#419: Thank you, I love you. Our Conversation on the book "Yoni Owner's Manual" with Ibu Robin Lim
In this week's podcast, Blyss and Stu are joined by renowned midwife and author Robin Lim to explore her new book, The Yoni Owner's Manual. Robin shares her awe-inspiring experiences and insights into midwifery, childbirth, and the spiritual aspects of the female body, emphasizing the importance of pleasure and the interconnectedness of humans with nature and the divine.About Robin:Robin Lim CPM Filipina~American~Micronesian midwife founder Bumi Sehat Foundation maintains six clinics in Indonesia, Philippines.Honors: 2006 Alexander Langer Foundation, 2011 CNN Hero of the Year, in 2012 APPPAH, The Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health, gave Ibu Robin the Jeannine Parvati BirthKeeper Award, and in 2016 she became Earth Company’s Impact Hero. Lim is an Ashoka Fellow.Books authored: After the Baby’s Birth, Wellness for Mothers, Ecology of Gentle Birth Awakening Birth, Eating for Two, Placenta the Forgotten Chakra, Eat Pray Doula, The Geometry of Splitting Souls, Natural Family Planning Workbook, Butterfly People, Bali… A Cage in Paradise, Yoni Owner’s Manual, Bali… A Cage in Paradise. Seven health autonomy booklets in Bahasa Indonesia.In the era of planetary and political change we must implement Humanitarian response geared to serve women, & children, including gender equality, cultural safety, and consideration for the needs of women left homeless, hungry, without water, and with no access to health services. Lim has headed up early response teams in the after math of disasters in:Bali, Aceh, Lombok, Palu, Padang, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Jacmel, Haiti, Philippines, Dhading, Nepal, Global Pandemic shutdown.Robin Lim is an inspirational figure in health care, particularly in obstetrics, where she combines traditional midwifery & Doula wisdom and modern scientific knowledge to provide care that respects both mothers and babies. She and her team have saved thousands of women and newborns in difficult hygienic, social, or humanitarian conditions. As part of her lifelong commitment to resolving the impacts of climate crisis, she focuses on supporting women recovering from the effects of war, earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, pandemic, climate change disasters around the world.Instagram: @iburobinWebsite: iburobin.comResourcesAt Her Feet PodcastGuerrilla Midwife DVDRobin’s books: iburobin.com/shopIn This EpisodeThe Yoni Owner's ManualCultural Perspectives on the ClitorisHistorical and Medical NeglectEmpowerment and SovereigntySexual Health and MenopauseThe Menstrual Cycle and Moon TimeReconnecting with Nature in ChildbirthAdvocating for Women's AutonomyThis show is supported byRestorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
25 Juni 1h 23min
#418: What Zookeepers Know & Obstetricians Have Forgotten: A Conversation with Author Milli Hill
In this edition of The Birthing Instincts podcast, Dr. Stu hosts an enlightening discussion with guest Millie Hill, a renowned writer and feminist advocate. Millie, the author of 'The Positive Birth Book' and 'Birth Like a Feminist,' shares her journey from a drama therapist to a prolific writer on childbirth and women's health. The conversation delves into the significance of positive birth experiences, the impact of fear in childbirth, and the influence of language and cultural norms on maternal care. About Milli:Milli Hill is a writer and freelance journalist with a passion for reframing the narrative around women’s bodies. She is the author of the bestselling Positive Birth Book (2017), Give Birth like a Feminist (2019) and My Period (2021, for preteen girls). Her fourth book, Ultra Processed Women, will be published by Harper Collins in July 2025, with a fifth book to follow in 2026. To date, her books have been translated into seven languages. From 2012 to 2021 she founded and ran the Positive Birth Movement, a global network of antenatal discussion groups aimed at improving birth and giving women better access to support and information. Milli has spoken nationally and internationally about positive birth, obstetric violence and female autonomy in health. As a journalist since 2013 she has been a columnist for the Telegraph women’s section and written for many publications including Mail, Guardian, Independent, ipaper and Mother&Baby, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast news, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, BBC 5 Live, talkradio, LBC and many leading podcasts. She writes a bestselling substack about women’s health, feminism, and issues around sex and gender including the erasure of women from language. Milli lives in Somerset, UK with her partner, three children and two dogs. Instagram: @milli.hillWebsite: www.millihill.co.ukSubstack: substack.com/@millihillResourcesBridge MidwivesStu’s 3 minute reel on Overuse of Colorflow DopplerMilli Hill’s Blog: The Mule Milli’s books:Ultra-Processed Women: The new no-holds-barred look into the ultra-processed foods industry’s lasting impact on our health and wellness – and how we can break free Give Birth Like a Feminist: Your body. Your baby. Your choices.My Period: Find your flow and feel proud of your period!The Positive Birth Book: The Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and the Early WeeksIn This EpisodeRising Intervention Rates in BirthThe Ideological Battle: Safety vs. ExperienceFeminism and Childbirth: A Complex RelationshipThe Power of Language in Maternity CarePandemic's Impact on Birth PracticesEmpowering Women Through KnowledgeMillie Hill's Books and Future ProjectsThis show is supported byRestorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Birth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
18 Juni 1h 32min
#417: Midwifery & The Conundrum Of The Legislative Process with Ellie Stangl
This week Dr. Stu is solo as Blyss is away and joined by guest Ellie Stangl, a certified doula and legislative aide in Nebraska. Together they delve into the legislative process affecting maternity care: Does anyone understand the process? Does it make any logical sense? The short answer is no, but dive into this conversation with us to dig deeper and discuss the complications and frustrations of introducing and passing bills that advocate for midwifery and home birth practices. The conversation delves into the challenges posed by the medical lobby, the legislative process, why laws differ from state to state, and how the cultural misperceptions about natural birth results in a lot of confusion around legislation.About Ellie:Ellie Stangl is a dedicated advocate and policy professional who has spent the past seven years working in the Nebraska Legislature. With a lifelong passion for natural and wholesome living, Ellie began in the birth world as a young girl assisting her mother during the home births of her siblings. This early exposure to God's design of birth and the beauty of motherhood inspired her to become a certified doula, a role in which she continues to serve friends, family, and members of the birthing community. Ellie has seamlessly integrated her personal and professional commitments by championing maternal health policy at the state level. She is actively drafting legislation to expand access to midwifery care and protection for women's birthing rights in Nebraska.Instagram: @miss_elimsResourcesBirthing Instincts Podcast PatreonPatreon: Advocacy Role Play EpisodeAJOG Article: Quantifying the association between doula care and maternal and neonatal outcomesIn This EpisodeEllie's Journey to Legislative AdvocacyThe Complexity of Legal LanguageChallenges with Medical RegulationsOpposition from Medical AssociationsThe Influence of Campaign FundingComparing State Laws on MidwiferyThe Importance of Community and EducationThis show is supported byRestorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Birth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
11 Juni 1h 22min
#416: Disentangling Mono-chorionic Twins
This week Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss do a deep dive into mono-chorionic twin pregnancies, with a focus on debunking common myths about mono-mono twins. Drawing on recent research and personal experiences, they explore topics like the risks of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), cord entanglement, and the overall safety of vaginal deliveries for mono-mono twins.ResourcesBetween a Shot and a Hard Place, by Joel WarshJama Article: Pregnancy Related Deaths in the US 2018 to 2022. Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner, by Stu Fischbein and Rixa FreezeDocumentary: Heads Up: The Disappearing Art of Vaginal Breech DeliveryObstetrics and Gynecology Journal: Cord entanglement and perinatal outcome in monoamniotic twin pregnanciesIn This EpisodeIntroduction to Monochorionic TwinsDebunking Myths About Twin PregnanciesCase Studies and Rare AnomaliesChallenges and Interventions in Twin PregnanciesThe Overuse of Ultrasound in Twin PregnanciesMisuse of Growth Charts for TwinsThis show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. Restorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
4 Juni 1h 29min
#415: Your Menstrual Cycle As A Window To Your Health. Our thoughtful discussion with "The Fifth Vital Sign" author, Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
This week Blyss and Stu discuss the importance of understanding the menstrual cycle with guest Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, author of The Fifth Vital Sign. Lisa brings not only her personal experiences with menstrual health, but also her expertise in the roles of basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervical position in fertility awareness. They highlight the broader health implications of suppressing ovulation with birth control pills and shed light on how modern medicine often overlooks natural bodily functions.About Lisa Hendrickson-Jack:Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who trains women’s health practitioners to use their menstrual cycle as a vital sign in their practices. She is the founder of the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program. She is the author of three bestselling books The Fifth Vital Sign, the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook, and her most recent book Real Food For Fertility, which she co-authored with Lily Nichols RDN. Lisa works tirelessly to debunk the myth that regular ovulation is only important when you want children by recognizing the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Drawing heavily from the current scientific literature, Lisa presents an evidence-based approach to help women connect to their fifth vital sign by uncovering the connection between the menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall health. With well over 4 million downloads, her podcast, Fertility Friday, is the #1 source for information about fertility awareness and menstrual cycle health.Website: http://fertilityfriday.comInstagram: @fertilityfridayResourcesReal Food For Fertility: realfoodforfertility.comThe Fifth Vital Sign: thefifthvitalsignbook.comIn This EpisodeThe Menstrual Cycle as a Vital SignThe Birth Control Pill: History and ControversiesThe Hidden Dangers of Birth Control PillsThe Importance of Understanding Your CycleSide Effects of Suppressing OvulationImpact on Partner Attraction and Genetic CompatibilityThe Role of Cervical Fluid and OvulationFertility Awareness MethodsThe Influence of Big Pharma and Research BiasNatural Ways to Support Your SystemThis show is supported byBirth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.Restorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
28 Maj 1h 30min
#414: Advocacy is a Team Sport
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Meredith Nelson and Alicia Fishbein, board-certified patient advocates and seasoned doulas from Intentional Birth. The episode explores the critical role of advocacy in childbirth, covering topics from prenatal visits to labor and NICU challenges. Learn how to navigate hospitals, advocate effectively for clients, and transform traumatic experiences into empowering and supportive births. The discussion includes real-life stories, practical tools, and heartwarming successes, emphasizing the need for stronger advocacy in maternity care.About Meredith Nelson & Alicia FishbeinMeredith and Alicia are board-certified patient advocates, seasoned doulas, and the founders of Intentional Birth and of the Perinatal Patient Advocacy Center.When they attended their original doula trainings, they were taught not to speak up on their clients' behalf. Don't rock the boat. Doulas don't advocate. Smile and nod at care providers. Then they began attending births, and realized that their clients were walking away feeling powerless and traumatized (they were, too). They knew there was a bigger role for them to play.More than a dozen years later, they are training birth professionals as patient advocates. They teach the confidence-building strategies, the detailed systems for educating and preparing their clients, and the robust set of communication and advocacy tools that they developed as they transformed their practices toward true support of their clients' legal rights and human needs.Website: intentionalbirth.coE-mail: hello@intentionalbirth.coInstagram: @intentional.birthResourcesIntentional Birth: https://www.intentionalbirth.co/Perinatal Patient Advocacy Center: https://perinatalpatientadvocacy.org/ACOG Opinion Piece: Refusal of Medically Recommended Treatment During PregnancyIn This EpisodeAdvocacy and Patient RightsThe Role of Doulas and Patient AdvocatesTraining and Empowering DoulasUnderstanding Hospital Culture and HierarchyEmpathy as a Foundational Advocacy ToolHumanizing the Room: Practical Tools for DoulasThe Importance of Partner AdvocacyNavigating Prenatal Visits and Hospital AdvocacyThis show is supported byBirth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.Restorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
21 Maj 1h 26min
#413: Rediscovering Ancient Postpartum Traditions: Pelvic Steaming with Valerie Wiesner
While Dr. Stu was busy teaching breech in Texas, Blyss hosted Valerie Wiesner to discuss the practice of vaginal steaming, its benefits, and the ancient traditions associated with it. Valerie shares her extensive experience in sacred postpartum care and describes how steaming can help with postpartum recovery, menstrual irregularities, fertility issues, and even prostate health in men. Additionally, Valerie talks about her vision for making sacred postpartum practices more accessible through community co-ops and international training programs. About Valerie WiesnerValerie Wiesner, mama to 15, leads women Worldwide in the Ancient Art of Sacred Postpartum care in both online and live retreats. This includes many practices, from Ceremony to Vaginal Steaming, honoring and supporting women in the tender postpartum recovery period. She serves women in all stages of life, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in Northern Arizona.In 1980, Valerie and her partner hitchhiked to The Farm in Tennessee to birth her first baby with Ina May Gaskin. This experience of sacred birth and postpartum care surrounded by love and community, set her on the path she walks today.Valerie lives in the mountains of Prescott Arizona with her soulmate of 46 years where she grows abundant food and herbs and holds epic family gatherings.Website: sacredbirthtraditions.com and sacredpostpartum.netListeners will get 20% discount on any of Valerie’s programs, reach out to valerie@sacredpostpartum.net for more information.Instagram: @sacredpostpartum @sacredbirthtraditionsResourcesValerie’s Birth Stories on Indie BirthKaty Barnes, DoulaMountain Rose HerbsIn This EpisodeAncient Practices and Modern Benefits of Vaginal SteamingVaginal Steaming for Women's Health IssuesEmotional and Physical Healing through Vaginal SteamingPostpartum Care and Vaginal SteamingHerbal RecommendationsVaginal Steaming for Various Health ConditionsThe Role of Vaginal Steaming in Sexual HealthResources and Training for Vaginal SteamingThis show is supported byBirth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.Restorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 10% off weekly meal plans.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
14 Maj 1h 1min
#412: When Advocacy Isn’t Enough with Lara Janson
In this episode, Blyss is joined by Lara Jason, an assistant professor of sociology at Grinnell College, as she shares her powerful and emotional story about her breech birth experience. Despite her extensive preparations and strong advocacy skills, Lara experienced a traumatic birth intervention that violated her consent, echoing her past experiences with sexual assault. This episode underscores the importance of trauma-informed care and the need for systemic changes to respect and prioritize women's autonomy during childbirth.Guest Lara Janson:Lara Janson is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at Grinnell College. A sociologist specializing in gender, sexuality, law, education, and qualitative/mixed research methods, she is interested in researching and teaching about intersections of inequality. In addition to teaching introductory sociology, social movements, social media, and gender courses on the Grinnell campus, Lara also teaches at Newton Correctional Facility and the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women as part of Grinnell’s Liberal Arts in Prison Program (LAPP).Dr. Janson’s current book project, Sexual Violence on Campus: Title IX and the New Era of Accountability (forthcoming with NYU Press), examines how college campuses adjudicate sexual assault complaints, with particular emphasis on the competing legal jurisdictions at play. Related research interests include sexuality, social movements, feminist jurisprudence, and crime/incarceration.Before pursuing her doctorate, Janson researched interculturalism and gender as a Fulbright Scholar in the Andes, where she also taught courses at a men’s prison and in rural Indigenous/Afro communities. After conducting street outreach and educational programs in juvenile detention centers for a non-profit in the U.S., she studied Peace and Conflict as a George J. Mitchell Scholar in Northern Ireland, where she helped develop curricula linking gender and peace/conflict. For more information about Dr. Janson and her work, check out www.larajanson.com.Website: www.larajanson.comInstagram: @lhjansonResourceshttps://www.ehlers-danlos.com/In This EpisodeLaura's Pregnancy JourneyAdvocating for Individualized Maternity CareChallenges with Hypermobile EDS in PregnancyNavigating Hospital Birth PreferencesThe Role of a Doula in ChildbirthPower Struggles and Advocacy in Hospital BirthsThe Impact of Past Trauma on ChildbirthReporting and Seeking Justice Post-Birth TraumaThis show is supported byThe Birth Sling by Dr. Jess Michaels | Go to thebirthsling.com code Instincts for 10% off your slingRestorative Roots | Go to https://restorativemeals.com/ code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 25% off your first order of weekly fresh meals or $20 off frozen postpartum meals.WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order. BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!Connect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
7 Maj 1h 29min
