In today’s episode I am interviewing an attorney that specializes in childbirth cases. At various points in this episode we discuss adverse outcomes that can occur during pregnancy and childbirth for both the birthing person and their fetus or baby. If you are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum, or in any stage of life where this topic is not what you need to hear at the moment, please take care of yourself and listen another time or skip this one all together.

This interview is different, if only because it may be the first time I am interviewing someone who is neither one of my personal clients or a healthcare provider. But today’s guest brings a perspective that both providers and healthcare consumers may want or need to hear.

Gina's work in this area led her to do a deep dive into the how’s and why’s of mistakes that occur during labor and birth which led to write a book called, “A parents guide to a safer childbirth.” She believes that there is knowledge that all pregnant people should have that can help them better advocate for themselves and their babies, ultimately leading to better and safer birth experiences. She is here today to share some of her wisdom with us.

Show Notes

• GinaMundy.com
• Evidence Based Birth re the Arrive Trial

Mother Wit Resources

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

My guest today is Rachel Sanders. She is the Founder of Rootine - and in case you are already googling that, it is spelled ROOTINE, a modern wellness brand offering supplements and at-home lab testing.

She also provides practical tips to help people better manage their stress, weight, sleep, and productivity. In addition to the articles on her website and her presence on social media, she hosts a podcast called, "Smart Health with Rachel Sanders” and I'll of course link to that in the show notes.

She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur.

Show notes

• Aviva Romm (Mentioned related to hormone health - very reliable resource)

• The Adrenal Thyroid Connection (Article by Aviva Romm - ties into this conversation well if you are looking for a deeper dive - and if this resonates with you, she has a whole book by the same name as this article - Highly recommend!)

• On recovery - I touched on this as it relates to choices around exercise. Rachel also threw out the words “heart rate variability” (HRV) but we didnt dive in. Morpheus is a tool Ive been using to help me make better choices around exercise, sleep and stress management. I am loving it and highly recommend it. If there are other Morpheus users out there reading this, reach out!

• Adaptogens- In case you are wondering what this means (Aviva Romm)

Guest Resources

• Instagram:

  https://www.instagram.com/rachelsopsanders/ & https://www.instagram.com/rootine_co/

• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-soper-sanders/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelsopsanders

• Website: https://www.rachelsopersanders.com/

• Podcast (Smart Health with Rachel Sanders)

  
  

  Mother Wit Resources

  • Mother Wit General Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

  • ⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

  • Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

In this second hour with Stacy, we finally dive into Victress, the women's functional fitness gyms currently located in Nebraska, Idaho and Iowa with plans for further expansion.

We talk about why she started Victress, now she navigated the early years while working another full time job and navigating family life. She shared the nuts and bolts of her training methodology with us and we talked her path to becoming a women's fitness specialist, about CrossFit and how exposure to it shaped her ideas about fitness for most women. We also talk through the needs of women through the lifespan and share tools for healthcare providers who are ready to dive a bit deeper when working with their clients.

To learn more about Stacy Osborn and Victress MVMT/ Expanding on topics discussed in this episode

• Website

• Instagram

• BirthFit

• On recovery - I touched on this as it relates to choices around exercise. Rachel also threw out the words “heart rate variability” (HRV) but we didnt dive in. Morpheus is a tool Ive been using to help me make better choices around exercise, sleep and stress management. I am loving it and highly recommend it. If there are other Morpheus users out there reading this, reach out!

• Dr. Stacy Sims, Physiologist and Nutrition Scientist

• More on home birth in Nebraska - there is some nuance to this for those interested.

• Prenatal and Postnatal Care: A Person-Centered Approach

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• Empowering midwifery Education

Mother Wit Resources

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠
  

In the first of this two part interview, Stacy shares all three of her birth stories.

Stacy Orsborn is the Co-Founder and President of Fitness for VICTRESS MVMT. She is the creator of VICTRESS MVMT’s first-of-its-kind training methodology now used in all VICTRESS locations. Stacy has a deep understanding and passion for supporting the ever changing needs of female physiology.

Stacy’s credentials include ACE Orthopedic Specialist, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, GGS1 Coach, GGS Menopause Specialist, DONA Birth Doula training, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization exercise and core training. Stacy’s strength training programs cater to women in all stages of life — from young adult, prenatal, postpartum and menopause — providing a supportive community and medical-backed fitness training to help all VICTRESS women feel strong and empowered.

In part 2, she will tell us all about Victress MVMT and dive into some of the things all women should know about how guidance changes as we move through the life stages that uniquely affect female physiology including in the young adult years, pregnancy, postpartum and during the menopause transition. So stay tuned!

Stacy Osborn/Victress MVMT Episode Specific Resources

• Website

• Instagram

• Girls Gone Strong

Mother Wit Resources

• Prenatal and Postnatal Care: A Person-Centered Approach

  ⁠⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

My guest today is Kristy Mia. She is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment, drawing from her own experiences as a mother of three boys. She has over two decades of experience as a doula, childbirth educator, and nutritionist. Kristy offers mentorship and coaching enriched by her love for exploration and nature. She guides mothers towards prioritizing self-care, establishing balance, encouraging them to embrace their potential and find joy amidst life's challenges.

In today’s episode we discuss birth and postpartum doula care, how it differs from the care of a baby nurse. We also discuss why prenatal yoga is for everyone, even people who have not done yoga prior to pregnancy. In this episode, you get to be a fly on the wall while we discuss what we see as the value of certain types of care. Hopefully the perspectives we share will add a richness to the discussions you are having with your team about your wishes and your care.
Mother Wit Resources

• Mother Wit General Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

Resources from/related to this episode

Kristy Mia

• Website

• Email: Hello@KristyMia.com

• IG: @Kristymiaco

Mentioned in this episode

• Judith Lasater: On prenatal Yoga

• Gua Sha

• • Nielsen A, Knoblauch NT, Dobos GJ, Michalsen A, Kaptchuk TJ. The effect of Gua Sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: a pilot study in healthy subjects. Explore (NY). 2007 Sep-Oct;3(5):456-66. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2007.06.001. PMID: 17905355

  • N A, D P. Gua-Sha therapy on breast engorgement among Indian postnatal mothers. Bioinformation. 2023 Aug 31;19(8):853-859. doi: 10.6026/97320630019853. PMID: 37908615; PMCID: PMC10613815.

• The kidnapping I cant escape: A NYT article by Taffy Brodesser-Akner that discusses birth trauma

• Feminist Midwife: On informed consent

Alexandria DeVito, MS, CNS, is a functional nutritionist who specializes in fertility and preconception health. She is the author of 9 Months Is Not Enough: The Ultimate Pre-pregnancy Checklist to Create a Baby-Ready Body and Build Generational Health. She is also the founder and CEO of Poplin, the first pre-pregnancy wellness company. Prior to founding Poplin, Alexandria worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also has a master’s degree in nutrition; extensive training as a doula, yoga teacher, and personal trainer; and is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, all of which inform her approach to pre-pregnancy wellness.

Stats cited by Alexandria in this informative episode:

• 80% of people have micronutrient deficiencies
• 50-60% have high inflammatory markers
• 50% have hormonal imbalance
• 30% of infertility is due to male factor
• Sperm counts have dropped 60% in the last 40 years

Mother Wit Resources

• Mother Wit General Resources

  ⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

Episode Resources

• FIGO Preconception Care Checklist

• Baby readiness assessment (Poplin)

• IG @getpoplin

  
  

  
  

My guest today is Paul Quinn PhD, CNM at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, 5x author, and Professor in Obstetrical Nursing & Nursing Research at Dominican University New York. Dr. Quinn is one of the only US male midwives / a Certified Nurse Midwife for almost three decades. His new book, Pregnant Possibilities, is a blueprint for women and their families during pregnancy.

Resources/References

• Paul's website Prenatal Possibilities- HERE
• Facebook - HERE
• Instagram - HERE
• LinkedIn - HERE

Episode 49: If you marry a midwife, does that make you a midhusband?

Episode 19: What do frogs and rabbits have to do with birth in 1978? Two birth stories for the price of one with Robin Bradley, CNM

Bly, K. C., Ellis, S. A., Ritter, R. J., & Kantrowitz-Gordon, I. (2020). A survey of midwives’ attitudes towards men in midwifery. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 65(2), 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13060

Shout outs by Paul throughout this episode:

• Kathy Yuhas-Arflak

• Charlotte “Pixie” Elsberry, who passed away last year

• Lily Shah

• Jeanne Murphy Stone

Two others he would like to recognize but didn’t mention

• Laura Hollywood (forgot her but you may know her from Nyack)

• Nila Cilmi (forgot her but she was amazing)

Universities with midwifery programs mentioned in this episode

• Columbia University

• SUNY Stony Brook

• SUNY Downstate - You do not have to be a nurse to attend this program - there are other programs in the US that also offer this pathway including distance education options.

• Comprehensive list of programs in the US (and additional info for aspiring midwives)

Professional midwifery organizations mentioned in this episode

• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)

• American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)

  
  

  Mother Wit General Resources

• ⁠⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠⁠

• 
  

My guest today is Dan Doty. He is a writer, wilderness guide, men's work leader, and somatic meditation teacher. He leads retreats, hosts a podcast called Fatherhood Unlocked, and has given talks around the world on masculinity, fatherhood, and spirituality and has a new program for expectant dads called Fatherhood ready and for those already in it, Father’s Fire.

Resources

• Fatherhood Ready (next group launching 2/20! - 4w program for $297)

• Free meditations, podcast interviews and resources for expecting dads

• Rachelle Garcia Seliga: Innate Traditions

• The Will to Change by Bell Hooks

Mother Wit General Resources

• ⁠⁠Thriving After Birth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Comprehensive Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠60 Min Consultation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use discount code- FirstConsult10%off

• Instagram: @mother.wit.maternity

• ⁠⁠Exercise in the perinatal period: For healthcare providers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an online course)

• ⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠