In this episode of the Birth Rebel Podcast, Angel welcomes special guest Henci Goer, a pioneering advocate in the birth world. Henci shares insights from her personal experiences with childbirth and her journey from negative birth experiences to becoming a renowned birth advocate. She discusses the importance of informed decision-making, advocating for yourself during childbirth, and the significance of supportive birth teams, including doulas. Henci also delves into strategies for dealing with medical interventions and offers advice on how to handle unexpected changes during labor. The conversation highlights the value of having intentions rather than inflexible goals for childbirth, and the essential role of kindness, respect, and agency in a positive birth experience. The episode concludes with a discussion of Henci’s upcoming book on labor induction, providing practical tips for navigating this common intervention.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:40 Personal Birth Experiences
03:54 Transition to Advocacy
07:10 Becoming a Lamaze Teacher and Doula
08:15 Challenges in Birth Education
14:27 Hospital Interventions Explained
22:52 Choosing Your Birth Team
31:02 Navigating Medical Pressure During Birth
33:47 The Importance of Intentions Over Goals
36:20 Adapting Birth Plans and Managing Expectations
41:58 Post-Birth Reflections and Emotional Processing
44:47 Preparing for Advocacy and Informed Choices
50:07 Exploring Research and Critical Application
55:37 Final Thoughts and Resources
Resources from the Episode
Immaculate Deception: A New Look at Women & Childbirth in America - Suzanne Arms
Immaculate Deception II: Myth, Magic, and Birth - Suzanne Arms
Labor Pain - What’s Your Best Strategy? - Henci Goer
The second book in Henci's Take Charge of Your Birth series, Labor Induction: Why, When, and How? is due out this Spring!
Henci Goer Blog Post - How to Prevent Being Talked into an Avoidable Induction or Cesarean
Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide - Penny Simkin
Transformed by Birth - Britta Bushnell
The Birth Partner 5th Edition by Penny Simkin
Plus Size Pregnancy: What the Evidence Really Says About High BMI & Birth by Dr. Sara Wickham
Where to Find Henci Goer
Website |Blog |Facebook |Instagram |Email |Labor Pain Book
Access my Better Birth Blueprint Workshop. This workshop will give you five tips on how you can have a safer more comfortable birth! As a bonus you will get a FREE downloadable workbook to accompany your workshop. Access yourFREE Workshop!
Until Next time my Birth Rebel crew!
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