Birth Story: Preparing and Training for Birth! with Katie Lohiya

04/03/24 • 66 min

We’re back with my favorite type of podcast episode, a birth story! We’ve been able to create an amazing community of students here at PYC. I see many of these students twice, sometimes three time a week. I get to know them, hear their stories, listen to their concerns and I am able to share with them what I’ve learned. Today we have Katie Lohiya, sharing her birth story. She has been part of our PYC community since she was 13 weeks pregnant. She attended class 2-3 times per week, even when she wasn’t in NYC she would join online, which I absolutely adored. I was able get to know Katie well. We have a similar background, we are both dancers and performers and I resonated with her. When I asked her to share her birth story she said “absolutely.” Katie tells a beautiful birth story. I am deeply honored that as she was explaining her story, her time at PYC was very much interwoven into her birth. I am very appreciative that the time we spent together helped her throughout her labor experience.

On today’s episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, we’ve invited Katie Lohiya, one of our community members. She is originally from Chicago but has lived in NYC for 14 years. Katie graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance. Before having her daughter, she danced professionally for a contemporary company (Lydia Johnson Dance) and has taught extensively throughout NYC. She’s been married to her husband Vaibhav for 10 years and they live on the Upper West Side.

Katie recommends that parents trust their instincts when it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenthood. She points out that there is so much information to sift through, that it helps to tap into their own intuition. Whether it’s finding the right provider, advocating for themselves in labor, or getting a second opinion from a pediatrician, she believes that if parents trust their inner voice they will ultimately make the best decision for their family. Katie’s story is heartfelt and candid. I’m really excited for you to hear her story, it’s very special!

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Kegels and Your Pelvic Floor with Kara Mortifoglio PT, DPT, WCS

How does the health of the pelvic floor impact birth? It is so important to have a healthy pelvic floor in order to have a functional birth and a healthy body. This is one of my favorite topics! If you’ve been a listener of Yoga| Birth| Babies, you know that anytime I have an opportunity to talk about the pelvic floor, I will bring an expert on to do so. Not only have I picked the brain of many experts on this topic, I have taken multiple certifications focused on pelvic floor health. Today we will talk about the function of the pelvic floor, how it impacts birth, how to prepare the pelvic floor for birth and ways to relax the pelvic floor. We will also discuss Kegels and their role in pelvic floor balance.

To have this conversation, I have Kara Mortifoglio joining us today on Yoga| Birth| Babies. Kara is a pelvic health specialist, and co-owns a physical therapy practice in Manhattan, Long Island and Westchester. She specializes in treating all pelvic floor disorders including pregnancy, postpartum, bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction.

Kara believes that as parents get closer to the birth of their baby, it’s really important to allow their bodies to rest. Avoiding Kegels as well as vigorous activity can help the pelvic floor be relaxed for labor. She points out that the more relaxed the pelvic floor is, often times the easier the delivery will be. She thinks that less is more when preparing the pelvic floor for birth. Kara and I have a really great conversation, I think you are going to get a lot of useful information out of it!

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Why to Reconsider Midwifery Care with Casey Selzer, CNM

Have you considered using midwifery care for your birth? Perhaps you have questions about what a midwife does or how they differ from a traditional OBGYN. Today we are going to talk all about midwives. I think midwives are fantastic, they hold a special place in my heart because my own births were attended by a midwife. In this conversation we will dive deeper into the midwifery model of care. What is a midwife? What are some misconceptions around midwifery care? How does midwifery differ from a more traditional OBGYN? What is a midwife’s involvement in labor and birth? Who’s a good candidate to work with a midwife? We got you covered on so many topics about midwifery, if you had any doubt of what midwifery was, by the end of this conversation you will be crystal clear. Casey is full of passion and knowledge, I am really excited for you to hear her perspective and all her wonderful ideas!

To have this conversation, I have Casey Selzer joining us today on Yoga| Birth| Babies. Casey Selzer, CNM, is a midwife with over 15 years of clinical experience. She has worked in both private practice and public health care models including in hospital birth centers. She has a passion for education and has served as adjunct faculty at the Columbia University School of Nursing.

Casey encourages parents to spend time in the third trimester building a birth team and a labor tool kit for a positive birth experience. Nonetheless, she also stresses the importance of planning for the postpartum phase. Although deciding what kind of birthing experience to have is imperative, she believes it is equally important to build a postpartum plan. She encourages parents to consider what resources and support they will need to create a village for their family. She mentions that this part of parenthood is often overlooked, however, she thinks it is critical for parents to build relationships and partnerships that will surround them with community.

Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices