Podcast Show Notes

Episode Title: Preterm Birth and Babies with Kristine Laurie

Episode Overview:

Join your hosts Lea and Sophia as they welcome back Kristine Laurie, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Midwife (LM) with over 33 years of experience. In this episode, Kristine shares her vast knowledge of high-risk obstetrics in both the United States and international low-resource settings. The discussion covers topics such as Doctors Without Borders, preterm birth, steroids, antibiotics, kangaroo care, PROM, and challenges like cord prolapse, placenta previa, and fetal demise.

Kristine’s invaluable insights, shaped by attending over 5,000 births (including 516 breeches, 387 sets of twins, and 7 sets of triplets), highlight her commitment to autonomy in women’s health and her advocacy for physiologic birth.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Doctors Without Borders and Global Midwifery

• Kristine’s work with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in providing life-saving care in low-resource settings.

• Challenges and triumphs of delivering care in developing countries.

2. Preterm Birth in the USA

• Common interventions like steroids and antibiotics for preterm labor.

• Addressing jaundice and the importance of kangaroo care for preterm infants.

3. High-Risk Pregnancy Complications

• Navigating complex cases involving PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes), cord prolapse, and placenta previa.

• Managing infection, UTIs, and their impact on pregnancy outcomes.

4. Multiples and Fetal Demise

• Kristine’s extensive experience with twins, triplets, and supporting families through fetal demise.

5. IVF, IUI, and Assisted Conception

• Insights into the unique challenges of pregnancies conceived through IVF and IUI.

6. Physiologic Birth Advocacy

• Why Kristine champions autonomy and education in women’s health.

• The importance of reducing unnecessary interventions and trusting the body.

About Kristine Laurie:

Kristine Laurie is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Midwife (LM) with over 33 years of experience, specializing in high-risk obstetrics. She has attended more than 5,000 births, the majority in out-of-hospital settings, including over 516 breeches, 387 sets of twins, and 7 sets of triplets.

For over 20 years, Kristine has worked internationally with Doctors Without Borders, bringing her expertise to low-resource settings. At home, she teaches advanced midwifery classes with the Midwifery Wisdom Collective, facilitates masterclasses with Breech Without Borders, and serves as an expert witness in court cases involving breech birth.

Connect with Kristine Laurie:

• Instagram: @globalmidwife64

• Website: https://midwifewithoutboundaries.wordpress.com/

Listen to the Episode:

• Podcast Link: Spotify

• Instagram: @sophiabirth, @bayareahomebirth, @bornwildmidwifery

• Facebook: Podcast Link

Final Thoughts:

Kristine Laurie’s decades of experience, both domestically and internationally, make her a true expert in high-risk obstetrics and autonomous birth care. Whether you’re a birth professional or parent, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of physiologic birth and navigating the challenges of pregnancy and birth with confidence and care.

Stay Wild 🌳