Episodes
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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 HitsThe importance of postpartum monitoring and listening to your bodyHow postpartum hypertension differs from classic preeclampsiaCurrent treatment recommendationsHome blood pressure monitoringRecognizing warning signsIs PPPE Iatrogenic?Why postpartum care shouldn't end at hospital dischargePodcast 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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comâ˘
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#birthinginstinctspodcast #homebirth #midwife #BirthWithoutFear #PhysiologicBirth
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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 Donât Tell Us Podcast: He Was One of the Best OBs in the Country. Midwives Taught Him What He Was Missing.
Book: Between a Shot and a Hard Place, by Joel Warsh
@PerfectUnion on Instagram: "Watch Jacob Rockwell, a man fined for running a red light in Florida while being in Alabama, pop off against the use of the A.I. red light cameras that were used to "identify" him."
Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner
Discussed in This Episode
The growing loss of human connection in healthcare why less intervention often creates more confidenceStillbirth becomes an experience of profound peace.Why respectful maternity care mattersTwin birth stories that challenge common assumptions about "high-risk" pregnancyThe importance of breech birth skills and preserving birth optionsHow preparation, mindset, and autonomy shape lifelong birth memoriesWhy 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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use âcode INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected]Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
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Missing episodes?
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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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
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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 âImmaculate Deceptionâ
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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
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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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway 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/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected]Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
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This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected âbig babiesâ.
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 orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use âcode INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway 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/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected]Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
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What happens when hospitals decide informed consent no longer applies to breech birth?
In this powerful and deeply important episode, Blyss and Stu welcome back attorney and birth rights advocate Hermine Hayes-Klein to unpack a landmark Oregon malpractice trial centered on coercion, informed consent, and the growing normalization of mandatory cesarean sections for breech babies.
This is not just a conversation about breech birth. Itâs a conversation about power, coercion, medical culture, and whether women still have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies during childbirth.
If you care about birth autonomy, informed consent, or preserving disappearing birth skills, this is an episode you cannot miss.
About Hermine Hayes-Klein:
Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD is an attorney and advocate for reproductive justice and human rights in pregnancy and childbirth. Hermine works on legal actions and advocacy projects related to preventable injury and informed consent violations in childbirth, and advocacy for access to midwives and doulas around the US and beyond. Hermine began her international advocacy for the recognition of human rights in childbirth when she was teaching law at The Hague University in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2012, and organized 6 international conferences on that topic in the US, Europe, South Africa, and India. She has worked on many cases related to breech birth for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Website: https://fringeheals.com/
Instagram: @fringeheals
Blog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.
Email: [email protected]
References:
Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHA
CHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDED
Mentorship with Blyss: âwovenmoon.com
Elena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?
https://elenabridgers.substack.com/p/to-home-birth-or-not-to-home-birth?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=l982r
Dr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickham
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2Vx
Discussed in This Episode
The dangerous misuse of the phrase âstandard of careâ
Why informed consent is a legal duty, not a physician preference
How hospital policies quietly override individualized care
The lasting trauma many women experience during cesareans and epidurals
The legacy and flaws of the infamous Term Breech Trial
Why bodily autonomy in childbirth matters now more than ever
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use âcode INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway 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/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected]Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
This week, Dr. Stu and Blyss break down a recent Substack article reviewing large studies comparing planned home birth and hospital birth for low-risk women. The data? Fewer interventions, lower C-section rates, fewer infections, less hemorrhage, and fewer severe tears with planned home birth. But as always, the conversation goes deeper, into absolute vs. relative risk, the infamous cascade of interventions, postpartum trauma, and why hospitals continue doubling down on systems that many families no longer trust.
Later in the episode, pelvic health physiotherapist and Fringe medical director Liz Frey joins the podcast for a fascinating discussion on pelvic floor dysfunction, postpartum recovery, menopause, prolapse, incontinence, breathing mechanics, and why so many women are told their symptoms are ânormalâ when theyâre actually treatable. Liz also explains how red light, near-infrared, and blue light therapy may support healing, tissue health, pain relief, intimacy, and recovery through Fringeâs pelvic wand technology.
This is a wide-ranging conversation about birth, healing, autonomy, and what happens when women finally start getting the support they actually deserve.
About Liz Frey:
Liz is a clinic owner and practicing pelvic health physiotherapist. As an orthopaedic and pelvic health physiotherapist, Lizâs practice focuses on helping women navigate pregnancy, menopause, and everything in between.
Liz is always keen to explore and integrate evidence-based products into her pelvic health practice. Which led her to become the Womenâs Health Medical Director at Fringe - a company that believes in helping people heal naturally.
Website: https://fringeheals.com/ Code birthinginstincts10 for 10% off
Instagram: @fringeheals
Blog: https://fringeheals.com/blogs/blog/tagged/womens-health.
Email: [email protected]
References:
Realfoodology Podcast - Why So Many Women End Up With C-Sections: Birth Interventions Explained with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HChoFaUvAmmHsGMoCRvCp?si=LHN-gYRgS_OgE6f24W2qHA
CHD.TV segment with Stu NEEDED
Mentorship with Blyss: wovenmoon.com
Elena Bridgers Substack: To Home Birth or Not to Home Birth?
https://elenabridgers.substack.com/p/to-home-birth-or-not-to-home-birth?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=l982r
Dr. Sara Wickham Instagram Post @drsarawickham
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPHRC0DPqg/?igsh=NmZwMHNpNGxiY2Vx
Discussed in This Episode
Home birth vs. hospital birth outcomes
Relative risk vs. absolute risk in birth statistics
Hospital birth culture and liability-driven care
Pelvic floor dysfunction after birth
Incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain
Menopause and pelvic health
Breathwork and diaphragmatic function
Red light and blue light pelvic therapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy explained
Why postpartum recovery deserves more attention
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway 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/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
What happens when a medication designed to stop hemorrhage quietly starts creeping into routine birth care?
This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss take on TXA (tranexamic acid), what it is, when it actually makes sense, and why theyâre increasingly concerned about how itâs being used in modern maternity care.
From postpartum hemorrhage protocols to the growing push for prophylactic use during cesareans and even BEFORE birth, this conversation digs into the science, the politics, and the unintended consequences nobody seems willing to talk about.
Along the way, they tackle the bigger issue underneath it all: Who gets to define âsafeâ birth care? Hospital systems? Bureaucrats? International organizations? Or the people actually attending births?
References:
Evidence Based Birth Podcast Episode 396 - Inequities in VBAC Access with Dr. Nicholas Rubashkin, MD, PhD
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ebb-396-inequities-in-vbac-access-with-dr-nicholas/id1334808138?i=1000764260687
Mom who sued the State of Nebraska in home birth case delivers baby
https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/mom-who-sued-the-state-of-nebraska-in-home-birth-case-delivers-baby/
Home births to resume after safety concerns
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/home-births-resumed-safety-concerns-183648374.html
Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2017/10000/practice_bulletin_no__183__postpartum_hemorrhage.56.aspx
Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum hemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28456509/
Efficacy of prophylactic tranexamic acid among parturient at increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage undergoing cesarean delivery: A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41066405/
Discussed in This Episode
The Momnibus Act & the Future of Midwifery
TXA Enters the Midwifery World
What TXA Actually Does in the Body
The Evidence Behind TXA for Hemorrhage
Why Routine Prophylactic TXA Raises Concerns
Does TXA Cross the Placenta?
Four Ts of Postpartum Hemorrhage
Why Timing Matters in Hemorrhage Care
Defining âHigh Riskâ in Birth
Use of Oral and Intermuscular TXA
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offCaraway 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/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
In this weekâs episode, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss sit down with Texas midwife Salli Gonzalez and attorney Octavia Martinez to unpack a case that should concern not only licensed midwives, but anyone with a license.
Together they discuss what happens when a midwife follows protocol, transfers appropriately, and still becomes the target?
What happens when unverified screenshots, incomplete records, and social media comments are used to justify suspending a license, without a trial?
And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of midwifery?
This conversation goes beyond the case of one midwife, and beyond what is happening in Texas. This is about the direction birth care is heading in the U.S and why we all need to pay attention.
About Salli:
My love of birth started with my own births, the first on in a typical hospital system, birthing in lithotomy in the OR in 1984. The second baby I chose a birth center and decided to take more control of my choices in birth. I gave birth in a birth center under my own terms, which included eating and drinking in labor, moving with the contractions instead of being tied to the bed with monitors, no IV and limited vaginal exams. This birth propelled me to want to share with the world that birth doesnât have to be traumatic nor painful. I set out to educate the world, as I had four more babies at home, one of which included a breech birth under qualified hands.
Itâs been my lifeâs work to uphold birth as a normal and natural process of the female body. Iâve taken the steps to attend as many emergency skills preparedness workshops as I can as well as many breech and twin conferences as possible. Iâve also mentored and offered my assistance to newer midwives who are also interested in learning. We are always learning and renewing our skills in midwifery. Midwifery is the future of our country. Without midwifery the true nature of womenâs autonomy will be lost.
Instagram: @for_the_love_of_birth
GoFundMe: gofund.me/a54e40705
About Octavia:
Professional Background
A graduate of The University of Virginia and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Octavia began her career in Phoenix. As a felony prosecutor and civil litigator, she handled high-stakes matters ranging from commercial trucking defense to complex medical malpractice.
Her time on the defense side â working alongside institutional defendants and their counsel â gave her an understanding of how those cases are built, where the vulnerabilities lie, and what separates the attorneys who win from the ones who simply file. She brought that knowledge with her when she crossed to the plaintiff's side.
The Move to Texas
Bringing this diverse experience to the Rio Grande Valley, Octavia expanded her practice to meet the border region's unique needs. Her scope grew to cover defamation, and specialized defense for medical providers, including physicians and midwives.
South Texas presented a client population that had historically been underserved by high-quality legal representation â complex multigenerational estates, a healthcare industry with its own licensing ecosystem, and individuals whose situations required an attorney willing to engage the full weight of the law on their behalf.
Launch of the Firm
Octavia later paused her legal career to focus on stewardship: homeschooling her children and managing her family's homestead farm. However, she reactivated her license to assist a client whose legal matters had stagnated under conventional representation. That crisis highlighted the urgent need for uncompromised advocacy, leading to the launch of Octavia LaVon Martinez PLLC.
Today, she has become a resource for clients who seek an alternative to the status quo â clients who have been failed by passive representation, whose matters are too complex for a generalist, or who simply need an attorney who will fight with the same conviction they feel about their own case.
Website: octaviamartinezlaw.com
X: @OctaviaLaVon
References:
Sham Peer Review: The Leave-of-Absence Trap
Expedited Motion for Hearing (PDF)
Facebook Post and Comments
Facebook Comment #2
Media Release: TDLR Suspends Midwifeâs License Following Maternal and Infant Deaths
KLTV Texas midwife requests state to reinstate license amid death investigations
Support Salli: Defend Her Midwifery License gofund.me/a54e40705
Discussed in This Episode
Midwives under fire, and why this isnât just a Texas problem
What actually happened in the case of Salli Gonzalez
When outcomes donât have clear causes, who gets blamed?
The Legal Reality of what is happening
Social Media as âEvidenceâ?
Anonymous posts, cropped screenshots, and missing context
Why this case could affect doctors, lawyers, and beyond
Licensing doesnât mean protection
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
This weekâs podcast Blyss and Stu come to you with no guest and no single topic, just a âhodgepodgeâ of whatâs been piling up in Dr. Stuâs mind attic.
From collapsing birth options and disappearing breech skillsâŚto food, fear, and the quiet coercion baked into modern maternity care.
It may seem random, but there is a common thread here: Systems replacing skills, policy replacing autonomy, and women left navigating the fallout
References:
Fringe Red Light Therapy: Code BirthingInstincts10 for 10% off
ICAN
Coalition for Breech Birth Coalition Facebook Group
CPT Maternity Care Services Codes and Guidelines | AMA
Leaked Kaiser email on Facebook
Reclaiming Birth Conference - https://www.reclaimingbirthconference.com/
Discussed in This Episode
Oregon moms left without hospital breech providers
The dying art of vaginal breech delivery
The System That Forces You to Lie
Coercion Disguised as Care
Ultra-Processed Food & Pregnancy Outcomes
EMFs, Fertility & What No Oneâs Talking About
New AMA Obstetric Codes
Risks of VBAC with a T-Inscision
Risk of repeat uterine rupture
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderCaraway Home | Go to Carawayhome.com/instincts for an additional 10% off, or use code INSTINCTS at checkout!Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
The 20-week anatomy scan has become a routine part of modern pregnancy, but is it truly essential, or just another layer of over-monitoring?
After receiving a listener question, Dr. Stu and Blyss dissect the purpose, limitations, and unintended consequences of the anatomy scan. From what providers are actually looking for, to why so many women walk away with more anxiety than answers, this episode challenges the assumption that more information always equals better outcomes.
At the end of the day, the real question isnât can we look, itâs should we?
Additional References:
Birthing Instincts Podcasts:
Episode 446: Baby Aspirin For All??
Episode 459: Over-Monitoring & Outcomes, How Are We Doing & Who Benefits.
Episode 313: Comforting Truths About Low Lying Placentas
Episode 274: I Remember Every Detail
Pub Med Study: Therapeutic ultrasound as a potential male contraceptive: power, frequency and temperature required to deplete rat testes of meiotic cells and epididymides of sperm determined using a commercially available system
Cleveland Clinic: What to Expect at Your 20-Week Ultrasound (Anatomy Scan)
Discussed in This Episode
The many names of the anatomy scan (and what itâs supposed to do)
Ultrasound, anomaly scan, fetal surveyâsame test, very different interpretations
The 11 major conditions they look for vs. everything else that gets added on
How tiny measurements turn into weeks of stress and follow-ups
The rise of false positives and soft markers
Ultrasound-free pregnancy: radical or reasonable?
Why more testing keeps becoming the standard, regardless of outcomes
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
What if the system you trust never did the science you assume it did?
In this explosive episode, Dr. Stu and Blyss sit down with Del Bigtree to pull back the curtain on vaccines, medical authority, and the institutions shaping maternal and pediatric care. From ACOG recommendations to the hidden realities behind âsafe and effective,â this conversation challenges everything weâre toldâand asks the question no one in mainstream medicine seems willing to ask.
This isnât just about vaccines. Itâs about power, profit, fear⌠and what happens when parents start saying no..
About Del:
Del Bigtree is one of the preeminent voices of the MAHA Movement. He was the Director of Communications for Robert Kennedy Jrâs 2024 presidential campaign, the founder and CEO of the non-profit, Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), and host of the internet talk show TheHighWire.com, boasting over 400 million views world-wide. A former Emmy winning producer of the CBS talk show The Doctors, and most recently Executive Producer of the film, An Inconvenient Study. Delâs multi-pronged approach incorporates media, legislative, and legal actions to expose the fraud, lies, and conflicts of interest that have allowed US regulatory agencies to collude with industry power brokers to evade standardized safety testing on products including vaccines, drugs, food, drinking water, and 5G. On behalf of American citizens, Delâs non-profit, ICAN, has submitted over one thousand Freedom Of Information Requests (FOIA) and has won multiple lawsuits against government agencies including HHS, NIH, FDA and the CDC. Most notable are the FDA case that forced the release of Pfizerâs Covid Vaccine trial data which the FDA had attempted to hide for 75 years, the CDC case that forced the release of the CDCâs V-Safe Covid Vaccine Injury data, and the State of Mississippi Case which reinstated the Religious Exemption from Vaccination which had been denied for over 30 years.
Instagram: @delbigtree
X: @delbigtree
Websites: https://thehighwire.com / https://icandecide.org
Documentary: An Inconvenient Study
Additional References:
Jennifer Margulis Substack: Breaking News in Delivery Rooms: More Parents Saying âNo, Thank Youâ to Vaccines and Other Unnecessary Interventions
Documentary: Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe
The Inconvenient Study
Henry Ford Health Denounces Claim That System Suppressed Research, Cautions Against Dangerous Viral Disinformation and Misinformation
Book: Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak (Childrenâs Health Defense)
Discussed in This Episode
Inside ICAN, legal strategy, and the fight for transparency against federal agencies.
Who Controls the Vaccine Narrative? Follow the Money
Dr. Zervos Vaccinated v. Unvaccinated Study
An Inconvenient Studyâwhat happens when even insiders admit the science was never done.
Vaccinated v. Unvaccinated Study Results
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
What if infertility isnât a broken body⌠but a disconnected one?
In this episode, Blyss and Stu sit down with integrative fertility expert Emily Marson to challenge everything youâve been told about conception, IVF, and what it actually means to âoptimizeâ the body for pregnancy.
From the forgotten intelligence of the body to the overreach of modern fertility medicine, this conversation pulls back the curtain on why more intervention isnât always the answer, and what happens when you start working with physiology instead of overriding it.
About Emily:
Emily Marson is the Founder and CEO of Aphrodite Fertility Acupuncture, a San Diegoâbased integrative fertility clinic specializing in root-cause infertility, acupuncture for IVF, cycle syncing, and hormonal regulation through Chinese medicine and holistic care. Her team supports women who feel stuck, discouraged, or failed by conventional fertility approaches alone.
Emilyâs work blends Traditional Chinese Medicine with evidence-informed fertility and pregnancy care, functional and lifestyle-based strategies, and a deep understanding of the full arch of womanhood - from cycle to fertility, to pregnancy and postpartum. Her mission is to improve women's health by giving women personalized care, and a structured path forward toward a healthy pregnancy and beyond.
Instagram: @aphroditefertility
Website: aphroditefertility.com
E-mail: [email protected]
References:
In Memory of Suzannah Weening
GoFund me for Suzannah: https://gofund.me/31b9a66bd
Book: The last in vitro, by Dr. Francisco GĂźell
Discussed in This Episode
Why doctors treat body parts, not people
The physiology behind acupuncture
IVF vs. Physiology: Control vs. Coordination
Why Fertility Rates Are Dropping Acupuncture for Men
What Acupuncture Can Do in Pregnancy
The Hidden Risks of IVF
Integrative fertility as the bridge back to physiology
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
A home birth.
A tragic outcome.
And a midwife the state tried to make an example of.
In this episode, Blyss and Stu talk with Angee Hock to unpack what itâs really like to be prosecuted for birth work. From a traumatic breech birth to jail time, national headlines, and a courtroom battle that could have changed everything, this conversation goes where most wonât.
But what came out of her trial may change everything: a judge declaring home birth is a constitutional right. This isnât just her story. Itâs about who controls birth in America, and what it costs to challenge it.
About Angee:
Angeeâs greatest passion is to be in-sync with the heartbeat of God. She longs to help people reach their God-given potential through their God-given identity and all aspects of growth. She has a heart for Christian leaders and churches to thrive for greater impact on earth.
Angee is a certified instructor with People Skills for You and a certified pastor and church coach through Church Boom. She is currently working towards her masters and doctorate in Global Leadership and Applied Ministry and Theology through Wagner University. She serves as Volunteer Coordinator, Council, and Board member for Nebraska Christian Leaderâs Forum. Angee is a retired traditional midwife and wholistic wellness and health practitioner. She has served as peer counsel internationally in peer legal cases in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, with focuses on human rights, medical freedom, and private and constitutional law. Additionally Angee has experiences within the Nebraska legislature with Senator support and bill support.
Angeeâs hobbies can be mostly summed up with the enjoyment of traveling and experiencing the world, near and far. She lives north of Kearney with her amazing husband and has six wonderful children, ranging from adults to elementary.
Instagram: @nebraskabirthkeeper
References:
The Highwire with Del Bigtree THE CRISIS IN MODERN MATERNITY CARE | DR. STU FISCHBEIN
Safe and Effective? LIVE with Nico Lagan
NE v. Angela Hock: Midwife Delivery Death Trial on Court TV
A&E Show Accused: Did I Do It? Negligent Midwife or Responsible Caregiver?
Discussed in This Episode
The 2019 Nebraska breech trial
Emergency maneuvers, impossible conditions, and a devastating outcome
Arrested, jailed, and made an example
âIâd rather go to prison than lie.â Why Angee refused a plea deal
The real punishment: fear, restrictions, and a life on hold
The courtroom battle: truth vs. narrative
A judge declares: home birth is a constitutional right
Emotion vs. logic, and the strategy behind choosing a bench trial
What was really lost, even with a not guilty verdict
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
What happens when we monitor birth too much?
In this episode, Blyss and Stu pull back the curtain on one of the most normalized, and least questioned, practices in modern obstetrics: continuous monitoring. What starts as âsafetyâ can quietly become interference, and the consequences arenât small.
Together, they break down how over-monitoring can derail physiologic birth, increase unnecessary interventions, and shift trust away from a womanâs body and into machines. From hospital protocols to real-world birth room dynamics, this conversation challenges the narrative that more data always equals better outcomes.
If youâve ever been told âwe just want to keep an eye on things,â this episode will make you ask: at what cost?
References:
Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #416: Disentangling Mono-chorionic Twins
Dr. Stuâs Mind Attic: Routine Use of Color Flow Doppler: Who Benefits? (youtube.com/@birthinginstinctspodcast)
Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #433: Q & A with Dr. K, Pregnancy Specialist
Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #294 Group B Strep: Prioritizing Agenda Over Science
Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #408: Neonatal Jaundice. Be Vigilant, Not Overzealous
Discussed in This Episode
How monitoring became synonymous with safety
The unintended consequences of continuous fetal monitoring
Friedmanâs Curve: The outdated standard still running birth
What the research actually says about EFM
How liability and fear shape birth practices
Breaking down the glucose drink, thresholds, and alternatives
When NSTs are useful, and when theyâre just routine
Biophysical Profiles: What Are We Really Looking For?
Color Flow Doppler: More InformationâŚor More Intervention?
How âabnormalâ findings can fast-track induction
Practical, empowering questions for parents navigating hospital birth
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian 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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
What happens when a skeptical dad starts asking real questions about birth? Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss sit down with Dad Jacob Dubois, author of Why Home Birth, to talk about how he went from doubter to outspoken home birth advocate, and why fathers may be one of the missing voices in the fight to reclaim birth from the medical system.
About Jacob
Jacob Dubois is a devoted husband to Madison and a proud father to two young sons (ages 2 and 4 months). He is the author of Why Home Birth? How hospitals turned birth into a medical procedure â and what the evidence actually shows, an evidence-based exploration that chronicles his personal journey from former home birth skeptic to confident advocate, drawing on what he learned over the past two years while supporting his wife through transformative birth experiences.
As @apogee.dad on Instagram, he shares authentic content centered around faith, fatherhood, and awakening perspectives on topics like birth and parenting.
Professionally, Jacob is an active-duty Marine Corps Officer with a background in logistics. He holds a Bachelorâs degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a Masterâs of Science in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Jacob is committed to sharing his story of transformation, bringing more fathers into the conversation around birth, and empowering families to question mainstream narratives on health and childbirth.
Instagram: @apogee.dad
Website: whyhomebirthbook.com
References:
Business of Being Born Documentary: https://www.thebusinessof.life/the-business-of-being-born
Discussed in This Episode
Why most people believe hospital birth is safest
Midwifery care vs obstetric care differences
The true meaning of birth beyond medical outcomes
The role of fathers in birth and pregnancy
Medicalization of birth in America explained
Birth trauma in hospital settings
ACOG guidelines, evidence-based care, and bias
Why dads need to speak up about birth
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use âcode INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected]Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
Is every positive urine culture in pregnancy a problem that needs antibiotics? Dr. Stu and midwife Blyss explore ACOGâs UTI guidelines, the evidence behind screening, and the growing concern about microbiome disruption and antibiotic resistance.
References:
Motherhood Equipped Podcast: 62. Birth Freedom, Breech Truth, and Why Physiologic Birth Matters with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
Patreon.com/BirthingInstinctsPodcast
Support the Podcast
Velvet and Bone Somatic & Trauma-Informed Doula Training (velvet-and-bone.com)
ACOG Clinical: Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Individuals
PubMed: Asymptomatic GBS bacteriuria during antenatal visits
Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #294 Group B Strep: Prioritizing Agenda Over Science
Discussed in This Episode
Bladder Infections
Kidney Infections
The Various Screening Recommendations and Treatments
What is Asymptomatic Bacturia
Benefits of Asymptomatic Bacturia
Why Eradicate Asymptomatic Bacturia?
Alternatives to Antibiotics
When to Seek Medical Advice
Risks of Antibiotics in Pregnancy, Labor and to Newborn
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
On this weekâs episode Blyss and Stu introduce guest Abigail Iovine, a Pennsylvania traditional midwife, and her mission to create legislation to protect traditional midwifery through her organization The National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights. Iovine discusses how legislation and institutional credentialing can criminalize basic midwifery care and shrink options. This episode outlines harms from siloed maternity care and discusses NARMâs influence.
About Abby Iovine:
Abby is a traditional midwife, mother of ten, and a passionate advocate for medical freedom who was raised with a deep love for God and family. Yes, all ten are hers, and yes, she has given birth ten times, an experience that profoundly shaped the way she approaches birth and care.
Her journey into midwifery began after the birth of her fourth child, and while pregnant with her fifth, she famously searched, âHow to NOT have a baby in the hospital?â That question set her on a new path. After welcoming her first homebirth with her fifth baby, she began formally studying midwifery in 2010, later becoming a certified doula in 2013 and attending births soon after.
Trained through a five-year traditional apprenticeship under local elder midwives, she built her foundation in hands-on, relationship-centered care. In 2018, she officially began serving families through Cardinal Birth Midwifery, a family-centered, autonomy-respecting ministry that places real life, children, and family needs at the heart of care.
In 2025, she also founded the National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights, further expanding her advocacy for family-centered care and the preservation of traditional midwifery.
Facebook: ProtectTraditionalMidwifery / YourBirthMatters
Website: Natbr.org
References:
Back to Basics Podcast 42: Dr. Stu Fischbein, MD - Childbirth 101: Home birth, breech, VBAC, and more
Attend a Reteach Breech Workshop: birthinginstincts.com/events
ACOG Releases Updated Guidance on Maternal Immunizations
The Highwire Episode 464: STEEP TERRAIN
National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights (NATBR) Federal Policy Brief
ALEC Birth Freedom Act
NATBR Petition Demand federal safeguards for traditional midwives and family choice
Discussed in This Episode
Effects of Legislation on Midwifery Investigations
Bill SB507 in Pennsylvania
AMA Influence and Hospital Control
Defining Traditional Midwifery
NARM Critique and Licensing
How Standards of Care Can Be Improved
Eradication of Midwifery and its Impact on Maternal Mortality
âHeritage Careâ Brief to Protect Midwifery
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands -
With Blyss away, Stu sits down with Phoenix OB-GYN Michael Hervey II to explore what true physicianâmidwife partnership looks like in real time. Together, an OB and midwife team delivered a remarkable set of hospital triplets born in rapid succession within minutes, totaling just over fifteen pounds. Itâs a conversation about collaboration over hierarchy, shared skill, and how complex physiologic birth can unfold safely when trust and teamwork lead the way.
About Dr. Michael Hervey:
Dr. Michael J. Hervey II, MD, is a board-certified obstetricianâgynecologist with extensive experience spanning private practice, academic medicine, trauma care, and womenâs health consulting. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he pursued his education at several of the nationâs most respected institutions, including Morehouse College, Harvard University, and the University of Virginia, among other prestigious universities. His training and career reflect a deep commitment to clinical excellence, intellectual rigor, and service.
Dr. Hervey is widely recognized for his patient-centered, concierge-oriented approach to maternity and gynecologic care, with a particular focus on improving outcomes, restoring trust, and addressing the lasting impact of birth trauma. He combines hands-on clinical expertise with systems-level leadership, advocating for care models that integrate medical excellence, mental health support, and compassionate communication.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Hervey is an author, educator, and entrepreneur who contributes to thought leadership in womenâs health and maternal wellness through writing, speaking, and media initiatives. He is married to Ellie Tan, CNM, and together they share two children, Michael and Kieara. His work and life are grounded in a steadfast commitment to dignity, safety, and healing for women and families at every stage of care.
Instagram: @premierobgyn_llc
Facebook: Premier Ob/Gyn LLC
Website: Teambabycatcher.com
Books: Empowering Birth: The Role of Midwifery and Physician Collaboration in Modern Maternity Care.
Her Body, Her Baby: Real Stories of Autonomy in Child-birth
References:
A maneuver for head entanglement in term breech/vertex twin labor, Dr. Stuart J. Fischbein
#373 BI Podcast Special Edition: A 90's Triplet Story
Discussed in This Episode
Listening to Patients Over Protocol
Triplet Delivery Criteria
Collaborative Care Model: Midwives and OBs
How the Midwifery Model of Care Compares to Medical Model
The Importance of Supportive MFM collaboration
Importance of Client Autonomy
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care
This show is supported by
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.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 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
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