Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+ episodes (which is now in its 9th year!). Whapio, a midwife and founder of The Matrona, explores the modern management of pushing, and challenges our preconceived notions in the process. She gets into pushing’s effects on the baby, and on the perineum, which receives most of the exertion. And what can you do to be prepared for this stage of the birthing process. Here's the original episode in full. You can connect with us on Instagram @birthfulpodcast and email us at podcast@birthful.com. Download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! Don't miss even more tips, insights, and news from Adriana and her guests! 

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Best of Birthful: Why Pushing Too Early Might Affect the Baby and You

On Birthful, working doula and former journalist Adriana Lozada talks pregnancy, birth and postpartum with top experts and new parents. Every episode distills the overload of pregnancy information down to the most relevant and useful stuff. Adriana Lozada is a mom, author, speaker, birth doula, postpartum educator, and healthy-sleep consultant. Visit Birthful.com. Please note: Adriana has years of experience but she&#39;s not a doctor, and does not expect anyone to treat the show like medical advice. Please always consult with your care provider. This show does not dispense medical advice.

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Dr. Amber Thornton worked hard for a healthy pregnancy and an unmedicated vaginal birth, but she didn’t expect her water to release before 39 weeks. Despite an early hospital admission, labor progressed right along… until it didn’t. She shares with Adriana the fears she had to contend with while having an unplanned surgical birth, and how having intentionally set up her village of mutual support was invaluable in getting through early nursing difficulties and her cesarean recovery. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULJENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off at JenniKayne.com/Birthful with code BIRTHFUL15AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULACORNS - Go to acorns.com/birthful to start investing for your future today!FAMILYALBUM APP - Download the app for free, wherever you get your apps! DR. MOM BUTT BALM - Go to DrMomButtBalm.com to learn morePAIRED - Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 
 Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.   If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Family-Centered Cesareans and our episode on Supporting Healthy Families in the U.S.: Has Anything Changed? You can connect with Dr. Thorton on Instagram @dramberthornton. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com.  If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Acorns: acorns.com/birthful
* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com
* Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

[Birth Stories] Leaning Into Peer Support After Her Unplanned Surgical Birth

When it comes to postpartum, EVERYONE needs support. And even after accepting that you WILL need the help, it can be tricky figuring out how to ask for it, especially when most of our friends and family members don’t really know how to help (nor have the time!). Kaitlin McGreyes talks with Adriana about how combining community help with professional support can set you up for the perfect combination of care and knowledge to have the amazing postpartum experience you deserve. She also shares insightful tips on how to afford it!  Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULJENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off at JenniKayne.com/Birthful with code BIRTHFUL15AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULACORNS - Go to acorns.com/birthful to start investing for your future today!FAMILYALBUM APP - Download the app for free, wherever you get your apps! DR. MOM BUTT BALM - Go to DrMomButtBalm.com to learn morePAIRED - Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 
 Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.   If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Letting Go of "Mom Guilt" and our episode All About Postpartum Doulas You can connect with Kaitlin on Instagram @behervillage, and You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com.  If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Acorns: acorns.com/birthful
* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com
* Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Why You Deserve Professional Postpartum Support (And How to Afford It!)

Having had two flawless postpartum periods under her belt, Kayla Sanmiguel didn’t know how to cope when postpartum anxiety and severe panic disorder came out of nowhere after her third birth. She shares with Adriana how being blindsided by the experience compelled her to bolster her future postpartum plans, and approach the birth of her fourth baby with new tools and wisdom.  Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULSUGAR SUGAR DEODORANT - Get 20% off at postpartumdeodorant.com with code BIRTHFULJENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off at JenniKayne.com/Birthful with code BIRTHFUL15AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULMY LIFE IN A BOOK - Get 10% off at MyLifeInABook.com with code BIRTHFULFAMILYALBUM APP - Download the app for free, wherever you get your apps! ACORNS - Go to acorns.com/birthful to start investing for your future today!DR. MOM BUTT BALM - Go to DrMomButtBalm.com to learn more
 Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.   If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Helping Your Mammalian Body (And Baby!) Have An Easier And More Connected Birth and our episode on What Actually Happens After Giving Birth, Physically and Emotionally.  You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com.  If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Acorns: acorns.com/birthful
* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com
* Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

[Postpartum Stories]  When Anxiety and Panic Come Out of Nowhere

Understanding your parental leave benefits —with all its overwhelming fine print— can be a daunting task! To make the process easier, human resource professional extraordinaire Katy Dahl shares with Adriana how to approach the process so that you can not only maximize your benefits, but also understand if your time off will impact your health insurance, your paycheck, or your retirement age. Katy brings clarity and levity to the topic, to help you avoid unfortunate surprises during postpartum! Read up on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the PUMP Act, and state-by-state paid parental and medical leave laws at abetterbalance.org Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULSUGAR SUGAR DEODORANT - Get 20% off at postpartumdeodorant.com with code BIRTHFULJENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off at JenniKayne.com/Birthful with code BIRTHFUL15AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULMY LIFE IN A BOOK - Get 10% off at MyLifeInABook.com with code BIRTHFULFAMILYALBUM APP - Download the app for free, wherever you get your apps! ACORNS - Go to acorns.com/birthful to start investing for your future today!DR. MOM BUTT BALM - Go to DrMomButtBalm.com to learn more
 Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.   If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on the Emotional Prep for Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding and our episode on Back-to-Work Sleep Considerations. You can connect with Katy Dahl at problemtoresolution.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com.  If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Acorns: acorns.com/birthful
* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com
* Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Working with HR to Maximize Your Employee Benefits for Postpartum

Ivy shares with Adriana the overwhelming challenges of her postpartum experience after being overjoyed by her fast and furious unmedicated hospital birth. She explains the lactation issues that lead her to exclusively pump and the difficulties in healing her pelvic floor, as well as why she recommends everyone have a Pelvic PT assessment and be familiar with their breast pump before their baby arrives. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULSUGAR SUGAR DEODORANT - Get 20% off at postpartumdeodorant.com with code BIRTHFULJENNI KAYNE - Get 15% off at JenniKayne.com/Birthful with code BIRTHFUL15AQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULMY LIFE IN A BOOK - Get 10% off at MyLifeInABook.com with code BIRTHFULFAMILYALBUM APP - Download the app for free, wherever you get your apps! ACORNS - Go to acorns.com/birthful to start investing for your future today!DR. MOM BUTT BALM - Go to DrMomButtBalm.com to learn more
 Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.   If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on Understanding Acupuncture From a Physiological Lens, our episode on Talking Pelvic Health with a PT, and our episode called All About Pumping! You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com.  If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana’s Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com. Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Acorns: acorns.com/birthful
* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com
* Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/BIRTHFUL 


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Best of Birthful: Why Pushing Too Early Might Affect the Baby and You

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