Yoga | Birth | Babies

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with licensed social worker and Program Director of the Motherhood Center of New York, Paige Bellenbaum.  This deeply honest and moving discussion needs to be heard and discussed with all expectant women, partners and support people. It is reported that 1 in 5 women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.  It’s important to note that this statistic is only based on reported cases and that many more women will suffer in silence. Many professionals feel a more accurate statistic is 1 in 3 people. Paige bravely discusses her own debilitating experience with postpartum depression and anxiety and her commitment to supporting those experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In this episode:  What brought Paige to this work and her own experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. How common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are for women Seeing and understanding the symptoms of PMADs Do PMADs go away on their own? What OBGYNs, midwives  and pediatricians are doing in regards to PMADs The difficulty many women face telling anyone they are struggling How a friend, partner or family member can tell someone if they think their loved one is suffering from a PMAD Do PMADs only happen after the birth of your first child Who is at greater risk for a PMAD Places someone suffering from PDAD can seek help   About Paige: Paige started her social work career working at a homeless shelter for families in San Francisco, where she built a $4 million Housing and Aftercare Program for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. She then moved to New York City in 2000 to get her Masters of Social Work at Columbia University. After she graduated, she worked for an organization called the Center for Family Life located in Sunset Park Brooklyn as a Community Developer, where she was responsible for community outreach and relations for the organization. She also oversaw a food pantry and advocacy clinic. Paige then worked as the Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach for Habitat for Humanity – New York City for many years. While at Habitat, she had her first child – Max. After Max was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression that almost cost her her own life. Once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for education, screening and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State that was championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating education and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers that was signed into law in 2014. Paige has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change. She has appeared on the Today Show, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Women’s Health Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and several other print publications. Paige left her post as Director of Community Programs at Settlement Housing Fund to help open The Motherhood Center, where she oversaw a portfolio of programs ranging from a homeless shelter for families, transitional housing, a state of the art computer lab, and an alternative to incarceration program for young adults. Paige is currently on the steering committee of the NYC Maternal Depression Collaborative that is responsible for implementing the First Lady’s commitment to screening every new and expecting mother for postpartum depression. She also is a Board Member of a non-profit called Refoundry that trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose discarded materials into home furnishings, and incubates participan

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with internationally-acclaimed yoga educator and pelvic floor specialist, Leslie Howard.  We speak about the importance of a healthy pelvic floor and how things such as constantly tightening the pelvic floor and abdomen can be detrimental. Everyone deserves a healthy, functional body and Leslie’s insight into creating balance in the pelvis is remarkable. In this episode: The importance of understanding and investigating one’s personal pelvic floor since everyone is different with different issues. The difference between hypotonic and hypertonic. Why Kegeling is not the answer for most pelvic floors. Incontinence and the hypertonic pelvic floor. The detriment of always holding one’s abdomen tight. What is a paradoxical breather and why it is not good for the pelvic floor and abdominal health Lifestyle choices, exercise regiments, and other factors that could contribute to inbalance in the pelvic floor. What you can do daily to help have a balanced pelvic floor. About Leslie: Leslie Howard is an Oakland-based internationally-acclaimed yoga educator who pioneered the growing field of yoga for pelvic health. Son-ima Health named her one of the top 50 yoga instructors in the USA. Leslie leads Pelvic Floor YogaTM certification trainings and other workshops across the United States and internationally. Her teaching is informed by over 3,500 hours of study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers including Manouso Manos, Patricia Walden, and Ramanand Patel. In 2013, Leslie, with contributions from Judith Lasater, co-designed two successful studies at UCSF medical center that demonstrated the effectiveness of her yoga techniques for incontinence and pelvic pain. Leslie’s own struggles to heal her hips and pelvis led her to intense study of the anatomy, physiology, cultural messaging, history and energetics of this complex area of the body.  Her new book, Pelvic Liberation, is available through Amazon.  To find out more about Leslie, go  to www.lesliehowardyoga.com

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with founder of the CrunchyRadish.com, registered dietitian, and natural foods chef Miranda Hammer.  We discuss nutrition, food preferences and aversions during pregnancy, and how to get optimal nutrition for mom and baby.  We also talk about the reality of finding a balanced and healthy diet during the exhausting “4th trimester.”  Miranda shares some insightful tips that will be sure to help any tired and busy new or expectant parent.  Enjoy and Bon appetite!   In this episode:    What brought Miranda to the study of nutrition. The start of CrunchyRadish.com How her approach to nutrition and food changed during pregnancy. How to maintain a balanced diet. How she creates her delicious recipes! How Miranda’s personal eating habits changed as a new mom. Dealing with the battle between knowing what is good for your body and baby and how to realistically eat that way. Quick and delicious “go to” snacks or meals for a busy, tired new mom. What Miranda refers to as “One Handed Eating.” How life has changed since baby came. The biggest changes both personally and professional as a new mom. The biggest surprise Miranda has experienced as a new mother. Take away tips for pregnant women and new moms to find ease and flavor in snacks and meals.   About Miranda: Miranda Hammer, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian, natural foods chef and founder of the website crunchyradish.com. Miranda primarily focuses on plant-based nutrition, as well as recipe and content development. She received her Master’s Degree from the Clinical Nutrition Program at New York University and completed her clinical rotations at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Additionally, Miranda attended the Chef’s Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Past work experience includes serving as a Clinical Dietitian at Montefiore Medical Center and running her own private practice in New York City. Her work has been featured in Vogue, mindbodygreen, Well + Good, and food52. She is currently the resident RD for superfood company Navitas Organics.   Connect with Miranda on instagram @thecrunchyradish   “Yoga | Birth | Babies” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance.  Go to healthiq.com/YBB to support the show and see if you qualify.  

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with anthropologist, Dr. Meredith Small, about how our biology, culture and history influence how we parent our children.  In this fun, lively conversation, Meredith and I discus and compare different cultures and their approach to child raring.  Some of the way we care for our children come from the societal rules and cultural acceptance and others from the biology of our bodies and connection to our babies. In this episode: Meredith’s inspiration for “Our Babies, Ourselves.“ The take away Meredith wanted to from writing this book The take away she hoped readers would gain from “Our Babies, Ourselves.“ Changes in the approach to the work since she originally published the book. What is ethnopediatrics? The importance of bonding between the baby and the mother figure. Culture and personality and what that means in terms of parenting. Parental goals and the different parental goals within different cultures. “Western parenting” and how does it stand out from other parenting styles. How the American culture views their babies differently than other cultures. “Helicopter parents” versus child independence. What sleep patterns and habits say about a culture and parenting /child relationship. How crying differs from culture to culture.  Do western babies cry more?  Why? Breastfeeding – how the concept of breastfeeding differs among different cultures, how long to breastfeed? social acceptance?  support and encouragement to breastfeed? About Meredith: Meredith F. Small is a writer, Professor Emerita at Cornell University , and Visiting Scholar in the Department of Anthropology at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Small received her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of California, Davis, and spent several years studying the behavior of macaque monkeys in captivity and in the wild.  Although trained as a primate behaviorist, Small is now most interested how the intersection of biology and culture influence human behavior. Besides numerous publications in academic journals, Dr. Small is also a science journalist. Her work has appeared in Discover, Natural History, Scientific American, and New Scientist, among many other magazines and newspapers.  Small was also a regular commentator for National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and for two years she wrote a weekly column, Human Nature, for LiveScience.com She is the author five books including What’s Love Got to Do With it? The Evolution of Human Mating, Our Babies, Ourselves; How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent, Kids, and The Culture of Our Discontent; Beyond the Medical Model of Mental Illness. Dr. Small received the Anthropology in Media Award from the American Anthropological Association, and her work was chosen twice for The Best Science and Nature Writing volumes from Houghton-Mifflin. where she teaches Biological Anthropology. She is a Weiss Presidential Fellow for excellence in teaching at Cornell University has been also honored with the Russell Award for Teaching, an Outstanding Educator Award from the Merrill Presidential Scholar Program at Cornell, and the Anthropology in Media Award from the American Anthropological Association.   Read more on: meredithfsmall.com.

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I take off my interviewer hat and become the guest speaker!  For the past 17 years I have had the joy and honor of leading group yoga classes as well as teacher trainings.  In this podcast, I breakdown the principles from which I teach and train other teachers.  For those who are new to teaching or just students who want to better understand my methodology, I hope you enjoy! In this episode, I cover:  The importance of seeing your students! Learning from your best teachers, your students. The pros and cons of demonstrating. Know your demographic: who you are teaching and how they best learn. Don’t be afraid to correct and adjust a student Hand on adjustments- does everyone need to be adjusted? Know why you are touching a student – your hands should be giving information as to how to stabilize or go deeper in a pose. Don’t ignore the student who needs the most attention because you are overwhelmed by their poses. My personal pet peeve- massage or little creepy adjustments. Teach!  Don’t just recite memorized cues –  or shout out poses. Intelligent sequencing – how do poses relate to one another. Using music- it should add to the underlying flow and drive of the rhythm About Deb : Deb is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a degree in Musical Theater. She has spent most of her life performing and was introduced to yoga through a choreographer in 1997. After several years as a yoga student, she decided to continue her education and became certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor. In 2001 Deb headed out to Seattle to study with renowned prenatal yoga teacher Colette Crawford, R.N., at the Seattle Holistic Center. Deb has received certification for Vinyasa Yoga from Shiva Rea as well as completed the OM Yoga advanced teacher training with Cyndi Lee in 2004. Deb has also studied the Maternal Fitness Method with Julie Tupler. Deb currently studies with Cyndi Lee, Genevieve Kapular, and Carrie Owerko. After being witness to several “typical” hospital births, Deb felt it was important to move beyond the yoga room and be present in the birthing room. In 2003, Deb attended her first birth as a DONA certified labor support doula. In that short period of time, Deb has attended about 100 births. She is continuously in awe of the beauty and brilliance of birth. In 2006, Deb received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Deb completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee. Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula, childbirth educator and mother, Deb looks to establish a safe, effective and empowering class for pregnancy and beyond. In April 2016, Deb had the honor of being a presenter at the Yoga Journal Live New York Conference. Deb is the proud (and tired!) mother of her son Shay and daughter Sage. Click here for Deb’s teaching schedule, her teacher trainings, and her upcoming events! “Yoga | Birth | Babies” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance.  Go to healthiq.com/YBB

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with neonatologist and social worker, Dr Sue Hall about navigating the Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU).  Having a child in the NICU can be overwhelming and a great emotional strain.  Dr Hall has dedicated much of her career to the psycho-social support of NICU parents.  Our discussion sheds some light on what parents may expect, how they can advocate for themselves and their child and how to find support during this turbulent time. In this Episode: What is the NICU ? The different levels of a NICU? The percentage of babies that visit the NICU. Common reasons a newborn may end up in the NICU. Challenges parents face when their baby is in the NICU. How the NICU staff helps support bonding with parents and baby during this time. Ways a parent can still be involved with the care of their baby in the NICU. Ideas for parents to advocate for themselves and their baby and understand the care their baby is receiving. How parents can find support since emotions are so high. How can friends and family understand the stress and emotion the parents are going through and ways to offer good support. Ways to help parents  with a baby in the NICU and things that may NOT be helpful. Finding self-care for the parent after giving birth and taking care of a NICU baby. Breastfeeding in the NICU. Kangaroo care with new baby. Taking the baby home from the NICU- what to expect and the fears and concerns that come along with that transition. The commonality of postpartum depression or post traumatic stress disorder from parents that underwent the NICU experience and suggestions to help the parents process this experience. About Dr. Hall: Dr. Sue Hall has been a neonatologist for nearly 30 years, and before that she worked as a master’s level social worker. She has a BA from Stanford University, an MSW from Boston University, and an MD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She completed training in Pediatrics and Neonatology at The Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, then joined the faculty at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine where she was affiliated for 19 years. Now in private practice at a community hospital NICU in Southern California, Dr. Hall is a board member of the National Perinatal Association and has numerous publications in the scientific literature on the topic of psycho-social support of NICU parents. She is also the author of a book about life in the NICU, titled For the Love of Babies, published in June, 2011.   Connect with Dr. Hall: www.support4nicuparents.org www.mynicunetwork.com   “Yoga | Birth | Babies” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance.  Go to healthiq.com/YBB to support the show and see if you qualify.

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies” we’re sharing an inspirational birth story from our community. Today’s guest Bridget Tichar had a great birth and we want to share her experience to provide some inspiration and comfort for our expectant Mamas! Bridget was an active member of the Prenatal Yoga Center community throughout her pregnancy coming to class 5 times a week, though she previously was not a fan of yoga. Bridget has always led an active lifestyle and was able to maintain this through her pregnancy. Stay tuned to hear all about her birth experience; how she coped with waiting in the waiting room, surrendered to help from a loving partner, found the humor in labor and birth, and brought her son Teddy into this world! “I want to do this, I am doing this, this is not hard.” About Bridget: Bridget is a first-time mom to 6-month old son, Teddy. She holds a master’s degree in communications and currently works part-time from home as the director of a non-profit charity she created 5 years ago. Previous to the birth of her son, she worked as a retail manager and played women’s beach volleyball competitively. She is a vegetarian and enjoys running daily while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Bridget lives on the upper west side of Manhattan with her husband, Joe.   “Yoga | Birth | Babies” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance.  Go to healthiq.com/YBB to support the show and see if you qualify.

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies” Dr. Michelle Canarick and I have an intimate discussion of loss, as we explore what is was like to move through and forward after a miscarriage. Touching on our personal experiences and Michelle’s professional experience as a psychologist she offers comfort and advice for grieving mothers and their partners. In this episode: Michelle and Deb discuss their miscarriage experiences. Medical options a woman has to deal with an incomplete miscarriage. Advice for the woman who has had the miscarriage and has to face colleagues and friends who are pregnant, support can she find. How often miscarriage happens. Things to consider before trying again. Fostering confidence in your body’s ability to carry a pregnancy full term. Partners may process the experience differently, some ways to help the couple get through this experience together. How to have an open a conversation with your partner so the mother doesn’t feel isolated by the experience. How do partners grieve differently than the mother. Who to tell you’re pregnant & when, an emotional perspective. To read Michelle’s blog post referenced in this episode: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/life-after-loss-a-story-of-miscarriage-and-moving-forward/ About Michelle: Michelle Canarick is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the mother of two young children. As a psychotherapist and a mother, she empathizes with the experience of building a family and provides individual and group therapy to mothers, children, and adolescents through her private practice, NYC Mom Support, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Her approach is grounded in the concept of empathy and providing practical techniques to help individuals and families thrive. Dr. Canarick has made multiple appearances on Good Morning America and speaks to parents with children of all ages on topics ranging from sleep training to setting limits with social media. Her other experiences include Bellevue Hospital, the Hallowell Center, the JCC of Manhattan, and the Ethical Culture/Fieldston School Connect with Michelle at http://michellecanarickphd.com or at http://nycmomsupport.com “Yoga | Birth | Babies” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance.  Go to healthiq.com/YBB to support the show and see if you qualify.        

Did you know it will cost a middle-income couple slightly more than $245,000 to raise a child born in 2013 to the age of 18?!  On this episode of  “Yoga| Birth | Babies,” I speak with financial advisor, Amy Brackett.  She and I discuss the daunting task of getting personal finances in order for the transition into parenthood. For anyone who is not already a financial advisor, this podcast will help demystify how much childhood really costs and how to best plan and prepare for it! In this episode: Some of the biggest mistakes new parents make in terms of their finances. Planning financial goals post baby: areas new parents should consider and focus on. How to pay for childcare: planning and budgeting for the early years before full days of school. Is there a rule of thumb for how much to save? The best way for a parent or guardian to go about saving for college. Planning retirement and college funds a the same time! How much to have in an emergency fund. Tips for estate planning and wills. About Amy:  Amy Brackett, CFA, is a Senior Vice President at The Solaris Group, a specialized wealth management and investment consulting firm which manages money for individuals, families and non-profit institutions. Amy is involved in all aspects of the client relationship including asset allocation and manager selection, and is a member of the Solaris Investment Committee. Amy serves on several Boards and Finance Committees including the Board of Bowery Babes, a group for moms living in downtown NYC.” She also writes articles on personal finance topics relating to families at Savvy-Parents.com. Amy lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children. You can contact Amy at brackett@solarisgroupllc.com or 917-566-3811.

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with 5th Vital Sign’s co-founders, Emily Varnam and Kelsey Knight.  This conversation is circling around the importance of understanding your body to understanding your fertility.  We dive deep into reproductive health and signs of peak fertility and meet up on the other side with postpartum fertility.  Hope you enjoy! In this episode:  What drew Kelsey and Emily to this line of work. What is the 5th vital sign and how they originated the idea? The reproductive health climate Emily and Kelsey are seeing in their classes and at speaking events. The base of knowledge the average person already has about their own reproductive health. When to start to look for their “normal.” Important observations people can start to look for and learn about their body in preparing for trying to conceive. Lifestyle changes to consider when trying to conceive. Signs of Prime fertility. Paper or app- what is the best way to chart basil body temperature. How conscious breathing can benefit the whole body including fertility. Breastfeeding as birth control. What the 5th vital sign up to now and where can people find Emily and Kelsey A resource for people who are experiencing infertility: https://www.fruitfulfertility.org/. “Your Best Fertility Ally, Fellow Fertility Warriors:” http://www.5thvitalsign.com/blog/2017/8/24/your-best-fertility-ally-fellow-fertility-warriors. About Emily and Kelsey: Emily Varnam is a birth and postpartum doula, midwive’s assistant, birth control doula, placenta encapsulation specialist, and holds a degree in counseling and mentoring. She has been working with newborns and families since age seven and her goal is to be able to take people’s hands during puberty and walk with them through every stage of reproductive health. Kelsey Knight is a registered nurse specializing in labor and delivery, a childbirth educator, and lactation consultant in New York City. In college, she worked as a birth doula, which opened her eyes to the imperatives of informed consent and health as a human right. She co-founded The Fifth Vital Sign to address systems’ wide gaps in reproductive health education.   Connect with Emily & Kelsey:  Facebook: @5thvitalsign Instagram: @thefifthvitalsign website: 5thvitalsign.com  

On this episode of “Yoga| Birth|Babies,” I speak with founder of Birth Monopoly and co-creator of the Exposing the Silence Project, Cristen Pascucci.  Cristen and I have a lively conversation about informed consent and implied consent in maternity care.  This episode reveals what your rights are as a pregnant and birthing woman.  Did you know you can refuse routine interventions and ask for more clarification on the risks and benefits of these interventions? Feeling more involved in the decision making of one’s birth experience has shown to leave the mother feeling more positive about her birth.  Please take the time to listen to this talk to better support yourself and your family. In this episode:  What brought Cristen to moving away from working in a PR firm to starting Birth Monopoly? What does implied consent mean in maternity care? The difference between informed consent and implied consent? What are women’s rights in labor and birth once they have been admitted to the hospital and signed a general consent form? Reviewing the ACOG’s statement: “That informed consent is ‘the willing acceptance of a medical intervention by a patient after adequate disclosure by the physician of the nature of the intervention with its risks and benefits and of the alternatives with their risks and benefits.’”   How and when to encourage this conversation to take place since the middle of labor or facing a time crunch for a suggested procedure may be difficult to comprehend these things. The importance of aligning with care provider supporting your rights of refusal and supporting your birth vision. Is there anything a woman cannot refuse during labor and birth? Language to use to help a woman or her birth posse advocate for themselves without becoming adversarial or being labeled “the problem patient” and still creating a friendly, human connection. Is  there ever a bottom line that if the mother is refusing treatment but the medical staff believes the mother and/or the baby are in danger they have a right to override her right to refuse treatment? Why are women’s rights to make decisions and autonomy in birth being violated? Visible improvements in maternity care with the rise of more mainstream birth activism. What else Cristen is up to and where to find her! About Cristen: Cristen Pascucci is A former communications strategist at a top public affairs firm in Baltimore, Maryland, Cristen Pascucci is the founder of Birth Monopoly and Birth Monopoly’s Doula Power group, co-creator of the Exposing the Silence Project, and, from 2012 to 2016, vice president of national advocacy organization Improving Birth. She has run an emergency hotline for women facing threats to their legal rights in childbirth, created a viral consumer campaign to “Break the Silence” on trauma and abuse in childbirth, and helped put obstetric violence and the maternity care crisis in national media.  Today, she is a leading voice for women giving birth, speaking around the country and consulting privately for consumers and professionals on issues related to birth rights and options.  Cristen is also the host of Birth Allowed Radio as well as executive producer of a documentary film planned for release in 2019 to start a national conversation on obstetric violence, birth trauma, and women’s rights in birth. Cristen’s Projects: birthmonopoly.com http://www.exposingthesilenceproject.com Birth Allowed Radio  

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement, Dr Debra Bingham.  Recently in the news there have been articles discussing the study “Nurses’ Knowledge and Teaching of Possible Postpartum Complications” highlighting the wide range (often lack) of knowledge postpartum nurses have about maternal mortality rates in the US and what is appropriate instructions to be sending new mothers home with from the hospital or birth center.  Dr Bingham was one of the authors of this study.  She discusses the findings of her work as well as life saving information women can learn to take charge of their own health postpartum. Topics discussed: A deeper discussion about the study, “American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing: Nurses’ Knowledge and Teaching of Possible Postpartum Complications.” The current infant and maternal mortality rate and how it compares to other industrialized countries The most vulnerable period for a mother postpartum. The leading causes and trends in pregnancy related morbidity and mortality. Specific warning and urgent emergency signs a woman and her partner should know. Who is responsible for medical support for mom and baby before she is discharged from the hospital or birth center? The process before a woman is discharged and the lack of a medical and psychological set standard to examine to before discharge. The typical education women receive at discharge. What other cultures are doing that we can learn from to better support our new mothers. Places a woman can find further information and education and get comprehensive information to best find support. Improving Postbirth Dishcharge Education About Potential Complications: http://www.perinatalqi.org/page/PPDischargeEdu   About Dr. Bingham: Dr. Debra Bingham has over 30 years experience in Maternal Child Health Nursing, a master’s degree in perinatal nursing from Columbia University, and a doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Most of Debra’s career has been spent working in hospital leadership positions at the front lines of healthcare. For example, she has held the positions of Director of Maternal Child Health Nursing for 2 union hospitals in New York City, Manager of a large referral Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in New York City, a stand-alone birthing center in a small community hospital, and a fetal evaluation unit. Debra has expertise in Quality Improvement (QI), health care safety, and implementation science.  Her dissertation was on how to improve front-line clinician’s quality improvement implementation effectiveness.  In addition, she has led numerous QI inter-disciplinary initiatives designed to improve the safety of healthcare.  She is an author of numerous articles published in peer reviewed journals and of implementation toolkits. Debra was the Vice President of Research, Education, and Practice for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) where she led the development and launch of the Postpartum Hemorrhage Project, the Women’s Health and Perinatal Nursing Care Quality Measures, and the Maternal Fetal Triage Index.  Dr. Bingham was the first Executive Director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative where she helped form the collaborative and the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (CA-PAMR) committee, co-authored the Ob

In this episode of “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with pediatrician and author of the bestselling book, The Happiest Baby On The Block, Dr. Harvey Karp.  This conversation is for any new or expectant parent who desires to have well refined techniques to help calm a fussy baby and get some more sleep! Topics covered: What brought Dr Karp to this work How Dr. Karp discovered and refined these techniques Description of the calming reflex Th 5 S technique ? Why the 5 S these techniques work? Why the side is an ideal position to calm a baby but not to sleep in Swinging and jiggling, but why not to have your baby sleep in a swing Do all 5 S’s need to be used or simply layering the techniques What is colic? Will the 5 S’s work on a colicky baby? What is the SNOO How and when to wean your baby from the SNOO Other place and projects Dr Karp is working on Happiest Baby: https://www.happiestbaby.com EWG: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/#.WgeupbaZOu4 About Dr. Karp Dr. Harvey Karp is one of America’s leading pediatricians and child development experts. His celebrated books/videos, The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Happiest Toddler on the Block and The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep have been translated into over 20 languages and have benefited millions of parents. Happiest Baby classes are taught by thousands of specially trained educators in university hospitals and public health programs across America and in over 20 other nations. Dr. Karp’s insights into child development (e.g. the Calming Reflex, the 5 S’s and Toddler-ese) have made him one of the world’s leading baby and sleep experts. Several peer reviewed studies have validated his innovative observations and multiple additional studies are underway. No wonder, the NY Times applauded his landmark ideas by saying, “Roll over, Dr. Spock!” Dr. Karp is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He practiced pediatrics in Los Angeles for almost 30 years. His unique ability to translate complex science into effective techniques to empower parents have revolutionized our understanding of the needs of young children. Dr. Karp is also the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, a smart-tech and parenting solutions company. He designed an award-winning, innovative baby bed – SNOO, Smart Sleeper. SNOO provides womb-like sound and motion to quickly boost a baby’s sleep and imitate an experienced caregiver by responding to crying with increasing levels of motion/sound to soothe infant upsets. The bed comes with a unique swaddle that prevents accidental rolling, which makes SNOO the only baby bed that keeps babies safely on the back for the first 6 months (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics). By improving infant sleep and reducing crying, Dr. Karp’s hope is to improve parent confidence and bonding to their child and to reduce the serious health sequelae of parental exhaustion and stress, including postpartum depression, child abuse, childhood obesity, infant sleep death, etc. For over 20 years, Dr. Karp has been a tireless advocate and a natio

Today on “Yoga | Birth | Babies,” I speak with internationally recognized coach, author, speaker and educator, Carrie Contey.  Carrie and I have a lively and enlightening discussion about why understanding your child’s brain will help you become a better parent.  A helpful episode for parents and caregivers looking for more tools to better understand your child’s behavior and defuse “meltdowns.”  Enjoy! In this episode: What inspired Carrie to get into this line of work. Old paradigm vs. new paradigm in human development. The meaning of the “big being in the little body.” A quick and simple overview of the triune brain. Why it’s important for a parent to understand the triune brain development. How this understanding of the brain can influence parenting. An explanation of the “drum scenario” in relation to children’s brains. What to do when a child is too wound up to hear you. What “Slow Parenting” is. Why “If you want to speed up, slow down” is an important philosophy to begin incorporating into your life. Why a parent’s well-being is essential to the well-being of your growing people Living by the rule “51%-49%” Finding balance in your life and what that looks like. What Carrie is up to these days! To watch the Brain Triune Drumming Videos and see the Brain & Cup Handout visit the show notes: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/big-brain-little-body-the-new-parenting-paradigm-with-carrie-contey-phd/ About Carrie: Carrie Contey, PhD is a internationally recognized coach, author, speaker and educator. Her work offers a new perspective on human development, parenting, family life and being a healthy, happy, whole human being. She is the co-founder of the Slow Family Living movement and the co-author of CALMS: A Guide To Soothing Your Baby. She has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, NPR, CBS radio and in many publications including Time, Parenting and The Boston Globe. Currently she is enjoying the life of a “luxury nomad”, following the path that unfolds in front of her. To learn more please visit carriecontey.com.   Connect with Carrie: Facebook/Instagram: @carrieconteyphd Twitter: @CarrieConteyPhD

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Reproductive Endocrinologist and Fertility Specialist, Dr Pavna Brahma.  Dr Brahma and I discus the often emotionally charged topic of infertility, finding support and different options for having the family you want. In this podcast: What defines infertility? How long does a couple have to try conceive before worrying about fertility? When one should consider getting fertility tested. The different fertility tests for the males and females. Various types of fertility issues that may occur. Contributing factors to infertility. Options for those facing fertility issues and the the sequence of the treatment. Jumping into IVF. Exploring a  combination of disciplines, for example, yoga or acupuncture with traditional fertility treatments. Understanding and supporting the emotional side of infertility. When should one consider stopping fertility treatment? About Dr. Pavna Brahma Dr. Brahma is board certified in both Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She specializes in all aspects of fertility care. She has published papers in multiple peer-reviewed medical journals on topics such as polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency, insulin signaling and metabolism, and uterine anomalies. She is also a contributing author to book chapters and handbooks in the field of reproductive medicine. Dr. Brahma is a member of many medical organizations, including the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology Society.   Connect with Dr. Brahma: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preludefertility Instagram: @prelude website: https://www.preludefertility.com