to their innate intuitive abilities and connecting them to the souls of their children, past, present, and future.

In our conversation, we explore the transformation that spirit babies are meant to bring in our lives, how you can start communicating with your spirit baby, and why conscious conception matters.

[00:10:21] Finding Your Voice

[00:12:34] Emily’s Reawakening

[00:20:04] Spirit Baby Work

[00:31:36] Working with Plant Medicine

[00:35:30] Embodiment of the Essence

[00:41:13] Full Sensory Perception

[00:48:00] Intuitive & Psychic Development

[00:55:14] Conscious Conception

[01:08:18] Calling In Your Spirit Baby

[01:22:23] Spiritual Blocks to Conception

[01:30:49] Learn More & Connect with Emily

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/95

Made possible by:

FullWell - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their high-quality prenatal vitamins!

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

BiOptimizers - use our code BELOVED for 10% off supplements plus free gut health goodies!

BIRTHFIT - use our code BELOVED to get one month FREE in the B! Community!

Connect with Emily Greene:

Instagram @EmilyTheMedium

Website: EmilyTheMedium.com

Emily The Medium Podcast

Connect with me:

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

With strict and sometimes oppressive licensing and regulatory requirements, the average midwife has to prioritize maintaining their license over the experience of the birthing person.

Today I am so grateful to introduce you to Whapio Bartlett. Whapio has been an Independent Midwife for over 30 years, attending women and families in birth and educating women in the Arts of Midwifery and Healing. She also teaches Homeopathy and is affiliated with HANA (Hahnemann Academy of North America). She speaks and frequently writes about Quantum Midwifery and Returning Birth to the Family.

In our conversation, we explore what it means to be a wisdom keeper, her wise woman midwifery care model, and how you can become a birthkeeper who meets the educational standards while maintaining the integrity of what it means to be a person attending to birth. You’re going to love this episode.

[00:13:11] Conversation With The Creator

[00:19:11] Altered States

[00:32:32] Trust & Transparency

[00:47:30] Becoming a Birth Attendant

[00:52:33] What’s Behind the Title of Midwife

[01:06:27] The Light of New Birth

[01:21:50] The Wise Woman Midwifery Care Model

[01:30:22] Decriminalizing Heart-Centered Medical Care

Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/94

Made possible by:

FullWell - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their high-quality prenatal vitamins!

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

BiOptimizers - use our code BELOVED for 10% off supplements plus free gut health goodies!

BIRTHFIT - use our code BELOVED to get one month FREE in the B! Community!

Connect with Whapio Bartlett:

Website | TheMatrona.com

Instagram @whapio_and_thematrona

Connect with me:

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

Women’s sexuality is the source of their power and their magic, yet there’s still so much shame wrapped up with it.

Throughout history, the church and the state have held on to a deep fear of women’s power. Even today, society continues to condition women to scorn their sexuality and repress it. Love, sex, and relationship coach Jade Bryce is on a mission to help people to break this conditioning, feel safe to experience pleasure, and feel worthy and deserving of pleasure.

In this interview, we talk about the deep wounds left by a fear-based, religious upbringing, Jade’s realization that we are the source of our pleasure, how she reached over 70 orgasms in one week without a partner and at least half without touch, tools to connect the divine and the physical, and how to heal from birth trauma.

[07:08] Welcome Jade Bryce

[08:23] The Birth Control Pill

[14:43] Womb Wounds

[18:22] Tools & Divine Visualization To Clear Womb Trauma

[26:52] Pleasure is Dangerous

[31:53] The Magic of Orgasm

[39:25] Archetypal Transitions

[47:52] Healing From Traumatic Birth Experiences

[57:19] Learn More & Connect with Jade

[59:49] Healing with Breathwork

Visit the show notes for resources, links mentioned, and more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/podcast/jadebryce

Made possible by:

Fit For Birth - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their pregnancy and postpartum-specific coaching!

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

Connect with Jade Bryce:

Untamed & Unashamed Podcast

Instagram @TheJadeBryce

Facebook @TheJadeBryce

Twitter @TheJadeBryce

Email: jadebryce@gmail.com

Connect with me:

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

Maternity care in the United States needs a re-boot. Our induction rates are rising, our c-section rates are rising, pregnancy complication rates are rising, fertility rates are declining, postpartum depression rates are rising...the list goes on.

What are we going to do about it?

Most people see the answer as simple: more pharmaceuticals, more technology, more "science".

But what is science? The scientific method is quite simple: ask questions, make guesses at the answers, test our guesses, and then draw conclusions. Repeat ad infinitum.

Most physicians and healthcare professionals aren't using their brains to their full capacity because they are too occupied documenting, billing, and following rules. This will get us nowhere...We need to be curious and start asking hard questions.

Furthermore, do physicians hold the answer to our maternity woes? Unlikely. In fact, I would argue that a multi- or transdisciplinary approach to maternity care, with midwifery-led care becoming the default in any country is a major part of the solution.

Born Free Method: The Podcast is hosted by Nathan Riley, MD, a dual board-certified OBGYN, and the conversations here extend beyond the hospitals, beyond the clinics, beyond the profession of "medicine". It implores you to get back to what matters most: birthing families.

On this podcast, you'll enjoy conversations with those inside and outside the medical industrial complex. You'll enjoy clinical summaries of ACOG's practice bulletins (formerly heard at the Obgyno Wino Podcast). You'll enjoy personal essays from Nathan himself on the nature of birth(work). And you'll enjoy occasional recordings of guest appearances to the Born Free Method's twice monthly community calls.

Be loved!

Work with Nathan:

Beloved Holistics | Born Free Method | Clear & Free | Twins-Breech

Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by AudioKraken / Pond5

There’s a giant game of monopoly being played by healthcare providers in our country, and neither you nor I stand to benefit.

Sandra Alvarez’s latest film, InHospitable, shines a light on two specific players in the game in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - a place that's very near and dear to me.

Tensions rose when the dominant healthcare provider UPMC created its own insurance company. Patients previously receiving care with UPMC providers and at their hospitals were pushed out unless they switched to UPMC’s insurance. In response, Highmark, the dominant insurer, started its medical provider, Allegheny Health Network.

The two continue to battle it out for market share.

This type of infighting amongst organizations claiming to provide care to the community makes you wonder whose interests they really care about and InHospitable does a great job of clarifying some of these very confronting issues. 

[06:53] The Secret Hospital War

[11:24] Community Impact

[14:12] The Insurance Wars: UPMC vs. Highmark

[21:01] For-Profit vs. Non-Profit Hospital Models

[28:17] Primary Drivers of Hospitalization Costs

[38:38] The Cost of Childbirth

[45:39] We Need Change

Visit the show notes for resources, links mentioned, and more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/podcast/sandraalvarez

Made possible by:

Fit For Birth - use our code BELOVED for 20% off pregnancy and postpartum-specific coaching!

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

InHospitable & Sandra Alvarez:

Sandra Alvarez on Instagram @SandraSeesAll

Website | InHospitableFilm.com

Twitter @InHospitableFlm

Instagram @InHospitableFilm

Facebook | Inhospitable Film

Find me:

Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn

TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn

Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

As a young lady, Jessica Pin started googling around the internet about the clitoris, as a young lady does. During her search, labiaplasty ads began appearing advertising the “optimal” vulvar appearance, which made her concerned that perhaps she was unlike other girls. She sought out a surgeon, who was a renowned OBGYN in TX, and he agreed to perform her surgery. The surgeon amputated her labia minora, which was not what she had asked of him. The surgeon also took the liberty to remove some of her clitoral hood, unknowingly leaving her without clitoral innervation.

If this story is confronting, it should be. Why are women seeking labiaplasty? Who decides what the “ideal vulva” looks like? Should a surgeon operate in an area without understanding the region’s innervation? What happened to informed consent? All of this and more in this very wide-ranging conversation.

[00:00:54] What constitutes informed consent?

[00:10:24] Inadequate Medical Training

[00:24:28] The Road to Labia Shame

[00:34:22] Appreciating Diversity of the Labia

[00:49:43] Non-Surgical Options for Addressing Physical Complaints

[00:56:15] Lack of Informed Consent

[01:10:36] Synergy of Stimulation and Desire

[01:16:23] The Fight Against Self-Advocacy

Visit the show notes for resources, links mentioned, and more: BelovedHolistics.com/podcast/jessicapin

Made possible by:

Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

BiOptimizers - use our code beloved10 for 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!

Jessica: Instagram @jessica_ann_pin | TikTok @jessica_ann_pin | Twitter @MediClit | Blog: jessica86.medium.com

Find me: Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn | TikTok @nathanrileyobgyn | My Practice: BelovedHolistics.com

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Music provided by EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5

Dr. Northrup is an OBGYN and the author of "The Wisdom of Menopause". In this episode, we talk about the changing landscape of women's health, as more women are seeking truly holistic care, particularly through menopause. Buckle up for a WILD ride through the world of unnecessary interventions in birth, the war on nature, fear of mortality, & the "Wisdom of Menopause".



Made possible by:

Organifi - 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!

Fit for Birth - 20% off pregnancy- and postpartum-specific exercise & nutrition coaching!

[-:08:00]

• Paving a new path for women's health


• Fetal heart monitoring has had no benefit but has increased c-section rates


• #80 - Jacqueline Wolf, PhD: On the Sordid History of C-Section in the U.S.


• Scalp electrodes and the crown chakra

[-:15:00]

• The spiritual side of birth


• If you don’t see it as sacred, you don’t belong in birth work

[-:21:00]

• Dr Northrup was radical early in her training


• The cult of doctors


• James Thorpe, MD, OBGYN, MFM


• American Holistic Healing Association


• Love, Medicine and Miracles, by Bernie Siegel, MD


• PMS is associated with family history of alcoholism

[-:28:30]

• Archetypes and the menstrual cycle


• The voice of the soul


• Christiane lost her professorial position when "The Wisdom of Menopause" was published

[-:33:00]

• Pregnancy and vaccines


• GOD is omnipotent in healing


• Power behind your eyes vs power in front of your eyes


• COVID and our war on nature

[-:42:00]

• Menopause, the Chiron return, and death of self


• Your power is found anywhere that society has told you to be afraid


• Comedians are the patron saints of truth

[-:52:00]

• The stories we tell ourself about menopause & desirability


• “The essence of God is birthing.”

[01:00:00]

• Christiane’s dating app for the non-vaxxed


• Her menopause relief & vaginal moisturizer

Christiane's: Website | "The Wisdom of Menopause" | IG



Find me: @nathanrileyobgyn | My Practice



Music by: Labrinth | Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Emily Abbott is a former Crossfit athlete, but her coaches never incentivized leaning into her feelings, let alone programming workouts in alignment with the stages of her menstrual cycle. Now Emily studies acupuncture and body work, focusing on the female pelvis. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of nourishing both the feminine and masculine, which, despite what female athletes have been told, is possible through re-connecting with your intuition.



Made possible by:  

Fit for Birth - 20% off pregnancy- and postpartum-specific exercise & nutrition coaching

Immune Intel AHCC - 10% with code BELOVED10; clear your HPV with a functional food supplement (clinical trials don't lie!)

Organifi - 20% the healthiest protein powder available, all plant-based, non-GMO...you get the point!

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!

[00:11:00]

• From powerhouse to “sensual athlete”

[00:15:30]

• Transmutating athletic intensity to play


• It’s possible for a woman to be a high-performing athlete AND simultaneously live in the feminine


• The wounded masculine lives in all of us

[00:22:00]

• The yoni as an alchemical container


• Emily was never taught to train differently throughout her cycles


• Feelings were never relevant in sports (pain teacher)

[00:40:00]

• Judeo-Christianity has shamed us from knowing and touching our bodies


• The Church Also drive the devaluing of women in society


• Episode #72 - A (Brief-ish) History of Western Medicine, Witches, and Women Healers


• Medicine is divorced from spirit/soul


• Magdalene Manuscript, by Judi Sion


• We are Gods in mini-meat suits


• Emily helps women re-member their power


• Sheela na gig

[00:51:00]

• It’s time we unite the masculine & feminine


• Squirting orgasms are way cooler than a 300-lb deadlift

[01:00:00]

• "Through intimacy with a partner, we are looking deeper into ourselves"


• Paradoxical breathing patterns & trauma


• The pelvic floor


• Yoni massage

[01:13:00]

• Healing the feminine would be healing for society


• Business of Birth Control film - BELOVED50 saves you 50% on price to screen

[01:21:30]

• The cervix becomes more sensitive with age


• Self-betrayal of our beauty


• Oysters & fertility/sexuality

Emily's website | IG | Hammer of the Goddess course ($222 discount for listeners!)



Find me: @nathanrileyobgyn & My Practice



Music by: Labrinth | Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Stephen is a living legend. He is the author of one of my favorite books "Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul". He also recently co-authored a book with Kimberly Ann Johnson titled "Reckoning". Stephen started his career as a palliative care social worker in "the death trade", which, in short, is the over-medicalized, over-pathologized process of dying in the West. In this episode, we dive deep into birth and death, particularly when the two occur in the same breath. Death of children is confronting, and in our society, "kids aren't supposed to die". But what if they do die? Who has the language and courage to hold space for their grieving parents? This task has been vested to medical professionals, but we are just as incompetent in talking about death as anybody else. Instead, we resort to platitude and dangle carrots of hope that perhaps a dying child is merely an illusion. This conversation is powerful...and it was an honor to have Stephen on the show.



Made possible by:  

Fit for Birth - 20% off pregnancy- and postpartum-specific exercise and nutrition coaching (or courses to become a better coach yourself!)

Organifi - 20% the healthiest protein powder available, all plant-based, non-GMO, organic, glyphosate-free...you get it...

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!



[00:14:00]

• euphemisms and death


• You don’t “pass away”. You “die”.


• Health care professionals at expected to be good at talking about mortality without having any training in the language


• Nobody is READY to talk about their own death; in some ways, you must force them to confront it

[00:25:00]

• The story of a birth and death coincident


• It’s our job to give a patient persmision to talk about death and dying


• The “Book of Supposed To” guides our confrontation with death


• “Kids aren’t supposed to die” appears in this book


• Not “living a long” or “full” life is inconceivable


• What happens to us as we grow up that we lose track of our mortality? Lose the notion of a truly full life?

[00:38:00]

• just because we can extend life, does this mean that we should?


• citizenShip malpractice


• COVID-19 was a God


• It provided an opportunity, and we missed out


• Because we all didn’t die, does that mean that we won?


• COVID required us to aim our middle sunward, but we instead aimed our missions outward

[00:54:00]

• humane versus human


• humans haven’t been a “part of nature” for a long time


• Stephen is often accused of being “anti-medicine”


• The cost of everything we do to avoid mortality is incalculable


• Gregory Hoskins Band (stay tuned to the very end of the episode to hear one of Stephen's songs...)

Catch Stephen on tour with Gregory Hoskins

Buy Stephen's books

Stephen's website



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Kristin Lauria is likely the most highly skilled birth worker on the planet. She started in the U.S. as a traditional midwife, but, when her kids flew the coop, she joined Doctors Without Borders and has been attending to births in a variety of resource-poor settings, including Afghanistan and a refugee camp in South Sudan. Because surgery is hard to come-by in these locations, she has become highly skilled at facilitating vaginal birth - low-lying placenta, breech, TOLAC, etc. In this conversation, we talk about the de-skilling of obstetricians in the U.S. due to our low threshold for using our surgical steel. We also talk about her role as the caretaker of orphaned children resulting from maternal death in childbirth, hepatitis E, blood transfusions without a blood bank, and sitting with the death of a newborn. Kristine is a gift to the world of birthwork, and I am honored to call her my friend.



Made possible by:  

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!



[00:09:00]

• Kristine has attended more births than most people in the world


• From home birth to Doctors Without Borders


• 25 breech births per month in Afghanistan


• South Sudan refugee camps are in desperate need of healthcare


• C-sections were rare because surgeons had to be flown in


• OBGYNs in the U.S. have been de-skilled

[00:17:00]

• Kristine’s c-section rate has always been <5%, and almost never for arrest of dilation/descent


• Almost never for placenta previa (unless truly complete)


• Never for breech


• C-sections create more risk downstream


• What if OBGYNs practiced as if c-section was only used if absolutely necessary?

[00:23:00] 

• Maternal deaths and near misses


• Hemorrhage, infection, botched abortion


• Transfusion requires donation from family (malaria, malaria-free)


• Hepatitis E and a maternal death

[00:35:30]

• Kristine reads her poem: “Temporary Mother”


• Per WHO, a child is orphaned in this part of world if their mother dies in childbirth


• Birth and death are inseparable


• Mothering a dying baby

[00:55:00]

• Working with Breech Without Borders


• Truly informed consent is not taught to doctors (or many midwives)


• Speaking nicely isn’t enough to avoid trauma in birth


• Trauma-informed care


• Midwifery Wisdom Conference

Connect with Kristine on Instagram



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Doreya Kareem's father, Ibrahim Kareem, developed Biogeometry. In this conversation, she deconstructs the "physics of quality", balancing the home environment, and optimizing the energetics of birth and death. And I know what you're thinking, "How wu-wu!" Maybe so, but there is a breadth of clinical research demonstrating the efficacy of Biogeometry in assisting with physical, mental, and emotional disturbances, particularly if you live near a cell phone tower. This conversation is FASCINATING!

Made possible by:  

Fit for Birth - 20% off pregnancy- and postpartum-specific exercise and nutrition coaching

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!



[00:15:00] 

• Biogeometry is the study of the physics of quality


• Creating vibrational qualities in our home and person

[00:21:30]

• Sacred power spots


• Some locations have been considered sacred since early human history (temples, oracles, etc)


• Chakras: your personal power spots


• Complementary to western medicine (filing gaps)

[00:28:00]

• Biogeometry devices


• Archetypal grids


• Outcomes matter more than mechanism


• Jill Boyle Taylor's Ted Talk


• Pendulums and harmonics

[00:47:00] 

• Grid lines and building biology


• Change your relationship to your home


• Hamburg studies in bovine health w signatures pendant and shapes attached to a cell phone tower (citizens felt better too)


• Sampling of the studies on Biogeometry

[01:00:00]

• Deities as energy qualities


• When a woman becomes pregnant, she becomes a sacred power spot


• The divine feminine needs the divine masculine (and vice-versa)

[01:15:00] 

• The ankh is a symbol of protection


• What if birth is the end and death is the beginning?


• Resonant love

[01:25:00] 

• Living requires that we understand our divine nature


• To die properly, we must learn to live properly


• Biogeometry amplifies the sacred power spot for the developing fetus


• Language matters: a birthing woman is a warrior, not a sick person

[1:35:00]

• Death as a celebration


• Judgments and their effects on energy


• Death transcends dimensions


• Omar’s (Doreya's husband) on Spotify (amazing tracks!)

Listen to Ibrahim and Doreya on the Living 4D Podcast: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.



Take Biogeometry Foundations training at a discount! BELOVED75

Biogeometry gear is available at a discount HERE. 



www.belovedholistics.com | @nathanrileyobgyn



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz...

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Jacqueline Wolf, PhD, is a history profess at Miami University. She has probably read more medical literature pertaining to the history and consequences of c-section in the United States. She is the author of an AMAZING book called "Cesarean Section: An American History of Risk, Technology, and Consequence". 30-40% of babies in the U.S. are born by c-section, and the rate doesn't seem to be in decline any time soon due to the universalization of continuous fetal heart monitoring. Litigation against doctors for things out their control in birth makes matters even worse. With the advent of FHR monitoring, we have seen an increase in c-section rate without any benefits to mom or baby. Womp. This episode is (insert fire emoji)!



Made possible by:  

Fit for Birth - 20% off pregnancy- and postpartum-specific exercise and nutrition coaching (or courses to become a better coach yourself!)

FullWell Fertility - code BELOVED10 (best prenatals and men's virility vitamins on the market)

BiOptimizers - 10% off Mag Breakthrough plus free gut health goodies!



[00:07:30]

• OBGYNs need to learn the history of c-section


• In some parts of U.S., >40% of babies are born by c-section


• OBGYNs are being de-skilled


• 70% of our training is in surgery


• C-sections are traumatizing

[00:14:00]

• Gynecology deals with pathology; obstetrics dealing with surveillance of a natural, physiologic process


• Joke: how do you hide something from an OBGYN? (Punchline is too good to include in show notes…)


• C-section used to be rare because it was so dangerous


• WW2 brought blood banking and antibiotics


• Mortality and morbidity initially went up when birth moved to the hospital

[00:30:30]

• The unforeseen downsides to high c-section rates (e.g. placenta accreta)


• A maternal death should be a worse case scenario


• Should there be firm indications for c-sections in the U.S.?

[00:36:00]

• Up until 1940, most births took place at home


• 25% of births in the US are induced


• ContInuous fetal heart monitoring has been the greatest reason for high c-section Rates


• It was initially designed to be used for high risk birth but it has become universal


• “Physicians began dropping the knife with every drop in fetal heart rate “


• Intermittent auscultation > continuous monitoring

[00:59:00]

• Malpractice concerns 


• Skilled birthworkers generally need to do very little at a birth


• Midwives should be attending most uncomplicated  vaginal births


• My c-section rarely goes above 5%

[01:16:00]

• Labor curves should be forgotten


• Preventing the First Cesarean Delivery, by Spong et al

Jacqueline's website (buy her books!)and her podcast



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal

In the 19th century, a young surgeon named J. Marion Sims headed to Montgomery, Alabama, seeking a route to fame and power. He saw an opportunity in a highly morbid condition known as vesicovaginal fistula, whereby a false passage between the bladder and vagina forms as a consequence of difficult childbirth, and began experimenting with techniques to find a cure. The issue was that nobody in their right mind was willing to volunteer for this type of surgery, so he coerced Black enslaved women. The first of his patients to have been presumably “cured” was Anarcha. If this is the first time that you have heard her name, you are likely not alone. This conversation gives a voice to the Mothers of Gynecology, an appropriate moniker for the women who suffered at the hands of surgeons like J. Marion Sims and whose sacrifices led to the advent of the profession of gynecology. 

Visit the show notes for more.

Connect with J.C. Hallman:

• Website
• Instagram

Reference from the show:

• Say Anarcha, by J.C. Hallman
• The Anarcha Archiv
• A short history of anaesthesia: from unspeakable agony to unlocking consciousness
• More information on vesicovaginal fistula
• Arguments of Sims’ apologizes
• Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, by Harriet A. Washington
• Nathan Bozeman wiki page
• Speak! Move! Change! Mbongi event
• J. Marion Sims was a b*tch t-shirts

Connect with Nathan:

• Instagram | Youtube
• Midwife in need of collaboration?
• Want to consult with Nathan?

My Online Courses:

• 
  
  Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

I first took note of Nicole from her feature in the documentary "The Business of Birth Control". She is the author of the book "Fix Your Period", which now proudly sits on my shelf. Nicole is regularly harangued by OBGYNs on social media for spreading 'misinformation' about menstrual cycles, but Nicole's message is simple: bleeding induced by hormonal contraception is not the same as a bleed from your natural cycle. And she's right. Her work goes deep on how to remedy any issues that arise without the menstrual cycle, and she is an advocate and educator on fertility awareness methods. In short, Nicole is a gift to the women's health community.



[00:09:00] - Nicole is regularly called out by OBGYNs for “misinforming” women that ovulatory bleeding is different from bleeding while on hormonal contraception (they're wrong; she's right...and that's not merely my opinion. It's basic physiology)

[00:13:30] - Why is menstruation important?

[00:20:45] - An overview of the menstrúal cycle (ovulation is the star of the cycle; not menstruation)

[00:26:45] - What do estrogen and progesterone do in the body?

[00:31:00] - Fixing your period (your “5th vital sign”) through lifestyle

[00:37:30] - Fertility awareness methods

[00:47:00] - What do different colors of menstrual blood mean?

[00:54:00] - The adrenals and fertility

[00:57:00] - Changes to cervical mucus

[01:00:30] - Additional fertility considerations (preventing and achieving pregnancy)

[01:03:45] - The man’s responsibility in preventing pregnancy



Links from the show:

Nicole's website and Instagram

Buy her book: Fix Your Period

Nicole's podcast, "Period Party"



My online store (discounts on many other products mentioned in my podcast)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!

Immune Intel AHCC - Use code BELOVED10 to save 10% on the only functional food (in this case, the mycelia of shitake mushrooms) clinically demonstrated to optimize your immune system and clear persistent HPV! 



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

In 2020, I left the hospital system. I spent 15 years training, sacrificing, and ultimately becoming disillusioned with "the system" to which I had so desperately yearned to be a part. On my last shift as an OBGYN, I was awakened in the middle of the night to perform a (truly needed) emergency c-section. The noise and inhumane nature of c-sections, including the lights, the chatter, and the dystopic nature of removing a baby from an incision in the abdomen was the final straw for me. I wrote this essay in one sitting as soon as I got out of the operating room. It's an homage to the process of becoming a doctor and not finding happiness or sanity within the medical industrial complex. In some ways, it's also a love letter to my fellow physicians and practitioners, as I hope it will give more OBGYNs permission to lean into the feelings that arise in a system that overmedicalizes death, overpathologizes birth, and underappreciates the sacred art of healing. 

My online store (discounts on many other products mentioned in my podcast)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Doctors losing their licenses. Friends divorcing friends. Whiffs of mass psychosis. And a betrayal of bioethics…What could we learn from the COVID moment? I couldn’t think of a better person to ask than my friend Charles Eisenstein. His newest book, The Coronation, is a collection of essays that he wrote during the last two years. And it’s a must have for anybody who wants to go deep…How do we find courage in these times? What would it look like if we listened more and spoke less? Have Charles and I been wrong about this all along? What might we learn from past witch hunts to guide the current one? How do we untangle our culture’s death phobia?



[00:10:00] - Charles lost friends during COVID due to essays

[00:15:45] - Pandemic or mass “hysteria"

[00:20:15] - Conspiracies against “the weird kid in school” and the perversion of bioethics

[00:26:00] - More doctors are doubtful about the COVID response  than meets the eye

[00:33:00] - Taboos and evil spirits

[00:37:00] - The best way not to be burned during a witch hunt is to accuse your neighbor of witchcraft

[00:40:15] - Courage comes with stones; acquiescence with “safety”

[00:45:00] - Charles’ essays have been prescient re: COVID

[00:49:30] - What if the only way to save your life was for everyone on earth to isolate and no longer have contact with their loved ones?

[00:57:00] - Maybe COVID was an opportunity to build something better?

[01:03:45] - Direct experience and gaslighting

[01:10:00] - The tentacles of death phobia

[01:13:00] - Germ and terrain theories

[01:20:00] - We always have the choice of sovereignty

[01:35:00] - How can we engage in hard conversations instead of locking horns? “What is it like to be you?”



Charles' books, including his most recent title "The Coronation: Essays From the COVID Moment"

U.S. Public Health Agencies Aren't ‘Following the Science,’ Officials Say

Episode 72 of The Holistic OBGYN Podcast: "A Brief-ish History of Western Medicine, Witches, and Women Healers"

My first interview with Charles

The Psychology of Totalitarianism, by Mattias Desmet

Charles' interview with C.J. Hopkins

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl



Find me on Instagram and my website.



Sponsored by:

Fit for Birth (save 20%!)



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Ricki and Abby have been making great films, two of which have impacted my career in profound ways. The Business of Being Born was the first, and their latest film, The Business of Birth Control, was the second. The film provides a second look at hormonal contraception, which is being offered to women of all ages for every gynecologic issue under the sun, far beyond merely "avoiding pregnancy". The film also highlights the power of education and fertility awareness methods in empowering women (and men) to better understand their bodies as an alternative to synthetic endocrine disruptors, which have wide-ranging consequence in a woman's body...You're going to LOVE this interview!



[00:16:45] - Ricki and Abby found their way into women’s health unintentionally; these films are personal

[00:21:45] - These films are not anti-feminist

[00:30:00] - BigPharma prioritizes profit over people

[00:35:00] - The good and the bad of planned parenthood

[00:45:00] - Why should we be concerned about hormonal contraception?

[00:52:00] - It’s not normal to be “stable” throughout the lunar cycles

[00:59:00] - How can men show up for the conversation?

[01:05:00] - To vasectomy or not?

[01:15:00] - Fertility awareness methods



References from the show:

Screen The Business of Birth Control (code BELOVED50 saves you 50% off the price!)

The Business of Being Born (on Prime)

Sweetening the Pill, by Holly Grigg-Spall

Vasalgel



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

If we aren’t willing to study and learn from history, we are bound to repeat it…As far back as human written history can reflect, women have been in the healing professions. When our cosmologies reflected the dignity of the feminine, women healers may have even ruled the space. When men began to understand their role in procreation, these cosmologies shifted to a patriarchal, masculine worldview, which is intact today.

This shift is cosmologies and growing interest in power by the State, created an environment in which women were progressively devalued. And their magick was trasnsmutated culturally from a source of healing to a source of perceived threat to the Church, State, and the ruling white, upper classes. This solo cast takes you on a journey from Ancient Sumer to our modern industrial complex. Spoiler: things are not going well in our society. As women and healers are devalued, societies decline. This is not speculation; it’s written history.



[00:07:00] - Early creation myths and ancient Sumer, Greece, and Rome

[00:29:00] - Early Christianity and the Dark Ages

[00:37:00] - Hildegard von Bingen

[00:40:00] - The war against nature was a war against the feminine

[00:47:00] - The Witch hunts

[01:02:00] - 18th century and the Renaissance

[01:15:15] - “Regular” doctors and the movement of healing to hospitals

[01:19:15] - The Popular Health Movement

[01:30:00] - Germ theory

[01:35:00] - The birth of the nursing profession and the father of gynecology

[02:02:00] - The AMA and the Flexner Report

[02:13:00] - Current stats on US maternity care and practitioners



References (just a sampling):



Woman as Healer, by Jeanne Achterberg

The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine, by Lindsey Fitzharris

Cesarean Section: An American History of Risk, Technology, and Consequence, by Jacqueline Wolf, PhD

Witches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers, by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English

https://history-of-obgyn.com/uploads/3/5/4/8/35483599/1966-kobrin-american-midwife-controversy-rev-dec2015.pdf



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Jodi Pawluski, PhD, is a real scientist. Not "science" that can be subjected to belief systems or political propaganda but a real clinical researcher who focuses on the neuroscience of motherhood and parenthood. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss everything from the neurochemistry of peripartum depression to the impacts of isolation on families and child development. She's a rockstar, and she's got 65 PubMed entries to prove it...



[14:30] - Pyschotherapy versus pharmaceuticals for peripartum depression

[23:45] - Modifiable risk factors and depressoin

[24:45] - Mommy brain and memory in the perinatal period

[34:30] - Societal pressures and perspectives on motherhood

[41:45] - Does it take a village to raise a kid? To become a parent?

[46:00] - Impacts of isolation (ie COVID) on child development and new parents

[55:30] - Mental health support for pregnancy loss

Links from the show:



Jodi's website, Twitter, and Instagram

The Neurobiology of Postpartum Anxiety and Depression, Pawluski et al

Serotonin and motherhood: From molecules to mood, Pawluski et al

Less can be more: Fine tuning the maternal brain, Pawluski et al



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the podcast)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:



FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

FOR THE DADS is a series of podcasts that will provide helpful insights to current or soon-to-be fathers!

Cal and Peyton Callahan have become dear friends. I invited them on the podcast for a variety of reasons. They model the tribulations of conscious partnership and child-raising, and they have also created an e-book titled "She BECOMES: A Dad's Guide to His Developing Daughter", which provides information and language for fathers to become involved in their daughters' experiences in developing from adolescence through puberty into womanhood. We also get into the weeds on home birth, fear, issues within the medical industrial complex, birth as the re-birth of a woman, from maiden to motherhood, and the cycles of life. This interview brought tears to my eyes...I know you'll enjoy!

[13:30] - A love story: growth through partnership

[26:30] - Cal was present at a mass shooting

[30:00] - Finite versus infinite games

[40:00] - A birth story: things get shaken up by kids

[49:00] - Mothers are born through birth

[55:00] - Home birth: "don't suck from the fear teat"

[01:10:00] - Getting dad involved in puberty and fertility awareness (Peyton's e-book)

[01:30:00] - Transitions in life / life cycles

[01:39:30] - Q: "What is the role of a father?" A: "Be vulnerable"

Links from the show:

Peyton's free ebook, "She BECOMES: A Dad's Guide to His Developing Daughter"
Peyton and Cal on Instagram

Cal's podcast: The Great Unlearn
The Business of Birth Control (film) (Code BELOVED50 gets you 50% off!)

Try Feel Free (Code BELOVED40 gets you 40% off!)
Finite and Infinite Games, by James Carse

My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)

Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com

Sponsored by:
FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)
Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!

Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal

I met Teshna while attending a birth in Albany, NY. My friend for whom I had traveled to Albany to assist with the birth of his fourth child had recommended I check out her practice. It was a very modest chiropractic studio, but the experience with Teshna was anything but ordinary. She introduced me to a unique blend of classical chiropractic care and other techniques meant to help me clear my limiting beliefs. She had me say out loud various phrases about my life and how I perceive love in my life, and then she used muscle testing to determine if I “really believed” what I was saying. As it turns out, I’ve been lying to myself about much that I held in my world. And then the magic trick…She corrected these incongruencies using simple touch, red light, and a few other techniques. It was like magic, and I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it myself. Meet Teshna Beaulieu, who is likely the most unusual healer I’ve ever met. 

Visit the show notes for more.

Connect with Teshna:

• Website
• Instagram

Reference from the show:

• Dr. Teshna’s book “Fit for Love”
• Neuroemotional Technique (Dr. Scott Walker, Teshna’s mentor)
• A 3 DAY Training called "Meridian Therapy and Tapping (MTT)”. 
• One-hour Forgiveness Process webinar to introduce people to my work and MTT.
• Free 1-DAY MTT Immersion to introduce people to more aspects of MTT where they learn how to muscle test themselves, powerful stress reduction protocol, and test and clear their blocks about different subjects like love and many more. 
• 1 Year All Access Membership where people can attend all events and also get the recorded modules of the 3 DAY MTT Training as well as a weekly coaching/ session group call.

Connect with Nathan:

• Instagram | Youtube
• Midwife in need of collaboration?
• Want to consult with Nathan?

My Online Courses:

• Born Free Method: Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
• Clear +
  
  Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

When a baby presents in breech presentation (butt down instead of head down), the general recommendation is c-section. Why? Well...it's complicated. For decades, the perception that vaginal breech birth was inherently dangerous has grown quite strong. In 2000, the Term Breech Trial sealed its fate, and education on how to relieve dystocias like nuchal arms and hyperextended necks for both midwives and OBGYN residents came to an abrupt halt. In parts of the world where vaginal breech is still (somewhat) regular, it's far less dangerous than your doctor would lead you to believe. But now that birthworkers in North America aren't learning these techniques, birthing a breech baby vaginally may, in fact, be more dangerous than it was in the past. In this episode, Rixa Hayes, PhD, and David Hayes, MD, OBGYN, the primary instructors at Breech Without Borders, discuss the history, "safety" data on vaginal breech birth, and the maneuvers that their organization is promoting to re-skill the birthworker community of North America to revive and preserve the lost art of vaginal breech birth.



Links from the show:

Breech Without Borders

Rixa Freeze, PhD on Instagram (and her website)

My other interview with Rixa Freeze (more on breech)



My online store (discounts on many products that I recommend to my family and clients)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Another short essay with this one, this time conjecturing on what sets physicians like myself apart from the rest - for better or for worse. Our society has become consumed by "truth". Truth in this sense is not a reflection on consensus reality but rather personal truth, which might otherwise be called "intuition". We can reduce the human experience to the sum of our organs, but this compromises the richness of the full experience that comes with an honoring of the subtle energetics of life, earth, and universe. This approach is confronting for many, but it's also why my clients keep finding their way back to my practice. Stay curious...



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Mimi and Chase have a wild story. They met young, then divorced, then reunited. In their time apart, they worked on their own "shit", making it possible to reimagine their love story and become a dynamic force of nature as a couple. On their podcast, The Medicin, they discuss everything and anything pertaining to health of self and our relationships. In this episode, we focus on their product AHCC Immune Intel®, a natural remedy to support salutogenesis and integrate the lesson of HPV and prevent cervical cancer. This is an critical look into a variety of factors impacting health, especially if you've got a cervix (or a beloved partner)!



[00:15:00] - AHCC Immune Intel®: what is it? how does it work as an agent of salutogenesis

[00:25:30] - The value of yoni steaming

[00:30:00] - Combing the physical with the energetic in clearing HPV and achieving optimal wellness

[00:35:30] - The gifts of COVID and the importance of pursuing your dreams

[00:41:00] - The impact of our relationships on health

[00:55:00] - Mimi and Chase are dedicated to helping couples find optimal vitality

[01:00:00] - The gifts of divorce

[01:07:00] - Babies are wise little buddhas

[01:15:00] - Pregnancy is not a disease



Links from the show:

The Medicin Podcast

Chase and Mimi on Instagram

AHCC Immune Intel® (Use code BELOVED10 to save 10%)

Sign up for early VIP access to their Mushy Love lattee mix! (It's stinkin DELICIOUS!)

The Women's Wheel of Life, by Elizabeth Davis



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

In this solo-cast, I read an essay that I wrote back in the early phases of the COVID situation. When we approach life (and medicine, policy-making, etc.) with the goal of merely prolonging or avoiding death, we compromise richness in experience. That's not to say that we should all merely throw caution to the wind, of course. But when we myopically focus on just avoidance of death in birth, for example, we compromise other important aspects of the physician-patient relationship. For example, if we try to justify non-consensual vaginal exams or poorly consented c-sections with "We need to make sure the baby is safe...", we inadvertently traumatize the person who matters most in this equation: the woman giving birth. The same faulty - and dare I say, dangerous - logic is destroying our planet, communities, end of life care, and maternity care in the United States. Enjoy...this one is from the heart! 

My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Mark started in finance then totally shifted his focus to consciousness research after an awakening of his own brought forth through practiced meditation. He has written three books - all are AMAZING - though his latest, An End to Upside Down Liberty, is a must-read for anybody who is thoughtful about helping me usher in a new earth. And Mark takes the conversation around governance to another level, incorporating his research on consciousness and mentation into how we perceive and manage risk and our connection to others. This interview is packed with insight for anybody who cares about we show up as birthworkers and members of changing society on behalf of women...Enjoy!



[12:00] - Mark’s awakening came through meditation

[16:30] - What do consciousness and liberty have in common; metrics versus experience

[21:30] - Near death experiences

[30:30] - The juice is worth the squeeze when it comes to spiritual growth

[35:00] - Sigh…COVID and the distortion of truth

[45:30] - Absolute versus relative reality; good versus evil

[56:30] - The two poles of governance: voluntarism versus statism

[1:08:00] - The blessings of a “pandemic”

[1:13:00] - Sovereignty in pregnancy and death



References from the Show:



Mark's website and Instagram

Mark's books: An End to Upside Thinking, An End to Upside Living, and An End to Upside Down Liberty

Mark's podcast: Where Is My Mind?

My interview with Kelly Brogan, MD on The Holistic OBGYN

My interview with Edith Ubuntu Chan, L.Ac on The Holistic OBGYN

David Hawkins, MD, PhD (author)



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in our country. It's never an easy decision for a pregnant client to pursue abortion, even if your judgment tells you otherwise. Beyond merely desiring an abortion due to psychosocial or financial constraints (or if the pregnancy was the result of a rape), there are a variety of true medical reasons that may present a desire or need for 1st or 2nd trimester abortion. In the 2nd trimester, abortions are more challenging and more dangerous, so I am recycling this podcast summary from my old podcast, The Obgyno Wino/Beloved Holistics Radio, to help practitioners and lay people understand the delicacies of this topic. Please do your best to listen with an open mind and an open heart. I realize that this topic can be confronting...



[12:25] - Legality of abortion and access issues

[15:30] - There are a variety of reasons or condition for which a woman might desire 2nd trimester abortion

[17:20] - Medical versus surgical options for 2nd trimester abortion

[25:00] - Risks of abortion and diagnosis/management of complications



My online store (discounts on many products that I recommend to my client's)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:



FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Joaquín Cornejo

The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal

Are you ready for a power hour? You are likely already familiar with my guests on today’s episode, but if not, meet Lily and Lisa. Lily Nichols is the author of two of the most important nutritional books ever written pertaining to pregnancy: “Real Food for Pregnancy” and “Real Food for Gestational Diabetes”. Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is the author of “The Fifth Vital Sign”. Lily’s work has been most relevant once you’re already pregnant; Lisa’s work has been beloved by those trying to conceive. Naturally, Lily and Lisa have combined forces to write the new bible for fertility: “Real Food for Fertility”. Guys, when I say I have found my new favorite reference, I mean it with over 2400 citations, “Real Food for Fertility” combined nutritional and metabolic science with fertility awareness tracking. We could have chatted for 6 hours in this interview, but we had to keep it to 60 min, so we dive deep into lifestyle modification and nutrition to improve egg and sperm quality, and you’re going to be wowed!

Visit the show notes for more.

• Website
• Instagram
• X

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn 

Reference from the show:

• WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen
• Book “Real Food for Fertility” Read the first chapter for free or download the 2400+ reference list

Connect with Nathan:

• Instagram | Youtube
• Midwife in need of collaboration?
• Want to consult with Nathan?

My Online Courses:

• Born Free Method: Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
• Clear + Free: Your Holistic Solution to Persistent HPV

This episode was made possible by:

• Immune Intel AHCC® - code BELOVED10 for 10% off
• WeNatal - Free bottle of fish oil with purchase of Him + Her prenatals

Medical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These...

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Lily is an expert in perinatal nutrition, specializing in prevention and reversal of gestational diabetes. She was engaged in perinatal health and nutrition research for years prior to embarking on her own as an author of two of the best books on the related to lifestyle and nutrition for optimal pregnancy outcomes. It's important to keep in mind that optimizing your health before pregnancy and thoughtfully nourishing your body (and mind) during pregnancy leads to shorter labor, faster recovery, and a lesser likelihood of developing pathologies like fetal growth restriction, placental issues, hypertensive disorders, and diabetes if you prioritize your health as a pregnant woman. While there is a lot of noise out there regarding "right and wrong" to nourish your body and baby during and after pregnancy, Lily provides the clearest, most digestible "signal" to guide you through this noise. You're going to LOVE this interview!

[12:30] - Diabetes in pregnancy has long-term impacts on your child's health (epigenetics, etc.)

[18:00] - Most pregnancy complications - hypertension, diabetes, postpartum recovery, perineal lacerations, fetal growth, placental health, etc. - can be mitigated by inexpensive adjustments to lifestyle

[26:30] - The #1 dietary change you should consider in pregnancy: eat more protein (from animals)

[32:00] - The ridiculous demonization of saturated fat

[50:10] - We will never outsmart nature



References from the Show:



Lily's website, books, and Instagram

Weston A. Price Foundation

The Big Fat Surprise, by Nina Teicholz

Lily's blog post on organ meats (and on shellfish)

More on Ancel Keys: the guy who kicked off the demonization of saturated fats



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsored by:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - With this link, you'll save 20% on personal prenatal exercise coaching (for individuals) or courses to improve your coaching practice (for coaches)!



Music by: Labrinth and Joaquín Cornejo

I've been fanboying over Kelly for years, ever since I read her book "A Mind of Your Own" and learned about the dangers of hormonal contraception (specifically "the pill") and their propensity to foster or worsen mood and depressive disorders. Her work is truly revolutionary, yet it's shockingly simple. While her approach is simple - diet, movement, sleep, meditation, and other lifestyle modifications - this work is never simple, but her clients rave about the outcomes. Kelly's practice is to get people off of their psychiatric meds for good, which I think we can all get behind. I'm so stoked for you to hear this interview! And we'll be following up with a part 2...

[00:06:10] - The monoamine hypothesis of depression (aka "too little serotonin") is probably wrong

[00:13:30] - Trauma-based mind control is present in allopathic medicine...for sure

[00:20:15] - The illusion of control in birth and death

[00:28:45] - The gift of COVID

[00:34:00] - When we surrender, the universe delivers

[00:39:00] - How would your life improve if you learned to say "no"?

[00:46:00] - Sovereignty often begins with choosing a home birth

[00:59:45] - "Who am I?" often arises postpartum

[01:03:22] - Kelly's Vital Mind Reset Program



References from the Show:

- If you are ready to reclaim your life and mind, sign up for Kelly's "Vital Mind Reset Program" (enrolling for a limited time)

- Kelly's website (and books)



My online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at: www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsors:



FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - Use code BELOVED for 20% discount off personal prenatal exercise coaching or courses to improve your coaching practice!



Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

In this solo-cast, Dr. Riley elaborates on his observations of what has gone wrong in "western" medicine over the past few years, which was an acceleration of a process put into place hundreds of years ago with the advent of "modern medicine". He also elaborates on what truly holistic OBGYN care looks like. What tools does he use? How does he help his clients re-harmonize with their surroundings?

[00:06:30] - Who am I? What is my purpose?

[00:11:15] - Positive realizations from the pandemic

[00:12:30] - A physician's job is to be curious and to embrace nuance

[00:14:00] - Luciferic versus Ahrimanic forces

[00:21:30] - Allopathy generally works against nature, not with her

[00:24:00] - Tools in my unorthodox toolkit

[00:49:00] - I don't want MORE clients; I want TIME with clients

[00:53:30] - Case study: endometriosis

[01:05:45] - Case study: fertility

[01:19:00] - Holistic pregnancy support

[01:36:15] - Our home birth story

[01:39:55] - Insights into induction of labor

[01:43:00] - Insights into vaginal breech birth

[01:50:00] - Insights into postpartum support, TOLAC, GBS, fetal monitoring, and Rhogam

[01:58:45] - Insights into vaccines, vitamin K, and informed consent and shared decision making

[02:01:00] - Insights into menopause



References from the Show:



The prequel to this solo cast

The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine, by Jon Jureidini

1st chakra

2nd chakra

DUTCH testing

Chek Institute

Efifji Breathwork (My interview w/ Sarah Charmoli)

Biogeometry pendants

Conscious Technologies harmonizing pendants

The Fifth Vital Sign, by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack

Very Small is Beautiful, lecture by Sally Fallon Morrell



Online store (discounts on many products mentioned in the show)



Find me on Instagram at @nathanrileyobgyn and my practice at www.BelovedHolistics.com



Sponsors:

FullWell Fertility - Use code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamin on the market (and check out their vitality and nerve support tonic!)

Fit for Birth - Use code BELOVED for 20% discount off personal prenatal exercise coaching or courses to improve your coaching practice!



Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

Lauren Hall, PhD, is professor and chair of political science at Rochester Institute of Technology. She is the author of The Medicalization of Birth and Death, which was inspired by first-hand struggles with navigating the conventional medical model through her own births and accompanying her family members through death. Her current research is on the moral and political implications of healthcare regulations as well as issues relating to gender and the family. Her book needed to be written, and I'm so happy she did it so that I didn't have to (whew! close one!). Savor every second of this juicy conversation!



[00:09:00] - Lauren fired her first OB when she was 16 weeks pregnant

[00:13:00] - Lauren's metaphor of an uncontrollable river current without the ability to swim to shore

[00:15:00] - "Standard of care" and "permission" in childbirth

[00:20:50] - Nobody walks into battle without a plan...why is it different for birth?

[00:30:30] - Lauren's personal experience with hospice care

[00:34:00] - "Medicine" has been reduced to only the measurable aspects of being alive

[00:36:00] - The recent shift in "science" from observation to control

[00:39:00] - Birth and death can't be standardized like medical conditions

[00:46:15] - Inpatient versus out-of-hospital birth and death

[00:50:45] - There is still a good reason to have hospitals



References and links:

Lauren on Instagram, Email: lauren.hall@rit.edu

Lauren's book: The Medicalization of Birth and Death

Birth Monopoly

End Well Conference

Yoko Sen TedMed Talk: "Reimagining Hospital Sounds"



Big thanks to our sponsors:



Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)  



Needed: https://www.thisineeded.com (Use code BELOVED for 20% off! Or use code BELOVED100 to save $100 off your first three-month order of their Complete Nutrition Plan(s))  



Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

FOR THE DADS is a series of podcasts that will provide helpful insights to current or soon-to-be fathers!

Kyle and I became quick friends through Paul Chek. We took a wild ride together on medicine served by Paul and have been exchanging ideas and love ever since, ranging from health optimization to longevity to parenting to freedom. Kyle is a former UFC fighter turned conscious father and awakened man. This was a beautiful conversation between two men who are just trying to figure this whole thing out...It's my great pleasure to share this one with you!

[00:05:45] - How Kyle met Aubrey Marcus and got his start with Onnit

[00:12:00] - Prepare for the worst; hope for the best

[00:23:00] - Kyle’s tenderness is on par with his intensity

[00:28:45] - Parenting forces you confront your childhood traumas

[00:32:00] - Raising kids responsibly requires “the village”

[00:37:45] - Birth is a transformation of spirit

[00:45:00] - Psychedelics can assist with the challenges to our Ego presented by fatherhood

[00:48:15] - Even Kyle experiences negative self-talk (Hint: it never goes away completely)

References and Links

Kyle’s - Website, Podcast, Instagram

Fit for Service

Zion - a new, uncensored approach to social media

The Soul of Discipline: The Simplicity Parenting Approach to Warm, Firm, and Calm Guidance- From Toddlers to Teens, by Kim John Payne Kim John Payne’s podcast, “Simplicity Parenting”

Hold on to Your Kids, by Gabor Mate

Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them, by Martha Heineman Pieper (children’s book)

Tash Kingsbury’s interview on The Holistic OBGYN Podcast

The Power of Kabbalah: 13 Principles to Overcome Challenges and Achieve Fulfillment, by Yehuda Berg

Big thanks to our sponsors

Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)

Needed: https://www.thisineeded.com (Use code BELOVED for 20% off! Or use code BELOVED100 to save $100 off your first three-month order of their Complete Nutrition Plan(s))

Show Notes |

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Mark Groves is one of the greatest new friends that I made in 2021. He's a former pharmaceutical rep-turned connection and relationship expert. In this episode we bounce from community and connection to self-knowing to building a better world. If we don't know ourselves, then how can we support others? If we can't sit with our own pain, how can we attend the pain of those we hold dearest? In birth and in death, there is a transformation of spirit. You don't get a vote as to how or when these things events unfold; the only thing we can control is how we spend our time from now until then. If I had a choice, I would be spending more time with people like Mark.This was one of my favorite interviews so far!



[00:06:45] - “Systems” don’t always prioritize community

[00:09:45] - Attunement, “our reactiveness to other people”

[00:20:50] - What if you weren’t broken? And had everything you needed?

[00:24:10] - You only get a vote as to what your happens from this moment until you die

[00:29:30] - Be you and watch the world adjust

[00:31:10] - Relationships invite us to examine those areas in which we aren’t liberated

[00:36:00] - Would you rather live in connection for 10 years or live in isolation for 50 years?

[00:39:00] - The newly emerging world

[00:44:45] - Dehumanizing anybody dehumanizes yourself

[00:49:00] - “You can only alchemize the lowest level of truth that you can hold”

[00:52:30] - You can’t un-see the man behind the curtain

[00:59:30] - Nature rewards courage

[63:00:00] - Communitas begets catharsis



References and Links

Mark Groves - Website, Instagram, Podcast, Youtube Channel

Wayne Dyer

Gabor Mate

Harriet Lerner’s book: Dance of Intimacy and Dance of Anger

Charle’s Eisenstein’s essay “The Coronation”

Ram Dass

Paul Selig’s book: The Book of Truth

Aldous Huxley’s book: The Doors of Perception

Film: American Circumcision

Byron Katie

Brene Brown



Big thanks to our sponsors!



Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED25” for 25% off)



Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)



Show Notes | Donate



Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín...

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal

Babies die. Fetuses die. We all die. And yet, we are so death illiterate that even seasoned veterans in the health professions often struggle with how to show up when death inevitably shows up on the doorstep. This topic is especially challenging - but even more important - when the “D” word arises in the context of pregnancy and childbirth. Join me in this very heartfelt conversation with Tamara MacIntyre, an end-of-life architect and retired chiropractor about death, grief, souls, loss, and love.

Visit the show notes for more.

Connect with Tamara:

• Websites: The Prana Foundation & Conscious Death
• Instagram

Learn about Tamara's work:

• Website
• Let’s cope 
• Instagram 

References and Links from the show:

• Nora McInerney's TED talk
• Die Wise, by Stephen Jenkinson
• A new Course Launch called "Life's Limitations: Reframing Diagnosis & Loss in the Pregnancy and Pediatric Practice'
• Course Sales Funnel: reframingloss.com - the course is October 19th, 2024 (4 hours CE for some regulated health professionals)

Connect with Nathan:

• Instagram | Youtube | Tiktok
• Midwife in need of collaboration?
• Want to consult with Nathan?

My Online Courses:

• Born Free Method: Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
• Clear + Free: Your Holistic Solution to Persistent HPV

This episode was made possible by:

• Immune...
  
  Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Steven Johnson, DO, is the sitting president for the Physicians’ Association of Anthroposophic Medicine and a Board representative for the Academy of Integrative health and Medicine (AIHM). Through his career Dr. Johnson has developed extensive experience with medical plants from cultivation through to the subtle alchemical and pharmaceutical processes of making a medicine. He is the author of Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology, and he uses mistletoe therapy to treat cancer at his NY-based integrative practice.



[00:08:10] - What is Anthropological Medicine?

[00:16:38] - Mistletoe Therapy

[00:23:03] - Immune Surveillance

[00:30:49] - Salutogenesis



References and Links

Steven Johnson - Website, Facebook, Twitter

Books by Steven Johnson

Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology (Steven’s book)

PAAM

Rudolf Steiner - Website, Book

Hildegard von Bingen - Website

Francis Peabody - Article

Aaron Antonovsky - Journal

Victor Frankl - Website, Book

The Noble Eightfold Path by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Slow Medicine by Victoria Sweet



Big thanks to our sponsors!



Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED25” for 25% off)



Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist for over 30 years and she is the principal instructor at the Institute for Birth Healing. She has been helping moms heal from all the issues women experience after birth and is now teaching courses to bodyworkers to help them do the same. She found a common birth pattern that shows up in the pelvis after birth and knows how to effectively release these patterns. Knowing we are more than just our bodies, Lynn works on all levels, physically, energetically, and spiritually with women to help them access their full potential. She also teaches bodyworkers how to work with the energy of the body and how to access and use your intuition in your bodywork sessions. She offers a certification process to help birth professionals become Birth Healing Practitioners. Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University.



[00:08:29] -  What do you see in a woman's body as a result of trauma?

[00:13:08] - Feet apart, knees together!

[00:16:34] - Squeezing the hips together

[00:22:10] - Healing processes takes different lengths depending on the area of the body

[00:24:43] - Certified birth healing practitioners

[00:27:37] - Anatomy

[00:29:10] - Lynn’s practices

[00:36:10] - Piston Breathing

[00:39:30] - Metaphysics of how trauma plays out

[00:53:25] - Lynn’s most powerful tool

[00:56:03] - Trauma is like an entity

[01:00:01] - Birth Healing Summit



References and Links

Register - Birth Healing Summit

Institute For Birth Healing - Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

The Center For Birth Healing - Website

Penny Simpkins - Website

It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, by Mark Wolynn

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk M.D

Julie Wiebe, PT (website)

Nicole Morales, CPM (website)



Big thanks to our sponsor!

Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED” for 25% off)



Needed: https://thisisneeded.com/ (Use code “BELOVED” for 20% off)



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

As business leader, head of communications, and master facilitator for Effiji Breath, Sarah Charmoli is passionate about the transformational power of Effiji Breathwork and the practices that make up the holistic programs designed to support people in their personal consciousness work. In her role as the primary support person to Elijah Nisenboim the founder of Effiji for the last nine years Sarah has successfully organized, executed and co-led multiple personal development and facilitator certification programs across the globe. Sarah is committed to the growth of each individual and their exponential evolution on the path to personal and spiritual liberation.



[00:06:17] - Why are people averse to breathwork?

[00:13:34] - Types of breathwork

[00:37:10] - Sarah’s perspective on child birth

[01:00:29] - Conscious hyperventilation

[01:06:10] - Cold immersion therapy



References and Links

Effiji Breath - Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

Contact - Mail

Community

Wim Hoff Method



Big thanks to our sponsor!

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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

Dr. Rixa Freeze has a PhD from the University of Iowa. Her research focused on the history of healthcare and medicine with specialization in pregnancy, childbirth, and maternity care. Her dissertation examined why women in North America choose unassisted home births. She has published several papers in major journals (see links below). She also authored a book chapter titled: “Freebirth in the United States” in the 2020 book Birthing Outside the System: The Canary in the Coal Mine. Rixa is the founder and president of Breech Without Borders, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to breech training, education, and advocacy. She also blogs at Stand and Deliver. She is the mother of 4 children, all born at home.



[00:14:03] - Dr. Rixa’s story of a scary breech birth

[00:37:04] - Division within the birth community between birth workers

[00:46:12] - Street Epistemology

[00:58:44] - Connecting meaningfully with your OBGYN

[01:01:16] - Goddess of the Church



References and Links

3 things with Rixa Freeze - Previous Episode

Blog, Facebook

Train in breech maneuvers through: Breech Without Borders

Grounded by Erin Yu-Juin McMorrow

“Staying Home to Give Birth: Why Women in the United States Choose Home Birth” (JMWH 2009)

“Attitudes Towards Home Birth in the USA” (Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2010)

“Breech birth at home: Outcomes of 60 breech and 109 cephalic planned home and birth center births” (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2018)

Rixa’s essay “Biodynamism: body and soil”



Big thanks to our sponsor!

Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED25” for 25% off)

Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

Dolf Zantinge is a pioneer IT entrepreneur with a background in fiber optics, telecommunications, data mining, enterprise solutions, and artificial intelligence. Early in his career, he co-founded Syllogic, an international IT firm integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and database management systems, sold eventually to Perot Systems, where he became a European Director. Later he worked for KPN, the largest Dutch telecommunications company, where, as Director of IT, he was responsible for IT Research and Development for new technology. He went on to found and Chair UNET, one of the first fiber optics companies in Europe. He is widely published in the field of technical innovation and the influence of technology on society and is an adviser to organizations and governments on issues relating to innovation, cleantech, and renewable energy. Dolf’s career took a fascinating turn when he pursued the study of Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture and began seriously exploring the biological impacts of electromagnetic frequencies. For the past two decades, his focus has been on researching electromagnetic fields and their influence on biophotonics, water, light, and system physiology. Dolf has documented important insights about the supercomputing power and energy of water and developed new innovations that will be game-changing for advancement in the water industry.



[00:04:51] - Why should we care about water?

[00:10:29] - What does Dolf Zantinge do?

[00:23:38] - The more trained we are on university, the less flexible we become

[00:25:12] - The problem with most water

[00:30:16] - An elegant solution to reduce water pollution

[00:35:46] - Quartz Crystal

[00:40:58] - Rudolf Steiner's work on water

[00:44:35] - Definition of “coherence”

[00:46:13] - Creation of their quartz water wand

[00:49:44] - Natural cycles of nature

[00:54:36] - Dolf’s health after adopting better water

[00:56:32] - Devices to supply all water in the home with better water



References and Links

Analemma - Website, Instagram, Facebook (use code BELOVED for 10% off!)

Viktor Shauberger documentary

Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Farming



Big thanks to our sponsor!

Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED” for 25% off)

Organifi: https://www.organifi.com/beloved (Use code "BELOVED" for 20% off at checkout)



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal

I don’t think I have prepared for any interview as hard as I prepared for this one. My guest today is Marc Gafni, former rabbi, Hebrew mystic, and author of a number of books, most notably “A Return to Eros”, “Your Unique Self”, and his most recent book, “First Principles and First Values: Forty-Two Propositions on Cosmoerotic Humanism, the Meta-Crisis, and the World to Come”. I recommend you take his writing in through small sips versus trying to binge any of them on a weekend. They are potent. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• the Divine Feminine and how the world’s religions have got it wrong
• how the comparison of masculine and feminine is fraught with disastrous outcomes
• postmodernity and the evolution of love and a new grammar of value through which a shared story of value can be developed in order to solve the world’s problems
• shame as the root of all evil and how a new sexual narrative - the sex erotic - is the only “cure” for shame
• the importance of these principles in addressing the myriad of issues that plague maternity care worldwide
• Limitations within the work of Jordan Peterson, Yuval Harari, Wilhelm Reich, and even Brené Brown

Brace yourself…you are entering the complex mind and heart of Marc Gafni…

Visit the show notes for more.

Connect with Marc:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok
• Facebook

Learn about Marc's work:

• Free Unique Self Mini-Course
• Unique Self-Emergence Training Program
• Free Weekly Broadcast with Dr. Marc Gafni

References and Links from the show:

Marc’s books:

• A Return to Eros: The Radical Experience of Being Fully Alive
• Your Unique Self: The Radical Path to Personal Enlightenment
• The Erotic And The Holy: Kabbalistic Tantra for Everyday Living
• Join Marc in Holland for 5-Day Intensive Mystery School, November 13-17, 2024, at erosmysteryschool.com
• First Principles and First Values: Forty-Two Propositions on Cosmoerotic Humanism, the Meta-Crisis, and the World to Come

2024 Born Free Twins-Breech Conference:

Join 150 birth workers and 20+...

Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Edith Ubuntu Chan is a teacher of consciousness, a facilitator of human potential, a holistic Chinese Medicine Doctor, author, speaker, coach, and mama of two luminous kids.



Her journey began in 2003 after a series of meditation-induced mystical experiences that changed her perception of human possibilities forever. Since then, she has devoted her life to unlocking the secrets to our human potential. Her work weaves together ancient wisdom with the latest in science, medicine, and spirituality.



Dr. Edith is widely published and is the author of SuperWellness and her upcoming second book "Luminous Kids", which explores humanity's transition into the new paradigm of awakened living - with a focus on children, education, parenthood, and family life. Throughout her career as a Holistic Medicine practitioner, Dr. Edith has been known for her extraordinary success helping athletes achieve optimal health and high performance. Her academic background includes a Doctoral Degree from Five Branches University in Endocrinology & Neuromuscular Medicine, a 4-year graduate degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a Bachelors with Magna Cum Laude in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. Through her writings, coaching, workshops and seminars, Dr. Edith helps thought-leaders and change makers become masters of their energy and life, so that they can lead and serve at the highest levels.



[00:10:54] - “Tai chi” and “Qigong” breathing practices

[00:29:08] - How was your experience of being pregnant and giving birth?

[00:40:01] - What if people were paying attention to what is actually happening as your womb grows with the baby?

[00:54:47] - What do you tell a woman who has either (A.) The challenge of becoming pregnant or (B.) Gets pregnant but has a miscarriage?



References and Link

Dr. Edith Ubuntu Chan - Website, Podcast, Instagram, Facebook

Book - SuperWellness



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo

After spending over five years of intense study in a post-graduate program for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Valerie felt inspired to pull together as many holistic healing tools and wisdom traditions as she could. She believes that it is our birthright to understand and master our own bodies and multidimensional selves. Valerie has experienced first-hand the life-changing power of stepping into the role of authority in one's own health, body, and life. With an in-depth understanding of the physical, emotional, and energetic bodies, Valerie works to facilitate a return to wholeness and self-trust with each of her one-on-one consultations and self-led courses. She believes in the infinite wisdom that exists within each individual.



[00:05:00] - Fundamental Philosophy of Chinese Medicine

[00:10:26] - Using external tools to bring our body back to harmony

[00:17:34] - Inviting spirits in

[00:28:06] - Thoughts about Shingles

[00:37:50] - Woman’s cycles

[00:50:04] - Tobacco



Big thanks to our sponsor!

Waveblock: https://www.waveblock.com/ (Use Code “BELOVED” for 25% off)



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Music by: Labrinth, Chancha Via Circuito, and Joaquín Cornejo