Ep 103 Description:

“It's helpful to make sure that you're considering what you really want, and then stack the cards in your favor.” —Laura Hanstad

A woman’s birth experience is one of the most powerful and transformational events of her life. Yet for many, it does not go as envisioned due to a lack of knowledge or support.

This week, Debra sits with Laura Hanstad to discuss the power women have over their birth choices to achieve the empowered birth they want. Laura discovered the power of choosing the right support team after an initial discouraging birth experience. She has since become a doula, educator, and healing practitioner to help other mothers understand their options and achieve the autonomous births they envision.

Listen in as Debra and Laura talk about choosing providers and a location aligned with your birth vision, why selecting an OB-GYN vs midwife can impact the level of support for a natural physiological birth, how "stacking the cards in your favor" leads to preferred outcomes, complementary techniques like hypnobirthing and craniosacral therapy that address mind-body connections, how continuous care from a doula enhances emotional and physical support during labor, and planning to allow for the unpredictable nature of birth.

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

02:41 Birth Education

08:13 Regaining Autonomy and Empowerment

14:07 HypnoBirthing

18:59 Healing Past Birth Trauma

24:17 Preparing for a Positive Birth Experience

28:40 Birth Support Options

Ep 102 Description:

“Your body belongs to you. Your body isn't for someone else's pleasure. It's not an ornament.” —Christine Mason

The female body undergoes profound changes during pregnancy and childbirth. As the womb expands to nurture new life, the body's shape and functions are transformed. However, societal attitudes have not always celebrated these transformations, with pregnant and postpartum women facing criticism and shame regarding their changing forms. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to reclaim the potent beauty and power of the birthing body. By reframing stretch marks as badges of motherhood and embracing the sensuality of breastfeeding, women are rediscovering the dignity and strength inherent to their reproductive experiences.

Hence, in this episode we are shifting the focus on loving and valuing the changing bodies of pregnant and postpartum women. This week, Debra sits with Christine Mason, a mother, author, and founder of Rosebud Woman . Christine emphasizes the power of reconnecting with one's inner radiance to overcome societal objectification and fully step into the beauty and power of female reproduction.

Tune in as Debra and Christine discuss the challenges with body image, ways to heal trauma and reconnect with one's body, practical tips and perspectives on caring for the physical changes of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as honoring the transformative role of motherhood.

If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

02:49 Birth Experiences and Their Impact on Motherhood

08:40 Healing Trauma and Loving the Female Body

13:54 Reframing Stretch Marks

18:50 Postpartum Care and Recovery

24:10 Restoring the Power and Dignity of Women’s Bodies

Ep 101 Description:

“If we can learn to tolerate our feelings of emotional pain, grief, loss, sadness, and anxiety, we open up the possibility of being able to feel more pleasure. And it starts with the body.” —Dr. Nan Wise

Pleasure is a fundamental part of the human experience that enhances well-being and quality of life. The ability to experience joy and satisfaction promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and strengthens our relationships and connections with others. Yet modern lifestyles often leave little time for leisure, play, and mindfulness of sensations in our own bodies.

This week’s episode explores the neuroscience of pleasure and how stress impacts our ability to experience joy with our expert guest, Dr. Nan Wise. Why Good Sex Matters author, Dr. Wise, is a certified sex therapist, relationship specialist, and neuroscience researcher. Her studies help address the gaps in literature regarding the neural basis of human sexuality. Dr. Nan is passionate about teaching her clients techniques to manage stress and experience more pleasure in their daily lives and relationships.

Listen in as Debra and Dr. Wise offer strategies to regulate the nervous system and access pleasure pathways in the brain and tools pregnant women can use to prepare emotionally for birth. They also delve into how stress can "hijack" brain chemistry and impact mental health, the brain's core emotional systems, the importance of self-care for mothers, and redefining sexuality beyond intercourse to embrace embodiment and connection.

If you would like to Positively Prepare for Birth - check out our Pleasurable Birth Essentials online classes or if you are a doula take our free challenge of 5 Essential Tools to Enhance Pleasure-Centered Birth:

https://orgasmicbirth.app.clientclub.net/courses/offers/f09cf842-9294-41f3-941e-ab4cd6833a59

https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

03:11 Managing Stress and Anxiety

09:10 Brain Function and Emotions

14:21 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence During Pregnancy and Childbirth

22:03 Redefining Sexuality During Pregnancy and Parenthood

25:15 The Origin of Emotions

Ep 100 Description:

“Birth and sex are transformative, intimate, and deserving of safe private spaces that honor the essence of the experience.” —Debra Pascali-Bonaro

We welcome you to EPISODE 100!!

Our podcast has hit its pleasure peak as it reached its century mark all thanks to you, our dear listeners.

And what better way to celebrate this milestone than to reclaim birth as a natural and pleasurable experience with a heartwarming and insightful message from your host, Debra herself!

Societal conventions have long inhibited an open discussion of birth's inherent sexuality. However, when a woman's experience of her changing and birthing body is shrouded in silence rather than embraced as natural, she is deprived of cultivating an environment to honor birth's intimacy.

In this episode, Debra talks about transforming childbirth from a medicalized procedure to a natural, pleasurable experience by embracing its inherent connections to sexuality. Listen in as she discusses how physiological and psychological factors can either enhance pleasure and flow or diminish these experiences during both labor, delivery, and intimacy. Debra also shares mind-body techniques that can help women get "out of their head" and fully into their body, the role of embodiment practices, how to cultivate a safe space to honor birth's intimate nature, and challenging the societal norms that have stripped away acknowledgment of birth's sexual elements. The overall message emphasizes

If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

00:50 Guess What?

06:27 Factors That Impact Pregnancy, Labor, and Delivery

14:06 The Importance of Creating a Safe Space for Birth

19:48 Birth is Intimate and Sexy

Ep 99 Description:

“Pleasure was a part of what it meant to feel good in life. Sexual identities are important that these things are worth investing and understanding.” —Alexandra Fine

While male sexuality is frequently encouraged or normalized in mainstream culture, female sexuality and pleasure are often negative and stigmatizing. As a result, women face barriers in openly discussing their bodies and experiences with sexuality. This leads to women's health being politicized and their access to information and tools related to pleasure being restricted. However, perspectives are gradually shifting as more voices advocate for women's rights to explore their sexuality freely and pursue fulfillment in their intimate relationships without shame.

Alexandra Fine is a sexologist and the co-founder of Dame Products, a company that designs tools specifically tailored to help women explore pleasure and reclaim their sexuality. Through her work at Dame Products and as an advocate, she aims to have open discussions around female sexuality and empower women.

Tune in as Debra and Alexandra share insight into navigating sexuality, childbirth, and parenting while challenging stigmas around female pleasure. They also discussed societal attitudes towards female pleasure, the challenges of promoting healthy views of sexuality, how vibrators can be used for pain management during labor and birth, and more.

If you would like to Positively Prepare for Birth - check out our Pleasurable Birth Essentials online classes or if you are a doula take our free challenge of 5 Essential Tools to Enhance Pleasure-Centered Birth:

https://orgasmicbirth.app.clientclub.net/courses/offers/f09cf842-9294-41f3-941e-ab4cd6833a59

https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

04:14 The Business of Pleasure

09:30 The Journey: Childbirth, Parenting, and Sexuality

15:39 Societal Attitudes Toward Female Pleasure and Sexuality

20:51 Vibrators for Pain Management

Ep 98 Description:

“Once you have the facts, once you have confidence in your information, you have confidence in your decision. You don't need to justify that to anyone. It's not your job to educate the world unless you decide it is.” —Jen Kamel

VBAC— Vaginal Birth After Cesarean is a common yet controversial choice that many birthing people face. While the evidence has long supported VBAC as a safe option for most, widespread myths and misinformation continue to obscure the facts.

In this episode, leading VBAC advocate Jen Kamel sets out to separate myth from reality once and for all. She delves into the numerous misconceptions that have taken hold over the years: from beliefs that VBAC is only suitable for a select few, to exaggerations of its risks, to the idea that repeat c-sections are always safer.

Debra and Jen also discuss practical tips on finding supportive providers and navigating unsupportive opinions, the importance of fully informed consent, and the power of realizing one's autonomy in their birth decisions despite barriers.

For anyone with a personal or professional stake in empowering low-risk vaginal births, this can't-miss discussion is a must-listen to counter the barrage of VBAC myths and understand the option in its proper evidence-based light.

If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

02:47 Advocacy for Respectful Care

07:18 VBAC Risks, Candidacy, and Decision-Making

12:21 Finding Supportive Providers

16:59 VBAC Access and Midwifery Legislation

20:46 VBAC Rates and Barriers in the US

25:29 VBAC Tools and Resources

Ep 97 Description:

“If that's something that I could encourage other pregnant people to do, is to try to have that clarity about their wants and their needs and their desires, and then to verbalize from a place of clarity to their provider. That inner state of clarity is very important in the conversation.” —Nicole Heidbreder

“My job was to not try to fix things and be more of a listener.” —Amir Niroumand

While vaginal birth is often seen as the ideal, for many birthing experts a medically-necessary cesarean section is the safest option. However, the sterility and clinical nature of surgery can make cesareans feel less personal than desired. But with intentional planning, cesareans can still honor a person's needs and vision for birth.

In this episode, we are joined by DONA International approved Birth doula trainer, Nicole Heidbreder and her partner, Amir Niromand. As a labor and delivery nurse and birth doula of many years, Nicole had clear visions for her own birth plans. However, after struggling to conceive for over a year and experiencing multiple miscarriages, she was forced to reconsider everything.

Nicole and Amir discuss their journey trying to conceive for over a year, which included multiple miscarriages. Nicole explains how her history as a labor and delivery nurse and doula led to shifting her birth plans after being diagnosed with fibroids. She details emotionally accepting surgery and a planned cesarean. Nicole created a supportive medical team and shares her vision for a "magnificent cesarean" honoring her, Amir, and their transition to parenthood, outlining her birth and postpartum plans.

Tune in and learn the importance of grieving loss, the role of clear communication with medical providers, the impact of community support, and the power of crafting a birth centered on the birthing person's needs, voice, and choice.

If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

02:59 pregnancy and Loss

10:43 Shifting Birth Vision and Creating a Supportive team

16:42 Grief and Healing After Pregnancy Loss

20:48 Preparation for a Planned Cesarean Section

26:43 Postpartum Preferences

32:10 The Role of the Community in Providing Supportive Care

34:39 Honoring the Mother’s Voice and Choice

Ep 96 Description:

“Preparing ahead is important as birth trauma often happens when the unexpected happens, and your voice and choice are not heard or honored.” —Debra Pascali-Bonaro

While many expectant parents envision an ideal birth experience, it's important to prepare for the possibility that things may not unfold as planned. Complications can arise that require medical intervention for the health and safety of the mother and baby. A caring provider will discuss all options to find the best solution. Having discussed preferences for interventions like cesarean birth ahead of time allows expectant parents' voices to still be heard and choices respected, even when flexibility is needed. An open and understanding perspective and support system can help ensure that however birth transpires, it is still a meaningful experience bringing new life into the world.

Discover proven strategies to give your cesarean birth experience the love, care, and meaning you envision for welcoming your new baby into the world as your host, Debra, talks about how to positively prepare your mindset for the experience, discuss your preferences with your healthcare providers, and enhance the sensory aspects to allow delaying interventions. Plus learn how reflecting on your birth can help with processing and healing.

If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/

Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac

Connect with Debra!

Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

03:56 Enhancing Childbirth Experience Through Sensory Details

08:02 Cesarean Birth Choices and Support

14:06 Birth and Postpartum Care for a Safe and Supported Experience

17:59 Planning a Gentle Cesarean Birth