All Birthful Episodes
Pregnant people get bombarded with all sorts of advice: a lot of it unsolicited, outdated, or just plain wrong. In Birthful, working doula and former journalist Adriana Lozada talks pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with top experts and new parents.
Every episode distills the overload of pregnancy information down to the most relevant and useful stuff.
Why an OB/GYN Chose to Have a Homebirth
OB/GYN and medical educator Dr. Amali Lokugamage talks with Adriana about how being pregnant propelled a paradigm shift in her ideas about birth, leading her to give birth at home. A champion of human rights in childbirth, she shares why birth recommendations have...
Is Homebirth for You?
Robina Khalid of Small Things Grow Midwifery explains what it takes to truly consider a homebirth, and shares with Adriana how to prepare for a successful experience. What myths or misconceptions do you have about homebirth? We'll unpack them at @birthfulpodcast on...
![[Birth Story] How She Embraced Physiology to Avoid Pushing for Three Hours Again](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/April-Teel-snuggling-after-her-second-birth-Birthful-Podcast.jpg)
[Birth Story] How She Embraced Physiology to Avoid Pushing for Three Hours Again
April Teel shares with Adriana how her thoughtful preparation set the stage for her to have wonderful birth experiences at both a freestanding birth center (with a midwife) and a hospital (with a family practice doctor). She reflects on how what surprised her the most...
Cesarean Risk: What’s Your Place of Birth Got to Do With It?
Cesarean rates have increased 500% in one generation, and about half of them may be unnecessary. Harvard Medical School professor and ACOG Fellow Dr. Neel Shah talks with Adriana about how the hospital you choose can be your #1 risk of having a surgical birth, how we...
![[Birth Story] How Focusing On Her Birth Vision Led To Her Dream Hospital Birth](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Jenny-Murphy-Birthful-Podcast.jpeg)
[Birth Story] How Focusing On Her Birth Vision Led To Her Dream Hospital Birth
Jenny Murphy’s birth preparations were impacted by uncertainty, fear, and ever-changing circumstances. She shares with Adriana how focusing on her “birth vision”– and waiting to go to the hospital for as long as possible– allowed her to be the leader of her labor and...
Know What You’re Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital
Mimi Niles, a full-scope midwife and midwifery care researcher, talks to Adriana Lozada about the U.S. hospital system, how your goals as a birthing person are at odds with the system’s goals, and how to tap into your power as a consumer within the system. How exactly...
Exploring Your Options of Where to Give Birth
Adriana Lozada goes through the pros and cons of three places where you can give birth: a hospital, a birth center, and at home, and what you should consider when making an informed decision. Where did you give birth, and why? We want to read about it! Join the...
What You Need to Know About Birth Models (Birth What?)
Medical anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd talks with Adriana about the technocratic, humanistic and holistic birth models. She explains why we’ve gotten so obsessed with machines and numbers, why we need more midwives, how some OBs are making positive change by...
![[Birth Story] How Flexibility Helped Her Flow through Relentless Contractions](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sarah-Winward-milky-goddess-Birthful-Podcast-e1551285392279.jpg)
[Birth Story] How Flexibility Helped Her Flow through Relentless Contractions
Sarah Winward’s story starts with some lovely swing dancing in the living room, and stomping through deep snow with her dog, then gets really intense, having Sarah ask herself over and over “Where is the break?! There’s supposed to be a break. Where is the break?!”...
What Cultural Ideals Will Shape Your Birth Experience?
Author and childbirth educator Britta Bushnell describes eight deeply-entrenched cultural ideals that can unconsciously— and even negatively— impact the course of your labor and how you parent. She and Adriana share how to reframe these beliefs to uplift realistic...
How to Protect the Golden Hour
Adriana gives advice on ensuring you and your newborn can take advantage of the "golden hour," in any birth setting. Might parents, parents-to-be, and birthworkers: this is part three of a three-part series on the benefits of the golden hour. Listen to part one here...
Why the Golden Hour Matters for Your Baby
Adriana continues her series on the “golden hour” with specifics on the benefits for your baby of having this undisturbed time right after birth. Might parents, parents-to-be, and birthworkers: this is part two of a three-part series on the benefits of the golden...
Why the Golden Hour Matters for You
Adriana describes important elements of the "golden hour"- those crucial and magical first moments right after your baby is born- especially for you, the birthing person. Might parents, parents-to-be, and birthworkers: this is part one of a three-part series on the...
How Nipple Shapes Can Impact Breastfeeding
Adriana describes the wide range of nipple shapes and sizes, and how to work with what you’ve got to successfully breastfeed. What surprised you most about your nipples during lactation? Let us know on Instagram @birthfulpodcast. Powered by...
How Do You Know If Your Care Provider Is Treating You Fairly?
The truth is, you probably won’t know! But Kimberly Seals Allers is working hard to change that. Kimberly talks with Adriana about how she’s leveraging consumer power to shift the patient-provider dynamics, hold hospitals publicly accountable, and bring transparency...
How to Bring More Joy into Your Parenting Experience
Adriana shares how important joy can be to your experience as a parent, and gives practical strategies for how to prioritize joy in a time where raising kids seems harder than ever. What brings you joy? We'd love to read about it! Share with our community via...
![[Birth Stories] How Letting Go of Expectations Was Key To Her Bonding With Her Baby](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Guest-Nana-e1644022623880-400x250.png)
[Birth Stories] How Letting Go of Expectations Was Key To Her Bonding With Her Baby
Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, co-founder of the socially impactful Fourth Phase aftercare boxes, shares how her expectations of when and how she should bond with her baby tarnished her otherwise wonderfully supported and respected birth experience. She tells Adriana how this...
How to Time Your Pain Relief Options
Adriana goes through six different medical options for relieving pain during labor, focusing on the best time to use each one to help you plan your pain management strategy. How did you manage the sensations of labor? Tell us about your experience on Instagram...
Can You Let Your Baby Sleep Whenever They Want?
Infant care researcher and clinical director Dr. Pamela Douglas explains an emerging evidence-based paradigm in infant sleep that does away with sleep training. She shares with Adriana the importance of providing babies with rich sensory nourishment, and what long...
Why We Are Carrier Mammals
Adriana explains why the type of mammal humans are impacts how much and what kind of care your baby needs from you. Which style of baby carrier is your perfect fit? Let's discuss options on Instagram @birthfulpodcast. Powered by RedCircle Listen...
![[Birth Stories] Giving Birth to Twins as a Disabled Person](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Dani-and-her-girls-400x250.jpg)
[Birth Stories] Giving Birth to Twins as a Disabled Person
Dani Izzie, a disability advocate who is quadriplegic, tells Adriana how her years of navigating the medical system, connecting with a community who understands her, building a supportive team, and her deep understanding of her body helped her through the birth of her...
![[Best of Birthful] Understanding Your Birth Hormones](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Sarah-Buckley-400x250.jpg)
[Best of Birthful] Understanding Your Birth Hormones
Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+...
![[Best of Birthful] What is the Purpose of Childbirth Pain?](https://birthful.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Rhea-Dempsey-400x250.jpg)
[Best of Birthful] What is the Purpose of Childbirth Pain?
Welcome to the Best of Birthful. Creator and host Adriana Lozada curated and edited each selection in this playlist of the show’s most popular episodes. It's a tailored introduction to the expansive catalog she amassed over the first five years of Birthful's 300+...
How to Tell the Difference Between Types of Contractions
Adriana explains how different contractions feel in your body, and when you’ll know that you’re really going into labor. How did contractions feel in your body? Describe your experience on Instagram @birthfulpodcast. Powered by RedCircle Listen...