Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

My Essential Birth
  • 4.8 (732)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Birth is amazing, beautiful, wonderful . . . and it can throw you for a loop! Despite our very best birth “plans,” we can find ourselves taking some twist and turns during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that we don’t expect. Enter the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Hey mama! My name is Stephanie, and I’m a mom of three boys, and two girls, a professional doula, childbirth educator, and the creator of the Online Birth Course - My Essential Birth www.myessentialbirth.com. I love to help mothers just like you feel empowered and confident during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood by taking my years of knowledge and personal/professional experience in the birth world and breaking down complex birth topics to make preparing for labor & birth a breeze! Every week, you’ll hear from myself & other women ready to share their knowledge with other pregnant moms about pregnancy and birth topics that will have you feeling knowledgeable and in the driver’s seat of your best birth experience. Your best birth starts here >>>> www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted 

  1. 4D AGO

    Placenta Encapsulation: Should You Eat Your Placenta? Benefits, Risks & Postpartum Recovery w/Dr. Sophia Johnson

    Some moms swear placenta pills changed their postpartum recovery…others say they did nothing. So what’s actually true? Today I'm sitting down with Dr. Sophia Johnson. She's a physician, researcher, and author who spent a decade studying the placenta inside a university lab in Germany. (Fun fact: in Germany, the placenta is literally called Mutterkuchen: "mother's cake." 🎂 After this episode, you'll understand why. ) We're diving into the actual science of consuming it: which preparation methods preserve the most hormones, the GBS case every encapsulating mom needs to know about, what hormone withdrawal really does to your body postpartum, and so much more. I've been watching this topic explode since my oldest was born (17 years ago!!), and this episode is everything I wish I had been able to hear all those years ago. I know you're going to LOVE this episode — and I'm so curious about what you'll plan to do after you listen!!  Here are some highlights from the episode: What the placenta actually is and why it's so much more powerful than most people realizeThe science behind consuming your placentaFreezing vs. steaming vs. dehydrating & what the lab research actually found is bestPlacing placenta inside the cheek for postpartum hemorrhage, and why it worksThe hormone crash after birth and its connection to postpartum depressionWho should think twice before consuming their placentaWhy Dr. Sophia wrote Placenta Power and how to get your copy Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    45 min

  2. MAR 25

    Birth Story: Her Husband Caught the Baby Before His Coffee Was Ready - Veronica's Home Birth

    What would you do if your baby came so fast… your husband hadn't even had his morning coffee yet? Veronica planned a home birth... she just didn't plan for it to look like this: her husband catching their daughter in their bedroom, the midwife and doula still an hour away, and a baby who had absolutely no interest in waiting for anyone. And she definitely didn't plan for her placenta to be so rare that a midwife with YEARS of experience had never seen anything like it... ... Or for that same placenta to be the very reason her intuition had been telling her the entire birth: do not let anyone touch me. This episode is one of the most complete birth stories I've ever had on the podcast. We are talking about the full journey: ✅ The mindset work leading up to her birth ✅ The daily prep (including how her toddler held her accountable to her exercises!)  ✅ The birth itself (minute by minute, because you need every detail), and what happened after ✅ The post-birth matrescence that I think every single person who loves a pregnant woman needs to hear Veronica came into her second pregnancy knowing she wanted something different. She just didn't know how different it would actually get. Here are some highlights from the episode: What happened at Veronica's 20-week appointment that changed her entire birth pathHow she navigated switching providers and ultimately choosing home birthThe daily prep routine she followed throughout her pregnancyThe reframing that took her from fear to fully trusting her bodyWhat happened when labor went from 0 to 100 in the middle of the nightHow her husband stepped up and caught their baby completely unexpectedlyThe rare placenta that left even the most experienced midwives speechlessHer most powerful advice for both moms and birth partners Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    1h 6m

  3. MAR 17

    Reclaim Your Birth: Sovereignty, Intuition & the Dad's Surprising Role with Midwife, Catalina Clark

    What if the most powerful voice in your birth room isn't the doctor's — it's your husband's? In this episode, I sit down with Catalina Clark, a licensed home birth midwife in Sonoma, California, who has spent 11 years at the crossroads of spiritual midwifery, birth sovereignty, and the sacred side of birth that nobody in the hospital is talking about. From the father's role in the birth room to why Pitocin may be affecting us on a cultural level, we talk about it all — and I think you're going to want to listen to it more than once. I loved every minute of this conversation with Catalina. She has this incredible way of meeting you exactly where you are — whether you're planning a hospital birth, a home birth, or you're not even sure yet — and reminding you that you have far more power than you've been told. This is the kind of episode that makes you think differently, breathe a little deeper, and trust yourself a whole lot more. Here's some highlights from the episode: What spiritual midwifery actually means and why it matters for every birth, in every settingThe 3 pillars of authentic midwifery: authenticity, transparency, and integrityWhy the father's voice may be the most powerful one in the birth room — and exactly what to sayWhat birth sovereignty really means (hint: it has nothing to do with where you give birth)How to balance your intuition with medical advice when both are pulling at youThe surprising history of midwifery and why most of us have never heard of itWhat Pitocin is doing to the brain — and possibly to our culture at largeHow to bring intention, ritual, and sacredness into your birth spaceWhy birth is not designed to be as painful as we've been toldThe one thing Catalina wants every single mama to know: "What if this is not a problem?" Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    1h 4m

  4. MAR 11

    Hospital Birth: The System is Broken, Not You

    Over the years, birth has slowly shifted from a natural, woman-centered experience to something much more medicalized — and most pregnant moms have no idea why. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how modern maternity care evolved, why so many women are left feeling like their bodies are broken (or are told something along those lines), and what you can do right now to walk into birth feeling confident, informed, and supported. Because the truth is… your body isn’t broken. When you understand how birth actually works — and how the system around birth operates — everything begins to look different. You can start to trust your body again, ask better questions, and make decisions that truly support the birth experience you want. I absolutely loved recording this episode because it gives moms the bigger picture that most of us were never taught. Understanding the history and structure of maternity care can completely change the way you prepare for birth — and help you walk into labor feeling calm, confident, and empowered. This is an episode every I hope every pregnant mom has a chance to hear before she gives birth. Here are some highlights from the episode: • How birth slowly shifted from a normal life event to a highly medicalized experience  • The rise of interventions like inductions, Cesarean birth, and routine procedures in modern birth  • Why helpful medical tools sometimes become routine practices — even when they aren’t always necessary  • What research actually says about home birth vs hospital birth for low-risk pregnancies  • Why your birth environment plays a huge role in how your body labors  • What the pandemic revealed about birth choices and maternity care systems  • The hidden limitations of many hospital birth classes  • The epidural conversation many moms aren’t prepared for before labor begins  • Why informed consent matters and the options many women don’t realize they have during birth  • The foundational pieces that help women feel confident and empowered heading into labor  • Postpartum decisions most moms never realize they’ll be making before birth Tune in to learn how understanding the system around birth can help you take back ownership of your experience, trust your body, and prepare for the empowered birth you deserve. Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    37 min

  5. MAR 4

    Birth Story: "Any Woman Who Wants an Unmedicated Birth Absolutely Can" w/Haley Sampson

    What does it look like when a pelvic floor physical therapist uses everything she knows — plus the My Essential Birth course — to prepare for her own unmedicated birth? It looks like THIS episode. Haley Sampson is a labor of love kind of mama. She stayed active, did her prep work, went to 41 weeks and 3 days, had her water break, and pushed her baby out using tools, visualization, and a birth partner who truly showed up. Whether you're curious about pelvic floor prep, what unmedicated contractions actually feel like, or how to push effectively — Haley gives us every amazing detail. In this episode you'll learn: What a pelvic floor PT actually did every day to prepare her body for birth — including perineal stretching, meditation, strength training, wall sits with affirmations, and moreWhen to see a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy and what "push prep" sessions actually look likeHow her husband prepared as her birth partner — studying the course, practicing techniques, and becoming her advocate in the roomWhat unmedicated contractions feel like, where she felt them, and exactly how she breathed and worked through each oneThe pushing positions, open glottis vocalizing, mirror use, and visualization that helped her bring her daughter earthsideHow the My Essential Birth course tools showed up not just in prep — but in the thick of active labor and pushingHer best advice for mamas and birth partners on advocating for yourself and building a birth plan that actually serves youBirth is hard work — but you were made for this. Tune in and let Haley remind you just how capable you really are. Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    44 min

  6. FEB 25

    What No One Told You About Fertility & Gestational Diabetes w/ Dr. Kiltz

    Is everything we’ve been told about fat… wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Reproductive Endocrinologist & Fertility Specialist, Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility, to talk about infertility, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, and the controversial idea that eating more fat — not less — may be the key to healing. Dr. Kiltz shares his personal health journey, how he began questioning conventional nutrition advice, and what he started noticing in his fertility practice when patients shifted toward paleo, keto, and even carnivore-style eating. We discuss rising infertility rates, pregnancy nutrition myths, blood sugar balance, liver health, inflammation, and why so many women today are being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This episode will absolutely challenge the standard pregnancy nutrition narrative you've been receiving — and invite you to think more critically about what truly supports fertility and metabolic health. Here are some highlights from the episode:  • Dr. Kiltz’s unexpected journey from troubled teen to fertility specialist  • Why infertility rates continue to rise — and what might actually be driving it  • The connection between insulin, liver health, and gestational diabetes  • How quickly hormones and blood sugar can begin to shift with dietary changes  • Protein vs. fat — are we emphasizing the wrong one?  • Whether you can really “eat too much” fat  • The role inflammation may play in reproductive struggles  • Why reproductive health reflects overall metabolic health  • How mindset, faith, and stress impact healing and fertility Whether you agree with everything shared or not, this conversation will help you ask better questions about what you’re eating before and during pregnancy — and what truly nourishes your body while growing a baby. If you’re trying to conceive, navigating gestational diabetes, or simply wanting to optimize your health for pregnancy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Tune in, decide for yourself, and let me know what you think!! Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    1h 8m

  7. FEB 18

    VBAC Success Story w/ Sarah Agus-Bina

    If you're aiming for a VBAC this pregnancy, this one is for you mama! I had a wonderful conversation with My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah. She shares how she navigated pregnancy, labor, and birth with confidence — even when things didn’t go exactly as planned. We discuss everything from preparing her mindset during pregnancy to advocating during labor and embracing the beauty of her baby’s arrival. This episode is full of encouragement for any mama preparing for birth...and especially for my VBAC mamas! Here are some highlights from the episode: • How Sarah prepared mentally and physically for birth during pregnancy  • The mindset shifts that helped her release fear and build confidence  • What early labor felt like and how she knew things were progressing  • The tools she used to manage contractions naturally  • How preparation helped her advocate for herself in the hospital  • What it looked like to pivot peacefully when birth didn’t unfold exactly as expected  • The emotional moment she met her baby  • Her honest postpartum reflections and what she wants every pregnant mom to know Birth may not always go exactly according to plan — but it can still be powerful, peaceful, and empowering. I hope this story reminds you that your body was designed for this, and with the right preparation, you can walk into your birth feeling strong and ready. 💛 Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    1h 1m

  8. FEB 11

    Early Brain Development in Pregnancy with Neuroscientist, Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum

    "It's our birthright to be deeply connected to our babies and to grow from it." - Dr. Kirshenbaum What if the most important thing you could do for your baby’s brain… isn’t something you buy, schedule, or optimize — but in the way you nurture & feel? This week, I sit down with Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum — neuroscientist, author of The Nurture Revolution, and former doula — to talk about what modern neuroscience says about pregnancy, birth, infant sleep, and the first three years of life. We talk about how your emotional experiences during pregnancy shape your baby’s brain, why nurture is not “soft” but biologically essential, and what moms really need to know about stress, bonding, sleep training, and early brain development. If you’ve ever worried about doing enough, getting it right, or messing up your baby, you're going to love this discussion and I hope more than anything, it puts your mind at ease. I feel like I cannot say this enough, but YOU are the perfect mother for your baby AND you're doing better than you think you are! Here’s some highlights from the episode:  • How pregnancy experiences shape your baby’s brain before birth  • The neuroscience behind what doulas do in the birth and postpartum space  • Why the first 0–3 years are the most critical window for emotional and mental health  • What “nurture” really means from a brain-based perspective  • Dr. Kirshenbaum’s views on infant sleep and why she questions sleep training  • What’s considered normal for baby sleep around the world • How mothers can regulate stress — for themselves and their babies • Why soothing your baby also soothes your own nervous system • What happens if early nurture wasn’t ideal (and why there’s still so much hope) • The core message of The Nurture Revolution and how it supports modern motherhood This episode is a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to raise a healthy, secure, thriving baby. If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or even just thinking about motherhood, this conversation will leave you feeling calmer, more confident, and deeply validated in the most important role you’ll ever have. Don't forget to RATE & FOLLOW the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Leave a Review! ⭐️ Here's how >>  On Apple Podcasts Find “Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy” podcastSelect “Ratings and Reviews”Click the stars!Select “Write a Review” and tell us what was the most amazing, comforting, eye-opening thing that you loved! On Spotify Find "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" podcastClick the 3 dots "..."Select "Rate podcast"Click the stars and write a quick review!FOLLOW "Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy" so you never miss an episode that makes pregnancy & birth feel easier! Here’s how to do it in just 2 seconds: On Apple Podcasts → Tap the “+” Follow button in the top right corner of the show page.On Spotify → Tap the “Follow” button right under the show titlesLet's Connect! Join the Course! https://www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted Email: hello@myessentialbirth.com.  Follow @myessentialbirth on INSTAGRAM!

    45 min
See All (343)

4.8
out of 5
732 Ratings

About

Birth is amazing, beautiful, wonderful . . . and it can throw you for a loop! Despite our very best birth “plans,” we can find ourselves taking some twist and turns during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that we don’t expect. Enter the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Hey mama! My name is Stephanie, and I’m a mom of three boys, and two girls, a professional doula, childbirth educator, and the creator of the Online Birth Course - My Essential Birth www.myessentialbirth.com. I love to help mothers just like you feel empowered and confident during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood by taking my years of knowledge and personal/professional experience in the birth world and breaking down complex birth topics to make preparing for labor & birth a breeze! Every week, you’ll hear from myself & other women ready to share their knowledge with other pregnant moms about pregnancy and birth topics that will have you feeling knowledgeable and in the driver’s seat of your best birth experience. Your best birth starts here >>>> www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted 

Information

  • Creator
    My Essential Birth
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    343
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy
  • Show Website
    Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

You Might Also Like