In this deeply moving and essential episode, I sit down with two incredible voices in the birth world: Dr. Stuart James Fischbein, MD, and Blyss Young, LM, CPM.

This conversation tackles the most difficult and unexpected birth scenarios, focusing on how birth professionals and families can navigate loss and trauma with integrity and compassion. Dr. Stu and Blyss courageously reflect on a challenging breech birth they assisted together, prompting a crucial discussion on managing high-stakes situations.

🚨 DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses loss, grief, and a very difficult birth experience. Listener discretion is advised.

We dive into the power of storytelling—how sharing our birth narratives influences care, challenges rigid hierarchies, and ultimately makes all the difference when conflict arises. We also explore the roles of midwives as guides, the expansion of regulatory agencies, and the importance of cognitive resonance in the birth space. Finally, I ask Dr. Stu and Blyss to reflect on their own "personal legends" and the missions that guide their profound work.

• Dr. Stuart James Fischbein, MD (Dr. Stu): Stuart James Fischbein MD is a community-based obstetrician and an Associate of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, published author of the book “Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife and A Mom” and peer-reviewed papers Homebirth with an Obstetrician, A Series of 135 Out of Hospital Births, Breech birth at home: outcomes of 60 breech and 109 cephalic planned home and birth center births and Twin home birth: Outcomes of 100 sets of twins in the care of a single practitioner. After completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Stu, as he is known, spent 24 years assisting women with hospital birthing and, for the next 12+ years, was a homebirth obstetrician who worked directly with midwives assisting local Southern California families. Since retiring from attending home births in late 2022, Dr. Stu has turned his focus to traveling around the world as a lecturer and advocate for reteaching breech & twin birth skills, respect for the normalcy of birth and honoring informed consent. He hosts the weekly Birthing Instincts Podcast with co-host Blyss Young and together they offer hope, reassurance and safe, honest evidence supported choices for those women who understand pregnancy is a normal bodily function not to be feared.
• Blyss Young, LM, CPM: Blyss Young, LM, CPM, is a home birth midwife, educator, and advocate for holistic maternity care. She co-founded The Sanctuary Birth & Family Wellness Center in Los Angeles, the first collaborative birth center of its kind, after nearly a decade of serving thousands of families and learning from renowned experts like Suzanne Arms, she transitioned to a more intimate midwifery practice supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Blyss is also the co-host of the Birthing Instincts Podcast with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, where they explore the art and science of birth outside the system. Currently, she is traveling the country interviewing traditional midwives for her newest project, At Her Feet, a podcast dedicated to preserving and sharing the ancestral wisdom of midwifery. Through her work with The Bridge Midwives, Blyss continues to mentor and inspire the next generation, helping to restore connection, intuition, and autonomy to the birthing experience.

• 0:00 | Introduction
• 10:15 | DISCLAIMER: WE TALK ABOUT A CHALLENGING BIRTH. A candid reflection on the difficult breech birth Dr. Stu and Blyss assisted together.
• 21:55 | How to support...