Birthing Instincts

Listen to women.Seems simple enough. And yet, here we are.This week, the stories in our inbox keep bringing us back to the same uncomfortable truth: women know when something feels wrong. They know their bodies. They know their babies. They know their histories. And far too often, instead of being listened to, they're dismissed, frightened, managed, or told that someone else knows better.One mother screamed that she could feel her cesarean, and was told, “There’s no way she feels that.”Another was sent down the familiar rabbit hole of scans, labels, scary possibilities, and intervention because her baby measured small… while seemingly no one stopped to consider that maybe small parents sometimes make small babies.And then there's a twin home birth that ends in unimaginable loss—a story that challenges the idea that a tragic outcome automatically means someone made the wrong choice. Sometimes everyone does everything right, and tragedy still happens.These are the stories we need to be willing to hear. Not just the beautiful births. Not just the outcomes that validate what we already believe. All of them.Because informed consent means listening. Individualized care means listening. Supporting women means listening.And maybe if we did a little more of that, we'd need a whole lot less fixing afterward.References:FriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstinctsAllowed to Birth Ashland Screeninghttps://www.birthinginstinctspodcast.com/event-details-registration/allowed-to-birth-movie-screeningJehovah’s Witnesses allow blood-derived products but keep ban on whole-blood transfusionshttps://www.statnews.com/2026/09/19/jehovahs-witnesses-blood-derived-products-transfusions/Birthing Instincts Podcast #314 Low Platelets & Deficiencies of Wisdomhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1bMKgk1ZKtcI0QDQWCZtpT?si=3fb0f5eaad2445fbGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Adverse Maternal Pregnancy Outcomeshttps://www.ovid.com/jnls/greenjournal/fulltext/10.1097/aog.0000000000006363~glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-and-risk-ofThe Retrievals Season 2https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3gzGsdfFnFUeREYclQlYv8?si=sCc_o2mYSoOGl434Tz1uqANeonatal and obstetric outcomes following periconceptional exposure to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysishttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293782600222XDiscussed in This EpisodeWhen Cutting the Cord Becomes the EmergencyMaternity Care Is DisappearingThe Shopping Center Breech BabyExperiencing Loss and Questioning EverythingThe Midwife Who Did Exactly What She Was Supposed to DoOne Ultrasound Finding, One Very Familiar CascadeYou Don't Have to Be a “Perfect Goddess” to Deserve Individualized CareGLP-1s and Pregnancy: What Does the Evidence Actually Say?A Mother Feels Her Cesarean After Epidural FailsPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byTallow Twins | Go to https://tallowtwins.ca/INSTINCTS and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your orderLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Blood transfusions can save lives, but when are they actually necessary, and what should you know before you're ever faced with that decision?This week, Blyss and Dr. Stu unpack blood transfusions in birth: postpartum hemorrhage, hemoglobin levels, blood types and compatibility, potential reactions, and why the number on a lab report doesn't always tell the whole story.They also dive into some of the harder questions: Can you choose where your blood comes from? What about directed donation? And what options exist for families who have concerns about receiving blood from vaccinated donors?From the surprising obstetric origins of modern transfusion medicine to the questions worth asking during pregnancy, this is one of those conversations you may never need, but you'll be glad you heard if you do.References:Vaccine Choice Canadavaccinechoicecanada.comReclaiming Birth Gatheringreclaimingbirthconference.comFriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstinctsUp to Me. Up to You. Up to Everyone.uptoeveryone.comSafe Blood - The Global Leader In SafeBlood Matchingsafeblood.comBlessed By His Bloodblessedbyhisblood.comHistory of Blood Transfusionshttps://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood/blood-transfusions/history-blood-transfusion.htmlAllowed to Birth Ashland Screeninghttps://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800Discussed in This EpisodeThe history of blood transfusion, and its roots in obstetricsWhen postpartum blood loss may warrant transfusionWhy hemoglobin is only one piece of the clinical pictureHow red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the bodyABO/Rh blood types and transfusion compatibilityCommon and rare transfusion reactionsWhy modern blood banking has made transfusion significantly saferDirected donor blood and the challenges of arranging it during pregnancyQuestions surrounding vaccinated vs. unvaccinated donor bloodWays to optimize maternal health and reduce the likelihood of needing transfusionQuestions to discuss with your birth team before an emergency occursPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | 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 BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What can nearly 24 years of birth injury litigation teach us about preventing birth injuries before they happen?This week, Blyss and Stu are joined by nationally recognized trial attorney, bestselling author, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, Gina Mundy. After spending her career reviewing the births that went wrong—studying medical records, questioning doctors and nurses, and identifying the decisions that changed families’ lives forever, Gina decided those lessons belonged in the hands of parents before they ever entered the delivery room.Take a look behind the curtain of both the hospital and legal systems. Gina shares why Pitocin inductions appear so frequently in the birth injury cases she sees, what she learned while attending her own daughter’s induction, why she believes doulas can play such an important role in hospital birth, and the questions families should consider before consenting to interventions.They also dig into the uncomfortable realities of “standard of care,” defensive medicine, emergency C-sections, expert witnesses, medical records, hospital accountability, and what happens when the accepted standard may not necessarily represent the best care.We can’t predict every possible outcome, but we can do our best to understand the system we’re walking into, asking better questions, and making informed decisions before you’re in the intensity of labor.About Gina Mundy:Gina Mundy is a nationally recognized trial attorney, internationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast. For more than two decades, her work has focused on one of the most consequential moments in a family’s life: childbirth.Gina has spent her career studying birth injury cases in hindsight. She analyzes what happened, why it happened, which warning signs were missed, and what could have changed the outcome. That perspective became the foundation for her internationally bestselling book, A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth.Gina believes the greatest lessons for helping babies enter the world safely should be learned before labor begins, not after something has gone wrong.Through her book, The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, speaking engagements, media appearances, and international platforms, Gina brings those lessons to parents, doulas, birth professionals, and families around the world. Her work has reached audiences throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and beyond.Instagram: @ginamundy Website: ginamundy.com / fiegerlaw.comBook: A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth https://a.co/d/03AlkDiLReferences:Allowed to Birth Ashland Screeningbirthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birthClassical Midwifery Conference - Tbilisi Georgia, 2027gentlebirths.net/classicalmidwiferyconferenceGreat Birth Rebellion Podcast Episode 218 - The Cascade of Interventionhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3YikOJ1ADT9oC5NTL7JNH5?si=36a5db05f3dd4448Discussed in This EpisodeThe one intervention that shows up again and again in birth injury casesWhy “slow and steady” can make a huge difference when using PitocinThe question every parent should consider asking before allowing someone to break their waterAre some interventions really about safety, or getting the baby delivered on someone else’s timeline?The surprising way fear of being sued may actually lead to MORE interventions and C-sectionsWhat happens when the accepted “standard of care” may not actually be good careHow two highly qualified medical experts can look at the exact same birth and tell a jury two completely different storiesWhy doulas are rarely involved in the birth injury casesShould you record conversations during labor or after an unexpected outcome? The hospital details to look for when preparing to give birthPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | 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 BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a traumatic first birth becomes the catalyst for a completely different second experience?This week, Blyss and Stu welcome holistic esthetician Michelle Vaughn to share the story of two births that couldn't have been more different, and how those experiences transformed not only the way she views birth, but the way she approaches health, skincare, motherhood, and everyday living.Michelle opens up about her husband's stage IV cancer diagnosis, the lifestyle changes that followed, and why she began questioning everything she was putting on and into her family's bodies. Together, they explore common skincare ingredients, sunscreen, deodorant, household products, and practical ways families can begin reducing toxic exposures without becoming overwhelmed.Whether you're interested in physiologic birth, holistic wellness, or simply making more informed choices for your family, this episode offers thoughtful conversation, personal stories, and plenty to consider.About MichelleMichelle Vaughan is a holistic esthetician with 19 years of experience, wellness educator, mom of two, and co-owner of Alma Aesthetics Organic Wellness Spa in Santa Barbara. She’s passionate about helping women and families make informed, balanced choices through holistic skincare, mindful living, and simple everyday wellness. Michelle shares her journey through motherhood, beauty, and healthy living with an approachable, evidence-informed perspective while encouraging others to feel confident in making the choices that are right for them.Instagram: @michellevaughanklett / @almaaestheticsClean Product Recommendations:Primally PureEarth Mama OrganicsUnder LunaLiving LibationsBranch BasicsWholesome organics Code Instincts for 20% offReferences:Joint Statement From NACPM and NARM Regarding MEAC’s Withdrawal from U.S. Department of Education Recognition: https://www.nacpm.org/news/joint-statement-from-nacpm-and-narmDiscussed in This EpisodeWhat MEAC's withdrawal from Department of Education recognition could mean for midwifery educationHospital birth versus home birth: one family's dramatically different experiencesTrauma, healing, and trusting the physiologic birth processThe connection between skincare, nutrition, inflammation, and overall wellnessSunscreen, deodorant, fragrances, household products, and reducing toxic exposureSimple swaps families can make without feeling overwhelmedPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byLMNT | 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 BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands