Birthing Instincts

Dr. Stuart Fischbein + Midwife Blyss Young

The birth world can be overwhelming for parents and practitioners alike. Dr. Stuart Fischbein and Midwife Blyss Young and their combined 55+ years of experience are here to support you in this beautiful rite of passage.Join the weekly conversation as we blend wisdom and humor in discussing our recent births, the latest research, traditional healing, and instinctual birth.  

  1. 18h ago

    #487: Listening To Women

    Listen to women. Seems simple enough. And yet, here we are. This week, the stories in our inbox keep bringing us back to the same uncomfortable truth: women know when something feels wrong. They know their bodies. They know their babies. They know their histories. And far too often, instead of being listened to, they're dismissed, frightened, managed, or told that someone else knows better. One mother screamed that she could feel her cesarean, and was told, “There’s no way she feels that.” Another was sent down the familiar rabbit hole of scans, labels, scary possibilities, and intervention because her baby measured small… while seemingly no one stopped to consider that maybe small parents sometimes make small babies. And then there's a twin home birth that ends in unimaginable loss—a story that challenges the idea that a tragic outcome automatically means someone made the wrong choice. Sometimes everyone does everything right, and tragedy still happens. These are the stories we need to be willing to hear. Not just the beautiful births. Not just the outcomes that validate what we already believe. All of them. Because informed consent means listening. Individualized care means listening. Supporting women means listening. And maybe if we did a little more of that, we'd need a whole lot less fixing afterward. References: FriYAY!  Instagram.com/birthinginstincts Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening https://www.birthinginstinctspodcast.com/event-details-registration/allowed-to-birth-movie-screening Jehovah’s Witnesses allow blood-derived products but keep ban on whole-blood transfusions https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/19/jehovahs-witnesses-blood-derived-products-transfusions/ Birthing Instincts Podcast #314 Low Platelets & Deficiencies of Wisdom https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bMKgk1ZKtcI0QDQWCZtpT?si=3fb0f5eaad2445fb Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Adverse Maternal Pregnancy Outcomes https://www.ovid.com/jnls/greenjournal/fulltext/10.1097/aog.0000000000006363~glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-and-risk-of The Retrievals Season 2 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3gzGsdfFnFUeREYclQlYv8?si=sCc_o2mYSoOGl434Tz1uqA Neonatal and obstetric outcomes following periconceptional exposure to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293782600222X Discussed in This Episode When Cutting the Cord Becomes the Emergency Maternity Care Is Disappearing The Shopping Center Breech Baby Experiencing Loss and Questioning Everything The Midwife Who Did Exactly What She Was Supposed to Do One Ultrasound Finding, One Very Familiar Cascade You Don't Have to Be a “Perfect Goddess” to Deserve Individualized Care GLP-1s and Pregnancy: What Does the Evidence Actually Say? A Mother Feels Her Cesarean After Epidural Fails Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by Tallow Twins | Go to https://tallowtwins.ca/INSTINCTS and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your orderLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  2. Oct 7

    #486: Holding Hope After Miscarriage with Kenzie Covarrubias

    There are some experiences in life that we simply cannot prepare our hearts for. Pregnancy loss is one of them. This week, we sit down with Kenzie Covarrubias, co-founder of Held in Hope, for a tender conversation about miscarriage, grief, and what it truly means to care for a woman through loss. Because a miscarriage is so much more than a medical event. There was a mother who was full of hopes and dreams, and a baby who was already deeply loved. How do we give women the information they need while still honoring the sacredness of what they're experiencing? And when someone we love is grieving, how do we resist the urge to fix it and simply be there? There is no one right way to move through loss. But there are gentler ways to hold one another through it. This is one of those conversations we wish no one ever needed, and one we believe every woman deserves to hear. .About Kenzie Covarrubias Kenzie Covarrubias is the co-founder of Held in Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and equipping women through miscarriage. After recognizing how often women are left unprepared to navigate pregnancy loss,, Kenzie and co-founder Amber Hassett created the Held in Hope Miscarriage Kit, providing clear information, practical supplies, and compassionate support during first-trimester loss. Today, Held in Hope works with hospitals, midwives, medical providers, pregnancy centers, and families across the country to help ensure no woman has to face miscarriage feeling alone or unprepared. Kenzie is also a wife and mom of five and is passionate about changing the way women are cared for through pregnancy loss. Website: heldinhope.org Instagram: @held.in.hope References: FriYAY!  Instagram.com/birthinginstincts Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800 Held In Hope - Miscarriage Boxes heldinhope.org Birthing Instincts Podcast #383: There Can Be Healing in Loss https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/383-there-can-be-healing-in-loss/id1552816683?i=1000673286068 Birthing Instincts Podcast #339 Early Pregnancy Loss https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/339-early-pregnancy-loss/id1552816683?i=1000638423958 Discussed in This Episode Meet Kenzie & Held in Hope What Are Women Actually Told After a Miscarriage? The Option Women May Not Know They Have When Experiencing Loss When You Can't Just Call Your Doctor  Not Just a Medical Event A Care Package That Holds Space in Miscarriage  Preparing Women for What They May See or Experience Support Without an Agenda or Judgment  What Does Waiting for a Miscarriage Actually Look Like? When Is Medical Intervention Necessary? What Happens to Your Baby After a D&C? What Do You Say to Someone Who Miscarried? Dads Grieve Too Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by Tallow Twins | Go to tallowtwins.ca and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off your orderLMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS for 30% off the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course!.Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    #486: Holding Hope After Miscarriage with Kenzie Covarrubias
  3. Sep 30

    #485: Understanding Blood Transfusion

    Blood transfusions can save lives, but when are they actually necessary, and what should you know before you're ever faced with that decision? This week, Blyss and Dr. Stu unpack blood transfusions in birth: postpartum hemorrhage, hemoglobin levels, blood types and compatibility, potential reactions, and why the number on a lab report doesn't always tell the whole story. They also dive into some of the harder questions: Can you choose where your blood comes from? What about directed donation? And what options exist for families who have concerns about receiving blood from vaccinated donors? From the surprising obstetric origins of modern transfusion medicine to the questions worth asking during pregnancy, this is one of those conversations you may never need, but you'll be glad you heard if you do. References: Vaccine Choice Canada vaccinechoicecanada.com Reclaiming Birth Gathering reclaimingbirthconference.com FriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstincts Up to Me. Up to You. Up to Everyone. uptoeveryone.com Safe Blood - The Global Leader In SafeBlood Matching safeblood.com Blessed By His Blood blessedbyhisblood.com History of Blood Transfusions https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood/blood-transfusions/history-blood-transfusion.html Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800 Discussed in This Episode The history of blood transfusion, and its roots in obstetrics When postpartum blood loss may warrant transfusion Why hemoglobin is only one piece of the clinical picture How red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body ABO/Rh blood types and transfusion compatibility Common and rare transfusion reactions Why modern blood banking has made transfusion significantly safer Directed donor blood and the challenges of arranging it during pregnancy Questions surrounding vaccinated vs. unvaccinated donor blood Ways to optimize maternal health and reduce the likelihood of needing transfusion Questions to discuss with your birth team before an emergency occurs Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  4. Sep 23

    #484: Isthmocoele, Infertility & Other Lesser Known Cesarean Risks

    Cesarean sections can be lifesaving. But are women actually being told about the potential long-term consequences before they consent to one? This week, Blyss and Stu dig into some of the lesser-discussed risks of cesarean birth, particularly the risks that may not show up until months or even years later. Stu walks through research examining isthmocoeles and the broader long-term outcomes associated with cesarean delivery, including future fertility, placenta previa and accreta, uterine rupture, miscarriage, stillbirth, and potential childhood outcomes. But this isn't an episode about frightening women away from cesareans. It's about informed decision-making. As Blyss points out, being informed shouldn't mean you're expected to consent. Women deserve to understand both the benefits and the risks, including the downstream risks that may affect their bodies, their babies, and pregnancies they haven't even had yet. References: Kristine’s instagram post https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdB70-Ohaek/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== FriYAY! Instagram.com/birthinginstincts Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening https://rova.live/event/allowed-to-birth-film-screening-presented-by-woven-moon-2026-10-27-1800 Classical Midwifery Conference - Tbilisi Georgia, 2027 gentlebirths.net/classicalmidwiferyconference Birth Untethered Podcast: S2E31 - In Conversation with Dr Stu-What Doctors Get Wrong About Safety, Consent, and Birth Outcomes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e31-in-conversation-with-dr-stu-what-doctors-get/id1836371735?i=1000788208319 Return to Wisdom Podcast: “Free Birth is a Rational Response” — with Dr Stu Fischbein https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-birth-is-a-rational-response-with-dr-stu-fischbein/id1829401357?i=1000788354017 Ancient Health Podcast:  Your Gut Is Recirculating Your Own Bad Estrogen https://open.spotify.com/episode/7okFAoLL6xeBkpxwhnqWpi?si=vTRhY-wLToeW6d7rm_gYLA&nd=1&dlsi=ed1bb63852ff4f5b Long-term risks and benefits associated with cesarean delivery for mother, baby, and subsequent pregnancies: Systematic review and meta-analysis https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002494 Investigating the risk factors for isthmocele development after cesarean delivery https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11078695/pdf/main.pdf Book: Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones: The Critical Connection Your Doctor Is Missing… And Why You Still Feel Terrible Despite “Normal” Labs https://a.co/d/03dsXMQL Discussed in This Episode • What an isthmocele/cesarean scar defect actually is • Why some cesarean complications may not appear until years later • Secondary infertility following cesarean birth • Abnormal bleeding and other symptoms associated with uterine scar defects • How repeat cesareans may affect scar healing • Placenta previa, accreta, uterine rupture, miscarriage, and stillbirth • What research suggests about long-term childhood outcomes • The difference between signing a consent form and actually being informed Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  5. Sep 16

    #483: Safer Birthing with Childbirth Attorney, Gina Mundy

    What can nearly 24 years of birth injury litigation teach us about preventing birth injuries before they happen? This week, Blyss and Stu are joined by nationally recognized trial attorney, bestselling author, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, Gina Mundy. After spending her career reviewing the births that went wrong—studying medical records, questioning doctors and nurses, and identifying the decisions that changed families’ lives forever, Gina decided those lessons belonged in the hands of parents before they ever entered the delivery room. Take a look behind the curtain of both the hospital and legal systems. Gina shares why Pitocin inductions appear so frequently in the birth injury cases she sees, what she learned while attending her own daughter’s induction, why she believes doulas can play such an important role in hospital birth, and the questions families should consider before consenting to interventions. They also dig into the uncomfortable realities of “standard of care,” defensive medicine, emergency C-sections, expert witnesses, medical records, hospital accountability, and what happens when the accepted standard may not necessarily represent the best care. We can’t predict every possible outcome, but we can do our best to understand the system we’re walking into, asking better questions, and making informed decisions before you’re in the intensity of labor. About Gina Mundy: Gina Mundy is a nationally recognized trial attorney, internationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast. For more than two decades, her work has focused on one of the most consequential moments in a family’s life: childbirth. Gina has spent her career studying birth injury cases in hindsight. She analyzes what happened, why it happened, which warning signs were missed, and what could have changed the outcome. That perspective became the foundation for her internationally bestselling book, A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth. Gina believes the greatest lessons for helping babies enter the world safely should be learned before labor begins, not after something has gone wrong. Through her book, The Childbirth Attorney Podcast, speaking engagements, media appearances, and international platforms, Gina brings those lessons to parents, doulas, birth professionals, and families around the world. Her work has reached audiences throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and beyond. Instagram: @ginamundy  Website: ginamundy.com / fiegerlaw.com Book: A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth https://a.co/d/03AlkDiL References: Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth Classical Midwifery Conference - Tbilisi Georgia, 2027 gentlebirths.net/classicalmidwiferyconference Great Birth Rebellion Podcast Episode 218 - The Cascade of Intervention https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YikOJ1ADT9oC5NTL7JNH5?si=36a5db05f3dd4448 Discussed in This Episode The one intervention that shows up again and again in birth injury casesWhy “slow and steady” can make a huge difference when using PitocinThe question every parent should consider asking before allowing someone to break their waterAre some interventions really about safety, or getting the baby delivered on someone else’s timeline?The surprising way fear of being sued may actually lead to MORE interventions and C-sectionsWhat happens when the accepted “standard of care” may not actually be good careHow two highly qualified medical experts can look at the exact same birth and tell a jury two completely different storiesWhy doulas are rarely involved in the birth injury casesShould you record conversations during labor or after an unexpected outcome? The hospital details to look for when preparing to give birth Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    #483: Safer Birthing with Childbirth Attorney, Gina Mundy
  6. Sep 9

    #482: Tossing Seeds with Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

    Dr. Sherri Tenpenny joins Blyss and Dr. Stu for a wide-ranging conversation about vaccines, pregnancy, medical freedom, informed consent, institutional trust, and what it means to question the systems we’ve been taught to rely on. Blyss asks an important question for parents and birth workers: when major medical organizations say there are enormous amounts of data supporting recommendations during pregnancy, how is the average person supposed to evaluate those claims?  Stu and Sherri also challenge the influence professional medical organizations have on hospital policy and discuss what happens when recommendations become protocols, sometimes without the kind of long-term or downstream outcomes they believe should be considered. But underneath all of these topics is a bigger conversation: How do we think for ourselves without simply replacing one authority with another? And that brings Blyss and Stu back to something they talk about often: we need each other, our community. Whether you agree with every perspective in this episode or find yourself questioning some of it, the invitation is the same, stay curious, look deeper, ask for the evidence, and make informed decisions for yourself and your family. About Dr. Sherri Tenpenny: Dr. Sherri Tenpenny is a globally recognized leader in exposing vaccine dangers and medical corruption. With over 50,000 hours of research spanning more than 25 years, she was one of the first medical professionals to sound the alarm on vaccine risks, paving the way for many of today’s voices in the medical freedom movement. Her relentless dedication to uncovering the truth behind public health policies, pharmaceutical influence, and vaccine-related injuries has made her one of the most sought-after educators and speakers in the field. Dr. Tenpenny began her career as an emergency room physician and served as Director of a Level II Trauma Center for 12 years, where she gained firsthand experience in critical care and the failures of conventional medicine. Realizing the limitations of the mainstream medical system, she founded Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center near Cleveland, Ohio, where she helped thousands of patients from all 50 states and more than 20 countries achieve true wellness through natural, holistic approaches. She was also one of the first doctors in the world to warn about the dangers of the COVID-19 shots. In April 2021, she released the groundbreaking ebook and webinar, “The 20 Mechanisms of Injury,” detailing how the shots could cause widespread harm. By July 2021, she expanded her research with “20 MORE Mechanisms of Injury,” further exposing the devastating effects of these experimental injections. Her work provided early, critical insights into the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 jab, helping countless people make informed choices—insights that other media sources slowly began to acknowledge long after her early dire warnings. A dynamic speaker, prolific writer, and fearless advocate, Dr. Tenpenny has appeared on countless media platforms, challenging the medical establishment and exposing the systemic deceptions behind vaccines, public health mandates, and Big Pharma’s unchecked power. She continues to educate, empower, and fight for medical freedom, making her one of the most influential and unwavering voices in the movement today." Instagram: @realdrsherritenpenny and @busydrt Website: DrTenpenny.com, Shoptenpenny.net, Vcourses.drtenpenny.com, primemembership.drtenpenny.com Substack: drtenpenny.substack.com,  Podcast: The Tenpenny Files Podcasts Published Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sherri%2Btenpenny&crid=1QNWOKPFHKB8X&sprefix=sherri%2Btenpenn%2Caps%2C241&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 Vax App: drtenpenny.com/vaxapp/ References: Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo NAET Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques naet.com Thyroid Function Throughout Pregnancy in Women With Subclinical Hypothyroidism or Hypothyroxinemia ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006373 A Quality-Improvement Study Evaluating Three Postpartum Prophylactic Oxytocin Rates and Blood Loss After Vaginal Birth ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006355 High-Dose Oxytocin Protocol Implementation and Postpartum Hemorrhage ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006351 Vaccines and the Diseases They Target: An Analysis of Vaccine Safety and Epidemiology (The Silver Booklet) physiciansforinformedconsent.org/silver-booklet/ Book: Tylenol and Autism: Evidence, Scientific Blunders, and Medicine Gone Wrong Book: Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory Discussed in This Episode Pregnancy and vaccine recommendationsWhat “safe and effective” actually means, and what evidence should support those wordsPreparing for newborn medical decisions before laborGrandparents, Pertussis & the Newborn BubbleCombination vaccines and the questions parents should be askingWhy asking questions may be more effective than arguing factsThe importance of community when your choices fall outside the mainstreamLyme disease and alpha-gal syndromeBreast implant illness“Turbo Cancer” & COVID ClaimsHow professional medical organizations influence hospital policyScientific research, peer review, and fabricated AI citationsWhy Sherri believes being a “seed sower” matters Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    #482: Tossing Seeds with Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
  7. Sep 2

    #481: Microbirth, A Film Explains How We Birth Matters

    What if the way we enter the world has consequences that reach far beyond the day we're born? This week, Blyss and Stu dive into “Microbirth”, the 2014 documentary exploring the human microbiome and what happens during the extraordinary biological transition of birth. From exposure to maternal bacteria during vaginal birth to skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, antibiotics, cesarean delivery, and the hormonal physiology of labor. At the heart of the conversation is a much bigger question: When we intervene in birth, are we considering only the immediate outcome, or the ripple effects that may follow a baby for years, and perhaps even generations? Because birth isn't simply the moment a baby arrives. It may be one of the most important biological programming events of our lives. Listen now and join us as we ask: How much does the way we birth really matter? References: Microbirth Film https://play.xumo.com/free-movies/microbirth/XM0KT28KHM1VCA Do Antibiotics Given to Pregnant Women Harm the Baby's Brain? By Jennifer Margulis https://jennifermargulis.substack.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=192562195 Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.13601 Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo Discussed in This Episode Microbirth documentaryHumans as Living EcosystemsWhat Happens to the Microbiome During Birth?Ripple Effects of AntibioticsThe Incredible Biology of Breast MilkThe Gut-Brain AxisWhat Is Vaginal Seeding?Does Too Much Protection Hurt the Microbiome? Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comSubscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  8. Aug 26

    #480: From Hashimoto’s to Breech: The Surprising Role of Thyroid in Pregnancy

    Thyroid health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pregnancy, but thyroid hormones play an important role in both maternal health and fetal development, especially during those early weeks when baby is relying on mom's thyroid hormones. This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into thyroid disease in pregnancy. Stu breaks down the basics of how the thyroid works, the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's versus Graves' disease, and what TSH, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies can actually tell us. They look at the potential pregnancy risks associated with overt thyroid disease, why subclinical disease is a very different conversation, and why pregnancy itself can change thyroid lab values. Together they answer the question, should every pregnant woman have her thyroid screened? And discuss how testing itself can sometimes set off an unnecessary cascade of referrals, surveillance, and intervention. This one gets into the weeds, but it's an episode worth saving as a resource for pregnant families, birth workers, and anyone navigating thyroid disease during the childbearing years. References: Reclaiming Birth Gathering reclaimingbirthconference.com/  Birth and Birth Psychology Congress in Istanbul, Turkey Instagram: @birthandbirthpsychology Website: dogumicinelele.org/ Birthing Instincts Podcast Patreon Patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast Open Evidence Links https://www.openevidence.com/ask/04b52887-1c7f-423d-aeb4-7d28376e225a Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy www.ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003893 Maternal thyroid function during gestation is related to breech presentation at term https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19832853/ Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth Discussed in This Episode Thyroid 101: TSH, T3, T4 & How It All WorksHashimoto's vs. Graves' DiseaseWhy Thyroid Hormones Matter for Fetal DevelopmentThyroid Disease & Pregnancy Risks: What Do the Numbers Actually Mean?Should Everyone Be Screened During Pregnancy?How Pregnancy Changes Thyroid LabsHypothyroidism: When Pregnancy Symptoms Look Like Thyroid SymptomsSubclinical Hypothyroidism: Does It Need Treatment?What Thyroid Labs Should Actually Be Ordered?Treating Overt Hypothyroidism During PregnancyHyperemesis and Thyroid Changes Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care  This show is supported by LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.comPodcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

4.8
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About

The birth world can be overwhelming for parents and practitioners alike. Dr. Stuart Fischbein and Midwife Blyss Young and their combined 55+ years of experience are here to support you in this beautiful rite of passage.Join the weekly conversation as we blend wisdom and humor in discussing our recent births, the latest research, traditional healing, and instinctual birth.  

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