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Episode #11: Cognitive Dissonance in Midwifery Today with Dr. Stuart Fischbein "Birthing Instincts"

In this final episode of the year on the Midwife of Healing Podcast, I sit in conversation with Dr. Stu, my first clinical preceptor in Midwifery school.

Though not a Midwife, Dr. Stu played a pivotal role in shaping my early understanding of Maternity Care, Birth & Midwifery through witnessing clinical cases, ultrasounds, second opinions, breech and twin pregnancies, VBACs and Home Births labeled to be too “high risk” by state regulations, yet revealing themselves as normal physiologic variations.

Together, this conversation opens a deeper inquiry into cognitive dissonance, not only within medicalized Birth and state politics, but within the heart and soul of modern Midwifery itself.

Topics explored:

- Cognitive dissonance in Birth systems and ideology

- Fear, licensure and litigation in modern Midwifery

- Trusting Birth beyond regulation

- The medical model entering Home Birth

- Autonomy, sovereignty, and informed choice

- Why Midwifery must evolve to serve mothers first

This episode is a loving, honest reckoning and a call forward into a New Paradigm of Birth where mothers and families are truly in control.

With love,

Catalina Clark - Midwife of Healing

About Dr. Stu:

Stuart James Fischbein MD is a community-based obstetrician and an Associate of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, published author of the book “Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife and A Mom” and peer-reviewed papers Homebirth with an Obstetrician, A Series of 135 Out of Hospital Births, Breech birth at home: outcomes of 60 breech and 109 cephalic planned home and birth center births and Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner. After completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Stu, as he is known, spent 24 years assisting women with hospital birthing and, for the next 12+ years, was a homebirth obstetrician who worked directly with midwives assisting local Southern California families. Since retiring from attending home births in late 2022, Dr. Stu has turned his focus to traveling around the world as a lecturer and advocate for reteaching breech & twin birth skills, respect for the normalcy of birth and honoring informed consent. He hosts the weekly Birthing Instincts Podcast with co-host Blyss Young and together they offer hope, reassurance and safe, honest evidence supported choices for those women who understand pregnancy is a normal bodily function not to be feared.

Connect with Dr. Stu:

Follow him on Instagram @birthinginstincts. He can be reached via the websites www.birthinginstincts.com & www.birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Connect with Catalina:

📸 Instagram → @catalina.clark

🌐 Website → catalinaclarkbirth.com

👉 Email → [email protected]

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Listen to the Midwife of Healing Podcast:

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Work with Catalina:

📍 Practicing Home Birth Midwife in West Sonoma County, California

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* Virtual Prenatal Visits

* Birth Preparation

* Birth Partner Support

* Midwife and Doula Mentorship

* Postpartum Planning

* Birth Story Integration

* Ceremonial Breathwork

Thank you for being here. It is an honor to walk this path with you. May we continue to remember these ancient and future ways together. 🤍

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