Ep19: Evolution of birthwork and the power of working together
What happens when two longtime birth and body workers get together and hit record? Magic, I tell you! Listen in on a very candid conversation on the evolution of birthwork, bodywork within different populations and breech baby. Adrienne Caldwell is faculty for the Body Ready Method® our professional training for birth pros and an absolute genius bodyworker. Overall she has helped thousands of families prepare their bodies, find balance, and help breech babies find their best position for birth. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on the podcast for round two! Adrienne and I have been in the same birth circles for over 15 years! Back in the day we would often share clients. They would come to me for doula support and exercise and Adrienne for bodywork. Adrienne was at the top of my list for BRM® faculty. L [read more...]
Website: Adrienne Bodywork
Facebook: Adrienne Massage Therapy
Show notes: Clinical Article: Does breech delivery in an upright position instead of on the back improve outcomes and avoid cesareans?
Ep18: Our fourth birth: Trauma, personal triumphs and finding community
My husband, Matt McCoy, joins me again to share all about our 4th (surprise!) birth. Our final birth story unravels as a completely unplanned pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born with a critical congenital heart defect that required a lot of medical care including open heart surgery at 2 months old, we were surprised to find out we were expecting again. We had to work through the trauma of that 3rd birth experience going into our next experience. We talk through the depression that Matt was struggling with at the time. You'll hear about some strategies we used to be able to come together and support one another during a stressful and challenging season of life. Matt sheds some light on how to support your partner when you are not your best self either. And, we discuss how a good birth team will not only support the birthing person but sup [read more...]
Facebook: BRM Private Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Show Notes: Death of a Song Bird by M.R. McCoy
Ep17: Our third birth: 43+ weeks pregnant and on the news!
Yes! You read that right, 43+ weeks pregnant and, true story, a news crew capturing the whole experience for the local news! In this episode I am joined by my husband, Matt McCoy to share the story of our 3rd birth. This was my first birth after having become a birth professional. It was my longest pregnancy and birth process, but also the birth I consider my easiest birth (although, postpartum was a completely different story. But, that’s a story for a different day!). This story is really a journey into trust and intuition. Something I consider crucial throughout pregnancy and especially when due date arrives. Listen in as Matt and I talk through making decisions that were right for us, especially as we went weeks past our guess date. How important the “bubble of peace” was in remaining calm and confident. And, what Matt as a [read more...]
Facebook: BRM Private Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep16: Partner Ready: Birth partners need to prep, too!
In this episode we talk all about birth partner support with my husband, Matt McCoy! We often forget about how overwhelming the journey to baby can be for the partners. Pregnancy, birth and recovery are huge physiological events and it’s really easy for birth partners to feel like a deer caught in headlights and freeze or sink into a corner when things get intense. Many partners want to be involved, but just don’t know how or what to do and just need a bit of extra support and encouragement. But what if we empowered the birth partners? Prepare partners so that they could show up in the way the birther needs them to. What if working together in this way could be a catalyst for even deeper connection. What if it could be a catalyst for your partner finding their flow as a parent (if your birth partner is also your parenting partner). [read more...]
Facebook: BRM Private Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep15: Our second birth: How we achieved a profoundly different experience
On this episode Matt and I chat about our second birth. What a different experience it was! Have you ever had an experience that altered the course of your life so deeply? So profoundly that you knew your life would not be the same without it? Our first wasn’t the experience we’d hoped for. And after this birth, in our own ways, we became obsessed with figuring out why and what could be done differently. Matt, as my birth partner, dived into research to learn more about partner support. I really got into reading and learning more about pregnancy and birth. And, how I could incorporate my background in exercise science into it. This led us to make very different choices for our second birth experience two and a half years later. And, it led to a profoundly different experience. An experience so deep and profound, an experience so au [read more...]
Facebook: BRM Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep14: Origin Story: Our first birth experience with Lindsay & Matt McCoy
Join me and my amazing husband, Matt McCoy, as we recount the story of our first pregnancy and birth, from 2006/2007. Picture two young adults who thought they had it all figured out. Who figured “people have been having babies forever, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” Who wanted a natural first birth, but didn’t really have a plan as to how to get there. At the time, I was finishing up my Exercise Science degree and was teaching almost every fitness class possible. From bootcamp to water aerobics to spinning. You name it, I was teaching it. I read all the right books and even googled “doula near me,” but found none nearby. Needless to say, our first birth didn’t go the way we had hoped. We ended up at the hospital, tubes everywhere and I ended up getting an epidural. When this happened, being the research nerd that I am, I [read more...]
Facebook: OSM Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep13: Labor Flow State: A birth-ready mindset
Have you ever heard of the flow state? Have you ever felt “in the zone?” That zone where you seem to have effortless momentum. Where time seems to melt away and you are just flowing? Maybe you were running a race, writing, or doing artwork. Maybe you’ve also felt what it feels like to be out of “the zone”. Where everything just feels more challenging and you just can’t seem to find your flow. This is a researched state of being known as the flow state. Research has identified how to get into the flow and stay in the flow. It has also identified what keeps us out of the flow. Also, did you know that we can use the flow state and the research behind it to have a better birth? When we are able to get in and stay in our labor flow state during birth, not only do we have more access to our intuition to know what to do, we also have a [read more...]
Facebook: OSM Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep12: Being too flexible during birth: How much is too much?
Have you ever thought or heard that the best way to have an easier birth is to stretch a lot? Or that flexibility = better birth? Sometimes being too flexible can actually create some problems. While yes, it is important to be mobile, there is a difference between mobility and flexibility. This episode is all about being “too flexible” during pregnancy. We are joined by Physical Therapist and creator of Train4Birth, Monika Patel. Did you know joint laxity increases by about 10% during pregnancy? In this episode, Monika talks about the lack of information on the musculoskeletal changes in pregnancy available to expectant parents especially if they are hypermobile. We chatted about what hypermobility is, how much of a culprit relaxing is, issues that can present themselves during pregnancy and birth, and what we should do about it. Mon [read more...]
Facebook: Train4Birth
Instagram: @train4birth
Show notes: www.train4birth.com
Ep11: Normalizing and navigating the twists and turns of becoming a parent
In this episode we talk about the twists and turns of becoming a parent with Nikki Johnston Beaudoin. Nikki is a Body Ready Method® pro, expecting mom, and collaborating author of the newly released The Mom Babes, An Anthology of Motherhood. Nikki gets really vulnerable as she talks through her unique journey to becoming a parent. She discusses her fertility, pregnancy, birth, and recovery journey. She sheds light on the taboo of discussing fertility issues openly and why she thought sharing her own journey will help other people. What does it look like to use holistic support alongside the need for medical intervention? And, how do we as a birth pro and/or birthing person live in that space between? Do we have to choose between one of the two paths, or is there a middle ground? Nikki is also a pre and post-natal Fitness Speci [read more...]
Website: Nikki Fitness
Instagram: @SeaToSkyFitness
Show notes: The Mom Babes, An Anthology of Motherhood
Ep10: Navigating stress, trauma and the effects of epigenetics
Navigating stress. Trauma. Drama... We all deal with it in one way or another. How do our lived experiences and that of our ancestors impact our bodies, our births, and even what we pass on to kids? When we are living in a prolonged state of stress it can become our baseline. Maybe we always feel rushed. Or on edge. This not only impacts our mental health, it impacts our physical health as well. And that of our children. Our brains are powerful. And learning how to hone the power of our brains can allow us to change our world (including our pregnancies, births, recoveries, and even the stress response of our kids). Yet too often we may feel like our brains are working against us. Navigating stress can be difficult, especially when we have negative coping mechanisms that we can’t seem to take control of. We yell, freak out, or sometimes we [read more...]
Website: The Mind Body Birth
Instagram: @bodhibirthandwellness | @themindbodybirth
Ep9: Postpartum Planning: What you need to know
On this episode we speak to Amanda Gorman all about postpartum planning. While getting ready for a baby, oftentimes we miss one of the most important pieces of postpartum; planning for the 4th trimester. That immediate recovery time can be intense and incredibly overwhelming, especially if we aren’t ready for it. Having to care for a newborn baby within a day is a huge transition for many. We spend a good deal of time getting ready for birth, and that’s important too. However, not preparing adequately for postpartum is akin to preparing for the wedding, but not the marriage. The wedding is very important, don’t get me wrong. But without preparing for the marriage, there is likely to be more struggle. We must take the time and the forethought to get ourselves ready for the big transition into caring for a tiny human while also recoveri [read more...]
Website: Finding Your Village
Instagram: @FindingYourVillage
TikTok: @FindingYourVillage
Show Notes: Pregnancy to Preschool – Postpartum class
Ep8: Fatphobia in Maternity Care
Let’s face it, we live in a culture that allows for fatphobia. Where mocking larger bodies is socially acceptable. A culture that glorifies a certain body type as the epitome of “health.” This has created a lot of issues in maternal health care, and healthcare as a whole. This also makes those living in larger bodies feel as if their size correlates to their health. This causes internalized fatphobia, thinking that all their ailments are due to their size. “Just lose weight,” they are often told. The weight stigma in the medical system often shames larger bodied folks into not receiving the care they really need. Brooke discusses how fatphobia affects not only larger people, but all of us in some way or the other. A lot of people constantly live under the stress of gaining weight and often may resort to fad diets to fit in, causin [read more...]
Website: BORN Collective
Instagram: @thedykedoula
Ep7: Doula Support: Going beyond comfort measures
Join me, Lindsay McCoy as I hit “record” and jam out on all things professional birth support, including doula support during birth. There is a revolution in birth support. While holding the space and offering sips of water and a cool cloth is really important, there’s also so much more a doula can be doing! In this episode, I talk about the role of a doula and their impact on the client’s birth experience, and what it really looks like to support birth physiology as a doula. I believe we can do more than just randomly using comfort measures. If a doula knows the biomechanics of labor and birth; the science of what to do when in labor and the “whys” of it, they can really make a difference in the client’s birth experience! What do clients really need in a doula? Our job is to help the clients protect their space, help them [read more...]
Facebook: OSM Community
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
TikTok: @bodyreadymethod
Ep6: LGBTQ+ Healthcare: Transgender Pregnancy and Birth
On this episode we speak with Jacoby Ballard on LGBTQ+ healthcare and transgender pregnancy and birth. What does it mean to be transgender or non-binary? And what would it be like to go through pregnancy, birth and recovery being transgender male or non-binary? We dive into the real-lived experience of pregnancy, birth, and recovery while trans or non-binary with the incredible Jacoby. He opens up about his own experiences. He shares about his work in the perinatal space as a prenatal yoga instructor. As birth professionals, it is our job to support our clients and patients through the transformative journey of pregnancy, birth and recovery. Jacoby talks about the vocabulary of inclusivity in the perinatal space. He also discusses options to self-educate about working with queer expecting parents. We also discuss about creating a safe space [read more...]
Website: Jacoby Ballard Yoga
Instagram: @jacobyballard
Ep5: The evolution of Diastasis Recti treatment
On today's episode, Munira Hudani joins us to talk about the evolution of diastasis recti treatment. Our understanding of diastasis recti (abdominal separation) and evidence based treatment approaches has been evolving throughout the years. The pendulum has swung from the days of wrapping a towel around the midsection and crunching to avoiding movement altogether in fear of making things worse to where we are at today: a more holistic diastasis recti treatment approach. Munira Hudani is a game changing diastasis rehab physio that is leading the charge in this more holistic understanding of how to approach diastasis recti. Join us and hear from Munia Hudani about how treatment protocols have progressed through the years and take a look at the most up to date approach to diastasis recti treatment. [read more...]
Website: Munira Hudani
Facebook: Diastasis Rehab Physio
Instagram: @munirahudanipt
Show notes: Tummy Tuck Rehab | @tummytuckrehab
Ep4: Dynamic Body Balance: The story behind your favorite birth techniques
Have you ever wondered the origin of some of your favorite prenatal and birth balancing techniques such as the forward leaning inversion and the side lying release? Join us in this informative episode as we meet the amazing Dr. Carol Phillips, a chiropractic doctor and craniosacral therapist who shares how she discovered these effective techniques that have become so well loved and used in prenatal care and birth support amongst those who understand the importance of balance for birth efficiency. Carol also educates us on what it means to have a body in balance and what it looks like when the body comes out of balance. She also touches on what we can do to achieve a balanced body for overall wellness as well as a more comfortable pregnancy and more efficient birthing process. [read more...]
Website: Dynamic Body Balancing
Ep3: The Doula Profession: What you need to know
Being a doula is an incredible job. We witness the amazingness that is pregnancy and birth, but it’s also a job with a high burnout rate because of how demanding and unsustainable it often is. Today we bring on the amazing doula and doula trainer, Rhonda Fellows, to discuss sustainability of the profession, what we believe doulas should know, scope of practice, and how to have a collaborative relationship with providers and hospitals. If we are going to impact real change, we need sustainability and proper education. Moreover, we need to build relationships with the hospitals and providers our clients are going to. Rhonda has been leading the charge in collaborative relationships in her local birth community and we believe this is something that every birth community should strive for! [read more...]
Website: Oilydoulamn
Instagram: @oilydoulamn
Ep2: How to support a hypno-birther
Did you know that hypnosis is a normal state that you’ve been in before? That hypnosis for childbirth is really about honing the power of our brain to support a more comfortable birth experience? Yet there are many myths out there about what hypnosis for childbirth really is, especially amongst birth professionals. If someone is planning to use hypnosis for birth, it’s really ideal that their birth team “gets it.” Too often, an unsupportive birth professional can derail someone’s plan. Join Hypnotherapist and Hypnobirthing instructor, Erin Stertz-Follett and I as we discuss how to best support families using hypnosis for birth. From what to do if someone is having a difficult time, to what not to do during hypnobirths. Learning the power of our brains and our client’s brains can also help us support all types of birthers better. [read more...]
Website: Flutterby
Facebook: Flutterbybirth
Instagram: @flutterbybirth
Ep1: Early Recovery: How to support the first 6 weeks postpartum
Current guidance for what to do after having a baby is abysmal. We are maybe told to “take it easy” and possibly “do some kegels” but that is really about it. Then the 6 week postnatal visit comes around and BAM! Cleared for all exercise. Is this really the best way to support a body that has just gone through the amazing and intense transformation that is pregnancy? A body that then gave birth- whether vaginally or via cesarean birth? Pelvic Physical Therapist Hayley Kava comes on to jam with me on all things the first 6 weeks postpartum and how to safely progress your body back to the things you love! [read more...]
Website: Hayley Kava PT
Facebook: Hayley Kava
Instagram: @hayleykavapt
Ep28: Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy
Do you or your client have pain in their pubic bone, tailbone, or SI Joint? Pelvic pain is extremely common during pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean it’s always just ‘par the course.’ In today’s episode, Lauren and Lindsay explore the topic of pelvic pain during pregnancy including possible contributors and ways to prevent, minimize, or even eliminate pelvic girdle pain.
Website: One Strong Mama
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod
Ep27: Optimal Fetal Positioning
Optimal fetal positioning is the idea that there are positions that the baby can find in utero that are easier (and more difficult) for the labor process. Should you worry about your baby’s position? When should you worry? And what can you actually do? In this episode Lindsay discusses hyper-vigilance, how to stop putting out fires at the birth, and how we can stack the cards for a boring, straightforward birth!
Website: One Strong Mama
Instagram: @bodyreadymethod