There is power in sharing and hearing birth stories from people in your community. It can bring confidence to those soon arriving at their own birth and connection for those who have recently given birth. In this week’s episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, we have the delight of hearing the recent birth story from community member and prenatal yoga teacher, Julia Motyka.

Julia’s raw honesty about embracing pain for a purpose was inspiring to hear. While many people, myself included, shy away from labeling birth as painful, Julia expressed how she was able to use these sensations to let her know how to move and react to what her body and baby needed to birth. I walked away from this conversation reminded of the deep reverence I have for birth. I hope you are moved as well by Julia’s birth story. 

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center﻿
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community Birth Story: How To Trust Yourself and the Power of Birth with Julia Motyka

Take ownership of your pregnancy, birth, and parenthood! Join Deb Flashenberg as she dives into conversations with some of the world’s leading pregnancy, birth, yoga and parenting experts. Deb and her guests are voices of calm and reason, sharing practical, relevant, insightful and evidence based information that is helpful for people at all stages of parenting. These lively conversations will inform and entertain you as you embark on this new phase in your life. 
Deb is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC, a labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator, Spinning Babies Parent Educator, prenatal yoga teacher and mother of 2. Please visit Prenatalyogacenter.com

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Today we have a beautiful community birth story from Prenatal Yoga Center graduate, Courtney Vasserman! I personally loved this story and think it will be inspiring, relatable, and encouraging for our community to listen to. Courtney takes us through how she prepared for birth, including the methodology and tools she found incredibly impactful from classes at PYC, along with the coping skills she used and how those varied from early labor, to active labor, to transition. This story is absolutely beautiful, as Courtney speaks on the empowerment and trust she found in her body, yet honest in the sense that she doesn’t shy away from describing her postpartum challenges- pelvic floor issues, breastfeeding struggles, and feelings of isolation. I appreciate how she opens the curtain to what a lot of people experience, and offers affirmation to those who need know they aren’t alone and will get through it.

Sharing her birth story today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, Prenatal Yoga Center graduate Courtney Vasserman grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and currently lives in New York, where she has worked as an advertising strategist since 2012. She lives in Manhattan with her husband Alex, her mini Bernedoodle Muffin, and now her 4.5 month old baby girl Sophie, who she is so in love with. She has always dreamed of being a mother.

Courtney would like to offer the advice that it is okay to slow down, especially in the postpartum experience. She acknowledges that, especially for those like her who are career driven and type-A, it may be hard to learn and accept this concept in the first few months. However it is okay to spend five days in bed when you’ve just given birth! It’s okay to ask someone else to hold the baby or not go on that mile walk. She reminds us to acknowledge the little accomplishments in those tender postpartum months. Courtney reassures that you don’t need to be running around, and that slowing down will be better for both you and your family in the long-run.


Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Birth Story: A Beautiful Birth and a Challenging Postpartum with Courtney Vasserman

Have you thought about what happens right after baby is born?  Today we dive into what to expect following baby’s birth and how to navigate the first 12 weeks of life.  We discuss many topics including umbilical cord care, circumcision care and even how to bathe your baby.  We also dive into the subject of feeding and what to anticipate the first week.  Although the newborn phase may be overwhelming, our guest Dr. Wendy Hunter, approaches this conversation in an accessible way that makes it easy to follow and understand.  

Dr. Wendy Hunter joins us to have this discussion today on, Yoga| Birth| Babies.  Wendy Hunter, MD is a pediatrician in San Diego, CA. She rounds on newborns at Scripps Hospital. Her podcast “The Pediatrician Next Door'' mixes the science of medicine with the realities of parenting.  She incorporates integrative therapies into her practice.

Dr. Hunter would like to normalize the anxiety parents may feel during the newborn phase.  She encourages parents to recognize the anxiety they feel during this period is okay and normal.  She says that having a baby and acknowledging the responsibility of taking care of the child, may cause anxious thoughts.  She wants parents to know that they are not alone and there are resources and ways to find help.  She recommends that parents use their pediatrician as a resource to answer questions and give advice regarding their newborn.  She also reinforces there are professionals that want to assist parents during this time and recommends parents seek help.


Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Understanding Your Newborn Baby with Dr. Wendy Hunter

You may be more aware of what you are eating during pregnancy, however, have you considered how nutrition may affect your birth and postpartum?  In today’s discussion we explore gut health and how your body works during the prenatal and postnatal phase.  We look at gut issues and the treatment for these issues.  We also dive into a conversation around bowel movements because this can tell you so much about your digestive health.  This is an informative discussion that will help you make the connection between what you eat and how it affects your body, especially during pregnancy. 
On this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, we welcome Bridgitte Mallinson to have this conversation.  Bridgitte is a functional medicine dietitian, business mentor and the founder and CEO of GutPersonal, a supplement company that empowers everyone to eliminate gut issues for good through a personalized approach.  After healing a lifelong struggle with her gut, she has spent a decade studying functional medicine and nutrition as a registered functional dietitian.
Bridgitte advises parents to give themselves grace during the postnatal phase.  Taking care of a newborn can be overwhelming and she recommends that parent be compassionate with themselves.  She also reminds parents to eat three balanced meals a day, with protein, fat, and carbohydrates.  Sometimes new parents are so focused on taking care of baby, that they may forget to eat.  She highlights that they need energy to take care of their child, making it important for them to have proper nutrition as well.



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Gut Health Affects Your Pregnancy and Baby! with Bridgitte Mallinson

Do you find it harder to create friendships as an adult?  Today we talk about friendships and how they can be difficult to navigate, especially during parenthood.  Our guest discusses common conflicts that arise between parents as well as ways to better maintain these connections.  If you are a parent or an expectant parent, this conversation will shed light on why friendships are more complex during this phase.  Our guest Danielle, is easy to talk to and gives great advice for parents navigating these new waters.  
To dive deeper into this topic, on Yoga| Birth| Babies, we have Danielle Bayard Jackson.  Danielle is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections.  She is also the author of Fighting for Our Friendships (May 2024).  Danielle’s coaching business, Friend Forward, is dedicated to teaching women how to create and maintain better female friendships. 
Danielle recommends that parents should be intentional with their time.  She says it’s challenging to be available to everyone when they are focusing on raising children.  She advises parents to choose a few close friends to spend time with to avoid becoming overwhelmed by too many obligations.  She also encourages parents to reframe what spending time with friends looks like.  Perhaps running errands with a friend is more feasible than planning a four-hour brunch on a Saturday.  She highlights that friends don’t need to be entertained, they just want to spend time together.  Danielle gives down to earth advice that is very helpful for parents.  



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 3 Most Common Conflicts that Arise Between Mom Friends and How to Solve Them

Have you considered how your endocrine system might affect your fertility or pregnancy?  Today we dive into the topic of endocrine disruptors and how they may adversely affect your system.   Although these endocrine disruptors are everywhere in our environment, the good news is there are ways to limit your exposure.  Our guest today shares practical tips that you can use immediately to limit your exposure to these environmental factors.  She gives great advice on how to find a healthy balance that will benefit your family and the next generation.  
To have this conversation, we welcome Sarah Thompson on this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies.  Sarah is a board-certified diplomat of oriental medicine, certified functional medicine practitioner, and birth doula. She is also the author of Functional Maternity – Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes.
Sarah recommends that parents should try to control what they can in their environment and let go of what they cannot control.  Although it may seem daunting, she believes the goal is to give kids the best chance at success by limiting their exposure to toxins.  She says parents are able to control what goes into their bodies and on their skin, which will give them the opportunity to reduce damage caused by harmful chemicals.  She advises parents not to be too hard on themselves if they aren’t always able to make the best choices because the journey will not be perfect.   Sarah shares ways parents can limit their exposure to damaging elements in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.  I’m excited for you to hear this discussion.  



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community Birth Story: How To Trust Yourself and the Power of Birth with Julia Motyka

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