What if the way we enter the world has consequences that reach far beyond the day we're born?

This week, Blyss and Stu dive into “Microbirth”, the 2014 documentary exploring the human microbiome and what happens during the extraordinary biological transition of birth. From exposure to maternal bacteria during vaginal birth to skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, antibiotics, cesarean delivery, and the hormonal physiology of labor.

At the heart of the conversation is a much bigger question: When we intervene in birth, are we considering only the immediate outcome, or the ripple effects that may follow a baby for years, and perhaps even generations?

Because birth isn't simply the moment a baby arrives. It may be one of the most important biological programming events of our lives.

Listen now and join us as we ask: How much does the way we birth really matter?

References:

Microbirth Film

https://play.xumo.com/free-movies/microbirth/XM0KT28KHM1VCA

Do Antibiotics Given to Pregnant Women Harm the Baby's Brain? By Jennifer Margulis

https://jennifermargulis.substack.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=192562195

Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.13601

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training

https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo

Discussed in This Episode

• Microbirth documentary
• Humans as Living Ecosystems
• What Happens to the Microbiome During Birth?
• Ripple Effects of Antibiotics
• The Incredible Biology of Breast Milk
• The Gut-Brain Axis
• What Is Vaginal Seeding?
• Does Too Much Protection Hurt the Microbiome?

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
• Subscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Thyroid health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pregnancy, but thyroid hormones play an important role in both maternal health and fetal development, especially during those early weeks when baby is relying on mom's thyroid hormones.

This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into thyroid disease in pregnancy. Stu breaks down the basics of how the thyroid works, the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's versus Graves' disease, and what TSH, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies can actually tell us. They look at the potential pregnancy risks associated with overt thyroid disease, why subclinical disease is a very different conversation, and why pregnancy itself can change thyroid lab values.

Together they answer the question, should every pregnant woman have her thyroid screened? And discuss how testing itself can sometimes set off an unnecessary cascade of referrals, surveillance, and intervention.

This one gets into the weeds, but it's an episode worth saving as a resource for pregnant families, birth workers, and anyone navigating thyroid disease during the childbearing years.

References:

Reclaiming Birth Gathering

reclaimingbirthconference.com/

 Birth and Birth Psychology Congress in Istanbul, Turkey

Instagram: @birthandbirthpsychology

Website: dogumicinelele.org/

Birthing Instincts Podcast Patreon

Patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast

Open Evidence Links

https://www.openevidence.com/ask/04b52887-1c7f-423d-aeb4-7d28376e225a

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy

www.ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003893

Maternal thyroid function during gestation is related to breech presentation at term

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19832853/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Discussed in This Episode

• Thyroid 101: TSH, T3, T4 & How It All Works
• Hashimoto's vs. Graves' Disease
• Why Thyroid Hormones Matter for Fetal Development
• Thyroid Disease & Pregnancy Risks: What Do the Numbers Actually Mean?
• Should Everyone Be Screened During Pregnancy?
• How Pregnancy Changes Thyroid Labs
• Hypothyroidism: When Pregnancy Symptoms Look Like Thyroid Symptoms
• Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Does It Need Treatment?
• What Thyroid Labs Should Actually Be Ordered?
• Treating Overt Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
• Hyperemesis and Thyroid Changes

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Blyss and Stu run the gamut, from joy and grief to frustration, research, and a whole lot of questions about who really gets to decide what “safe” birth looks like.

After sharing personal updates and a moving remembrance of Dr. Rob Biter, Blyss and Stu turn their attention to autonomy in birth. They discuss a mother struggling to find a midwife willing to truly meet her where she is, the ongoing fight over traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania, and what happens when regulation and institutional standards begin limiting the choices available to birthing families.

Then, Dr. Stu dives into new research examining oxytocin (Pitocin), TOLAC, and uterine rupture. What does the research actually tell us about uterine rupture when Pitocin is used during a VBAC? How much does the risk change compared with spontaneous labor? Does a higher dose matter? And perhaps most importantly, are we paying enough attention when a laboring body, or the woman herself, is telling us something isn't right?

Blyss brings the midwifery perspective to the data, questioning directed pushing, prolonged augmentation, hospital timelines, and what can happen when physiology is pushed rather than supported. Together, she and Stu unpack the difference between relative risk and absolute risk, how the same research can be used to either support or discourage VBAC, and why informed decision-making requires more than simply being told what the “standard of care” recommends.

References:

Reclaiming Birth Gathering

reclaimingbirthconference.com/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening

birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Inquirer Article: Why Pennsylvania quietly repealed its 1929 midwifery law — and is now getting sued for it

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/midwives-pennsylvania-budget-law-20260804.html

PubMed study: Maximum Oxytocin Dose and Uterine Rupture During Trial of Labor After Cesarean

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41325062/

Discussed in This Episode

• Remembering Dr. Rob Biter and his contributions to physiologic birth
• What’s happening with traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania
• How regulation can indirectly restrict access to home birth
• Newest Research on Pitocin use during TOLAC
• Uterine rupture rates with spontaneous labor vs. oxytocin exposure
• Relative risk vs. absolute risk when counseling families
• Why increased Pitocin doses may be telling us something about the labor itself
• Directed pushing, augmentation, and listening to the body
• How confirmation bias influences the way research gets interpreted

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when the medical record doesn't match the birth experience?

This week, Blyss and Stu dive into one of the most uncomfortable, but critically important topics in maternity care: documentation, informed consent, and the ways language can shape a family's entire birth experience.

Using real-world examples, published legal cases, hospital consent forms, and an anonymous patient story, they examine how documentation can influence clinical decisions, legal outcomes, and patient autonomy. They discuss the difference between genuine informed consent and liability-driven documentation, why wording matters, and how routine practices can become normalized before parents even realize they have options.

Whether you plan to birth at home, in a birth center, or in the hospital, understanding how consent, documentation, and communication intersect can help you become a more informed participant in your own care.

References:

Girls Who Know: girlswhoknow.com (code instincts for 15% off)

Case Law Update: Gawthrop v Bendigo Health [2026] VSC 157

https://bravelegal.com.au/gawthrop-v-bendigo-health-vaginal-examination/

Melissa Philippe Facebook Post

The Doula Group on Facebook

Johns Hopkins: Delivering Your Baby

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/delivery

Discussed in This Episode

• What true informed consent should look like
• How documentation can influence legal and medical narratives
• The difference between physiologic birth and procedure-based birth education
• Why coercive language matters
• A court ruling that recognized non-consensual vaginal exams as assault.
• How fear-based counseling can affect birth decisions
• Why birth education before labor is more important than ever

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome Doula Dude, Travis Stroud, whose perspective has captivated millions of viewers in just a few short months. Travis never imagined he'd become one of the loudest voices encouraging fathers to educate themselves about pregnancy and birth. But after preparing for nearly two years, he and his wife chose a wild pregnancy and freebirth at home that forever changed the course of his life.

Together they discuss why men have become disconnected from birth, what fathers lose when they're pushed to the sidelines, and why Travis believes childbirth is the "biggest rabbit hole" because it touches every aspect of health, family, and society.

Whether you agree with every perspective or not, this conversation challenges listeners to ask questions, become informed, and reconsider the role fathers can play in protecting and supporting mothers during birth.

About Travis Stroud:

Travis is a 31-year-old husband and father in the small town of Brunswick, Maryland. On Valentine's Day in 2024, he and his wife welcomed their daughter through a planned free birth at home Travis was the sole birth attendant, and together they managed every aspect of the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey, with the exception of some postpartum support from his mother-in-law.

The couple spent nearly two years preparing, beginning their research and planning back in 2022, before they had even conceived. Their birth experience profoundly changed Travis's perspective on pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood in ways he never expected.

Today, he is passionate about sharing their story and the lessons they learned, inspiring conversations about birth trust, and the incredible role fathers can play in the journey.

Instagram: @Doula.dude

Eyla Cuenca's Uncover Birth Doula Training (Use code STU for 10% off)

Dr. Bradley's Husband-Coached Childbirth book 

References:

Earthbound Parenting Podcast: Mentorship & the Things That Weave Us with Blyss Young

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentorship-the-things-that-weave-us-with-blyss-young/id1612737552?i=1000776872540

Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep6 Dr Stuart Fischbein: Twins, VBAC, disempowered doctors & hospital systems

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kef3azO2lkResOw4LMCmj?si=2vODGoHQS9Wr_9ikDMkMrg&nd=1&dlsi=f2411fe90011441d

Germany drops routine COVID vaccination advice for healthy people under 75

https://goodoil.news/germany-drops-routine-covid-vaccination-advice-for-healthy-people-under-75/#google_vignette

Discussed in This Episode

• Preparing for Birth Before Pregnancy
• Travis’ Wild Pregnancy & Freebirth Story
• Why Birth Became His Mission
• Who Controls Birth?
• Why Fathers Matter
• How Families Evaluate Risk
• The Importance of Informed Decision-Making
• Why Every Parent Deserves to Understand All of their Options

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Dr. Stu welcomes Florida midwife Fadwah Halaby for an inspiring conversation about evidence, autonomy, and trusting physiological birth. Before diving into an unforgettable breech twin home birth, Stu takes a deep dive into another one of obstetrics' commonly accepted practices, the "2-centimeter rule" for low-lying placenta, and uncovers the surprisingly weak evidence behind it. 

Together, Stu and Fadwah explore how outdated conventions become hospital policy, why individualized care matters, and what happens when skilled providers support families instead of protocols. From twin growth charts to cord prolapse, patient autonomy, and the realities of home birth, this episode challenges assumptions while celebrating the art and science of physiological birth.

About Fadwah

Fadwah has worked as a nurse since 1992 (34 years) in various areas such as home health, ER, and L&D. For the past 20 years she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife - 8 years in a busy OB practice facilitating hospital birth and office gynecology, and 12 years in her independent home birth practice. She has assisted over 2000 babies to be born with about 700 of those in the community birth setting. She has been offering breech and twin birth in her practice for several years, more often in the past few years since completing formal training through Spinning Babies and Breech Without Borders. The first birth she ever witnessed live (other than her own) was a breech birth, in 1986.

She is a divorced mother of 6 grown children with 5 granddaughters. Currently living in Palm Beach County, south Florida where she has her office and home birth practice, Midwife360. She is currently back to working in a solo practice with back up from various other home birth midwives in the area. She is limiting her practice to 4 births per month and willing to take on breech births from the community whenever she is able as there are no options for breech for most women. She is a licensed autonomous APRN in Florida.

In 2023, she decided to exit the insurance game completely, after offering in-network provision of care through most insurance companies, both private and public. The reasons for this are numerous, but mainly financial and emotional. To help offset the difficulty some families have in affording home birth midwifery (a concierge service to be sure) she started a non profit - Birth Equity Resource. A 501(c)3 designed to attract donors wanting to help those more financially challenged to be able to choose home birth midwifery.

Website: midwife360.com 

Non-Profit: birthequityresource.org

Instagram: @midwife360

References:

Placental edge to internal os distance in the late third trimester and mode of delivery in placenta praevia

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2003.02491.x

Vaginal delivery in women with a low-lying placenta: a systematic review and meta-analysis

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.15622

Fetal Imaging: Executive Summary of a Joint Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Radiology, Society for Pediatric Radiology, and Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Fetal Imaging Workshop

Placenta previa: distance to internal os and mode of delivery

https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2809%2900629-2/fulltext

Birthing Instincts Podcast 378: The Cost of Homebirth, Navigating Insurance in Midwifery, with Fadwah Halaby

A maneuver for head entanglement in term breech/vertex twin labor, by Dr. Stu Fischbein

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ca1028e4b05c5f2d7b157d/t/62e02090874eae67b683bc67/1658855570428/A+Maneuver+for+Head+Entanglement+Published.pdf

Discussed in This Episode

• Where the 2-centimeter low-lying placenta guideline actually came from
• Counseling families about twin pregnancy beyond fear-based statistics
• Fadwah's pathway from hospital midwifery to independent home birth practice
• Preparing for a planned breech twin home birth
• Managing cord prolapse in a breech presentation
• Home birth emergency preparedness and neonatal resuscitation
• The importance of individualized risk assessment over blanket policies

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a traumatic first birth becomes the catalyst for a completely different second experience?

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome holistic esthetician Michelle Vaughn to share the story of two births that couldn't have been more different, and how those experiences transformed not only the way she views birth, but the way she approaches health, skincare, motherhood, and everyday living.

Michelle opens up about her husband's stage IV cancer diagnosis, the lifestyle changes that followed, and why she began questioning everything she was putting on and into her family's bodies. Together, they explore common skincare ingredients, sunscreen, deodorant, household products, and practical ways families can begin reducing toxic exposures without becoming overwhelmed.

Whether you're interested in physiologic birth, holistic wellness, or simply making more informed choices for your family, this episode offers thoughtful conversation, personal stories, and plenty to consider.

About Michelle

Michelle Vaughan is a holistic esthetician with 19 years of experience, wellness educator, mom of two, and co-owner of Alma Aesthetics Organic Wellness Spa in Santa Barbara. She’s passionate about helping women and families make informed, balanced choices through holistic skincare, mindful living, and simple everyday wellness. Michelle shares her journey through motherhood, beauty, and healthy living with an approachable, evidence-informed perspective while encouraging others to feel confident in making the choices that are right for them.

Instagram: @michellevaughanklett / @almaaesthetics

Clean Product Recommendations:

Primally Pure

Earth Mama Organics

Under Luna

Living Libations

Branch Basics

Wholesome organics Code Instincts for 20% off

References:

Joint Statement From NACPM and NARM Regarding MEAC’s Withdrawal from U.S. Department of Education Recognition: https://www.nacpm.org/news/joint-statement-from-nacpm-and-narm

Discussed in This Episode

• What MEAC's withdrawal from Department of Education recognition could mean for midwifery education
• Hospital birth versus home birth: one family's dramatically different experiences
• Trauma, healing, and trusting the physiologic birth process
• The connection between skincare, nutrition, inflammation, and overall wellness
• Sunscreen, deodorant, fragrances, household products, and reducing toxic exposure
• Simple swaps families can make without feeling overwhelmed

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Postpartum preeclampsia is one of the least talked about, but potentially most serious, complications after birth. This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss explore what we know, what we don't, and why every new mother should understand the warning signs, even after a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Together they review the latest evidence surrounding postpartum hypertension and postpartum preeclampsia, discuss risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and why postpartum care deserves far more attention than it often receives.

Whether you're currently pregnant, postpartum, or supporting growing families, this episode offers practical information, thoughtful discussion, and an important reminder to trust your instincts when something doesn't feel right.

References:

Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep3 Midwife Blyss Young: Legal restrictions, walking through life & death & advocacy

Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: https://www.ajog.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-9378%2820%2931201-1

Discussed in This Episode

• Researching Postpartum Preeclampsia (PPPE)
• PPPE Risk Factors 
• Symptoms of PPPE And When It Hits
• The importance of postpartum monitoring and listening to your body
• How postpartum hypertension differs from classic preeclampsia
• Current treatment recommendations
• Home blood pressure monitoring
• Recognizing warning signs
• Is PPPE Iatrogenic?
• Why postpartum care shouldn't end at hospital discharge

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

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#birthinginstinctspodcast #homebirth #midwife #BirthWithoutFear #PhysiologicBirth 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, we're setting aside our usual topic-driven format to share something even more meaningful: real stories from our fellow travelers.

Join us in reading one of the most moving letters we've ever received.

A certified nurse-midwife shares the heartbreaking story of carrying a daughter diagnosed with anencephaly. Although her daughter, Olivia, was stillborn, she describes her birth as the most beautiful experience of her life, not because of the outcome, but because she was respected, supported, and allowed to birth in a way that brought peace instead of trauma.

This episode is full of inspiring listener stories about twin births, breech births, home birth, and the power of education to preserve options for families around the world.

This conversation is ultimately about more than birth.

It's about autonomy.

It's about courage.

And it's about remembering that even in the hardest moments, peace is still possible. 

References:

Mentorship with Blyss, schedule your clarity call to join at woven-moon.com

What They Don’t Tell Us Podcast: He Was One of the Best OBs in the Country. Midwives Taught Him What He Was Missing.

Book: Between a Shot and a Hard Place, by Joel Warsh

@PerfectUnion on Instagram: "Watch Jacob Rockwell, a man fined for running a red light in Florida while being in Alabama, pop off against the use of the A.I. red light cameras that were used to "identify" him."

Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner

Discussed in This Episode

• The growing loss of human connection in healthcare why less intervention often creates more confidence
• Stillbirth becomes an experience of profound peace.
• Why respectful maternity care matters
• Twin birth stories that challenge common assumptions about "high-risk" pregnancy
• The importance of breech birth skills and preserving birth options
• How preparation, mindset, and autonomy shape lifelong birth memories
• Why confidence, not fear, changes birth experiences.

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Birthing Instincts, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in pregnancy.

Together they explore what lupus is, how it affects pregnancy, and what current evidence says about risks such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital heart block. 

Along the way, Stu revisits the decades-old Hadlock fetal growth curve and questions whether a single growth standard can accurately reflect diverse populations around the world. The conversation highlights the importance of individualized care, informed decision-making, and understanding risk without defaulting to fear-based management.

References:

Instagram Live with @Kristen_Nagle

Reclaiming Birth Gathering: reclaimingbirthconference.com

Made For Birth Podcast: Questioning The Standard of Maternity Care 

Discussed in This Episode

• What systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is and how it affects pregnancy

• Lupus flares, remission, and preconception planning

• Preeclampsia risk in women with lupus

• Hydroxychloroquine safety and use during pregnancy

• Antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy outcomes

• How lupus and preeclampsia can look similar

• The limitations of the Hadlock fetal growth curve

• Population differences in fetal growth and birth weight

• Why individualized care matters more than blanket recommendations

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome birth pioneer, author, filmmaker, and educator Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half-century.

Long before conversations about physiological birth, informed consent, and the over-medicalization of maternity care became mainstream, Suzanne was asking difficult questions. Her groundbreaking 1975 book *Immaculate Deception* challenged routine obstetrical practices and helped spark a movement that continues to influence birth professionals and families around the world.

In this fascinating and deeply personal conversation, Suzanne shares how her own traumatic birth experience and the birth of her daughter led her to investigate maternity care practices, interview women across the country, and ultimately write one of the most important birth books ever published.

This episode is part birth history lesson, part cultural critique, and part love letter to the women who have spent decades protecting physiological birth.

About Suzanne Arms:

Today on Birthing Instincts we're honored to welcome Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last half century.

Suzanne is an author, filmmaker, educator, and advocate whose work has helped generations of parents and birth professionals rethink pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early bonding. She is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking book Immaculate Deception. Came out in 1975, which challenged many of the routine practices of modern maternity care, and became a catalyst for change in how birth is understood and supported. Over the decades, Suzanne has co-founded an early free-standing birth center, produced award-winning films about childbirth, and dedicated her life to exploring what she calls the primal period, the critical time from conception through a baby's first year.

Through her organization, Birthing the Future, she continues to champion the idea that how we care for mothers and babies shapes not only individual lives, but the future of our communities and culture. Suzanne's work has inspired countless midwives, doulas, physicians, educators, and families around the world.

Book: Immaculate deception: A new look at women and childbirth in America

Website: birthingthefuture.org

References:

Jennifer Margulis, Substack - The Valorous Vagina: Babies benefit from being born vaginally (moms do too)

The Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH) https://birthpsychology.com/

Pathways to Health pathwaystofamilywellness.org

ACOG Instagram: @acog_org

Discussed in This Episode

The origins of Suzanne Arms' groundbreaking book “Immaculate Deception”

The decline of midwifery and what was lost along the way

How birth practices influence bonding, breastfeeding, and early development

The role of fathers and partners in birth, then and now

Why home birth rates have declined despite growing awareness

The importance of understanding your own birth story

How fear shapes maternity care decisions

The connection between early life experiences, attachment, and culture

What Suzanne believes every pregnant woman should know today

The continuing fight to preserve physiological birth

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a birth photographer picks up a camera and decides she can no longer stay silent?

This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome Jacinta Lagos, an award-winning birth photographer, doula, filmmaker, and creator of the powerful new documentary, Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife.

Born and raised in Argentina, Jacinta grew up believing cesarean birth was simply "how babies were born." After immigrating to the United States and discovering the world of birth photography, she witnessed both the beauty of physiological birth and the realities of obstetric violence. Armed with a single camera, relentless determination, and a passion for storytelling, she set out to create a documentary that challenges the stories we've been told about birth.

Centered around the extraordinary work of global midwife Kristine Lauria, Allowed to Birth weaves together voices from around the world to explore the tension between physiology and policy, autonomy and authority, fear and trust.

Birth belongs to women. Stories preserve wisdom. And sometimes all it takes to change hearts and minds is one person willing to press record.

About Jacinta Lagos:

Jacinta is an Argentinian 40 year old, a mom of 3. She's married to the guy who got a job offer in the USA and decided to move in 2017. She has had a camera in hand since ever. Video and film has always been a passion of her, since she was a little girl. Back in Argentina, she had a successful business in the wedding videography industry, and when she moved to the states with 2 little kids, she decided to stop giving away all of her weekends to attend weddings. 

That was when she found out that birth documenting was a thing: in Argentina, that would be completely unheard of.

She started doing birth videography and photography in 2019, got her doula training in 2020 and has attended 200 births since. She has won many awards, she's been published and is considered one of the best birth documentarians in the world. She finds birth work to be her true calling in this life.

In 2024 started working on her first documentary feature film ""Allowed to birth: the journey of a global midwife"", which will come out at the end of the summer.

Website: allowedtobirth.com / jacintalagos.com

Instagram: @allowedtobirth / @jacintalagosbirthservices

Discussed in This Episode

Argentina's Cesarean Culture

The surprising origin story behind the documentary Allowed to Birth

The significance of the word "allowed" in maternity care

Birth Around the World: Perspectives beyond American maternity care.

The difference between hospital policy and patient rights

Kristine Lauria's impact as a teacher and global midwife

An award-winning documentary with one camera and determination

The Hidden Message About Female Obstetricians

Why documenting birth can become a powerful form of advocacy

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com

Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected “big babies”.

Prompted by a recent social media post from a prominent obstetric influencer, they examine two studies being used to justify earlier inductions for "big babies" and ask an important question: do the data actually support the conclusions being promoted?

Along the way, Blyss and Stu challenge listeners to look beyond headlines and social media summaries, examine how studies are designed, and consider whether interventions are being recommended based on meaningful risk reduction, or simply because they can be.

The episode emphasizes the importance of respecting nature's design, individualizing care, and helping families understand the difference between relative risk, absolute risk, and true informed choice.

References:

AJOG MFM Article: Induction at 38 weeks for large-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses decreases the incidence of cesarean delivery: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(26)00008-X/fulltext

The Lancet Article: Induction of labour versus standard care to prevent shoulder

dystocia in fetuses suspected to be large for gestational age in the UK (the Big Baby trial): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2825%2900162-X

Birthing Instincts Podcast #431: "Hold Your Beer" It's Fetal Macrosomia Guidelines

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MJg92Du4WLUn7P8ypPBVc?si=SJ6YtH6CRMKClgCDGdXXqw

Discussed in This Episode

Analysis of the BIG BABY Trial

Why statistical significance does not always equal clinical significance

What shoulder dystocia rates actually mean

Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) v true macrosomia

Accuracy limitations of estimated fetal weight

How labels like "big baby" often trigger cascades of intervention

Differences between physiologic birth and hospital management

What informed consent should actually look like when discussing risks

The often-overlooked downstream consequences of routine induction

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when hospitals decide informed consent no longer applies to breech birth?

In this powerful and deeply important episode, Blyss and Stu welcome back attorney and birth rights advocate Hermine Hayes-Klein to unpack a landmark Oregon malpractice trial centered on coercion, informed consent, and the growing normalization of mandatory cesarean sections for breech babies.

This is not just a conversation about breech birth. It’s a conversation about power, coercion, medical culture, and whether women still have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies during childbirth.

If you care about birth autonomy, informed consent, or preserving disappearing birth skills, this is an episode you cannot miss.

About Hermine Hayes-Klein:

Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an attorney and advocate for reproductive justice and human rights in pregnancy and childbirth. Hermine works on legal actions and advocacy projects related to preventable injury and informed consent violations in childbirth, and advocacy for access to midwives and doulas around the US and beyond. Hermine began her international advocacy for the recognition of human rights in childbirth when she was teaching law at The Hague University in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2012, and organized 6 international conferences on that topic in the US, Europe, South Africa, and India. She has worked on many cases related to breech birth for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Website: https://fringeheals.com/

Instagram: @fringeheals

Blog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.

Email: hi@fingeheals.com 

References:

Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbein

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHA

CHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDED

Mentorship with Blyss:  wovenmoon.com

Elena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?

https://elenabridgers.substack.com/p/to-home-birth-or-not-to-home-birth?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=l982r

Dr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickham

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2Vx

Discussed in This Episode

The dangerous misuse of the phrase “standard of care”

Why informed consent is a legal duty, not a physician preference

How hospital policies quietly override individualized care

The lasting trauma many women experience during cesareans and epidurals

The legacy and flaws of the infamous Term Breech Trial

Why bodily autonomy in childbirth matters now more than ever

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Dr. Stu and Blyss break down a recent Substack article reviewing large studies comparing planned home birth and hospital birth for low-risk women. The data? Fewer interventions, lower C-section rates, fewer infections, less hemorrhage, and fewer severe tears with planned home birth. But as always, the conversation goes deeper, into absolute vs. relative risk, the infamous cascade of interventions, postpartum trauma, and why hospitals continue doubling down on systems that many families no longer trust.

Later in the episode, pelvic health physiotherapist and Fringe medical director Liz Frey joins the podcast for a fascinating discussion on pelvic floor dysfunction, postpartum recovery, menopause, prolapse, incontinence, breathing mechanics, and why so many women are told their symptoms are “normal” when they’re actually treatable. Liz also explains how red light, near-infrared, and blue light therapy may support healing, tissue health, pain relief, intimacy, and recovery through Fringe’s pelvic wand technology.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about birth, healing, autonomy, and what happens when women finally start getting the support they actually deserve.

About Liz Frey:

Liz is a clinic owner and practicing pelvic health physiotherapist. As an orthopaedic and pelvic health physiotherapist, Liz’s practice focuses on helping women navigate pregnancy, menopause, and everything in between.

Liz is always keen to explore and integrate evidence-based products into her pelvic health practice. Which led her to become the Women’s Health Medical Director at Fringe - a company that believes in helping people heal naturally.

Website: https://fringeheals.com/ Code birthinginstincts10 for 10% off

Instagram: @fringeheals

Blog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.

Email: hi@fingeheals.com 

References:

Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbein

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHA

CHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDED

Mentorship with Blyss: wovenmoon.com

Elena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?

https://elenabridgers.substack.com/p/to-home-birth-or-not-to-home-birth?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=l982r

Dr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickham

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2Vx

Discussed in This Episode

Home birth vs. hospital birth outcomes

Relative risk vs. absolute risk in birth statistics

Hospital birth culture and liability-driven care

Pelvic floor dysfunction after birth

Incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain

Menopause and pelvic health

Breathwork and diaphragmatic function

Red light and blue light pelvic therapy

Pelvic floor physiotherapy explained

Why postpartum recovery deserves more attention

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a medication designed to stop hemorrhage quietly starts creeping into routine birth care?

This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss take on TXA (tranexamic acid), what it is, when it actually makes sense, and why they’re increasingly concerned about how it’s being used in modern maternity care.

From postpartum hemorrhage protocols to the growing push for prophylactic use during cesareans and even BEFORE birth, this conversation digs into the science, the politics, and the unintended consequences nobody seems willing to talk about.

Along the way, they tackle the bigger issue underneath it all: Who gets to define “safe” birth care? Hospital systems? Bureaucrats? International organizations? Or the people actually attending births?

References:

Evidence Based Birth Podcast Episode 396 - Inequities in VBAC Access with Dr. Nicholas Rubashkin, MD, PhD

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ebb-396-inequities-in-vbac-access-with-dr-nicholas/id1334808138?i=1000764260687

Mom who sued the State of Nebraska in home birth case delivers baby

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/mom-who-sued-the-state-of-nebraska-in-home-birth-case-delivers-baby/

Home births to resume after safety concerns

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/home-births-resumed-safety-concerns-183648374.html

Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2017/10000/practice_bulletin_no__183__postpartum_hemorrhage.56.aspx

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum hemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28456509/

Efficacy of prophylactic tranexamic acid among parturient at increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage undergoing cesarean delivery: A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41066405/

Discussed in This Episode

The Momnibus Act & the Future of Midwifery

TXA Enters the Midwifery World

What TXA Actually Does in the Body

The Evidence Behind TXA for Hemorrhage

Why Routine Prophylactic TXA Raises Concerns

Does TXA Cross the Placenta?

Four Ts of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Why Timing Matters in Hemorrhage Care

Defining “High Risk” in Birth

Use of Oral and Intermuscular TXA

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this week’s episode, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss sit down with Texas midwife Salli Gonzalez and attorney Octavia Martinez to unpack a case that should concern not only licensed midwives, but anyone with a license.

Together they discuss what happens when a midwife follows protocol, transfers appropriately, and still becomes the target?

What happens when unverified screenshots, incomplete records, and social media comments are used to justify suspending a license, without a trial?

And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of midwifery?

This conversation goes beyond the case of one midwife, and beyond what is happening in Texas. This is about the direction birth care is heading in the U.S and why we all need to pay attention.

About Salli:

My love of birth started with my own births, the first on in a typical hospital system, birthing in lithotomy in the OR in 1984. The second baby I chose a birth center and decided to take more control of my choices in birth. I gave birth in a birth center under my own terms, which included eating and drinking in labor, moving with the contractions instead of being tied to the bed with monitors, no IV and limited vaginal exams. This birth propelled me to want to share with the world that birth doesn’t have to be traumatic nor painful. I set out to educate the world, as I had four more babies at home, one of which included a breech birth under qualified hands.  

It’s been my life’s work to uphold birth as a normal and natural process of the female body. I’ve taken the steps to attend as many emergency skills preparedness workshops as I can as well as many breech and twin conferences as possible. I’ve also mentored and offered my assistance to newer midwives who are also interested in learning. We are always learning and renewing our skills in midwifery. Midwifery is the future of our country. Without midwifery the true nature of women’s autonomy will be lost. 

Instagram: @for_the_love_of_birth

GoFundMe: gofund.me/a54e40705

About Octavia:

Professional Background

A graduate of The University of Virginia and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Octavia began her career in Phoenix. As a felony prosecutor and civil litigator, she handled high-stakes matters ranging from commercial trucking defense to complex medical malpractice.

Her time on the defense side — working alongside institutional defendants and their counsel — gave her an understanding of how those cases are built, where the vulnerabilities lie, and what separates the attorneys who win from the ones who simply file. She brought that knowledge with her when she crossed to the plaintiff's side.

The Move to Texas

Bringing this diverse experience to the Rio Grande Valley, Octavia expanded her practice to meet the border region's unique needs. Her scope grew to cover defamation, and specialized defense for medical providers, including physicians and midwives.

South Texas presented a client population that had historically been underserved by high-quality legal representation — complex multigenerational estates, a healthcare industry with its own licensing ecosystem, and individuals whose situations required an attorney willing to engage the full weight of the law on their behalf.

Launch of the Firm

Octavia later paused her legal career to focus on stewardship: homeschooling her children and managing her family's homestead farm. However, she reactivated her license to assist a client whose legal matters had stagnated under conventional representation. That crisis highlighted the urgent need for uncompromised advocacy, leading to the launch of Octavia LaVon Martinez PLLC.

Today, she has become a resource for clients who seek an alternative to the status quo — clients who have been failed by passive representation, whose matters are too complex for a generalist, or who simply need an attorney who will fight with the same conviction they feel about their own case.

Website: octaviamartinezlaw.com

X: @OctaviaLaVon

References:

Sham Peer Review: The Leave-of-Absence Trap

Expedited Motion for Hearing (PDF)

Facebook Post and Comments

Facebook Comment #2

Media Release: TDLR Suspends Midwife’s License Following Maternal and Infant Deaths

KLTV Texas midwife requests state to reinstate license amid death investigations

Support Salli: Defend Her Midwifery License gofund.me/a54e40705

Discussed in This Episode

Midwives under fire, and why this isn’t just a Texas problem

What actually happened in the case of Salli Gonzalez

When outcomes don’t have clear causes, who gets blamed?

The Legal Reality of what is happening

Social Media as “Evidence”?

Anonymous posts, cropped screenshots, and missing context

Why this case could affect doctors, lawyers, and beyond

Licensing doesn’t mean protection

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week’s podcast Blyss and Stu come to you with no guest and no single topic, just a “hodgepodge” of what’s been piling up in Dr. Stu’s mind attic.

From collapsing birth options and disappearing breech skills…to food, fear, and the quiet coercion baked into modern maternity care.

It may seem random, but there is a common thread here: Systems replacing skills, policy replacing autonomy, and women left navigating the fallout

References:

Fringe Red Light Therapy: Code BirthingInstincts10 for 10% off

ICAN 

Coalition for Breech Birth Coalition Facebook Group

CPT Maternity Care Services Codes and Guidelines | AMA

Leaked Kaiser email on Facebook

Reclaiming Birth Conference - https://www.reclaimingbirthconference.com/

Discussed in This Episode

Oregon moms left without hospital breech providers 

The dying art of vaginal breech delivery

The System That Forces You to Lie

Coercion Disguised as Care

Ultra-Processed Food & Pregnancy Outcomes

EMFs, Fertility & What No One’s Talking About

New AMA Obstetric Codes

Risks of VBAC with a T-Inscision

Risk of repeat uterine rupture

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Caraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

The 20-week anatomy scan has become a routine part of modern pregnancy, but is it truly essential, or just another layer of over-monitoring?

After receiving a listener question, Dr. Stu and Blyss dissect the purpose, limitations, and unintended consequences of the anatomy scan. From what providers are actually looking for, to why so many women walk away with more anxiety than answers, this episode challenges the assumption that more information always equals better outcomes.

At the end of the day, the real question isn’t can we look, it’s should we?

Additional References:

Birthing Instincts Podcasts:

Episode 446: Baby Aspirin For All??

Episode 459: Over-Monitoring & Outcomes, How Are We Doing & Who Benefits.

Episode 313: Comforting Truths About Low Lying Placentas

Episode 274: I Remember Every Detail

Pub Med Study: Therapeutic ultrasound as a potential male contraceptive: power, frequency and temperature required to deplete rat testes of meiotic cells and epididymides of sperm determined using a commercially available system

Cleveland Clinic: What to Expect at Your 20-Week Ultrasound (Anatomy Scan)

Discussed in This Episode

The many names of the anatomy scan (and what it’s supposed to do)

Ultrasound, anomaly scan, fetal survey—same test, very different interpretations

The 11 major conditions they look for vs. everything else that gets added on

How tiny measurements turn into weeks of stress and follow-ups

The rise of false positives and soft markers

Ultrasound-free pregnancy: radical or reasonable?

Why more testing keeps becoming the standard, regardless of outcomes

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
• LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What if the system you trust never did the science you assume it did?

In this explosive episode, Dr. Stu and Blyss sit down with Del Bigtree to pull back the curtain on vaccines, medical authority, and the institutions shaping maternal and pediatric care. From ACOG recommendations to the hidden realities behind “safe and effective,” this conversation challenges everything we’re told—and asks the question no one in mainstream medicine seems willing to ask.

This isn’t just about vaccines. It’s about power, profit, fear… and what happens when parents start saying no..

About Del:

Del Bigtree is one of the preeminent voices of the MAHA Movement. He was the Director of Communications for Robert Kennedy Jr’s 2024 presidential campaign, the founder and CEO of the non-profit, Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), and host of the internet talk show TheHighWire.com, boasting over 400 million views world-wide. A former Emmy winning producer of the CBS talk show The Doctors, and most recently Executive Producer of the film, An Inconvenient Study. Del’s multi-pronged approach incorporates media, legislative, and legal actions to expose the fraud, lies, and conflicts of interest that have allowed US regulatory agencies to collude with industry power brokers to evade standardized safety testing on products including vaccines, drugs, food, drinking water, and 5G. On behalf of American citizens, Del’s non-profit, ICAN, has submitted over one thousand Freedom Of Information Requests (FOIA) and has won multiple lawsuits against government agencies including HHS, NIH, FDA and the CDC. Most notable are the FDA case that forced the release of Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine trial data which the FDA had attempted to hide for 75 years, the CDC case that forced the release of the CDC’s V-Safe Covid Vaccine Injury data, and the State of Mississippi Case which reinstated the Religious Exemption from Vaccination which had been denied for over 30 years.

Instagram: @delbigtree

X: @delbigtree

Websites: https://thehighwire.com / https://icandecide.org

Documentary: An Inconvenient Study

Additional References:

Jennifer Margulis Substack: Breaking News in Delivery Rooms: More Parents Saying “No, Thank You” to Vaccines and Other Unnecessary Interventions

Documentary: Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe

The Inconvenient Study

Henry Ford Health Denounces Claim That System Suppressed Research, Cautions Against Dangerous Viral Disinformation and Misinformation

Book: Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak (Children’s Health Defense)

Discussed in This Episode

Inside ICAN, legal strategy, and the fight for transparency against federal agencies.

Who Controls the Vaccine Narrative? Follow the Money

Dr. Zervos Vaccinated v. Unvaccinated Study 

An Inconvenient Study—what happens when even insiders admit the science was never done.

Vaccinated v. Unvaccinated Study Results

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by

• WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
• LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
• Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
• Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
• Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss

• Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
• Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
• Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
• Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands