In this week’s episode, I'm going to cover the “2022 A Year in Review” and reflect on all the projects and research we accomplished at Evidence Based Birth®. I share my favorite projects and podcast episodes from this year; the top five most downloaded episodes in 2022; and discuss the research recap on the four updated Signature Articles:
o   Signature Article on the Evidence on Birthing Positions
o   Signature Article on the Evidence on Eating and Drinking in Labor
o   Signature Article on the Evidence on IV fluids
o   Signature Article on the Evidence on Freidman’s Curve and Failure to Progress + 1-page handout on Debunking Pelvic Shapes
 
Thanks for tuning in and supporting Evidence Based Birth® in 2022! Because of you we were able to surpass over 4 million downloads –putting us in the top 5 percent of all podcasts! Thank you for helping us to uplift birth workers and empower families with evidence-based knowledge.
 
Content Warning: abortion & medical interventions

Resouces:

Find the updated Signature Article on the Evidence on Birthing Positions here

Listen to the associated Podcast episodes on Birthing Positions:

• 196 – Pelvic Biomechanics and Movement in Labor with Brittany Sharpe McCollum
• 221- Evidence on Birthing Positions and Tried-and-True Midwifery Practices for Protecting the Perineum
• 241- The Updated Evidence on Birthing Positions

Find the updated Signature Article on the Evidence on Eating and Drinking in Labor here

Listen to the associated Podcast episodes on Eating and Drinking:

• 198 & 233 – Updates on Eating During Labor

Fina the updated Signature Article on the Evidence on IV fluids here

Listen to the associated Podcast episodes on IV fluids:

• 235 – Evidence on IV Fluids with Dr. Rebecca Dekker
• 208 – Advocating for Your Rights in Birth with EBB Childbirth Class Graduation Cheyanne Saenz
• 104 – The Evidence on Saline Locks

Find the updated Signature Article on the Evidence on Freidman’s Curve and Failure to Progress here

Listen to the associated Podcast episodes on Failure to Progress:

• 224 – Failure to Progress or Failure to Wait with Ihotu Ali, Erin Wilson, and Rebecca Dekker
• 196 – Pelvic Biomechanics and Movement in Labor with Brittany Sharpe McCollum
• 75 – Birth in Twilight Sleep – the Experiences of Rebecca’s Mom

Debunking Pelvic Shapes Handout and the Abortion Research guide can be found here.

Free Public Webinars:

• Spring Webinar: Failure to Wait
• Fall Webinar: Evidence on Pitocin

Rebecca’s Favorite Projects:

• Protecting the Perineum Series
  • 221 – Evidence on Birthing Positions and Tried-and-True Midwifery Practice for Protecting the Perineum
  • 218 – The Evidence on Perineal Massage During Labor with Dr. Rebecca Dekker
  • 216 – The Evidence on Perineal Massage for Preventing Tears in Childbirth with Dr. Rebecca Dekker
  • 206 – Evidence on Perineal Tears and the Importance of Avoiding Episiotomy with EBB Founder, Dr. Rebecca Dekker

• Abortion Research Guide
  • 240: Top Five Most Surprising Findings from the EBB Abortion Research Guide with Dr. Dekker & Doctoral Candidate Tyler Jean Dukes

• Reproductive Justice
• 217 – Disability Justice in Birth and Parenting with Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu
• 234 – Tackling Fatphobia in Lactation with Kristin Cavuto
• 243 – Importance of Kick Counting for Preventing Stillbirth with Stephaney Moody, Health Equity Ambassador of Count the Kicks
• 227 – Amplifying the Need for Intersectional Birth Support for QTBIPOC Birthing People with Xian Brooks of the Dandy Doula
• 238 – Black Fatherhood and Fighting Anti-Black Racism with Brandon Diggs Williams, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• 228 – Uplifting Radicalized Birth Work with Anna, The Pocket Doula
• 229 – Evidence on Doulas: Community-Based Models, the Pandemic and Reimbursement with the Research Team

Most downloaded Episodes in 2022

• #5 - 235 – Evidence on IV Fluids with Dr. Rebecca Dekker
• #4 – 222 – Navigating Induction and Pregnancy at 35+ with EBB Instrutor and Birth Fusion Founder, Jennifer Anderson
• #3 - 224 – Failure to Progress or Failure to Wait with Ihotu Ali, Erin Wilson, and Rebecca Dekker
• #2 - 221 – Evidence on Birthing Positions and Tried-and-True Midwifery Practice for Protecting the Perineum
• #1 – 241 – The Updated Evidence on Birthing Positions

Watch Bringin’ in Da Spirit Trailer here

Listen to Team EBB’s 2022 Spotify Playlist here

In this episode, we are talking with Scarlett Lynsky (she/her) from Hatchings Doula all about her experiences as an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and two-time gestational surrogate.

Scarlett Lynsky was born, raised, and practices as a doula and childbirth educator in Portland, Oregon. Fascinated by childbirth from an early age, and inspired by Grantly Dick-Read's Childbirth Without Fear, she decided to become a Childbirth Educator and Doula in 2009. Over the last 13 years, Scarlett has attended over 200 births. She is passionate about informed consent, bodily autonomy and tuning in to each birthing person's needs at any given moment. Scarlett has two children of her own as well as completing two "extra credit births" in the form of gestational surrogacy. She continues to be in awe of the transformative power of birth and the strength and bravery of every birthing person.

In this episode, Scarlett shares how she came into birth work and why she chose to pursue two very different but equally beautiful surrogacy journeys. We discuss the nuances of being a surrogate and the importance of open and clear communication between the gestational carrier, the intended parent(s), and their support and care teams.

Content Warnings: fertility/infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, bleeding in pregnancy, subchorionic hemorrhage, abortion,  pregnancy termination, assisted reproduction, IVF, 3rd party reproduction, gendered language, adoption, maternal mortality, high risk pregnancy, discussion of down syndrome, pregnancy complications related to uterine loss

Resources and References:

Find out more about Scarlett’s EBB Childbirth Class and Doula services on her website here and follow her on Instagram here.

Childbirth Without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth by Grantly Dick-Read (1959), find a copy here

Learn about agency Scarlett worked with in Oregon, Northwest Surrogacy Center here.

Go to our YouTube channel to see video versions of the episode listed above!!

For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com.

Find us on: 

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Ready to get involved? 

• Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) here 
• Find an EBB Instructor here 
• Click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

On today's podcast, we talk with Jencie Richtman, an Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class graduate, about her experience taking the EBB Childbirth Class to help navigate her VBAC.

Jencie and her husband are graduates of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class with EBB instructor Julie Fors. Jencie is a mother of two living in the north suburbs of Chicago with her husband. Jencie used the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class as a tool to help her with her VBAC with her second child.

In this episode, we hear both of Jencie’s birth stories. Her first birth was an induction that resulted in a Cesarean, and the second, was the healing VBAC experience she was hoping for. Jencie explains how the EBB Childbirth Class helped her and her support team to plan for the birth she desired. She shares how important it was finding a provider and a hospital that supported her choices which helped her to process and heal from the trauma she experienced during her first labor and birth.

Content Warnings:  induction, failed induction, BMI, Cesarean, vaginal birth after Cesarean, birth trauma, informed consent, birth guilt, use of coercive language, obstetric violence, high intervention birth, delayed bonding, gendered language, difficulty breastfeeding, COVID-19

Resources and References

Read EBB’s Signature Article on Skin-to-Skin Care after a Cesarean here. 

Evidence Based Birth® Podcast Episodes regarding VBACs: 

• EBB 113 – The Evidence on VBAC
• EBB 209 – Providing Unbiased VBAC Access and Support with VBAC Facts® Founder, Jen Kamel
• EBB 79 – Life of a Doula Part 1. – from Cesarean to VBAC
• EBB 232 – Advocacy, VBAC, and Becoming a Home Birth Midwife with Melek Oz

Find out more about Julie For’s EBB Childbirth Class and other services on her website Journey Forward here and follow Instagram here 

Go to our YouTube channel to see video versions of the episode listed above!!

For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com.

Find us on: 

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Ready to get involved? 

• Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) here 
• Find an EBB Instructor here 
• Click here to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.