EBB 390 - Simple but Effective Communication Techniques for Hospital Birth with Dr. Amber Weiseth, DNP, RNC-OB of Ariadne Labs and TeamBirth
Release Date: 03/11/2026
EBB 390 - Simple but Effective Communication Techniques for Hospital Birth with Dr. Amber Weiseth, DNP, RNC-OB of Ariadne Labs and TeamBirth
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, we explore how the traditional “game of telephone” model in hospitals can leave birthing people out of critical decisions about their own care and what happens when we redesign the system to center them instead. Dr. Rebecca Dekker sits down with Dr. Amber Weiseth, obstetric nurse and Director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs, to talk about TeamBirth—a simple, evidence-based communication model transforming labor and delivery units across the U.S. and globally. Learn how structured bedside “huddles,” shared decision-making, and a visible planning...
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EBB 389 - The Global Impact of Midwifery with Stephanie Marriott, Midwife Advisor for the International Confederation of Midwives
Evidence Based Birth®
Some of the most effective solutions for improving birth outcomes worldwide are rooted in relationships, not technology. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker speaks with midwife Stephanie Marriott of the International Confederation of Midwives about the global impact of midwifery care. She outlines what defines a midwifery model of care, why continuity of midwife-led care matters for both outcomes and experiences, and how trust and relationship-based care can influence Cesarean rates, trauma-informed care, and access to services. Stephanie draws on her work across the U.K., Asia, and Africa to...
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EBB 388 - Updated Evidence on Induction for Gestational Diabetes
Evidence Based Birth®
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is one of the most common reasons families are advised to plan for an early birth. But what does the evidence actually say about induction for GDM? Does it lower the risk of Cesarean? Prevent big babies? Reduce stillbirth? Or does the timing matter more than the induction itself? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Dr. Morgan Richardson Cayama walk through the updated research on induction for gestational diabetes. You’ll learn how outcomes differ before 39 weeks, between 39–40 weeks, and after 41 weeks, and why blood sugar control (diet-controlled versus...
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EBB 387 - Doulas in the Operating Room, Risk of Repeating a Severe Tear, and White Coat Hypertension in Pregnancy with the EBB Research Team
Evidence Based Birth®
In this episode, the EBB Research Team is answering three questions we received from our Pro Members! We take a close look at the evidence behind doula presence in the operating room, the risk of experiencing another severe perineal tear after a previous injury, and what white coat hypertension in pregnancy can tell us about future risk. Each question reflects real situations birth workers are encountering in practice, where guidance is often inconsistent, policies vary widely, and the research can feel hard to translate into day-to-day care. We walk through what the studies show, where...
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EBB 386 - A Peaceful yet Urgent Cesarean Birth Story with Krista DeYoung, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate and Placental Abruption Survivor
Evidence Based Birth®
In EBB 350, Krista DeYoung called in from her hospital room after weeks of inpatient monitoring for partial placental abruption. She and Dr. Rebecca Dekker had just finished a crash course on preparing for a Cesarean, not knowing that information would be needed just 30 minutes later. In this follow-up episode, Krista returns to share what happened next: the urgent decision-making, the move to labor and delivery, and the Cesarean birth that unfolded just days before her scheduled 37-week surgery. Krista walks through the physical sensations of an urgent Cesarean, the grounding techniques that...
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REPLAY: EBB 118 - How to Have a Healthy Postpartum Transition with Dr. Alyssa Berlin
Evidence Based Birth®
In one of the most popular podcast episodes ever published by Evidence Based Birth®, Dr. Rebecca Dekker sits down with Dr. Alyssa Berlin, a clinical psychologist specializing in pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting, to discuss ways to make the transition to postpartum smoother, healthier, and more joyful for families. Together, they unpack why two-thirds of couples report a drop in relationship satisfaction after childbirth, what factors contribute to emotional struggles in the postpartum period, and how social media myths can set parents up for disappointment. Through relatable stories...
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EBB 385 - A Healing Birth Center Waterbirth with Michaela Raines, EBB Childbirth Class Graduate
Evidence Based Birth®
A healing birth can change the way you understand everything that came before it. In this episode, Dr. Dekker talks with EBB Childbirth Class graduate Michaela Raines about experiencing a deeply healing birth after a first birth that didn’t go as planned. Michaela shares her first hospital birth story—including unexpected interventions, a long pushing phase, perineal trauma, and a NICU stay—and how those experiences shaped her postpartum recovery. She then walks us through how education, intentional preparation, and support helped her approach her second pregnancy differently, leading to...
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EBB 384 - Evidence on "What is a Due Date?"
Evidence Based Birth®
What is a due date, and how accurate is it, really? Dr. Rebecca Dekker is joined by Dr. Sara Ailshire of Team EBB to walk through the latest research on due dates, pregnancy length, and what happens when pregnancies go past term. They share the new research on ultrasound dating, the natural length of pregnancy, genetics, and stillbirth risk. They also talk about what a due date actually represents and how pregnancy length varies widely between individuals. Content Note: This episode contains discussion of stillbirth, starting at 26:10 and ending at 40:57. Please take care while...
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EBB 383 - Impact of Extreme Weather on Pregnancy with Alicia Race, Climate Resilience Policy Advocate
Evidence Based Birth®
From heat waves to winter storms to hurricanes, extreme weather events are increasingly part of everyday life, and learning how they intersect with pregnancy and birth can empower families and birthworkers alike. Alicia Race, a climate resilience policy advocate with the Union of Concerned Scientists, is joining Dr. Rebecca Dekker this week to share how these events—especially during what experts now call “Danger Season”—can impact pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding families. As we enter 2026, educate yourself now about what scientists consider to be "Danger Season," why...
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Special Announcement from EBB
Evidence Based Birth®
Be the first to hear about the special event we're planning for 2026! To get on the waitlist for the upcoming event, visit .
info_outlineIn this episode, we explore how the traditional “game of telephone” model in hospitals can leave birthing people out of critical decisions about their own care and what happens when we redesign the system to center them instead.
Dr. Rebecca Dekker sits down with Dr. Amber Weiseth, obstetric nurse and Director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs, to talk about TeamBirth—a simple, evidence-based communication model transforming labor and delivery units across the U.S. and globally. Learn how structured bedside “huddles,” shared decision-making, and a visible planning board can improve trust, autonomy, and patient experience, with especially powerful impacts for Black, Native American, publicly insured, and higher-risk patients. Because communication failures in childbirth aren’t just awkward, they can be dangerous.
(05:07) How the “game of telephone” model blocks patients from decision-making
(09:15) Traditional rounding and decision-making in U.S. labor units
(12:10) The added complexity of academic medical centers
(14:52) A life-threatening hemorrhage and the power of systems change
(17:57) What is TeamBirth?
(22:04) How the TeamBirth board works: team, preferences, plan, next huddle
(26:57) Implementation challenges and culture change in hospitals
(34:36) Privacy, speakerphone huddles, and navigating complex family dynamics
(44:15) Research results: Impact on trust, autonomy, and equity
Resources
TeamBirth resources, research, and implementation materials: ariadnelabs.org/delivery-decisions-initiative/teambirth/teambirth-implementation-resources/
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist initiative: who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery/tool-and-resources
Association of Women's Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses: awhonn.org/
For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! 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.