You know about the drink and the glucose test your provider is going to want you to take. You have probably heard of gestational diabetes and maybe even how to prevent and manage this pregnancy complication.

Today I’m with Sara, a L&D RN of over 6 years, and a high-risk OB nurse specializing in gestational diabetes, to discuss the critical topic of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

We’re diving deep into the 'why' behind GDM, covering its potential risks for both mothers and babies, such as shoulder dystocia, preeclampsia, and postpartum depression.

Sara sheds light on the importance of blood sugar management during pregnancy, debunking common misconceptions and highlighting lesser-known facts about gestational diabetes. The conversation is packed with practical advice and insights for expecting mothers diagnosed with GDM, emphasizing the importance of education and support. Tune in for an engaging and educational discussion that aims to reduce fear and anxiety surrounding gestational diabetes.

Connect with Sara Alayev, RN:

Gestational Diabetes Nurse Blog

IG: @gestational.diabetes.nurse

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

In this episode, Colette discusses the intricacies of childbirth, focusing on pushing positions, techniques to reduce tearing, and the importance of understanding one's body during labor. She emphasizes the need for effective communication with healthcare providers and the significance of pelvic positioning for a smoother delivery. The conversation also covers the risks of tearing and how to manage the pushing stage effectively.

Takeaways

• Understand the signs your body is sending during labor.
• Pushing positions can significantly impact the delivery process.
• Pelvic positioning is crucial for reducing tearing.
• Breathing techniques can aid in effective pushing.
• Communication with your healthcare team is essential.
• Epidurals can affect your ability to feel contractions.
• Warm compresses may help during labor.
• Staying active during pregnancy can improve delivery outcomes.
• Perineal stretching may reduce the risk of tearing.
• Your mindset and comfort level are vital during childbirth.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Pushing in Birth

00:45

Introduction to Pushing Positions

07:20

Understanding the Pushing Process

14:13

The Importance of Positioning During Labor

19:37

Pelvic Mechanics and Relaxation

26:09

Strategies to Reduce Tearing

31:50

Breathing Techniques and Mindset

For more information:

Find us on Instagram https://instagram.com/myfriendsanurse

Website: https://myfriendsanurse.com

Email: colette@myfriendsanurse.com

Keywords childbirth, pushing positions, reducing tearing, labor techniques, birth plan, pelvic floor, epidural, maternal health, delivery, birth experience

This episode I’m so excited to invite Dr Emily Brownlee to discuss her own birth journey as she navigated from a traumatic but oh so common induction story that led to her first c-section and how she eventually got her VBAC only 17 months later! She is now preparing for a home birth with her third baby as she builds her pelvic floor community with Pelvic Floor Fit!

Emily is a pelvic health physical therapist, and certified pre and postnatal fitness coach. It is her passion to empower mamas in achieving a pain-free pregnancy, the birth of their dreams, and a confident postpartum recovery. As a c-section and VBAC mama, she has navigated seasons of motherhood the hard way and the peaceful way. It is her mission to teach mamas how they can trade only 10 minutes a day for true support of their pelvic health and perinatal fitness.

Find Emily at:

www.pelvicfloorfit.net

IG: @pelvic.floor.fit

If you have any questions regarding VBAC, home birth, and inductions, or would like to share your own birth story, birth business or mission, don’t hesitate to email me at colette@myfriendsanurse.com!

00:19 Leap Year Birthday Dilemma

03:08 Meet Dr. Emily Brownlee

03:22 Pelvic Floor Health and Virtual Workshops

04:44 Emily's Birth Stories: From VBAC to Home Birth

14:27 Advocating for Yourself in Birth

25:58 Introduction to Pelvic Floor Fit

26:17 Emily's Journey to Pelvic Health

27:45 Empowering Moms Through Education

30:53 Virtual Physical Therapy: Challenges and Benefits

43:43 Workshops and Resources for Moms

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Kaci Mial (she/her) is an experienced sex educator and certified coach with 12+ years of expertise working with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in supporting parents with communication and intimacy challenges throughout the journey of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Kaci is a trained educator with The Gottman Institute’s Bringing Baby Home program, a certified infant massage educator, and a yoga instructor, blending evidence-based practices with practical tools to promote family well-being. She also brings personal experience as a mom of two young children and a fur baby, giving her unique insight into the joys and complexities of parenting.

Kaci founded The Parent Pleasure Academy, an online course and community dedicated to improving sex and intimacy for postpartum parents. With a holistic approach, she aims to empower parents to reduce stress, build meaningful connections, and embrace joy in every stage of family life.

Connect with Kaci on Socials @SexCoachKaci

• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sexcoachkaci/
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KaciAMial
• X – https://x.com/sexcoachkaci
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaci-mial-m-ed-csc-ceim-b8a27173/
• Threads https://www.threads.net/@sexcoachkaci

Free Resources

The Ultimate Postpartum Intimacy Prep Guide - Free downloadable PDF with checklists, prompts, journal entries, and questions to help postpartum parents begin thinking about intimacy. Discover quick tips to ease fears, reduce anxiety, and replace added exhaustion with practical solutions.

The Parent Pleasure Academy Resource Guide - Free downloadable PDF resource list for parents and providers with books, websites, and tools that covers sex, intimacy, and relationships while trying to conceive, pregnant, and postpartum

The Yes List- Printable PDF Checklist to use with partners to discuss sex and/or intimacy after having a baby

Paid Resources

The Parent Pleasure Academy Online Course & Community for pregnant & postpartum parents

00:43 Challenges of Postpartum Intimacy

01:55 Meet Sex Coach Kaci

07:49 Kaci's Journey to Becoming a Sex Coach

15:33 Navigating Intimacy During Pregnancy

23:49 Building Emotional Connection

24:34 Practical Tips for Couples

27:34 Sex Coaching Insights

36:26 Postpartum Challenges and Tips

43:50 Final Thoughts and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Clara joins us today in a deep discussion on how fear has transformed the medicalized institution of birth. She is a researcher-turned doula and childbirth educator who brings a mix of science and mindful practices to birth work. Clara founded Clear Light Birth in 2021 and has supported thousands of families to prepare for beautiful birth experiences through her programs, services, and resources. Clara is the host of the Mindful Womb Podcast, a show packed with actionable strategies, heartfelt stories, and pregnancy and parenting hacks… all tied together to support people in harnessing their inner power during life’s most magnificent transitions. Her mission is to transform the mainstream, fear-based narrative about birth, help people connect with their intuition, and give birth with confidence.

As a neurodivergent and queer birth worker, Clara is an advocate for creating inclusive spaces for people to access information and techniques for a calm and supported birth experience.

01:29 Overcoming Anxiety and Travels to India

03:00 Meet Clara O'Rourke

07:24 Clara's Journey into Birth Work

10:26 Empowering Birth Experiences

18:20 Navigating Birth Plans and Preferences

23:41 Effective Communication with Providers

36:14 Understanding the Stress Response

38:14 The Role of a Doula in Labor

40:25 Fear-Based Care in Hospitals

41:02 The Importance of Partner Involvement

44:38 Navigating Hospital Birth Classes

46:07 Accommodating Sensory and Emotional Needs

55:22 Advocating for Queer and Neurodivergent Patients

01:03:04 Conclusion and Resources

More from Clara O'Rourke:

Listen to her podcast The Mindful Womb

Visit her website: www.clearlightbirth.com

IG: @clearlightbirth

Noted book reference: A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diana Korte

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

Please review and share our show, we'd love to grow!

We welcome Jill Magoffin to The Birth Link Podcast! Full on turkey and stuffing, we close out the holiday season chatting about The Birth Story from TLC, birth expectations and what does a doula even do?!

More importantly we get into how to build the best birth team around you while pregnant, in birth and through postpartum. How do you choose where to give birth? How do you find and choose your provider?How to interview a doula? What role should your partner, family and friends play? We cover IT ALL!

Jill is one of the top doulas in the Los Angeles area, praised for her down to earth, no nonsense full spectrum birth support. She pours her heart into her work, which shows in all three of her children's books. Find her books here:

You Are So Loved by Jill Magoffin

Dear Little Baby by Jill Magoffin

The Adventures of Doula Sonny: A Family's IVF Journey by Jill Magoffin

Find Jill:

jillmagoffin.com

instagram.com/jillmagoffin

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

February coaching cohort starts Feb 2!

Would you like to be coached personally for birth by Colette herself?!

Become besties while learning EVERYTHING you need and want to know to feel confident and get excited for your baby's birthday!

JOIN HERE

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

We're going to dive into a few points we need to be aware of during the second stage of labor. The stage between getting to 10 cm and having your baby. How long can we expect it to take, or how long should I allow myself to push with the recommendations from my provider and expert suggestions? What if we wait to push until we feel like the baby is coming? Do we still recommend “laboring down?” What is it and why or why not?

I also touch on the fetal ejection reflex, the fascinating physiological process that highlights the incredible natural design of birth. We touch a little on pushing and position techniques and communication strategies with your birth team. This is an episode you don’t want to miss as you prepare to meet your baby! If you’re a birth worker, are you asking yourself where your interventions and skills are coming from and are you prioritizing the patient and her preferences during this special stage? Let’s dive in!

00:39 Personal Updates and Reflections

02:11 Diving into the Second Stage of Labor

05:55 Historical Perspectives on Labor

12:32 Pushing Techniques and Recommendations

27:45 My Birth Experience

30:52 Understanding Labor Experiences

31:21 The Concept of Laboring Down

32:59 New Evidence on Laboring Down

34:48 Epidurals and Pushing Techniques

41:21 The Fetal Ejection Reflex

47:49 Creating a Supportive Birth Environment

54:31 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

We love a great redemption story! Sara went to school with me and we were friends in high school, so it was great to reconnect and learn that we had such similar birth stories! Being young, naive and ill-prepared for birth in the hospital system, what did we take away to then achieve the birth we knew that we deserved as women? You won’t want to miss this episode as we casually discuss what is missing in the birth industry and how we can take control and responsibility to get the birth we’ve always wanted!

00:28 Reconnecting with Sarah

04:20 Sarah's First Birth Story

15:18 The Role of Medical Interventions

26:49 Improving Birth Experiences

37:38 Informed Consent in Childbirth

38:39 The Importance of Childbirth Education

42:47 The Role of Doulas and Birth Coaches

44:32 Navigating Hospital Births and Advocacy

46:28 Postpartum Support and Challenges

53:24 The Importance of Prenatal Care

01:03:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Expectant Moms

01:05:06 Outro and Upcoming Topics

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services