I’m so excited to bring you a topic we’ve never covered on the podcast before: prenatal yoga! Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC and creator of the PYC Method. She’s also a Lamaze childbirth educator, postpartum corrective exercise specialist, Spinning Babies parent educator, former labor support doula, mom of two, and host of the Yoga Birth Babies podcast for over 10 years. I’ll be honest, yoga isn’t part of my own routine, so I asked Deb to talk to me like the person who’s never rolled out a mat. Before you skip this one thinking, “I’m not a yogi,” stay with me, because this conversation is for every kind of birth. We talk about why yoga is such a powerful tool for calming your nervous system, building coping skills through “safely uncomfortable” poses, and creating balance and mobility in the pelvis. We also get into why your pelvic floor should be springy like a trampoline, not tight. And Deb explains why prenatal yoga done well is so much more than sitting and stretching. Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20% We also dig into the real-life questions I know so many of you have. Where do you start if you’re 34 weeks and have never done any of this? Why do movement and position changes still matter if you’re planning an epidural? And how do these tools support you during a cesarean, too? Deb shares practical ways to get your birth partner involved, from cheat sheets in your hospital bag to her upgraded ice water test for practicing discomfort together. We also talk about what to do if a doula isn’t in the budget. These practices aren’t just for birth. You’ll carry them into recovery, parenting, and so many moments beyond. I loved this conversation, and I think you’re going to walk away feeling more confident in your body, whatever your birth looks like. More from Deb Flashenberg: prenatalyogacenter.com Connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @prenatalyogacenter Grab her free guide: 5 Simple Solutions to Pregnancy Aches & Pains Listen to her podcast: Yoga Birth Babies Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Yoga for Every Birth07:15 Why Yoga for Birth Prep09:53 Pelvic Mobility and Strength14:45 Yoga Plus Cardio and Strength29:23 Epidurals and Smart Movement37:10 Doula Alternatives and Partner Prep45:54 Where to Find Deb About your host: Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama. For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here. For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen! A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️ Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK Disclaimer Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here. Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love. Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services Mentioned in this episode: YBYB 20% off ad link
