Listen in as we discuss promoting Vaginal Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex (NTSV) birth to decrease the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. Dr. Lagrew agrees with a past president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Vincenzo Berghella, who said, “Physicians do need to balance risks and benefits, and for some clinical conditions, cesarean is definitely the best mode of delivery. But for most (NTSV) pregnancies that are low risk, a cesarean delivery may pose greater risk than vaginal delivery, especially risks related to future pregnancies.” Working to decrease the number of cesareans that are not strictly for clinical conditions is something we can all work on. Educators, nurses, community health workers, and others can use the information Dr. Lagrew shares to help people avoid the first cesarean.  This will not only lower unintended outcomes of the initial cesarean like hemorrhage and infection but also prevent problems in subsequent pregnancies.      Dr. Lagrew is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and physician informaticist with a particular interest in maternal quality improvement. He recently retired as Medical Director of Women’s and Children’s services for Providence St. Joseph-Southern California and as a Providence System Provider Informaticist in Obstetrics. He has started his new role as Chief of Service, Maternal Fetal Medicine at Hoag Healthcare. He holds triple board certification in Obstetrics/Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Clinical Informatics. In addition to these administrative and leadership roles, he continues to actively author numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He is a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Irvine. He is the immediate past chair of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s Clinical Informatics Committee.        Listen and Learn:      That the absolute lowest risk delivery is a vaginal delivery after a previous vaginal delivery  The rate of cesarean birth compared to vaginal births in the US now  How an NTSV protects the woman’s long-term health, especially if she plans to have more children   How midwives may have a lower cesarean rate due to their practice of admitting to the hospital later during labor  How the shared decisions help prevent primary cesarean births   How having a wide range of cesarean rates, state by state, is actually a good thing  A sneak preview of the US’s ARRIVE Study compared to an upcoming study out of Canada  That robust childbirth education about risks and benefits including an explanation of complications and outcomes will benefit parents and will likely decrease the cesarean rate         Resources & Mentions:       Nation’s Ob-Gyns Take Aim at Preventing Cesareans  Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery  Childbirth Connection info on cesarean resources  California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (many states have similar organizations)  Email Dr

Season 6 Episode 7: Safely Preventing Primary (NTSV) Cesarean Delivery—A Conversation with David C. Lagrew Jr. M.D.

Pregnancy and birth are often portrayed with a single brush as if all these experiences are basically the same for every birthing person. But for Lauren and her family, that was far from the truth. The anticipation of the ideal birth ended abruptly and unexpectedly when her husband arrived home early with flowers one day, finding her looking unwell. He talked Lauren into going to the doctor for a “just in case” checkup, which turned into a totally unexpected outcome for Lauren.   We will explore Lauren’s story to understand how preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome impacted not just her birth but continue to impact Lauren’s life to this day. In sharing her story, we will discover the tenacity of all those involved in her experience, including Lauren. During the conversation, we will discuss what, if any, warning signs were there that she didn’t recognize at the time. She will give us ideas for ways to speak to our students and patients about this still largely mysterious malady that affects 5 to 8% of pregnant people (and of these, 15% of these develop HELLP syndrome). Overcoming  preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome takes not just a team but an entire village—and that is just what happened in Lauren’s journey.   Lauren Ward Larsen is a storyteller, writer, speaker, advocate, and former corporate and nonprofit executive. As a professional speaker, Lauren has delivered hundreds of keynote addresses at corporate meetings, conferences, nonprofit events, and fundraisers in the U.S and Europe.  Based on her birth experience with Clare, she has added another type of storytelling to her repertoire. Educating pregnant families and medical care providers about her experience with preeclampsia has become a key component of her life.      Listen and Learn:    How the lack of information caused big trouble for Lauren: “I didn’t know what I didn’t know The signs to look out for regarding preeclampsia, including upper right abdominal pain How things changed for Lauren so quickly 3 days after a “normal” appointment  How her husband’s unusual mid-day personal flower delivery likely saved her life While pre-existing health conditions like high blood pressure can be a predictor, others can be affected, including   Lauren, who is an active athlete How important it is for everyone in the hospital and medical community to understand the signs of preeclampsia, including the Emergency Department The importance of listening to your intuition and not taking possible symptoms lightly  Zuzu’s Petals is not a book for pregnant people       Resources & Mentions:  Eclampsia Foundation  Hear Her Zuzu's Petals: A True Story of Second Chances by Lauren Ward Larsen (on Amazon or other book sellers)   Lauren’s website: https://laurenwardlarsen.com      Related Products from InJoy: Discussion and Warning signs in:  Understanding Birth  Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care 

Season 6 Episode 6: Preeclampsia: A Personal Point of View with Lauren Larsen

Edit: When we originally uploaded this podcast, the wrong file was included. Oops! The correct file has been added, and we hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do! Adriane Burgess PhD, RNC-OB, CCE, CNE, C-ONQS (she/hers)  Director, Quality Improvement-Service Lines (Women and Children, Primary Care, Oncology)  Ob/Gyn Residency Research Director     Awareness of preeclampsia can reduce its impact for families.  Two to eight percent of birthing parents have preeclampsia.  The old adage that “delivery is the cure for preeclampsia” can no longer be used because we know that preeclampsia exits in postpartum, too. In this episode, we will explore current research on preeclampsia and how parents and providers can use open communication about the topic to create the best outcomes.  Listen in to discover more about this hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and postpartum.    Our guest, Adriane Burgess, has been a nurse for 25 years in a variety of maternal-child health settings, including labor and delivery and postpartum units, maternal fetal medicine practices, and childbirth education classes. She is certified in inpatient obstetrical nursing, as a childbirth educator,  in nursing education, and most recently, in obstetric and neonatal quality and safety. She completed her PhD in Nursing in 2017 and her dissertation research was a case control study that explored ABO blood phenotype and factors associated with preeclampsia subtype. Dr. Burgess works to actively publish and present her research and has won several awards. Her research interests include preeclampsia and cardiovascular risk and protective factors, innovative nursing education strategies, and maternal quality initiatives.     Listen and Learn:    Research on the current protocol to prevent preeclampsia    How chronic hypertension impacts chances of getting preeclampsia   How pre-pregnancy habits may decrease the risk    The importance of “knowing your numbers” (blood pressure) even before pregnancy The importance of creating a postpartum connection for women with eclampsia, including mental and emotional support  Lifelong health implications of preeclampsia for women  The impact of breastfeeding on cardiovascular health and helping parents initiate and sustain breastfeeding, even if experiencing preeclampsia  The program at Adriane’s facility that gives each woman who has preeclampsia a blood pressure cuff and app       Resources & Mentions:   Preeclampsia Foundation Hear Her Adriane Burgess - for additional information aburgess2@wellspan.org   Zuzu’s Petals by Lauren Ward Larsen, publisher - In The Telling Press      Related Products from InJoy:  Discussion and Warning signs in:   Understanding Pregnancy  Understanding Birth  Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care 

Season 6 Episode 5: Preeclampsia: What Every Educator Should Know with Adriane Burgess

The words bonding and attachment are common words, but what is the deeper meaning behind those words for new parents and their newborns or yet-to-be born babies?  How can parents connect with their newborn in utero?  How will the attachment before and after the baby is born affect the epigenomes, brain development, and future health of their little one?  Laurel will take us on a fascinating dive into this topic to help us translate this information to our patients, students, and clients so that more new parents will understand the benefits of attachment to their new babies.  Laurel Wilson, IBCLC, RLC, BSc, CLE, CCCE, CLD is a TEDx and international speaker, pregnancy and lactation specialist, consultant, educator, and author. Laurel is the co-author of two books, The Attachment Pregnancy and The Greatest Pregnancy Ever; original editor of The CAPPA Lactation Educator Manual; as well as a contributing author to Round the Circle: Doulas Talk About Themselves. Her passion is blending today’s recent scientific findings with mind/body/spirit wisdom to highlight the magnitude and importance of the perinatal period. Spending 17 years as Executive Director for Lactation Programs for the Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association formed the foundation of her inquiry into the science of human milk. She has acted and still acts in many capacities locally and nationally promoting the belief that the journey into parenthood is a life-changing rite of passage that should be deeply honored and celebrated.  Listen and Learn:    The physiological and emotional process of bonding and attachment that occurs during birth & beyond   What is epigenetics, epigenome, and microbiome and how are they connected?   How epigenetics work in a human is based on the external reality of that person’s experiences How the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life and their external reality impacts their organ systems How most diseases are not DNA related but rather influenced by epigenetic impact What impact chronic stress, including weathering, has on future health How to teach parents to move away from stress when possible  What full engagement means during pregnancy     Resources & Mentions:    https://motherjourney.com/index.html (Laurel’s website with many more resources)   Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health     Kindred – One Family, One World    Related Products from InJoy:    Understanding Pregnancy   Understanding Breastfeeding  Understanding Your Newborn   Understanding Fatherhood 

Season 6 Episode 4: Mother-Baby Bond: How Attachment Changes the Epigenome, Brain Development, and Health Outcomes with Laurel Wilson of MotherJourney

This episode was recorded on 5/23/22  The students and patients that you interact with have far different expectations for learning than a K-12 student.  They are with you for a very specific reason and expect you to give them relevant information they can use right away that they can incorporate with what they already know.  Adult learners require educators to use some unique approaches that tap into both the art and science of teaching.  This episode will give you some specific tips on how to incorporate Adult Learning Principles in your classroom or virtual classes.    Our expert is Kristen Gosse, MEd, the Learning Strategist and Content Development Manager for InJoy Health Education. She has a background in professional writing and almost 14 years of experience designing content for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting health education materials. Kristen explores ways to apply adult learning theory and the psychology of motivation to health education. If adults do not understand or feel empowered, they are at a disadvantage to make informed decisions in almost every facet of life. Her goal is to nurture this feeling of empowerment through thoughtful, engaging content and effective learning experiences.     Listen and Learn:     Adult learners need to be in charge of their own learning   Your students want to be treated with respect   Many prefer social interaction in the classroom or online   Students learn through doing, practice, and return demonstration The “Fab 4” basic principles of well-known researcher in Adult Learning, Malcolm Knowles There is no such thing as a learning style for an individual---everyone needs to see information in multiple ways to retain it How reflection is helpful in processing information, so asking the learner to jot down ideas is useful Why these principles apply to the classroom and the bedside    Resources & Mentions:     Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change by Amy Bucher   Designing for How People Learn by Julie Dirksen   Julie Dirksen’s website: https://usablelearning.com/   https://elearningindustry.com/the-adult-learning-theory-andragogy-of-malcolm-knowles   Healthy Content Matters: Bringing Patient Education Online   Related Products from InJoy:    Online Education  Books + Web Apps  PowerPoints  Video Programs  

Season 6 Episode 3: Adult Learning Principles Make a Difference in Your Classroom with Kristen Gosse, MEd, of InJoy Health Education

Creating an atmosphere conducive to learning includes ensuring that your students feel understood and accepted in the classroom.  Listen in as we get practical advice from Maura Jo, who has been practicing the principles of gender inclusivity in her life and classroom for over 15 years. You’ll pick up things you can use right away in your classroom, such as how you can use more inclusive language and ways you can make students feel comfortable while learning.     Maura Jo (pronouns: they/she) is a Queer/GenderQueer, passionate, compassionate, and accomplished birth worker and wellness professional with over 25 years of experience in complementary and alternative wellness and over 15 years in perinatal education and support. They hold a master’s degree in Women’s (and Gender) Studies and certifications in many aspects of wellness and perinatal health and support services. They have worked in the nonprofit sector, in the fitness and wellness industry, in multiple hospital systems, in the Connecticut state university system as an adjunct professor, and have been running their own perinatal and wellness business for many years. They specialize in working with and supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals, families, and professionals who identify as a part of these communities.         Listen and Learn:     We are not excluding anyone by including everyone   Tips for educators looking to use inclusive language in their classes   Why words matter – getting out of a fear-based brain to be able to understand the material presented   Visual representations matter too – how seeing others “like me” increases learning ability   Role model behavior to foster inclusion               Resources & Mentions:   Center Song Birth & Wellness    https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why     https://www.badoulatrainings.org/     https://www.kingyaa.co.za/upcoming-events-workshops     https://earthsnaturaltouch.com/education-%26-support         Related Products from InJoy:   Understanding Birth Curriculum (Uses gender-neutral terms and diverse families)    Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care Curriculum (Uses gender-neutral terms and diverse families)    Understanding Pregnancy (Uses gender-neutral terms and diverse families) 

Season 6 Episode 2:  Practice Makes Perfect: Creating a Gender Inclusive Learning Environment with Maura Jo Lynch, MA, SBD, RMT, CPFE, MCPDC, MBE, MCE of Center Song

Reaching more parents with solid prenatal education is the goal for most educators and hospitals.  Learning a new way to do that was challenging in 2020 but through creativity and problem solving, many educators –just like our guest– found ways to be sure the parents they serve continued to learn.  Join us to learn how one hospital has not only overcome the COVID teaching challenge but also created a mix of classes that will remain in place moving forward to reach more parents with the information they need for their pregnancy, birth, and beyond.     Evelyn M. Turner, MSN, RNC-MNN, ICCE, IBCLC, CPST, has been an active perinatal professional since 2000, working as a nurse in Labor & Delivery, Mother & Baby, Prenatal Care Coordination, Nursing Leadership, and as a Prenatal Nurse Educator in Northwest, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. Currently, she works as a Prenatal Nurse Instructor at The University of Chicago Medicine, bringing her years of experience to the classroom educating soon-to-be parents.       Listen and Learn:    How it is possible to offer multiple classes in different formats to meet parents’ needs   Offering a variety of formats increases the number of learners who participate   Following up with online learners strengthen their knowledge through Q&A     What can be done for parents who speak languages other than what is usually offered   Promoting virtual and blended classes   How parents feel about their learning experience   Why it is important to continue with virtual and blended learning even with in-person classes available     Resources & Mentions:    Prenatal Education at University of Chicago Medicine   Reach out to Evelyn  Learn more about how to set up blended learning  Review virtual teaching best practices   Related Products from InJoy:    Online eClasses   Educator Media Library for instructor-led classes 

Season 6 Episode 1: Reach More Parents with Blended, Virtual, & In-Person Classes with Evelyn Turner, MSN, RNC-MNN, ICCE, IBCLC, CPST of The University of Chicago Medicine

Note: This episode was recorded in early 2021. Some of the details in this episode may have changed In 1956, Marian Tompson and Mary White, along with five other women, gathered to breastfeed their babies under a tree at a church picnic in Illinois when they were approached by mothers with questions, showing interest and looking for advice on successful breastfeeding.  This event inspired a group of seven women to form La Leche League International to provide breastfeeding help and support to women in their community.   Since that time, La Leche League’s peer to peer support, whose primary purpose is to promote breastfeeding, can be found locally, nationally, and even internationally now in over 80 countries.           Christina Faulkenburg is an Area Coordinator of Leaders with La Leche League Mountain Plains as a volunteer.  The Area has over 40 Leaders in Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado.  Christina is a wife, mom, and business owner.  Her daughter just turned 5!  When Christina was pregnant in 2015, she started attending La Leche League Meetings and found support to be so wonderful that she became a Leader to help other families.  The support helped her nurse for 28 months.  She then became the Area Coordinator of Leaders to help support other Leaders help families just like her providing educational events and fund-raising for the Area.      Listen in as we explore Christina’s journey with La Leche League and how you can help families connect to this great association.      Listen and Learn:      About the history and mission of La Leche League International  How health professionals can get the word out and connect people to this free service  The variety of people that join LLL meetings and are supported by the leader and members  The main components of a LLL meeting  What effect COVID has had on meetings  What it takes to become a LLL Leader  How LLL has changed and the vision for the future           Resources & Mentions:   La Leche League International website    Facebook page for La Leche League International   Facebook page for La Leche League of Mountain Plains – Families        Related Products from InJoy:     Patient and Family education:      Understanding Breastfeeding curriculum   Videos &  PowerPoints Books + web apps Online eClasses         Breastfeeding BASICS     Staff education: Practices to Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding 

Season 5, Episode 7:  Breastfeeding Support Through La Leche League International with Christina Faulkenburg

The concept and role of a doula is better understood these days by parents and health professionals, but the reality of a doula’s life may still be a mystery to some.  Today we will explore how Julie, who has practiced as a doula for 29 years, impacts the lives of the families she’s assisted as she shares her insights of life as a doula.     Julie Brill is the author of the doula anthology Round the Circle: Doulas Share Their Experiences. She has been teaching childbirth classes and attending births since 1992 and mentoring new birth professionals throughout New England as a member of the CAPPA Faculty since 2003. Additionally, she is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Certified Holistic Lactation Consultant. Julie is in private practice in Bedford, MA, where she teaches prenatal breastfeeding classes and provides in-home breastfeeding consultations. She is also the mother of two adult daughters who she home schooled until they entered college.     Listen and Learn:    How a doula – “just a woman in the room”—can make a big difference during birth   What studies show about doulas  How doulas have gained awareness over time  What responsibilities doulas have How nurses benefit from having doulas in the room and learning some doula skills What various models of hospital doula programs look like         Resources & Mentions:    Major Survey Findings of Listening to Mothers III: Pregnancy and Birth   Variation in Cesarean Birth Rates by Labor and Delivery Nurses, Dr. Neel Shah, MD, MPP Continuous support for women during childbirth   Round the Circle and Birth Wisdom   Doulas Discuss Birth      Related Products from InJoy:    Understanding Birth   The Miracle of Birth 3   The Miracle of Birth 4   Understanding Breastfeeding

Season 5 Episode 6: Birth Is Not a Spectator Sport: The Important Role of Doulas in Childbirth and Postpartum with Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD, IBCLC

Listen in as Laura Nance, a Senior Program Advisor for CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), tells us all about the organization.  CAPPA was birthed in 1998 and has a mission of “Education. Support. Success.”  Laura takes us through how they have grown over time and what they had done to support members and families during COVID.  She also gives us a glimpse of where the future is taking this international organization.      Laura Nance is the Senior Advisor of Postpartum Doula and New Parent Educator Programs for CAPPA and the co-developer of the New Parent Educator program. Laura has been involved in the perinatal world since 2000 and is CAPPA-certified and active in her community as a New Parent Educator, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator, Pregnancy Fitness Educator, Postpartum Doula, and Labor Doula. She is the owner of For Love of Baby, a doula and educator cooperative offering professional perinatal services to families. She has been a trainer with CAPPA since 2005 and trains for the postpartum doula, new parent educator, and lactation educator programs.     Listen and Learn:      About why CAPPA was created   How certification matters    How Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics promotes professionalism   That building bridges with other professionals promotes doulas and supports families   The family-like atmosphere that is a hallmark of the CAPPA organization   The secret of using a positive mental attitude to fix negative things          Resources & Mentions:    CAPPA – Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association   Contact the office at info@cappa.net    Call 1-770-965-9777         Related Products from InJoy     Miracle of Birth Volume 3 Miracle of Birth Volume 4      Understanding Birth    Stages of Labor    Pain Management for Childbirth   Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care 

Season 5 Episode 5: CAPPA’s Birth, Growth, and Reach for the Future

Even in early nursing school Ginger felt she would write a book someday.  Finding a need while working with her new daughter-in-law gave her the much-needed topic.  Surviving in postpartum should not be as hard as it was for Ginger’s loved one or many other new mothers.  To create a template for thriving and celebrating life with a new baby, Ginger called upon 15 other experienced postpartum professionals and parents, and they created a book that can be used by parents and professionals Listen in as we discuss the book, changes needed in our healthcare system for postpartum families in the first six weeks, and more!    Dr. Breedlove is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2017, she formed a consulting company, Grow Midwives LLC, to educate physicians and hospitals while supporting midwives in the design and scaling of best practices in collaborative care models. Prior to consulting, she was on faculty a combined 17 years as Professor of Nursing and Midwifery at Shenandoah University and University of Kansas School of Nursing founding program director. She co-founded the first free-standing birthing center in Topeka, Kansas in 1979, the first Midwife service in Kansas City, Missouri in 1994, and established the University of Kansas Midwifery program in 1999. In 2016 she co-founded March for Moms with Dr. Neel Shah and has served as President four years. In 2018, Dr. Breedlove edited and launched a book for first-time parents navigating the first six weeks of pregnancy titled, Nobody Told Me About That!    Listen and Learn:      How a lack of educational support before and during postpartum negatively impacts bringing baby home   The mental and emotional impact of  feeling unprepared    How postpartum deaths could be prevented with accurate information    One of the most important tools for new parents is learning to use their voice   How to create  a safer postpartum system by using inter-professional contact after leaving the hospital   Change can happen when demand comes from parents, employers, legislators, community members and healthcare professionals   About postpartum concerns from 16 women’s health professionals                   Resources & Mentions:    www.nobodytoldmeaboutthat.com     www.Marchformoms.org      www.Growmidwives.org          Related Products from InJoy    Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care  Understanding Fatherhood    Parenting BASICS 0-6 months, Self-Care for Moms 

Season 5 Episode 4: Nobody Told Me About That: The First Six Weeks Postpartum with Ginger Breedlove of Grow Midwives

DONA International was one of the first doula organizations in the United States.  Starting out as Doulas of North America in 1992, they quickly saw the need for doulas around the world.  In the early 2000s, they became DONA International.  Listen in to see where and why they started.  Melissa will explain her passion, and the passion of the organization, to make sure that doula clients and birthing families get the support needed in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!  We will also get a glimpse of where this dynamic organization is going in the future.     Immediate past president of DONA International, Melissa began serving birthing families in January 2002 through her practice at Capital City Doula Services.  Certified with DONA International in 2003, and Lamaze International in 2005, Melissa has worked with more than 1,500 families as a labor doula and/or childbirth educator.  As a DONA-approved trainer, Melissa offers training and mentorship opportunities for new doulas and has trained over 600 new doulas, primarily in the Southeastern U.S.  She is also a certified lactation counselor and a Fellow in the Academy of Childbirth Educators.           Listen and Learn:    How the Greek word meaning servant has become a profession and a model for their philosophy behind serving families in the childbearing year  How Doulas of North America started and who are the founders  Why doula care is important to birthing and new families  Why certification can be important for doulas  What DONA International is doing to enhance and sustain the doula profession in the future  How to change “awareness into action” when considering health equity  How you can be involved with DONA as a volunteer             Resources & Mentions:   DONA International    Join as a volunteer!  Email nominations@dona.org to find out what positions are open       Related Products from InJoy:   Understanding Birth Understanding Breastfeeding   Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care   Understanding Your Newborn   Pain Management For Childbirth   The Miracle of Birth 

Season 5 Episode 3: DONA International: Certifying Doulas to Serve Families Since 1992 with Melissa Harley

   When Jen was pregnant in 2010, she realized that she was being treated differently because she exists in a larger body.  Determined to make her plan for an unmedicated birth a reality, Jen researched and found a midwife who supported and encouraged her to pursue the birth plan she wanted.  After the birth of her baby, she decided to start a blog to share her story, but soon it was clear that this was not just about her own story.  She became a childbirth educator and created an evidence-based website and podcast that includes positive resources, so she could change others’ stories as well.  She now also sits on a National Institutes of Health panel to give input on creating the Pregnancy for Every Body program.     Jen McLellan is a published author, founder of Plus Size Birth, and host of the Plus Mommy Podcast. She helps people navigate the world of plus size pregnancy, shares tips for embracing your body, and laughs her way through the adventures of parenthood. Her work has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, Glamour, Todays Parent, Huffington Post, and International Doula. As a public speaker, Jen has spoken at numerous events including presenting at the National Institutes of Health. Jen is also a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother to a charismatic ten-year-old.    Listen in as we explore Jen’s journey and learn important information we can use in our lives and practices every day.           Listen and Learn:        How to help women understand their options based on their personal health and not only their BMI   What can be done to increase the number of size-inclusive healthcare providers available   The difference between relative risk and actual risk when assigning a risk status   How COVID may impact plus-size patients who may be mistreated if attending an appointment on their own and what tools can be used to prevent that   What ideas can be implemented to create a size-friendly environment   The shocking stats on cesarean rates based on BMI   How important this topic is: Jen has reached 6 million page views on her website, 150 thousand downloads on her podcast            Resources & Mentions:     Plus Size Birth Website & Blog   Plus Mommy Podcast   My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide   Size-Friendly Directory     Pregnancy For Every Body   Health At Every Size   ARTICLE:  Birth Outcomes of Women with Obesity Enrolled for Care at Freestanding Birth Centers in the United States       Related Products from InJoy:     Understanding Birth Curriculum    Understanding Pregnancy Curriculum 

 Season 5 Episode 2:  A Pregnancy For Every Body with Jen McLellan of Plus Size Birth    

USLCA (United States Lactation Consultant Association), founded in 2006, is an organization that supports the advancement of lactation professionals of all types in the United States.  Their aim is to make sure all families have support to meet their breastfeeding goals by advocating for the value of lactation care providers who contribute to the family healthcare team and are active in other community health settings.  Listen to our guests speak about the history, current activities, and their vision for the future of USLCA.     Michelle Stulberger, President of USLCA, holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Master of Healthcare Administration, and IBCLC (2014.) She is the Senior Director of Clinical Support Services for MedStar Visiting Nurse Association in Calverton, Maryland.  During the podcast, she will tell her story of becoming an IBCLC.    Danielle has served as USLCAs Executive Director since 2014 after leading a continuity of care breastfeeding project at a non-profit in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. Following her Bachelor's degree in Nutritional Science and Dietetics, Danielle earned her Master of Public Health. As a focus of her graduate work, Danielle developed a standard of care for telehealth in lactation and fostered an even stronger passion for breastfeeding and the important role of skilled lactation care.  Danielle resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and their 2 young daughters.          Listen and Learn:       How a US-based organization can meet the need of lactation professionals nationally   What resources are offered to members and the public through their organization   How USLCA has assisted their members through COVID-19   What USLCA does to support certification   USLCA’s vision for the future including advocacy, inclusivity, and making lactation support a sustainable career   How you can be involved in USLCA              Resources & Mentions:      Visit the USLCA Website   Educational Resources from USLCA         Related Products from InJoy:     Understanding Breastfeeding   Breastfeeding Basics Practices to Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding: Managing Common Challenges Staff Training eCourse   Practices to Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding: Core Concepts Staff Training eCourse 

Season 5 Episode 1: USLCA: A Look Inside the Organization, with Michelle Stulberger (President) and Danielle Harmon (Executive Director) of USLCA

Curiosity about why one woman labored in a straightforward manner and a woman in a similar situation struggled much more led Gail Tully to ask why.  She dug in to understand not only the role of the pelvic bones in labor but also the soft tissues that can either create a good pathway or block baby’s progress through them.  Listen to her story and how she developed new techniques and reimagined some older ones to help birthing people create an easier path for their babies to emerge.     Gail Tully, CPM, is the Spinning Babies Lady and an expert in Fetal Positioning. A new paradigm emerged in 2001 with Spinning Babies® putting physiology first in labor progress to replace the high dependence on cesarean surgery. Previously a DONA International approved doula trainer, doula and homebirth midwife, Gail was a founding mother of the Childbirth Collective, one of the largest doula non-profits in the USA. She created the Hennepin County Medical Center’s Doula Project and led trainings for the Somali Doula Program and Turtle Women of St. Paul’s American Indian Family Center.     Gail Tully and her 14 Approved Trainers offer workshops and world speaking engagements.    Listen and Learn:       How curiosity, coupled with solid understanding of anatomy and physiology created the Spinning Babies program   The impact of gravity on the 30 muscles in the pelvis and how to work with these structures   The things birthing people can do to ease tension in pregnancy and create a good path for their baby when birthing time comes   The various training courses and who they are intended for   Why so many providers are becoming skilled in these techniques           Resources & Mentions:    https://spinningbabies.com/          Related Products from InJoy      Understanding Birth Curriculum Miracle of Birth 3: Five Birth Stories Miracle of Birth 4: Five Birth Stories    Pain Management for Childbirth – Vol. 1  

Season 4 Episode 8:   Spinning Babies – Comfort in Pregnancy and Easier Births with Gail Tully

Listen as Christen Sadler, Immediate Past President of Lamaze, tells us more about Lamaze’s beginnings, how they have grown, and where the future may be taking them.  Christen shares ways the organization advances their mission: “Advancing Safe & Healthy Birth for Everyone, Everywhere.”  Learn more about Lamaze’s current projects, including research and advocacy to help not only the educators but also parents in this country and others.      A Registered Nurse for over 25 years, Christen Sadler’s experience spans multiple specialty areas including gerontology, med/surg, women’s health, and community health, as well as nursing education. She has worked in various capacities in Africa, South America, and the Southern United States. Currently she is a student in the PhD program at Texas Women’s University. In fall of 2020, she will join the faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. Additionally, she teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas. She is immediate past president of Lamaze International and teaches private Lamaze classes.    Listen and Learn:      About advancing safe and healthy pregnancy, birth, and early parenting through evidence-based education and advocacy         How birth is a transformative experience for birthing families, whether it is positive or negative   How the annual Advocacy Summit transformed into two town halls & a series of webinars explore virtual teaching, small business loans, equity in maternal mortality, and for incarcerated women and other important topics for educators   What new efforts are in place to increase childbirth education internationally   How you can promote the mission by joining one of the committees, such as Research, Equity and Diversity, Outreach, or Advocacy           Resources & Mentions    Lamaze International Website   Lamaze Volunteer Opportunities    Lamaze Volunteer Interest Form   “A Key Strategy to Improve U.S. Maternal & Childbirth Outcomes” White Paper         Related Products from InJoy    Understanding Birth Curiculum   Mother’s Advocate: an InJoy & Lamaze Jointly Produced Website & Videos 

Season 4 Episode 6: Lamaze International:  Yesterday, Today, and the Future with Christen Sadler of Lamaze

Rixa Freeze has a PhD from the University of Iowa and is a researcher, professor, and mother of four children. Her current research specialization is vaginal breech birth. She is the president of Breech Without Borders, a 501(c)3 nonprofit and teaches at a private liberal arts college. She blogs at Stand and Deliver. Listen and Learn:  A lack of research may impede the view of breech birth as a normal life event Training for delivering singleton breech babies is not very common in US medical schools Research on breech birth outcomes is more available in other countries and some is now happening in the US also Many of the studies present conflicting information Not everyone with a breech baby is a good candidate for a breech vaginal birth Those that are good candidates may be able to avoid a cesarean with the right healthcare provider More breech vaginal births would likely be done if more healthcare providers were knowledgeable in the techniques, risks, and safety considerations. Breech Without Boarders is doing grassroots training for practitioners to relearn the skills here in the US and abroad  Resources & Mentions:  Breech Without Borders  Vaginal breech workshops Reteach Breech fundraiser Stand and Deliver Blog Breech Without Borders Vimeo page Instructional breech birth videos (showing the normal mechanisms of breech)  Related Products from InJoy Understanding Birth Curriculum

Season 4 Episode 7: Vaginal Breech Birth: New Insights with Rixa Freeze, PhD

In Life After Loss Part 1, Katherine tells her story of loss and how it impacted her personal growth and her family.  Be sure to give it a listen.  (Click here for part 1)   Listen to Part 2 as we continue to follow Katherine’s journey to becoming a Perinatal Bereavement Psychotherapist and having her Rainbow Baby Alice.  She always desired to have a big family but after a loss there was a lot to think about.  Getting pregnant again unexpectedly created uncertainty that Katherine and her husband worked through.  But looking back, Katherine realized that she was just going through the motions of this new pregnancy.  Find out how this new baby transformed their lives and how attachment is different with a Rainbow Baby.     Katherine Hyde Hensley is a perinatal bereavement psychotherapist and group facilitator skilled in bereavement. She has a broad range of experience and knowledge in the areas of birth, postpartum, child development, infant death, and grief. Katherine earned her BS in Public Health and Child Development and her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and received her training as a Certified Postpartum Doula (DONA), certified Birth Doula (DONA), Resolve Through Sharing Perinatal Bereavement Trainer, Perinatal Loss Doula (LDI), and Palliative Care Provider from Harvard Medical School.  Since 2008 she has combined her personal and professional experiences to improve the lives of infants, children, and families across Western North Carolina. Katherine lives in Asheville, NC with her husband Dave and four children, Elliott 19, Eliza 16, (Helen 14), and Alice 13.      Listen and Learn:       How fear impacts pregnancy after loss   How caregivers could have helped lessen that fear   What her “ghost pregnancy” means   How Katherine moved from detached to attached         What groups you should know about to help women you work with   How online groups may be a benefit to both parents          Resources & Mentions:      Threads of Love     Star Legacy Foundation        Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA)       Katherine Hyde Hensley Counseling and Consulting         Related Products from InJoy:      Guide to Grief and Healing After the Loss of your Baby 

Season 4 Episode 5 (Part 2): Growing a Healthy Rainbow Baby with Katherine Hyde-Hensley

Loss is always difficult.  Losing someone you’re supposed to be meeting for the first time and spending the rest of your life with is even tougher.  Katherine and her family planned for a joyful event, the birth of their daughter Helen, but that turned to sorrow when Helen was stillborn.       Listen in as we follow Katherine’s journey of becoming a postpartum and loss doula and ultimately, a Perinatal Bereavement Psychotherapist.  She will walk us through resources and research shaping the world of loss and provide ideas for healing that we can use with our families, friends, students, or clients experiencing similar types of loss.       Katherine Hyde Hensley is a perinatal bereavement psychotherapist and group facilitator skilled in bereavement. She has a broad range of experience and knowledge in the areas of birth, postpartum, child development, infant death, and grief. Katherine earned her BS in Public Health and Child Development and her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and received her training as a Certified Postpartum Doula (DONA), certified Birth Doula (DONA), Resolve Through Sharing Perinatal Bereavement Trainer, Perinatal Loss Doula (LDI), and Palliative Care Provider from Harvard Medical School.  Since 2008 she has combined her personal and professional experiences to improve the lives of infants, children, and families. Katherine lives in Asheville, NC with her husband Dave and four children, Elliott 19, Eliza 16, (Helen 14), and Alice 13.     Next week, be sure to tune in to “Part 2: Growing a Healthy Rainbow Baby” to learn more about how the birth of a new baby after perinatal loss impacts the life of the family.         Listen and Learn (Part 1):       Why support is important to families in crisis after the loss of their loved one   How the medical community still finds it hard to come to grips with the loss of a baby   How palliative care is crucial to this type of loss   The rate of loss in the United States    What to do to honor and help make memories after the loss   What steps can be taken to help minimize loss   5 steps to reduce the risk of stillbirth & perinatal loss   The Pregnancy Research Project                 Resources & Mentions:      Threads of Love       Star Legacy Foundation      Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA)     Katherine Hyde Hensley Counseling and Consulting            Related Products from InJoy:      A Guide to Grief and Healing After the Loss of your Baby    

Season 4 Episode 5: Life After Loss with Katherine Hyde-Hensley – Part 1 

Listen as Bonita (Boni) Katz BA, RN, ICCE, ICBD, IAT, CLC talks about the impact that ICEA has had on the field of maternal-child health and her own journey.  Promoting family-centered care and freedom to make decisions based on knowledge of options and alternatives are the key tenants of ICEA. Boni’s own birth helped spark her interest in becoming a certified childbirth educator and doula with ICEA.  Joining ICEA in 1991, she went on to become a nurse and has continued her work as a childbirth educator and doula.  Boni joined the ICEA board 2013 and is currently serving a two-year term as the president through the end of this year.      Listen and Learn:      A short history of childbirth education in the US   ICEA’s journey from teaching parents to training teachers (and later doulas)   The importance of certification   The flexibility that is needed during times like COVID    The challenges of working internationally   Improving infant and maternal mortality        Resources & Mentions:    Visit the ICEA Website    ICEA Virtual Conference bundles    Position Papers, Statements & Core Competencies    Partners    The International Childbirth Initiative (ICI): 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care         Related Products from InJoy:      Understanding Birth Curriculum    Pain Management for Childbirth, Two Volumes   The Stages of Labor: A Visual Guide

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