The MamasteFit Podcast

Welcome to part two of a two part, in-depth conversation with Hayley Kava, a pelvic floor physical therapist, focusing on perineal lacerations or tears related to childbirth. 

The focus shifts to the effects of operative vaginal delivery methods like episiotomies, forceps, or vacuums, and their potential impacts on perineal health after birth. The hosts cover recovery strategies after a vaginal birth, including the initial steps one can take to enhance healing within the first few weeks postpartum. 

Additionally, they explore avenues for possibly preventing perineal tears during childbirth, emphasizing the variability in birth experiences and the significance of informed consent and awareness of one's birthing options. 

The episode also delves into perineal massage, both as a preventative measure before birth and a recovery tool after, discussing its efficacy and the mixed opinions surrounding it. Hayley shares what you can expect when working in a pelvic floor PT to heal in the postpartum, as well as her best advice for those first 24 hours after birth!

Preorder Gina’s book here: https://amzn.to/3vsdJIR

Find and Follow Hayley Kava!

Instagram: @HayleyKavaPT

Website: www.hayleykavapt.com

00:00 Introduction

02:22 Strategies to Decrease Tearing

07:08 Perineal Massage to Prevent Tearing: Myths and Facts

07:59 The Role of Your Provider in Tearing

12:30 Instrument Assisted Deliveries Explained

20:20 Navigating Future Birth Options After Operative Delivery

27:04 The Impact of Baby's Position and Pushing Techniques on Tearing

27:16 Navigating Perineal Tears: Pain, Healing, and Care

28:26 Sponsored Segment: Needed's Prenatal Vitamins for Optimal Nourishment

30:16 Postpartum Perineum Care: Immediate and Long-Term Strategies

39:50 Advocating for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: A Personal Journey

46:52 Exploring Perineal Scar Mobilization and Its Benefits

50:43 Closing Thoughts and Resources for Further Learning

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This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Lakeesha Murphy Spencer, a mom with a background in both nursing and midwifery, shares her unique experiences of giving birth to her second and third babies. 

During her second pregnancy, Lakeesha was a nurse determined to have a birth experience different from her first birth with an epidural, and is surprised by a precipitous labor, barely making it to the hospital in time to deliver! With her third child, Lakeesha navigates the unknowns of a brand new COVID pandemic, and experiences labor vastly different from the norm, with contractions felt as spasms in her hips- once again leading to a last-minute rush to the hospital with her family!  

Together with Gina and Roxanne, Lakeesha delves into the sometimes confusing signs and symptoms of labor, as well as the roles of nuchal cords and true knots in a baby’s umbilical cord. She shares how her birth experiences inspired her career in midwifery and how she use these experiences to guide others through their prenatal and postpartum journeys. 

Find Lakeesha here!:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SafeSpaceTalk-wd4de

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoodmidwife_keesh/?hl=en (@thehoodmidwife_keesh)

Email: [email protected]

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00:00 Introduction

01:36 The Unexpected Journey of Lakeesha's Second Birth

16:14 Navigating the Challenges of a Third Birth During COVID-19

30:12 Reflections and Insights: The Impact of Personal Birth Experiences on Midwifery

32:05 Connecting with MamasteFit: Resources and Community Support

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

This episode of the MamasteFit Podcast is part one of a two part, in-depth conversation with Hayley Kava, a pelvic floor physical therapist, focusing on perineal lacerations or tears related to childbirth. 

The discussion covers what to expect if you experience a tear during childbirth, preventative measures, and recovery strategies. It is part of a two-episode series, with the subsequent episode aiming to explore instrument-assisted deliveries' impact on perineal health and further recovery tips. 

Hosts Gina and Roxanne share insights into the types of perineal tears, their prevalence, and the healing process. They offer professional expertise and personal experiences with tearing during birth.

00:00 Introductions

01:32 Meet Hayley Kava: A Deep Dive into Pelvic Floor Health

04:22 The Different Types of Perineal Tears Explained

09:05 Recovery and Healing: Navigating the Postpartum Journey

18:36 Understanding and Managing the Repair Process of Vaginal Tears

33:15 Exploring the Benefits of Topical Vaginal Estrogen and Postpartum Care

33:58 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead: Next Steps in Perinatal Care

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

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This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Alesha, mom of 4, shares her 4 different birth stories, including her two VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) stories following two C-sections! As someone who experienced both C-sections and VBACs, Alesha delves into the preparation, challenges, and recovery processes of each birth, highlighting the importance of a supportive medical provider and team. Her first two pregnancies ended in C-sections due to medical complications. However, with enhanced preparation including finding new providers and hiring a doula, Alesha successfully had two VBACs for her subsequent pregnancies. Her stories emphasize the value of having a supportive birth team, understanding your rights and options, and believing in your body's capabilities. 

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Alesha's First Two C-Section Birth Stories

06:28 Transitioning to VBAC: Alesha's Third Pregnancy Preparation

09:15 The VBAC Experience: Alesha's Third Birth Story

15:35 Reflections and Comparisons: Fourth Pregnancy and VBAC

22:59 Postpartum Recovery: C-Sections vs. VBACs

23:46 Advice for Those Considering a VBAC

27:48 Choosing the Right Birth Provider

29:50 Support and Advocacy During Birth

36:32 Closing Thoughts and Resources

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

Gina and Roxanne delve into the purpose of and steps for creating a birth plan. They emphasize that while you can't control every aspect of labor, understanding your options and preferences at different stages can empower you through your birth to ultimately have a more positive experience. They cover various birth scenarios, including unmedicated and medicated births, C-sections, and inductions, articulating how each option doesn't necessarily define the positivity of the birth experience. They advocate for taking childbirth education courses, consulting with healthcare providers about specific medical conditions, and understanding hospital policies on everything from interventions to newborn prodecures. The episode also tackles misconceptions about birth interventions, highlighting the significance of feeling in control during birth. 

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

00:00 Introduction

01:01 Understanding Birth Planning: Empowerment Through Knowledge

02:07 Navigating Birth Options: Education, Preferences, and Conversations

04:50 The Role of Interventions: Demystifying Birth Options

05:59 Creating Your Birth Plan: Templates, Options, and Decision Trees

11:17 Key Elements of a Birth Plan: From Monitoring to Baby's First Moments

13:17 Sponsor Break: Supporting Your Nutritional Needs with Needed

20:51 Navigating Past Trauma and Communicating with Your Birth Team

35:51 Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Your Birth Experience

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

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This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Cailyn, a pelvic floor physical therapist and owner of Lotus Pelvic Health shares her birth story involving a difficult labor that ended with an empowering unmedicated home birth. She switched from a hospital birth with midwives to a home birth after discovering her hospital didn’t accept her insurance nearly 30 weeks in! After a long labor and pushing phase, she finally met her baby at home!  Unfortunately, her baby had some difficulty breathing and they opted for a non emergent transfer to the hospital, where they had a short hospital stay due to transient tachypnea.  

Find Cailyn on Instagram at @lotuspelvichealth

Or her website here: lotuspelvichealth.com

In This Episode:

00:00 Introduction

01:21 The Decision for Home Birth: A Personal Journey

06:39 Labor Begins: Early Signs and Labor at Home

09:17 Navigating Challenges: Labor Progress and Support

18:39 The Arrival: Pushing Through to Birth

21:46 Reflections and Postpartum Journey

25:00 Postpartum Challenges and Hospital Transfer

35:58 Understanding Transfers in Out-of-Hospital Births

46:34 Closing Thoughts and Resources

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

In this episode Gina and Roxanne delve into the topic of labor stalls associated with power- including both the effectiveness of contractions as well as your mental/emotional state, as part of their labor stalls series.

They discuss signs of labor stalls due to insufficient contraction strength and offer various solutions. They give advice on how to maintain adequate contraction strength through rest, nutrition, hydration, and emotional wellness.

This episode explains oxytocin's role in labor, the impact of interventions such as Pitocin, and the importance of feeling safe, supported, and educated during birth.

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Understanding Labor Stalls: Causes and Solutions

03:24 Diving Deep into Power Stalls: Causes and How to Overcome Them

05:09 The Role of Nutrition and Hydration in Labor Progress

11:31 Addressing the Psychological Aspects of Labor Stalls

19:39 The Impact of Health and Infection on Labor Progress

26:57 Understanding Pitocin: Myths, Realities, and Its Role in Labor

43:20 Concluding Thoughts: Navigating Labor Stalls and Birth Planning

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

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Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

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This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Kerri shares her journey through two unmedicated births, including her experiences with miscarriage, induction, her dream birth center experience, and her postpartum recovery. 

Kerri's first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, her second involved an induced unmedicated hospital birth due to low amniotic fluid, and her third was an unmedicated birth at a free-standing birth center, which ended with a postpartum hemorrhage and hospital transfer. 

Kerri discusses how she prepared for her births through fitness, childbirth education, mindfulness, and the support of her birth team. 

Afterward, Gina and Roxanne explain the implications of going past due dates and the risks associated with post-term pregnancy, and what conversations you can have with your provider to make informed decisions. 

Find Kerri on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/training4motherhood/

Online resource: Home | Training 4 Motherhood (square.site)

00:00 Introduction

01:09 Kerri's First Birth Story: Hospital Induction

01:23 Kerri's Pregnancy Journey and Preparation

09:10 Kerri's Second Birth Story: Birth Center Experience

09:19 Postpartum Recovery and Fitness

18:10 Reflections and Advice for Future Pregnancies

22:22 Discussion on Pregnancy Beyond 42 Weeks

28:35 Conclusion and Offerings from MamasteFit

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

Gina and Roxanne discuss labor stalls related to a baby's position within the pelvis. They cover some of the most common reasons for the different types of labor stalls, with a focus on the importance of understanding specific movements that open each pelvic level to facilitate labor. They explain the interplay between a baby's position, the space within the mother's pelvis, and the contraction patterns during labor, and they offer tips on different exercises and positions to create more space in the pelvis during pregnancy and labor. 

00:00 Introduction

01:16 Understanding Labor Stalls

01:51 The Role of Baby's Position in Labor Stalls

03:22 Defining Labor Stalls and Arrest of Labor

08:00 Addressing Labor Stalls: Movement and Positioning

10:35 Understanding the Role of Contractions in Labor Progress

12:28 Creating Space in the Pelvis for Baby's Passage

20:43 Addressing Late Labor Stalls

34:45 The Importance of Vitamin D in Pregnancy

40:25 Conclusion and Further Resources

Check out our blogs with visuals for each position mentioned in this episode!: 

https://mamastefit.com/fix-your-babys-position-3-simple-movements/

https://mamastefit.com/what-is-posterior-and-should-you-panic/

——

Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

-----

This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

In this episode Wanda shares her unique experience of transferring care from Germany to the United States at 32 weeks pregnant, finding new providers, translating all her existing paperwork from German to English and ultimately pivoting a bit on her original birth plan to have hospital birth with an epidural. Although the birth did not occur as she had anticipated, she emphasizes how positive the experience still was thanks to feeling educated and in control throughout. 

After Wanda shares her story, Gina and Roxanne discuss the reasons for heart rate decelerations in babies during labor, and what scenarios may lead to necessary interventions. 

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In This Episode:

00:00 Introduction 

01:07 Guest Introduction: Wanda's Pregnancy Journey

01:14 Wanda's Pregnancy Experience and Challenges

03:35 Wanda's Labor and Birth Story

21:35 Postpartum Experience and Recovery

24:31 Advice for Expecting Mothers

28:39 Heart Rate Decels in Labor

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Freebies to Support Your Pregnancy: 

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

📧 Download our free birth plan template and packing list: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-and-packing-list/

📩 Download our free prenatal fitness guide & sample programming: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-sample-programs/

——

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth bundles: https://mamastefit.com/childbirth

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit