Enjoying Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Maranda Bower was a wonderful guest to interview for the podcast.

She is the CEO and founder of Postpartum University, supporting both mothers and professionals in health and whole body healing.

She’s a renowned expert in top educator in the fields of functional nutrition and coaching in relation to postpartum, and is nicknamed The Womb Whisperer, named as a bestselling author, international speaker, and has appeared in over 50 publications.

Her latest book is Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness, and it’s a number one bestseller now available on Amazon.

And she also has a podcast that I’ve enjoyed listening to.

She shares 3 specific things we can do to prepare for the 4th Trimester (postpartum) and make our transition to mothering easier.

1. Create a Useful Support System
2. Harness the Power of Nutrition
3. Support your Nervous System Regulation

We also talk about different cultures and how they support postpartum women.

As well as how you and your baby are both on a journey!

Here is where you can find Maranda and her wonderful resources.

Maranda Bower

I have been passionate about pregnancy and birth since I was a little girl.

I was able to take that passion and focus it to become

• a Childbirth Educator
• and a Birth Doula
• an author
• a podcaster

While I no longer actively teach or doula anymore

I still love sharing wisdom and support with you,

so you can have a better birth.

I do this through

I have 3 Birth Books

It was such a joy to interview Katie and Amie about their powerful new book.

This book and journal, helps to lead you through documenting and processing your birth experience.

Leading towards healing and hope.

It was so great to interview Morgan.

Twins run in her family, 

so it wasn't too big of a surprise to find she was expecting twin girls.

Here is her journey through her births

and how a simple choice made her second cesarean

a little better than the first!

HELPFUL LINKS

Direct link to this episode show notes:

I had a cesarean with my first. 

I am passionate about sharing all types of birth experiences 

and letting moms know that all types of birth can be positive

In today's episode, I share over 12 tips to create a positive cesarean.

Here is a replay of Bryson's Birth Story....

For real, my birth experience with him 

changed the trajectory of my life!

It is what inspired me to write 3 books about birth 

and become a Hypnobabies Instructor 

and a Hypno-Doula

Enjoy!

(If you want to watch his birth story - click through to the show notes!)

I met Krysti on the Hypnobabies Group.  

She was planning a natural birth, 

but her baby was persistently breech. 

It was interesting watching her journey as she had to make tough choices in regards to her babies birth.  

I am excited to share her birth story 

and you can see how in the end she had a positive birth despite not having her original desires.

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This is a great episode to listen to if you have struggled with extreme nausea or vomitting during your pregnancy.

If not, feel free to skip this episode! 

Jayne struggled with Hyperemesis Gravidarum through 4 of her pregnancies.

It was wonderful to talk with her about her experience and hear the blessings that came from it.

"I found it didn't have to be a dark place if I was looking upward, and like reaching out to heaven and saying,

What does this experience have to offer me? What is here for me to learn?"

She also wrote a children's book When Mommies are Sick as well as a journal for other moms experiencing Hypermesis Gravidarum.

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Meet Jayne - Mother and Author

When Pregnancy Doesn't Go as You Imagined

Her Doctor Dismissed Her Concerns!

Learning to Track Symptoms and Speaking Up For Herself

Challenges Don't Have to Bring You to a Dark Place

Having the Courage and Strength to Have More Babies

Divine Help was Needed to Make it Through Last Pregnancy

Writing the Books

Have the Courage to Be Imperfect

Where to find Jayne and her books!

LINKS

Find Jayne Here

Orchid (prenatal/postnatal yoga instructor), shares tips and tools to help with pelvic floor healing.

She shares 3 big DO NOT DO this, tips.  

Then explains what inspired her to develop her Reconnection Ab Lab online program.

I started taking it and will be reporting back in a future episode what differences I have experienced. 

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[00:02:11] postnatal recovery tips

[00:02:19] no sit ups!

[00:03:45] no frontal planks

[00:04:38] do not do double leg lifts

[00:05:10] true confessions - I still have sneeze pee, 16 years after my last birth, can it help me???

[00:08:23] What inspired you to create Ab Lab?

[00:10:01] Orchid couldn't walk after her birth

[00:11:10] fixing abs can fix a lot of problems

[00:13:01] doctors don't have the answers

[00:16:38] where to find Orchid

[00:17:41] conclusion

HELPFUL LINKS 

Find Orchid Here

It was so fun to interview Orchid.

She is a prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher, so she has great information to share with us!

She shares how amazing the human body is.

A bit about her struggles trying to get pregnant with her second baby.

Then she jumps into tips for the newborn stage.

From what to remember when you are sleep deprived.

How to handle your partner

and ends off with the 5 simple steps to help with mental health!

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[00:03:17] our bodies are amazing

[00:05:48] Sitcom moment of announcing the pregnancy

all the time and almost every single person, struggled with fertility.

[00:06:25] so many struggle with fertility and loss - you are not alone

[00:07:19] when overwhelmed and sleep deprived - try to remember how much you wanted this baby

[00:07:53] don't overcorrect husbands

[00:09:29] find your community

[00:10:17] find vitamin "community"

[00:10:52] basic 5 list for good mental health after baby

[00:13:12] find Orchid here

[00:15:08] conclusion

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Find Orchid Here

This birth story starts with 

"I first want to say that there has never been a more significant
moment in my life than when I finally held my brand new baby girl
before they had even cut the cord.  I know I will never forget that.
It would have been worth anything I might have experienced- good or
bad.

Next I want to say that my birth experience was a very positive one,
and that it seemed to me to be about half as long as it actually was-
16 hours.  I was able to maintain focus throughout nearly all of the
experience and have to say that I am a true believer in the
effectiveness of the Hypnobabies program."

Listen to the whole thing!  It is great.  :) 

Helpful Links

I got this great email today with this question 

and while I was typing up an answer to respond to the question, 

I realized what I really need to do is make a podcast episode about this. 

So that’s what I decided to do. I did send my email with my written response, 

but here is an audio response, which I think will be more powerful.

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[00:00:52] It is normal to make or not make noises while pushing

[00:01:16] A Few Pushing Options

[00:02:09] Breathe Baby Out

[00:02:13] Grunting

[00:02:33] Roaring

[00:03:51] Swearing

[00:04:06] Calling on Heavenly Help

[00:04:26] Lower Noises are Better

[00:05:26] Holding your Breath and Bearing Down

[00:06:42] Be Flexible

[00:07:03] Low is Open and Down

[00:07:10] I hope you enjoyed these real life examples

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Little Alex was a gentleman and let Mommy see his big brother sing in church for Mother's Day.  

After that though, he was ready to come (or maybe just Mom was), and BOY did he come fast.

This is a short, but sweet birth story to bring a smile to your day!

Direct link to this episodes show notes: https://enjoybirth.com/alex-chase-arrives

Such a wonderful birth story, showing that even if you sleep through your practice, it can still work.

"All I can say is "wow," our bodies really do know how to have babies if we let them. I am so thankful for this remarkable experience and a new little daughter."

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Another great birth story, of a first time mom.

Her birth was about 6-7 hours with 20 minutes of pushing.

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I love this birth story, where the mom shares how she was comfortable, 

even during transition!  

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I have attended over 50 births. 

I have missed 3 births.

1 was an emergency cesarean and I arrived after the mom was already in the operating room.

1 was an extremely long birth and I went to the first half, then headed out on a trip and my back up doula took over.

My favorite one I missed, I actually felt as if I was almost there.

Again, it was a trip that kept me from attending, 

but my friend, knew that was possible, so she had other doulas coming too.

Here is what happened and how it felt like I was sort of almost there!

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Valerie had 3 babies with epidurals.

Then she wanted to have a natural birth –

and did with baby 4.

that baby was posterior, like her first 3 and the discomfort made her not want to have another natural birth.

Then she met me and with Hypnobabies decided it was worth trying to have a natural birth again.

I was her doula for her last 2 babies

I loved interviewing Valerie.

She was one of my Hypnobabies Student – 2 times, for baby number 7 and 8!

I also was her doula for those 2 births.

She had Toxemia (high blood pressure) during her 3rd birth and was told to have no more children.

This led her on a path to alternative medicine. This allowed her to become strong enough to have more children. She got a second opinion and changed careproviders and went on to have 5 more children!

I was amazed at the story she shared about her friend who broke multiple bones and after a surgery was struggling with pain. Valerie felt inspired to lend her friend her Hypnobabies CDs and they made a huge difference.

Of course, she shares her birth experiences and it will be especially interesting to moms who have had posterior babies, as all 8 of her babies presented that way.

Helpful Links

Did you know that people use hypnosis for dental surgery?

Hypnosis is a tool that can be used with all sorts of medical procedures.

It may seem hard to believe that hypnosis has been used on people for surgeries, even open heart surgery. That shows how powerful the mind can be.

It is used often for dental procedures. Some people use it to stay calm during dental procedures, so an emotional benefit. Some people will actually use hypnosis for anesthesia during dental procedures.

If it works for THAT, then hypnosis can totally work for birth. 

If hypnosis can work for these invasive surgeries, than it can certainly work for birth, which is a natural event.

Visit this link to see the videos mentioned in the podcast episode. 

What if I was to write a book – Hypnobabies for Dummies? Well, it would be pretty simple.

Buy the Hypnobabies Home Study - or if you are lucky enough to have a live instructor near you, sign up for a class!

Follow the instructions for practice.

Use your tools during birth.

So that is pretty simple and works, 

but it would also be a sort of lame book, 

so today I delve in a little deeper

and as a doula at over 50 Hypnobabies Births,

I have a good inside scoop!

Helpful Links

I had an amazing experience with affirmations

a few years ago.

I share how I harnessed this power

the amazing changes I saw

and share how you can use affirmations to help

in your pregnancy and birth!

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Listen to the whole story...

but here is a tiny bit

"I have to say, I know that Hypnobabies gave me the birth of our dreams, and not just for the hypnosis aspect of the birth. It was  the program that led me to seek a Doula for the first time, and to go for a water birth. These three aspects combined really did give me the tools needed for ‘our’ perfect birth."

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When you are expecting a baby, it is hard to deny that there are some big financial obligations coming up.

From medical bills, diapers, car seats and so much more.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and underprepared.

I love how one of my doula clients picked a word for her pregnancy and a different one for her birth.

Here is a link to 5 simple steps to pick your word!

Such a fun birth story.

Water Breaking at her friends wedding.

Baby born about 10 hours later.

My favorite part?

The picture of the mom smiling in the birth tub at 9.5 cm.

You are having a “normal” baby shower, but you want to make it a little bit more spiritual and meaningful for you.  

A party with gifts and food is fun, but it is easy to add a few simple things to make this celebration more about the Mom and her journey to mothering this baby and therefore make it a bit more special.

You have heard about and maybe even attended a Mother’s Blessing, aka Blessingway?  Do you want to help create something like that for your friend?  At the same time you don’t want the fellow guests to think it is too “weird”.  So maybe skip the belly henna painting, but try these 3 simple tips instead.

2 - Add Beads to Take it Up a Notch

I have done this at 3 or 4 “normal” baby showers.  Each time the guests and the Mom express how meaningful both of these activities were.

They were easy to add and made the baby shower more of a Mother’s Blessing.

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What are your choices with birth and do you really have a choice if you don't know all the options?

Logan's birth was the second I attended as a doula.

It was extra special, because Jenn (Logan's mom) was my dearest friend!  

Also she was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesaren) mom, like I was and we had the same OB and was in my first Hypnobabies Class!

I love her story and how even though she wasn't sure if Hypnobabies would work for her, she did all the homework and was pleasantly surprised when it did work and it worked well!  

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I PROMISE it can still work!!

Here is some information and stories to reassure you it is OK.

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Direct link to this episode show notes:

I was so grateful when one of the Hypnobabies moms in my group who is a Registered Dietitian, was kind enough to share her tips to help expecting moms have happier tummies!

You can listen to the tips here, 

or hop over to the shownotes and you can download a pdf.  

HELPFUL LINKS

Direct link to this episode show notes:

In our last podcast episode I shared how Angela fired her OB 2 days before her due date.

In this episode, listen to her birth story,

it turned out great!!

"Ellen put her directly on my chest and mom let them know that we wanted to wait to cut the cord. She was beautiful and so peaceful.  She had a full head of black hair and her eyes were wide open.  My husband cut the cord after it stopped pulsing.  It was an amazing experience and Hypnobabies gave me so many tools to use during the birthing process.   I had a very positive outlook on pregnancy and birth and it could not have gone any better.  My husband, mom,  midwife and nurse were all amazed at how well I did.  My husband said he respected me prior to the birth but after the birth it has been raised to a whole new level!"

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Angela was in for a surprise when she discovered all her conversations she had with her OB and the OB group were not exactly as it had been portrayed. 

"I just finished the hospital tour of the place where we will be birthing (as of now). While they say it is patient centered and focuses on the patient
experience is it a very standard -rule- treat you like your are a sick patient type hospital and did not seem very natural friendly."

When she realized that her desires for her birth were not going to be honored, she fired her OB and found a different careprovider that was more supportive. 

In this weeks episode, hear the steps that led her to this decision

and come back next week to hear how her birth story turned out. 

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You may want to pack a few essentials in your hospital/birth center bag to keep you calm and comfortable. 

To help you stay within budget, I talk about a few basics you will need, as well as extras that can be nice to have.

From clothes, to chapstick to charging blocks.  What are nice to have vs Must Haves! 

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Affirmations can help your subconscious mind accept positive thought and attitudes.

I love being a hypno-doula.

That is what a doula trained to help moms using hypnosis is called.

The best part is having so many extra tools to help the mom before, during and after birth!

Curious about learning more about how you can be a hypno-doula?  

I delve deeper into my experiences as a hypno-doula and also tips for you in this episode. 

HELPFUL LINKS

Direct link to this episode show notes:

Are you wondering if you should hire a doula? 

There are a lot of pros, but there are also some cons. 

I delve a little deeper into both the pros and cons to help you find clarity on the best choice for you. 

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I am so excited to have my first guest on the podcast.

Angela shares her last 2 Hypnobabies births.

Both were 10+ pound babies, yet each was unique and powerful.

Listen as she shares how quickly the 45 minutes from water breaking to baby in arms went.

DJ was born 15 months after Gracie.

Angela was over 42 weeks along and she asked her midwife to break her water. Her midwife was hesitant, warning her it might take longer than Gracie’s 45 minute birth, since that one started spontaneously.

But Angela, knew this was the day.

Angela calls this her party birth, she had her husband, 5 daughters, her childhood best friend (to help with her girls) a doula (me) the midwife and her assistant a photographer, and a DJ.

Things started right after her water was broken!

As soon as the tub was full enough she got in and this time she had to push a bit more as DJ’s head was pretty big, but he came out safely and we all cried tears of joy as she welcomed this sweet baby boy after 5 girls.

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Listen to this great birth story of when Angela had Irelyn, her 4th baby.  

Her first Hypnobabies birth and it was completely comfortable 12 hour birth.

It felt long to her, but I am pretty sure she was just waiting for her daughter to wake up.  

Definitely check the show notes to see some great pictures and even a video of this birth!

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Direct link to this episode show notes:

I share 3 Ideas you probably haven't even heard of in todays episode. 

I hope that at least one helps you!

Self Hypnosis can be used to retrain the brain and feel better.

Taking an Independent Childbirth Class (typically one not affiliated with a hospital) is a great way to learn what normal birth is.   

It is well worth the time and money to be educated about normal birth.  

The information presented in class will go a long way in helping you trust your body and baby.

There are many different choices for Childbirth Classes.  Find one that fits with your desires for birth.

I discuss a few different options available in this podcast episode.  

This is my birth story of my 3rd baby. 

Unmedicated VBAC Hospital Birth using Hypnobabies and I had a doula as well. 

It was an incredible experience for me.  I loved it!  

Bryson's birth is what inspired me to become a doula and Hypnobabies Instructor.  

I hope you enjoy it and it inspires you as well!

Hypnosis is such a great tool for so many things.

Including pregnancy, birth and more!!

How Hypnosis can Help During Pregnancy

• Nausea
• Placenta Previa
• Sleep
• Preterm Labor
• Breech Baby
• “Late Baby”
• High Blood Pressure
• Anxiety

How Hypnosis Can Help During Birth

• Increases Moms confidence and excitement
• More Comfort
• Use Less Medication
• Often Have Shorter Births
• Quicker Recovery
• If Cesarean is Needed Mom can stay calmer with change of plane
• Easier Transition to Motherhood

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Do you know about this free book I love to share with expecting moms?

I am a birth doula with over 14 years experience.

There are certain things I wish ALL pregnant women knew.

So I consolidated these tips down into a simple to read book.

Many of the birthing mothers who use Hypnobabies experience only pressure or tightening sensations during birth. They have their babies in a state of deep relaxation, with little or no discomfort or fear using real hypno-anesthesia.

I have seen many of my doula clients birth using Hypnobabies and I have used it myself.

You learn and practice so many different tools, so in your birthing time you can use what feels right to help you in each moment.

Learn a lot more in this episode.

This is Shannon's version of her birth story.

She worked so hard to get her VBA2C and it was lovely to remember all the wonderful things that happened as I read it. 

Even though it has been 10 years, I could remember certain details as I read it.

Enjoy hearing her birth story!

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She was going for her VBA2C (birth after 2 cesareans) and even after working so hard to find a supportive careprovider, she was with her original one that talked her into her second cesarean and we were at a hospital that wasn't supportive of VBACs!  

How would it ever work out?

A series of little awesome things happened that helped her get the birth that she wanted!

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I had a Hypnobabies student that wanted to hire me as her doula.  

At first I said no, but then after seeing how hard she was working for her VBA2C (birth after 2 cesareans).... I started to change my mind.

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I know some moms who use hypnosis worry when they sleep through their hypnosis tracks.

I was one of those moms and the hypnosis still worked.  :)

This is a birth story that Sita shared with me about her experience.  She felt like she was an imperfect student (who is a perfect student?) and also slept through her CD's.  

She ended up having a great birth.  :)

Sign up for my newsletter for a coupon for the Hypnobabies course, also get lots of great tips and information. 

I also mentioned my book Enjoy Pregnancy and Birth with Hypnosis, which you can get on Amazon. 

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This is a birth story from my blog that a mom sent in. 

I loved reading her experience and sharing it with you.

Sign up for my newsletter to get a coupon for the Hypnobabies Home Study program as well as free access to one of my online classes and so much more!  :) 

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