Evidence Based Birth®

Over the past 3 years, I have traveled and spoken with hundreds of childbirth educators from across the U.S. and Canada. At every conference I attended, one theme was repeated over and over--- educators told me that the field of childbirth education was in the midst of a huge crisis. Most childbirth educators said their registrations were declining, and that many first-time parents weren't taking childbirth education classes anymore (even though education is really important!) 

Then, the pandemic hit. Classes were either cancelled or converted to 100% online. 

I decided to reach out to someone I admire-- Natalie Eckdahl, MBA-- to see if we could get any advice about how independent childbirth educators can survive and thrive in the midst of all these upheavals.Natalie Eckdahl is the founder of BizChix, Inc, and its community, podcast, programs and events, and she's author of R.E.S.E.T. Your Mindset: Silence Your Inner Mean Girl. She's been recognized as one of the top women in business to listen to, and she has also been featured in Inc., Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur.

Today, Natalie joins me on the EBB Podcast! We start by discussing Natalie’s three unique birth stories (in a hospital, at home, and at a birth center), and her personal experience with childbirth education. Then we dive into crucial business advice for independent childbirth educators who are trying to figure out how to navigate business during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Direct download: 129_Natalie_with_edits.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:43am EDT

In this latest episode in our series on natural labor induction, I cover the evidence on using castor oil or eating date fruit to induce labor.

Can castor oil increase the chances of you going into labor? When is it most effective?

How many dates do you need to eat to reduce the length of pregnancy?

I’ll answer all these questions and more - and share the latest research on these methods!

For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

Direct download: EBB_128_-_Castor_Oil_with_edits.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

In this episode, I am joined by Katie Kane, a parent from Cherry Hill, New Jersey who took the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class when she was pregnant with her daughter. Katie worked with EBB Instructor Cat LaPlante. 

From the beginning of her pregnancy, Katie planned for an unmedicated hospital birth - leading her on a path to researching doulas and eventually finding the EBB Childbirth Class. She was intentional in choosing her birth team, and ended up switching providers when she knew her first was not the best fit for her. With the support of her husband and doula, Katie was able to navigate roadblocks that may have resulted in different outcomes for her birth if she had not been so well prepared.

For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) and our Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

RESOURCES:

Find an Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Class or Comfort Measures for Labor and Delivery Workshop here.

Find an Evidence Based Birth Instructor, and all EBB parent resources here.

Follow Jen McLellan at Plus Size Birth, the Plus Mommy podcast and Instagram. You can also hear Jen on the Evidence Based Birth Podcast here.

Direct download: EBB_127_-Interview_with_Katie_Kane_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

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