Yoga | Birth | Babies

Studies have shown that hearing positive birth stories can increase one’s confidence in their own upcoming birth.  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with new mother, Jenn Gross. Jenn shares her fast, primal and confident birth story. She talks about how she prepared for her birth and how she was able to find such deep confidence in her body’s ability to birth. Jenn also explains what led her to move from a traditional obstetric practice to working with midwives at a birth center. Check out the video below in the show notes of Jenn in the parking garage working through some big contractions- she was working with the PYC mantra- Open throat, open vagina!  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga C

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Cheri Grant, also known world wide as the “Peanut Ball Lady”. Cheri explains how peanut balls are incorporated into labor and how they can positively effect labor. She goes into detail about how the different positions of a peanut ball can open the pelvis to help with fetal positioning, leading to a more functional birth. For pregnant people and birth workers, this conversation is a must!  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Support Our Sponsors: If want you to start living a happier life today. get 10% off your first month by visiting betterhelp.com/ybb Join over 1 minion people taking charge of their mental health.   Sick of planning

In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with board-certified OB-GYN and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Marta Perez on what we know about the science of COVID, it’s effect on pregnancy and fetal and neonatal risks. Dr. Perez helps demystify some of the data and clarifies the effects of COVID on the different systems in the pregnant body. She also explains what is currently understood about the risk of COVID to babies and developing fetuses. For those who may feel overwhelmed and unclear about COVID and pregnancy, this podcast will bring some peace of mind and clarity.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Support Our Sponsors: If want you to start living a happier

Birthing people sometimes feel like they are going into a hospital setting needing to have their guard up to defend their birth preferences against the enemy- the medical institution. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with former hospital and now home birth midwife, Chloë Lubell about how to create a respectful, collaborative and balanced relationship with your care provider and hospital staff. Chloë also discusses the rights of the birthing and the importance of informed consent.  Support Our Sponsors: Sick of planning new meals each night? Let Green Chef do the meal planning, grocery shopping, and most of the prep for you week after week Use my code ybb80 to get $80 off your first month plus free shipping on your first box! Go to greenchef.com/YBB80 to redeem and for more details.  greenchef.com/YBB80 Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leav

Sigh…exhaustion! As a parent, who isn’t exhausted at times? What parent struggles with not losing their cool with their kids at some point? How do parents let go of the facade of control they think that have over their kids?  In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with Clinical Psychologist and Parenting Specialist, Rachel Bailey. She gives solid and practical strategies for helping parents reconcile arguments, deescalate when they feel triggered, and truly take care of their own needs. For any parent who has felt overwhelmed or exhausted, this podcast is for you.  Support Our Sponsors: Sick of planning new meals each night? Let Green Chef do the meal planning, grocery shopping, and most of the prep for you week after week Use my code ybb80 to get $80 off your first month plus free shipping on your first box! Go to greenchef.com/YBB80 to redeem and for more details.  greenchef.com/YBB80 Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts

If you knew there was a way to successfully lower cesarean rates and create a family-centered birth, would you be interested in learning more about it? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Dr. Neel Shah. Dr. Shah is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. He is part of the team that created The Team Birth Project. The goal of this initiative to decrease C-sections and improve birth outcomes.  Dr. Shah explains the importance of communication and the team effort needed to fully support the birthing person. Something as simple as a whiteboard could change the whole approach to respecting and honoring birth plans and the flexibility needed when pivoting original intentions.  Support Our Sponsors: Sick of planning new meals each night? Let Green Chef do the meal planning, grocery shopping, and most of the prep for you week after week Use my code ybb80 to

I have yet to meet a parent who hasn't struggled through a child’s tantrum or other challenging moments. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we knew exactly what to do to manage or even avoid tantrums?  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with the co-founders of Big Little Feelings, child therapist, Deena Margolin LMFT and parent coach, Kristin Gallant about creating a practical action plan to navigate all the tough moments with your children. We talk about meltdowns, and tantrums, how to avoid them, what do to if you when the tantrum is already underway, and setting clear boundaries.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharing birth stories matters. It's an opportunity to support and inspire one another during a transformative time. Each new parent carries their own powerful narrative of their birth that shapes the beginning of a new stage of life.  In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Prenatal Yoga Center community member and proud new mother, Lina Lum. Lina shares her beautiful and compelling birth story and what influenced her birth choices. Lina explains how she experienced the waves of labor and how she worked with her body to move through them.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During these unusual times, we are asking so much more of ourselves, our partners and our children. How much constant togetherness can people handle before resentment sets in and everyone gets itchy for alone time? How does one parent under what feels like “house arrest” ? What can you do when you feel lonely and isolated? How can you still get your personal needs met?  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the mother of two young children Michelle Canarick about navigating constant togetherness as a parent and partner. Michelle offers valuable insight into the struggles people are feeling with constant companionship and how to “parent” well under these circumstances. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & fac

Have you ever wondered what the appropriate milestones are for your baby? What is there to do if your child is not meeting these benchmarks? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with pediatric occupational therapist, Nekole Eaton. Nekole specializes in child development and shares her deep knowledge about expectations and variations in reaching developmental milestones. She also explains the importance of social and emotional intelligence milestones and self regulation. This podcast can help calm the minds of new parents as they watch their children grow.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part of parenting is learning through mistakes. Personally, I could write a book on the missteps I’ve taken despite thinking I’m doing the right thing in the moment.  Jenny Best, founder, and CEO of Solid Starts, and mom of three explains how her errors and anxiety about feeding her first child opened the door to understanding and emerging as an expert in baby-led weaning. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, Jenny shares her path from the stage as a ballerina for New York City Ballet to becoming a food and farming expert. She explains how baby-led weaning can make mealtime and family life so much less stressful and pave the way to more adventurous eaters. Learn the difference between choking and gagging, the best “first” foods for your child, and introducing food allergens. Say goodbye to bland rice cereal!  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a ra

Adjusting back to work has always been a concern for new parents. Today, in a time of a pandemic where childcare may have adjusted, finding flexible, creative ways to meet the demands of your job may require some creativity and negotiations.  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with author and founder of The Fifth Trimester movement, Lauren Smith Brody. Lauren offers practical tips for negotiating flexibility with your employer with no stigma or pay cut. She also discusses how this conversation can help those who can use whatever privilege they’ve got for others who may not be able to speak up as freely. This episode will help you make work-life integration easier for everyone around you. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatal

A magic alarm does not go off and cripple your eggs the morning you turn 35 years old. But why does society put that pressure on people? What does it really mean to have a baby after 35 and what can we do to increase fertility? In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with double board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist, Shannon M. Clark, MD, MMS, FACOG.  Shannon shoots straight from the hip and offering the facts and busting the myths about birthing “later in life”. We also talk about being labeled as a “geriatric pregnancy”. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Yoga|Birth|Babies we’re taking a break from our expert lead interviews and focusing on a birth story from the community.  Eliana Balk reached out to me to share her story and ideas about how to talk about birth trauma from the birthing person’s perspective. Most conversations around birth trauma are from leaders and experts on the topic, but the voice of the new parent who has been through the experience is seldom heard.  Eliana bravely talks about two very different and traumatic births and how she processed and resolved them. She also shares about the importance of education, support and advocating for herself and what she hopes new and expectant parents can learn from her story. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogac

For the past few months, I've been gravitating towards the subject of motherhood devouring podcasts, books, and articles on the subject. Possibly because I am knee-deep in early childhood as the mother of two young children or because the subject is so deep and vast and I like many parents thirst for some guidance and support. My interest in the topic might also be due to the amplification of my role and responsibilities as a mother during quarantine. Regardless of the force behind this hunger, it has been an interesting journey that has lead to thoughtful introspection of "mothers" and the cultural expectations of mothers in society.  In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with author, speaker and licensed social worker Dayna Kurtz about her new book, Mother Matters: A Holistic Guide to Being a Happy, Healthy Mom.  We have a very fun and lively conversation about “mother care”, the ever-changing role of a mother, and “fair fighting” with your partner as well as many of the ups and downs new parents f

“There is a significant amount of evidence that shows that healthcare providers hold stereotypes based on a patient’s race, class, sex, and other characteristics. This influences their interpretation of behaviors and symptoms, and even their overall clinical decisions.”states this week’s podcast guest, Alexandra Samuel-Sturgess The CDC reports that black mothers in the US are 3 to 4 times more at risk of maternal mortality regardless of socioeconomic status and education than white women. These statistics are just the beginning of shining a light on the racial disparity seen in the birthing world.  In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of Spirited By Truth, Alexandra Samuel-Sturgess. Alex has been working in the perinatal mental health field and creating a safe space for women of color for almost two decades. In this our conversion, Alex explains the maternal health racial disparities and openly talks about unconscious biases in the medical world.

Why does society accept the deeply embedded belief that mothers can’t be sexy? Saturday Night Live just re-aired their “Mom Jeans” skit poking fun at “moms”. Emphasizing that once someone because a mother they trade in the sexy body, cute clothes, and sense of self for a frumpy bodied person with poor fashion sense who is fully family focused. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with award winning documentarian, author, world renowned speaker and acclaimed doula, Debra Pascali-Bonaro.  Debra and I have a fun and lively conversation about her new book, The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Baby: Secrets to Love and Intimacy. Debra explains why so many people put sexuality and motherhood into two very different realms and how motherhood figures can reclaim their sexy wild woman. Debra offers amazing insight and advice for maintaining your connection to your partner and honoring your own personal needs.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related

Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, are often a time of family gatherings and celebrations. But now during this unprecedented time, these milestones are being experienced in isolation. This massive departure from how one may have originally envisioned the transition into parenthood can lead to feelings of loss and grief. In this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies, I speak with Licensed Social Worker and facilitator of our New Mother’s Support Group here at PYC, Jessica Shapley.  Jessica discusses how many new and expectant parents are feeling a huge sense of loss and grief at this time and offers ways to move through this discomfort. She also discusses managing the feelings of isolation and anxiety during early parenthood.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram

Telehealth has become the norm while social distancing is being respected. This can leave some new and expectant parents anxious about the care they will receive as leading up to their birth and recovering during postpartum.  In this episode of Yoga| Birth|Babies, I speak with Certified Nurse Midwife, Eugenia Montesenos about telehealth care. Eugenia explains what to expect in prenatal and postnatal visits that are now being offered through telehealth. She also shares what parts of medical care are essential to be done in person. This episode is important for new and expectant parent as well birth workers.  Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  instagram & facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f

Did you know there is a correlation between breastfeeding issues and epidurals? The continuous IV fluid given to birthing people during labor may render the breasts more swollen. The nipples become harder, flat, and more shallow. This can cause problems for the baby to latch successfully. “If mothers realize the swelling and difficulty latching is just from the epidural, not forever, they just have to get through this and then they will have better breastfeeding”, explains my guest, Dianne Cassidy, author and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Dianne Cassidy IBCLC, about some of the challenges new parents may face within the first few days of breastfeeding and offers solid support and encouragement to build her confidence. *Please know that as we discuss epidurals, our purpose is not to demonize epidurals or scare women out of this pain management option, but to offer information so they can make an educated choice. Get the most out