The Birth Ease Podcast

As the few last weeks have unfolded in regards to the pandemic of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and the uncertainty we are facing; becoming quiet, going within, and eliciting the relaxation response is even more crucial. Multiple studies have the benefits of meditation and the relaxation response. This response reduces the impacts of stress and inflammation within the body, and reducing stress is one of the recommended actions to take to help strengthen your immune system.

In this special episode, Michelle created this guided imagery meditation to assist whomever is interested in listening to help mitigate the stress that most all of us are under, to reconnect with your own inner wisdom, and return to love. This meditation is more spiritual than religious in nature. In order to help each person listening find space for their own belief structure as it relates to their personal relationship with their higher power, Michelle refers to the Divine as God, as Creator of All That Is, as Source… What is comforting to one, may not be for another. Michelle encourages you to please use the name for God or Creator that resonates for you while listening to the meditation.

“There is a part of you that is your inner knowing, your own inner wisdom. This wisdom comes from the Creator and has been within you always. Often we forget to listen to it, or even how to listen to it. The beauty is you can remember how to listen. You can learn to trust yourself once again. One way to do that is to go within… relaxing the body… quieting the mind…. The mind doesn’t have to be perfectly still, it is simply listening for the voice that speaks to you with compassion, with love instead of fear or consternation or judgement… You can find that compassionate voice, you can remember the love that is there for you,  and you can return to who you really are.” —Michelle Smith

As a gentle reminder, this guided relaxation recording audio is for just that, relaxation purposes only. It does not constitute medical or mental health advice or treatment, nor does it imply a specific outcome during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or beyond. Please avoid listening to this guided meditation while engaging in an activity that requires your full attention. Please stop the podcast and return to it when you can be safely seated or reclining in a supported position. Unless you are the passenger listening to this guided meditation with headphones on, for everyone’s safety never listen to it while driving or riding in a vehicle.

About Michelle Smith:

Known for the soothing sound of her voice and calming presence, Michelle serves as an educator and advocate for families as they navigate our challenging medical system which often strips women of their autonomy and their right to be heard.

Michelle is the founder of the Birth Ease Method—an online and in person childbirth education program which teaches parents how to connect with their inner wisdom, release their fears, and create a deep and profound relaxation habit. Vital skills that serve families not only throughout their pregnancy and birth, but ultimately for the rest of their lives.

With first-hand experience regarding the deep and far-reaching impacts of stress, birth trauma, and perinatal loss; Michelle has developed a specialization that includes stress reduction, natural childbirth, parenting, grief, trauma, and birth-related post-traumatic stress. An expert in the field, Michelle possesses twenty years of experience as an educator, birth and bereavement doula, ordained interfaith minister, energy healing practitioner, and in the field of clinical hypnosis.

In this insightful interview, Kathy Tagudin shares with Michelle her remarkable recovery from debilitating, chronic illness that doctors deemed incurable. Together Kathy and Michelle explore why connecting with your inner knowing, listening fully to the wisdom of your body, and finding compassion for self is imperative.

“Disconnection from self is the danger of all. ...And we are searching and searching for someone to give us our worth and our power, and someone to blame for why we don’t have those things. And meanwhile, you’re just here- waiting for you.” —Kathy Tagudin

About Kathy Tagudin:

Kathy is a mind-body connection specialist who helps women listen to their bodies and live authentic lives. Kathy believes disconnection from self is the root of all pain and suffering and that mindful awareness holds the key to our health, happiness, and future. Kathy's birth as a master coach and mindfulness teacher stems from her life-altering nine-year journey surviving disabling, chronic illness. Struggling to walk, talk, eat, or maintain essential bodily functions, doctors labeled her incurable.  But by discovering her body's inner wisdom, she reclaimed her life…one milestone at a time. Her mission in life is to remind everyone what you need is already within.

 

Connect Kathy Tagudin:

Facebook: Kathy Tagadin, Mind-Body Specialist (https://www.facebook.com/embraceyourhealing)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram: @ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

Listen in as Annette Leary shares with Michelle the multitude of ways that CranioSacral Therapy benefits people of all ages and stages in life. CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University.

"For newborns, those are the kinda things we look at: digestion, feeding, being able to self-soothe, being able to sleep- really disruptive sleep patterns with the babies. I'll also see situations where you know maybe the baby is a week or two old and I'll hear, "Oh, he is so strong. He is standing up." Hmm… babies aren't supposed to stand up at two weeks or arch their head back." —Annette Leary

About Annette Leary:

Annette has been working with families for over 30 years as a pediatric/postpartum nurse, childbirth educator, and Iinternational Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She enjoys working with the whole family to improve their state of wellness and to educate them on how to seek knowledge on managing their health. This commitment to families led Annette to become Upledger Institute trained in Craniosacral Therapy.

Connect with Annette Leary:

Website: https://www.iahp.com/Annette-Leary/ (https://www.iahp.com/Annette-Leary/)

Facebook: Annette Leary ( https://www.facebook.com/annette.leary.31),  Annette's Natural Approach to Heath and Wellness (https://www.facebook.com/facilitatingwellnesswithannette/ )

 

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

In this second half of this two part interview, listen in as Michelle and Susan Dascenzi continue their conversation regarding trauma. They discuss the secondary post traumatic stress that can impact birth workers, hospital staff, and care providers. They touch upon the ways conditioning, past painful learning, and/or trauma constrict a person's ability to give voice to their wants, concerns, and needs— particularly during their pregnancy and birth. Susan explains why having tools and a road map are essential to creating post traumatic growth. She shares valuable tips to begin working through something traumatic and how to navigate those times when a situation is triggering strong sensations of past trauma.

"One of the big things that I think is super important in understanding first about triggers is that triggers can happen in a whole host of ways. You have emotional triggers. You have spiritual triggers. You have physiological triggers. You have mental triggers. … Feelings and emotions are not the same thing. Feelings are physical sensations in the physical body only." —Susan Dascenzi

 

Susan L. Dascenzi is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Life and Business Coach, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, and the Health and Fitness Category Director for Podcast Magazine. She has invested the last 27 years guiding her clients in recognizing how their past negative conditioning creates their present and future and stops them from stepping into their infinite possibilities. As a highly regarded human behavior and emotions expert, also known as “The Possibilities Curator,” she co-authored an Amazon Ranked #1 International Best-Selling book alongside Neale Donald Walsch and Marci Shimoff, with her own book set to release late 2020.

 

Connect with Susan:

Show: Kick Your Buts podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kick-your-buts/id1482968113)

Facebook: @Susan Dascenzi ( https://www.facebook.com/sdascenzi), @kickyourbuts (https://www.facebook.com/kickyourbuts/)

Twitter: @susandascenzi ( https://twitter.com/susandascenzi)

Instagram: @sdascenzi1 ( https://www.instagram.com/sdascenzi1/)

LinkedIn: @susandascenzi/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/susandascenzi/)

Website: kickyourbuts.com (http://kickyourbuts.com/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

In this two part interview, listen in as Michelle and Susan Dascenzi delve deeper into what trauma is and the concept of Big ‘T’ and Little ‘t’ trauma as it relates to pregnancy and birth.

"Trauma is anything that is shocking to our system and that we then have a difficult time either making sense of, understanding, or receiving the experience as something that we can manage and handle. So it becomes kinda this loop that happens in our mind where we pick apart every piece of it and we often insert self-blame into it." —Susan Dascenzi

Susan L. Dascenzi is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Life and Business Coach, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, and the Health and Fitness Category Director for Podcast Magazine. She has invested the last 27 years guiding her clients in recognizing how their past negative conditioning creates their present and future and stops them from stepping into their infinite possibilities. As a highly regarded human behavior and emotions expert, also known as “The Possibilities Curator,” she co-authored an Amazon Ranked #1 International Best-Selling book alongside Neale Donald Walsch and Marci Shimoff, with her own book set to release late 2020.

Connect with Susan:

Show: Kick Your Buts podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kick-your-buts/id1482968113)

Facebook: @Susan Dascenzi ( https://www.facebook.com/sdascenzi), @kickyourbuts (https://www.facebook.com/kickyourbuts/)

Twitter: @susandascenzi ( https://twitter.com/susandascenzi)

Instagram: @sdascenzi1 ( https://www.instagram.com/sdascenzi1/)

LinkedIn: @susandascenzi/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/susandascenzi/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

What was it like to give birth 25, 30, 40 years ago? Listen in as Meg Folsom and Michelle share with humor, anger, and sorrow about their experiences of giving birth decades earlier. Together they recall the loss of autonomy women endured with forced routine episiotomies, enemas, forcep deliveries, the husband stitch, and the separation of the mother-baby dyad. They reflect on the trauma that these barbaric hospital practices and protocols created for families.

“I’m trying to do the breathing that they teach you. The ‘HE-HE, HO-HO’ and you know that’s a joke. … And then they tell me they're gonna cut me and do an episiotomy. And I am like, “WHAT?” I have my baby. They take him away. My parents had gotten to the hospital, and I didn’t even get to name my own baby. They asked my mother what his name was… Then they wheeled me out and left me in the hallway on a gurney. … So I laid in the hallway by myself not knowing if my son was okay or not.” —Meg Folsom

About Meg Folsom:

Meg has been protecting the sanctity of birth as a doula, midwifery birth assistant, birth center manager, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and placenta encapsulation specialist for over 20 years. The depth of Meg’s knowledge, insight, and her compassionate heart has touched the lives of hundreds of families in Central Florida. Meg is continuing to serve families at Tree of Life Birth and Gynecology in Orlando, Florida.

 

Connect with Meg Folsom:

Facebook: Meg Folsom (What was it like to give birth 25, 30, 40 years ago? Listen in as Meg Folsom and Michelle share with humor, anger, and sorrow about their experiences of giving birth decades earlier. Together they recall the loss of autonomy women endured with forced routine episiotomies, enemas, forcep deliveries, the husband stitch, and the separation of the mother-baby dyad. They reflect on the trauma that these barbaric hospital practices and protocols created for families. “I’m trying to do the breathing they teach you. The ‘HE-HE, HO-HO’ and you know that’s a joke. … And then they tell me they are going to cut me and do an episiotomy. I am like, “WHAT?” I have my baby. They take him away. My parents had gotten to the hospital, and I didn’t even get to name my own baby. They asked my mother what his name was… Then they wheeled me out and left me in the hallway on a gurney. … So I layed in the hallway by myself not knowing if my son was okay or not.” —Meg Folsom About Meg Folsom: Meg has been protecting the sanctity of birth as a doula, midwifery birth assistant, birth center manager, childbirth educator, lactation counsellor, and placenta encapsulation specialist for over 20 years. The depth of Meg’s knowledge, insight, and her compassionate heart has touched the lives of hundreds of families in Central Florida. Meg is continuing to serve families at Tree of Life Birth Center in Orlando, Florida. Connect with Meg Folsom: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mommeg) ,  Tree of Life Birth and Gynecology (https://www.facebook.com/treeoflifebirthandgyn/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram: @ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show:

In last week’s episode, Michelle and Dr. Lyndsey Sutherland touched upon the stress and trauma that her pediatric families are experiencing within their pregnancies, during the birth of their babies, and the implications this is having on her tiny patients. That conversation prompted Michelle to share her guest spot on Susan Dascenzi’s podcast, Kick Your Buts. In this foundation interview, together Susan and Michelle touch on what trauma is, explain how stress during pregnancy and birth can have an impact on the child, define trauma within birth, the importance of finding tools to mitigate stress, and  practices to help support a new family.

"There is a sad statistic 35-50% of women experience birth trauma, 2.5%-9% will experience birth related PTSD, and many pre and perinatal psychologists feel that the birth trauma for babies is epidemic right now. That sets the stage. How are you treated the very moment that you take your [first] breath?" —  Michelle Smith

Susan L. Dascenzi is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Life and Business Coach, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, and the Health and Fitness Category Director for Podcast Magazine. She has invested the last 27 years guiding her clients in recognizing how their past negative conditioning creates their present and future and stops them from stepping into their infinite possibilities. As a highly regarded human behavior and emotions expert, also known as “The Possibilities Curator,” she co-authored an Amazon Ranked #1 International Best-Selling book alongside Neale Donald Walsch and Marci Shimoff, with her own book set to release late 2020.

Connect with Susan:

Show: Kick Your Buts podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kick-your-buts/id1482968113)

Facebook: @Susan Dascenzi ( https://www.facebook.com/sdascenzi), @kickyourbuts (https://www.facebook.com/kickyourbuts/)

Twitter: @susandascenzi ( https://twitter.com/susandascenzi)

Instagram: @sdascenzi1 ( https://www.instagram.com/sdascenzi1/)

LinkedIn: @susandascenzi/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/susandascenzi/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

Listen in as Michelle and Dr. Lyndsey Sutherland, DNP, ARNP discuss the beauty of integrating both Eastern and Western medical practices when caring for our children, and how this holistic approach looks for the root of the problem versus simply treating the systems. In this proactive practice model, the provider is treating the whole child and supporting the whole family. Lyndsey shares what to look for when choosing a pediatric provider for your child. Together they stress the importance of finding a caregiver that creates an environment that promotes mutual communication, safety, and trust.

Dr. Lyndsey Sutherland, DNP, ARNP is a passionate mother and advocate for healthy families. She is both a professor at the University of Central Florida and an entrepreneur working hard to empower families on their journey to live happy and full lives. Lyndsey is a Family Nurse Practitioner who received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Central Florida with honors. In her practice she focuses on prevention and education, which are the building blocks to maintain and establish health. She works closely with a network of medical professionals to find the root cause of illness for her patients and not just treat their symptoms. Lyndsey believes in you. She believes in your children. She knows you were made for this and that together we will not just survive parenthood, but thrive as mothers and fathers of the children we love so much.

"If you don't feel safe [with your provider] and if you don't feel comfortable, it is important to keep looking. It's a long journey. And to not feel safe and comfortable with someone, that's way too long to be holding hands with someone. And we are talking about your precious family, and so to me, it only makes sense to find the right person who will come along side you in this journey." —Lyndsey Sutherland

 

Connect with Dr. Lyndsey Sutherland, DNP, ARNP:

Website: http://www.lyndseysutherland.com (http://www.lyndseysutherland.com/)

Facebook:  @LyndseySutherlandDNP (https://www.facebook.com/LyndseySutherlandDNP/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)

We all need a guide to help us stay in a more positive and peaceful space for ourselves and our babies. Dr. Ankita Marjadi’s book, "Knock, Knock, Let's Talk" is just that. This beautiful resource is for all expecting mothers. It is designed to reduce the fear and anxiety a mother may be experiencing during her pregnancy and to enhance bonding with the baby in her womb. It acts as an uplifting guide for mom during each week of her pregnancy and provides a passage to be read to the baby that teaches a virtue such as kindness, happiness and honesty.  It also includes a space for journaling and sharing a mother’s own thoughts and dreams with her baby. In this episode, Dr. Marjadi graciously shares with Michelle how the book was born during her second pregnancy as she searched for a way to lessen the fear and stress that threatened to consume her after losing her first child to a stillbirth. This sweet book, which can be used at any time to receive a dose of motivation and positivity, is the achievement closest to her heart.

"Babies are very, very conscious. They're having an environment in the womb. They can feel what you are giving emotionally. And they are learning and listening to everything that you have to offer. So if you are saying and if you are talking to your baby something positive, it has a very beautiful positive reaction unto the baby because the baby feels wanted. The baby feels loved with the words you are sharing." —Dr. Ankita Marjadi

 

About Dr.Ankita Sapan Marjadi

Dr. Marjadi is a psychotherapist, homeopath, and the co- founder of Arogyada Online Homeopathy Clinic. She is also an entrepreneur, blogger, social activist and a doting mother of two beautiful girls. She is a popular name amongst bloggers wherein she blogs about health, relationships, life and its mysteries, and happiness. She has been the pioneer of 'Need to Talk Initiative', 'Starting a Smile Mile, Will You Join Me?' and  'I Choose to Happy and Healthy through Homeopathy'. She is an eminent speaker on topics such as positive parenting, how to cope up with stress, health and hygiene for kids, menstrual hygiene, good touch bad touch for children, how to keep our mental health good, and life after 40 for women.  Dr. Marjadi is the author of the book, “ Knock Knock Let's Talk”  which is on positive thinking during pregnancy which has been the achievement which is very close to her heart.

Connect with Dr. Ankita Sapan Marjadi:

Book: Knock Knock Let's Talk (https://www.amazon.com/Knock-Lets-Ankita-Sapan-Marjadi/dp/9353473454/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1579241186&sr=8-1 )

Websites: www.ankitasmetanoia.in (http://www.ankitasmetanoia.in/) www.arogyadaclinic.com (http://www.arogyadaclinic.com/)

Facebook: Author Dr. Ankita Sapan Marjadi (https://www.facebook.com/Ankitasmetanoia/)

Instagram: ankita_sapan (https://www.instagram.com/ankita_sapan/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/),

Listen in as Juliet Michaels shares insights with Michelle into the multiple advantages that chiropractic care brings to babies and their mothers during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum year. Juliet explains how gentle the chiropractic adjustments are for expecting mothers, babies, and children and how this care differs from that a non-pregnant adult would receive. Juliet provides guidance regarding signs to look for in your newborn that signal that your baby, and you, would benefit from chiropractic care.

“Statistically, women who [receive chiropractic care and] get adjusted throughout pregnancy and during labor have faster and, what they report as easier, labors than those who don't."  — Juliet Michaels

 

About Juliet Michaels:

Juliet is a Chiropractic Physician. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Northern Arizona University and her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic. She has published research on the benefits of chiropractic care and its efficacy of many pediatric and pregnancy related issues. Juliet very is passionate about helping Central Florida families achieve their pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and neonatal goals.

 

Connect with Juliet Michaels, DC:

Facebook: Juliet Michaels, DC (https://www.facebook.com/julietmichaelsdc) , Family Tree Chiropractic (https://www.facebook.com/Family-Tree-Chiropractic-1625684827715623/)

Website: Integrated Chiropractic (https://www.drlatino.com/)

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com (BirthEaseServices.com)

Facebook: Birth Ease (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseMethod/), The Birth Ease Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/thebirtheasepodcast/)

Instagram:@ birtheasemichellesmith (https://www.instagram.com/birtheasemichellesmith/)

YouTube: Birth Ease (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcpfTDHpaqRkU2w_GHdGlmQ)

Show: Birth Ease (https://feeds.blubrry.com/feeds/birthease.xml)