The EngagED Midwife

Cara Busenhart and Missi Stec
  • 4.9 (29)
  • Education

Empowered, knowledgeable, and engaging. Cara and Missi provide insightful, relevant conversations on midwifery topics that will enhance student knowledge and improve confidence for certification. Featuring current research and evidence based practice guidelines, the EngagED midwife podcast hopes to engage practicing midwives to enhance their robust knowledge base and elevate their clinical practice.

  1. Sep 6

    Why Yelling At A Swim Meet Made Me Pee

    Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever leaked a little when you laughed, sneezed, worked out, or yelled from the sidelines, you already know how fast “no big deal” can turn into planning your whole day around bathrooms and backup clothes. We’re Missi and Cara, and we’re putting urinary incontinence on the table with equal parts honesty and clinical clarity, because leakage is common but it’s not normal, and you deserve better options than just crossing your legs and hoping. We walk through the big categories of urinary incontinence in plain language: stress urinary incontinence (pressure-related leaks), urge incontinence and overactive bladder (sudden can’t-wait urgency), plus mixed, overflow, and functional incontinence. Then we get practical about what actually helps clinicians and patients pinpoint the cause: a simple 3-day bladder diary, the right history questions about severity and quality-of-life impact, and a focused pelvic and pelvic floor exam that looks for genitourinary syndrome of menopause and pelvic organ prolapse. From there, we lay out evidence-based treatment paths: pelvic floor physical therapy and bladder training, dietary and constipation management, and why topical vaginal estrogen can be a game-changer for perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms. We also cover devices like pessaries and over-the-counter supports, when medications may be appropriate for overactive bladder, and when it’s time to refer to urogynecology or urology for advanced options like slings, Botox, neuromodulation, or urodynamic testing. #incontinence #urinarycomplaints #weshouldntleak #commonnotnormal

  2. May 31

    Cancer Survivorship Without A Finish Line

    Send us Fan Mail “Survivor” sounds like a finish line. For many people, it feels more like a label you’re handed while you’re still trying to process what just happened. Cara and Missi get personal about cancer survivorship, using Missi’s breast cancer journey to talk about the part nobody can fully prepare you for: living in the in-between, where every new ache can trigger scanxiety and “life after” doesn’t come with a clear map. We walk through what survivorship means clinically and emotionally, including the three phases often described in the literature and why the extended phase can feel like a muddy mess. We also unpack the real-world logistics of post-cancer care: how your team can grow from a PCP and OB-GYN to a surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, breast navigator, physical therapy, lymphatic therapy, and mental health support. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by appointments, paperwork, and the mental load of decision-making, you’ll feel seen. We dig into high-interest survivorship topics for breast cancer patients and the clinicians who care for them: endocrine therapy (aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole and SERMs like tamoxifen), fatigue and brain fog, bone density loss and DEXA scans, osteoporosis treatment options such as bisphosphonates, Zometa, and Prolia, and the evolving guidance on topical vaginal estrogen for genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Cara also shares what she’s learned about lymphatics, lymphedema, compression sleeves for travel, and why protecting an arm after lymph node removal can be a forever habit. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review. Send us the topics you want next, and come see us in Kansas City in October for the annual meeting. #CancerSurvivorship #BreastCancer #BoneHealth #Lymphedema #LifeAfterCancer #BodyMindSpirit #TheNewNormal

  3. May 17

    Your Libido Is Not Broken

    Send us Fan Mail Sex can change fast after birth, and it can change again in perimenopause and menopause, but that doesn’t mean you’re broken. We dig into why libido, arousal, and comfort often shift when estrogen drops postpartum and later in life, and how that hormone reality shows up as vaginal dryness, painful sex (dyspareunia), and the sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to. We also talk about the common brain-body mismatch many women experience and how mental load can shut desire down even when the relationship is solid.  We walk through the postpartum hormone landscape, including the steep fall in estrogen and progesterone after placenta delivery and how breastfeeding keeps estrogen low through prolactin and oxytocin. Then we get practical about what helps: pelvic floor physical therapy (and what to expect so it’s not a surprise), using plenty of lubricant, considering vaginal estrogen for atrophy, and expanding intimacy beyond penetration while healing happens.  From there, we transition into perimenopause and menopause, including genitourinary syndrome of menopause, irritability and sleep disruption, and why libido issues are often tied to androgens like testosterone. We cover options clinicians may consider for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, plus the overlooked impact of medications like antidepressants and blood pressure meds. We wrap with the PLISSIT model so midwives and clinicians have a clear framework to open these conversations with permission, simple education, specific suggestions, and referrals when needed.  If this helps you feel more informed or less alone, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find honest, evidence-informed sexual health support. #LetsTalkAboutSexBaby #SexualHealth #SexAcrossTheLifespan #PostpartumWellness #HormonalHealth #PelvicHealth #IntimacyAfterBirth #MenopauseSupport #SexualWellness #EmpoweredAging

  4. May 3

    What If The Dates Are Wrong And The Baby Tells The Truth

    Send us Fan Mail A newborn arrives fast, the dates are fuzzy, and everyone in the room is sure they know how far along the pregnancy was. Then the baby tells a different story. That’s where a solid gestational age assessment and real bedside pattern recognition can change the entire plan in minutes. We talk through the Ballard assessment in a way that’s built for busy midwives, midwifery students, and anyone responsible for newborn care. We explain what the Ballard score is designed to do, when it matters most (limited prenatal care, language barriers, uncertain dating, misleading third-trimester growth ultrasound), and why the exam usually isn’t asking you to memorize a chart. The goal is safer clinical reasoning: term vs preterm vs post-term, and what that means for newborn transition, thermoregulation, blood sugar monitoring, and when to consult pediatrics. You’ll hear our highest-yield neuromuscular maturity checks (posture, square window, arm recoil, popliteal angle, scarf sign, heel-to-ear) and the physical maturity signs you can spot head-to-toe (skin texture, lanugo, plantar creases, breast buds, ear cartilage, and genital findings). We also work through real clinical scenarios: a “term” baby who acts like a 34-weeker, a baby with post-maturity features, and a small-for-gestational-age newborn who is physiologically mature, pointing you toward growth restriction rather than prematurity. If newborn assessment has ever felt intimidating, this is your reminder that “normal” is the foundation and your best safety net. Subscribe for more midwifery exam prep and clinical refreshers, share this with a classmate who wants more newborn confidence, and leave a review. What’s the first sign you check to decide if a baby is truly term? #Newborn #BabyBabyAreYouOkay #GestationalAge #Transition #Term #Preterm #Postterm #NewBallardScore #Maturity

  5. Apr 19

    Fertility Meds Made Clear

    Send us Fan Mail Trying to conceive can turn into a crash course in hormones overnight, and the medication list can feel like a different language. We slow it down and translate what fertility medications actually do in the body, why midwives still need to understand them even when we are not the prescribers, and how to support patients through the stress that often comes with IUI, IVF, and “why is this taking so long?” moments.  We walk through the most common reason fertility care starts: ovulation problems. From anovulation and PCOS to the sometimes overlooked conversation about luteal phase length and early progesterone support, we talk about what might be happening on the HPO axis and what clinicians are trying to change with treatment. Then we break down the big names patients hear, including Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and letrozole (Femara), comparing how they work, what side effects to expect, and why practice has shifted toward letrozole for many people with PCOS and insulin-related hormonal patterns.  We also dig into metformin and insulin resistance, because PCOS is not just “about weight” and fertility care should not be built on shame. Finally, we zoom out to the broader IVF medication lineup, including gonadotropin injections, GnRH agonist or antagonist protocols like Lupron, the hCG trigger shot, and progesterone support. We end with practical safety counseling, including multiples risk and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome warning signs, plus clear guidance on when it is time to refer to reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI).  #FertilityMeds #PathToPregnancy #TTC #NavigatingFertility #PharmacologyForMidwives  #ConceptionSupport #ReproductiveEndocrinology #EvidenceBasedMidwifery #InfertilityCare

  6. Mar 29

    From Placenta to Production: Understanding Lactation

    Send us Fan Mail Milk supply can feel mysterious when you’re tired, sore, and staring at a hungry newborn. We sit down and make lactogenesis practical by walking through what’s happening in the breast during pregnancy, what flips hormonally right after the placenta delivers, and why “milk coming in” usually peaks around days 2 to 5. Along the way, we translate the science into the questions we hear every week: Is leaking in pregnancy a good sign? Why does engorgement happen? When should we worry about a lump, redness, or nipple discharge?  We also get honest about the lived experience of feeding in the real world. We talk delayed lactogenesis and the common culprits like retained placental fragments, postpartum hemorrhage and pituitary effects, PCOS, cesarean timing, and edema from heavy IV fluids that can make latch feel impossible. Then we shift into lactogenesis 3, where supply becomes locally regulated and milk removal drives production, including the role of the feedback inhibitor of lactation. If you’ve ever panicked because your breasts suddenly felt soft or you stopped leaking around week 3, we explain why that can actually be a sign your body has calibrated beautifully.  Letdown is its own puzzle, so we dig into oxytocin, what blocks it (stress, fear, pain, cold), and simple tools that help, including warmth before feeds, cold after, and the “three Ws” that support pumping and letdown: warmth, water, and watching. We wrap with fast myth-busting and one of our favorite postpartum interventions: teaching partners and families how to protect the “oxytocin bubble” so the feeding parent can focus on rest, baby, and recovery. Subscribe for more evidence-based midwifery conversations, share this with a friend who’s feeding a newborn, and leave a review with your biggest milk-supply question. #TheGoldenHour #Breastfeeding #ChestFeeding #NourishingNewborns #DemandAndSupply #Lactogenesis #BreastfeedingJourney #ProtectTheOxytocinBubble #Support

  7. Mar 8

    From Equity To Advocacy: Caring For The Whole Patient

    Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest driver of a healthy pregnancy isn’t found in a chart, but in a bus schedule, a work shift, or a zip code? In this episode, Cara and Missi pull back the curtain on social determinants of health and talk candidly about why late or no prenatal care rarely means a patient doesn’t care—and how midwives can meet these barriers head-on. We break down the big five domains—economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood and environment, and social context—and connect them to preterm birth, preeclampsia, and low birth weight. You’ll hear real stories from triage to community clinics that reveal why “proximity” isn’t the same as “access,” how immigration fears suppress visits, and how chronic stress leaves a physiologic mark. Then we get tactical: validated screening tools like PRAPARE and the AAFP Social Needs Screening Tool, the three fast questions that catch most needs, and scripts that normalize sensitive topics without stigma. From there, we move into action. Warm handoffs, bedside calls, and referrals that put the follow-up burden on the system—not the patient—turn intentions into impact. We dig into practical documentation with Z codes that make populations visible, and we frame advocacy as a clinical skill that spans workplace notes, hospital policy, and conversations with legislators. Along the way, we draw a bright line between equality and equity and share simple ways to right-size support: flexible hours, interpreters, transportation help, and trauma-informed consent. If you’re ready to turn empathy into outcomes, this conversation will give you tools you can use on your next shift. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the biggest barrier you see in your community—and how you’re tackling it.

  8. Feb 22

    From Vernix To Vitals: What Modern Newborn Care Gets Right

    Send us Fan Mail Day-one decisions shape a newborn’s first week, and small changes can prevent big problems. In this episode, Cara and Missi dig into what’s truly evidence-based now—delayed bathing to protect vernix and temperature, uninterrupted skin-to-skin to reduce energy burn, and clear thresholds for when to check and treat low blood sugar. Along the way, we unpack how updated NRP guidance simplifies early care: extend cord clamping to at least 60 seconds when possible, start term babies on room air, broaden ventilation rates to 30–60 per minute, and skip routine suctioning unless the airway needs clearing. Less fuss means warmer babies, steadier vitals, and fewer glucose crashes. Cara and Missi clear the fog around GBS prophylaxis. Penicillin remains the standard, with cefazolin for low-risk penicillin allergy and vancomycin when high-risk reactions are present or clindamycin sensitivity isn’t confirmed. That clarity matters for maternal safety and newborn outcomes, especially in units where ampicillin lingers from past shortages. If your patients report a penicillin allergy early in pregnancy, consider formal evaluation to avoid unnecessary second-line antibiotics later. Finally, we connect physiology to practice. Newborns lose the maternal glucose “buffet” at birth and lean on glycogen and brown fat to bridge the gap; cold stress accelerates that burn, making hypothermia and hypoglycemia frequent partners. We outline who needs screening—IDMs, SGA, LGA, late preterm, and resuscitated infants—and how to manage lows with a calm, stepwise approach: warm the baby, feed early and often, use donor milk or glucose gel when indicated, and escalate to IV dextrose for symptomatic cases. It’s a practical, exam-friendly, and family-centered guide to safer newborn care. #Baby #Newborn #BabyBabyAreYouOkay #Resuscitation #EatingAtThePlacentaBuffet #BloodSugar #NRP #SkinToSkin #GBSProphylaxis

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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Empowered, knowledgeable, and engaging. Cara and Missi provide insightful, relevant conversations on midwifery topics that will enhance student knowledge and improve confidence for certification. Featuring current research and evidence based practice guidelines, the EngagED midwife podcast hopes to engage practicing midwives to enhance their robust knowledge base and elevate their clinical practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Cara Busenhart and Missi Stec
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The EngagED Midwife
  • Show Website
    The EngagED Midwife

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