The BirthCircle | Birth, Pregnancy, & PostPartum Conversations

Today we talk to Lorene Mah,  founder and CEO of Glitter & Spice, a company that sells safe and beautifully designed teething products for babies and toddlers. Since it's founding in 2015, Glitter & Spice (and Lorene herself) has won multiple awards for innovation and product safety, and has provided countless parents and infants with fashionable solutions to all of their teething and sensory development needs.

We talk about the symptoms of teething in infants that compel them to chew, and the difficulties in knowing how to soothe them while also not allowing them to chew on things that are unhealthy. We also talk about how brightly colored silicone beads provide a natural allure for an infant to chew on once they are finished nursing as an alternative to pulling hair or finding other things to put in their mouths.

We discuss Lorene's process of development for her teething products, and how her experience with her son's early teething and sensory needs drove it along. We talk about how reliable teething aids can help to encourage longer and less distracted nursing, especially in infants with sensory needs. We also talk some about Lorene's experiences in building her business while also being present for her kids and developing product based on their needs.

Finally, we talk about the different grades of silicone and what makes silicone ideal for teething products in terms of safety and durability. We talk about sensory needs in children, particularly with Autism or other developmental disorders that involve a need for tactile stimulation. We discuss how having an awareness of each child's individual needs and treating them as something entirely unique to the child in question will help both parent and child to have a smoother learning experience throughout the development journey.

To Learn More Visit: https://www.glitterandspice.ca/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Bettina Gordon-Wayne, Journalist, Certified Mental Strength Trainer, and bestselling author of The Joy of Older Motherhood. Bettina became a mother for the first time at age 44, and since then has dedicated her life to coaching other women over 40 through limiting beliefs that keep them from starting their own journeys into motherhood. She is a huge advocate for over-40 motherhood, and through her coaching and writing, hopes to reshape some of the societal stigma around having babies at an older age.

We talk about the barrage of negativity and fear that a woman over 40 can run into when she decides to start a family. We discuss Bettina's experience of realizing how much stigma was involved in older motherhood, and her decision to write her book to encourage other older mothers. We also talk about some of the considerations an older mother should make in order to ensure that she is able to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.

We talk about the data that is used to determine the success rate for pregnancy over 40 , where it comes from, and why statistics in this area tend to be inaccurate. We talk about cultural perceptions of what is "too old" to have a baby, and how those perceptions came about, as well as why they aren't necessarily true. We talk about menopause as the end of a woman's fertility, and how greatly the time frame for it varies, and how fertility prior to menopause shouldn't be a concern at any age if there are not any previously existing fertility issues.

Finally, we talk about other things to consider when thinking about the "best" age to have children, including how financial stability may affect maternal health, and how the experience and emotional maturity of an older mother may help better equip them after the baby is born. We quickly look over the main myths about older motherhood and debunk a few final concerns for any potential older mothers listening.

To Learn More Visit:  https://www.bettinagordon.com/joy

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Kristin Mallon, obstetric nurse,  author, midwife, and medical strategist. Kristin is an expert in business for birth professionals, and particularly in birth professionals who operate out-of-network, and helping them to navigate potential pitfalls in order to run a successful practice. She has been called a visionary in the field of medicine as a business, and she has touched the birth world both by attending births herself, and by helping others to offer the best possible birth care for their clients.

We talk about Midwifery as a field and birth as a business of necessity, as well as how the insurance industry complicates a birth provider's ability to be paid properly. We discuss how the reality of birth providers operating in-network, and how the demands and limitations can make birth more dangerous and less personal. We also talk about how providers are reimbursed by insurance networks for birth, and some of the reasons for the structure, as well as some of the benefits and downfalls of that structure for both the patient and the provider.

We discuss some of the reasons why more birth providers aren't leaving the network structure, and some of the fears holding them back from starting off into an out-of-network practice structure. We also talk about birth costs, and the ways that in-network providers have to calculate billing in order for the insurance to pay for it, and the ways that it can create problems for how providers are paid for prenatal and birth care.

Finally we talk about how billing works out-of-network, and why providers shouldn't be afraid to switch, as well as why patients shouldn't be afraid to go out-of-network. We discuss the transition from in-network to out-of-network, and then from OON to cash pay, and what each model implies.

To Learn More Visit:  www.kristinmallon.com

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Tamara Hiller, midwife, herbalist, and trainer in the field of pre/postnatal herbal medicine.  Tamara has worked in the health field for over 23 years, and dedicates her practice to helping people to address current and chronic health issues through herbs and natural healing. She is a particular expert in bringing herbalism into the sphere of pregnancy and birth, which she has done for many years through her midwifery practice, and she continues to pass on her knowledge by training other doulas and midwives in the practice of perinatal herbalism.

We talk about herbalism and its place in healing, both ancient and modern, and how herbalism should not be considered "alternative medicine", but rather our primal method of healing, and a complimentary aid to modern medicine. We also talk about how an approach to health should not be to wait until a person is sick to support their health, but instead to support good health from the start and adjust as needed to prevent illness.

We discuss various herbs and their uses in the preconception and pregnancy stages, and how optimizing your overall health before trying to conceive makes for much higher chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. We also discuss how to research which herbs are safe for pregnancy, including how to understand warnings and guidelines, and how to separate whether something is known to be dangerous, or whether it just hasn't been officially tested for efficacy.

Finally, we talk about a range of pregnancy complaints and what sorts of herbs might help to improve each issue. We discuss some more severe issues like bleeding, which herbs can help, and how to know when direct medical intervention is needed. We talk about using comfrey for tearing, and the controversies over that. We also touch on how to safely use essential oils in pregnancy.

To Learn More Visit:  http://herbalhelp.net/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Annette Presley, registered dietician, nutritionist, author, and creator of the Mommy Maker Method. Annette is an expert in functional nutrition and nutrigenomics, and has spent over 28 years studying the ways in which our nutrition affects how our genetics express potential health issues. Her program has helped women all over to take charge of their genes as an important step in their fertility journey.

We discuss the ways that Iodine deficiency affects health, including fertility and rates of miscarriage . We also talk about how Bromide, Chlorine, and Fluoride affect the body's ability to absorb Iodine, and how the levels of them in our diets can lead to iodine deficiency. We discuss the sorts of food that one can eat or avoid to help adjust the levels in order to help with fertility.

We talk about different types of fats, and how much of the nutrition advice we get about saturated fat is misleading and is leading to greater health problems in the population. We also discuss the diagnostic processes for fertility issues and how some of the methods are lacking. We talk about what a particular diagnosis might indicate in terms of nutritional deficiencies, and how that can be adjusted.

Finally, we talk about chronic illnesses that may affect fertility, and how they may be related to nutritional deficiency even when a person isn't trying to conceive. We talk about environmental toxins that are also contributing to ill health in our society, and how the Mommy Maker Method addresses those toxins.

To Learn More Visit:  https://getpregnantplan.com/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Julie Sawaya, Founder and CEO of Needed, which provides health education and nutritional supplements for all stages of pregnancy. Needed supplements are based on intense research into the needs of both a pregnant woman and the developing fetus. Julie has been recognized nationwide for her work in ensuring optimal nutrition for both mother and baby.

We talk about how the vast majority of available prenatal vitamins are not sufficient  to meet optimal prenatal nutrition needs, and the way that Needed went about developing supplements that would correct the usual nutritional deficiencies that tend to happen during pregnancy. We also talk about what some of the basic nutritional needs are in a normal pregnancy and discuss what the various nutrients do to support a healthy pregnancy. We discuss the importance of Choline and what makes it so difficult to get into nutrition supplements that are still easy to take during pregnancy.

We discuss the reason for nutritional deficiency during pregnancy, and why this was not a problem for our ancestors but has become a problem for us now. We also talk about some health issues that can be caused by critical nutrient deficiencies, as well at what foods or nutrient supplements can help to correct the issue. We talk about Folates and their potential benefits and issues with the ways they are currently used.

Finally we talk about if and how nutrition affects morning sickness during pregnancy, what some of the factors might be, and how beginning to plan nutrition before getting pregnant can help. We talk about bioavailability in nutritional supplements and the way that Needed uses nutrients that are easiest for the body to absorb. We talk about where Needed sources their vitamins and the care that goes into the process to ensure a reliable quality for the supplements that they formulate.

To Learn More Visit: https://thisisneeded.com/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Patty Brennan, founder of Lifespan Doulas, and author of The Doula Business Guide. She offers doula education, training, and certification through her program, as well as the business training needed for independent workers to establish a stable practice. Over her 40 year career, Patty has personally trained over 2000 doulas, in addition to being a doula and a midwife herself, running a company and nonprofit, and authoring vital business resources for doulas around the world.

We talk about the struggles that recently certified doulas face when they are first trying to establish a practice, and how the right type of guidance and support can help them to avoid an early burnout. We also talk about some  things new doulas can use to establish themselves, and what they should avoid when getting started, as well as when they should be willing to serve on a volunteer basis and when they should avoid working for free. We discuss what to do as a doula when you are burning out or losing your passion for your work.

We discuss some of the business models that doulas can establish their practice under and some of the benefits of each, as well as the importance of being aware of the way that you personally work best when determining how you will approach your business and payment model. We also talk about how to get started as a doula and which states require licensing, as well as some of the potential issues with governmental regulation versus the benefits.

Finally we talk about how doulas can overcome the aversion to "selling" their passion-based work rather than giving it for free so that they can sustain themselves while doing what they love. We discuss authentic ways of marketing yourself as a doula, as well as the effect that underselling yourself has on the ways potential clients think about your service. We talk about differentiating yourself from other doulas operating in your area to draw in attention of clients, and how to advertise to the community of people that you most want to focus on serving.

To Learn More Visit: https://lifespandoulas.com/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Jessica Diggs,  one of the most sought after Doulas and Midwives in the San Francisco area and Education Lead at LOOM, an empowering digital education platform that brings accessible sexual and reproductive health education to all communities, including its debut program centering on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum topics. Jessica's work goes a long way in helping to provide wider access to the sort of inclusive and comprehensive education that is vital for health and safety at any stage of reproduction.

We talk about how Jessica's journey to be knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health for herself and her friends led her into the birth world and becoming a doula and reproductive health educator. We also talk about the inception of LOOM and the value of accessible reproductive education. We discuss the lack of resources for teen parents, and the ways in which teen parents are able to thrive when they have proper support and education.

We discuss, as a doula, supporting a wider variety of pregnancy and birth experiences than what most people consider the "usual" and how every birth is improved when the individual experience of the parents is acknowledged and uplifted, including their gender identity, family structure, supporting partner, and individual values. We also talk about what the curriculum of LOOM covers, starting with the very basics of what many people may not know about their body or their pregnancy and working up.

Finally we talk about the ways that LOOM supports birth partners, regardless of parental status. We talk about giving the partners or chosen family of the birthing person the resources that they need to give the proper support and to be an active part of the experience. We also talk about what it means to normalize the experience of childbirth and how doing so can reduce the amount of fear that people experience going into pregnancy and improve birth outcomes and the overall experience of living in our bodies.

To Learn More Visit:  http://loomhq.com

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Elizabeth King, a Fertility Health Coach, ICF Life Coach, Birth & Bereavement Doula, and new parent educator. Through her practice, she helps clients through the trials of infertility and trauma of miscarriage and works with them through all possible avenues to help them conceive and bring a healthy baby to full term.

We discuss the process of preserving her own fertility that led to her wanting to specialize in fertility support. We talk about common myths about fertility that commonly lead to frustration in people who are trying to conceive. We also discuss the importance of managing stress and mindset as a part of the overall fertility treatment process. We define secondary infertility as an issue that some women face in trying to grow their family.

We talk about how working with a fertility coach before you even start trying to conceive can help to get your body on track to combatting any fertility issues before you even encounter them. We also talk about some of the things that may be affecting your fertility in the pre-conception phase. We clarify the difference between a fertility coach and a fertility doctor and how the former supports the client's relationship with the latter.

Finally, we talk about pregnancy loss and the journey of recovering from miscarriage while also trying to conceive again. We talk about a fertility coach's role in helping with miscarriage or infertility grief, and the sort of support that may be required. We also talk about male fertility and how important it is to look at and educate both partners when addressing fertility issues.

To Learn More Visit: https://www.elizabethking.com/

For Any Questions, Email Us at [email protected]

Today we talk to Dr. Betty DeLass, a physical therapist and world-class pelvic health expert.  Through her practice at Reborn Pelvic Health Wellness, she works with patients to craft personalized treatment regimens for patients at every stage of pregnancy or postpartum to help them return to or maintain the best quality of life possible through adjustment and strengthening of the pelvic floor.  To date she has assisted thousands of patient in improving their quality of life through their pelvic health.