Ep 14: Midwife Jessica Willoughby

07/28/16 • 15 min

Midwife Jessica Willoughby, LM, CPM discusses how her background in anthropology has helped her understand differences in culture as they relate to labor, birth, and breastfeeding. She speaks about the gifts midwifery has given her, paying it forward, and challenges with living the on call lifestyle. Jessica also talks about empowering c-section experiences as well as the most important things she's learned about midwifery.

Show notes and portrait can be found at www.workingbirth.com/ep14

Show notes and portrait can be found at www.workingbirth.com/ep14

Previous Episode

Ep 13: Infant Sleep Researcher Dr. James McKenna, PhD

Leading infant sleep researcher and professor of anthropology Dr. James McKenna, PhD, discusses his extensive research on mother-baby sleep and cosleeping, bedsharing, and the new term "breastsleeping." We talk about the science of the mechanisms behind infant sleep, cosleeping around the world, the mysterious sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sleep training, and the neurological effects of separation. He discusses how cultural ideologies interfere with infant sleep practices, and the huge gap in what mothers are doing with sleeping & breastfeeding, versus what is being recommended to families by the American Academy of Pediatrics and local governments. Jim also discusses his new research on colic/inconsolable crying.

There's a wealth of excellent information in this episode! See Jim's portrait and check out all the show notes at: workingbirth.com/ep13

Next Episode

Ep 15: Doula & RN Yamel Belen

Yamel Belen discusses her work as a doula and pediatric registered nurse. She talks about how her work as a nurse in the medical foster care system informs her work as a doula, and how she fell into doula work. She discusses trust, empowerment, and the importance of fully supporting women in labor. A mom of five, Yamel talks about involving families in the birth process, and the pregnancy-positive culture she grew up in. Plus, what has surprised her most about being a doula.

Portrait and show notes at www.workingbirth.com/ep15