Birthing Instincts

#481: Microbirth, A Film Explains How We Birth Matters

What if the way we enter the world has consequences that reach far beyond the day we're born? This week, Blyss and Stu dive into “Microbirth”, the 2014 documentary explo

#480: From Hashimoto’s to Breech: The Surprising Role of Thyroid in Pregnancy

Thyroid health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pregnancy, but thyroid hormones play an important role in both maternal health and fetal

#479: An Emotional Week & Some Data On Uterine Rupture

This week, Blyss and Stu run the gamut, from joy and grief to frustration, research, and a whole lot of questions about who really gets to decide what “safe” birth looks

#478: Deception In Documentation Is Pervasive & Pernicious

What happens when the medical record doesn't match the birth experience? This week, Blyss and Stu dive into one of the most uncomfortable, but critically important topic

#477: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR): Our Chat with Doula Dude, Travis Stroud

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome Doula Dude, Travis Stroud, whose perspective has captivated millions of viewers in just a few short months. Travis never imagined he'd be

#476: Questioning the 2 cm Placenta Rule & A Remarkable Breech Twin Birth with Fadwah Halaby

This week, Dr. Stu welcomes Florida midwife Fadwah Halaby for an inspiring conversation about evidence, autonomy, and trusting physiological birth. Before diving into an

#475: Birth Story & Body Health with Holistic Aesthetician, Michelle Vaughan

What happens when a traumatic first birth becomes the catalyst for a completely different second experience? This week, Blyss and Stu welcome holistic esthetician Michel

#474: The Mystery Of Postpartum Preeclampsia

Postpartum preeclampsia is one of the least talked about, but potentially most serious, complications after birth. This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss explore what we kn

#473: Pursuing Peace With Courage & Confidence

This week, we're setting aside our usual topic-driven format to share something even more meaningful: real stories from our fellow travelers. Join us in reading one of t

#472: Lupus in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks Without the Fear

In this episode of Birthing Instincts, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in pregnancy. Together they explore what lupus is, how it a

#471: How Birth Shapes Mothers, Babies, and The Future, with Suzanne Arms

This week, Blyss and Stu welcome birth pioneer, author, filmmaker, and educator Suzanne Arms, one of the most influential voices in the natural birth movement of the last

470: "Allowed" To Birth with Documentary Filmmaker, Jacinta Lagos

What happens when a birth photographer picks up a camera and decides she can no longer stay silent? This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome Jacinta Lagos, an award-

#469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?

This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected “big babies”. Prompted by a recent soc

#468: Everybody's Doing It", Not A Legal Standard Of Care With Hermine Hayes-Klein, ESQ.

What happens when hospitals decide informed consent no longer applies to breech birth? In this powerful and deeply important episode, Blyss and Stu welcome back attorney

#467: Magic Wand, The Benefits of Red Light Therapy With Liz Frey....

This week, Dr. Stu and Blyss break down a recent Substack article reviewing large studies comparing planned home birth and hospital birth for low-risk women. The data? Fe

#466: Update On The Use Of TXA (Tranexamic Acid)

What happens when a medication designed to stop hemorrhage quietly starts creeping into routine birth care? This week, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss take on TXA (tranexamic

#465: For All The Midwives In Texas: Fighting Injustice with Salli Gonzalez & Octavia Martinez, Esq

In this week’s episode, Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss sit down with Texas midwife Salli Gonzalez and attorney Octavia Martinez to unpack a case that should concern not only l

#464: A Confused Mixture Of Topics: Clearing The Desk

This week’s podcast Blyss and Stu come to you with no guest and no single topic, just a “hodgepodge” of what’s been piling up in Dr. Stu’s mind attic. From collapsing bi

#463: The 20 Week Ultrasound: Dissecting the Anatomy Scan

The 20-week anatomy scan has become a routine part of modern pregnancy, but is it truly essential, or just another layer of over-monitoring? After receiving a listener q

#462: When Surrounded, Take The First Opportunity To Fight Like Hell With Del Bigtree

What if the system you trust never did the science you assume it did? In this explosive episode, Dr. Stu and Blyss sit down with Del Bigtree to pull back the curtain on