Evidence Based Birth‪®‬ Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN

What is a doula, and what are the different types of doulas? How many people use doulas during childbirth, and what does a doula actually do? Are there any randomized, controlled trials on doula support? What are the benefits and risks of having a doula, if any? And if the evidence shows that doulas improve health outcomes… then why are some hospitals around the world unsupportive of labor companions? And how can you find a doula if you’re interested in having one at your birth?   

Today’s podcast episode with Dr. Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA, is chock full of research from our peer-reviewed Evidence Based Birth® Signature Article: The Evidence on Doulas.  

To learn more, download a free one-page handout, and view all the research references, go to ebbirth.com/doulas.   

EBB Resources:  

Access all the scientific references and a free 1-page handout at the EBB Signature Article: Evidence on Doulas here.     
If you’re a visual learner, watch a video about the Evidence on Doulas on the EBB YouTube channel here!  
Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship program, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a full-length printable PDF on "Evidence on: Doulas") by joining here. 
Learn comfort measures and advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.  


EBB Podcasts: 

EBB 195 – Grief & Healing through Pregnancy and Infant Loss with Full Spectrum Doula, Rose Rankin 
EBB 207 – Gender Affirming Birth Work and Education with Full-Spectrum Doula and Childbirth Educator, Moss Froom 
EBB 211 – Supporting Expectant Families through Birth and Lactation with Birth Doula and EBB Instructor Coordinator, Rikki Jenkins 
EBB 229 – Evidence on Doulas with Community-Based Models and Reimbursement 
EBB 252 – A Candid Conversation about Doula Advocacy with Doula and EBB Instructor Leslie Greene 
EBB 285 – Creating a Sustainable Career in Birth Work with Jessica Diggs, Doula Mentor and Co-Founder of Centered.  



 

Curious which toxins should be most avoided for people of reproductive age and their children? In this episode, Dr. Tanya Khemet Taiwo, LM, CPM, MPH, PhD unravels the intricate connection between environmental exposures and their profound impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. We will explore the hidden risks associated with heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.
You'll learn about the research on how environmental exposures contribute to issues like reduced birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental delays. Plus, Dr. Taiwo teaches about the unequal distribution of these exposures across populations, what parents can do to test their environments for unwanted elements, and how midwives can be part of the solution for environmental justice.
Content Note: Listener discretion is advised. This episode includes a stark discussion of common environmental exposures, social factors, and their impact on pregnancy and infant health outcomes. Toward the end of the episode [from 37:12 to 41:08], there is a brief discussion of traumatic historical events (including the Holocaust and chattel slavery) and their subsequent impact on environmental toxins.

 
Resources:
Learn more about the Environmental Working Group Download EWG's Healthy Living app here. Check your cosmetics with the California Breat Cancer Prevention Partners Check out The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) Read Some of Dr. Taiwo's Work:
The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States Maternal Prenatal Stress and Child Neurodevelopment Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder and Reproductive Justice: Examining Unmet Needs for Mental Health and Social Services in a National Cohort
EBB Resources:
Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here!  Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here. Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class. Follow Evidence Based Birth:

Facebook Instagram X
 
 

In this episode, Ellora La Shier, graduate of the EBB Childbirth Class, shares about her struggle with six years of unexplained infertility and how it impacted her eventual birth story. Listen in as Ellora describes the frustration of unexplained infertility, suffering through years of increasingly painful periods, and the relief of finally receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis. Despite facing numerous challenges and undergoing various treatments, including intrauterine insemination (IUI), Ellora remained determined and resilient.
 
Finally, after years, Ellora underwent surgery to remove the abnormal tissue caused by endometriosis. Following surgery, she and her husband were overjoyed to discover that they quickly became pregnant. Although this pregnancy marked the end of a long and challenging infertility journey, Ellora still had to process the many years of healthcare dismissal and her complicated relationship with pain, and how this would impact her eventual unmedicated birth. Ellora's story highlights the importance of perseverance, self-advocacy, and finding supportive healthcare providers in navigating the complexities of infertility and reproductive health.

 
Resources
Find evidence-based information about infertility here.
 
EBB Resources:
Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! 
Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here.
Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.
 
Follow Evidence Based Birth:
Facebook
Instagram
X

As we wrap up the celebration of World Doula Week, explore the transformative journey of pregnancy and childbirth in the Indian context with Divya Deswal and Neha Misra, founders of The Doula Collective©️. In this interview, Divya and Neha shed light on the unique challenges and triumphs faced by expectant families in India. You'll learn how The Doula Collective©️, with its culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach, is reshaping the landscape of birth support! 
Also... have you ever heard of a year-long doula training program? Divya and Neha share the intricacies of their in-depth doula training program and how it goes beyond traditional methods to create a profound impact on both birth practitioners and families. Join us as we confront the barriers that doulas face in a system where their role is often misunderstood. We end with an exploration of the soulful aspects of birth trauma, physical challenges of birth and birth work, and the power of resilience.
Learn more about The Doula Collective here: https://thedoulacollective.in/
Follow their work on Instagram: @thedoulacollective.in

EBB Resources:
Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here!  Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here. Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class. Follow Evidence Based Birth:

Facebook Instagram X

You're going to love this family-centered birth story with Dr. Dekker's brother John DeYoung and his wife Krista DeYoung! On today's episode, Krista and John (who are graduates of the EBB Childbirth Class with EBB Instructor Chanté Perryman) get vulnerable and open up about their complex pregnancy and son Eli's miraculous birth story. In addition to facing a pregnancy with a prior diagnosis of Crohn's disease, they also had to cope with lockdowns during the pandemic, genetic concerns including an initial diagnosis of triploidy, a HUGE and abnormally low-functioning placenta, potential growth restriction, a 39-week induction, and placental retention that led to abnormal postpartum bleeding.
In addition to being inspired by John and Krista's unique story, you will also learn about the emotional rollercoaster of confronting a fatal genetic diagnosis that turns out to be a false positive. You will also hear from John about how active participating in childbirth and parenting has been an incredibly healing process for him— as John was adopted as a child and had no known blood relatives before Eli was born. And don't miss the end of the episode, when you find out about a surprise condition that was the cause of Krista's placental abnormalities.
Tune in for an empowering and insightful discussion that sheds light on the complexities of high-risk pregnancies and the role of evidence-based care in navigating challenging pregnancy and birth scenarios.
Content Note: This episode discusses high-risk pregnancies, history of bonding difficulties related to being adopted, concerns about fatal genetic diagnoses that may result in termination, false-positive genetic diagnoses, medical interventions, the potential of losing a baby in pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, and abnormal postpartum bleeding. Although everything turns out okay for our guests in this episode, we recognize that not all pregnancies with genetic complications have happy endings.



Resources
 
Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here! Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here. Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class. Other Resources
Learn more about Antiphospholipid Syndrome here. Learn about pregnancy and Crohn's Disease here, from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Follow Evidence Based Birth
Facebook Instagram

Welcome to a special Q &A episode of the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast! Today I address some of your burning questions on key childbirth topics!
In this episode, I share evidence on the (unproven) relationship between synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) administration and postpartum depression, the complexities of delayed cord clamping and the power dynamics around requesting delayed cord clamping, the use of Nubain (an IV opioid) for pain relief during labor and its potential impact on babies, and the latest insights into consuming the placenta—whether it's dehydrated, freeze-dried, or consumed raw.
EBB Resources:

The EBB Pocket Guide to Interventions Evidence on: Pitocin During the Third Stage of Labor Effects of IV Opioids during Labor The Evidence on Placenta Encapsulation Watch the video of this podcast episode on the EBB YouTube channel here!  Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a 2-page handout on breech) by joining here. Learn advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.