Village360’s Birthworks: Your guide to inclusive pregnancy support, natural birth options, and learning through shared birt

Village360’s Birthworks
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  • Parenting

Pregnancy can bring a lot of questions, and you deserve care that feels steady, connected, and truly personal. Village 360’s Birthworks offers something different: a midwife podcast centered on practical tips, shared wisdom, and grounded support from people who understand the experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Hosted by the team at Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center, this show explores your pregnancy journey through stories from midwives, providers, and parents. We talk about maternal wellness, mental health in pregnancy, and how community-based midwifery can shift outcomes for families who are often overlooked. At the heart of this show is Village360, a model of care built around trust, access, and the power of community. You’ll hear from midwives, doulas, and parents offering tangible pregnancy tips, honest reflections, and practical parenting support. We also dig into topics like basic health recommendations, birth options, and what it takes to feel truly supported during one of life’s biggest transitions. If you're seeking midwifery care that meets you where you are and providers who listen, you're in the right place. This is care by your community, for your community. This is Village 360’s Birthworks. https://www.myrvcc.org/ Seattle Clinic: 4704 S. Mead St. Seattle, WA 98118 Renton Birth Center:  4300 Talbot Rd S #402 Renton, WA 98055 Phone (425) 600-2582 Fax: 888-435-9983  |  hello@myrvcc.org

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Working Parents And Family Support: What Midwifery Teaches Us About Asking For Help So You Don’t Burn Out

    Becoming a parent changes the way working parents, family, and support all fit together. For many pregnant people and new parents, the question is not just how to prepare for birth, but how to prepare for the real-life responsibilities, relationships, and needs that come with caring for a baby.   In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to birth support is rooted in trust, flexibility, and helping families feel supported through change. We talk about what it means to be a midwife, a mom, and a working mom, including the ways family support, boundaries, and asking for help can shape the transition into postpartum life.   For expectant families and first time parents trying to understand what support can look like beyond the birth plan, this conversation offers a grounded look at birth preparation, emotional health, unsolicited advice, and the practical skills that help working parents communicate what they need. We also talk about why receiving help can be just as important as asking for it, especially when a new parent's life brings more responsibility than anyone is meant to carry alone.   Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    31 min

  2. May 29

    Pregnancy Rights at a time when Pregnancy Care Is Harder To Access (And Families Need Clear Birth Support)

    Pregnancy care is shaped by more than appointments, providers, and birth plans. For many pregnant people, choices are also shaped by insurance, Medicaid access, local resources, and the policies that determine whether care is easy to reach or hard to navigate. In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to birth support is rooted in trust, advocacy, and helping families understand their options. We talk about the current political landscape around pregnancy, postpartum care, and lactation, including how healthcare changes can affect dignity, access, and the ability to receive steady support close to home. For expectant families and new parents trying to understand pregnancy rights, this conversation offers a grounded look at maternal health, birth rights, and why birth advocacy matters when systems feel strained. We also talk about practical ways to get involved locally, use your voice, and support stronger care for your own family and your community. Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs. Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    25 min

  3. May 22

    Informed Consent and Pregnancy Care: Brittany Ferguson on Asking Better Questions

    Pregnancy brings constant choices, and too often those choices are shaped by fear, pressure, or limited healthcare access instead of real understanding. When you are trying to make thoughtful medical decisions, it matters to know your voice still belongs in the room. In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to pregnancy care is rooted in trust, relationship, and personal agency. We talk about what it means to practice informed consent in real time, especially when medical decisions feel heavy, rushed, or hard to question. For expectant parents looking for steady midwife support, this conversation opens the door to a more grounded birth experience, a deeper understanding of reproductive health, and the kind of community resources that can make healthcare access feel more human.   Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    28 min

  4. Apr 15

    When Birth Plans Don’t Go As Expected: How to Navigate Unexpected Birth Changes Safe Hospital Transfer Without Losing Your Voice

    When you’re choosing a birth center, you deserve to know exactly how the team handles those 'every second counts' moments without losing sight of your informed consent. Prioritizing birth center safety before labor begins ensures you are prepared for any turn the journey takes.  A hospital transfer doesn't mean losing your voice; in fact, the right approach actually reduces clinical strain on the medical staff and creates a much higher level of safety for you and your baby. Today, I walk you through the practical realities behind the 71% surge in home births since 2016 and exactly how that shift is reshaping the maternal health landscape for all of us. This growth is a cultural shift that demands a shift in our medical systems too. We cover the importance of birth plans for both intended and transfer scenarios, the necessity of provider collaboration between midwives and doctors, the reality of patient rights in a high-pressure environment, and how to maintain physiological birth principles even when a pivot is required. Strong labor support and active birth advocacy are the keys to maintaining your leadership in the birthing room. So, if you are looking for a safe and empowered outcome using clear communication and partnership, this episode is not to be missed.  Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    33 min

  5. Apr 15

    Birth Preparation for Anxious Moms: Build Emotional Health and Unshakable Birth Confidence Before Labor Using Visualization and Nervous System Regulation

    Are you doing everything you can to prepare for childbirth, yet still feeling unsettled inside? I know how it feels to pour your whole self into motherhood and still wonder if you are doing enough. Birth preparation is not only about information. It is about learning how to return to your body when stress rises. It is about strengthening the part of you that can stay grounded in the middle of intensity. In this episode, we explore simple visualization, gentle breathing techniques, and a powerful grounding exercise that support nervous system regulation, strengthen your emotional health, and build lasting birth confidence, so you feel rooted, connected to your baby, and supported by your own inner champion through pregnancy, labor, and early parenting. This is how holistic health becomes practical in your daily life. These practices connect your mind, body, and baby in a tangible way. They support pregnancy wellness now and help you prepare for birth with steadiness.  As you listen to Village360’s Birthworks, let these become simple labor tools you can return to anytime. When you steady your nervous system, support your maternal health, these same practices grow into practical parenting advice for the days ahead. Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    35 min

  6. Apr 15

    Electrolytes in Pregnancy & Postpartum Recovery: Supporting Your Body Before, During, and After Childbirth

    Many families move through pregnancy with short visits and rising anxiety, without space to talk about what is happening in their bodies. Pregnancy health deserves more care, and birth preparation is more than packing a bag. You deserve support in naming how you want your birth space to feel and who you want beside you, so you can walk into birth steady and seen. The mind body connection matters. Learning to stay in your body shapes your experience of childbirth, and true birth readiness and labor preparation include steady mental health support. Today on Village360’s Birthworks, I am with Rennetta Mulkey to talk about care that feels steady and deeply human. We begin with electrolytes in pregnancy and the gentle sea salt benefits that support hydration and overall care for your body. We also talk about your support system, the courage to define your birth preferences, and why pregnancy advocacy matters at home, work, and in healthcare. We touch on intuitive eating and nourishing your body in ways that feel steady and sustainable. Pregnancy does not happen in isolation. We talk about building a village, planning for postpartum recovery, and the role of community healing in changing maternal outcomes. When we care well for one pregnant person, families and communities grow stronger. Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    1h 3m

  7. Apr 15

    Protect Your Postpartum Recovery: How to Navigate the Third Stage of Labor with Informed Birth Choices

    When the baby is in your arms and the pushing is done, the work is not over. Your body still has one powerful job left. Few parents fully understand the delivery of placenta until it is already happening, and that moment can feel like a blur. The third stage of labor deserves thoughtful planning. It plays a direct role in how the uterus tightens after birth, bleeding risk, and early postpartum recovery. When you understand your birth choices around physiological birth, you are not adding more stress to your birth plan. You are strengthening it in a way that supports maternal health and informed decision-making. Today, we explore the difference between active management with a pitocin injection and expectant management. We’ll discover how oxytocin acts as the hormone of love to power each uterine contraction, why nipple stimulation aids a placenta birth, and the reasons some choose placenta encapsulation. You will gain a fresh perspective on how an evidence based birth approach honors your unique needs and values. By learning about these possibilities now, you replace uncertainty with the skills for empowered decision-making. You will leave this episode feeling prepared to own every part of your story. Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    24 min

  8. Apr 15

    Digestive Drama in pregnancy: Simple habits and natural relief options for Heartburn and Acid Reflux

    Many expecting moms find that a simple late night snack can suddenly spark an intense burning sensation in the chest, or that going to the bathroom feels unusually difficult and stalled. If this sounds familiar, it is not something you simply have to put up with. There are practical and gentle ways to ease the discomfort and feel better. It is a strange feeling when your body works so hard to support your baby that it seems to forget about your own comfort. This natural process is simply the physical reality of your system intentionally slowing your digestion to ensure your baby gets every possible nutrient. You are not failing and your body is not broken.  This episode introduces a stepwise approach to finding natural relief by starting with a simple habit and moving toward safe, evidence based supplements. You will learn why magnesium matters and how hydration supports regularity. We also discuss how sleep positioning and eating smaller meals can noticeably improve how you feel throughout the day. We cover everything from the benefits of meal timing to the reasons walking after meals helps keep your system moving. I also explain why adding papaya enzymes can be a game changer for your pregnancy health. By understanding how your body works during this time, you can move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered.  These insights help you reclaim your well-being while your body does the miraculous work of growing a new life. Every small adjustment and every one of these constipation remedies brings you one step closer to a more comfortable pregnancy experience.   Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    27 min

  9. Apr 15

    How Informed Consent and Risk Assessment Build Confident Health Advocacy in Modern Maternal Health After 35

    All the forms, numbers, and informed consent talks can make your pregnancy mindset feel shaky, and you are not alone. That same pregnancy journey can still feel calm, clear, and confident when you have the right context for all those documents. To help you find that confidence, this episode explains how risk assessment works in plain English. I will show you how to think about medical statistics without letting them take over your nervous system. We will discuss why following clinical guidance and using extra screens can be a smart part of your care rather than a sign that something is wrong. In this episode, we will talk about how this support protects your emotional connection, strengthens labor preparation, and helps you move toward empowered birthing. Even when the plan includes extra steps to ensure your baby is thriving and safe, you can remain the leader of your experience. Understanding your birth options helps you practice better health advocacy during your prenatal monitoring, especially in the third trimester. You will leave with tangible ways to steady your nervous system and stay connected to your journey, with your own wisdom leading the way. You will have the tangible steps to move toward your birth with a steady nervous system and a heart open to the joy of meeting your baby. Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    26 min

  10. Apr 15

    Birth Story of a First Time Mother: Choosing a Birth Center and Trusting the Process

    What if your birth story is shaped more by the boundaries you protect than the room you are in? A hospital transfer is not a failure. True empowerment in your motherhood journey comes from trusting your intuitive mothering instead of the outside noise. There is a way to stay grounded even when your birth plan shifts or active labor unfolds unexpectedly. With the right support, you can protect your peace, navigate a birth center transfer, and reduce postpartum anxiety through every turn. In this episode of Village 360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Erika, an educator and first time mother, who navigated her motherhood journey by keeping her options open through pregnancy and birth. Erika shares how her birth village, doula services, and the true doula benefits kept her grounded against outside noise. Her pregnancy involved intentional prenatal health through daily walking and prenatal movement for mental well-being. She also explains how setting parenting boundaries protected her peace throughout the process. If you’re looking for professional labor support and a gentle transition into newborn care for beginners, here’s to trusting your internal wisdom and the strength of your own body.   Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    50 min

  11. Apr 15

    Welcome to the Village: How Prenatal Care and Midwifery Care Build Meaningful Pregnancy

    Many parents face long waits, short visits, and limited access to real pregnancy support. It’s common to start this journey without clear pregnancy resources, consistent prenatal care, or a strong support system especially within traditional maternal health settings. In this very first episode of Village360’s Birthworks, midwife and community leader Tara Lawal joins host Jodilyn Owen to share a powerful alternative. Rooted in wrap-around care, Village 360 is a midwifery-led program that offers families a new model of support through group prenatal care, personalized midwifery care, and weekly prenatal classes held at the Rainier Valley birth center. This episode walks through the full experience, from the first visit of group prenatal care, and how each step includes space for questions, education, and emotional care. You’ll also learn how childbirth education, intentional parenting, and parenting support come to life in the community. You will leave with a better understanding of what true connection in care can feel like. Whether you're preparing for a holistic pregnancy or navigating a second or third birth experience, this episode offers a new way forward. Village360’s Birthworks is here to support you through every part of your perinatal care journey with people who care, in a space that welcomes you as you are.   Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.   Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

    32 min

  12. Mar 30

    Village360’s Birthworks: Your guide to inclusive pregnancy support, natural birth options, and learning through shared birth stories

    Pregnancy can bring a lot of questions, and you deserve care that feels steady, connected, and truly personal. Village 360’s Birthworks offers something different: a midwife podcast centered on practical tips, shared wisdom, and grounded support from people who understand the experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Hosted by the team at Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center, this show explores your pregnancy journey through stories from midwives, providers, and parents. We talk about maternal wellness, mental health in pregnancy, and how community-based midwifery can shift outcomes for families who are often overlooked. At the heart of this show is Village360, a model of care built around trust, access, and the power of community. You’ll hear from midwives, doulas, and parents offering tangible pregnancy tips, honest reflections, and practical parenting support. We also dig into topics like basic health recommendations, birth options, and what it takes to feel truly supported during one of life’s biggest transitions. If you're seeking midwifery care that meets you where you are and providers who listen, you're in the right place. This is care by your community, for your community. This is Village 360’s Birthworks. https://www.myrvcc.org/ Seattle Clinic: 4704 S. Mead St. Seattle, WA 98118Renton Birth Center:  4300 Talbot Rd S #402 Renton, WA 98055Phone (425) 600-2582 Fax: 888-435-9983  |  hello@myrvcc.org

    22 sec
  • 12 Episodes

About

Pregnancy can bring a lot of questions, and you deserve care that feels steady, connected, and truly personal. Village 360’s Birthworks offers something different: a midwife podcast centered on practical tips, shared wisdom, and grounded support from people who understand the experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Hosted by the team at Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center, this show explores your pregnancy journey through stories from midwives, providers, and parents. We talk about maternal wellness, mental health in pregnancy, and how community-based midwifery can shift outcomes for families who are often overlooked. At the heart of this show is Village360, a model of care built around trust, access, and the power of community. You’ll hear from midwives, doulas, and parents offering tangible pregnancy tips, honest reflections, and practical parenting support. We also dig into topics like basic health recommendations, birth options, and what it takes to feel truly supported during one of life’s biggest transitions. If you're seeking midwifery care that meets you where you are and providers who listen, you're in the right place. This is care by your community, for your community. This is Village 360’s Birthworks. https://www.myrvcc.org/ Seattle Clinic: 4704 S. Mead St. Seattle, WA 98118 Renton Birth Center:  4300 Talbot Rd S #402 Renton, WA 98055 Phone (425) 600-2582 Fax: 888-435-9983  |  hello@myrvcc.org

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