Birth Kweens

Latest Episodes:

Ep 8: Healing From a Cesarean with Ryan Lee, L.Ac. Nov 23, 2017

Show notes

In this week's episode of Birth Kweens, Karly and Ali talk with acupuncturist and massage therapist Ryan Lee about healing from a cesarean birth. Ryan has lots of experience with scar tissue remediation so Karly and Ali interview him about the impacts of c-section scar tissue and ways to heal from a surgical birth. Here's an overview of the high points of this episode:

What is scar tissue and why can it be harmful
The abnormal lines of pull that result from cesarean scars and the impact on the rest of the body
The function of fascia
The symptoms/issues that can result from cesarean scar tissue
The healing power of deep diaphragmatic breathing
Ways to treat c-section scars and how doing scar tissue remediation can improve seemingly unrelated issues in the rest of the body
The essential role that nutrition plays in postpartum healing
Using castor oil packs and essential oils to aid in healing

Thanks for listening, Kweens! We hope you enjoy learning more about healing c-section scars. (Also, we are sorry about the sub-par quality of this week's audio. Your Birth Kweens are podcast amateurs and are still trying to work out the bugs in the system. Thanks for sticking with us!)

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The Birth Kweens get down to the nitty gritty of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and women's health. For more from us, visit birthkweens.com. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens and email us at birthkweens@gmail.com with your questions, suggestions and feedback.

Ep 7: Making Peace with Cesareans Nov 16, 2017

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In this week's episode of Birth Kweens, Karly and Ali discuss cesarean births. The Kweens explain the practical ins and outs of c-sections (how the surgery usually goes, what you can expect your partner's role to be, etc.). They also delve into some of the emotional/mental aspect of this kind of birth. In the Kweens' humble opinion, the natural birth community doesn't do a very good job of preparing women for necessary, unplanned cesareans and oftentimes the result is unnecessary birth trauma and shame. The goal of this episode is to de-vilify necessary or desired cesareans and to emphasize that natural, vaginal birth is NOT morally superior to a birth with interventions. Here are some of the specifics covered in this episode:

WHO's recommendations for cesarean rates
The possible downside of using labor/birth affirmations
The importance of mentally preparing for any kind of birth, no matter what kind of birth you're planning to have
The misconception that just because birth is a 'natural' bodily function, that means it always goes smoothly or that it's within our control
The importance of taking the moral judgment out of medical interventions. They aren't inherently good or evil, they are simply tools to be used when they are needed or desired.
Reasonable expectations to have regarding interventions in birth
Some things that come up during pregnancy/birth that necessitate a cesarean
How to have a gentle, family-centered cesarean (great article from Wellness Mama)
Vaginal seeding
Microbirth Documentary
Planned vs. unplanned cesareans, and how unplanned cesareans are different than emergency ones
How most cesareans go, from surgery prep to the recovery

Whether a cesarean was necessary or planned, they still require special healing. Join us next week for a discussion on healing from a cesarean and how a c-section scar can influence a woman's overall physical health.

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Ep 6: The Postpartum Period: When Everyone is Wearing a Diaper! Nov 13, 2017

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In the final episode in our series on preparing for your birth, we go over how to prepare for the postpartum period and what to expect once your baby is outside of your body!

Here's what we covered:

What's normal and what's not when it comes to postpartum bleeding
Perineal care, especially if you required stitches
The best natural and conventional methods to use for pain management
What a peri bottle is and why you need one
Postpartum belly issues and remedies including belly binding, abdominal massage, and getting your digestion back to normal
The different causes of pelvic pain and discomfort, and how to know if what you're feeling is normal
All about mood disorders - both during and after pregnancy - and what to do about them
The ins and outs of breastfeeding and our favorite resources
What to expect from your newborn baby including breathing, bathing, umbilical cords, funky skin things, and more.

Resources/Products Mentioned in this Episode:

Sitz Bath
Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Sitz Bath Herbs
Earth Momma Angel Baby Bottom Spray
Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray
Scar Away C-Section Scar Treatment Strips
Ibuprofen and turmeric supplements for postpartum pain
Heating pad
Peri Bottle
Bezwecken HemStad
Postpartum belly wrap
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Made Simple
kellymom.com - amazing resource for all things breastfeeding!
Latch Assist
Nipple Shield
Boppy Nursing Pillow
My Breast Friend Breastfeeding Pillow
Nursing pads
Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream
Earth Momma Angel Baby Nipple Butter
Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads for Sore Nipples
Medela Soft Shells for Sore Nipples
Information on mastitis from KellyMom

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Ep 5: Cutting the Sh*t: How and Why to Set Realistic Expectations for Labor and Birth Nov 12, 2017

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Today is the fourth episode in our series on preparing for birth, and we're talking about the importance of having realistic expectations for labor and birth. The goal of this episode is to reduce the trauma and shame that often results from unmet birth expectations and to show you that there's no wrong way to have a baby!

Here's what we talked about:

The downsides of the natural birth movement, and why you should never feel shame or disappointment about your body or your birth
The difference between having a birth plan and having birth preferences - and which one you should focus on
How to stop the judgement and misperceptions around different types of births
The 5 P's that influence labor – the Powers, the Passenger, [Fetal] Position, [Maternal] Position, the Psyche.
Some first and second-time baby birth myths and what to really expect instead
The only two things the Birth Kweens guarantee for anyone - regardless of your birth plan or expectations

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

Ina May Gaskin's Books:
Little girl doing her positive affirmations in the mirror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg

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Ep 4: Prenatal Nutrition (Pt II): Why GMOs and White Drugs Are off the Menu! Nov 11, 2017

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In this episode, we continue our discussion of prenatal nutrition. Today we focus more on what NOT to do and things to avoid. (If you're looking for info on what you SHOULD eat, check out Episode #3!)

Here's what we talked about today:

The many benefits of fish oil to you and your baby, plus how much to take during each trimester of pregnancy
Concerns about caffeine and coffee before and during pregnancy
The top foods to definitely avoid during pregnancy and why
The listeria bacteria: what it is and where you can find it
Why to steer clear of sugar and what might happen if you don't
The negative effects of drinking soda and artificial sweeteners
If it's ever OK to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol during pregnancy
Some surprising OTC and prescription drugs that could be impacting your baby
The dangers of endocrine disruptors - what they are, what they do to your body, and where you can find them
What you need to know about genetically modified organisms, and why and how to go GMO-free

Resources/Products Mentioned in this Episode:

Carlson Labs Fish Oil
Nature's Way Flax Oil
Environmental Working Group
The Non-GMO Project
Dr. Elizabeth Winter's website about chemicals that impact reproduction and how to eliminate them

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Ep 3: Prenatal Nutrition (Pt I): What Pregnant Kweens SHOULD Be Eating! Nov 10, 2017

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In this episode, we continue our series on preparing for your birth and cover all things related to prenatal nutrition.

Here's what we talked about:

Why nutrition during pregnancy is so important
Exactly what supplements every pregnant woman should be taking (plus clarification on taking Folate vs. Folic Acid during pregnancy)
The two probiotic strains you should be looking for to help prevent GBS infection and decrease risks to your baby
Why water is so important during pregnancy and how much you should be drinking every day
Are you really eating for two? How many extra calories your baby really needs
Why food quality matters and how to get more nutrition from the food you eat
The many benefits of fiber and how to make sure you're getting enough
All about protein, carbs, and fats: How much to eat and where you should get it
The Date Study - can dates really help with labor?

Resources/Products Mentioned in this Episode:

https://www.23andme.com - a service you can use to get tested for the MTHFR gene
Prenatal Vitamin Recommendations:
Calcium-Magnesium & vitamin D supplements
Probiotic Recommendation: Jarrow's Femdophilius (includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri)
Karly's homemade Gatorade recipe: Water, juice from one lemon, a few pinches of salt, 1 tablespoon of honey
Natural Electrolyte Drink Recipe from Wellness Mama
The EWG's 2017 Shoppers Guide - The Dirty Dozen
Vitamin C supplement
- Camu Camu Powder
- Crazy Benefits of Camu Camu Powder from Wellness Mama
Fish Oil Supplement Recommendation: Carlson Labs Fish Oil
The Date Study

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Ep 2: Choosing Your Birth Team Nov 09, 2017

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In the first official episode of Birth Kweens, we're talking about picking your birth team. This episode kicks off our five-part series that's all about preparing for your birth. In this episode we talked about:

Why picking the right birth team is so important.
The four main reasons you should NOT just pick any random doctor/midwife to be your care provider.
Where to start and exactly what to consider when looking for a care provider who will be a good fit for you and your family.
The differences between a hospital birth team and a home birth team
How to pick a home birth midwife and why their hospital transfer rate isn't the most important thing to focus on.
Where to go to get reliable reviews on your birth team
Special considerations and resources for VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)
Who (and who not) to invite to your birth

Resources mentioned in this episode: