[Birth Story] How Harnessing Her Birth Hormones Allowed Her to Forgo an Induction

Birth Choices, Birth Partners, Birth Plan, Birth Stories, Fertility, Hospital, Interventions, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy, Stories

When Danellia Arechiga became a gestational surrogate, she felt strongly about having an unmedicated birth at a birth center. Even as her labor plan derailed into an induction, she pushed for few interventions and worked with her physiology, ultimately experiencing...

Eight Questions to Ask Your Care Provider (Especially in Your Second Trimester!)

Birth Choices, Birth Plan, Care Providers During Pregnancy Series, Interventions, Podcast, Pregnancy, short episode, TBPodcast

Adriana Lozada shares eight great questions for sussing out your provider’s protocols and practices as your pregnancy advances, in order to help you figure out how much shared decision-making and agency you will truly have in your birth experience. Powered by...

Why Your Team Isn’t Complete Without a Doula

Activism, Care Providers During Pregnancy Series, Labor & Birth, Podcast

The mounting evidence is clear: having a doula can help decrease the risk of having a cesarean birth and significantly improve birth experiences. In fact, doulas have even been called a form of pain relief themselves, as people tend to want fewer pain medications and...

[Birth Story] How She Embraced Physiology to Avoid Pushing for Three Hours Again

Birth Stories, Models & Places of Birth Series, Podcast, TBPodcast

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...

How Your Birth Plan Impacts Your Birth Experience

Birth Plan, Labor & Birth, Podcast, Pregnancy

Certified nurse midwife Dr. Stephanie Mitchell shares tools from her step-by-step guide to building a birth plan, and discusses why getting your plan together—and onboarding everyone on your birth team—can help ensure you are respected and heard during your birth...