Lynsey McGillivray, owner of Born This Way Hypnobirthing, doula and registered midwife joins us this week from Scotland to discuss what hypnobirthing is. We dispel the myths and misconceptions that come with the name, and why it should be available to EVERY pregnant woman and her partner to utilize in birth.

To work with Lynsey visit her website bornthiswaybirthing.com and follow her on Instagram @bornthiswaybirthing! She is also the host of her own podcast “This Is Birth” and author of a book of uplifting, positive birth stories, “Birth Actually.”

00:38 Creating a Cozy Birth Environment

01:55 The Importance of Personalizing Your Birth Space

04:27 Introduction to Hypnobirthing

07:41 Lynsey McGillivray's Journey into Hypnobirthing

17:22 Understanding Hypnobirthing Techniques

29:35 Overcoming Medical Pushback

31:17 The Importance of Preparation

34:06 Mindset and Positive Birth Stories

35:32 Real-Life Hypnobirthing Experiences

38:41 The Role of Education and Support

44:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

49:03 Upcoming Topics and Conclusion

Connect with Lynsey:

Follow her on Instagram: @bornthiswayhypnobirthing

Visit her website: BornThisWayHypnoBirthing.com

Grab her book: ‘Birth Actually’ on amazon

Listen to her Podcast: ‘This is Birth’

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Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

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Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Welcome to the world, now let us protect you! Learn more about one of the very first medications given to your baby, right after birth, to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, or pink eye, specifically from gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).

Using the acronym once again, PIEDAY, we review the prophylactic treatment by considering the Problem, Incidence, Evidence, Downsides, Alternatives and Your input and feelings.

Nothing in health and medical treatment is so black and white, and educating yourself and your team before you need to make a decision like giving your baby antibiotics right after birth will give you confidence and a sense of control, all which are so easily lost in the hospital birth system. Please share this episode with friends, family and your birth team and have the conversation with your provider for a full understanding and expectations.

Resources and cited links:

Evidencebasedbirth.com

AAFP: Prevent Newborns’ Eye Infection With Antibiotic Ointment, Jan 20, 2019, USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement

brighamandwomens.org; Pediatric Newborn Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines, Erythromycin Eye Prophylaxis Administration in Newborn Infants

00:39 The Need for Better Pregnancy Support

07:40 Postpartum Support and Services

10:36 The Importance of Informed Decisions

11:02 Erythromycin Ointment Explained

28:10 History and Evolution of Silver Nitrate

28:55 Antibiotics and Modern Medicine

31:02 Causes of Infections

37:37 Effectiveness of Prophylactic Treatments

42:14 Risks and Downsides of Antibiotic Ointments

45:40 Alternatives to Antibiotic Ointments

50:10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor

55:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

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Mendy McNulty is a dedicated mother of four and a skilled IFS and Psychedelic Integration Coach with over 16 years of experience in education and 4 years as a children’s pastor. She founded Self Led Integration, where she helps individuals navigate their inner world using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mendy’s compassionate approach supports clients in transforming stuck patterns, healing trauma, and fostering self-leadership. She also leads Healing Conversations and offers workshops and memberships to those seeking deep, lasting personal growth and integration.

Find Mendy on all socials @selfledintegration and at www.selfled-integration.com

00:04 Meet Mendy McNulty: IFS Practitioner

00:28 Exploring Internal Family Systems and Psychedelic Integration

01:42 Connecting IFS to Pregnancy and Parenthood

06:32 Understanding Internal Family Systems

09:39 Client Experiences and Transformations

15:59 The Role of Family in IFS

29:59 IFS and Postpartum Support

32:34 Understanding Women's Mental Health During Pregnancy

34:05 Internal Family Systems and Mental Health

34:12 The Complex Emotions of Pregnancy

35:18 The Trauma of Birth and Postpartum Experiences

36:18 The Importance of Healing and Self-Care

40:16 The Role of Therapy and Medication

44:40 The Healing Journey and Self-Leadership

47:55 Final Thoughts and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

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Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

The First 15 Series continues as we discuss baby medications, specifically in today’s episode, Vitamin K Injection. This is a decision you will be making, whether you know it or not, for your baby and will be done pretty shortly after birth. Usually by your nurse after the first hour, or even in the recovery room while you are getting cleaned up in the OR.

This episode takes most of the researched information from a book by Dr Sara Wickham called Vitamin K and the Newborn, and you can find it easily on Amazon! I highly recommend her well researched and easy to reach publications to help you make decisions for you and your baby during pregnancy.

A quote I mentioned in the episode I wanted to write out for you here so you have it, and you can also find in the book, that can be helpful to decide how to manage this decision, especially if you are hesitant to supplement. By Dr Edmund Hey “Babies who do not feed soon, well and regularly are at measurable risk of bleeding once their limited reserves of vitamin k are exhausted. All babies who are not well enough to be fed at birth need a supplement because their vitamin K stores will only last 1-3 days. A few breastfed babies will develop transient VKDB if they are not given a small supplement at birth, probably because early intake is poor. A very small number of breastfed babies risk a sudden serious bleed when 2-12 weeks old if not offered a regular supplement, usually because an unrecognized liver disorder has impaired fat-soluble vitamin absorption.”

Join the Hospital Childbirth Crash Course now at https://myfriendsanurse.com/crashcourse and get a behind the curtain look and birth in the hospital system and how to prepare to get the birth you want in it!

00:06 Understanding Vitamin K and Its Importance

01:31 Statistics and Research on Vitamin K

01:50 Book Recommendations and Author Shoutout

03:18 Decision-Making and Parental Choices

03:27 Routine Administration and Parental Awareness

05:50 Refusal Rates and Medical Recommendations

06:22 Understanding VKDB and Its Prevention

09:51 The Role of Healthcare Providers and Patient Advocacy

14:05 Vitamin K: Types, Sources, and Administration

18:30 PI DAY Acronym for Decision-Making

29:34 Oral vs. Injection: Effectiveness and Compliance

32:53 Downsides and Side Effects of Vitamin K

33:42 Injection Side Effects and Risks

35:37 Concerns About Vitamin K Additives

37:08 Vitamin K Dosage Concerns

39:22 Potential Downsides of Vitamin K

42:31 Exploring Alternatives to Vitamin K

48:26 Breastfeeding and Vitamin K

52:48 Making Informed Decisions

57:54 Conclusion and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership

Shoshie joins us as a mental health consultant and social worker with Family Tree Wellness in the Los Angeles Westside area.

She provides mental health support for pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, parenthood, trauma, loss and beyond. She works with a team of therapists both in person and virtually, who have extensive training and expertise in perinatal mental health, infertility, mood and anxiety disorders.

In today’s episode we dive into how we can plan for the immediate postpartum period, what to do when weird sh*it happens, and why it is so crucial to remember that the new mama needs mothering.

00:00 Welcome to The Birth Link

01:32 Personal Postpartum Experience

03:58 Understanding Postpartum Mental Health

05:15 Meet Soshie

06:50 Mental Health Support for New Parents

09:11 Recognizing the Need for Help

12:17 Postpartum Blues vs. Postpartum Depression

19:38 Planning for Postpartum Well-being

23:57 The Importance of Support Systems

27:52 Balancing Independence and Support

32:42 Setting Boundaries and Accepting Help

34:16 Leadership and Communication in Birth

38:56 Dealing with Birth Disappointments

42:08 Maintaining Identity and Self-Care

49:09 Seeking Professional Help

54:26 Final Thoughts and Resources

Connect with Shoshie on Instagram: @familytreewellness_

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

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Edited and Produced by Vaden Podcast Services

We continue in The First 15 Series by diving into what the hospital calls The Golden Hour, that precious time we can spend with our baby, bonding skin to skin with a limited amount of interruptions.

We will discuss the benefits that have been proven during this time and the importance of a more hands off approach during this period. I will also discuss how the push and sell of this hour can actually be detrimental to the parents who may have that time interrupted, or never get it at all.

Where is the balance and how do we best approach this topic to receive the benefits, tune into our own biological needs, and limit the grief and disappointment when it doesn't look like we had planned? Join me now!

Don’t miss this week’s LIVE workshop where I will lift the curtain of the hospital birth system to empower you to the birth you want and deserve! Don’t get stomped on at the hospital door, find your voice and how to use it! Register here: https://myfriendsanurse.com/onlineworkshop1010

00:39 Exploring the Golden Hour

04:29 The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact

09:57 Hospital Policies and Practices

19:51 Challenges and Realities of the Golden Hour

31:13 Historical Context

32:33 Transition to Postpartum Care

33:02 The Golden Hour: Benefits

34:46 Unrealistic Expectations and Mental Health

36:56 Personal Experiences and Challenges

40:18 Communication and Support During Birth

50:55 Understanding the Golden Hour Stages

55:25 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Topics

Resources:

What People Get Wrong About the ‘Golden Hour’ After Birth, Catherine Pearson, 2/8/22, Huff Post

Health Education Associates, Inc, based on the research of Widstrom, et al.

Acta Paediatr. 2019 Jul; 108(7): 1192–1204. Published online 2019 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/apa.14754

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

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Jaimie Zaki is a military wife, mom of 5, nurse, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. After Jaimie struggled to breastfeed her oldest and experienced medical gaslighting by doctors and lactation consultants, she learned the secret to breastfeeding success wasn't about luck. It was about foundational knowledge, support, and self-advocacy skills. Jaimie became an IBCLC and dedicated herself to ensuring other moms can learn how to shut out the toxic whispers of the world and learn how to connect with their God-given intuition to unleash their Inner Fierce MamaBear and make confident feeding decisions with a sense of hope and peace.

Join in on our conversation as we discuss the formula industry, what to expect from the support through the hospital and medical system, what mistakes you could be making even in pregnancy to set you back to achieving your breastfeeding goals, and the significance of having the RIGHT support and community around you.

00:05 Meet Jaimie Zaki, IBCLC

00:22 Importance of Lactation Consultants

01:30 Personal Breastfeeding Journey

07:51 Challenges and Advocacy

10:37 Becoming an IBCLC

13:33 Understanding Lactation Certifications

16:59 Hospital Experiences and Advice

25:57 The Confident Mama Bear Society

36:58 Personal Struggles with Breastfeeding

37:47 Preventable and Fixable Breastfeeding Issues

38:23 The Confident Mama Bear Society

39:46 The Importance of Early Support

42:00 Trustworthy Pediatricians and Breastfeeding

57:21 The Role of Partners in Breastfeeding

01:02:33 Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Jaimie:

Join her ANNUAL membership for 50% OFF with the code PODCAST50!!! You do NOT have to do this alone, get a coach and consultant that will help guide you to achieving your breastfeeding dreams!

Visit www.littlebearlactation.com

Join her FREE Breastfeeding class: Secrets to a First Latch Without Pain

Connect with her on Instagram and FaceBook

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

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Are you a birth nerd interested in the first 15 minutes after birth and everything that happens within those first 15 minutes? Such as decisions you need to make and include in your birth plan. Then tune into this first 15 series for in depth knowledge on what’s going on within the first 15 minutes, the history, current practices, and YOUR options. Being informed is the best way to prepare for your birth experience. Join us for in depth, educational discussions on the most important topics and decisions you’ll be making in the 1st 15 minutes after birth!

Welcome to this segment of The Birth Link podcast, the First 15 Series, where today I’m diving deep on the fascinating topic of placenta encapsulation.

From the consumption of the placenta after childbirth, to the various ways to preserve the placenta, your rights with placenta encapsulation, risks and benefits of placenta consumption, evidence based practices, and cultural rituals, we’re covering it all in this educational episode.

We’ll also examine the modern trend of placenta encapsulation and consumption, highlighting the purported benefits, risks, and current scientific evidence.

I’m here to provide you with the facts and history, acknowledging the lack of conclusive research while discussing the potential benefits and cultural significance.

It’s important to make informed decisions regarding how your placenta is used or preserved afterbirth, BEFORE you’re in labor.

If you’re wanting to learn all about placenta encapsulation and your options, then listen in.

00:00 Welcome to the Birthlink Podcast

00:39 Diving into Placenta Research

01:54 Introduction to the Placenta

03:51 The Role and Function of the Placenta

07:24 Placentophagy in the Animal Kingdom

15:05 Human Practices and Trends

17:35 Celebrity Influence on Placenta Consumption

19:30 Evaluating the Benefits and Risks

33:41 Personal Views on Placenta Consumption

34:11 Global Perspectives on Placenta Practices

37:03 Historical and Cultural Rituals

45:01 Traditional Chinese Medicine and Placenta

50:05 Modern Medical Concerns and Legalities

57:42 Options for Handling the Placenta

01:09:03 Final Thoughts and Future Discussions

More from this episode:

For more information about your state’s regulations around placenta disposal check out americord

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email