Better Way To Do Life

Better Way To Do Life

By Christina VineAlternative HealthHealth & Fitness
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Better Way To Do Life episodes

  • 14. Pregnancy Hormones, Birth Trauma & the Magic of Placenta with Demi Betschart

    Today I have the pleasure of welcoming my friend Demi Betschart back to the show! Demi is a trained and certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Professional Placenta Encapsulator, and training to become a Certified & Licensed Midwife.

    If you haven’t listened to Demi’s first appearance on the podcast, it’s episode 13. The Freedom of Home Birth & How to Find Your Perfect Doula or Midwife. It’s amazing!

    Find the full shownotes for this episode at betterwaytodolife.com/14.

    SHOWNOTES:

    03:56 — Hormones During Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum

    • The role of progesterone
    • Why many women experience constipation during the first trimester
    • The role of estrogen
    • The reason behind breast tenderness during pregnancy
    • What gives us a pregnancy glow?
    • The role of relaxin
    • Why it is important to maintain muscle tone and strength during pregnancy
    • The role of prolactin
    • The role of oxytocin
    • The reason behind the "baby blues”
    • Ways to increase oxytocin production after birth
    • 5-MeO-DMT (aka the "God molecule”) is produced during birth

      • 17:32 — The Magic of Placenta

      • What is placenta? (It’s an organ!)
      • The function of the placenta
      • You can eat your placenta!
      • What nutrients are in the placenta?
      • Using the placenta to stop postpartum hemorrhage
      • Placenta encapsulations
      • What can we do with the placenta besides eating it?
      • Animals eat their placentas

        • 25:20 — Birth Trauma

        • The importance of working on your birth trauma before giving birth
        • Unresolved emotional trauma comes up during labor and holts the process
        • How Demi works with clients and their emotional trauma
        • Letting go of shame around one's trauma to heal it

          • 32:37 — The Role a Woman’s Partner Plays During Birth

          • Why it is important for a woman to have someone hold a strong masculine container for her while she is giving birth
          • How people’s power and autonomy get taken away in a hospital during birth

            • Resources:

            • Instagram: @demibetschart

              • •••

              Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

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              2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

              3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

              Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

              41 min
            • ZEN WEEKLY: Tao Te Ching, Verse 8 by Lao Tzu

              In this episode, I read the 8th Verse of the Tao Te Ching. This verse inspires us to be like water. Which qualities of water can we adopt to embody our Higher Self more?

              Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese text, written around 400 BC by a sage and philosopher Lao Tzu.

              If you’d like to share your thoughts on today’s episode, you can do so in the comments section of this week’s Zen Weekly post on Instagram. You can also DM me @betterwaytodolife.

              •••

              Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

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              2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

              3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

              Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

              5 min
            • 13. The Freedom of Home Birth & How to Find Your Perfect Doula or Midwife with Demi Betschart

              Demi is a trained and certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Professional Placenta Encapsulator, and training to become a Certified & Licensed Midwife.

              She believes that birth is a pivotal time in a woman’s life and strives to co-create an environment of respect, safety, intimacy, and informed choice so that women and families can achieve their utmost wellbeing. She guides women back to their intuition to help them have an empowered conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.

              Find the full shownotes for this episode at betterwaytodolife.com/13.

              SHOWNOTES:

              04:25 — Demi’s Story

              • How Demi found her calling as a doula and a midwife
              • Understanding the impact of unresolved trauma on the birth process

                • 13:15 — Doula vs Midwife

                • The difference between a doula and a midwife
                • How does a doula support women through their pregnancy and birth?
                • What does a midwife do during birth?
                • Why you should interview several doulas or midwives before making a decision
                • The importance of carefully choosing people who are going to be in your birth space
                • Is it okay to change your birthing team throughout pregnancy?

                  • 24:11 — Birth Is Not a Medical Condition

                  • Why birth is not a medical condition or emergency
                  • 95% of births don't need interventions
                  • How one intervention leads to many others
                  • The importance of not making birth-related decisions from a place of fear
                  • A medical professional is not God

                    • 29:38 — The Freedom of Home Birth

                    • The advantages of a home birth
                    • The phase of labor in which a birthing woman should not be interrupted
                    • The importance of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby after birth
                    • How to create a more comfortable birthing space in the hospital (if you really need to transfer)
                    • Is home birth safe?
                    • Why breech babies are the norm and safe to deliver at home

                      • 42:01 — The Dangers of Hospital Birth

                      • Most of the interventions done at hospitals during births are unnecessary
                      • The impact of the hospital birth on the attachment system between the mother and the baby
                      • The consequences of the mother and the baby being separated after birth

                        • 48:16 — Demi’s Birth Circle


                        Connect with Demi:

                        • Instagram: @demibetschart
                        • Phone: +1-805-423-4706
                        • Learn more about The Birth Circle HERE.
                        • Demi is offering a generous discount ($150 OFF) for the listeners of the show! 

                          • •••

                          Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                          1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                          2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                          3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                          Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                          53 min
                        • SOLOCAST: Upcoming Changes & the Collective Level of Consciousness

                          In this solocast, I talk about the current collective level of consciousness of the planet and the impact it has on our everyday lives.

                          I explain how understanding where we are as a planet in terms of the collective level of consciousness has brought me to a decision to change the podcast episode release schedule.

                          I also talk about how the events of the past several years have impacted the collective level of consciousness + briefly explain David R. Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness and how the collective level of consciousness of the planet has been changing throughout the last 2,000 years! 

                          •••

                          Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                          1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                          2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                          3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                          Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                          5 min
                        • 12. The Power of Breath: Qigong for Health and Vitality with Sloane Warren

                          Sloane is an energy healer, manifestation coach, and Qigong instructor with a decades-long career in neuromuscular therapy. She is also a multi-hyphenate storyteller and has worked both in front and behind the camera for many years.

                          Sloane often co-mingles both industries as she guides professionals from the entertainment world to manifesting what they want in their careers. Most recently, she had a client manifest an Oscar nomination within nine days of their session with Sloane! Sloane truly believes that abundance in all areas is our birthright and roadblocks are merely stepping stones to growth and higher levels of consciousness.

                          Find the full shownotes for this episode at betterwaytodolife.com/12.

                          SHOWNOTES:

                          04:40 — Qigong: Definition & History

                          • What is Qigong?
                          • Why isn’t Qigong as widespread as many other healing practices?
                          • What does the word “Qigong” mean?
                          • The difference between Qigong and Tai chi

                            • 10:50 — The Benefits of Qigong

                            14:23 — The Power of Breath for Releasing Stress

                            • The connection between shallow breathing and accumulated stress
                            • The consequences of shallow breathing

                              • 20:24 — Practicing Qigong

                              • Where to start?
                              • Why the practice differs from practitioner to practitioner
                              • How Sloane incorporates Tibetan singing bowls into her Qigong practice
                              • Sloane’s Journey to Tibet

                                • Resources:

                                • Website: atlbodyretreat.com
                                • Instagram: @sloanewarren
                                • Twitter: @SloaneAWarren

                                  • •••

                                  Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                  1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                  2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                  3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                  Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                  31 min
                                • ZEN WEEKLY: On Integrating Pain & Discomfort (from The Presence Process by Michael Brown)

                                  In this episode, I read a beautiful excerpt about a simple way to integrate our pain and discomfort from a book called “The Presence Process” by Michael Brown.

                                  If you’d like to share your thoughts on today’s episode, you can do so in the comments section of this week’s Zen Weekly post on Instagram. You can also DM me @betterwaytodolife.

                                  Have a zen weekend everyone! Enjoy the episode.

                                  •••

                                  Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                  1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                  2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                  3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                  Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                  3 min
                                • 11. The Origins of TCM, Herbology & Living Meditation with Dr. Jenelle Kim

                                  Dr. Kim is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and is Nationally Board Certified in Herbology, Oriental Medicine, and Acupuncture. She has been featured in such publications as Forbes, Allure, Meditation Magazine, and Time. Dr. Kim completed extensive training in East Asia under some of the most respected doctors and is devoted to integrating the philosophy and medical wisdom of East Asia with the advancements of Western medicine to positively affect the lives of others.

                                  As one the pioneers in natural beauty and wellness industry, Dr. Kim has formulated some of the first all-natural luxury products carried in high-end spas across the world including Ritz Carlton, Four Season, and Mandarin Oriental.

                                  Dr. Kim is also a best-selling author of Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation, which is available globally in six languages. In her book, she breaks down the principles of Myung Sung, offering a way to achieve a life of balance and happiness by enjoying the positive benefits of meditation every minute of every day. Dr. Kim’s unique approach to meditation combines lessons on movement and natural medicine learned from a lifetime of experience studying Eastern philosophy, Eastern medicine, and martial arts.

                                  More about this episode here.

                                  SHOWNOTES:

                                  04:40 — Introduction to Dr. Kim’s Work

                                  07:57 — Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

                                  • What is TCM?
                                  • Where does TCM come from?
                                  • Healing modalities TCM includes

                                    • 17:27 — Herbology in TCM

                                    • How acupuncture and herbal medicine are connected and work in synergy
                                    • The best way to use herbs to support our bodies during different seasons
                                    • Why herbal formulas created by master herbologists are especially beneficial

                                      • 26:19 — Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation

                                      • What does Myung Sung mean?
                                      • What is living meditation?
                                      • What are the 8 keys to living meditation?
                                      • Dr. Kim’s practice for starting to incorporate living meditation into your life today

                                        • Resources:

                                        • Website: jenellekim.com
                                        • Instagram: drjenellemkim
                                        • Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation by Dr. Jenelle Kim (Book)

                                          • •••

                                          Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                          1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                          2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                          3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                          Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                          35 min
                                        • ZEN WEEKLY: When the Violin by Hafiz

                                          In this episode, I read a poem by Hafiz called “When the Violin”.

                                          If you’d like to share your thoughts on today’s episode, you can do so in the comments section of this week’s Zen Weekly post on Instagram. You can also DM me @betterwaytodolife. 

                                          Have a zen weekend everyone! Enjoy the episode.

                                          •••

                                          Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                          1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                          2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                          3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                          Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                          3 min
                                        • 10. Doing the Inner Work & Getting Back to Wholeness with Luke Monteleone

                                          Luke is a Transformation Coach, who uses various healing modalities to help his clients find their path back to wholeness by resolving trauma. He believes that as we go through the healing process, our individual purpose starts shining through and we develop skills that become our service to the world. Luke’s insight into the root of human suffering helped him develop a framework for transforming pain into purpose. He has helped dozens of clients discover and thrive in their purpose.

                                          Today, as I am celebrating episode 10 being out in the world, I feel such gratitude for each and every one of you. There are hundreds of amazing podcasts out there, and the fact that you are here means the world to me. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast is bringing value and inspiring you to live a better life.

                                          More about this episode here.

                                          SHOWNOTES:

                                          04:43 — Luke’s Awakening Story

                                          09:25 — What Makes Inner Work Painful?

                                          11:29 — Why the Ego Is Not Your Enemy

                                          12:28 — Modalities for Healing Emotional Trauma

                                          • The ways emotional trauma can come up in daily life
                                          • Where does emotional trauma come from?
                                          • Nervous system dysregulation as a consequence of trauma
                                          • Polyvagal theory
                                          • Neuroception and the role it plays in our everyday lives
                                          • Attachment theory
                                          • Parts work: Internal Family Systems (IFS)
                                          • Somatic work

                                            • 22:52 — Luke’s Take on Purpose

                                            35:00 — Cultivating Self-Love

                                            Resources:

                                            • Website: purposestate.com
                                            • Instagram: @purpose.state
                                            • Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. (Website) 
                                            • Internal Family Systems (Website) 
                                            • Somatic Therapy & the Essence of Yoga with Manjushri Agadi (Episode)

                                              • •••

                                              Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                              1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                              2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                              3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                              Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                              45 min
                                            • ZEN WEEKLY: Tao Te Ching, Verse 37 by Lao Tzu

                                              In this episode, I read the 37th Verse of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.

                                              The Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese text, written around 400 BC. It is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism.

                                              If you’d like to share your thoughts on today’s episode, you can do so in the comments section of this week’s Zen Weekly post on Instagram. You can also DM me @betterwaytodolife.

                                              Have a zen weekend everyone! Enjoy the episode. 

                                              •••

                                              Love the show? Here are the ways you can support it:

                                              1. SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts • Spotify • Stitcher

                                              2. LEAVE A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts

                                              3. SHARE with friends, family members, or anyone who you think will love the show, too!

                                              Follow on INSTAGRAM for more better life inspiration: @betterwaytodolife

                                              4 min

                                            About Better Way To Do Life

                                            From the publisher's feed

                                            It’s simple — Do you want to live a better life? Do you want to experience new levels of heath, joy, peace, love, and abundance? Each week, host Christina Vine shares interviews with experts in the fields of health, spirituality, and self-development.