78: A Healthy Baby Is the Bare Minimum: Reframing Your Birth Goals
02/25/25 • 26 min
When discussing birth, we often hear the phrase, “As long as the baby is healthy, that’s all that matters.” While this sentiment comes from a place of love, it can unintentionally dismiss the emotional, physical, and psychological needs of the birthing person. In this episode, we’re diving deep into why birth isn’t just about the baby—it’s also about the person giving birth and the experience they have.
We’ll explore how the glorification of sacrifice in childbirth can lead to dismissive care, the emotional and physical consequences of a narrow birth focus, and how we can reframe birth goals to prioritize both safety and autonomy. Plus, I’ll share actionable steps to help you advocate for a truly empowered birth experience.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Why the phrase “as long as the baby is healthy” is limiting and dismissive
✨ How medical care often prioritizes efficiency over the birthing person’s holistic well-being
✨ The emotional, physical, and long-term effects of a disempowered birth experience
✨ How to create a comprehensive birth plan that includes emotional and psychological needs
✨ The importance of choosing the right birth team and advocating for your preferences
Actionable Takeaways:
✅ Educate yourself on medical options and advocacy strategies
✅ Hire a birth team that respects and centers your experience
✅ Practice mindfulness techniques to prepare for a confident birth
✅ Take a childbirth education class, like A Path to A Powerful Birth, to help you navigate your choices
Your birth experience matters. You deserve to feel heard, respected, and empowered—not just to have a healthy baby, but to walk away from birth feeling strong and supported.
Resources Mentioned:
Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins
🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH
***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.
After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.
Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.
When discussing birth, we often hear the phrase, “As long as the baby is healthy, that’s all that matters.” While this sentiment comes from a place of love, it can unintentionally dismiss the emotional, physical, and psychological needs of the birthing person. In this episode, we’re diving deep into why birth isn’t just about the baby—it’s also about the person giving birth and the experience they have.
We’ll explore how the glorification of sacrifice in childbirth can lead to dismissive care, the emotional and physical consequences of a narrow birth focus, and how we can reframe birth goals to prioritize both safety and autonomy. Plus, I’ll share actionable steps to help you advocate for a truly empowered birth experience.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ Why the phrase “as long as the baby is healthy” is limiting and dismissive
✨ How medical care often prioritizes efficiency over the birthing person’s holistic well-being
✨ The emotional, physical, and long-term effects of a disempowered birth experience
✨ How to create a comprehensive birth plan that includes emotional and psychological needs
✨ The importance of choosing the right birth team and advocating for your preferences
Actionable Takeaways:
✅ Educate yourself on medical options and advocacy strategies
✅ Hire a birth team that respects and centers your experience
✅ Practice mindfulness techniques to prepare for a confident birth
✅ Take a childbirth education class, like A Path to A Powerful Birth, to help you navigate your choices
Your birth experience matters. You deserve to feel heard, respected, and empowered—not just to have a healthy baby, but to walk away from birth feeling strong and supported.
Resources Mentioned:
Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins
🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH
***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.
After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.
Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.
Previous Episode
77: BIRTH STORY: Pain-Free Birth Through Storytelling and Presence - with Dr. Porntip Israsena Twishime
Want to learn how to prepare for a pain free birth? Today we are joined by Dr. Porntip Israsena Twishime who shares what led to hear painless birth experiences.
Tune in to learn:
✔ The impact fear-based narratives can have on your birth experience
✔ How to be mindful as you prepare for birth
✔ The power of being present and mindful in your body during pregnancy
✔ How to stay present with distractions in the hospital
Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins
🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH
***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.
After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.
Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.
Next Episode
79: Navigating Gestational Diabetes & Diabetes During Pregnancy Without the Stress - with Megan Peasley
Pregnancy is a transformative journey, and for those diagnosed with diabetes—whether preexisting Type 1 or 2, or gestational diabetes—it can come with unique challenges. But managing blood sugar doesn’t have to mean sacrificing an empowered birth experience.
In this episode, I sit down with Megan Peasley, a certified doula, birth photographer, and childbirth educator, to discuss her personal experience navigating pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes and her advice for individuals facing a gestational diabetes diagnosis.
In this episode, we cover:
✔️ The differences between Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes in pregnancy
✔️ The emotional impact of a gestational diabetes diagnosis and how to navigate it
✔️ Nutrition strategies to stabilize blood sugar levels without restrictive dieting
✔️ How to advocate for yourself when discussing induction and birth options with your provider
✔️ The biggest myths about diabetes and birth—and the truth behind them
Megan’s journey from researcher to doula is an inspiring reminder that with education, support, and informed decision-making, you can navigate pregnancy and birth with confidence.
📲 Connect with Megan: @IlluminatedBirthDoula on Instagram or visit her space, Illuminated Birth & Company, for in-person workshops and support circles in Acton, MA.
Resources Mentioned:
- Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols
- Birth Story (Gestational Diabetes): 51. Overcoming Loss & Finding Joy in Pregnancy Together: Steph and Iman's Birth Story
- Classes and Groups in Acton Massachusetts
- Check out the blog post for this episode HERE
Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins
🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH
***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.
After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.
Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.
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