Evidence Based Birth®

Latest Episodes:

EBB 177 - Pregnancy After 35 and the Experience of an Unplanned Homebirth with Mera and Dimitri May 19, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we're going to talk with Mera and Dimitri about having their fourth baby after the age of 35 and giving birth before they could make it to the hospital.

Mera is a freelance writer, enrichment educator, and mom of four living in South Carolina. Dimitri is an army veteran studying computer science and a father of four in South Carolina. Mera and Dimitri recently gave birth to their baby in October of 2020. And they took the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth class with EBB instructor, Juliann Lee, who is also based in South Carolina.

We will talk about their very exciting birth story about giving birth in their living room before they could make it to the hospital. We also talk about their experience of pregnancy after 35 and feeling prepared to advocate for the birth that they wanted after taking the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth class.

**Content warning: We will talk about prior birth trauma.**

Learn more about Juliann Lee here (https://www.littleorchidsbirth.com/meet-juliann).

For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EvidenceBasedBirth/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ebbirth/), and Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/ebbirth/). Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/become-pro-member/). Find an EBB Instructor here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/find-an-instructor-parents/), and click here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/childbirth-class/) to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

EBB 176 - Evidence on Advanced Maternal Age May 12, 2021

Show notes

We are thrilled to announce that we have updated the research information on one of our most popular articles, the Evidence on Advanced Maternal Age. My mom had her first baby at the age of 19, and that was "normal" back then. But today, it seems like delaying pregnancy until your 30s or older is becoming the norm. All around the world, the average age at first birth is going up and reaching record highs! So needless to say, the topic of "Advanced Maternal Age" affects a LOT of people! In today's podcast, I share the recording from our webinar on AMA that will include the actual statistics on the health outcomes for people who are pregnant at 35 and older. The recording also includes some storytelling and discussion of the implications of this research data. Hopefully, the information in the podcast and the Signature Article will be helpful either to you or someone you know. Feel free to forward this article to anyone you think might be interested!

Content warning: We will talk about statistics on stillbirth, newborn death, and gestational mortality, as well as the effects of racism on stillbirth.

Resources:

Learn more about Jennie Joseph here (https://commonsensechildbirth.org/). Learn moare about The JJ Way here (https://savinglives.biz/the-jj-way/). Follow Jennie Joseph on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MidwifeJennie/) and on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/iamjenniejoseph/). Listen to Jennie Joseph's EBB podcast here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/solutions-for-the-crisis-in-american-maternity-care-with-jennie-joseph/).

Learn more about UpToDate here (https://www.uptodate.com/home).

Learn more about Denise Bolds and A Bold Doula here (https://www.bolddoula.com/).

Learn more about China Tolliver here (https://www.riseupmidwife.com/).

Learn more about Black Mamas Matter Association here (https://blackmamasmatter.org/).

Learn more about the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists here (https://www.acog.org/).

Learn more about the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists here (https://www.rcog.org.uk/).

Learn more about Dr. Mimi Niles here (https://nursing.nyu.edu/directory/faculty/mimi-niles).

Learn more about Dr. Alicia Breakey here (https://scholar.harvard.edu/breakey/biocv).

EBB 175 - Evidence on Midwives May 05, 2021

Show notes

Today's podcast episode is focused on a very important topic— the Evidence on Midwives.

We've been asked for years to publish an article or podcast on the evidence on midwifery care, and we felt there was no better day to release a podcast episode on this topic than May 5th, International Day of the Midwife!

In this episode, I discuss the different types of midwives, the history of midwifery care (and how it was nearly eliminated in the U.S.), and the research on the better health outcomes that are seen when families are randomly assigned to receive midwifery-led care. We also talk about the effects of racism and mistreatment in obstetric care, and how midwives — especially midwives of color— are a critical solution to the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S.

With the theme of the 2021 International Day of the Midwife being, "Follow the data and invest in midwives," we are honored in this podcast episode to talk about why we need more midwives of color, and to acknowledge the Black grand midwives who have recently transitioned from elders to ancestors.

Content warning: In this episode, we talk about miscarriage, fetal loss, and racism.

Resources:

Learn more about Birth Place Lab Maps here (https://birthplacelab.org/maps).

Learn more about The Giving Voice to Mothers study here (https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-019-0729-2).

Learn more about Melanated Midwives here (https://melanatedmidwives.org).

Learn more about the National Black Midwives Alliance here (https://blackmidwivesalliance.org/).

EBB 174 - The Need for More Black OB/GYN Representation with Dr. Rachel Bervell and Dr. Tamandra Morgan Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we are thrilled to share with you an important interview with the co-founders of The Black OBGYN Project, Dr. Rachel Bervell, and Dr. Tamandra Morgan. Dr. Rachel Bervell, a graduate of Harvard and Georgetown University, is the founder of the nonprofit organization "Hugs for Ghana," and co-founder of "The Fresh Resource Urban Initiative Team" or FRUIT, which addresses food insecurity and underserved communities through health literacy and nutrition courses. Dr. Bervell continues today to be dedicated to vulnerable communities and patients and serves as a medical consultant for the University of California, San Francisco's "Voices for Birth Justice" and as a women's health practitioner. Dr. Tamandra Morgan, a graduate of Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a second-year resident physician in OB/GYN at the University of California, San Francisco. In Chicago, Dr. Morgan was a leader in the Urban Medicine program and volunteered at the male health forum on Chicago South Side. Dr. Morgan is a 2017 recipient of the prestigious American Association of University Women Selected Professions Fellowships. In today's podcast, Dr. Bervell and Dr. Morgan share their journey to becoming obstetric physicians. We also talk about their experiences with creating "The Black OBGYN Project," and how they are using their platform to advocate and amplify the need for more Black OB/GYNs to enter and be supported in the field.

**Content Warning: We talk about racial disparities, obstetric abuse, microaggressions, and sexual assault.**

Resources:

Learn more about The Black OBGYN Project here on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Black-ObGyn-Project) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/theblackobgynproject).

Learn more about Medical Bondage by Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens here (https://ugapress.org/book/9780820354750/medical-bondage/).

Learn more about Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts here

EBB 173 - Evidence on External Cephalic Version for Breech Positioned Babies Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

In this week's podcast, we wrap up our mini-series on breech babies by covering the latest research on external cephalic version (ECV) for breech positioned babies! Topics covered in this podcast episode include updated information on:

How common it is to have a breech positioned baby

How often people are offered and receive an ECV for a breech baby
The effectiveness of ECV for lowering the risk of Cesarean
Benefits and risks of the ECV procedure
Pain management during an ECV
Timing of an ECV and techniques that can increase effectiveness
Effects of a prior Cesarean on the ECV success rate
And more!

To read the transcript and see all of the research references, just go to https://evidencebasedbirth.com/breechversion

Resources:

EBB Signature Article on Breech Version https://evidencebasedbirth.com/breechversion
EBB Podcast 171: Breech Vaginal Birth
EBB Podcast 172: Interview with Breech without Borders
Visit Breech without Borders at https://breechwithoutborders.com
Read our Signature Article all about Family-centered Cesareans: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/cesareancare

EBB 172 - Breech Vaginal Birth with Dr. Rixa Freeze and Dr. David Hayes Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we have the pleasure to talk to our honored guests, Dr. Rixa Freeze and Dr. David Hayes about breech vaginal birth.

Dr. Rixa Freeze has a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and is a researcher, professor, and mother of four children. Her current research specialization is vaginal breech birth, and she's president of Breech Without Borders, a 501(c)3 non-profit. She also blogs at Stand and Deliver. Dr. David Hayes, MD, is an OBGYN who works at Harvest Moon Women's Health with an academic background and a passion for science and its proper application to clinical medicine. Dr. Hayes has worked for Medecins Sans Frontieres, Doctors Without Borders, and is trained in critical care obstetrics.

We with talk about the evidence-based research around breech vaginal birth. We also talk about their innovative approach to breech vaginal birth training with Breech Without Borders.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Breech Without Borders here (https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/).

Learn more about Dr. Freeze and Stand and Deliver here (https://arixa.blogspot.com).

Learn more about Dr. Hayes and Harvest Moon Women's Health here (https://www.harvestmoonwomenshealth.com/).

EBB 171 - The Experience of a Unique Vaginal Breech Birth with Janae and Andrew Rick Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we will be talking with EBB Childbirth Class parents, Janae and Andrew Rick, as they share their unique birth story about their vaginal breech birth.

Janae is a senior graphic designer for a makeup company. Andrew is in the restaurant industry working as a bar back and bartender in Minneapolis.

After recently buying their first home at St. Paul Park in October of 2020, they gave birth to their first baby, a boy named Jenoa, in January 2021, who arrived exactly on his due date. Janae and Andrew are graduates of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class with instructors, Heather Christine Struwe and Rhonda Fellows.

We talk about their experience with learning about their options of having a vaginal breech birth. We also talk about their unique birthing story and having amazing support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESOURCES

Learn more about Heather Cristine Struwe here (https://holisticcontinuum.com/). Follow Heather Christine on Facebook here (https://www.facebook.com/hc.heatherchristine).

Learn about Rhonda Fellows via Oily Doula MN here (https://www.oilydoulamn.com/) and follow Oily Doula MN on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/oilydoulamn/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oilydoulamn/).

Learn more about Dr. Rixa Freeze, Dr. David Hayes, and Breech Without Borders here (https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/).

Learn more about External Cephalic Version (ECV) here (https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw180146#:~:text=External%20cephalic%20version%2C%20or%20version,to%20try%20a%20vaginal%20birth).

Learn more about Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) here (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15342835/).

EBB 170 - Addressing Mistreatment and Unsafe Childbirth Care with Birth Monopoly Founder, Cristen Pascucci Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, I am excited to welcome a special guest and my friend, Cristen Pascucci of Birth Monopoly! Cristen and I talk about how to file hospital complaints when people experience mistreatment or unsafe care during childbirth.

Content warning: Obstetric violence, birth trauma, and sexual assault in obstetrics.

A former communications strategist at a top public affairs firm in Baltimore, Maryland, Cristen Pascucci is the founder of Birth Monopoly and creator of the online course, Know Your Rights: Legal and Human Rights in Childbirth for Birth Professionals and Advocates. She is also co-creator of the Exposing the Silence Project and host of Birth Allowed Radio, a podcast. Cristen is a leading voice in the field of maternity care, speaking around the world and consulting privately on issues related to birth rights and birthing options. Cristen and I talk about the formal process of how one can submit a complaint to the hospital and state licensing boards if they experienced mistreatment or unsafe childbirth practices. We also talk about obstetric violence and birth trauma due to systemic barriers in childbirth care, and how more people can become involved as advocates.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Cristen Pascucci and Birth Monopoly here (www.birthmonopoly.com).

Check out the Complaint toolkit here: https://birthmonopoly.com/complaint

Find out about "Mother May I" the documentary here: https://mothermayithemovie.com

Follow Birth Monopoly on Facebook here (https://facebook.com/birthmonopoly). Follow Birth Monopoly on Instagram here (https://instagram.com/birthmonopoly).

Read the news report about the Annals of Internal Medicine paper about abusive behavior in the operating room here.

EBB 168 - Evidence-based OB-GYN Care with Dr. Amber Warmsley Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we will be talking with our honored guest, Dr. Amber Warmsley. Dr. Warmsley is a wife of five years to an amazing husband and a mother of two young children. She's a native Southern Californian transplanted to the D.C. metro area who will always love the beach. Dr. Warmsley is also an attending board-certified practicing OB-GYN with 8 years experience, 12 years if you count residency (which you definitely should). Dr. Warmsley is currently Chairperson of the department of OB-GYN and hospitalist site director at a hospital in Maryland.

Dr. Warmsley is passionate about fostering a collaborative care approach to pregnancy-related care and creating a safe, positive, and uplifting birthing experience. She believes that all women and families deserve compassion, respect, dignity, and shared decision-making from their birthing team.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) here (www.acog.org).

Hishikawa, K., Kusaka, T., Fukuda, T., et al. (2020). Neonatal outcomes of two-step delivery in low-risk pregnancy: A prospective observational study. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2020 Jul;46(7):1090-1097. Huang, H., Yang, M., Zhou, H., et al. (2018). Method of shoulder delivery and neonatal outcomes: A meta-analysis of prospective controlled studies. Natl Med J India. 2018 Nov-Dec;31(6):324-328. Kotaska, A. & Campbell, K. (2014). Two-step delivery may avoid shoulder dystocia: head-to-body delivery interval is less important than we think. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2014 Aug;36(8):716-720. Locatelli, A. Incerti, M., Ghidini, A., et al. (2011). Head-to-body delivery interval using 'two-step' approach in vaginal deliveries: effect on umbilical artery pH, The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 24:6, 799-803. Zhang, H., Zhao, N., Lu, Y., et al. (2017). Two-step shoulder delivery method reduces the incidence of shoulder dystocia. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2017;44(3):347-352.

EBB 167 - Evidence on Erythromycin Eye Ointment for Newborns Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, we will be talking about the evidence on using erythromycin eye ointment for newborns. As this is a controversial topic, I am excited to talk about the intriguing research evidence and the history of eye ointment regarding how it started and why it was used in the past, as well as why it is still being used today.

We have covered this topic before here in our Signature Articles.

We will also discuss whether or not it is effective for its designed purpose, along with antibiotic resistance, the benefits and risks of using eye ointment on newborns, and alternatives to use in place of eye ointment.

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