Birth Kweens
Birth Kweens is a wildly honest and fun dive into all things natural-pregnancy, birth, postpartum and women's health related. It's hosted by two Birth Kweens and friends: Karly Nuttall, a licensed midwife of 15 years, and Ali Feroah, a birth and postpartum doula of 7 years. Listen along on Thursdays as we share fun birth stories and dish out top notch info about our favorite subjects to help you realistically prepare for birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and women's health in natural ways!
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Ep 139: Farewell, Birth Kweens!
01/14/2021
Ep 139: Farewell, Birth Kweens!
After 3+ years and 138 episodes, the Birth Kweens Podcast is coming to an end! Listen to this final episode to hear Karly and Ali wrap things up. Thank you all for supporting us and listening to the show over the past few years. We love and appreciate all of you!
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Ep 138: Four Birth Stories with Jeanette Fant
12/31/2020
Ep 138: Four Birth Stories with Jeanette Fant
**TRIGGER WARNING: Infant Loss** Today we’re talking with Jeanette Fant about the births of her four babies. Jeanette has had a wide variety of birth experiences including medicated hospital births, a home birth, and the birth of her stillborn daughter, Natalie. Jeanette shares about how her approach to preparing for birth has changed over the years, what prompted her to choose a home birth for her youngest baby Nayeli, and how the devastating loss of her second baby Natalie has impacted her and her family’s lives. We’re so thankful Jeanette was willing to come on the show and share her birthing experiences with us. Enjoy! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 137: An Unmedicated Hospital Birth Story with Angie Ponce
12/10/2020
Ep 137: An Unmedicated Hospital Birth Story with Angie Ponce
Angie Ponce is with us today to share the story of the birth of her first baby! Earlier this year, Angie had an unmedicated hospital birth with the support of her husband and doula. We hope you enjoy Angie’s wonderful birth story! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Get 50% off plus free shipping on any crate line with the code KWEENS at . Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 136: Preconception & Prenatal Nutrition with Ryann Kipping, RDN, CLEC
11/26/2020
Ep 136: Preconception & Prenatal Nutrition with Ryann Kipping, RDN, CLEC
In this episode we’re talking with about nutrition during preconception and pregnancy. Ryann is a clinically trained Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Lactation Educator, and Author of . She is the founder of The Prenatal Nutritionist, a virtual nutrition private practice, which focuses on preparing women for pregnancy and conquering nutrition during and after pregnancy. She helps women feel confident in their ability to properly nourish a growing baby through a real food approach. Aside from one on one nutrition counseling, Ryann is a nutrition writer and content creator on her popular Instagram account . Click here to check out the and . This is the Ryann mentioned about protein intake in the preconception and pregnancy periods. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 135: VBAC Success Story with Anissa Ballesteros
11/12/2020
Ep 135: VBAC Success Story with Anissa Ballesteros
Anissa Ballesteros is here today to share her two birth stories with us. For her first baby, Anissa had planned and prepared for an unmedicated hospital birth but her baby was breech so she ended up having a cesarean. When she got pregnant with her second baby, she knew she wanted a different experience so she hired Karly and planned a home birth. Anissa shares about how difficult her cesarean birth was for her and how healing and positive her HBAC (home birth after cesarean) experience was. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Get 50% off plus free shipping on any crate line with the code KWEENS at . --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 134: Preterm Birth and NICU Stays with Dr. Melinda Elliott
10/29/2020
Ep 134: Preterm Birth and NICU Stays with Dr. Melinda Elliott
Today we’re talking with Dr. Melinda Elliott about preterm birth and navigating an unexpected NICU stay. Dr. Elliott is chief medical officer of where she serves as the voice of the patient, working to ensure that the needs of critically ill and premature infants are being articulated and that the relevant treatment and product opportunities are identified. As an experienced neonatologist and researcher in neonatal intensive care, Dr. Elliott has committed her career to the care of vulnerable, premature infants and has researched the benefits of an Exclusive Human Milk Diet (EHMD) for extremely low birth weight premature infants in the NICU. In this episode we discuss how common it is to have a premature baby, the various classifications of prematurity, and some of the most common challenges that premature babies face. Dr. Elliott shares some amazing tips about how to navigate a NICU stay, what questions to ask, and what you should know about a premature baby’s diet. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. If you’re in need of perinatal mental health therapy or life coaching services from a highly experienced provider who specializes in supporting families throughout the childbearing years, contact . Therapy is limited to residents of Maryland and Virginia. Coaching services available nationwide. Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 133: A Midwife’s Birth Story with Chloë Lubell
10/15/2020
Ep 133: A Midwife’s Birth Story with Chloë Lubell
of is here to share her birth story with us! Chloë had been a midwife for many years before becoming pregnant with her first child. She shares in depth about her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences, including what it was like to have an ultra-fast labor and lots of other surprises along the way. Enjoy! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. Get comprehensive online childbirth education classes and 1:1 new parent support from ! Go to and enter code BIRTHKWEENS for 20% off your birth course. is your one-stop-shop for affordable, sustainable, healthy household products. Go to and use code KWEENS at checkout to get $15 off your first order! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 132: Representation and Inclusivity in Birth Work with Cheyenne Varner
10/01/2020
Ep 132: Representation and Inclusivity in Birth Work with Cheyenne Varner
In this episode we’re talking with of about representation and inclusivity in the birth world. Cheyenne is a birth and postpartum doula and graphic designer in Richmond, VA. She started The Educated Birth, a collection of childbirth education materials including , in 2016, when she couldn't find materials with representation of families of color. She has been learning, creating, and partnering with other professionals to provide more inclusive and accessible health education materials ever since. Cheyenne shares about how inclusivity and representation are lacking in the birth world and why she’s on a mission to change that. We also discuss equity vs. equality and what she considers to be some best practices for equity work in the birth world. Click to check out the blog post about community support and redistribution of wealth in the birth world that Cheyenne mentions in the interview and be sure to follow and on Instagram. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! is your one-stop-shop for affordable, sustainable, healthy household products. Go to and use code KWEENS at checkout to get $15 off your first order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 131: Hospital and Home Birth Stories with Johanna Penn
09/17/2020
Ep 131: Hospital and Home Birth Stories with Johanna Penn
shares her two birth stories with us in this episode. Her first son was born in the hospital after a long, difficult labor. This birth experience really impacted Johanna and it inspired her to go into birth work. It also caused her to make an entirely different birth plan for her second son who was born quickly at home. Johanna shares what her two very different labors were like for her, what she learned from them, and what kind of birth work she’s doing now (including her new podcast, ). Enjoy! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. Get a jar of to help you sleep better and prevent cramps and restless legs all night! Go to and use code KWEENS to get free shipping on your order! is your one-stop-shop for affordable, sustainable, healthy household products. Go to and use code KWEENS at checkout to get $15 off your first order! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 130: The Identity Shift of Motherhood with Jessie Harrold of MotherSHIFT
09/03/2020
Ep 130: The Identity Shift of Motherhood with Jessie Harrold of MotherSHIFT
In this episode we’re talking with of about how pregnancy and birth are rites of passage and what an enormous identity shift it is to become a parent. Jessie is a coach, women’s mentor and doula who supports women to traverse radical life transformation and other rites of passage. She is the founder of MotherSHIFT, a program to support women through the identity shift of motherhood, and author of a forthcoming book of the same name. Registration for her begins on September 1, 2020. Click here to access her free . --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. is your one-stop-shop for affordable, sustainable, healthy household products. Go to and use code KWEENS at checkout to get $15 off your first order! Get a subscription for bestselling children’s multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 129: A Home Birth Transfer Story with Laci Silva
08/20/2020
Ep 129: A Home Birth Transfer Story with Laci Silva
Laci Silva shares about the birth of her daughter, Lilás. Laci and her husband Jimmy had planned a home birth with Karly and Ali but after a long few days of early labor with no progress they made the decision to transfer to the hospital for medical intervention. Despite things not going as planned, Laci and Jimmy still had a very positive (albeit exhausting) birth experience! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Support your mind and body with high quality CBD and adaptogen products from . Go to and use code KWEENS for 15% off your first order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 128: Vitamin K for the Newborn
08/13/2020
Ep 128: Vitamin K for the Newborn
In this episode we’re covering vitamin K for the newborn. You’ll hear about what vitamin K is, why it’s routinely given to newborns, the two ways it can be administered, and the risks and benefits of receiving it, including it’s effectiveness. The resources used to put together this episode are listed below: --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a jar of to help you sleep better and prevent cramps and restless legs all night! Go to and use code KWEENS to get free shipping on your order! Get a subscription for best selling childrens multivitamins to ensure your kiddos are getting the nutrients they need without all the unhealthy additives usually found in kids vitamins! Go to and use the code KWEENS at checkout to get 50% off your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram , join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 127: The Rebozo: History, Cultural Significance & Use During the Childbearing Year with Gina Kirby
07/30/2020
Ep 127: The Rebozo: History, Cultural Significance & Use During the Childbearing Year with Gina Kirby
Today we’re talking with the amazing about the rebozo! We discuss what it is, it’s history and cultural significance, and how it can be integrated into pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. To get information about Gena’s workshops or buy her visit her website . Check out Gena’s mentorship program and ! Click to read the article titled “The Rebozo: Fashion, Feminism and Death” that Gena mentions. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. Support your mind and body with high quality CBD and adaptogen products from . Go to and use code KWEENS for 15% off your first order! Sign up for a membership with and start saving 25-50% off traditional retail prices on all your favorite clean, organic products! Go to to get $20 in shopping credit toward your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 126: Back Labor & Sterile Water Injections
07/16/2020
Ep 126: Back Labor & Sterile Water Injections
In this episode we’re talking about back labor, including its possible causes, how to prevent it, its impact on labor progression, and what to do if you find yourself experiencing it. We also delve into sterile water injections – what they are, why they’re useful in labor, and what it’s like to get them. Here are the links for the resources mentioned in this episode: The website, specifically the pages for and activities to do during pregnancy and the section dedicated to what to do during A which can be a great tool for managing labor pain The Evidence Based Birth --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a high quality, fully breathable, washable, and recyclable baby mattress from ! Go to and enter code KWEENS to get $50 off and free shipping. Support your mind and body with high quality CBD and adaptogen products from . Go to and use code KWEENS for 15% off your first order! Get a jar of to help you sleep better and prevent cramps and restless legs all night! Go to and use code KWEENS to get free shipping on your order! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 125: Common Pregnancy Discomforts
07/09/2020
Ep 125: Common Pregnancy Discomforts
In this episode we’re talking about common pregnancy discomforts and some remedies to treat them. We cover morning sickness, back pain, heartburn, sleep problems and more! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Treat yourself to some amazing skincare products from . Go to for $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more. Free shipping for US orders over $75 and free samples with every order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 124: Breast Implant Illness with Dr. Elizabeth Winter, ND, LM, CPM
06/18/2020
Ep 124: Breast Implant Illness with Dr. Elizabeth Winter, ND, LM, CPM
joins us in today’s episode to discuss breast implant illness. Dr. Winter is naturopathic doctor in San Diego, CA who specializes in women’s health and pediatrics. In this episode we discuss what breast implant illness is, the signs/symptoms of it, and treatment options for those who have it. --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Sign up for a membership with and start saving 25-50% off traditional retail prices on all your favorite clean, organic products! Go to to get $20 in shopping credit toward your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 123: Perinatal Psychology & the Lasting Impacts of Birth with Anna Verwaal
05/28/2020
Ep 123: Perinatal Psychology & the Lasting Impacts of Birth with Anna Verwaal
This episode features , a maternal-child health nurse, conscious conception & birth consultant, midwifery, nursing and doula instructor, primal period & childbirth educator, UCLA certified lactation educator, and birth photographer from the Netherlands. After a 25-year nursing career in various countries in obstetric, pediatric, neonatal and home-health settings, she preferred to work with families and babies as an educator and started her own private birth consulting practice in Los Angeles, attending homebirths for over 10 years. In this episode you’ll learn about: Anna’s background and how she got into birth work How babies are impacted by their conception, gestation, and birth How our own births set patterns in our lives and why it’s important to recognize and heal our own trauma to avoid passing it along to our children (or to our patients, for those who are care providers) Conscious conception Many stories from Anna’s practice/experience that illustrate these concepts Resources mentioned: by Dr. David Chamberlain – The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health Anna’s TedxTalk The movie by Bessel Van Der Kolk The work of The documentary The from Anna’s website Click for Anna’s contact info and to contact her for a Skype session! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Treat yourself to some amazing skincare products from . Go to for $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more. Free shipping for US orders over $75 and free samples with every order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 122: Little Flipper: Drea Haire's Birth Story
05/14/2020
Ep 122: Little Flipper: Drea Haire's Birth Story
Drea Haire joins us on today’s episode to share about the birth of her first baby. You’ll hear about what she and her husband did to prepare for labor, her goal of having a water birth in a birth center, and how her plans got turned upside when she found out her baby was breech at 37 weeks (and AGAIN at 39 weeks!). This is a super unique birth story and we’re so happy to be able to share it with all of you! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Sign up for a membership with and start saving 25-50% off traditional retail prices on all your favorite clean, organic products! Go to to get $20 in shopping credit toward your first order. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 121: Placenta Consumption with Maria Pokluda of BEST Placenta
04/16/2020
Ep 121: Placenta Consumption with Maria Pokluda of BEST Placenta
In today’s episode we’re talking with about placenta encapsulation. Maria is a doula, childbirth educator, and placenta encapsulator who teaches encapsulation workshops through her training organization, . In this episode we discuss: The history of placenta consumption A book about the topic – The existing data on placenta consumption The benefits, risks, and contraindications of consuming your placenta What’s contained in the placenta and the benefits of those active ingredients The difference between placenta pills and tincture and how a tincture can be used long term The different methods of preparing a placenta for encapsulation Storage recommendations for placenta pills and tinctures The average number of pills people get Maria’s recommended dosing schedule A discussion about the CDC’s warning against placenta consumption Questions to ask your placenta encapsulators Click to get more info about Maria’s placenta trainings --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! Treat yourself to some amazing skincare products from . Go to for $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more. Free shipping for US orders over $75 and free samples with every order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 120: COVID-19 Resources & A Review of Labor Comfort Measures
03/26/2020
Ep 120: COVID-19 Resources & A Review of Labor Comfort Measures
In light of all the craziness currently happening with COVID-19, we decided to re-release this episode about comfort measures in labor. Many people will be having their babies with little or no support because of the current hospital restrictions and we hope that these tips will help with managing the intensity of labor, especially if you’re doing it without the support you’d planned on having. Additionally, here are a few helpful resources that we mentioned at the top of the episode: on Evidence Based Birth The on COVID-19 The on COVID-19 The CDC’s page on on COVID-19 on COVID-19 during pregnancy If you’re interested in for digital doula support, email her . --- Karly and Ali get down to the nitty gritty details of coping with the pain of labor and birth. They explain why it’s essential for every birthing person to learn about non-medical coping techniques (even if they plan to use pain medication during their birth) and they review the best tools and techniques for pain management. Here’s an overview of everything that’s covered in this episode: The reasons why it is SO important to know a variety of non-medical pain management coping techniques, including times when birth goes too quickly to use medication or when meds don’t work effectively What the 5 elements of birth are and why they’re an essential part of pain management in labor Why you should consider hiring a doula for your birth (including on the evidence for doulas) The reasons it’s SO important to do some sort of childbirth education during pregnancy Helpful tools in labor: – the best eye mask in all the land! Birth ball (great for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum!) Essential oils (don’t forget to put the oils on!) Coping techniques in labor: The 3 R’s – relaxation, rhythm, ritual (as mentioned in by Penny Simpkin) Vocalizations/low moans Movement and changing positions Check out for some great diagrams of all the different labor/birth positions Breath work Hydrotherapy Light touch/massage, sacral counter pressure, hip squeeze Visualizations (i.e. breathing to your baby, walking/running up and over a hill, progressive relaxation throughout your entire body) Music ( is one of Ali’s favorites) The mindset of birth You are stronger than you even realize. Believe in yourself! Stay in the moment. You can do anything for a minute! You are going to give birth one breathe at a time. Remember, this is pain with a purpose. Be SURE to stay hydrated and well fed. Being undernourished and dehydrated can increase pain and difficulty of labor while reducing your energy/ability to cope Why it’s so important to choose your birth team carefully and only invite people who support your birth goals Why you might consider choosing a code word to use in labor, that way your team will know when to encourage you and when to order up that epidural! How to communicate your preferences to the staff at your birthing location, including some guidelines for putting together your birth preferences sheet Books/resources to help you and your birth partner(s) by Penny Simpkin by Simpkin, Whalley, Keppler, Durham, & Bolding by Marie Mongan by Susan McCutcheon by Pam England by Nancy Bardacke by Erica Lyon – Childbirth Hypnosis If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 119: Understanding and Solving Painful Sex with Emily Sauer of Ohnut
03/05/2020
Ep 119: Understanding and Solving Painful Sex with Emily Sauer of Ohnut
Today we’re talking about painful sex with , the creator of . Ohnut is a wearable tool that helps solve the problem of painful sex by customizing penetration depth without sacrificing sensation for you or your partner. In this episode we talk about the typical causes of painful sex (both physical and mental), how common it is, and how can help. Use code BirthKweens at checkout to get a discount on your purchase (*offer valid until June 5, 2020). And don’t forget to check out Ohnut’s and follow them on ! --- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get a monthly subscription box from and do some fun, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects with your kids! Pick the box that’s right for you by going to . Your first month is free on select crates! Treat yourself to some amazing skincare products from . Go to for $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more. Free shipping for US orders over $75 and free samples with every order! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 118: Natural Remedies for Cold & Flu Season
02/06/2020
Ep 118: Natural Remedies for Cold & Flu Season
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! Treat yourself to a beautiful piece of luxury jewelry from ! Go to to see their collections and get $50 off your first purchase with promo code KWEENS. --- In this episode Karly and Ali explore some natural remedies for prevention and treatment of cold and flu symptoms. Finding safe treatment options while pregnant can be really tough so the kweens share their best tips and tricks to get you through the season of sickness! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 117: Reducing Pregnancy Pain with Lindsay McCoy of One Strong Mama
01/23/2020
Ep 117: Reducing Pregnancy Pain with Lindsay McCoy of One Strong Mama
In this episode we’re talking to of about pain during pregnancy and how exercise can be used to mitigate it. Lindsay is an Exercise Physiologist, birth doula, childbirth educator, and co-founder of the online prenatal exercise birth prep and recovery program, One Strong Mama. She is also one of the creators of the Body Ready Method professional training program that helps birth and fitness pros assess and train pregnant clients- specifically for core and pelvic floor optimization. She has helped thousands of pregnant people have more comfortable pregnancies, more efficient births, and smoother recoveries. --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 116: Giving Birth After A Shoulder Dystocia: Dominique Richey’s Birth Story
01/09/2020
Ep 116: Giving Birth After A Shoulder Dystocia: Dominique Richey’s Birth Story
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Sign up for a subscription with today! Get your daily multivitamin or prenatal delivered right to your door by visiting . Use the promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off during your first 3 months! --- Dominique Richey is back on the show to share the birth story of her third baby, Aminah! You may remember Dominique from where she shared about her first two births (an unmedicated hospital birth and a home birth that included a significant shoulder dystocia). Preparing for this birth was different for Dominique because of the shoulder dystocia she experienced while giving birth to her son. She shares about the process of finding supportive care providers (the wonderful team at in Pasadena, TX), how she weighed the risks of a vaginal vs. cesarean delivery when making her birth plan, and how Aminah’s birth unfolded. It’s a wonderful episode with an awesome repeat guest and we’re so excited we get to share her story with you! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 115: Accidental Unassisted Home Birth with Ryan & Mary Lee
01/02/2020
Ep 115: Accidental Unassisted Home Birth with Ryan & Mary Lee
Mary and Ryan Lee join us to share about the exciting birth of their first child, Thea. (You may remember Ryan from where he talked with us about healing the scar tissue that remains after a cesarean.) Thea’s birth was fast and furious and although Ryan and Mary had planned a hospital birth, Thea decided to come quickly in their bathroom at home one afternoon in April 2019. Ryan and Mary share about the whole experience, including what it was like for Ryan to catch Thea and how Mary has healed after her birth experience. We hope you enjoy this lovely story with our sweet friends! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 114: Providing Care for Queer and Trans Families with Annie Kocher, CD
12/20/2019
Ep 114: Providing Care for Queer and Trans Families with Annie Kocher, CD
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Treat yourself to a stylish, comfortable pair of scrubs from today! Visit and enter code KWEENS at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase! Sign up for a box today! Enter code KWEENS for $10 off your first box! #FabFitFunPartner --- This week we’re talking with birth doula about how to provide sensitive, respectful care for queer and trans families. Here’s an overview of what we cover as well as the resources Annie mentions in the episode: Basics to providing sensitive care for trans, queer, and non-binary people including understanding sex vs. gender, preferred pronouns and names, family/support structure, etc. The about trans people not seeking/receiving care because of systemic barriers and insensitive care providers Some of the barriers that trans and queer people may face in accessing quality and sensitive reproductive care The intersectionality of queer/trans identity with race, financial resources, disabilities, etc. Some of the things that make trans reproduction different from cis reproduction (i.e. conception and lactation after testosterone, lactation after top surgery and for trans women, etc.) The on how testosterone impacts/transmits to an infant receiving breast milk Resources on trans breast- and chestfeeding and lactation support: KellyMom: Milk Junkies: LLL: Facebook group A about breastfeeding after reduction surgery by Diana West Click to get in touch with Annie! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 113: The Vadge Gadge Episode with Dr. Rose Schlaff, DPT, IF, WHC
12/12/2019
Ep 113: The Vadge Gadge Episode with Dr. Rose Schlaff, DPT, IF, WHC
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get the important men in your life a meaningful and functional gift from ! Use promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off your order. Treat yourself to a beautiful piece of luxury jewelry from ! Go to to see their collections and get $50 off your first purchase with promo code KWEENS. --- We’re back for part two with ! If you didn’t catch her on last week’s episode about postpartum sex and intimacy, click . This week’s episode is all about the vadge gadge! That is, all of the different kinds of tools that can be used to help heal postpartum and promote a fulfilling sex life. She reviews what’s going on anatomically in the pelvic floor and why dysfunction can exist, especially after pregnancy and birth. In the vadge gadge department, she shares about yoni eggs, kegel apps (such as and ), vibrators, vaginal moisturizers, lube (such as and ), vaginal dilators, pelvic wands, and pessaries. If you’d like to make the spray Dr. Rose mentioned, here’s the recipe: 3 drops of lavender EO and 3 drops of geranium EO mixed with 30mL of fractionated coconut oil. Dr. Rose is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Women's Sexual Health Coach who believes that intimacy can and should be fun, fearless, and pain-free. In her one-on-one virtual sexual health coaching practice, she specializes in helping women overcome discomfort during sex, reclaim intimacy, and spark pleasure both in and out of the bedroom. In addition to her Women's Sexual Health Coaching practice, Dr. Rose practices as a pelvic floor physical therapist at Comprehensive Therapy Services in San Diego, CA where she specializes in hands-on treatment of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. To learn more about Dr. Rose, go to , check her out on instagram , or get in touch with her at . --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 112: Postpartum Sex & Intimacy with Dr. Rose Schlaff, DPT, IF, WHC
12/05/2019
Ep 112: Postpartum Sex & Intimacy with Dr. Rose Schlaff, DPT, IF, WHC
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Get the important men in your life a meaningful and functional gift from ! Use promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off your order. --- This week we’re talking postpartum sex and intimacy with . Many people struggle with sexual fulfillment and intimacy during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum so we invited Dr. Rose on the show to share some of her valuable insight on how to work through these challenges. Dr. Rose is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Women's Sexual Health Coach who believes that intimacy can and should be fun, fearless, and pain-free. In her one-on-one virtual sexual health coaching practice, she specializes in helping women overcome discomfort during sex, reclaim intimacy, and spark pleasure both in and out of the bedroom. In addition to her Women's Sexual Health Coaching practice, Dr. Rose practices as a pelvic floor physical therapist at Comprehensive Therapy Services in San Diego, CA where she specializes in hands-on treatment of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. To learn more about Dr. Rose, go to , check her out on instagram , or get in touch with her at . --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 111: Persevering Through Long Labors: Mariane's Birth Stories
11/28/2019
Ep 111: Persevering Through Long Labors: Mariane's Birth Stories
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR! Get the important men in your life a meaningful and functional gift from ! Use promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off your order. --- joins us to share about the births of her two sons, Luca and Leo. With Luca, she started off in the care of a doctor with a plan to deliver in the hospital. Midway through pregnancy she transferred her care to midwives at a freestanding birth center. After a long early labor that presented some unexpected challenges, Mariane ended up transferring to the hospital and having an unmedicated birth with her midwives there. For her second pregnancy, she and her husband knew that they wanted to have a home birth. After a few days of prodromal labor, she gave birth to Leo in a tub in her living room. With two very different birth experiences to draw from, Mariane’s stories have something for everyone. Enjoy! --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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Ep 110: Inductions & Cesareans for Suspected Big Babies with Rebecca Dekker of Evidence Based Birth
11/21/2019
Ep 110: Inductions & Cesareans for Suspected Big Babies with Rebecca Dekker of Evidence Based Birth
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Get the important men in your life a meaningful and functional gift from ! Use promo code KWEENS at checkout for 10% off your order. Treat yourself to a stylish, comfortable pair of scrubs from today! Visit and enter code KWEENS at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase! Sign up for a box today! Enter code KWEENS for $10 off your first box! #FabFitFunPartner --- This week’s guest is the amazing of ! Rebecca is a nurse with her PhD and the founder of Evidence Based Birth! The EBB website receives millions of visitors each year, who come to read the research evidence on childbirth practices—which Rebecca and her team aim to make publicly accessible, so that anyone can access evidence based information. Rebecca is the host of the and the author of the newly published book, . She lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband Dan and her three children ages 11, 7, and 5. In this episode, we cover the very important topic of suspected big babies. We discuss the practice of using ultrasounds to measure a baby’s size at the end of pregnancy and whether current evidence supports interventions like early inductions and planned cesareans in these cases. Here’s a list of some of the resources mentioned in this episode: --- If you liked this episode of the Birth Kweens Podcast, tell your friends! And go to , , , and to rate/review/subscribe to the show. For more from us, visit to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram @BirthKweens, join our Facebook group the , and email us at with your questions, suggestions and feedback.
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