S10 E4: Teaching Childbirth Education to Teens: Respect, Voice, and Empowerment
Release Date: 08/24/2026
S10 E4: Teaching Childbirth Education to Teens: Respect, Voice, and Empowerment
InCast
Teen parents are often navigating pregnancy and birth while carrying layers of stigma, judgment, and unmet educational needs. This episode shines a compassionate light on why teens deserve the same evidence-based, respectful childbirth education as any adult—delivered in ways that truly meet them where they are. With honesty, heart, and deep practical experience, this conversation explores how education can shift teen parents from fear and shame toward confidence, agency, and long-term resilience. If you care about equity, dignity, and real-world impact in perinatal education, this episode...
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S10 E3: The True Value of a Postpartum Village
InCast
In today’s fast-paced and often disconnected world, many new parents find themselves navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with far less support than previous generations. In this episode, we explore the powerful role of community in maternal and family well-being and why rebuilding a modern-day “village” may be one of the most important ways to improve postpartum outcomes. Drawing from her experience supporting more than 100,000 families, Gabriela Gerhart shares practical insights on creating meaningful connections, strengthening support systems, and helping parents...
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S10 E2: Increasing Stability in a Transition to Parenthood
InCast
In a world that feels increasingly uncertain—from global conflict and community tension to lingering stress carried forward from the pandemic—expecting and new parents are holding more emotional weight than ever before. This episode explores how stress shows up during the childbearing years and, more importantly, how perinatal professionals can help parents feel grounded, supported, and capable even when the world around them feels unsteady. With warmth, insight, and decades of clinical experience, Gabrielle Kaufman offers practical, compassionate tools for navigating uncertainty without...
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S10 E1: The Induction Question: Evidence, Agency, and Informed Choice
InCast
Induction has quietly become one of the most common interventions in childbirth—so common that many parents assume it’s inevitable or automatically safer. In this episode, we slow the conversation way down and take a careful, evidence-based look at how induction became routine, what the research actually shows, and why so many families are encouraged to induce without hearing the full story. With clarity, depth, and decades of expertise, Henci Goer helps listeners untangle fear from fact and reclaim informed choice in one of the most consequential decisions of the childbearing year. About...
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S9 E7: A Modern Approach to Advanced Maternal Age: From Screening to Support
InCast
In this rich and reassuring conversation, Debbie sits down once again with Dr. Lexi Hill, a Maternal–Fetal Medicine specialist, to unpack what advanced maternal age really means today. Together, they demystify the risks, clarify what’s truly important in prenatal care, and offer practical guidance for parents, educators, and birth professionals alike. From essential screenings and advocacy tips to emotional wellness and preparing for birth, this episode blends evidence-based insight with compassion and clarity. Whether you work with...
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S9 E6: When Pregnancy Becomes “High-Risk”: An Educator’s Guide to Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Care
InCast
When a pregnancy is labeled “high-risk” and families are transferred from standard pregnancy care to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist, it can feel overwhelming, disorienting, and even like a personal setback. Emotions like fear, confusion, and self-doubt are common for parents, but finding balance during this transition is essential. Staying engaged and empowered isn’t just good for emotional well-being; it’s critical for making informed decisions throughout their pregnancy...
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S9 E5: Supporting Families Through Pregnancy & Infant Loss: What Birth Workers Need to Know with Ashley Rose Salvitti
InCast
Pregnancy often begins with joy and anticipation—but for some, it ends in unimaginable heartbreak. In this powerful episode, we explore what happens when pregnancy ends in loss, and how doulas, birth workers, and loved ones can offer meaningful support. This episode offers insight into the complexity of perinatal grief, the power of presence, and practical strategies for compassionate care. Learn how to support families through the emotional, physical, and spiritual aftermath of loss—and why grief education and specialized training should be a standard part of all birth...
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S9 E4 Insights on Perinatal Mental Health from PROSPER Leaders: Practical Tips for Educators and Doulas
InCast
We’re diving into a vital topic that touches the heart of our work as birth professionals: supporting mental health during the perinatal period. Whether you're a childbirth educator, a doula, or another type of birth professional, your role is uniquely positioned to offer meaningful support during one of the most emotionally complex times in a person's life. Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) affect 1 in 5 individuals during pregnancy and postpartum—yet they often go undiscussed or unnoticed. In this episode, we’ll explore how educators, doulas, and other birth...
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S9 E3 Inside the Newborn Mind: Tools for Teaching Parents How to Understand Their Babies
InCast
Hillary helps us learn how newborns experience their brand-new world —and how we as educators and doulas can help families understand them in ways they may have never been taught. Rather than seeing babies as a blob to be shaped, we can recognize them as fully formed people with unique needs. Transitioning from an internal dark, warm, water-filled home to the bright, ever-changing world can be quite an undertaking— but with our love and guidance, we can help them grow to their full potential, starting from the very first breath. Learning more about how we can teach this in a wonderfully...
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S9 E2 Gentle Sleep Support with Sierra Brooks
InCast
Join us as we explore gentle sleep support—for both parents and babies—with Sierra Brooks, CAPPA Certified Postpartum Doula, Gentle Sleep Coach, and Certified Lactation Counselor. In this episode, Sierra shares insights into how helping parents understand the biological needs of their babies, and how to accommodate those needs while getting enough rest themselves, can reduce maternal mental health struggles. After years of “cry it out” being the norm, Sierra offers a fresh perspective on emerging, more compassionate, and evidence-based sleep strategies. By...
info_outlineTeen parents are often navigating pregnancy and birth while carrying layers of stigma, judgment, and unmet educational needs. This episode shines a compassionate light on why teens deserve the same evidence-based, respectful childbirth education as any adult—delivered in ways that truly meet them where they are. With honesty, heart, and deep practical experience, this conversation explores how education can shift teen parents from fear and shame toward confidence, agency, and long-term resilience. If you care about equity, dignity, and real-world impact in perinatal education, this episode is essential listening.
About Julie Thompson
Julie Ruckstuhl Thompson, ICCE is a certified childbirth educator, doula, and longtime special education professional with a passion for supporting adolescent parents. With 27 years of experience working with middle and high school students, Julie brings a developmentally informed, trauma-aware lens to childbirth education for teens. She teaches childbirth, baby care, and breastfeeding classes through the Colorado Adolescent Maternal Program (CAMP) and works closely with teen families in both hospital and community settings. Julie is a strong advocate for respectful care and believes deeply in helping young parents understand their choices, find their voice, and step into parenthood with confidence and dignity.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why childbirth education for teens requires a different approach than adult-focused classes
- How stigma and judgment impact teen parents’ birth experiences—and what educators can do to change that
- Why developmentally appropriate teaching builds confidence and advocacy skills, not just knowledge
- How respectful education during pregnancy can strengthen long-term parenting outcomes
- Why teen parents deserve choice, voice, and agency in birth just like any other family
- How educators and doulas can support teens without “promoting” teen pregnancy, while fostering resilience and healthy futures
Resources:
- CAMP – Colorado Adolescent Maternity Parenting & Family Program
- Contact Julie Thompson: Julie.L.Thompson@adventhealth.com
Related InJoy Products:
- Teen On-Demand Video Library
- Stages of Labor: A Visual Guide for Teens 3rd Edition video program
- Healthy Steps for Teen Parents 2nd Edition video program
- Understanding Birth book + web app