Orgasmic Birth: Podcast

Ep 139 Description: 

"This is your birth. You get to make the choices around that. We are the experts of our internal direct experience, and we should honor that." —Bec Conant

The pelvic floor holds the key to unlocking a transformative birth experience. This intricate muscle group is often shrouded in mystery, yet its role in labor and delivery is undeniable. Discover the surprising ways the pelvic floor can profoundly impact the birthing journey.

Bec Conant is a respected prenatal yoga expert with over 25 years of experience. Her personal birth journey inspired a profound shift in her teaching, leading to a holistic approach that bridges movement, anatomy, and the pelvic floor.

Tune in as Debra and Bec share eye-opening insights on the powerful connection between the pelvic floor, the psoas muscle, and the birthing process, offering practical tips to prepare the body for an empowered labor and delivery.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

02:28 Meet Bec

09:56 Bec's Birth Experience

11:30 Understanding the Psoas Muscle

19:17 Integrating New Knowledge Into Teaching 

27:22 Practical Tips for Prenatal Yoga

31:33 The OM Birth Approach

Resources: 

💗Learn more about pleasure in birth, parenting, and birth work. Get your gift at: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/more  

💗If you or someone you love is preparing for pregnancy or birth, join Debra's Pleasurable Birth Essentials to prepare for a positive, safe, and healthy birth experience: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/pleasurable-birth-essentials 

💗Partner with us to share your offerings with our audience that cherishes authenticity, connection, and family well-being. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.orgasmicbirth.com or email me at: [email protected]

About Bec:

Bec Conant is a respected figure in Boston and New England for her expertise in prenatal care and yoga instruction spanning over two decades. Through her own birth program, the OM Birth Approach, she empowers expectant individuals, guiding them through childbirth and easing their transition into parenthood. Bec is the author of The OM Birth Approach, which uses yoga to prepare the body, mind and spirit for birth. With over 25 years of experience teaching prenatal yoga and 12 years as a doula, Bec brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective shaped by her own transformative birth experience.

Get your copy of Bec's book: 

The Om Births Approach: How To Use Your Yoga Practice To Prepare Body, Mind, And Spirit For Birth, A Book For Pregnant Yoginis And The People Who Teach Them 

Website: https://www.ombirths.com/    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ombirths/   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmBirths/   

Ep 138 Description: 

An investment in yourself as an investment in the people around you and your children." —Lacy Woods

Maternal health and wellness are essential for a happy and healthy family. Yet, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum can deeply influence a mother's long-term well-being. And so, prioritizing holistic care and support during these times is key to fostering resilience and joy.

Lacy Woods is a passionate perinatal and pelvic health occupational therapist. She founded Maternal Milestones and specializes in pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise.

Discover the impact of maternal health occupational therapy, the importance of support systems for mothers, and Lacy's inspiring journey and professional insights.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

02:47 Navigating Unmedicated Hospital Birth

07:26 Navigating Labor and Delivery: Induction and Epidural 

11:27 Second Pregnancy and Postpartum Reflections

18:35 Coping with Loss

23:26 Emotional and Physical Challenges of Birth

29:42 Postpartum Bliss and Professional Impact

32:27 Turning Into the Body and Relaxation Techniques

34:42 The Importance of Self-Care and Support  

Ep 137 Description:

"Birth matters not just for that day, not just for the baby, not just for your health, but birth matters for how you live your entire life." —Aly McClain

The myth of the "small pelvis" has long been used to limit birth options and define a woman's experience. But what if this diagnosis didn't have to determine your path? 

Aly McCLain is a dedicated advocate for empowering first-time home birth mothers. As a registered nurse, home birth coach, and host of the Peaceful Home Birth podcast, Aly combines her passion for holistic health, mindset techniques, and practical wisdom to guide expectant mothers through every step of their journey to a peaceful and empowering birth.

Tune in as Aly shares her powerful journey from a challenging diagnosis to an orgasmic birth, exploring how birth trauma can shape motherhood and the importance of intentionality in creating a truly transformative birth experience.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

02:48 "Small Pelvis" 

10:30 Impact of Medicalized Birth

14:29 Deciding on Home Birth

20:26 Challenges and Decisions During Second Pregnancy

26:24 The Power of Rewiring and Empowerment 

31:35 Helpful Resources 

Ep 136 Description: 

"I learned that pleasure was my greatest power." —Britt Fohrman

Pleasure is not just a fleeting indulgence, but a profound pathway to self-discovery and transformation. When we embrace pleasure as a guiding force, we unlock the ability to heal, grow, and live more authentically. 

Britt Fohrman is a doula, embodiment coach, yoga teacher, and birth educator with over two decades of experience. Drawing from deep practices in Buddhism, hypnosis, tantra, and shamanic traditions, Britt guides her clients to live a life aligned with their desires, intuition, and authentic values.

Tune in as Britt shares her remarkable journey of resilience, courage, and self-discovery, exploring grief, conception, and the power of pleasure in the face of adversity.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

03:39 Britt's Journey From Loss to New Life

07:09 Healing and Pleasure in Pregnancy 

14:56 Challenges and Birth Experience 

15:25 Post-Birth Reflections 

About Britt: 

As an embodiment teacher, coach, birth educator, and photographer for over two decades, Britt Fohrman helps people cultivate embodiment and expand pleasure through coaching, yoga, meditation, breathwork, somatic practice,  and mindfulness. 

Her practice is based on over 2 decades of experience in holding space for women standing at the threshold of life's most profound transitions: becoming a mother, healing from illness, injury or loss, stepping into sexual power and opening to new beginnings. 

Britt holds a loving space for you to feel deeper into your body, allowing whatever is needed to be felt to come through, liberating you into living a life led by your desires, inner knowing and authentic values.

Website: https://www.brittfohrman.com  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejuicyladies   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittFohrmanDoula/ 

Ep 135 Description: 

"Every birth is unique, so pleasure might look different for you than it does for someone else. The goal isn't to force a specific experience but to open yourself to the possibilities you." —Debra Pascali-Bonaro

Birth and sex— two deeply intertwined experiences that hold the power to transform lives. Embracing their connection unlocks a world of possibilities, from joyful labors to empowered deliveries. Yet, the taboos surrounding this bond often leave us disconnected from our innate abilities to birth with pleasure.

Hence, this episode aims to unpack the profound links between birth and sex, exploring the role of hormones, the significance of sexual organs, and the transformative potential of incorporating pleasure into the birthing journey. 

Tune in as Debra invites us to rewrite the narrative of childbirth! 

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

02:28 The Role of Hormones in Birth and Sex

06:31 The Role of Sexual Organs in Birth 

09:43 Bringing Pleasure into Birth

14:54 Understanding Orgasmic Birth

17:38 Advocating for a Positive Birth Experience

19:37 Rewrite the Narrative of Birth!

About Debra:

Debra Pascali-Bonaro is a world-renowned inspirational speaker, filmmaker, doula trainer, childbirth educator, and author. Debra's latest book, an Amazon #1 New Release, The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Baby: Secrets to Love and Intimacy brings together her passion for pleasure in every aspect of life with her Jersey-Girl attitude of talking about what no one is talking about! Debra is a mother, grandmother, and featured expert in parenting journals and media around the world.

Debra Pascali-Bonaro is also Co-Chair of the International Childbirth Initiative and Chair of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative both of which promote safe, respectful childbirth maternity care. She is a Lamaze International childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula trainer with DONA International, Director of the award-winning documentary Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret, co-writer of "Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth" and the Founder & President of the revolutionary online childbirth class Pain to Power, which prepares expectant mothers, fathers, and partners to be positively prepared for birth and focuses on the intimate and sacred nature of birth. Debra's passion comes from her over 30 years of working with women, men, midwives, doulas, physicians, and nurses in over 40 countries bringing comfort, love, and pleasure to birth and life!

Debra Pascali Bonaro has been featured on ABC's 20/20, Good Morning Russia, The NBC Today Show, Discovery Health, in The New York Times, The LA Times, and The UK Times as well as numerous Parenting and Health Magazines around the world.

Ep 134 Description: 

"The more stories I heard of [birth] trauma, the more angry I became and I wanted to do something." —Amanda Banks

Home birth is a powerful, intimate experience that challenges societal norms and reclaims the natural rhythms of childbirth. For many families, it represents a deeply empowering choice that honors the body's innate wisdom. Yet, misconceptions and lack of education often prevent parents from considering this option.

Amanda Banks, an Australian health professional and documentary filmmaker, is on a mission to change that narrative. Her acclaimed film created alongside Eleanor Currie, "Born at Home" explores the meaning, challenges, and magic of bringing life into the world outside the hospital setting.

Tune in as Amanda shares her personal home birth journey, the inspiration behind her film, and the vital role of education and advocacy in transforming the birth experience.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

04:22 Amanda's First Home Birth Experience 

11:32 Second Home Birth and Advocacy Journey

26:39 Creating the "Born at Home" Documentary

32:53 Overcoming Obstacles 

36:58 A Focus in Education and Intuition

About Amanda: 

Amanda Banks is an Australian documentary filmmaker and health professional based in Brisbane. She is the producer of the acclaimed documentary "Born at Home," which explores the meaning, challenges, and magic of bringing life into the world at home. 

With a background in health science, Amanda has a deep trust in the body's natural physiological processes. Her own experiences with home births, including the birth of her two children, inspired her to create "Born at Home" as a way to share the positive aspects of home birth and provide evidence-based information to help families make informed decisions about their birth choices.

In addition to her filmmaking work, Amanda is an advocate for maternal health and home birth. She has been involved with the non-profit organization Home Birth Queensland, where she has helped organize educational events and support for families. Amanda's passion for advocacy and education shines through in her commitment to empowering parents and transforming the birth experience.

Website: https://bornathomefilm.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornathomefilm/   

Ep 133 Description: 

"There are two layers of spinning babies, it is restoring function to the body whether through pregnancy exercises or through body balancing techniques, which a pregnant person can do themselves or the nurse, midwife, or doula at the time of labor can also do it. And the more you do ahead of time, the less you need to do anything at labor." —Gail Tully

Fetal position is a crucial yet often overlooked factor in the birthing process. Understanding how a baby's orientation within the uterus can impact labor and delivery is key to facilitating a more comfortable and empowered birth experience.  

Gail Tully, the visionary founder of Spinning Babies®, has dedicated her life's work to revolutionizing the way we approach childbirth. As a midwife and birth advocate, Gail's groundbreaking techniques have transformed the lives of countless families, empowering them to embrace the natural rhythms of the body.

Tune in as Gail shares her personal journey, the development of the Spinning Babies approach, fetal rotation, maternal positioning, and the importance of accessibility in birth education.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

03:48 Meet Gail

06:55 Empowerment Through Natural Birth

18:26 Challenges and Discoveries in Childbirth

23:09 The Development of Spinning Babies 

30:20 Impact and Accessibility of Spinning Babies

34:40 Trainings and Certifications

37:15 Meeting the Evolving Needs of the Birth Community

About Gail: 

Gail Tully is the midwife who conceived and developed Spinning Babies®. Spinning Babies® went online in 2001. Over 40 years with birth including 20 years as a homebirth midwife, Gail now writes, teaches, and supports change in the birth paradigm.

Back in the day, Gail was kept busy organizing doula program development in hospitals and community non-profits in Minneapolis/St. Paul while training doulas with DONA International approval status.

Gail Tully developed the concepts and curriculum that revolutionized our view on the physiological breech. Spinning Babies®, Belly Mapping®, Belly Mapping MethodTM, Resolving Shoulder Dystocia*, and Breech Basics* are Gail Tully originals.

Website: https://www.spinningbabies.com    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinningbabies  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spinningbabies 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/spinningbabieslady  

X: https://twitter.com/spinningbabies

Ep 132 Description: 

"Giving birth is like dying away from all your past, and you'll become a new person that is going to have a lot of new skills. When you close, you give yourself the moment to realize that you're a wise woman now that is becoming a mother." —Alejandra Lozano

Rituals and pleasure— two powerful elements that can transform the birth experience. In the second part of our interview with Alejandra Lozano, we dive deeper into the rituals and pleasure that can transform the birth experience.  

Alejandra is a dedicated Mexican midwife with over 11 years of experience supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Her passion for honoring cultural wisdom and empowering women is evident in her work.

Tune in as Alejandra shares insights on rebozo, sobada, postpartum closing rituals, and practical tips to cultivate pleasure throughout the childbearing journey.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

03:00 Exploring Rebozo: Its Use and Benefits

07:56 The Role  Rituals in Mexican Midwifery

13:37 Practical Tips for Preparing for a Pleasurable Birth

18:46 Join the Orgasmic Birth Program

About Alejandra: 

Alejandra Lozano, is a dedicated Mexican Midwife with over 11 years of experience walking the sacred path of supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Alejandra's journey into midwifery began with the birth of her son, Mariano— born at home, in water, and surrounded by midwives. That transformative experience awakened a calling in her heart to walk this path.

Her first mentor, her midwife, guided her initial steps. But Alejandra's thirst for deeper knowledge took her south, where she immersed herself in traditional Mexican midwifery. There, she connected with midwives who taught her ancestral practices such as Sobada (healing massages), Rebozo techniques, herbal medicine, temazcales, and sacred rituals. Each practice, rooted in love and community, shaped the way Alejandra now walks with women.

Today, Alejandra combines this ancestral wisdom with her intuition, creating a space of trust, compassion, and connection for the women she serves. She doesn't consider herself a traditional midwife in the strictest sense—having been born in the city—but her spirit is deeply tied to the roots of our traditions. She continues to travel and learn, bridging the gap between modernity and ancestral wisdom, offering her gifts with reverence for the lineage of birth. 

In addition, Alejandra is a special friend and our Orgasmic Birth social media Creatrix. She reaches the wisdom of the rebozo in all our doula workshops and is one of our Orgasmic Birth Pracitioners. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alepartera/ 

Ep 130 Description: 

"Rituals are related to pleasure." —Alejandra Lozano

Rituals have the power to transform the childbirth experience, unlocking deeper layers of intimacy, pleasure, and connection. The journey from pregnancy to postpartum can become a profound rite of passage by honoring ancestral wisdom and incorporating sacred practices. In this episode, we explore how these time-honored traditions can reshape the way we approach one of life's most transformative events.

Alejandra Lozano is a dedicated Mexican midwife with over 11 years of experience walking the sacred path of supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Her own transformative home water birth ignited a deep calling to immerse herself in the richness of traditional Mexican midwifery practices.

Tune in as Debra and Alejandra discuss the integration of ancestral rituals in childbirth and postpartum care, exploring the power of practices like Sobada, Herbal Baths, and Rebozo to foster intimacy, connection, and a holistic approach to this life-changing experience.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

04:15 Alejandra's Birth Experiences

11:12 Post-Birth Transformation

15:04 Connecting with Midwives

18:02 Integrating Rituals into Prenatal Care and Birth

24:44 Supporting Women in Labor with Sobada

28:42 The Role of Touch in Midwifery  

Ep 130 Description: 

"Maternity care is everybody's business, acknowledging the deep need for improvement and making sure that people have something concrete and specific based on where they are and their own journey as a consumer of maternity care." —Jill Wodnick

Maternal health is a global issue that impacts families worldwide. Equitable access to quality care and the right to safe, respectful birth experiences are fundamental human rights. Yet too many mothers continue to face disparities, trauma, and preventable complications. 

Jill Wodnick is a Lamaze childbirth educator, doula, and maternal health policy expert dedicated to advancing respectful, evidence-based maternity care. She serves on national advisory councils and provides technical assistance to community organizations.

Tune in as Jill shares the powerful history and legacy of the 123forMOMS movement, the complex role of doulas and Medicaid reimbursement, as well as strategies for advocating for quality indicators and respectful care during pregnancy and childbirth, and more. 

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1 

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471 

Episode Highlights:

03:22 Meet Jill- Professional Birth Advocate 

08:34 123forMOMS

13:15 Expanding 123forMOMS

20:36 Advocating for Quality Maternity Care 

27:34 The Forgotten Chakra

Links Mentioned: 

💗Doula Medicaid State of the States- Youtube presentation

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/health/2018/01/24/new-jersey-women-more-likely-die-childbirth-first-maternal-health-day/1055741001/

💗ProPublica-The Last Person You'd Ever Expect to Die in Childbirth https://www.propublica.org/article/die-in-childbirth-maternal-death-rate-health-care-system

💗Tara Hanson Foundation https://www.tarahansenfoundation.com/

💗Dreeah Austin (NJ mom) https://www.njspotlightnews.org/special-report/why-did-dreeah-austin-die-pregnancy-related-causes-preventable-newark-new-jersey-maternal-deaths-maternal-health-system-gaps/

💗Lamaze International https://www.lamaze.org/

💗NJ Maternity Care Report Card: https://www.nj.gov/health/maternal/morbidity/mhh_reportcard/

💗March of Dimes Signs of Preterm Labor https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/birth/signs-and-symptoms-preterm-labor

💗Preeclampsia Foundation https://www.preeclampsia.org/

Resources: 

💗 Become a doula! Debra offers virtual DONA Birth Doula training throughout the year. Learn more and get started on your journey here: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/dona-birth-doula-training

💗Join me in Bali, Indonesia for Eat Pray Doula. Our DONA Birth Doula Training is a unique 7-day retreat for beginning doulas and our Advanced Skills Retreat is perfect for those looking to expand their skillset and nourish themselves amongst like-minded Birthkeepers from around the world. www.eatpraydoula.com