Episodes

Send us a text Making informed decisions for your newborn can feel like navigating a tidal wave of contradictory advice, especially when it comes to routine procedures like the vitamin K shot. As both a labor nurse who's cared for countless babies and a mom who's stood in your shoes, I created this episode to cut through the noise with evidence, empathy, and respect for your values. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and all newborns—regardless of how healthy the pregnancy was—are bo...

Send us a text When Alex Wachelka predicted her third baby would arrive on December 15th—despite professionals insisting otherwise—her intuition was right. But the path to that moment wasn’t easy. After two very different births—one at a birth center and one rapid home birth—Alex expected another fast delivery. Instead, she faced twelve hours of annoying, spaced-out contractions that woke her up every 10 minutes. It wasn’t until she voiced her frustration to her husband that everything shifte...

Send us a text Navigating the search for your perfect birth doula can feel overwhelming. How do you find someone who aligns with your vision, fits your budget, and helps you feel secure during one of life’s most vulnerable moments? Drawing from over a decade of obstetric nursing experience, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about finding the right doula for YOU. This isn’t about trends or checking boxes—it’s about building a support system that honors your unique journey. We’ll st...

Send us a text The birth plan has become a staple of pregnancy preparation, but most expectant parents are approaching it all wrong. What began as a revolutionary tool for restoring autonomy during the natural birth movement of the 1960s has too often devolved into a rigid checklist that sets birthing people up for disappointment and even trauma. I reframe how we think about birth plans, explaining that they were never meant to be a list of demands but rather a foundation for communication, ...

Send us a text One Way or a Mother is a new narrative podcast from Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC, host of The Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Each season is an intimate story of one woman, one pregnancy, and all of the preparations, emotions, and personal history leading up to the birth. Episodes feature the expectant mother along with her family, doctors, and birth work team. In season one of OWAM, we meet Arianna who is pregnant with her second baby after a traumatic first birth experience. Follow alon...

Send us a text "Congratulations, you're both alive." This shockingly low bar for maternal healthcare success reveals everything wrong with how America treats new mothers. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Venice Haynes, Senior Director of Research and Community Engagement at United States of Care, shares the urgent mission behind the groundbreaking 100 Weeks Project - an initiative transforming postpartum care by acknowledging that maternal health needs extend far beyond delivery. ...

Send us a text From personal birth trauma to revolutionary solutions for laboring mothers—this conversation with Marya Eddaifi reveals how innovative manual techniques are changing birth outcomes worldwide. Marya's journey begins with her own disappointing cesarean birth in 1995, a catalyst that eventually led her to become a labor and delivery nurse determined to find better ways to support women through childbirth. After nearly 24 years in the US Air Force and experience across four countries,...

Send us a text When Laci Tang experienced painful breastfeeding with her first child, she had no idea it would launch her into a career transforming how mothers receive lactation support. Her journey from anxious first-time mom to innovative lactation consultant offers a blueprint for meaningful postpartum care that's desperately needed. Laci's experience birthing at a midwifery center opened her eyes to a different kind of care—one where providers took time to listen, believed her struggles, an...

Send us a text Dr. Elliot Berlin transforms how we view childbirth, challenging the check-box mentality that leaves many parents feeling they've failed when birth veers from their rigid plans. Through our conversation, he introduces a revolutionary alternative: approaching birth planning as a flow chart with multiple potential pathways rather than a single desired route. The discussion delves into the delicate balance between modern medical systems and our innate bodily wisdom. As Dr. Berlin exp...

Send us a text 🎙️ Special Podcasthon Episode: Breaking Barriers in Birth Work with the BeboMia Doula Scholarship This Birth Journeys Podcast® episode is part of Podcasthon , a global movement uniting podcasters to spotlight impactful causes. We’re shining a light on the BeboMia Doula Scholarship Program , which provides essential training to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access, transforming birth experiences worldwide. Birth educator and doula trainer Bianca Sprague shares how birth experie...

Send us a text What if the journey from womanhood to motherhood offered more transformation than you ever imagined? Join us in a heartwarming episode with Khyati Desai-Seltzer, a mompreneur with a passion for social impact, as she recounts how her own birth stories, including an unexpected cesarean delivery, propelled her into a world of empowerment and community support for new parents. Dive into Khyati's personal experiences with the invaluable support of a doula, as she shares the challenges ...

Send us a text Imagine facing the transformative journey of motherhood armed with the insights you wish you'd known before your first contraction. Our latest episode in the Birth Journeys podcast, part of the Pearls of Wisdom series, does just that by unwrapping the wisdom shared by mothers who've navigated the unpredictable, often challenging experiences of childbirth. We promise to equip you with not only practical tips on managing societal pressures and preconceived notions about natural birt...

Send us a text Natalie Davis, a passionate advocate for maternal healthcare reform, joins us to share her journey and groundbreaking work with the 100 Weeks initiative. Natalie’s personal experiences, from navigating the challenges of preterm labor to working in healthcare policy at the forefront of the Obama administration, offer a compelling narrative. Through candid storytelling, she reflects on how these experiences shaped her commitment to extending postpartum support for mothers beyond the...

Send us a text When Wendy Powell, founder and CEO of Mutu System, first grappled with postpartum challenges, she unknowingly began a journey to revolutionize women's health conversations globally. In our latest episode, Wendy joins us to share her insights on the often-overlooked aspects of perinatal pelvic health and its profound effect on women's lives. Together, we explore the intricacies of dealing with issues like incontinence and prolapse, which extend beyond mere physical discomfort and t...

Send us a text Discover the underestimated power of progesterone with Dr. Shweta Patel, an OBGYN and women's health expert, who shines a light on its critical role in pregnancy and beyond. Gain insights into how this often-overlooked hormone supports everything from the menstrual cycle to postpartum health. Dr. Patel demystifies the scientific intricacies of progesterone, tracing its journey from conception to its protective functions during early pregnancy and its importance in postpartum birth...

Send us a text Emily Finnell returns to the podcast, sharing her deeply personal and emotional journey through the postpartum phase of motherhood. With a background as a certified HeartMath coach and former special education teacher, Emily opens up about the emotional turbulence she faced post-C-section, grappling with isolation, self-doubt, and societal pressures that often push new mothers to "bounce back" too quickly. Through candid conversations, we explore how connecting with one's own body...

Send us a text What happens when your carefully laid plans take an unexpected turn? Jennifer Bernardo, author of "Week 26," brings us into her world as she shares the complexities of premature birth and the NICU journey. Rushed to the hospital at just 26 weeks pregnant, what she thought was a false alarm quickly turned into the premature delivery of twins due to placenta previa complications. Jennifer's story pulls back the curtain on the unpredictability of childbirth and the emotional and phys...

Send us a text To kick off Season 3, we’re going back to where it all began. Emily Finnell’s story of a harrowing birth experience and a “free-fall into faith” culminates in a beautiful open adoption that was more life-changing than she could have imagined. Have you ever faced a life-altering moment that shattered your expectations and reshaped your path? In this remastered episode, Emily Finnell, a former special education teacher who's become a Leadership Mindset Coach, shares her incredibly m...