Join us as we talk about how to have a natural birth in the hospital!

In this episode, Stephanie interviews Cori Gentry, a certified childbirth educator, to discuss how to have a more “natural birth” in the hospital.

Women have a wide range of options when it comes to where they want to give birth and who they want on their birth team. Ultimately, the best choice is whatever mom and her family feel comfortable with.

We’ve talked about home births on past episodes, so today we want to open up the conversation and discuss hospital births. If a woman wants to have a natural birth, but feels more comfortable in the hospital, there are a few important things she needs to keep in mind.

This episode will help you feel more educated and empowered in the hospital whether or not a natural birth is your end goal.

Cori Gentry’s bio:

Cori Gentry is the owner of Birth Chemistry Birth Classes and is a certified Birth Boot Camp natural childbirth educator and an Evidence Based Birth instructor. She offers 10 week natural childbirth classes, 6 week home birth preparation classes, and Evidence Based Birth workshops.

Through the stories of her mother and family members Cori grew up believing that natural birth was normal. After studying Early Childhood Education at California State Monterey Bay, she became a childcare provider in 2005 and was surprised by how common cesareans and epidurals were among her clients. No one seemed to believe natural birth was achievable, and her hopes for a natural birth were often met with “You’ll be begging for drugs!”

Cori married the pop punk rocker of her dreams in 2007, and on Valentine’s Day 2009 Eric and Cori were thrilled to find that we were pregnant. They immediately sought a comprehensive natural childbirth class and when they discovered there were none in the area, she knew she would someday offer one.

Cori and Eric now have four sons, Milo is 6, Ashley is 4, Indiana is 2, and Everett turns one today (Dec 22). Her births have been very different. She has birthed at 38 weeks and after 42 weeks, at three different local hospitals and at home, with doctors and midwives, medicated and natural.

Advocating for options and safety in childbirth is something Cori lives daily. She is the President of the Birth Network of Monterey County, Co-Leader of the International Cesarean Awareness Networks (ICAN) of Monterey County, and on the Board of Directors for Improving Birth. Cori’s website is birthchemistry.com.

TIMESTAMPS:

[0:00] Intro

[1:14] Steph’s Updates

[3:08] Cori Gentry’s biography

[5:12] Why childbirth education is so important and what to look for in a class

[15:00] Important considerations when creating a birth plan

[22:23] Informed consent and women's rights during childbirth

[25:35] Strategies to be more comfortable in the hospital

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