Ep. 363: The Overmedicalization of birth and your right to decline with Melanie the Midwife

The most dangerous time in pregnancy is actually postpartum; particularly, days 43-365. Postpartum Mood Disorders can be serious, resulting in harmful or dangerous behaviors and thoughts. However, there are a number of evidence-based options to help support new parents and families in this transitional time. Dr. William Leininger, OBGYN, is joining us to discuss the options around postpartum anxiety, depression, and other mood challenges that may arise after having a baby. We dive into the non-pharmacological options, the holistic and lifestyle options and the taboo options. This episode will also include information about the new postpartum medications zuranolone, and what you need to know!     The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com   Patients and Supports Teams: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline – 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) --has translators for 60 languages Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org) – 988 English and Spanish   Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.org): Text “HOME” to 741-741   Postpartum Support International - https://www.postpartum.net   Mother to Baby – Information about Medications in Pregnancy and Lactation https://mothertobaby.org/   National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, NIHhttps://www.nccih.nih.gov/   BUMPS – Best Uses of Medicine in Pregnancy – UK https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/ NIH Medical Information Search site – medlineplus.gov     Professionals ACOG Perinatal Mental Health Resources https://www.acog.org/about/leadership-and-governance/board-of- directors/iffath-a-hoskins-md/minding-mental-health   Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance - https://www.mmhla.org/  Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health - https://www.2020mom.org/ National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, NIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/   Regional Organization – Roanoke, VA - https://www.huddleupmoms.org   State Organization – Massachusetts - https://www.mcpapformoms.org

13 Sep 20231h 41min

Reflux in babies can be challenging and overwhelming. There are so many questions that parents have and very little places to turn for answers. What causes it? How do you know if your baby is experiencing normal spit up or reflux? What is silent reflux and what causes it? Does burping after feed help or hinder reflux? What remedies exist? How do you settle your reflux baby in those long hours of crying fits and discomfort? Aine Homer joins us today to discuss everything you need to know about baby reflux, evidence-based resources and how to get answers for your family!    Join The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com (Doors are only open September 4th-9th!)   Aine’s website: https://www.thebabyrefluxlady.co.uk     Resources: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acid-reflux-gastroesophageal-reflux-in-babies-beyond-the-basics   https://llli.org/why-infant-reflux-matters/   https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx   https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/gerd

6 Sep 20231h 10min

It’s no secret that the healthcare system is a profit-driven industry that needs an immediate overhaul to improve patient outcomes and start centering patient preferences. We all know that many hospital practices aren’t evidence-based but rather designed to move the bottom line, financially, for the institution. Billie Harrigan is a Traditional Birth Companion and owner of Birth Trauma Ontario in Canada who has been serving families for over 40 years. With extensive international experience, Billie understands the complexities of modern maternity services and the pervasive issues that contribute to birth-related trauma and negative outcomes. Today’s conversation will challenge your assumptions of the medical system and push you to expand the perspectives in which you see the delivery of healthcare in the US & Canada by discussing common tactics used by cults and the resemblance of hospital care. We dive into the impact of non-trauma-informed care on patients’ short-term and long-term well-being. Buckle up because this episode is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced!   The Birth Lounge doors are open!!! Join here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/join     Billie’s Traditional Birth Companion Program: https://billieharrigan.com/becoming-a-traditional-birth-companion   Is hospital care actually evidence based? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241518/   The System Isn’t Broken: https://billieharrigan.com/blog/2019/11/6/the-system-isnt-broken-but-its-people-are

30 Aug 202353min

Season Opener!!! This episode is jam packed with data and discussion points to help you have an informed conversation around finding your perfect induction equation so you can have a positive induction experience!  The choice to be induced is a very personal one and one that should be made very intentionally. This episode dives into 4 options of induction that you probably have never heard of! These options can help decrease your risk for cesarean and reduce the need for additional interventions!    The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com   Induction Equation Video: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/induction-equation   Induction Cheat Sheet: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/induction   Oral Miso:  https://www.cochrane.org/CD001338/PREG_oral-misoprostol-induction-labour   Outpatient Ripeners:  https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(22)00798-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_aip_email   https://www.obgproject.com/2023/05/10/outpatient-labor-induction-with-misoprostol-impact-on-length-of-stay-and-vaginal-delivery-rates/?mc_cid=83f577ac38&mc_eid=854ebe014b   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027046/   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871519220302845   Melatonin: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/12/3252   https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2019.00616/full    https://www.cochrane.org/CD010527/PREG_giving-melatonin-women-pregnancy-protect-babys-brain-and-improve-long-term-outcomes-baby   https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R21-HD086392-01 (Brigham & Women’s Hospital)   https://fetalmedicine.org/abstracts/2022/var/pdf/abstracts/2022/03846.pdf   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34058776/    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7044825/   EPO: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-evening-primrose-oil-epo/    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382022000257   https://brieflands.com/articles/fga-130352.html

23 Aug 202354min

The truth is-- unbiased care does not exist. If everyone from your doctor to your mom to the stranger in the super market has biases, what are you supposed to do? Plus, do those biases increase your risk of experiencing birth trauma? This episode will tell you exactly why it's important to be able to spot bias and what to do with it if you encounter provider bias that is impacting your care. I also share tips to reducing your risk of birth trauma.   Questions to ask your provider: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Interviewing-Providers   The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/   Work with me: https://www.tranquilitybyhehe.com/

12 Juli 202322min

Unnecessareans (Unnecessary c-sections) are on the rise in America and for many reasons! So many women prepare for labor from a place of wanting to avoid a c-section but fail to understand what actually CAUSES unnecessary cesareans! Without understanding WHAT causes them, it will be very hard to implement HOW to actually avoid one!   There are things you can do, decisions you can make and conversations you can have that will mitigate your risk of unnecessary intervention and allow you to avoid having a cesarean birth when that is not your plan!  This episode will teach you the three most influential things you can do to avoid an unnecessarean!    Join The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/join     Sources for this episode:  Spontaneous Labor: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/215/4538/1396 https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(98)00058-X/abstract https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0137188 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1948087/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26776817/ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/11/definition-of-term-pregnancy https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/when-pregnancy-goes-past-your-due-date https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2020/01/macrosomia   Labor at home: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/american-obstetrics-in-the-1950s/ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3660040/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595201/   Failure to Progress: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010088.pub3/full https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery

7 Juni 202352min

HeHe and Deb connect to discuss the Mind-Body Connection and its' impact in labor'. The importance of movement in pregnancy How that builds a mind-body connection What that connection means for your labor experience Yoga can feel intimidating if you have never done it before --Deb shares the best ways to ease yourself into a practice that will benefit you and your baby plus help you have a smoother labor! Follow Along with Deb: Prenatal Yoga Center Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast Instagram   More About Deb: Deb Flashenberg (CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP) is the director of The Prenatal Yoga Center in NY and host of the Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast. Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula, childbirth educator and mother, Deb hopes to support the pregnant person with functional yoga asana to create a functional birth and ease into parenthood feeling empowered and honored on this sacred journey of birth and beyond.

22 Feb 202330min

HeHe sits down with Nurse Beckie to discuss: Trauma informed breastfeeding support in the hospital How to have your breastfeeding goals heard and respected in the hospital How to best set yourself up for a successful breastfeeding journey Connect with Nurse Beckie at @nursebeckie_ on Instagram or on her website at www.bestfeedinglc.com

31 Jan 202339min