The Birth Ease Podcast

In this special episode for the month of October honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Michelle has a profound conversation with her mentor, Amy Wright Glenn. Because birth and death are intertwined, their conversation not only benefits bereaved parents, but provides powerful insights to birth professionals as well.

Amy reflects upon what healing means as it relates to loss and how the managed medical care model can do a disservice to the bereaved. Healing does not mean a return to what was, a fixing, or making it look like it never happened. Healing is an ongoing journey of keeping our heart open, and being compassionate and present to what is. It is an approach to learning how to walk in a world where we do reconcile with things we didn't want to occur. And yet, these things happened.

Mourning is our personal expression of grief. Our inner experience of loss is the grief. That grief needs to be expressed through mourning. That can be public, it can be private, it can be a combination of both. That expression is unique to each person. Ritual can be a powerful tool at anytime after a loss. It is never too late to utilize ritual to create meaning and process the loss.

Amy and Michelle touch upon the importance of planning and preparing for the death of a loved one when circumstances allow so that decisions are made when the brain isn't in emergency mode and feeling rushed and overwhelmed. And at the same time, the emotional pain of the loss is difficult, intense, and raw; no matter how prepared we may be. Creating space to slow down and be gentle with ourselves is vital.

"Loss is a deep, deep [life] transition to integrate… We, over time, learn to reconcile with the losses we have known. But this may take many, many years." – Amy Wright Glenn

About Amy Wright Glenn:

As the author of Birth, Breath, and Death– Meditations on Motherhood, Chaplaincy, and Life as a Doula and Holding Space– On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go, Amy Wright Glenn weaves together scholarly research with the heartfelt telling of stories in her work. She founded the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death in 2015 drawing upon her interest in exploring pregnancy loss, the work of facing fear, cultural attitudes about birthing, and what it means to be a doula for the birthing and dying. Amy offers innovative and inspiring professional development opportunities focusing on the self-care of teachers, doulas, midwives, chaplains, and all drawn to holding space for mindful birthing, living, and dying.

Contact Amy Wright Glenn:

Website: www.birthbreathanddeath.com

Instagram: @amywrightglenn (https://www.instagram.com/amy_wright_glenn/)

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

In this special episode for the month of October honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Michelle has a beautiful and healing conversation with The Radical Rabbi, Elisheva (Emily) Brenner. Emily shares her own journey of perinatal loss, which she describes as the tsunami of her soul. She retells the sacred wisdom story that helped her create a Divine Reframe and quiet the storm within her own heart. Emily explains the foundational five step program she teaches, based on the journey of the Israelites in the desert, which can assist anyone in weathering the most difficult of circumstances. As a divorce lawyer, a psychologist, and a rabbi, Emily shares insights that can help couples to traverse the extreme grief of losing a child and support any other children they may have that are also grieving as well. Michelle and Emily discuss how even in our deepest sorrow, in our deepest pain, we can still find peace. We can still find moments of joy.

“You are living in this world for a reason and your journey as a parent has a reason.” — Rabbi Elisheva

 

About Rabbi Elisheva:

What do you get when you combine a veteran divorce lawyer, a psychologist and a rabbi?...The Radical Rabbi!!! Rabbi Elisheva (Emily) Brenner is known for the rich multidisciplinary perspective she brings to dealing with life’s problems. As the host of The Radical Rabbi podcast and creator of the Radical Rabbi Online Academy, Emily encourages every person to embrace the unique psycho-spiritual journey that is his or her life so they can find meaning, purpose, freedom, self-empowerment and authenticity.

Connect with Rabbi Elisheva:

website: theradicalrabbi.com (http://www.theradicalrabbi.com)

Twitter: @myradicalrabbi (https://twitter.com/myradicalrabbi?s=09)

Linked In: radicalrabbi (http://linkedin.com/radicalrabbi )

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

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

Show: The Radical Rabbi

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com//loss-support (BirthEaseServices.com//loss-support )

Facebook:  fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseLossSupport/)

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

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

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

In this special episode honoring...

In this special bonus episode, Michelle honors October 15th: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. She has created a guided relaxation recording geared towards parents grieving the loss of a baby or a child. However, it can be helpful for anyone walking through the journey of grief. The intention is to help release some of the heaviness of our grief and to provide an opportunity to feel the love and connection that we have with our beloved child or loved one. If you would like a version of this guided relaxation session geared towards the loss of any loved one, please simply contact us through the website. We would be honored to send it to you.

“I, too, am walking through this journey of grief at this present time in my life. It is my sincerest wish that you find this guided relaxation soothing and healing.” —  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 relaxation recording while engaged 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 a passenger listening to this guided relaxation with headphones on, for everyone’s safety never listen to it while driving or riding in a vehicle.

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com/loss-support (https://www.birtheaseservices.com/loss-support)

Facebook:  fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseLossSupport/)

Instagram: @birtheaselosssupport ( @birtheaselosssupport)

YouTube: Birth Ease (Honoring Grief Meditation: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Bonus Episode: In this very special episode, Michelle honors of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. With this in mind, Michelle created a guided relaxation recording geared towards parents grieving the loss of a baby or a child. However, it can be helpful for anyone walking through the journey of grief. The intention is to help release some of the heaviness of our grief and to provide an opportunity to feel the love and connection that we have with our beloved child or loved one. If you would like a version of this guided relaxation session geared towards the loss of any loved one, please simply contact us through the website. We would be honored to send it to you. “I, too, am walking through this journey of grief at this present time in my life. It is my sincerest wish that you find this guided relaxation soothing and healing.” — Michelle Smith As a gentle reminder, please avoid listening to this guided relaxation recording while engaged 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 a passenger listening to this guided relaxation with headphones on, for everyone’s safety never listen to it while driving or riding in a vehicle. Connect with Michelle Smith: Website: BirthEaseServices.com//loss-support Facebook: fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport Instagram: @birtheaselosssupport Youtube: Birth Ease Show: Birth Ease)

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

Episode 006: In this special episode honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Michelle has a beautiful and inspirational conversation with Nydia, mother to Santiago and Mateo. Her insights will benefit anyone traversing the pain of losing a child, a loved one, or some sort of tragedy. During Nydia's eighth month of pregnancy, she lost her beloved older sister to cancer. Approximately a month later, Nydia experienced the stillbirth of her son which almost cost her her own life as well. Nydia sagely shares what she found instrumental in her ability to move forward from such intense grief.

"Because suffering happens, I think, when you are in one place and wanting to be somewhere else." — Nydia

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com/loss-support ( BirthEaseServices.com/loss-support)

Facebook:  fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport (https://www.facebook.com/BirthEaseLossSupport/)

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

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

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

Episode 005: In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Michelle shares that 1 in 4 women have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Because of the silence surrounding loss of a child, it can cause the necessary grieving to to be a lonely and isolating experience. Even if you, as the listener, were blessed to have never personally experienced perinatal loss, the chances are quite high that you know someone that has. The silence surrounding this type of loss can leave us unsure of how to really support grieving families, which can sometimes lead to well-meaning comments inadvertently cutting a grieving parent to the core. Michelle shares best practices and helpful ways to support families experiencing the devastation that perinatal loss brings.

“It is time to break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss so that families are no longer grieving alone.” —  Michelle Smith

 

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com//loss-support (BirthEaseServices.com//loss-support)

Facebook:  fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport ( fb.me/BirthEaseLossSupport)

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

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

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

Episode references:

Handouts and materials from Gary Vogel, LMT and Bereavement Services: Resolve through Sharing

In this fourth episode, Michelle has a conversation with Stephanie Smith, E-RYT, PRYT regarding the benefits of yoga for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. Stephanie explains how yoga not only prepares the physical body for th...

In this third episode, Michelle disc...

In this second episode, Michelle sets the foundation; she explains what she means by "noise" in the podcast introduction and exactly what stress is and the impacts it has. Michelle shares how stress can affect our ability to conceive a child, as well as cause pregnancy complications and preterm birth. If a mother is experiencing chronic or intense acute stress, then it will actually interfere with the wiring of the unborn baby's brain. During the birth, stress and fear can cause labor to slow or stall. Michelle shares measures to help make the transition from the womb into the world less stressful for the baby. Stressful life events can be a factor in developing postpartum depression as well.

Michelle reassures listeners that women undergoing acute or chronic stress can have healthy pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies, but it is vital to reduce our stress as much as possible and find coping skills and techniques to help. Please check out the next episode. We will be discussing ways to mitigate stress and elicit the relaxation response. It will include a bonus guided relaxation session that is valuable for anyone that has a child or children in their life, no matter the age of the child.

 

“Stress can impact us, our relationships, and our bodies. There is help in the form of resources, techniques, and coping skills.” —  Michelle Smith

Connect with Michelle Smith:

Website: BirthEaseServices.com

Facebook:

How do you filter through all of the uninvited opinions that suddenly come your way when you  decide to have a child?  How do you know what's trustworthy information and what's a myth or just plain outdated? Join Michelle Smith, CHt -- founder of The Birth Ease Method childbirth program -- and her guests as they share valuable tips, tools, and proven methods to cut through the noise and fear. For 20 years as a birth professional, Michelle has personally helped hundreds of families understand their options in maternity care, transform their fears and stress, and connect with their inner calm as they navigate  the sacred journey that is pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.