EBB 220 - Fighting Bias in the Birth Room with Irth® App Founder, Kimberly Seals Allers
Release Date: 04/13/2022
EBB 363 - A Remarkable Journey from "Babies Are Not Pizzas" Student to Critical Care Nurse to Nurse Midwife with Liz Carr, CNM
Evidence Based Birth®
From ICU to birth center, Liz Carr’s story is a reminder that midwives come to this work through many paths, and each journey holds wisdom for the future of maternal care. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker reconnects with former nursing student turned certified nurse midwife, Liz Carr. Liz shares her unique trajectory: from critical care nursing to catching babies, from witnessing obstetric violence as a student to providing trauma-informed, evidence-based midwifery care. Liz and Rebecca explore the impact of diverse clinical experiences, the challenges of navigating midwifery...
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EBB 362 - Doula Wisdom and Holistic Practices for Pregnancy and Postpartum with Carson Meyer, Doula and Author of Growing Together
Evidence Based Birth®
Carson Meyer, doula, certified nutrition consultant, and author of Growing Together, joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker for a conversation about reclaiming the sacred, intuitive, and evidence-based aspects of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Carson shares how she stepped into birth work at a young age, driven by a desire to transform a system that can leave parents disempowered and unsupported. She opens up about her own home birth experience, the spiritual preparation that carried her through, and the tools she now teaches others through her virtual Growing Together Circles. Together, Carson and Dr....
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REPLAY: EBB 210 - Evidence on Warm Compresses and Hands-on vs. Hands-off for Protecting the Perineum
Evidence Based Birth®
Curious how to actually prevent perineal tears during childbirth? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker breaks down the latest research on three of the most talked-about methods: 1) using warm compresses, 2) provider “hands on” techniques, 3) provider “hands off” techniques, and how these approaches measure up when it comes to protecting your perineum. You’ll learn surprising facts, like how a simple warm washcloth can significantly lower your risk of severe tears (and even ease pain!), plus what the evidence really says about whether a provider should help “guard” the perineum or...
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EBB 361 - Supporting Intersex Communities during Birth with Niki Khanna and Catherine Clune-Taylor, Co-Presidents of InterACT
Evidence Based Birth®
Most parents are told their baby is either a boy or a girl. But what happens when a baby is born with intersex traits—and how can birth workers and clinicians respond with compassion, accuracy, and care? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker speaks with Niki Khanna, MA, MFT, and Dr. Catherine Clune-Taylor, co-presidents of InterACT, about how to support families when a baby’s physical sex characteristics don’t fit binary expectations. Together, they explore how often this occurs, what parents are typically told in the hospital, and why rushed decisions about infant genital surgery can...
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EBB 360 - Overcoming Challenges with Low Milk Supply with Katie James, Midwife, IBCLC, and Host of the Midwives' Cauldron Podcast
Evidence Based Birth®
Struggling with low milk supply can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Katie James to demystify the realities of low milk supply. Together, they explore the hormonal, medical, and systemic factors that can affect lactation, as well as the critical importance of early postpartum support. Katie shares how birth interventions, lack of education, and misinformation can interfere with lactation—and how reclaiming knowledge, honoring instinct, and receiving timely help can make...
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Special Announcement - Become an EBB Instructor
Evidence Based Birth®
Special Announcement from EBB! If you're an experienced birth worker or health care professional and you're interested in becoming an Evidence Based Birth Instructor, applications for 2025 are opening soon for a limited time only! Podcast listeners who are interested in becoming an EBB Instructor are invited to on Wednesday, May 28 at 1:00 PM EDT. We’ll be answering your questions about who is eligible to apply, what the application process looks like, and the support and training you’ll receive as an EBB Instructor. Whether you're thinking about teaching...
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EBB 359 - Mini Q & A on Early Induction for Gestational Hypertension, Acupuncture/Acupressure for Labor, and Time Intervals between Pregnancies
Evidence Based Birth®
In this Q&A episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker answers questions submitted by EBB Pro Members—each exploring a different facet of evidence-based maternity care. First, she explores the latest evidence on early induction for gestational hypertension, including findings from the WILL trial and other recent studies. What are the real risks and benefits of inducing labor at 37 or 38 weeks for gestational hypertension? And how should families weigh these decisions with their providers? Next, Dr. Dekker shares new insights into the effectiveness of acupuncture and...
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EBB 358 - "I Need to Give Consent" and Seeking Trauma-Informed Birth Support after a First Traumatic Experience with Rivka and Steven Dubinsky, EBB Childbirth Class Graduates
Evidence Based Birth®
A traumatic first birth can shape everything that follows—but with the right support, education, and advocacy, it's possible to turn fear into empowerment. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker sits down with EBB Childbirth Class Graduates Rivka and Steven Dubinsky as they share the transformative journey from a traumatic hospital induction and birth injury to a redemptive second birth experience centered on autonomy, education, and trust. Rivka opens up about how her first birth left her physically injured and emotionally shaken, and how she didn’t initially recognize it as...
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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...
info_outlineKimberly Seals Allers (she/her) is an award-winning journalist, five-time author, international speaker strategist, and an advocate for perinatal and infant health. A former senior editor at Essence, and writer at Fortune Magazine, Kimberly is a leading voice on the racial and socio-cultural complexities of birth, lactation, and parenthood. Kimberly is the founder of Irth®, a new Yelp-like app for Black and Brown parents to address bias and racism in perinatal and infant care. Kimberly also created Birthright, a podcast about joy and healing in Black birth that centers positive Black birth stories as a tool in the fight for birth justice, and to reverse the narrative of negative statistics that is common in mainstream media coverage of Black perinatal health.
We talk about the updated research from Irth®’s movement to eradicate racism and bias in perinatal and infant care. We also talk about the importance of actively implementing strategies for safer birthing spaces for Black and Brown birthing people.
Content warning: We mention racism, bias, Black perinatal death, and trauma.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Kimberly Seals Allers here and the Irth® App here. Follow Kimberley on Instagram. Follow the Irth® App on Facebook and Instagram. Listen to the Birthright Podcast here.
Listen to EBB 161 here.
Learn more about Dr. Carla Williams here and her feature on the Birthright Podcast here.
Learn more about March of Dimes here.
Learn more about the White House Maternal Day of Action press release here.
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.