Episode 63: Importance of Breath Awareness During Labor

08/01/21 • 23 min

1 Listener

In today’s solo show I discuss how breath awareness helps during labor, and really during any uncomfortable or painful experience.

In the episode I go over:

The difference between pain and suffering
A quote from Pam England’s book Ancient Map for Modern Birth
What the “monkey mind” is
What breath awareness is (hint: it does not teach you how to breath)
The foundation for breath awareness
An exercise to practice breath awareness
An exercise to deepen the breath awareness practice with an “ice contraction”

I would love to hear your feedback about the breath exercise, please reach out:

Via Instagram
Email me at [email protected]
Review and rate this episode on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else you can leave a review on a podcast player

How to get in touch with me:

My Virtual 4-week online Birth Class
Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s solo show I discuss how breath awareness helps during labor, and really during any uncomfortable or painful experience.

In the episode I go over:

The difference between pain and suffering
A quote from Pam England’s book Ancient Map for Modern Birth
What the “monkey mind” is
What breath awareness is (hint: it does not teach you how to breath)
The foundation for breath awareness
An exercise to practice breath awareness
An exercise to deepen the breath awareness practice with an “ice contraction”

I would love to hear your feedback about the breath exercise, please reach out:

Via Instagram
Email me at [email protected]
Review and rate this episode on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else you can leave a review on a podcast player

How to get in touch with me:

My Virtual 4-week online Birth Class
Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Previous Episode

Episode 62: Breastfeeding Support: Interview with Amanda Gorman

Announcements
First: Big shoutout and congratulations to Christi Matusiak, she was a guest on the show in episode 44 and she just published her first book! It is called Coordinating the Chaos, and it's a holistic take on balancing hormones postpartum and cultivating the energy to show up as the exceptional, nurturing mother you want to be. This book is available for pre-order right now on her website and I have linked to it in the show notes for this episode: https://www.christymatusiakdc.com/shop
Second, I have created a free download about 7 experts to have in your prenatal and postpartum village. You can download it here: https://www.findingyourvillage.com/7-experts

This week’s interview is with another Amanda Gorman. I found Amanda after learning about Amanda SC Gorman, the poet laureate and I realized that this third Amanda Gorman is also a podcast host and is in the postpartum support industry. Crazy small world.

Amanda is a mother of two and a Board-Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She founded Nest Collaborative after experiencing the lack of available resources for nursing parents both professionally in her primary care practice and personally, as a mother who struggled to breastfeed. She brings a passion to Nest Collaborative to expand access for parents to accessible, affordable and preventive breastfeeding support.

In this episode we discuss:

Amanda’s background
She noticed a lack in the ability and resources to support breastfeeding moms in postpartum care
She started Nest Collaborative in 2017
- Use telehealth/virtual visits to bring Board Certified Lactation support to people who otherwise have trouble accessing it
- Use insurance and make sure the support is affordable
Common breastfeeding issues
- Latch and positioning issues
- Concerns about how much baby is getting and if baby is getting enough
- Jaundice
- Is breastfeeding supposed to be uncomfortable
How the use of IV fluids during labor impacts establishing a breastfeeding relationship
Supplementation
- Breastfeeding is a supply and demand process

How to get in touch with Amanda:

How to get in touch with me:

My Virtual 4-week online Birth Class
Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]
Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Next Episode

Episode 64: Replay: How to heal from Diastasis Recti: Interview with Shelley DiCecco

This weeks episode is a replay of one of my most downloaded episodes. I also recently uploaded a video of the ab approximation exercise discussed in this episode on my TikTok page. Click here to follow me on TikTok and to watch that video: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingyourvillage
In this episode we discuss:

Shelley’s background as a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Shelley is a PT at Sports Rehab at Brookhaven
She also teaches entry level Physical Therapists at a medical school in Atlanta

What does a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist do?

My story with a Pelvic Floor PT:

helped me heal from pain using the restroom after having a vaginal birth
helped me heal from Diastatis Recti...twice, after both of my pregnancies
Part of the program was visits to see a PT regularly and doing exercises comprised of ab approximations for 30 minutes a day

What is Diastasis Recti?

When a PT is checking you for how wide a separation you have they should be checking in 3 places

Above belly button
At belly button
Below belly button

Just wearing a splint, brace, wrap or doing ab contractions will not bring the linea alba close together enough to heal. Doing ab contractions and crunches will actually make your DR worse

The only true way to FULLY heal from DR is to approximate your rectus abdominus muscles while you do rehabilitation exercise. How to do this:

Lay on the ground, push your fingers down into the sides of your belly, then squeeze your fingers and belly skin/muscles toward each other, then contract your abs in and hold for 10 seconds
Repeat this for 3 sets of 30
Sign up for my newsletter here to see a video of me demonstrating this exercise. Including my adorable belly donut!

Exercises and activities to avoid when you have a Diastasis Recti:

Planks
Crunches
Ab exercises without doing an approximation first
Most mainstream forms of yoga and pilates

How to find a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

You may need a referral from your OB, midwife or other practitioner, depending on your state and insurance
Ask for a referral at your 6 week postpartum visit
Go to www.apta.org to find a Pelvic Floor PT in your area

How to get in touch with Shelley