EBB 99 - Plus Size Pregnancy and Birth with Jen McLellan
Release Date: 10/16/2019
EBB 357 - Making Decisions about Elective Induction of Labor with Dr. Ann Peralta & Kari Radoff, CNM, from Partner to Decide
Evidence Based Birth®
Every pregnant person deserves the information—and support—they need to make truly informed decisions about labor induction. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Dr. Ann Peralta and Kari Radoff, CNM, co-creators of Partner to Decide, a nonprofit initiative improving decision-making in perinatal care. They discuss the creation of their free, multilingual decision aid that supports families in understanding their options around routine induction of labor—and empowers them to advocate for their values, preferences, and autonomy. Ann shares how her own birth...
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REPLAY: EBB 206 - Evidence on Perineal Tears and the Importance of Avoiding Episiotomy with EBB Founder, Dr. Rebecca Dekker
Evidence Based Birth®
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the evidence on perineal tears and the importance of avoiding episiotomies during childbirth. We’ll talk about what perineal tears are, the different types that can occur, and the potential health consequences that can follow. You’ll also hear about the various factors that may increase or decrease the risk of tearing during birth. Finally, we’ll cover why it’s so important to avoid an episiotomy during childbirth. Content warning: Discussion of perineal tears during childbirth, severe tears, episiotomy, and obstetric violence related to...
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EBB 356 - NICU-Informed Doulas: What Are They, And How Can They Change the NICU narrative? with Mary Farrelly, RN, Doula, and Founder of the NICU Translator
Evidence Based Birth®
Navigating a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience can be overwhelming and emotionally taxing. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Mary Farrelly, a certified NICU nurse, doula nurse educator, and founder of The NICU Translator. With over a decade of experience in a Level 4 NICU, Mary shares how families can find empowerment and confidence in the NICU. Mary discusses the importance of emotional, social, and informational support for families, and how NICU-informed doulas can play a critical role in bridging the gap between parents and medical teams. From...
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EBB 355 - How Art Can Bring Joy, Peace, and Celebration to Birth and Parenting Experiences with Lauren J. Turner, Artist, Doula, and Founder of Birth Nerds
Evidence Based Birth®
How can art serve as a powerful way to honor pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences—especially for families who are often underrepresented in birth spaces? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker explores this question with Lauren J. Turner, a Baltimore-based artist, birth worker, and founder of Birth Nerds. Lauren shares how her own home birth experiences, her journey with postpartum and neurodivergence, and a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis shaped her path into birth work and fine art. Together, Rebecca and Lauren explore how art can be a healing, meditative...
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EBB 354 - When Your OB Says "I Don't Know How to Support Upright Birth!" with EBB Childbirth Class Graduate Camilla Costa Goetz
Evidence Based Birth®
Dr. Rebecca Dekker is joined by Camilla Costa Goetz, a graduate of the EBB Childbirth Class, to share her story of advocating for herself during labor. Camilla, a former fashion student turned full-time mom, opens up about navigating pregnancy with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), preparing for birth while her husband was away at Army Ranger School, and making the bold decision to push back against hospital norms to have the birth she wanted. Tune in as Camilla and Rebecca discuss why self-advocacy is crucial in birth, how hospital policies can conflict...
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EBB 353 - Mini Q & A on Induction for IVF, Peanut Balls, and D-MER
Evidence Based Birth®
In this mini Q&A, Dr. Rebecca Dekker digs into the evidence on three important questions submitted by EBB Pro Members. Tune in as we explore: The evidence on peanut balls during early and active labor—do they really shorten labor and increase vaginal birth rates? Whether induction at 39 weeks is necessary for IVF pregnancies—what does the research actually say? Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)—what is it, what causes it, and how can parents cope? (02:30) How to Join the EBB Pro Membership & Submit Questions (04:15) (Q1) Peanut Balls in Labor – What...
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EBB 352 - Calming Breathing Techniques for Pregnancy with Dr. Shilpa Babbar, Obstetrician and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Evidence Based Birth®
Dr. Shilpa Babbar, a double board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist and OB/GYN, joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker to discuss the role of integrative obstetrics in pregnancy and birth. Dr. Babbar shares her journey into maternal-fetal medicine, how she became interested in yoga and breathing techniques, and the growing body of research on prenatal yoga. They discuss how breathwork can support pregnant individuals, the physiological effects of deep breathing, and how birth workers can incorporate these techniques into prenatal care. Dr. Babbar also shares her experience using alternate...
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EBB 351 -"Home Birth is a National Heritage!" and other Surprising Features of the Dutch Healthcare System with Doula Madi van Tonder
Evidence Based Birth®
Madi van Tonder is a birth photographer, doula, and educator based in the Netherlands. Originally from South Africa, Madi has lived in multiple countries and brings a unique perspective to birth work, particularly for families navigating new healthcare systems. Join Dr. Dekker and Madi as she shares insights into the Dutch maternity care system, where midwives play a central role, home birth is considered a national heritage, and postpartum families receive in-home support through the Kraamzorg system. We explore how Dutch birth culture prioritizes physiological birth, minimizes...
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EBB 350 - Surviving a Long Antepartum Hospital Stay and Preparing for a Scheduled Cesarean with Krista DeYoung, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
Evidence Based Birth®
EBB Childbirth Class graduate Krista DeYoung joins us from her hospital room to share her journey through a high-risk pregnancy, an extended antepartum hospital stay for partial placental abruption, and preparing for a scheduled Cesarean at 37 weeks. Krista opens up about the challenges of long-term hospitalization, advocating for herself in a complex medical system, and the emotional toll of being away from her family. Dr. Rebecca Dekker walks Krista through creating a Cesarean birth plan, covering topics like delayed cord clamping, optimizing the operating room experience, and postpartum...
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EBB 349 - An L & D Nurse's Advice for Advocating in the Birth Room with Trish Ware the Labor Nurse Mama
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker is joined by Trish Ware, Registered Nurse, childbirth educator, and host of The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama. With 16 years of labor and delivery nursing experience, Trish shares her journey from feeling disempowered during her first birth to becoming an advocate for changing the birth culture one birth at a time. Tune in as Trish and Rebecca discuss how to effectively advocate for yourself during labor, overcome fears of being "that patient," and navigate common labor scenarios like refusing unnecessary interventions. Learn tips for building a...
info_outlineIn this episode I am joined by Jen McLellan, author, speaker, and founder of the website Plus Size Birth and the Plus Mommy blog. She is also host of the popular podcast Plus Mommy, and is a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother. With more than four million page views on her blog, Jen is passionate about helping others navigate the bumps along the road of motherhood.
Jen notes that her doula’s recommendation to look into the midwife model of care changed the course of her first pregnancy. As she had first began care under an obstetrician and researched plus size pregnancy online, she had started to believe that she was at high risk due to her size. However, she had an empowering natural birth with no complications.
As Jen developed her blog, she realized the great need for plus size pregnancy support. While she covers a variety of topics, one of her main areas of focus is helping women to connect with a care provider who will not make them feel ashamed. We discuss practical tips for finding a supportive and welcoming provider, as well as some of the biased messages women of size commonly hear during the course of their care and birth.
For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.
RESOURCES:
Follow Jen on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Check out Plus Size Birth, the Plus Mommy blog and the Plus Mommy podcast.
Use coupon code “EBB” to get 30% off Jen’s book, My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide.
For a directory of plus-friendly providers and doulas, visit SizeFriendly.com.