Podcast · Kids & Family

Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

by My Essential Birth · English · Kids & Family

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 Ste

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest: 7 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026 · 48 min

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

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 right, like nobody was really listening to you. And if that's you, you are not being dramatic, and you are not ungrateful. You're human. I sat down with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett — a health psychologist and board-certified lactation consultant who has spent her entire career res...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E368 · 30 Sep 2026 · 44 min
Birth Story: Unmedicated, Hospital Birth with Sally Steffy
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 just days before she went into labor. Her story is a powerful picture of the goodness of God woven through both grief and joy, all in the same week. We talk about how giving birth brought her and her husband closer than ever, and the little things she brought to the hospita...
E367 · 24 Sep 2026 · 43 min
Are You Pushing Wrong? What Your Pelvic Floor REALLY Needs for Birth with Dr. Sara Reardon
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 simply have to live with? In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer — a board-certified pelvic floor therapist with 20 years of experience — to talk about the part of your body that plays a HUGE role in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery...
E366 · 16 Sep 2026 · 43 min
Birth Story: What If I Can’t Handle Labor? How Mental Preparation & Support Can Change Your Birth
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 is the most valuable part! She'd gone into her first two births thinking "I'm tough, I've got this," and learned the hard way that toughness isn't the same as being prepared. (join the club 😉) So the third time, she did it differently. I first aired this back in 2023 and to-date...
E365 · 10 Sep 2026 · 41 min
Preeclampsia, Protein & What Your Early Labs Are Really Telling You with Sarah Thompson
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 medicine provider who specializes in maternity care. And here's the thing that makes her work so different: most prenatal care is focused on your baby. We got into the stuff I think every pregnant mama deserves to understand, especially the things that are often preventa...
E364 · 3 Sep 2026 · 45 min
Birth Story: Not Asking for Permission & Preparing for Her Unmedicated Birth with Jo Gibson
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 family lives nine hours away. Her insurance meant she had to give birth in a hospital, with a rotating team of midwives she'd never met before — and no real option to switch providers. On paper, that's a tough setup for the unmedicated birth she wanted. But Jo did something...
E363 · 27 Aug 2026 · 57 min
Vaccines: What Every Mother Needs to Know
🗝️ 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 one is a hot topic 😜 but it still stands!! You've probably had this moment: You're sitting in a provider's office, pregnant belly in front of you, when someone says, "This is what you'll get at your next appointment." No conversation. If your stomach has ever dropped in th...
E362 · 19 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Unmedicated Birth: How to Have an Induction Without an Epidural
🗝️ 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 keep noticing: inductions are getting offered more and more, for more and more reasons. Which is exactly why I tell every mom to understand what it would be like if an induction could happen, even if the goal is to not have one. That way, if it comes up, you are ready instead o...
E361 · 12 Aug 2026 · 32 min
Prodromal Labor: How to Survive the Mental & Physical Exhaustion (From the Vault)
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 wondering if THIS is finally it. So I pulled it out of the vault and dusted it off, because if you are anywhere near the end of your pregnancy, you are going to want this one in your back pocket. ❤️ Can we talk about the most emotionally confusing part of late pre...
E360 · 6 Aug 2026 · 39 min
From the Vault Birth Story: Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Jamie Peterson
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 are coming back around again, I think you are going to love it. ❤️ Jamie Peterson always knew she wanted to at least TRY for an unmedicated birth. She gathered all the information she could, took the My Essential Birth course with her husband, saw a Webster certified chir...
E359 · 30 Jul 2026 · 32 min
The Vault: Getting Ready for Birth & What Most People Aren't Telling You
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 sit there! This is the stuff nobody really tells you about getting ready for birth. The things I wish I had known before my first baby. So whether you are hearing it for the first time or coming back around again, grab a notebook and settle in. I think you are going to love...
E358 · 22 Jul 2026 · 21 min
The Vault Essentials: 3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead)
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 up for disappointment? Most moms spend hours researching, Googling templates, and checking every box, and still walk away from birth feeling blindsided, unprepared, or like the whole experience just happened around them. And it's not their fault. It's because nobody ever ...
E357 · 15 Jul 2026 · 52 min
Rebroadcast - Unmedicated Birth: How To Prepare If This Is Your Goal
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 I gave birth to and two girls who made me a mama in a different way — and all three times I gave birth I was planning to go unmedicated. It only happened once. And it was not because my body failed me. It was because I did not have the tools I needed and I did not know then what ...
9 Jul 2026 · 47 min
Elimination Communication: Going Diaper Free From Birth with Andrea Olson
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 18 months. Today our average is three years old. And according to my guest today — that shift had nothing to do with biology and everything to do with marketing. Andrea Olson is the author of Go Diaper Free, the world's leading educator on elimination communication, and a m...
E356 · 1 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Your Legal Rights in the Birth Room with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein
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 the hospital policy. Every single one of those still requires your informed consent. I had the privlege of sitting down with Hermine Hayes-Klein, an attorney who has spent 25 years specializing in women's rights in pregnancy and childbirth.&...
E354 · 24 Jun 2026 · 41 min
The Truth About Gestational Diabetes Testing, Nutrition & Birth with Midwives, Bonnie Baker & Karina Robinson
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 who I brought in to talk about it today. Bonnie and Karina are midwives in Davis County Utah and two of my favorite people in the birth world. I met them early in my birth work journey and I have never stopped being grateful for it. Bonnie has a background in nutr...
E353 · 17 Jun 2026 · 43 min
Tongue Ties, Breastfeeding & Baby Development: Everything You Need to Know with Michelle Emanuel
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 Emanuel, pediatric occupational therapist, board-certified lactation consultant, and one of the leading experts in tongue tie and oral function, and we take a deep dive into all things tongue-tie. Because tongue tie is not just about nursing pain or a string under the tongue. It...
E352 · 10 Jun 2026 · 51 min
Birth Story: A Birth Center Water Birth & Letting Her Body Lead w/Kyla & Gabe
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 going in. And when the time came, all of that work showed up in the most beautiful and amazing way. Kyla woke up one morning at 39 weeks with a belly that looked completely different. Contractions started mid-morning and she basically ignored them for most of ...
E351 · 3 Jun 2026 · 18 min
Can You Say No to Your Doctor During Pregnancy?
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 figure out what just happened in there and what you are supposed to do about it. In this episode, I am walking you through exactly what to do when something does not feel right with your provider. Whether it is an induction conversation that caught you completely off guard, ...
E350 · 27 May 2026 · 18 min
Before You Say Yes In Labor, Ask These Three Questions
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 completely off guard in the birth room (myself included, and I share about it), and the three questions that can slow everything down, get you the information you actually need, and help you make decisions from a place of confidence instead of fear. With my first baby, I was told w...
E349 · 20 May 2026 · 51 min
Eating for Your Cycle, Gut Health & Fertility with Nora DeBora
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, holistic nutritionist, fertility awareness practitioner, and host of the Ultimate Pregnancy Prep Podcast, to talk about everything from eating for your cycle and seed cycling to gut health, hormone testing, and the fertility information most conventional providers are simply not...
E348 · 13 May 2026 · 47 min
Birth Story: Pitocin Induction, 24 Hours of Unmedicated Labor & a 9lb 12oz Baby — Mary Richardson's Story
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 hospital transfer, a Pitocin induction she never saw coming, and over 24 hours of unmedicated labor that pushed her further than she ever thought she could go. From the daily prep she did throughout pregnancy, to the moment everything shifted at 41 weeks and three days, to del...
E347 · 6 May 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Tylenol, Vaccines & Autism: What Every Pregnant Mom Needs to Know with Dr. Ari Calhoun
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 pregnancy are the ones nobody told you to think about? In this incredible & informational episode, I sit down with Dr. Ari Calhoun, naturopathic doctor, mama of two, and founder of Wholesome Brain Medicine. We're diving into the hot topics moms are actively Googling but rarely get...
E346 · 29 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Birth Story: When Birth Brings Both Loss and Healing | Sarah’s Story
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 second pregnancy — one that began with a clear vision for a very different birth experience after a difficult first birth. Determined to do things differently, Sarah switched providers, chose midwifery care, hired a doula, and intentionally prepared both mentally and physically f...
E345 · 22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Birth Story: Early Labor, Life Flight Refusal & a 32-Week Baby Who Stunned His Nurses with Christa & Morgan
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 to living on the road during pregnancy, to refusing a life flight and driving eight hours home, to an unmedicated delivery nobody saw coming (and a 32-week baby who left every nurse in the NICU completely speechless) this story will stay with you long after you finish liste...
E344 · 15 Apr 2026 · 20 min
3 Birth Plan Mistakes That Lead to Regret (And What to Do Instead)
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, unprepared, or like the whole experience just happened to them. And it's not their fault. It's because nobody ever showed them what a birth plan is actually supposed to do, or the mistakes that quietly sabotage even the most prepared moms in the birth room. In this episode, I'm ta...
E343 · 8 Apr 2026 · 17 min
Before You Say Yes to an Induction, Ask These 3 Questions
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 walking you through what's really happening when induction comes up, why it feels so hard to push back in the moment, and the three questions that can completely change the conversation with your provider. Whether you're 37 weeks and caught off guard or just want to feel pre...
E342 · 1 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Placenta Encapsulation: Should You Eat Your Placenta? Benefits, Risks & Postpartum Recovery w/Dr. Sophia Johnson
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 a decade studying the placenta inside a university lab in Germany. (Fun fact: in Germany, the placenta is literally called Mutterkuchen: "mother's cake." 🎂 After this episode, you'll understand why. ) We're diving into the actual science of consuming it: which preparation me...
E341 · 25 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Birth Story: Her Husband Caught the Baby Before His Coffee Was Ready - Veronica's Home Birth
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 their bedroom, the midwife and doula still an hour away, and a baby who had absolutely no interest in waiting for anyone. And she definitely didn't plan for her placenta to be so rare that a midwife with YEARS of experience had never seen anything like it... ... Or for that sam...
E340 · 17 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Reclaim Your Birth: Sovereignty, Intuition & the Dad's Surprising Role with Midwife, Catalina Clark
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 at the crossroads of spiritual midwifery, birth sovereignty, and the sacred side of birth that nobody in the hospital is talking about. From the father's role in the birth room to why Pitocin may be affecting us on a cultural level, we talk about it all — and I think you're goin...

About Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy

Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy is a English kids & family podcast from My Essential Birth. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: My Essential Birth
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest episode: 7 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1471731529

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