Podcasts · Kids & Family · Education

Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

My Essential Birth

300 episodes

Birth is amazing, beautiful, wonderful . . . and it can throw you for a loop! Despite our very best birth “plans,” we can find ourselves taking some twist and turns during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that we don’t expect. Enter the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy Podcast! Hey mama! My name is Stephanie, and I’m a mom of three boys, and two girls, a professional doula, childbirth educator, and the creator of the Online Birth Course - My Essential Birth www.myessentialbirth.com. I love to help mothers just like you feel empowered and confident during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood by taking my years of knowledge and personal/professional experience in the birth world and breaking down complex birth topics to make preparing for labor & birth a breeze! Every week, you’ll hear from myself & other women ready to share their knowledge with other pregnant moms about pregnancy and birth topics that will have you feeling knowledgeable and in the driver’s seat of your best birth experience. Your best birth starts here >>>> www.myessentialbirth.com/getstarted

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Relaxation Practice for Labor

    · 28 min · Episode 371

    Relaxation might sound like the boring part of birth prep, but it’s actually the secret weapon nobody takes seriously until they’re mid-contraction wishing they’d practiced. 😅 In this episode I walk you through the…

  2. Birth Story: Unmedicated, Spiritual, and Supportive Hospital Birth with Justina & Kace Knowles

    · 41 min · Episode 370

    I shared this incredible birth story back in 2022, and it’s one that has stayed in my heart because of how much faith carried this couple through. Justina and Kace are proof that when you prepare your mind and your…

  3. Why "At Least You Have a Healthy Baby" Isn't Enough with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett

    · 49 min · Episode 369

    Your birth doesn't have to look dramatic from the outside for it to have affected you deeply. You can have a "textbook" birth and healthy baby and still walk away replaying it at 2am, feeling like something wasn't…

  4. Birth Story: Unmedicated, Hospital Birth with Sally Steffy

    · 44 min · Episode 368

    Some stories are too tender and too good to leave sitting in the archives, and Sally's is one of them. Sally shares her unmedicated hospital birth, and she does it gracefully, while her sweet grandpa had passed away…

  5. Are You Pushing Wrong? What Your Pelvic Floor REALLY Needs for Birth with Dr. Sara Reardon

    · 44 min · Episode 367

    What if the way you’re told to push during birth isn’t actually the whole story? And what if leaking, pelvic pain, painful sex, or feeling like your body just never fully recovered after having a baby aren’t things you…

  6. Birth Story: What If I Can’t Handle Labor? How Mental Preparation & Support Can Change Your Birth

    · 44 min · Episode 366

    I love a good birth story, but this one has a little something extra. Taryn's not just telling you what happened, she's showing you how much the mental side of birth really matters AND what she did to prepare - which…

  7. Preeclampsia, Protein & What Your Early Labs Are Really Telling You with Sarah Thompson

    · 42 min · Episode 365 · Explicit

    Sarah's whole world is focused on YOU — the mama. Because here's the truth we talked about: your baby can be healthy and you can still be sick. And nobody's really watching for that. Sarah Thompson is a functional…

  8. Birth Story: Not Asking for Permission & Preparing for Her Unmedicated Birth with Jo Gibson

    · 46 min · Episode 364

    This first aired in March 2023 and became one of my most downloaded birth stories. Once you hear Jo's "ask forgiveness, not permission" approach, you'll understand exactly why. Jo Gibson is an army wife. Her closest…

  9. Vaccines: What Every Mother Needs to Know

    · 58 min · Episode 363

    🗝️ From The Vault: I first shared this one about a year ago. I still get comments on it and I think it may be one of my most favorite conversations about true consent - no matter the topic! I guess it helps that this…

  10. Unmedicated Birth: How to Have an Induction Without an Epidural

    · 45 min · Episode 362

    🗝️ From The Vault! Every so often there is an episode I just cannot let sit in the archives, and this is one of them. It first aired in April 2022, and it is such a good one to bring back — because here is what I…

  11. Prodromal Labor: How to Survive the Mental & Physical Exhaustion (From the Vault)

    · 33 min · Episode 361

    I first aired this one back in July 2023 and it became one of the most downloaded episodes I have ever put out. Prodromal labor is one of those topics almost nobody talks about, until you are the one lying awake at 2am…

  12. From the Vault Birth Story: Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Jamie Peterson

    · 40 min · Episode 360

    This episode first aired back in August 2023 and it went on to become one of the most downloaded birth stories I have ever put out. So I'm bringing it back! Whether this is your first time hearing Jamie's story or you…

  13. The Vault: Getting Ready for Birth & What Most People Aren't Telling You

    · 33 min · Episode 359

    This one first aired back in November 2025 and you guys loved it. It ended up being one of the most downloaded episodes I have ever done. So I am bringing it back out of the vault because it's just too good to let it…

  14. The Vault Essentials: 3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead)

    · 21 min · Episode 358

    Back by popular demand, this is one of 2026's most-listened episodes. If you're building your birth plan right now, grab your notebook and tune in, mama! What if the birth plan you worked so hard on… actually set you…

  15. Rebroadcast - Unmedicated Birth: How To Prepare If This Is Your Goal

    · 53 min · Episode 357

    This is a rebroadcast of one of our most loved episodes — whether you are listening for the first time or coming back for another listen, I know you are going to get something out of it. Enjoy! ❤️ I have three babies…

  16. Elimination Communication: Going Diaper Free From Birth with Andrea Olson

    · 48 min

    What if your baby has been trying to tell you they need to go to the bathroom this whole time, and you just did not know how to listen? Before disposable diapers existed, 92% of American babies were out of diapers by…

  17. Your Legal Rights in the Birth Room with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein

    · 1 h 11 min · Episode 356

    Signing the general consent form when you walk into the hospital does not mean you have agreed to everything that follows. Not the Pitocin. Not the vaginal exam. Not the electronic fetal monitor. Not the cesarean. Not…

  18. The Truth About Gestational Diabetes Testing, Nutrition & Birth with Midwives, Bonnie Baker & Karina Robinson

    · 41 min · Episode 354

    Gestational diabetes is one of those topics that every pregnant mama needs to understand way before she ever gets to that 28 week test, whether she thinks it applies to her or not. And I could not be more excited about…

  19. Tongue Ties, Breastfeeding & Baby Development: Everything You Need to Know with Michelle Emanuel

    · 43 min · Episode 353

    Is your baby fussy, clicking while nursing, struggling with tummy time, or just not quite seeming like themselves, and nobody can give you a straight answer about why? In this episode, I sit down with Michelle…

  20. Birth Story: A Birth Center Water Birth & Letting Her Body Lead w/Kyla & Gabe

    · 52 min · Episode 352

    After giving birth at 28 weeks with her first baby, Kyla knew that this pregnancy was going to look different. She was intentional about every decision: her providers, her preparation, her birth space, and her mindset…

  21. Can You Say No to Your Doctor During Pregnancy?

    · 18 min · Episode 351

    You leave your prenatal appointment and get in your car. And something just feels off. You are confused. Unsettled. Maybe a little worried about your body or your baby. And you spend the whole drive home trying to…

  22. Before You Say Yes In Labor, Ask These Three Questions

    · 18 min · Episode 350

    What would you do if you were deep in labor and someone walked in and said it was time to talk about Pitocin, breaking your water, or maybe even a cesarean? I am you through the exact moment that catches most mamas…

  23. Eating for Your Cycle, Gut Health & Fertility with Nora DeBora

    · 52 min · Episode 349

    What if understanding your menstrual cycle could completely change the way you prepare for pregnancy and transform how you feel in your body every single month? I sat down with Nora DeBora, functional fertility coach,…

  24. Birth Story: Pitocin Induction, 24 Hours of Unmedicated Labor & a 9lb 12oz Baby — Mary Richardson's Story

    · 48 min · Episode 348

    Birth doesn't always go the way you planned, but preparation never goes to waste. In this encouraging birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Mary Richardson shares her journey from planning a home birth to an unexpected…

  25. Tylenol, Vaccines & Autism: What Every Pregnant Mom Needs to Know with Dr. Ari Calhoun

    · 1 h 07 min · Episode 347

    Is Tylenol really safe during pregnancy? Does it cause Autism? What about vaccines? And are you getting the nutrients your baby's brain actually needs? What if the most important health decisions you make during…

  26. Birth Story: When Birth Brings Both Loss and Healing | Sarah’s Story

    · 59 min · Episode 346

    What would you do if the pregnancy you carefully prepared for suddenly took an unexpected turn? In this powerful and deeply meaningful birth story, My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah, joins me to share the journey of her…

  27. Birth Story: Early Labor, Life Flight Refusal & a 32-Week Baby Who Stunned His Nurses with Christa & Morgan

    · 1 h 32 min · Episode 345

    In this incredible birth story, My Essential Birth parents Christa and Morgan take us through one of the most incredible journeys I have ever had the honor of sharing on this podcast. From a heartbreaking miscarriage…

  28. 3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead)

    · 20 min · Episode 344

    What if the birth plan you worked so hard on… actually set you up for disappointment? Most moms spend hours researching, Googling templates, and checking every box, and still walk away from birth feeling blindsided,…

  29. Before You Say Yes to an Induction, Ask These 3 Questions

    · 17 min · Episode 343

    What would you do if your doctor mentioned induction at what felt like a totally routine appointment, and suddenly you were nodding along to something you weren't even sure you agreed to? In this week's episode, I'm…

  30. Placenta Encapsulation: Should You Eat Your Placenta? Benefits, Risks & Postpartum Recovery w/Dr. Sophia Johnson

    · 44 min · Episode 342

    Some moms swear placenta pills changed their postpartum recovery…others say they did nothing. So what’s actually true? Today I'm sitting down with Dr. Sophia Johnson. She's a physician, researcher, and author who spent…

  31. Birth Story: Her Husband Caught the Baby Before His Coffee Was Ready - Veronica's Home Birth

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 341

    What would you do if your baby came so fast… your husband hadn't even had his morning coffee yet? Veronica planned a home birth... she just didn't plan for it to look like this: her husband catching their daughter in…

  32. Reclaim Your Birth: Sovereignty, Intuition & the Dad's Surprising Role with Midwife, Catalina Clark

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 340

    What if the most powerful voice in your birth room isn't the doctor's — it's your husband's? In this episode, I sit down with Catalina Clark, a licensed home birth midwife in Sonoma, California, who has spent 11 years…

  33. Hospital Birth: The System is Broken, Not You

    · 36 min · Episode 339

    Over the years, birth has slowly shifted from a natural, woman-centered experience to something much more medicalized — and most pregnant moms have no idea why. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how…

  34. Birth Story: "Any Woman Who Wants an Unmedicated Birth Absolutely Can" w/Haley Sampson

    · 44 min · Episode 338

    What does it look like when a pelvic floor physical therapist uses everything she knows — plus the My Essential Birth course — to prepare for her own unmedicated birth? It looks like THIS episode. Haley Sampson is a…

  35. What No One Told You About Fertility & Gestational Diabetes w/ Dr. Kiltz

    · 1 h 08 min · Episode 337

    Is everything we’ve been told about fat… wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Reproductive Endocrinologist & Fertility Specialist, Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility, to talk about infertility, gestational…

  36. VBAC Success Story w/ Sarah Agus-Bina

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 336

    If you're aiming for a VBAC this pregnancy, this one is for you mama! I had a wonderful conversation with My Essential Birth Mama, Sarah. She shares how she navigated pregnancy, labor, and birth with confidence — even…

  37. Early Brain Development in Pregnancy with Neuroscientist, Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum

    · 44 min · Episode 335

    "It's our birthright to be deeply connected to our babies and to grow from it." - Dr. Kirshenbaum What if the most important thing you could do for your baby’s brain… isn’t something you buy, schedule, or optimize —…

  38. Top 16 Birth Myths from 1940's to Today

    · 36 min

    “Don’t lift your arms over your head.” “First babies always come late.” “Hospital birth is the only safe option.” If you’re pregnant, you may have already heard at least one of these — maybe from a well-meaning family…

  39. From Fight Camp to Birth: How a Pro Fighter Prepared for Labor w/Madie Meacham

    · 55 min · Episode 333

    I never thought I would hear birth compared to fighting… but honestly, it might be one of my favorite analogies ever. In this episode, I’m joined by Madie — a professional fighter, dog trainer, and mom — who shares…

  40. Pregnancy Nausea? Do THIS Before Medication

    · 29 min · Episode 332

    If you’re pregnant right now, chances are your mornings—or really, your entire day—feel like a constant battle with nausea. 🤢 And that means this episode is 100% for you! In this episode, we uncover the real reasons…

  41. Choosing ONE Word or Intention for Your Birth Experience

    · 31 min · Episode 331

    Choosing one word may seem simple, but it can completely transform the way you experience pregnancy and birth. In this episode, I share how selecting a single intention or birth word can help you focus your energy,…

  42. REBROADCAST: Birth Story: Unmedicated Birth Story of Embracing the Beauty of Natural Childbirth with Morgan Adams

    · 45 min · Episode 330

    What would you do if your labor moved so fast… you barely made it to the hospital? This birth story is our most downloaded episode of the entire year! In this powerful birth story, My Essential Birth Course student…

  43. From Hospital to Birth Center: An Empowering Second Birth Story w/Rebekah Foderaro

    · 46 min · Episode 329

    What happens when the birth you thought you’d have turns into something even more powerful? In this incredible unmedicated birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Rebekah Foderaro shares her journey from planning a…

  44. 10 Contractions & a Toilet Baby: Positive Home Birth Story w/Ashley & Bryan Worley

    · 44 min · Episode 328

    Can you imagine having only about 10 contractions and your baby being born?! This is seriously the BEST birth story! In this unforgettable (and honestly unbelievable) birth story, My Essential Birth students Ashley &…

  45. Home Birth Story: Prayer, Prenatal Depression, & the Best Birth Story w/Kaitlyn & Kale Hallman

    · 1 h 10 min · Episode 327

    This birth story is such a beautiful reminder that preparation, prayer, and unwavering partner support can truly transform the labor experience. In this episode, Kaitlyn and her husband Kale share their faith-filled…

  46. From Induction Plans to Roadside Baby: Birth Story w/MEB Mama, Karlen Barr

    · 47 min · Episode 326

    What would you do if your baby came so fast… there was no time to make it to the hospital? In this unforgettable, heart-melting birth story, My Essential Birth Mama Karlen shares her journey with us through a…

  47. I Love My Baby… AND I’m Struggling | Why This Is NORMAL in Motherhood with Dr. Margo Lowy

    · 51 min · Episode 325

    “I love my baby… AND I’m struggling.” If you’ve ever thought that and immediately felt guilt, shame, or fear that something was wrong—you are not alone. In this deeply moving and much-needed episode, I sit down with…

  48. 9lb 12oz Baby Home Birth — No Cervical Checks, No Stitches, Taylor's AMAZING Birth Story

    · 1 h 10 min · Episode 324

    If you’ve ever wondered what a peaceful, physiological, deeply empowering home birth can look like — especially with a big baby — this episode will become your new obsession. Today, Taylor Ward walks us through her…

  49. Stop Worrying About Sleep Training - Do THIS Instead!

    · 54 min · Episode 323

    Pregnant and already worried about how your baby will sleep? Forget cry-it-out and rigid sleep methods — there’s a gentler, biology-based way to support your baby’s rest. In this episode, Pediatric Sleep Expert Louise…

  50. Getting Ready for Birth: What Most People Aren't Telling You

    · 32 min · Episode 322

    Join the My Essential Birth Course by Nov 7 and get TWO exclusive bonuses: The Belly Mapping Guide + Partner Belly Binding Video! Help your baby get into the best position for birth and support your healing postpartum.…

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