
Nurtured Birth Conversations
By Making Mothers


Insight Into Maternal Stress with Concetta Ferretti @the.stressed.species
Providing deep insight into maternal stress, this episode features special guest Concetta Ferretti - a mother with a background in biology and PhD in oncology; and the creator of @the.stressed.species Instagram account.
Concetta shares her journey through motherhood, particularly highlighting how her daughter's birth during the pandemic and resultant isolation intensified her stress experience. The conversation explores the scientific and biological underpinnings of stress, early life experiences and how these influences shape one’s coping mechanisms. Concetta emphasises the need for knowledge on stress physiology and coping strategies, touching upon neuroplasticity in motherhood and the potential for mothers to rewire their responses to stress.
Additionally, topics like birth trauma, perinatal mood disorders, and the importance of seeking support and self-care are discussed, alongside Concetta’s future plans in integrating her scientific knowledge with clinical therapy practice to support mothers through stress and chronic disorders.
00:00 Introduction
01:58 Concetta’s journey in understanding maternal stress
05:52 The biology of stress and it’s relationship with early life experiences
19:59 Understanding coping styles and their impact
38:11 The role of birth experiences in maternal stress
44:28 Empowering strategies to address maternal wellbeing
48:27 Where to follow Concetta’s work
Concetta Ferretti’s Bio
Concetta is a scientist with a background in Biology, a Ph.D. in Oncology, and research experience in chronic disorders. She is currently studying to become a Marriage and Family therapist with a medical specialization. She aims to understand how stress and early life experiences shape mental and physical health. Her work is trauma-informed and benefits from the latest findings in developmental neurobiology and interpersonal neuroscience. She shares her knowledge on Instagram, where she wants to empower mothers with science and wisdom to manage their stress and nurture their babies’ brain and attachment relationship.
Website
https://thestressedspecies.com/
https://www.instagram.com/the.stressed.species/
About Mandy Cai
Mandy Cai is the mother of two wild-hearted children, certified Birth Educator and Founder of Making Mothers - an online community focused on supporting women to understand significance of birth on maternal wellbeing. She is also the creator of The Birth Experience Journal, a guided postpartum journal for mothers to honour, heal and transform their narratives around our most significant rite of passage.
Join The Understanding Birth Trauma Course
https://makingmothers.myflodesk.com/birth-trauma-mini-course
Shop The Birth Experience Journal https://wearemakingmothers.com/products/the-birth-experience-journal
Join The Making Mother's Community "The Sanctuary" https://community.wearemakingmothers.com/
Follow @makingmothers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/makingmothers/
Website

Birthing Consciously Through An Induction with Shreni Shukla
Shreni’s resources:
Books
- Birthing from within - Pam England
- Ina May’s guide to childbirth
- The natural pregnancy - Aviva Jill Romn
- The birth Partner - Penny Simkin
- The fourth trimester - Kimberly Ann Johnson
- The continuum concept - Jean Liedoff
Where to find Shreni
- Instagram: @shreens
- Wechat ID: shrenishukla
Where to find Mandy
- Instagram: @_mandycai
- Wechat ID: mandyacai
Special thanks to Okra for opening up their space for us to have these conversations. Find them at instagram.com/okrajewelry

Becoming A Breastfeeding Advocate As A Paediatrician with Dr Leila Sabet
Leila’s resources:
Studies mentioned in the podcast can be downloaded here - mandycai.cowtransfer.com/s/98194362843042
themilkmeg.com/ingredients-in-breastmilk-versus-artificial-breastmilk-formula/

Understanding The Generational Patterns We Inherit with Bibiana Rueda-Bueno
Recorded live on the 26th September 2021. This talk is passionate dive into the field of Psychogenealogy with Psychologist Bibiana Rueda-Bueno exploring inherited generational patterns. We look at using this framework to understand the connectedness of our family tree and begin to unravel the connectedness of our thought and behavioural patterns and how it impacts future generations.
Bibiana’s resources:
Authors
- Gabor Mate
- Eckhart Tolle
- Shefali Tsabury
Books
- A Gifted Child
- Conscious Parenting
Podcasts
- Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations with Dr Shefali Tsabury
- Dhru Purohit Podcast #192 Breaking Free of Old Habits, Addiction, and Past Traumas with Dr Gabor Mate
Where to find Bibiana
- Instagram & Facebook: @bibianaruedabueno.psychologist
- Wechat ID: bibianarueda
Special thanks to Okra for opening up their space for us to have these conversations. Find them at https://instagram.com/okrajewelry

Learning To Trust Your Body Through Birth with Mandy Cai and guest host Natali Deftereos

Motherhood As The Catalyst For Deep Change with Lea Hindelang

Consciously Learning From A Negative Birth Experience with Jama Borchuu
For this episode we welcomed Jama Borchuu, a mother of two beautiful boys, who shared her two drastically different births. In a deeply reflective and gentle manner, she contrasts the simple-minded attitude she had for her first traumatic birth and the consciously determined mindset she had for her empowered second experience. A beautiful story of personal redemption and healing, Jama’s narrative highlights the importance of reclaiming one’s own power.
Jama’s resources:
Hypnobirthing - Katharine Graves
Special thanks to Okra for opening up their space for us to have these conversations. Find them at instagram.com/okrajewelry

The Power Of Holding Space As A Birth Partner with Kurt Tropiano
Kurt Tropiano, coach and breathwork facilitator, shares his story about what it was like to be his wife Natasha’s primary birth partner for an unmedicated birth through a 3 day labour amidst the pandemic. We cover how he held space for her during challenging moments of their long labour, how it felt to bring his daughter Orelia into the world and witnessing his wife’s transformation from maiden to mother.
Kurt’s resources:
The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Dr Oscar Serrallach
Hypnobirthing The Morgan Method
Doula Mika Rock instagram.com/mikarockdoula
Embodiman Shanghai instagram.com/embodiman_shanghai
Where to find Kurt:
Instagram @kurttropiano instagram.com/kurttropiano
Wechat ID ktropiano
Where to find Natasha:
Instagram @birthblissandbeyond instagram.com/birthblissandbeyond
Special thanks to Okra for opening up their space for us to have these conversations. Find them at instagram.com/okrajewelry

The Pursuit Of An Unmedicated Birth with Melissa Arnesen-Trunzo
For our first Nurtured Birth Conversation, Melissa Arnesen-Trunzo shares her experience pursuing an unmedicated birth for her daughter Keena. Through her journey, she discovered alternative tools to help with anxiety and cultivate mindfulness for her birth as well as highlighting the importance of support from her husband Edwin and birth team.
Mel’s Birth, Labour and Delivery Resources:
Reiki- www.shivenergetics.com/
Mindfulness (MBSR) – Delphine: d.levygompel@hotmail.com
Kineciology- wholistic-therapies.com/2018/05/17/reiki-energy-transfer-therapy/
Gaia Learning- linktr.ee/gaialearning
Books:
Mindfulness Birthing by Nancy Bardacke
A Holistic Guide To Pregnancy and Childbirth: Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives by Deepak Chopra, M.D., etc.
Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz
Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.
Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen
Hypnobirthing The Morgan Method
Post-partum:
Core-Floor-Restore- coreandfloor.com.au
Glo yoga: web.glo.com
The First Forty Days by Heng Ou
Podcasts/App’s:
Love and Guts
The Awakened Pregnancy
Waking Up- Sam Harris (Mindfulness App)
Special thanks to Okra for opening up their space for us to have these conversations. Find them at instagram.com/okrajewelry