Gentle Beginnings

Birth story, mindset during pregnancy, fast labor, home birth, postpartum recovery, Brain Body Birth success story — this episode is a masterclass in what's possible when fear is replaced with preparation.

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and Brain Body Birth student Blimi Adler, who shares her journey from feeling anxious and overwhelmed as a busy entrepreneur and mom expecting her second baby, to walking into her birth feeling calm, confident, and genuinely excited.

Blimi opens up about her first induced birth, where she never actually experienced labor, and how that left her wanting more clarity and more control the second time around. We talk about the crash course we did together just weeks before she gave birth, how quickly the brain can shift and prepare during pregnancy, and how Blimi went from never even considering a home birth to texting her sister two days before labor that "next time" she wanted one.

Then she takes us through her fast-moving, unmedicated labor at home, the unexpected unassisted birth that followed, and the calm, grounded postpartum moments afterward with her husband and son.

We also talk about something not discussed nearly enough: postpartum preparation, and why recovery deserves just as much attention as birth itself.

This is a story about trusting your body, releasing the need to control every outcome, and discovering just how much capacity you actually have.

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

Postpartum Birth Control Options Explained: Mini Pill, IUDs, and Non-Hormonal Methods with Sora Miriam Davis

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

Postpartum birth control, mini pill, hormonal IUD, copper IUD, fertility awareness method, breastfeeding and birth control, Orthodox Jewish family planning — this episode is the birth control conversation so many postpartum women wish they'd had before their six-week visit.

In this episode, I sit down with Sora Mariam Davis, a birth control and intimacy educator, to break down postpartum birth control options in a balanced, evidence-based, non-fear-based way.

So many women leave their six-week postpartum visit with a list of options and no real understanding of what any of them mean, how they work, or how to choose. Sora Miriam is on a mission to change that by putting women back on their own healthcare team.

We cover the most common postpartum options, including the mini pill (progestin-only), the hormonal IUD, and the copper IUD, how each one actually works, common myths around breastfeeding and hormonal birth control, and how side effects like mood changes, spotting, and libido shifts can show up differently for every woman.

We also talk about non-hormonal methods like the diaphragm and fertility awareness method (FAM), the realities and risks of relying on breastfeeding alone (LAM) as birth control, and how Orthodox Jewish couples navigate these decisions alongside their rabbi, with an important myth-busting conversation about what that really looks like.

This conversation is all about making informed, individualized choices, without judgment and without fear-mongering in either direction.

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes. 

Gut microbiome, probiotics during pregnancy, GBS (Group B Strep), brain-gut connection, vaginal seeding, baby's microbiome — this episode is a deep dive into a topic that deserves way more attention during pregnancy.

In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the gut microbiome and probiotics during pregnancy in simple, non-overwhelming language. We talk about what the microbiome actually is, why it matters so much more than just digestion, and how it connects to your immune system, your hormones, your inflammation, your mental health, and even your baby's long-term health.

I cover the research on probiotics and GBS (Group B Strep), including how certain lactobacillus strains may help support a healthier vaginal microbiome, the fascinating brain-gut connection and why antibiotics can affect your mood, how pregnancy itself changes your microbiome, and how your baby's microbiome develops during and after birth, including options like vaginal seeding for babies born via C-section.

I also share practical, everyday ways to support your gut through food, fermented foods, fiber, and probiotics, without needing to buy into expensive wellness culture or feel overwhelmed. My hope is that this episode helps you feel more informed and more connected to your body, and reminds you just how intelligent your body really is.

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

A birth trauma healing story, an unplanned home birth, and a masterclass in evidence-based birth prep - this episode has it all.

In this episode, I sit down with Chanie, a Brain Body Birth student, who takes us through her journey from two traumatic hospital births to a completely different third birth experience.

Her first two births left her afraid of labor: her water broke both times, she was induced, and with her second baby she was vacuum-assisted with no explanation from her medical team, not during, and not afterward. Going into her third pregnancy, on top of five months of severe nausea and IV fluids, that fear of a repeat traumatic birth followed her everywhere.

We talk about how hypnosis and affirmations helped her sleep through the night for the first time in months, how becoming an evidence-based, educated patient changed the way she approached her prenatal care, and her decision to pause a scheduled induction after doing her own research into whether it was medically necessary. Chanie also walks us through the fast-moving, adrenaline-filled story of her labor, laboring at home on a birth ball and on the toilet, not realizing how far along she actually was, and the unplanned, unassisted home birth that followed with Hatzalah, a local volunteer EMS service, arriving just in time to help deliver her baby.

This conversation is about healing from birth trauma, learning to trust your body, and what becomes possible when fear is replaced with real information and self-advocacy.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

Birth story, emergency c-section, factor 11 deficiency, induction, NICU journey, birth trauma recovery — this episode covers it all, through the honest and deeply moving story of one mother's unexpected birth.

A note before you listen: this episode includes discussion of an emergency c-section and postpartum newborn complications, including a NICU stay. If this may be difficult for you, please take care of yourself as you listen, and feel free to pause or return to it when it feels right.

In this episode, I sit down with Chaya Sury, who shares her birth story with so much honesty and vulnerability. Chaya Sury walks us through her pregnancy with factor 11 deficiency (a blood clotting condition common in the Ashkenazi population), the medically necessary induction at 38 weeks, a long and complicated labor, and the emergency c-section that followed after hours of pushing.

She also opens up about the days after birth, including her baby's NICU stay after a stroke diagnosis, and what it was like to advocate for herself and her son through it all.

Chaya's story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn't always go the way we plan, and that there is so much strength, wisdom, and resilience in every version of a birth story, even the ones that look nothing like we imagined.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

Doula support, birth advocacy, and postpartum confidence — this episode is a sister-to-sister conversation you don't want to miss.

I sat down with my own sister, Esty, an incredible doula, to talk about what real, hands-on labor support actually looks like.

We talk about what advocacy really means during labor (it's so much more than a birth plan), how a doula supports both mom and partner without ever replacing him, how to know if a doula is the right fit for you, and what to expect at every stage of the process.

Estie also shares her honest take on newborn safety, boundary-setting with well-meaning family, and why confidence, not perfection, is what actually carries a woman through birth.

If you've ever wondered what a doula actually does in the room, how to advocate for yourself with your care team, or how to walk into motherhood feeling more sure of yourself, this conversation is for you.

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Follow Toby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/gentlebeginningsofficial/

Website: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/ 

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About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

I connected with Malky, a Brain Body Birth student and dear friend, who shares the story of her pregnancy after loss and the birth of her miracle baby.

In this conversation, Malky opens up about the fear and anxiety she carried after experiencing miscarriage, and what it was like to move through pregnancy while waiting for something to go wrong. She shares how learning to gently reframe her thoughts, regulate her nervous system, and prepare both mentally and physically helped her move from fear toward hope.

We also talk about choosing a birth setting that aligned with her values, the importance of having the right support around you, and what her labor and birth actually felt like—the beautiful moments, the difficult moments, and everything in between. Her story is a reminder that a positive birth doesn't have to look perfect. It can be messy, emotional, challenging, and still leave you feeling strong, empowered, and deeply transformed.

If you're pregnant after loss, carrying fear into birth, or wondering if it's possible to feel calm even when you're scared, I hope Malky's story reminds you that you don't have to do it alone.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcSisUg2UDWweeWHU1lR8nw

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About Toby:

Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby.Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

I’m Toby Deutsch, childbirth educator, mindfulness instructor, and founder of Gentle Beginnings.

In this first episode, I share the story behind Gentle Beginnings – what led me into this work and how my own experiences with birth, miscarriage, anxiety, and healing shaped the way I now support women through pregnancy and motherhood.

I talk about growing up with birth as something quiet and often surrounded by fear, how that shaped me long before I became a mother, and how my first experience of birth brought those beliefs into reality in a very personal way. I also share the miscarriage and season of anxiety that followed, and how that time ultimately led me into a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection and the role of the nervous system in birth.

Over time, that personal healing became the foundation for Gentle Beginnings – a space built to help women feel more informed, supported, and grounded. I also share how this work evolved from private conversations and in-person teaching into a course and now this podcast.

My hope is that this becomes a space where you feel seen, supported, and less alone in your experience of pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

CONNECT WITH TOBY:

Need support? Here are a few resources:

About Toby:

Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby.Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.

In this episode, I sit down with Aidy D from Blossom Women’s Wellness to talk about women’s health, hormones, nutrition, fitness, and pregnancy.

We cover cycle-based health, seed cycling, cravings, and nutrients like magnesium, and how to support your body with movement—both throughout your cycle and during pregnancy. A practical, reassuring conversation for women looking to better understand and support their bodies.

To work with Aidy, contact her via email:

📧[email protected]