REPLAY: EBB 186 – A Positive Pregnancy and Birth Outcome with Multiple High-Risk Labels with EBB Childbirth Class Parent, Angela Jones
Release Date: 07/03/2024
EBB 382 - The Power of Your Birth Story with Lisa Greaves Taylor, Host of the Birth Matters Podcast
Evidence Based Birth®
Long before labor begins, the stories we hear about birth are already shaping our expectations and choices. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Lisa Greaves Taylor, founder of Birth Matters NYC Childbirth Education, director of the East River Doula Collective, and host of the Birth Matters podcast, about the power of birth stories as tools for education, healing, and self-advocacy. Drawing from her work supporting families in New York City since 2010, Lisa shares how storytelling helps birthing people move beyond fear-based narratives and reconnect with their intuition,...
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EBB 381 - Ask Me Anything with Dr. Rebecca Dekker
Evidence Based Birth®
As 2025 comes to an end, guest host Dr. Sara Ailshire turns the tables and interviews Dr. Rebecca Dekker about the biggest childbirth trends, lessons, and breakthroughs of 2025, and what exciting changes are coming to EBB in 2026. Together, Sara and Rebecca dive into the shifting landscape of birth: the unprecedented rise in labor inductions, how AI is complicating the search for evidence-based information, changes in doula access and Medicaid coverage, and how politics continues to shape pregnancy and postpartum care. They walk through the most impactful EBB research updates of...
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Bonus Announcement from EBB
Evidence Based Birth®
The EBB End of Year Countdown Sale, featuring three days of one-day-only deals, is happening December 29 through December 31. Over those three days, we will release a different EBB tool or program at a special price, with each deal available for just 24 hours. Here’s what’s coming in the sale: Monday, December 29 - Quarterly EBB Pro Membership PLUS a FREE physical Pocket Guide of your choice for $149. Tuesday, December 30 - Bundle the Annual EBB Pro Membership with a 2-day ticket to the virtual 2026 EBB Conference for $499. Wednesday, December 31 - Order your...
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EBB 3 - Why Is It So Hard to Get Evidence Based Care?
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker dives into the evidence-practice gap, the disconnect between what research tells us is best during childbirth and what is actually happening in labor and delivery units around the world. She walks through the latest statistics on Cesarean rates, VBAC access, and the widespread use of non–evidence-based interventions, as well as the persistent underuse of practices proven to improve outcomes, like doulas, midwifery care, and birthing positions that support physiologic labor. Dr. Dekker also unpacks the systemic forces driving these gaps, including...
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EBB 380b - Combating Birth Trauma in Mexico with Sofía Herrera, Psychologist and EBB Instructor
Evidence Based Birth®
After what should have been a joyful birth, Sofía Herrera (childbirth educator, EBB Instructor, Hypnobirthing instructor, and social & clinical psychologist) spent nearly 20 years believing she had postpartum depression, until her investigation revealed the truth: she had experienced birth trauma. That realization became the catalyst for her work supporting birthing families and confronting the widespread obstetric violence and misinformation embedded in Mexico's maternity care system. Sofía shares what trauma really means, how unconsented interventions and paternalistic care...
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EBB 380a - Combatiendo el trauma del parto en México con Sofía Herrera, psicóloga e instructora de EBB
Evidence Based Birth®
Tras lo que debería haber sido un parto feliz, Sofía Herrera, (educadora perinatal, instructora de EBB, instructora de Hipnoparto y psicóloga social y clínica) pasó casi 20 años creyendo que padecía depresión posparto, hasta que sus estudios revelaron la verdad: había sufrido un trauma obstétrico. Esta revelación se convirtió en el motor de su trabajo de apoyo a las mujeres que dan a luz y de su lucha contra la violencia obstétrica generalizada y la desinformación arraigada en el sistema de atención a la maternidad en México. Sofía comparte lo que realmente significa...
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REPLAY: EBB 221 - Evidence on Birthing Positions and Tried-and-True Midwifery Practices for Protecting the Perineum
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker explores the research on birthing positions and tried-and-true midwifery practices for protecting the perineum during childbirth. She explains why the flat-on-your-back position we often see on television isn’t ideal and walks through the key differences between upright, sacrum-flexible positions, and common hospital practices like lithotomy and routine episiotomies. Dr. Dekker reviews data from global research as well as real-world wisdom from midwives, including the extraordinary outcomes of hands-off, undisturbed birth approaches in the...
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EBB 379 - A Challenging Birth Story with GBS, Prolonged PROM, Pitocin, and an Epidural, with EBB Childbirth Class Graduate Erica Wright and EBB Instructor Tara Thompson
Evidence Based Birth®
After more than 80 hours of labor, Erica Wright found herself exhausted, emotional, and determined to keep trusting her body. With the steady support of her doulas (including EBB Instructor Tara Thompson), she discovered that birth doesn’t have to go “according to plan” to be powerful. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Erica and Tara about how preparation, advocacy, and teamwork carried them through a marathon labor filled with unexpected turns. From switching hospitals late in pregnancy to finding strength through challenges, their story exemplifies flexibility,...
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EBB 378 - Embracing the Dual Calling of Doula Work + Midwifery with Chanté Perryman and Elder Charlotte Shilo-Goudeau
Evidence Based Birth®
Across generations, birth workers have held space for families with skill, love, and deep purpose. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Elder Midwife Charlotte Shilo-Goudeau, a licensed Certified Professional Midwife from Louisiana, and Chanté Perryman, Director of Programs at Evidence Based Birth®, certified doula, and student midwife. Together, they explore what it means to embrace the dual calling of doula work and midwifery and how both roles are acts of service, advocacy, and healing. Elder Charlotte shares her journey from personal loss to becoming one of only a few...
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Bonus Announcement: Surprise Project for Doulas
Evidence Based Birth®
Introducing the My Doula Visit Workbook by Evidence Based Birth®. A tangible, interactive, and evidence-based guide designed to facilitate conversations, strengthen the doula-client relationship, and guide families through the most pressing topics related to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. What’s Inside the My Doula Visit Workbook? A 115-page, full-color, spiral-bound workbook packed with evidence-based resources Structured guides for up to six prenatal visits + one postpartum check-in (but fully customizable to your practice!) 18 official EBB handouts, birth plan templates,...
info_outlineToday, we’re sharing a replay of our podcast episode with EBB Childbirth Class parent, Angela Jones, about having an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth when labeled as high risk.
Angela is a macro-level social worker, wife to her husband, Tony, and mom to her son, Allister, and their cats, Pumpernickel and Lion-O. Angela and Tony graduated from the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class with EBB instructor, Victoria Michonski. Both Victoria and Heather McCullough, who is also an EBB instructor, were Angela and Tony’s doulas for Allister’s birth.
In today's replay, we talk about Angela’s birth story and her experience having an easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and birth despite being labeled as high risk for multiple reasons. We also talk about data birth outcomes for people who have multiple high-risk labels.
Three years later, Angela shared this thoughtful update as she reflected on her birth story.
Update from Angela: When I am having difficult moments, I sometimes look back at the video of myself giving birth to Allister and feel such peace. Allister turned 3 this year, and recently he has been asking about how he came into this world. My husband and I have been showing him the video of him being born and when he sees it, he looks at me, almost in awe, with a big smile. He now requests to see it at least once per week. Going into my birthing time, I never imagined that I would have 41 hours of active labor. I still credit the EBB course and my amazing doulas with having prepared me well in understanding all of the tools that were available to me when, after 30 hours of not being able to tolerate any food or water, I decided that I wanted to depart from my original birth plan. Getting an epidural allowed me to eat, drink, sleep and then ultimately push my son out gently in the position of my choosing. This was the exact birth experience that I wanted. I still encourage women, especially those who are afraid (in particular, those who are afraid due to multiple "high risk" labels) to not settle for a care team that is anything less than supportive, safe, and empowering.
Content note: We talk about ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy losses, high-risk pregnancy complications, and perinatal morbidity.
Resources:
- Learn more about EBB Instructor, Victoria Michonski, here. Follow Victoria on Instagram and Facebook.
- Learn more about EBB Instructor, Heather McCullough, here. Follow Heather on Instagram and Facebook.
- Sheen, J. J., Wright, J. D., Goffman, D., et al. (2018). Maternal age and risk for adverse outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Oct;219(4):390.e1-390.e15. Click here.
For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.