Have you considered why you should have a vaginal exam during pregnancy and labor?  I often say your cervix is not a crystal ball, it’s not going to tell you when labor is going to start.  It’s something I see time and time again, students will come into class excited because they are a little dilated or discouraged because they are not.  My guest today is going to talk about the information we get from vaginal exams and how that will help you make decisions in pregnancy and labor.  She poses the question, are they even necessary before the onset of labor?
 
On this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, we welcome Kara Ffrench, certified nurse midwife. Kara has been a registered nurse since 2006 and became a midwife in 2014. She spent her midwifery career working in a private practice as well as in a large hospital system. Kara is currently in a private practice attending home and hospital births, including seeing patients for complete gynecological care.
 
Kara reminds parents that they are in control and make the decisions in their birth process.  She emphasizes, “your body, your baby, your birth.”  She says it’s important for parents to talk to their providers about their birth preferences during prenatal care, to discern if their provider is a good fit.  She suggests that if you are not comfortable with your provider’s approach to labor, you don’t have to stay with them, you can always switch.  Kara gives useful information for expecting parents and how vaginal exams may help when looking at the big picture of birth.

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!


To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaginal Exams- When and Why to Have One During Pregnancy and Labor with Kara Ffrench

Take ownership of your pregnancy, birth, and parenthood! Join Deb Flashenberg as she dives into conversations with some of the world’s leading pregnancy, birth, yoga and parenting experts. Deb and her guests are voices of calm and reason, sharing practical, relevant, insightful and evidence based information that is helpful for people at all stages of parenting. These lively conversations will inform and entertain you as you embark on this new phase in your life. 
Deb is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC, a labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator, Spinning Babies Parent Educator, prenatal yoga teacher and mother of 2. Please visit Prenatalyogacenter.com

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Do you find it harder to create friendships as an adult?  Today we talk about friendships and how they can be difficult to navigate, especially during parenthood.  Our guest discusses common conflicts that arise between parents as well as ways to better maintain these connections.  If you are a parent or an expectant parent, this conversation will shed light on why friendships are more complex during this phase.  Our guest Danielle, is easy to talk to and gives great advice for parents navigating these new waters.  
To dive deeper into this topic, on Yoga| Birth| Babies, we have Danielle Bayard Jackson.  Danielle is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections.  She is also the author of Fighting for Our Friendships (May 2024).  Danielle’s coaching business, Friend Forward, is dedicated to teaching women how to create and maintain better female friendships. 
Danielle recommends that parents should be intentional with their time.  She says it’s challenging to be available to everyone when they are focusing on raising children.  She advises parents to choose a few close friends to spend time with to avoid becoming overwhelmed by too many obligations.  She also encourages parents to reframe what spending time with friends looks like.  Perhaps running errands with a friend is more feasible than planning a four-hour brunch on a Saturday.  She highlights that friends don’t need to be entertained, they just want to spend time together.  Danielle gives down to earth advice that is very helpful for parents.  



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 3 Most Common Conflicts that Arise Between Mom Friends and How to Solve Them

Have you considered how your endocrine system might affect your fertility or pregnancy?  Today we dive into the topic of endocrine disruptors and how they may adversely affect your system.   Although these endocrine disruptors are everywhere in our environment, the good news is there are ways to limit your exposure.  Our guest today shares practical tips that you can use immediately to limit your exposure to these environmental factors.  She gives great advice on how to find a healthy balance that will benefit your family and the next generation.  
To have this conversation, we welcome Sarah Thompson on this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies.  Sarah is a board-certified diplomat of oriental medicine, certified functional medicine practitioner, and birth doula. She is also the author of Functional Maternity – Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes.
Sarah recommends that parents should try to control what they can in their environment and let go of what they cannot control.  Although it may seem daunting, she believes the goal is to give kids the best chance at success by limiting their exposure to toxins.  She says parents are able to control what goes into their bodies and on their skin, which will give them the opportunity to reduce damage caused by harmful chemicals.  She advises parents not to be too hard on themselves if they aren’t always able to make the best choices because the journey will not be perfect.   Sarah shares ways parents can limit their exposure to damaging elements in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.  I’m excited for you to hear this discussion.  



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why You Should Pay Attention to Endocrine Disruptors with Sarah Thompson

Have you considered using midwifery care for your birth?  Perhaps you have questions about what a midwife does or how they differ from a traditional OBGYN.  Today we are going to talk all about midwives.  I think midwives are fantastic, they hold a special place in my heart because my own births were attended by a midwife.  In this conversation we will dive deeper into the midwifery model of care.  What is a midwife?  What are some misconceptions around midwifery care?  How does midwifery differ from a more traditional OBGYN?  What is a midwife’s involvement in labor and birth?  Who’s a good candidate to work with a midwife?  We got you covered on so many topics about midwifery, if you had any doubt of what midwifery was, by the end of this conversation you will be crystal clear. Casey is full of passion and knowledge, I am really excited for you to hear her perspective and all her wonderful ideas! 
To have this conversation, I have Casey Selzer joining us today on Yoga| Birth| Babies.  Casey Selzer, CNM, is a midwife with over 15 years of clinical experience.  She has worked in both private practice and public health care models including in hospital birth centers.  She has a passion for education and has served as adjunct faculty at the Columbia University School of Nursing. 
Casey encourages parents to spend time in the third trimester building a birth team and a labor tool kit for a positive birth experience.  Nonetheless, she also stresses the importance of planning for the postpartum phase.  Although deciding what kind of birthing experience to have is imperative, she believes it is equally important to build a postpartum plan.  She encourages parents to consider what resources and support they will need to create a village for their family.  She mentions that this part of parenthood is often overlooked, however, she thinks it is critical for parents to build relationships and partnerships that will surround them with community.   



 Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  


Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why to Reconsider Midwifery Care with Casey Selzer, CNM

We’re back with my favorite type of podcast episode, a birth story!  We’ve been able to create an amazing community of students here at PYC.  I see many of these students twice, sometimes three time a week.  I get to know them, hear their stories, listen to their concerns and I am able to share with them what I’ve learned.  Today we have Katie Lohiya, sharing her birth story.  She has been part of our PYC community since she was 13 weeks pregnant.  She attended class 2-3 times per week, even when she wasn’t in NYC she would join online, which I absolutely adored. I was able get to know Katie well.  We have a similar background, we are both dancers and performers and I resonated with her.  When I asked her to share her birth story she said “absolutely.” Katie tells a beautiful birth story.  I am deeply honored that as she was explaining her story, her time at PYC was very much interwoven into her birth.  I am very appreciative that the time we spent together helped her throughout her labor experience. 
On today’s episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we’ve invited Katie Lohiya, one of our community members.  She is originally from Chicago but has lived in NYC for 14 years.  Katie graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance.  Before having her daughter, she danced professionally for a contemporary company (Lydia Johnson Dance) and has taught extensively throughout NYC.  She’s been married to her husband Vaibhav for 10 years and they live on the Upper West Side.
Katie recommends that parents trust their instincts when it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenthood.  She points out that there is so much information to sift through, that it helps to tap into their own intuition.  Whether it’s finding the right provider, advocating for themselves in labor, or getting a second opinion from a pediatrician, she believes that if parents trust their inner voice they will ultimately make the best decision for their family.  Katie’s story is heartfelt and candid.  I’m really excited for you to hear her story, it’s very special!



Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Birth Story: Preparing and Training for Birth! with Katie Lohiya

How does the health of the pelvic floor impact birth?  It is so important to have a healthy pelvic floor in order to have a functional birth and a healthy body.  This is one of my favorite topics!  If you’ve been a listener of Yoga| Birth| Babies, you know that anytime I have an opportunity to talk about the pelvic floor, I will bring an expert on to do so.  Not only have I picked the brain of many experts on this topic, I have taken multiple certifications focused on pelvic floor health. Today we will talk about the function of the pelvic floor, how it impacts birth, how to prepare the pelvic floor for birth and ways to relax the pelvic floor.  We will also discuss Kegels and their role in pelvic floor balance.
To have this conversation, I have Kara Mortifoglio joining us today on Yoga| Birth| Babies. Kara is a pelvic health specialist, and co-owns a physical therapy practice in Manhattan, Long Island and Westchester.  She specializes in treating all pelvic floor disorders including pregnancy, postpartum, bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction.
Kara believes that as parents get closer to the birth of their baby, it’s really important to allow their bodies to rest.  Avoiding Kegels as well as vigorous activity can help the pelvic floor be relaxed for labor.  She points out that the more relaxed the pelvic floor is, often times the easier the delivery will be.  She thinks that less is more when preparing the pelvic floor for birth.  Kara and I have a really great conversation, I think you are going to get a lot of useful information out of it! 


Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com  

Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE 

If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!



To connect with Deb and the PYC Community: 
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaginal Exams- When and Why to Have One During Pregnancy and Labor with Kara Ffrench

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