Yoga | Birth | Babies

Join in as we embark on a topic that, I have to admit, I knew very little about until having this conversation! Today, we are talking about mastitis- what it is, the latest research, causes, symptoms, and much more. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies for this conversation is Bella Masotti Rochford. Bella is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and National Board-Certified & NYS licensed Occupational Therapist. She owns a private practice (Nurturing LIFT, LLC) that specializes in lactation and infant feeding therapy, and supports families navigating breast/chest feeding and bottle feeding. Mastitis has historically been misunderstood, and Bella is here to provide clarity with her extensive knowledge. She’ll also share essential tips on what to do and what to avoid if you’re dealing with mastitis. I know this episode will resonate with many of you listening. Enjoy! Additional mastitis resources: - Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (Protocol #36): https://www.bfmed.org/assets/ABM%20P

There are countless reasons why I believe sharing and listening to birth stories is so valuable. One standout aspect is the many universal themes that emerge- whether between different births, throughout the journey from pregnancy to parenthood, or even within the individual birth stories themselves. While the societal conversation around birth can often evoke fear, a positive birth story has the power to shift that narrative. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies for this conversation is Shing Yiing Ong. Shing is a Certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor and founder of her own company, Body Balance Lifestyle, that specializes in creating fun and short workout for busy entrepreneurs and moms. She is now a new mom to a beautiful 6 month old baby girl! In today’s birth story, you’ll hear Shing reflect on how her birth plan changed and how she not only moved through it, but came out feeling empowered about it. She also candidly discusses challenges that come with new parenthood- identity struggles, lack

My work revolves around women and birthing people, and naturally my guests on the podcast are mainly of that experience! However, today we are mixing things up a bit and exploring the transition to parenthood from a man’s perspective. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies for this conversation is Dan Doty. Dan is a father of 3, a husband, an outdoorsman and a meditator. He is the co-founder of Fatherhood Ready and Fatherhood Unlocked. He was the co-founder of men's org EVRYMAN and the producer director of hit tv show MeatEater. He has been featured in the NYTimes, Men's Health, the Today Show and the Joe Rogan Experience. In this episode, we dive into how fatherhood has evolved across generations and what it looks like for men today. Dan shares solid, practical tools for men on how to show up for their partners and children, and I know you’ll find this conversation incredibly valuable. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at:

Today we’re talking all about my favorite: The pelvic floor. From how the pelvic floor changes in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, to what the signs and symptoms to see a pelvic floor PT are, to what happens at an actual appointment… we cover it all. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies for this conversation is Dr. Amy Stein. Amy is a premiere physical therapist and is at the forefront of treating pelvic floor disfunction and pelvic pain. In addition to being the founder of Beyond Basics PT, Amy has served as the President – and is currently on the advisory board – of the International Pelvic Pain Society. As an award-winning author, Amy has written books on pelvic pain (Heal Pelvic Pain) and endometriosis (Beating Endo: How to reclaim your life from Endometriosis) and created a video on pelvic pain (Healing Pelvic Pain and Abdominal Pain). Amy is also a co-editor of Healing in Urology as well as a featured author in many medical textbooks, including Pelvic Pain Management, Female Sexual Pain Disorders

Are you preparing for a subsequent child? If you answered yes, then today’s episode is a must-listen. Today, we’re discussing the topic of introducing a new sibling into the family,… specifically to your first child. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies for this conversation is Alyssa Blask Campbell. Alyssa is a teacher, parent, and emotional development expert with a master’s degree in early childhood education. She is a co-creator of the Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP), the host of the podcast, "Voices of Your Village” and the author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions. Today’s episode is the ultimate guide to preparing for this transition; we’ll be going over how to help your first child understand this adjustment and shift of attention, how you as a parent can re-organize certain systems around both kids, and how you as a parent can prepare for all of this. Alyssa is an absolute joy to learn from, and I have no doubt that you’ll walk away from this episode with the most valuable tools and tips. G

It is so common to put a lot of care, effort, and attention towards pregnancy and birth. And- it goes without saying- the prenatal period is incredibly important. However, the postpartum phase is a hugely transitional time for new parents and deserves equal consideration and planning. So let’s dive into it! Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies to discuss Postpartum is Elaine Keller-Duemig. Elaine is a certified nurse midwife and the owner of Central Park Midwifery, a private midwifery practice in Manhattan that attends hospital births. Elaine earned her bachelor's degree in Women's Studies and a certificate in LGBT studies from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She earned a nursing degree at Quinnipiac University, and has a midwifery masters degree from Columbia University. Prior to midwifery, she worked as a labor and delivery and postpartum nurse in several hospitals. In our conversation, we’ll explore how to create a postpartum plan, the importance of healing and rest for the birthing person, e

A student once said to me, “Im interested in home birth, but why would I choose to have a home birth?” I had two options. Either I could tell her all my reasons right then and there, or I could find a home birth midwife to come on the podcast and speak on the subject. As you can see, I chose the latter! Today’s guest on Yoga | Birth | Babies is none other than Kara Ffrench. Kara has been a registered nurse since 2006 and became a midwife in 2014. She has spent her midwifery career working in private practice as well as in large hospital systems, and currently attends home birth and hospital births. Additionally, she offers complete patient GYN care.  Join us as we explore the topic of home birth- why some might choose it, who would be a good candidate for home birth, the standard of practice that ensures safety for the laboring person and baby, what a back up plan entails, and much more. If you are considering home birth, I know this conversation will help you in making a decision- whatever that ends up bei

Today, we're exploring one of the most powerful tools for birth: movement. When we consider movement during labor and delivery, it raises questions such as: Does the shape and size of your pelvis impact the birthing process? How does the pelvis open? Can you move effectively if you have an epidural? Join us as we delve into the importance of movement (and advocating for it!) in birth. To have this conversation with me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Brittany Sharpe McCollum. Brittany is a Perinatal Pelvic Biomechanics Educator, a labor support doula, and a childbirth educator. She is also the owner of Blossoming Bellies Wholistic Birth Services based out of the greater Philadelphia PA area. Brittany is a wealth of knowledge, so you can rest assured knowing that you’ll gain valuable insights from this episode. Ultimately, my hope is that this discussion instills you with a new level of confidence in your body’s ability to bring baby into the world. Get the most out of each episode by checki

There’s a saying that goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and this is especially true when it comes to prepping for birth. If you aren’t informed about the different options for your birth, then how can you be expected to make the most informed decisions in your birth! Today, we’ll be diving into the key differences between a hospital-led childbirth education class and an independent-led childbirth education class. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Ceridwen Morris. Ceridwen is an author, childbirth educator and doula who has supported thousands of expectant parents in New York City for over twenty years. She is the author of the forthcoming How to Give Birth (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2025). Morris served on the board of The Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York for five years, and ran the education program at Tribeca Pediatrics for ten years. She has taught at Real Birth, City Births, NYC Birth Prep and Prenatal Yoga Center. As you give this episode a li

Today, we’re diving into the birth story of a student who completed her teacher training with us last year- while pregnant! It was truly special to witness her journey as a student at PYC, both in our training and our classes. When she shared details of her wonderful and positive birth experience with me, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share her story with all of you. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Jessica Roback. Jessica is a digital marketer and yoga instructor living in the Chicago suburbs with her family. Music, movement, and writing are her passions and you can usually find her playing with her kids, going for a walk, or planning her next outdoor adventure. It’s no secret that there are many fear-based ideas surrounding birth, and one of the reasons I wanted to feature Jessica’s story is that it offers an empowering and positive perspective. While hearing a positive birth story won’t guarantee a similar experience, embracing an empowering lens can certainly open up

Sometimes, the most challenging aspect of parenting is the work we do on ourselves. It involves reflecting on our own childhood experiences and understanding how they shape our view of parenthood today. It also requires taking emotional accountability- managing our reactions and behaviors instead of blaming others or projecting our issues onto them. It might seem overwhelming just to read that, so today we're breaking it down with the concept of Conscious Parenting. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Bryana Kappadakunnel. Bryana is a seasoned professional in the fields of perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who primarily focuses on 0-5 year old children, Bryana has worked in a therapeutic preschool, community mental health settings, and now runs her own private practice and online community called Conscious Mommy. In our conversation, we define Conscious Parenting, explore the importance of reflecting on our emotional reacti

When today’s guest reached out to me about bringing a pediatric physical therapy conversation to the table, I was all in. Apart from my well-known love for all things anatomy and my own experience with PT, I was really curious how it even works with newborns and babies! For this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Dr. Emily Schlict. Emily is a pediatric physical therapist who primarily treats patients from birth to 5 years old. She is trained in dynamic movement intervention (DMI) and Schroth Therapy for Scoliosis. Emily is also a Board Certified Autism Specialist. Emily is the owner of EMpower PT, which provides pediatric physical therapy to children in their homes throughout Manhattan. In this conversation, Emily goes over the reasons a newborn may need to see a physical therapist, what PT looks like for a newborn or baby under three, and how to recognize when it may be time for parents to seek out PT for their child. We even discuss some general things, aside from PT, that you can do with yo

Having a child with special needs can be both an isolating and challenging experience, but it also offers endless opportunities for learning, acceptance, and education. There are many different kinds of special needs, but today we're focusing on the “unseen” disabilities of neurodiverse children and the unique experiences of their parents. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies is Susanna Peace Lovell. Susanna received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and is an author, speaker, disability rights advocate and certified professional life coach dedicated to the health and wellness of disability families everywhere. This is also her lived experience raising a teenage daughter with a myriad disabilities and diagnoses including ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADHD, anxiety and severe food allergies. If you're a parent of a child with disabilities, I hope this conversation offers you support and validation. For those who are close to families with disabilities, this episode aims to show how you can be a supportive a

Today, we're diving into a community birth story that’s far more than just a tale of delivery. Ready for some intriguing details? My guest recently welcomed her third baby. She’s been a dedicated student at PYC for nine years, and she’s been featured on the YBB podcast three times, sharing insights from all three of her births. But there’s even more… each of her births involved induction, each for different reasons. Today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Yali Szulanski. Yali is an educational wellness consultant, a trauma-informed emotion specialist, teacher, and writer. She received her master's in psychology and education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a special certification in spirituality mind-body integration. Yali is currently on track to receive her rabbinic ordination in 2025 and is also the youth director at the Hebrew Institute in Riverdale, where she lives with her family.  Yali brings a wealth of philosophical wisdom and life perspective to our conversation that I can’t for yo

Today we are speaking on a hot topic: tongue tie. The reason tongue tie is a hot topic is because it has been a controversial subject for a while now! Naturally, I wanted to understand why- which brought us to the guest and interview you’ll hear today. To have this conversation with me on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Stephanie Heintzeler. Stephanie is a German educated midwife and acupuncturist as well as US-educated birth doula and Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).  Stephanie comes to this conversation with so much knowledge, and I know you will learn so much in this episode. If you’ve ever been curious or confused about tongue tie, sit back and relax because this episode will take away the mystery and fill in the blanks. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com (*hyperlink episode link from Wordpress!) Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE  If you

Matrescence, A.K.A. becoming a mother/parent, is a developmental milestone that brings forth a major identity shift within us. Every parent’s personal definition of this milestone will be wildly different, and each journey will look a myriad of different ways, but a universal perspective we can adopt about matrescence is that it can be an opportunity to grow more into ourselves. To have this conversation with me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Emese Parker. Emese is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner, pregnancy & motherhood support specialist, award-winning author, public health geek, mama, and matrescence activist. She has been in the healthcare field for over 20 years and is passionate about supporting and empowering women, promoting perinatal mental health wellness, and walking with women through various life transitions—especially pregnancy and motherhood. I’m so excited for you to hear this conversation on matrescence. Although this life transition can be full of new-baby bliss,

If you’re looking at the title of this episode thinking, “I’ve never heard of cholestasis”… you’re not alone! That being said, it’s important to know about as it can occur in 1-2 in every 1,000 pregnancies. So let’s talk about cholestasis in pregnancy- the symptoms, the treatment, how it is diagnosed, and how one can deal with this in pregnancy.  To have this conversation with me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Donna Benavides. Donna is a mother who experienced Cholestasis of Pregnancy and is now blessed with two healthy teens, Branden & Evan, and her angel baby Jorden. She’s dedicated her time and advocacy to Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) and is the Founder of ICP Care 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She is also a registered prenatal yoga teacher! Donna has had ICP in all 3 of her pregnancies, and she graciously shares the knowledge and experience she’s gained on the diagnosis through our honest conversation. If you have ICP or it comes up later on in your pregnancy, we want you to know how to ad

Today, we have a community birth story that will literally take you on a wild ride. In just one short but juicy hour, you’ll find an illustration of pregnancy over 40, preparation for birth from a yoga teacher perspective, and multiple twists and turns in a birth story. Today’s Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have with me Renata DiBiase. Renata is a book designer and yoga teacher residing on eastern Long Island with her husband and newborn baby. She is also a PYC Prenatal Teacher Training alumni! Believing in yourself isn’t always an easy feat, but Renata exemplifies just that in her birth. Throughout this conversation, so many lessons of resilience, strength, and staying in the present can be found. I hope you leave this episode feeling just as inspired as I did. CW: In this conversation, there is mention of a miscarriage and a premature birth. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com (*hyperlink episode link from

Did you know that the number of babies born to first time parents in the US who are over 35 has been steadily increasing? I see countless parents in the PYC community (including myself) have their first child over 35. So why have we heard that it’s difficult and more dangerous to conceive after 35? What happens (or doesn’t happen) at 35 to the body and how might this affect your pregnancy and birth? To answer this question I invited Dr. Nicole Rankins back to Yoga|Birth |Babies. This is my third episode with Dr. Rankins. She’s an incredible guest. As an OB/GYN she’s helped over 1,500 babies into the world. She also has an amazing podcast All About Pregnancy & Birth that I turn to for grounded scientific information that feels like it’s coming from a dear friend. In today’s episode Dr. Nicole and I talk about the risks and benefits of having babies over 35. We talk about fertility, how care may or may not be different for those over 35, and how managed or not managed your birth may need to be. Dr. Nicole dis

Today, we’re delving into a universal experience: the challenge of control. Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to let things organically happen? Or questioned what it is that’s behind the desire to control in the first place? As much as it would be fabulous to control everything, it simply isn’t possible. And, you guessed it; this rings especially true in pregnancy and parenthood.  Today on Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have with me Dr. Britta Bushnell to have this conversation. Britta is the author of Transformed by Birth, a childbirth educator, a mentor to other birth professionals, and a now 3rd-time guest on this podcast! Throughout this conversation, we dive into the ins and outs of control: why we want it, how we try to get it, how it shows up as we prepare for pregnancy and beyond, and whether or not it actually serves us to have it. Furthermore, we explore the idea of how to stoke the curiosity of something without trying to manage it in a certain way. So join us as we unpack these layers, promis