- #488: The Mental Health Crisis, The Disease Industry & SSRIs with Investigative Journalist, Jefferey Jaxen
What if the answer to our mental health crisis isn't another prescription?
We're living in a world where depression, anxiety, and loneliness are seemingly everywhere. And somehow, despite more diagnoses, more medications, and more money being poured into mental health treatment, we're still struggling. So what exactly are we missing?
This week, investigative journalist Jeffrey Jaxon of The HighWire joins Blyss and Dr. Stu for a conversation that might make you rethink everything you thought you knew about mental health.
From the chemical imbalance theory and the uncomfortable questions surrounding SSRIs to the pharmaceutical industry's influence on medicine, Jeffrey isn't afraid to go where mainstream conversations often won't.
We're not suggesting medication never has a place. We're asking whether we've forgotten that healing involves more than a prescription.
Because maybe the real mental health crisis isn't just about what's happening in our brains. Maybe it's about what we've lost along the way.
Join us for a conversation that challenges the narrative, asks uncomfortable questions, and reminds us that being human is about more than just managing symptoms.
About Jefferey Jaxen
Jefferey Jaxen is a veteran investigative journalist covering medical, health and a limitless array of breaking news. Also featured in his weekly segment, The Jaxen Report on The HighWire. An accomplished documentary film maker, his film series Jefferey Jaxen Investigates exposes the compelling topics of our time.
Website: TheHighWire.com / highwire.plus
Substack: substack.com/@jeffereyjaxen
Instagram: @realjeffereyjaxen
References:
https://thehighwire.com/plus/show/jefferey-jaxen-investigates/
https://thehighwire.com/plus/video/jefferey-jaxen-investigates-the-mental-health-crisis-part-1/
https://jeffereyjaxen.substack.com/p/watch-new-episode-of-the-download-288
https://thehighwire.com/the-download/
The Isabella Brown Show: How SSRIs Are Silently Destroying Gen Z, One Zoloft at a Time ft. Lauren Friedman
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NGoUjOkCEQkMlKZC3pFhJ?si=glcoypyGTgy-fMMP-49LbA
Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
An Inconvenient Study
https://www.aninconvenientstudy.com/
Discussed in This Episode
What Is the Mental Health Crisis?
Social Media, Dopamine, and the Changing Brain
Personal Responsibility in a Medicated World
SSRIs, Prozac, and the Questions We Should Be Asking
Big Pharma, Medical Journals, and the Power of Marketing
When SSRIs Help: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
What Happens When You Stop Taking SSRIs?
Beyond the Pill: Sunlight, Movement, Sleep, and Purpose
Ayahuasca, Psychedelics, and a Different Approach to Healing
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
- Tallow Twins | Go to https://tallowtwins.ca/INSTINCTS and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your order
- 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 BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.
- 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/brandsE488 - 1h 26m - Oct 21, 2026 - #487: Listening To Women
Listen to women.
Seems simple enough. And yet, here we are.
This week, the stories in our inbox keep bringing us back to the same uncomfortable truth: women know when something feels wrong. They know their bodies. They know their babies. They know their histories. And far too often, instead of being listened to, they're dismissed, frightened, managed, or told that someone else knows better.
One mother screamed that she could feel her cesarean, and was told, “There’s no way she feels that.”
Another was sent down the familiar rabbit hole of scans, labels, scary possibilities, and intervention because her baby measured small… while seemingly no one stopped to consider that maybe small parents sometimes make small babies.
And then there's a twin home birth that ends in unimaginable loss—a story that challenges the idea that a tragic outcome automatically means someone made the wrong choice. Sometimes everyone does everything right, and tragedy still happens.
These are the stories we need to be willing to hear. Not just the beautiful births. Not just the outcomes that validate what we already believe. All of them.
Because informed consent means listening. Individualized care means listening. Supporting women means listening.
And maybe if we did a little more of that, we'd need a whole lot less fixing afterward.
References:
FriYAY!
Instagram.com/birthinginstincts
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
https://www.birthinginstinctspodcast.com/event-details-registration/allowed-to-birth-movie-screening
Jehovah’s Witnesses allow blood-derived products but keep ban on whole-blood transfusions
https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/19/jehovahs-witnesses-blood-derived-products-transfusions/
Birthing Instincts Podcast #314 Low Platelets & Deficiencies of Wisdom
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bMKgk1ZKtcI0QDQWCZtpT?si=3fb0f5eaad2445fb
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Adverse Maternal Pregnancy Outcomes
The Retrievals Season 2
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3gzGsdfFnFUeREYclQlYv8?si=sCc_o2mYSoOGl434Tz1uqA
Neonatal and obstetric outcomes following periconceptional exposure to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293782600222X
Discussed in This Episode
When Cutting the Cord Becomes the Emergency
Maternity Care Is Disappearing
The Shopping Center Breech Baby
Experiencing Loss and Questioning Everything
The Midwife Who Did Exactly What She Was Supposed to Do
One Ultrasound Finding, One Very Familiar Cascade
You Don't Have to Be a “Perfect Goddess” to Deserve Individualized Care
GLP-1s and Pregnancy: What Does the Evidence Actually Say?
A Mother Feels Her Cesarean After Epidural Fails
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
- Tallow Twins | Go to https://tallowtwins.ca/INSTINCTS and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your order
- 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 BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.
- 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/brandsE487 - 1h 13m - Oct 14, 2026 - #486: Holding Hope After Miscarriage with Kenzie Covarrubias
There are some experiences in life that we simply cannot prepare our hearts for.
Pregnancy loss is one of them.
This week, we sit down with Kenzie Covarrubias, co-founder of Held in Hope, for a tender conversation about miscarriage, grief, and what it truly means to care for a woman through loss. Because a miscarriage is so much more than a medical event. There was a mother who was full of hopes and dreams, and a baby who was already deeply loved.
How do we give women the information they need while still honoring the sacredness of what they're experiencing? And when someone we love is grieving, how do we resist the urge to fix it and simply be there?
There is no one right way to move through loss. But there are gentler ways to hold one another through it.
This is one of those conversations we wish no one ever needed, and one we believe every woman deserves to hear.
.About Kenzie Covarrubias
Kenzie Covarrubias is the co-founder of Held in Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and equipping women through miscarriage. After recognizing how often women are left unprepared to navigate pregnancy loss,, Kenzie and co-founder Amber Hassett created the Held in Hope Miscarriage Kit, providing clear information, practical supplies, and compassionate support during first-trimester loss. Today, Held in Hope works with hospitals, midwives, medical providers, pregnancy centers, and families across the country to help ensure no woman has to face miscarriage feeling alone or unprepared.
Kenzie is also a wife and mom of five and is passionate about changing the way women are cared for through pregnancy loss.
Website: heldinhope.org
Instagram: @held.in.hope
References:
FriYAY!
Instagram.com/birthinginstincts
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800
Held In Hope - Miscarriage Boxes
Birthing Instincts Podcast #383: There Can Be Healing in Loss
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/383-there-can-be-healing-in-loss/id1552816683?i=1000673286068
Birthing Instincts Podcast #339 Early Pregnancy Loss
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/339-early-pregnancy-loss/id1552816683?i=1000638423958
Discussed in This Episode
Meet Kenzie & Held in Hope
What Are Women Actually Told After a Miscarriage?
The Option Women May Not Know They Have When Experiencing Loss
When You Can't Just Call Your Doctor
Not Just a Medical Event
A Care Package That Holds Space in Miscarriage
Preparing Women for What They May See or Experience
Support Without an Agenda or Judgment
What Does Waiting for a Miscarriage Actually Look Like?
When Is Medical Intervention Necessary?
What Happens to Your Baby After a D&C?
What Do You Say to Someone Who Miscarried?
Dads Grieve Too
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
- Tallow Twins | Go to tallowtwins.ca and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your order
- 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 BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.
- 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/brandsE486 - 1h 7m - Oct 7, 2026 - #485: Understanding Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusions can save lives, but when are they actually necessary, and what should you know before you're ever faced with that decision?
This week, Blyss and Dr. Stu unpack blood transfusions in birth: postpartum hemorrhage, hemoglobin levels, blood types and compatibility, potential reactions, and why the number on a lab report doesn't always tell the whole story.
They also dive into some of the harder questions: Can you choose where your blood comes from? What about directed donation? And what options exist for families who have concerns about receiving blood from vaccinated donors?
From the surprising obstetric origins of modern transfusion medicine to the questions worth asking during pregnancy, this is one of those conversations you may never need, but you'll be glad you heard if you do.
References:
Vaccine Choice Canada
Reclaiming Birth Gathering
FriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstincts
Up to Me. Up to You. Up to Everyone.
Safe Blood - The Global Leader In SafeBlood Matching
Blessed By His Blood
History of Blood Transfusions
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800
Discussed in This Episode
The history of blood transfusion, and its roots in obstetrics
When postpartum blood loss may warrant transfusion
Why hemoglobin is only one piece of the clinical picture
How red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body
ABO/Rh blood types and transfusion compatibility
Common and rare transfusion reactions
Why modern blood banking has made transfusion significantly safer
Directed donor blood and the challenges of arranging it during pregnancy
Questions surrounding vaccinated vs. unvaccinated donor blood
Ways to optimize maternal health and reduce the likelihood of needing transfusion
Questions to discuss with your birth team before an emergency occurs
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/brandsE485 - 1h 28m - Sep 30, 2026 - #484: Isthmocoele, Infertility & Other Lesser Known Cesarean Risks
Cesarean sections can be lifesaving. But are women actually being told about the potential long-term consequences before they consent to one?
This week, Blyss and Stu dig into some of the lesser-discussed risks of cesarean birth, particularly the risks that may not show up until months or even years later.
Stu walks through research examining isthmocoeles and the broader long-term outcomes associated with cesarean delivery, including future fertility, placenta previa and accreta, uterine rupture, miscarriage, stillbirth, and potential childhood outcomes.
But this isn't an episode about frightening women away from cesareans. It's about informed decision-making. As Blyss points out, being informed shouldn't mean you're expected to consent. Women deserve to understand both the benefits and the risks, including the downstream risks that may affect their bodies, their babies, and pregnancies they haven't even had yet.
References:
Kristine’s instagram post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdB70-Ohaek/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
FriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstincts
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800
Classical Midwifery Conference - Tbilisi Georgia, 2027
gentlebirths.net/classicalmidwiferyconference
Birth Untethered Podcast: S2E31 - In Conversation with Dr Stu-What Doctors Get Wrong About Safety, Consent, and Birth Outcomes
Return to Wisdom Podcast: “Free Birth is a Rational Response” — with Dr Stu Fischbein
Ancient Health Podcast: Your Gut Is Recirculating Your Own Bad Estrogen
Long-term risks and benefits associated with cesarean delivery for mother, baby, and subsequent pregnancies: Systematic review and meta-analysis
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002494
Investigating the risk factors for isthmocele development after cesarean delivery
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11078695/pdf/main.pdf
Book: Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones: The Critical Connection Your Doctor Is Missing… And Why You Still Feel Terrible Despite “Normal” Labs
Discussed in This Episode
• What an isthmocele/cesarean scar defect actually is
• Why some cesarean complications may not appear until years later
• Secondary infertility following cesarean birth
• Abnormal bleeding and other symptoms associated with uterine scar defects
• How repeat cesareans may affect scar healing
• Placenta previa, accreta, uterine rupture, miscarriage, and stillbirth
• What research suggests about long-term childhood outcomes
• The difference between signing a consent form and actually being informed
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/brandsE484 - 1h 20m - Sep 23, 2026 - #483: Safer Birthing with Childbirth Attorney, Gina Mundy
What can nearly 24 years of birth injury litigation teach us about preventing birth injuries before they happen?
This week, Blyss and Stu are joined by nationally recognized trial attorney, bestselling author, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, Gina Mundy. After spending her career reviewing the births that went wrong—studying medical records, questioning doctors and nurses, and identifying the decisions that changed families’ lives forever, Gina decided those lessons belonged in the hands of parents before they ever entered the delivery room.
Take a look behind the curtain of both the hospital and legal systems. Gina shares why Pitocin inductions appear so frequently in the birth injury cases she sees, what she learned while attending her own daughter’s induction, why she believes doulas can play such an important role in hospital birth, and the questions families should consider before consenting to interventions.
They also dig into the uncomfortable realities of “standard of care,” defensive medicine, emergency C-sections, expert witnesses, medical records, hospital accountability, and what happens when the accepted standard may not necessarily represent the best care.
We can’t predict every possible outcome, but we can do our best to understand the system we’re walking into, asking better questions, and making informed decisions before you’re in the intensity of labor.
About Gina Mundy:
Gina Mundy is a nationally recognized trial attorney, internationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast. For more than two decades, her work has focused on one of the most consequential moments in a family’s life: childbirth.
Gina has spent her career studying birth injury cases in hindsight. She analyzes what happened, why it happened, which warning signs were missed, and what could have changed the outcome. That perspective became the foundation for her internationally bestselling book, A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth.
Gina believes the greatest lessons for helping babies enter the world safely should be learned before labor begins, not after something has gone wrong.
Through her book, The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, speaking engagements, media appearances, and international platforms, Gina brings those lessons to parents, doulas, birth professionals, and families around the world. Her work has reached audiences throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and beyond.
Instagram: @ginamundy
Website: ginamundy.com / fiegerlaw.com
Book: A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth https://a.co/d/03AlkDiL
References:
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth
Classical Midwifery Conference - Tbilisi Georgia, 2027
gentlebirths.net/classicalmidwiferyconference
Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Episode 218 - The Cascade of Intervention
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YikOJ1ADT9oC5NTL7JNH5?si=36a5db05f3dd4448
Discussed in This Episode
- The one intervention that shows up again and again in birth injury cases
- Why “slow and steady” can make a huge difference when using Pitocin
- The question every parent should consider asking before allowing someone to break their water
- Are some interventions really about safety, or getting the baby delivered on someone else’s timeline?
- The surprising way fear of being sued may actually lead to MORE interventions and C-sections
- What happens when the accepted “standard of care” may not actually be good care
- How two highly qualified medical experts can look at the exact same birth and tell a jury two completely different stories
- Why doulas are rarely involved in the birth injury cases
- Should you record conversations during labor or after an unexpected outcome?
- The hospital details to look for when preparing to give 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
- Subscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsE483 - 1h 30m - Sep 16, 2026 - #482: Tossing Seeds with Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny joins Blyss and Dr. Stu for a wide-ranging conversation about vaccines, pregnancy, medical freedom, informed consent, institutional trust, and what it means to question the systems we’ve been taught to rely on.
Blyss asks an important question for parents and birth workers: when major medical organizations say there are enormous amounts of data supporting recommendations during pregnancy, how is the average person supposed to evaluate those claims?
Stu and Sherri also challenge the influence professional medical organizations have on hospital policy and discuss what happens when recommendations become protocols, sometimes without the kind of long-term or downstream outcomes they believe should be considered.
But underneath all of these topics is a bigger conversation: How do we think for ourselves without simply replacing one authority with another?
And that brings Blyss and Stu back to something they talk about often: we need each other, our community. Whether you agree with every perspective in this episode or find yourself questioning some of it, the invitation is the same, stay curious, look deeper, ask for the evidence, and make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
About Dr. Sherri Tenpenny:
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny is a globally recognized leader in exposing vaccine dangers and medical corruption. With over 50,000 hours of research spanning more than 25 years, she was one of the first medical professionals to sound the alarm on vaccine risks, paving the way for many of today’s voices in the medical freedom movement. Her relentless dedication to uncovering the truth behind public health policies, pharmaceutical influence, and vaccine-related injuries has made her one of the most sought-after educators and speakers in the field.
Dr. Tenpenny began her career as an emergency room physician and served as Director of a Level II Trauma Center for 12 years, where she gained firsthand experience in critical care and the failures of conventional medicine. Realizing the limitations of the mainstream medical system, she founded Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center near Cleveland, Ohio, where she helped thousands of patients from all 50 states and more than 20 countries achieve true wellness through natural, holistic approaches.
She was also one of the first doctors in the world to warn about the dangers of the COVID-19 shots. In April 2021, she released the groundbreaking ebook and webinar, “The 20 Mechanisms of Injury,” detailing how the shots could cause widespread harm. By July 2021, she expanded her research with “20 MORE Mechanisms of Injury,” further exposing the devastating effects of these experimental injections. Her work provided early, critical insights into the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 jab, helping countless people make informed choices—insights that other media sources slowly began to acknowledge long after her early dire warnings.
A dynamic speaker, prolific writer, and fearless advocate, Dr. Tenpenny has appeared on countless media platforms, challenging the medical establishment and exposing the systemic deceptions behind vaccines, public health mandates, and Big Pharma’s unchecked power. She continues to educate, empower, and fight for medical freedom, making her one of the most influential and unwavering voices in the movement today."
Instagram: @realdrsherritenpenny and @busydrt
Website: DrTenpenny.com, Shoptenpenny.net, Vcourses.drtenpenny.com, primemembership.drtenpenny.com
Substack: drtenpenny.substack.com,
Podcast: The Tenpenny Files Podcasts
Published Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sherri%2Btenpenny&crid=1QNWOKPFHKB8X&sprefix=sherri%2Btenpenn%2Caps%2C241&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Vax App: drtenpenny.com/vaxapp/
References:
Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth
Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training
https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo
NAET Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques
Thyroid Function Throughout Pregnancy in Women With Subclinical Hypothyroidism or Hypothyroxinemia
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006373
A Quality-Improvement Study Evaluating Three Postpartum Prophylactic Oxytocin Rates and Blood Loss After Vaginal Birth
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006355
High-Dose Oxytocin Protocol Implementation and Postpartum Hemorrhage
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006351
Vaccines and the Diseases They Target: An Analysis of Vaccine Safety and Epidemiology (The Silver Booklet)
physiciansforinformedconsent.org/silver-booklet/
Book: Tylenol and Autism: Evidence, Scientific Blunders, and Medicine Gone Wrong
Book: Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory
Discussed in This Episode
- Pregnancy and vaccine recommendations
- What “safe and effective” actually means, and what evidence should support those words
- Preparing for newborn medical decisions before labor
- Grandparents, Pertussis & the Newborn Bubble
- Combination vaccines and the questions parents should be asking
- Why asking questions may be more effective than arguing facts
- The importance of community when your choices fall outside the mainstream
- Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome
- Breast implant illness
- “Turbo Cancer” & COVID Claims
- How professional medical organizations influence hospital policy
- Scientific research, peer review, and fabricated AI citations
- Why Sherri believes being a “seed sower” matters
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/brandsE482 - 1h 40m - Sep 9, 2026 - #481: Microbirth, A Film Explains How We Birth Matters
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
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Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsE481 - 1h 18m - Sep 2, 2026 - #480: From Hashimoto’s to Breech: The Surprising Role of Thyroid in Pregnancy
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/brandsE480 - 1h 33m - Aug 26, 2026 - #479: An Emotional Week & Some Data On Uterine Rupture
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/brandsE479 - 1h 15m - Aug 19, 2026 - #478: Deception In Documentation Is Pervasive & Pernicious
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
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/brandsE478 - 1h 21m - Aug 12, 2026 - #477: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR): Our Chat with Doula Dude, Travis Stroud
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
Breech Birth Podcast: S5 Ep6 Dr Stuart Fischbein: Twins, VBAC, disempowered doctors & hospital systems
Germany drops routine COVID vaccination advice for healthy people under 75
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/brandsE477 - 1h 35m - Aug 5, 2026 - #476: Questioning the 2 cm Placenta Rule & A Remarkable Breech Twin Birth with Fadwah Halaby
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
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/brandsE476 - 1h 27m - Jul 29, 2026 - #475: Birth Story & Body Health with Holistic Aesthetician, Michelle Vaughan
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:
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/brandsE475 - 1h 34m - Jul 22, 2026 - #474: The Mystery Of Postpartum Preeclampsia
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/brandsE474 - 1h 39m - Jul 15, 2026 - #473: Pursuing Peace With Courage & Confidence
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
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/brandsE473 - 1h 16m - Jul 8, 2026 - #472: Lupus in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks Without the Fear
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/brandsE472 - 1h 14m - Jul 1, 2026 - #471: How Birth Shapes Mothers, Babies, and The Future, with Suzanne Arms
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/brandsE471 - 1h 26m - Jun 24, 2026 - 470: "Allowed" To Birth with Documentary Filmmaker, Jacinta Lagos
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/brandsE470 - 1h 11m - Jun 17, 2026 - #469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?
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/brandsE469 - 1h 33m - Jun 10, 2026
