Join coach, healer and metaphysician Shawnee Benton as she shares tools, insights and enlightenment for seers, seekers and Lightworkers who are committed to finding and walking their individual and collective paths. Shawnee is a spiritual entrepreneur and thought leader whose philosophy is that the combination of “exposure” and “spontaneity” lead to a full and fulfilled life.
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The birth world can be overwhelming for parents and practitioners alike. Dr. Stuart Fischbein and Midwife Blyss Young and their combined 55+ years of experience are here to support you in this beautiful rite of passage.Join the weekly conversation as we blend wisdom and humor in discussing our recent births, the latest research, traditional healing, and instinctual birth.
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The institutions and individuals who run the world would like you to believe that you are powerless. That there's nothing you can do to improve the wellbeing of your family. That you aren't smart enough to understand shmancy science stuff. That eating and living well is too hard for most...so why try? That exercising your rights to informed consent and refusal is irresponsible. That having a birth on you terms, in your own home would be incorrigible. That pregnancy is a disease and childbirt ...
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#384 Aftershock, A conversation with Omari Maynard & Shawnee Benton Gibson
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In this episode, we are honored to feature Omari Maynard, an educator and artist, and Shawnee Benton Gibson, a trauma and grief expert. Omari shares his artistic journey, driven by the tragic loss of his life partner, Shamony Makeba Gibson, and Shawnee offers insights into her work with trauma, grief, and social justice. We explore the impact of sy…
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#386 We've Been Bamboozled, Musings on CTG with Dr. David Hayes
1:37:59
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Join us for an enlightening discussion as we welcome Dr. David Hayes, who brings his expertise to the complex realm of continuous fetal monitoring in labor rooms. Together, we highlight the importance of empowering laboring mothers with information about their birthing choices, as well as sharing our excitement about upcoming speaking engagements f…
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#385 Co-Sleep Discussion with Integrative Infant Sleep Specialist, Brittany Chambers
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Join us for an enlightening conversation as Brittany Chambers, an integrative infant sleep specialist, shares her wisdom on co-sleeping—a practice that many parents naturally gravitate toward but find themselves battling against societal norms. Together, we challenge the conventional wisdom and prevailing beliefs around infant sleep, examining the …
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What if the moments of greatest sorrow could reveal the most profound truths about life? Join Dr. Stu and Blyss in a heartfelt discussion about stillbirth and loss as we navigate the complex emotions and challenges faced by families and healthcare providers alike. We promise to provide an understanding of the statistics and causes behind these trag…
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#382 Tongue-Tie: A Discussion on a Multi-Disciplinary Approach with Dr. Chelsea Pinto & More Than Just a Mom, Cierra Rider
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Dr. Stu and Blyss are joined by Cierra Rider and Chelsea Pinto, two inspiring individuals championing maternal care. Cierra shares her transformative motherhood journey and the significance of tapping into maternal intuition. Chelsea, a dentist with a unique devotion to maternal and family care, provides insights into oral restrictions in children.…
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#381 Triumphant Birthing with Twin Mom, Jamie Raisleger
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Jamie’s journey is nothing short of miraculous. After being told by doctors that she might never have children due to her extensive medical history, she found hope and healing at a holistic retreat in Michigan. This pivotal experience not only alleviated her chronic pain but also transformed her outlook on health and shifted her career path from me…
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#380 Birth Stories from South Sudan with Kristine Lauria
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This special episode is a re-release of episode 245 with the amazing Kristine Lauria. Kristine Lauria, an incredibly skilled midwife & storyteller, joins our podcast to share her amazing midwifery wisdom. Kristine specializes in high risk obstetrics and is a staunch advocate for autonomy in women's health, working internationally for MSF (Doctors W…
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Maternity care in the United States needs a re-boot. Our induction rates are rising, our c-section rates are rising, pregnancy complication rates are rising, fertility rates are declining, postpartum depression rates are rising...the list goes on. What are we going to do about it? Most people see the answer as simple: more pharmaceuticals, more tec…
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#379 Oxytocin: What's the Story? With Dr. Sarah Buckley
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In this episode, we explore the intricacies of childbirth with the esteemed Dr. Sarah Buckley, a renowned medical doctor and family physician. Sarah shares her unique insights into the hormonal physiology of childbirth, shaped by her personal experiences of home births and the influential teachings of Michel Odent. Sarah's profound advocacy for nat…
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#378 The Cost of Homebirth, Navigating Insurance in Midwifery
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Ever wondered what it takes to provide accessible midwifery care in today's complex healthcare landscape? Join Blyss as she chats with Fadwah Halaby, a seasoned certified nurse midwife, whose journey from being inspired by Ina May Gaskin's book to navigating the intricacies of midwifery practice is nothing short of fascinating. Fadwah's insights sh…
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Forget About J. Marion Sims, “Say Anarcha”, with J.C. Hallman
1:03:33
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal In the 19th century, a young surgeon named J. Marion Sims headed to Montgomery, Alabama, seeking a route to fame and power. He saw an opportunity in a highly morbid condition known as vesicovaginal fistula, whereby a false passage between the bladder and vagina forms as a consequence of …
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#377 Supporting Babies Through Cranial Sacral Therapy
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What if the secret to a balanced and healthy life lies in ancient healing practices? With Dr. Stu away in Australia, Blyss is thrilled to welcome Maura Moynihan, a versatile healer specializing in chiropractic, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and spiritual psychology. Maura shares her remarkable journey in the healing arts, her dedication to sup…
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#376 Two Birth Nerds go to a Conference
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Blyss and Stu are back from the Born Free Breech and Twins conference in Kentucky and excited to share about everything they learned. They delve into the critical and often overlooked topics discussed at the conference, like the urgent need for proper breech birth training for obstetricians and the myths surrounding twin births. Through powerful do…
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You say you want to heal. You say you want to get pregnant. Your subconscious might suggest otherwise, with Teshna Beaulieu, DC
1:16:33
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal I met Teshna while attending a birth in Albany, NY. My friend for whom I had traveled to Albany to assist with the birth of his fourth child had recommended I check out her practice. It was a very modest chiropractic studio, but the experience with Teshna was anything but ordinary. She i…
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#375 The Courage & Wisdom of Andy Wakefield
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Doctor, author & filmmaker, Andy Wakefield and doula and actress, Emmy Robbin join Dr. Stu in a conversation about the corruption of research, the media and the medical industry. We talk about the harm that is done and why they keep doing it. The director of Vaxxed and the new film, Protocol 7 shares his backstory, the lies then that are still bein…
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So many good listener questions on this topic inspired us to look into the pharmacologic options laboring women have for relief when needed. We talk about nitrous oxide in detail and in relation to MTHFR. Opiates and epidurals and their pros and cons are discussed. We answer the question, does epidural fentanyl cross the placenta? In an upcoming Pa…
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Your OBGYN Didn't Learn About Nutritional Support for Fertility, with Lily Nichols, RDN, and Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, FAE
1:11:42
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Are you ready for a power hour? You are likely already familiar with my guests on today’s episode, but if not, meet Lily and Lisa. Lily Nichols is the author of two of the most important nutritional books ever written pertaining to pregnancy: “Real Food for Pregnancy” and “Real Food for …
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#373 BI Podcast Special Edition: A 90's Triplet Story
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To honor a gathering of birth workers at the Born Free Twins-Breech Conference in Kentucky, Dr. Stu travels back in time to 1998 and reminisces with triplet mom and former client, Laureen Mgrdichian, about her journey and hospital vaginal delivery. Listen in for some good old storytelling. With Blyss traveling, Dr. Stu goes solo to talk about multi…
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#372 The Christiane Northrup Episode
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"The cycle responsible for all human life on earth is associated with this degree of suffering? No!" Visionary super soul, Dr. Christiane Northrup, joins the podcast today to talk about the menstrual cycle, menopause & hormones, the perception of aging and so much more. We explore the Western medical perspective versus more empowering cultural view…
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Life is finite and there are no mulligans, a conversation on death literacy with end-of-life architect, Tamara MacIntyre, MS, DC, DNM, CEOLD
1:26:21
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Babies die. Fetuses die. We all die. And yet, we are so death illiterate that even seasoned veterans in the health professions often struggle with how to show up when death inevitably shows up on the doorstep. This topic is especially challenging - but even more important - when the “D” …
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#371 The Ever Changing Definitions Of Fetal Growth Restriction
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Responding to listener questions we address the question of “What is IUGR?” Before we get there Blyss waits on a birth and listens to Dr. Stu’s concerns about entropy winning and way too much idiocy, fear and hyperbole being shoveled around out there. We discuss critical women's health topics, questioning the necessity of C-sections for lupus patie…
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Two of the four co-creators, Jerusha Sutton and Jo Hunter join us to discuss the backstory and making of their film and what is happening with birth in Australia. Blyss and Dr. Stu loved the film and share their insights with the filmmakers on what would it take for all women to emerge from their births physically well and emotionally safe. About J…
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Blood-thirsty Goddesses, the Sexual Erotic, and a Shared Story of Value, with Hebrew Mystic Marc Gafni
1:55:29
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal I don’t think I have prepared for any interview as hard as I prepared for this one. My guest today is Marc Gafni, former rabbi, Hebrew mystic, and author of a number of books, most notably “A Return to Eros”, “Your Unique Self”, and his most recent book, “First Principles and First Value…
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#369 Phases, Not Stages, of Labor - The Wisdom of Dr. Rachel Reed
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A special treat today as Blyss and Dr. Stu chat with author, former midwife and wise woman, Rachel Reed, on reclaiming physiologic childbirth for those willing to listen. She recounts a bit of the history of what happened to diminish midwives, the original birth-keepers, and the medicalized takeover by those with no connection to tradition. She rem…
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#368 Boys to Men: The Importance of Masculinity
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Culture and society may have erred when they decided we don't need strong men and fathers. Ashley Mariani, MSW joins Blyss and Dr. Stu to discuss the role of the male partner in pregnancy and equipping them with the skills to navigate medical settings confidently in support of their partner. Male participation in the birth process can lead to deepe…
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The Aftershock of black women dying in childbirth with Shawnee Benton Gibson & Omari Maynard
1:30:34
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Shawnee and I met through a 2023 trip to South Africa with Restore Forward and Sevonna Brown. She then introduced me to the film Aftershock, which highlights the ripple effect that results from a woman dying in childbirth, and it was Shawnee’s daughter, Shamony, whose death inspired the …
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There is an awesome OBGYN in Wisconsin offering vaginal breech birth, and his name is Denny Hartung
1:22:16
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal I left the conventional medical model because I was worried about being punished for prioritizing patient autonomy over my institution's liability. I thought that the only way that I could reasonably offer vaginal breech birth support for families in need was in the home. But after I met…
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#367 It's Not Simple: MTHFR Explained
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What if understanding one gene could significantly change your approach to fertility and pregnancy? Join us as we catch up with Dr. Ben Lynch, a pioneer in the field of epigenetics and naturopathic medicine, who sheds light on the powerful MTHFR gene and its wide-ranging implications. Dr. Lynch takes us on a journey from his traditional medical roo…
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Helping Your Baby Navigate the Pelvis with Nicole Morales and Gail Tully
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal My guests today are some of the more important voices in birthwork in the United States today. Gail Tully is the founder of Spinning Babies®. Nicole Morales is a Spinning Babies® instructor and author of several books. Both of these women attend home births, and both fully embody informe…
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#366 Placentas: Way More Sacred Than a Biohazard
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Join us for an eye-opening episode as we welcome Kimberly Denitz-Zuleger, a passionate doula and maternal health activist from Southern California. With a wealth of experience encapsulating over 400 placentas since 2015, Kim shares her profound knowledge on the multifaceted roles and cultural symbolism of the placenta. We traverse the spiritual and…
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#365 A Neonatal Doctor Making A Difference
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At a time of great anxiety, Neonatologist and NICU specialist Priyush Patel, MD shares his humanistic approach to care. While Blyss is busy birthing, Midwife Lindsey Meehleis shares a birth story leading to the Serendipitous meeting in the NICU. But don’t worry, there is still plenty of wobbly healthcare systems and dumb doctor dogma going around a…
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Roots, Race, Colonization, and African Spirituality of Childbirth with Dr. Mmatshilo Motsei, PhD
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Dr. Motsei was one of my guides during a recent trip to South Africa to sit in a ceremony with Indigenous midwives through a program offered by my friend Sevonna Brown, National Director of Restore Forward. Sevonna has also been on the podcast. Mmatshilo is a prolific author, healer, and…
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Today we have midwife and mom, Catalina Clark, as our guest to share her journey as we discuss freebirthing from all angles. About Catalina Clark: I am a woman, mother, daughter, sister, midwife and student on the healing path. With 10 years experience in birth, I have found my way home to supporting women in alignment with the natural world and th…
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Birthwork: The Intersection of Birth, Death, and Ceremony with Sevonna Brown and Haize Hawke
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Guests: Sevonna Brown is a doula and national director of Restore Forward Haize Hawke is a midwife in southern California and co-founder of The Victoria Project and The Bridge Midwives This conversation is exactly what the birth community needs to hear. Birthwork is the ultimate expressi…
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New fathers need community, with Mike Salemi, one of the sweetest (and toughest) dudes I know
1:27:18
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal You will absolutely love this one! Mike and I have known each other for several years now. I helped him in his journey from boy to father, providing remote support to Mike and his wife through the birth of their little man Luca, and, in the process, I fell in love with this guy. Mike is …
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#363 The Significance of Integrating Reflexes, Who Knew?
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Such an important conversation with our guests, Emily Roper, ( Neuro-Developmental Delay Therapist) & Beth Shayler, (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant), on looking for the root causes and alternative approaches to developmental delays and the mental health of babies and children. Why is something so basic so unknown to the allopathic medical…
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Mothering the mother holistically, with authors Heather Harvey and Karina Krepp
1:43:33
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Heather and Karina are both parents, and their age gap has provided them sufficient life experience to see the glowing gap in care provided to new mothers in our society. Meeting this need is unlikely to come through allopathic medicine and its myriad of resources because they argue - as…
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#362 Studies Are Just Pieces Of Evidence with Dr. Emiliano Chavira
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Interpreting the value of a study can be difficult. With Blyss taking some healing time, Dr. Stu interviews Dr. Emiliano Chavira, MD, MPH, FACOG and MFM sub-specialist who shares his expertise on this subject. From randomized trials to meta-analyses we learn that a study is never definitive. Working within the "high risk" system, Dr. C has insight …
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Midwives can get more sh*t done by bucking the “norm” with Fadwah Halaby, CNM
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Fadwah is a midwife practicing in Florida. She has attended countless births and has served in numerous local and national leadership committees to improve clients' births. As a result, she has been supporting the upcoming Born Free Twins-Breech Conference in Louisville, specifically by …
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#361 Congenital Uterine Alternatives
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The uterus is a miraculous creation but sometimes it doesn't follow nature's blueprint. Today on the podcast we discuss these fairly common blips (AKA anomalies or abnormalities) and their significance. With awareness and empathy, we weave through personal stories and clinical presentations, highlighting the profound impact these uterine anomalies …
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An End to Upside Down Medicine with Mark Gober
1:28:26
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Mark is sort of a… savant. He has written six books, several of which have become bestsellers. His latest publication is An End to Upside Down Medicine, which, like all of his books, is heavily cited and beautifully written. In this conversation, we touch on a few topics that can be a li…
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#360 Some Clarity To The Confusion of Rashes In Pregnancy
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Skin disorders exclusive to pregnant women have always been puzzling to Blyss & Dr. Stu. How do we know one from the other? Today we look at the dermatoses of pregnancy and differentiate the physiologic from the pathologic. You'll hear us dissect the five major types of rashes that can puzzle even seasoned healthcare professionals, the challenges o…
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A High-Risk OBGYN (MFM) Who Supports Home Birth? Damn right. Meet Dr. K. Pregnancy Specialist
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Dr. K and I met on social media, not the old-fashioned way. Interestingly, my experience with MFMs in my career was bittersweet. I valued their opinion and support in managing high-risk births, but their involvement almost always necessitated intervention by having gotten them involved. …
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#359 Unraveling the Legal Wrangling & Strangling of Midwifery
1:36:47
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Blyss returns only a week post op! She is a Goddess! Today's guests, Lenny Sue Tinseth & Corinne Flatt, OG Nevada midwives share their thoughts on the laws of Nevada, California and the state of midwifery. So much wisdom, so few diplomas! About Lenny Sue Tinseth: Lenny Sue is a Licensed California Midwife, a Certified Professional Midwife and a Cer…
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Mini-Sode: Carol Gautschi, a classical midwife, needs midwives to re-member the essence of midwifery
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Carol Gautschi has been attending births in the Pacific Northwest for 48 years. Over this time, she has developed a truly holistic view of birth, including unique inquiries into the “why” behind malpresentation to begin with. I invited her onto the podcast for an exclusive audio interview ahead of her presentation at the 2024 Born Free Twins-Breech…
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#358 Homebirth Safety: What to Believe?
1:36:19
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The two authors who despise home birth are at it again with a new pre-print on the "Enduring Safety Concerns" of community birthing. Does their evidence hold water? The disconnect of priorities by organized medicine continues. Dr. Stu is joined by guest co-host Lindsey Meehleis, to break down the data. Together, Dr. Stu and Lindsey dissect this pap…
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Women are being harmed by transvaginal mesh for prolapse repair, with attorney Adam Slater
1:28:10
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal The FDA has rescinded its approval of mesh placed vaginally for uterovaginal prolapse, yet many gynecologists continue this practice, and it comes at the cost of many women’s long-term health. My guest in this episode is not a healthcare provider and had no interest in women’s health unt…
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#357 "Born At Home", A New Documentary
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Today on the podcast Blyss & Dr. Stu chat with the creators of a new film exploring home birth. The film explores the empowering journey of home birth and combines the wisdom of families, midwives, doulas, and some of our favorite people in the birth world. We also discuss the importance of how babies enter this world and, of course, catch up and r…
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#356 A Look Back at the History of U.S. Childbirth
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Blyss responds to a comment about safety and mortality. There will always be disputes about what safety means and to know where we are we need to know where we were. Today Blyss & Dr. Stu look back at childbirth in America over the last 300 years and try to sort through the accomplishments and clarify the statistics. In an episode that's both a his…
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When Fetuses, Babies, Children, and Other Loved Ones Die w/ Blyss Young, LM, CPM
1:46:22
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The Episode was made possible by Immune Intel AHCC® & WeNatal Birthwork is a sacred calling. And as we accumulate life experience we can become more comfortable and present with birth, particularly when we begin to accumulate direct experience with the death of loved ones. Death and dying aren’t words that are typically used in a conversation about…
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