InCast

InJoy Health Education
  • 5.0 (9)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT YOU CAN ACCESS IN THE CAR, GYM, OR ANYWHERE! InJoy's podcast features enlightening interviews with health educators, leaders, influencers, and advocates in maternal-child health who focus on transforming care through education. Tune in, learn, and be inspired by these empowering leaders who are passionate about making a difference—just like you. You'll get ideas you can implement right away!

  1. JAN 8

    Season 9 Episode 6: When Pregnancy Becomes "High-Risk": An Educator's Guide to Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Care

    When a pregnancy is labeled "high-risk" and families are transferred from standard pregnancy care to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist, it can feel overwhelming, disorienting, and even like a personal setback. Emotions like fear, confusion, and self-doubt are common for parents, but finding balance during this transition is essential. Staying engaged and empowered isn't just good for emotional well-being; it's critical for making informed decisions throughout their pregnancy journey.    In today's episode, we'll explore practical and compassionate strategies to help educators support parents as they shift into MFM care —and how to help families maintain a sense of balance, clarity, and hope when pregnancy plans change.  About Dr. Lexi Hill  Our guest, Dr. Lexi Hill, is a respected Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist who works closely with families and healthcare professionals to ensure parents receive the best possible care during their high-risk pregnancy.  Dr. Hill is passionate about bridging gaps in the patient–physician relationship through education and empowerment.  She believes that when parents understand their care and feel confident advocating for themselves, both outcomes and experiences improve.  Listen & Learn:   Why parents are referred to maternal fetal medicine and what "high-risk" really means  The most common conditions MFM specialists manage, from diabetes to placenta previa  What it takes to become an MFM specialist and why that expertise matters  How MFMs collaborate with OBs and midwives to support safe deliveries  Ways MFMs help parents cope emotionally when birth plans change  Practical tips for advocacy and shared decision-making during pregnancy  Creative strategies to maintain joy and build support during high-risk pregnancies  Resources & Mentions:  Dr. Lexi's website (free resources for students and clients) FREE Hypertensive High Risk Pregnancy Module Dr. Lexi's YouTube channel Related Products from InJoy:  Understanding Pregnancy Book + Web App  Understanding Birth Book + Web App Related InJoy Podcast  Expert Insights: Latest Updates on Gestational Diabetes with Lily Nichols, RDN

    41 min
  2. S9 E5: Supporting Families Through Pregnancy & Infant Loss: What Birth Workers Need to Know with Ashley Rose Salvitti

    10/21/2025

    S9 E5: Supporting Families Through Pregnancy & Infant Loss: What Birth Workers Need to Know with Ashley Rose Salvitti

    Pregnancy often begins with joy and anticipation—but for some, it ends in unimaginable heartbreak. In this powerful episode, we explore what happens when pregnancy ends in loss, and how doulas, birth workers, and loved ones can offer meaningful support.   This episode offers insight into the complexity of perinatal grief, the power of presence, and practical strategies for compassionate care. Learn how to support families through the emotional, physical, and spiritual aftermath of loss—and why grief education and specialized training should be a standard part of all birth work.  About Ashley  Ashley Rose Salvitti is a certified full-spectrum doula and pregnancy and infant loss coach who specializes in supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and bereavement, offering compassionate care rooted in her own lived experiences. After the stillbirth of her second daughter, Lena, at 29 weeks, and a subsequent miscarriage, Ashley recognized the critical need for continuous, empathetic support for families navigating loss.   Drawing from her background in art and psychology and extensive training, she has served numerous families as both a birth and postpartum doula. Ashley is the founder of Doula Synergy, where she offers coaching, doula services, and bereavement training for birth professionals. Her mission is to ensure that no family walks the path of pregnancy or infant loss alone, and she actively advocates for expanded access to doula care at the state level.   What You'll Learn:  How the emotional complexity of perinatal loss affects families What the role of doulas in grief and bereavement care can look like How to use language that validates grief What practical and emotional support strategies birth workers can use with grieving families Why all birth workers need grief education  Resources & Mentions:  More Info on Ashley: Email: hello@ashleyrosedoula.com Website: https://www.doulasynergy.com/ (Ashley Rose's website regarding loss – for families and birth workers)  Related Product from InJoy:    A Guide to Grief & Healing After the Loss of Your Baby Book + Web App   Related Blogs and Podcasts from InJoy:    Podcast: Comforting Mothers Who Have Experienced Infant Loss with Elizabeth O'Donnell of Aaliyah in Action Blog: Guiding with Compassion: How to Support Families Through Pregnancy and Infant Loss by Julianne Curtis

    58 min

  3. 09/30/2025

    S9 E4 Insights on Perinatal Mental Health from PROSPER Leaders: Practical Tips for Educators and Doulas

    We're diving into a vital topic that touches the heart of our work as birth professionals: supporting mental health during the perinatal period. Whether you're a childbirth educator, a doula, or another type of birth professional, your role is uniquely positioned to offer meaningful support during one of the most emotionally complex times in a person's life.   Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) affect 1 in 5 individuals during pregnancy and postpartum—yet they often go undiscussed or unnoticed. In this episode, we'll explore how educators, doulas, and other birth professionals can create safe spaces for open conversations, recognize the signs of PMHDs, and offer compassionate, informed guidance to students and clients alike.  About Our Guests  Together, Dr. Celeste St. John-Larkin, Dr. Sarah Nagle-Yang, and Dr. Laurel Hicks, help lead the PROSPER program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine—a free, statewide perinatal psychiatric phone and e-consultation service that supports front-line healthcare providers in screening, assessing, and treating mental health and substance use conditions in pregnant and postpartum patients. PROSPER, which stands for Perinatal Resource Supporting Obstetric Screening, Psychiatric Education, Equity, and Referral, aims to expand access to mental health expertise, especially in rural and underserved areas of Colorado.  Dr.  Celeste St. John-Larkins is the PROSPER Project Director and Lead Psychiatrist. She supports providers statewide through expanded access to perinatal mental health and substance use care.   Dr. Sarah Nagle-Yang is the PROSPER Education and Training Lead. She has been a specialist in reproductive psychiatry for over a decade and is a co-editor of the first comprehensive textbook on Women's Reproductive Mental Health.   Dr. Laurel Hicks is the PROSPER Evaluation Lead and a Research Scientist. She holds a dual-title PhD in Social Work and Infant Mental Health, and her work focuses on improving outcomes for families through evidence-based mental health support  Listen and Learn:  What PMHDs include What the most common complication of childbirth is How many mothers are facing mental health concerns  When PMHDs may start in a woman's life Who should be paying attention to watch for these issues How the baby is affected if the mother is struggling with mental health issues How a new mother can give her family or support person permission to speak up if they notice she's acting differently than usual What educators and doulas can do for parents to see them as a safe space for referral Why breastfeeding can continue even if medication is needed How to help mothers build confidence to seek help    Recommended Resources:  The PROSPER Program – University of Colorado School of Medicine  Related Products from InJoy:  Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care Book + Web App Complete Postpartum Teaching Solution  Related Free Resources from InJoy:  Blog: Providing Social Support for Postpartum Women Through a 4th Trimester Group Webinar: Exploring the Unmet Needs of Postpartum Women  Contact the PROSPER Team:  For more information or inquiries, reach out to the PROSPER program at prosper@cuanschutz.edu

    52 min

  4. 07/22/2025

    S9 E3 Inside the Newborn Mind: Tools for Teaching Parents How to Understand Their Babies

    Hillary helps us learn how newborns experience their brand-new world —and how we as educators and doulas can help families understand them in ways they may have never been taught. Rather than seeing babies as a blob to be shaped, we can recognize them as fully formed people with unique needs. Transitioning from an internal dark, warm, water-filled home to the bright, ever-changing world can be quite an undertaking— but with our love and guidance, we can help them grow to their full potential, starting from the very first breath. Learning more about how we can teach this in a wonderfully sensitive way can change families' lives. About Hillary Hillary Menke, ICCE, is a childbirth and newborn care instructor with The Women's Clinic of Northern Colorado whose passion lies in the respectful, intentional care of very young children. She earned her BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Northern Colorado and began her career working with infants through kindergarteners in the classroom. To deepen her understanding of whole-child development, she pursued Waldorf Teacher Training at Sound Circle Center, focusing on supporting children's growth beyond academics—nurturing what it means to be deeply, joyfully human. It was with the birth of her own little one and coming to grips with the awe-filled, wild ride of motherhood that this passion extended to the care of new parents in their journeys through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She earned her childbirth educator certification through ICEA and now helps families navigate this transformative time with evidence-based education and compassionate guidance. Her goal is to build confidence in parents as they care for their babies in ways that reflect their values, wisdom, and dreams. What You'll Learn: What current neuroscience reveals about how babies actually perceive the world Why educators need to role model respectful interaction with their "babies" in the classroom What the differences are between infant and adult brain waves How we can demonstrate ways for parents to empathize with their babies Why a parent's calm demeanor can change the interaction with baby How to teach ways to decode infant cues Why free movement is part of respectful infant care Hillary's Favorite Resources: Baby Bare by Stephanie Johnson The Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum Unruffled with Janet Lansbury (Podcast) Anything from Magda Gerber or Dr. Emi Pikler Related Products from InJoy:  Understanding Your Newborn Curriculum Understanding Birth Curriculum Understanding Breastfeeding Curriculum Educator Media Library Related Blogs and Podcasts from InJoy:   Podcast: Season 9 Episode 2: Gentle Sleep Support with Sierra Brooks Contact Hillary at hillary.menke@gmail.com.

    38 min

  5. 06/03/2025

    S9 E2 Gentle Sleep Support with Sierra Brooks

    Join us as we explore gentle sleep support—for both parents and babies—with Sierra Brooks, CAPPA Certified Postpartum Doula, Gentle Sleep Coach, and Certified Lactation Counselor.  In this episode, Sierra shares insights into how helping parents understand the biological needs of their babies, and how to accommodate those needs while getting enough rest themselves, can reduce maternal mental health struggles. After years of "cry it out" being the norm, Sierra offers a fresh perspective on emerging, more compassionate, and evidence-based sleep strategies.  By understanding these evolving approaches, we can better support the families we teach, treat, and care for.  About Sierra  Sierra Brooks is the owner and founder of Bud to Blossom, a Salt Lake City-based company dedicated to supporting the postpartum needs of new and growing families. As a CAPPA Certified Postpartum Doula, Gentle Sleep Coach, and Certified Lactation Counselor, Sierra helps families understand the cycles, rhythms, and cues of babies and guides parents as they implement sleep strategies tailored to their needs.  She has expanded Bud to Blossom to offer services such as birth doula support, infant feeding guidance, photography, and more—with the ultimate goal of helping families feel supported, confident, and prepared on their parenting journey.  Listen and Learn:  How new families can maximize their sleep and rest  How better sleep can help reduce mental health difficulties  What families should look for when interviewing sleep counselors, coaches, or trainers  How to teach parents about the baby's biological needs for sleeping and eating  The roles and philosophies of different sleep support professionals  When it's the right time to seek professional sleep help   How to help families choose the practitioner that is right for them  Why bringing the baby outside the house daily supports sleep cycles  How "noticing" is different from "tracking" to reduce anxiety  What the difference is between active sleep and deep sleep in babies  Resources & Mentions:  More Info on Sierra:  Email: sierra@bud2blossom.com  Website: Bud to Blossom  Instagram: @bud2blossomgram  Sleep Counseling Institute:  Website: sleepcounselinginstitute.com/sci-certification  *Use code injoy for a discount  Instagram: @thesleepwich  Sierra's Favorite Baby Sleep Expert:  Dr. Lyndsey Hookway  Instagram: @lyndsey_hookway  Website: lyndseyhookway.com  Recommended Books:  Let's Talk About Your Family Sleep (for parents)  Holistic Sleep Coaching (for professionals)  Related Products from InJoy:  Understanding Your Newborn Curriculum  Understanding Postpartum Health & Your Baby Curriculum  Understanding Infant & Child Safety Curriculum  Related Blogs and Podcasts from InJoy:   Podcast: Making Safe Sleep Possible for all Families with Devon George of Cribs for Kids

    45 min

  6. 05/02/2025

    S9 E1 Preparing for Low-Intervention Birth with Sarah, the "Labor Junkie RN"

    Sarah —better known as the "Labor Junkie RN"— is a practicing high-risk labor nurse, social media influencer, and mom of three.  You may have seen her on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook sharing evidence-based insights on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.  She often ends reels with "For more information on pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum, give me a follow and check out my page".  So, we did—and invited her to share her wisdom with you in this special podcast episode.  As a nurse and mom of three who chose unmedicated births, Sarah brings a unique perspective to the low-intervention birth experience. In this podcast, we talk to her about her choices and tips for others if they plan to have low- intervention births. But she's quick to remind us, she thinks the right choice for birthing families is the choice they make, and hopes we remember that birth is not a competition. Everyone should make their own choices.   Listen and Learn:  Why Sarah decided to make reels for social media—and how she keeps it going  Her passion for informed consent and education  Why she attended a birth class with her husband even though she was already an OB nurse   How planning ahead helps families achieve their birth goals  How she supports her patients in labor specific to their birth plan  When and how parents can ask to change to a nurse who supports their goals in labor  How a doula or other trained labor support person can make a difference  What a difference it can make to stay home in early labor on outcomes  Why she chose not to be induced  How exercise, yoga, and good nutrition helped her through her births  Resources & Mentions:  tiktok.com/@labor_junkie_rn  instagram.com/labor_junkie_rn   facebook.com/LaborJunkieRN   youtube.com/@labor_junkie_rn  Related Products from InJoy:  Understanding Birth  Understanding Natural Childbirth Techniques eClass  Stages of Labor  Pain Management for Childbirth, Volume 1: Comfort Techniques  Related Blogs and Podcasts from InJoy:  Blog: Tips for Teaching a Childbirth Class: Introducing the TENS Unit as a Labor Comfort Measure  Podcast: Spinning Babies – Comfort in Pregnancy and Easier Births with Gail Tully

    1h 4m

  7. 12/11/2024

    S8 E7 Dialogue in Action: How Disruption in Current Norms Can Lead to Meaningful Change With Dr. Renée Canady

    Too many moms and babies are dying in the US! Many of those tragedies are avoidable. We have seen this problem, talked about the problem, and yet, the problem still exists. Poor outcomes can happen because of lack of respect and not listening to what is being said by the patient, especially BIPOC patients.   Today we are speaking to Dr. Renée Canady, a relationship-driven leader and author of the recently published book, "Room at the Table: A Leader's Guide to Advancing Health Equity and Justice."  She is recognized as a national thought leader in the areas of health inequities and disparities, cultural competence, and social justice. Dr. Canady has been highly influential in broadening the discussion of health equity and social justice while serving on numerous national boards, review panels, and advisory groups.   We wanted to talk with her after we learned what she is doing to advance change for pregnant and birthing women and families in the Detroit area. Join us to learn about her leadership in bringing about positive change for birthing families. She left us with this thought: "Don't get tired of doing the right thing. There will be a benefit to you, to me, and to generations if we don't throw in the towel".     Listen and Learn:  What it means to look through an equity lens  How productive outrage and righteous indignation can make changes for the better  How these types of conversations impact the life expectancy of mothers and babies  Why we need to understand that the mom is the expert of the mom  What servant leadership has to do with positive change  The difference between power and empowerment  How understanding generational birth experiences can change the current culture of a mom and family  Resources, Mentions & Related Products from InJoy  More about Dr. Canady   To learn more about "Room at the Table," click here.  Podcasts  Getting Uncomfortable About Health Equity with Natalie Burke   Mama Bird: Serving the Community Through Compassionate Doula Services  Creating Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities   Blogs  Language Justice: Perinatal Education in Multiple Languages Means Healthier Outcomes for All  Walking Across Kenya to Support Safe Births and Secure Families: Reflections and Lessons Learned   Webinars  The Impact of Racism in Healthcare and the Perinatal Period – Part 1  The Impact of Racism in Healthcare and the Perinatal Period – Part 2

    52 min

  8. 11/13/2024

    S8 E6: Expert Insights: Latest Updates on Gestational Diabetes with Lily Nichols, RDN

    Gestational diabetes changes the direction of many women's pregnancies.  Once the determination is made, things are not so straightforward after that.  In this podcast we will explore how the path to birth changes once a diagnosis is made and what women can do to have a birth with as few complications as possible. We also look at what women can do to prevent the diagnosis in the first place.  We discussed this important topic with Lily Nichols, who is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition guidance. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the co-founder of the Women's Health Nutrition Academy and the author of two books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily's bestselling books have helped tens of thousands of mamas (and babies!). They are used in university-level maternal nutrition and midwifery courses and have even influenced prenatal nutrition policy internationally.     Listen and Learn:  How women can change things in their lives to avoid gestational diabetes What impact exercise has on blood sugar levels  How much education most OBs/MFMs/FMOBs have in nutrition and gestational diabetes  What tests are currently used to look for gestational diabetes and how accurate they are  Why old standards of test outcomes are still in practice and what newer options are available that may be more predictive How the morning meal affects blood sugar levels    Resources & Mentions:  Lily Nichols' Website     Related Products from InJoy: Understanding Pregnancy Curriculum Understanding Birth Curriculum Understanding Prenatal Nutrition

    57 min
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5
out of 5
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About

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT YOU CAN ACCESS IN THE CAR, GYM, OR ANYWHERE! InJoy's podcast features enlightening interviews with health educators, leaders, influencers, and advocates in maternal-child health who focus on transforming care through education. Tune in, learn, and be inspired by these empowering leaders who are passionate about making a difference—just like you. You'll get ideas you can implement right away!

Information

  • Creator
    InJoy Health Education
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 095298
  • Show Website
    InCast