Working Birth

Melissa Loera, CD, LMT, CLC discusses using massage therapy in the birth room and the benefits of massage in labor. She shares her journey into the birth world, and talks about working with survivors of sexual violence and how that trauma can impact women in pregnancy and labor. We also discuss traditional Chinese cupping, using a rebozo, and the hit TV show Call the Midwife.

Show notes and links at: workingbirth.com/ep06

Dr. Rachel Settles, D.C., a Webster certified chiropractor, discusses how chiropractic care can be beneficial during the first, second, and third trimesters, during labor, and also with postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, infants, & children. She talks about how bringing balance to the spine and working with the round ligament is especially helpful in pregnancy. Plus, what chiropractors actually do for breech babies with the Webster Technique, and the number one issue Rachel sees with newborn babies after birth.

Show notes and links at: workingbirth.com/ep05

Dr. De'Nicea Hilton, DOM, AP, LD discusses how acupuncture can be beneficial during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, and even help with milk supply. She talks about how she first got interested in acupuncture and helping mothers, as well as acupressure, tui na (Chinese massage), moxibustion, cupping, and vaginal steaming. To see De'Nicea's portrait and the shownotes from this episode, go to workingbirth.com/ep04

This is the first of several mini episodes that will be released between regular episodes! Mini episodes were recorded in Tampa, FL at the Tampa Bay Birth Network's annual Natural Birth & Baby Expo.

In this episode, Jillian speaks with doula and childbirth educator Holly Dobrynski, CD, CBE, PE. Holly discusses her path to becoming a doula, her new childbirth education program Birth Languages, her own birth stories, being a caregiver by nature, and how her first doula client opened her eyes to all the possibilities birth brings.

To see Holly's portrait and the shownotes from this episode, go to workingbirth.com/ep03

In this episode Jillian continues her conversation with midwife Karen DeCocker, CNM, DNP, APRN, IBCLC. Karen talks about how she got into nursing & midwifery, how research changed her life, her work with some amazing human milk researchers, two big changes in women's health care since she started her career, and why women are getting angry about not knowing their options. Jillian shares about the time she observed a c-section.

Also discussed: evidence-based, low intervention birth in a hospital setting, Karen's work in a small, rural community hospital, urgent vs emergent c-sections, and problems with distribution of information to moms, particularly to those of low socio-economic status.

Shownotes can be found at workingbirth.com/ep02

Welcome to Working Birth! A podcast & portrait project exploring the work of women in the birth community. In this episode Jillian talks with midwife Karen DeCocker, CNM, DNP, APRN, IBCLC. Karen discusses the midwifery model of care, the importance of evidence based practice for birth, her research on lactation, and her experiences working in various communities. To see Karen's portrait and the shownotes for this episode, go to workingbirth.com/ep01