Aligned Birth

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Imani Byers-Quarterman discuss the importance of processing your birth story, whether it goes according to plan or not.  They emphasize the need to create a birth plan or preference list, while also acknowledging the unpredictability of birth. They highlight the importance of informed consent and being knowledgeable about interventions and options. They discuss ways to protect your mental space during pregnancy, such as addressing fears, building a supportive community, and surrounding yourself with providers who respect your preferences. They also delve into the process of processing your birth story, including seeking therapy, joining support groups, and using narrative therapy to highlight both the bright moments and the challenges. Processing the birth experience is important for healing and growth. It involves acknowledging the emotions and grief associated with a birth that didn't go according to plan. Writing, therapy, support groups, and movement can all be helpful tools in the healing process. It's important to remember that the outcome of the birth does not define a person's worth as a parent. Words matter, and being mindful of the language used around birth is crucial. Processing the birth story can lead to transformation and a deeper understanding of oneself.
Connect with Imani:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter 

Resources mentioned:
Ep 113: Interview with Full Spectrum Doula and Perinatal Mental Health Counselor Imani Byers-Quarterman

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Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the concept of Spinning Babies. They explain the main principles of balance, movement, and gravity, and how these principles can help optimize fetal positioning and promote efficient labor. 

They also highlight the importance of resting smart and incorporating daily exercises into pregnancy routines. The conversation emphasizes the need to explore all of your available resources and options fully.

In this conversation, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discuss various exercises and stretches that can help improve fetal positioning and overall comfort during pregnancy. They cover topics such as walking, forward leaning inversion, sitting posture, stretching, pelvic tilts, and emotional release. 

They emphasize the importance of consistency and gradually increasing the intensity of exercises based on individual fitness levels. The conversation also highlights the benefits of rest and relaxation techniques, such as creating a hammock for the baby and practicing deep breathing. Overall, these exercises and practices can contribute to a more efficient and comfortable labor experience.
Resources mentioned:
Spinning Babies
Ep 55: Optimal Fetal Positioning

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Spinning Babies

06:11 The Three Balances: Jiggle, Forward Leaning Inversion, and Sideline Release

13:39 Resting Smart and Incorporating Daily Exercises

28:08 Moving Consistently and Holding Conversations

34:54 Stretching for Loosening the Hips and Preparing for Labor

42:37 Pelvic Tilts for Relaxing the Lower Back

49:06 Emotional Release and Relaxation Techniques

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Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon interviews Caitlin Wimberly, a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer, about her experiences with prenatal and postpartum fitness. Caitlin shares: 

• her birth histories and her support systems
• emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and seeking help for postpartum depression. 
• the role of the nervous system in postpartum recovery and the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy and chiropractic care. 
• about the challenges she faced during the postpartum period and the impact it had on her identity. 
• the importance of diaphragmatic breathing and core strength in both prenatal and postpartum fitness
• the need for pelvic floor PT and the role it plays in postpartum recovery. 
• that exercise should reflect the phase of life one is in and encourages finding movement that brings joy and improves quality of life. 

Resources mentioned:
Website
Instagram 
Facebook
The Magic of mamahood Podcast
Dad support podcast episode 
Dr. Shannon on the podcast 

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss key pregnancy hormones and their roles in conception, pregnancy, and labor. They emphasize the importance of honoring and understanding these hormones to support a healthy and empowered pregnancy journey.

The hormones discussed include relaxin, HCG, estrogen, oxytocin, progesterone, and prolactin. This conversation explores the role of hormones in pregnancy and childbirth. It covers topics such as nighttime feedings and their impact on ovulation, the hormones involved in labor, the role of prostaglandins in cervical softening, the signaling of the baby for birth, the importance of oxytocin in labor, and the role of endorphins in pain relief.

It also discusses the impact of cortisol and adrenaline on labor, and provides tips for supporting healthy hormones through sleep, movement, and nutrition. The conversation concludes with recommendations for additional resources on hormones.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Hormone Intelligence by Dr, Aviva Romm

Books by Lily Nichols

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

The First 40 Days by Heng Ou

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Honoring Hormones

05:50 Relaxin

08:08 HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin)

09:59 Estrogen

11:40 Oxytocin

14:03 Progesterone

16:00 Prolactin

16:28 Nighttime Feedings and Ovulation

18:04 Prostaglandins and Cervical Softening

19:20 Baby Signaling and Due Dates

20:16 Oxytocin and Labor

21:39 Supporting Oxytocin Flow

22:37 Endorphins and Pain Relief

23:06 Transition and Intensity of Labor

24:06 Cortisol and Adrenaline in Labor

25:38 Supporting Hormones through Sleep, Movement, and Nutrition

27:45 Chiropractic Care and Nervous System Function

29:54 Additional Resources for Learning about Hormones

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode of the Aligned Birth podcast, Dr. Shannon interviews Dr. Twila Blossom Jones, a chiropractor and mother of three. They discuss: 

• Dr. Twila's journey into chiropractic, her experiences with pregnancy and birth, and the influence of chiropractic care on her pregnancies. 
• Her decision to choose home birth for her third child and the benefits she experienced. 
• The importance of finding alignment in both personal and professional life, and the impact of chiropractic care on overall well-being. 
• Dr. Twila shares her experiences with chiropractic care during pregnancy and the importance of newborn chiropractic care including the benefits of adjusting a newborn and the impact it has on their overall health (check out our social for a video of her adjusting newborn son!)
• Dr. Twila also discusses the role of the birth support team and the changes she made in her own team with each pregnancy. 
• She emphasizes the importance of postpartum care and support, including pelvic floor PT and lactation consultants 
• Dr. Twila shares how her faith has influenced her birth experiences and the importance of thriving in life through chiropractic care.

Dr. Twila on The Birth Exchange Podcast
Birth By Grace Midwifery
Connect with Dr. Twila
100% Chiropractic Snellville, Ga
Instagram
Facebook 

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss labor contractions. They explain what contractions are, how to differentiate between Braxton Hicks and real contractions, and how to time contractions. They also discuss the importance of understanding the physiological changes during labor contractions and the significance of visualization and changing the narrative around contractions.

Takeaways

• Understanding the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions
• Knowing how to time contractions and when to head to your birth location (if not birthing at home)
• Recognizing the physiological changes during labor contractions
• Using visualization and changing the narrative to empower the birthing experience

Chapters

00:00 Empowering Birth, Navigating Labor Contractions and Home Labor Preparation

04:23 Understanding Contractions and Changing the Narrative

05:14 Physiological Changes During Labor Contractions

08:33 Differentiating Between Braxton Hicks and Real Contractions

23:50 When to Go to the Hospital or Call the Midwife

29:02 Visualization and Flipping the Script

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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The process of becoming a mother, matresence.  Much like the process of becoming a teenager and adolescence, there are chemical, physical, and emotional changes that occur as we become a mother.  In this episode, Dr. Shannon chats with maternal mental health counselor Kristina Tucker about the change in our identity in motherhood, where society fails us, and what resources are out there for support.  They also discuss:

• How to treat matresence from a holistic and empowering lens 
• The things that change within is in motherhood
• Support vs fixing
• Self-compassion
• Find the gray area of motherhood (the both/and)
• Trauma - attachment - narrative work 

Resources mentioned in the show
Episode 132: navigating motherhood and friendships
Episode 90: Holding 2 truths
Connect with Kristina:
Website
Instagram
Substack

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the different types of doulas and the support they provide. The word doula can be traced back to Ancient Greece meaning “female servant”. Most commonly, people are familiar with a doula surrounding childbirth, but a doula can also provide support for end of life care for the client and family.  

Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael shed some light on several other types of doulas and the support they provide. They cover birth doulas, postpartum doulas, antepartum doulas, end-of-life doulas, and miscarriage doulas. Each type of doula offers unique support and guidance during different stages of life. 

This conversation explores various types of doulas who provide support during different life events and the importance of emotional, informational, and physical support during these challenging times. 

They also discuss the need for trained and certified doulas who can provide individualized care and resources. The conversation aims to raise awareness about the availability of support services and the importance of destigmatizing these topics.

*This episode mentions sensitive topics such as miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, abortion, infertility, and end of life care.  

Resources mentioned in the show:

Episode 76: five benefits of labor doula support
Episode 17: all about birth doulas 
Episode 80: flipping the script on gift registries - be her village
Planning for Postpartum blog
Episode 143: planning for postpartum 

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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Birth not only impacts mom, but baby as well.  In this episode, Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon chat about specific questions she asks during her pediatric chiropractic exams and why those questions are important.  These questions are related to baby position in the womb as well as the entire birth process because the physical aspects of birth (mode of delivery, fast labor, slow labor, baby position) can relate to how baby is processing living outside of the womb (torticollis, constipation, colic, nursing issues)  Birth doesn’t have to be a traumatic event for mom and baby to deal with certain stressors and then for the nervous system to be impacted from those stressors.  But pediatric chiropractic care is a gentle way to help restore optimal nervous system function post-birth for mom and baby.

Your baby doesn’t have to have any “issues” either to benefit from having their nervous system assessed by a pediatric chiropractor!

Resources mentioned:
Episode 95: how birth process impacts infant feeding 
Episode 69: benefits of pediatric chiropractic care
Episode 57: pediatric chiropractic care and cranial adjustments with Dr. Martin Rosen

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.  

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If you’ve watched a movie or TV show where a woman is giving birth, most often, it’s in a hospital, she’s in a semi-reclined position, and she’s typically screaming at someone.  But…….your birth doesn’t have to look like that!

This conversation explores the importance of pushing positions during labor and childbirth. Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the downsides of a single pushing position and emphasize the benefits of using gravity and changing positions. They highlight the importance of listening to your body's natural instincts, the role of comprehensive childbirth education, and the support of a doula in advocating for pushing positions in a hospital setting are also discussed.

The conversation concludes with a focus on upright pushing positions and the benefits of water birth. This conversation explores the importance of movement during labor and the limitations of medical interventions.  You'll learn the impact of epidurals on the pushing stage and how to maintain movement.

The conversation also highlights the role of chiropractic care and pelvic floor physical therapy in facilitating efficient pushing. It emphasizes the importance of advocating for one's desired pushing positions and staying curious throughout the birthing process.

Topics covered:

• Different pushing positions
• Why changing positions is beneficial during labor
• How chiropractic care can help with the pushing stage
• What pushing positions can look like with an epidural (also check out Episode 92: all about epidurals )
• How childbirth education courses can help you have an empowered birth experience and learn pushing positions (check out Episode 50: hospital based classes vs independent childbirth ed classes) 

Support the show

Want to show your support? Want to help us continue doing this important and impactful work: Support the Show (we greatly appreciate it!)

Don't miss new episodes: Join the Aligned Birth Community

Instagram: Aligned Birth

Email: [email protected]

Find us online:
Sunrise Chiropractic and Wellness
North Atlanta Birth Services

Editing: Godfrey Sound
Music: "Freedom” by Roa

Disclaimer: The information shared, obtained, and discussed in this podcast is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your individual medical needs. By listening to this podcast you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others.  Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.  This disclaimer includes  all guests or contributors to the podcast.