Ep 90 Description:
“Midwives are trained that pregnancy is a normal function of the human body, it's wellness that occasionally goes wrong, as opposed to the doctors who think it's an illness that occasionally goes right.” —Dr. Stuart Fischbein
At times, the medicalized one-size-fits-all model can fall short. For far too long, childbirth has been dominated by rigid medical protocols that prioritize efficiency over empowering each woman's unique needs. However, true safety lies in respecting birth as a natural process and supporting each mother's physical and emotional well-being. By embracing uncertainty and honoring a woman's innate wisdom, the system can shift from fear to trust— empowering all who bring new life into this world.
This week, Debra sits with Dr. Stuart Fischbein to share an insightful look at shifting from a fear-based model of childbirth to one that is truly woman-centered. For over 40 years, Dr. Stuart Fischbein practiced obstetrics within a medicalized system, only to realize it fell short of empowering women and honoring birth as a natural process. Through his collaboration with midwives and experiences attending home births, Dr. Fischbein underwent a profound transformation in his approach.
In this candid discussion, he draws from his unique perspective within both the medical and midwifery worlds to shed light on how interventions are too often prioritized over informed consent. Join in as Debra and Dr. Stu discuss the differences between midwifery and physician training, limitations of the modern hospital system, criticisms of home birth safety, the role of doctors and midwives in medicalized birth, the issue around disregard for individualized care, unnecessary medical interventions, and finding a good team for an empowered birth experience.
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Episode Highlights:
03:06 Transitioning to Midwifery Model
06:12 The Limitations of Hospital Births
15:07 Midwifery vs Medical Model in Childbirth
20:58 Home Birth Safety vs Hospital Birth Safety
23:25 Informed Consent in Childbirth
28:38 Natural Birth Practices and Challenges
34:05 Women Deserve All Reasonable Options
Bliss and Ease in Birth Through Movement with Stephanie Larson
Writing and Communicating Your Birth Preferences
Reimagining Baby Showers to Create Supportive Villages for Birthing Women with Kaitlin McGreyes
The initiatory power of birth with Dawn Leonard
How your first 1000 days hold the key to health, happiness and your Blueprint for Bliss with Nienke Stoop
The Power of Storytelling in Birth Work with Clancy McCarty
ep. 39 - A Journey of Trauma Healing Through Ecstatic Home Birth
ep. 38 - Having a Breech Orgasmic Birth with Dr. Amanda Noelle
ep. 37 - Stand and Deliver Birthing with Ease & Pleasure
ep. 36 - A Journey from Pain to Purpose and Becoming an Advocate for the Voiceless with Valda Ford
ep. 35 - Female Sexuality and Plateaus in Labor
ep. 34 - Bringing Sexual Health and Birth Together
ep. 33 - Choosing to Have Faith in Love & Life
ep. 32 - How to Find Movement, Comfort & Pleasure in Birth
ep. 31 - Birth As a Sexual Experience: The New Epidural
ep. 30 - Life After Birth with Dr. Diane S Speier
ep. 29 - How to Prepare for Childbirth and Sexuality with Tilly Storm
ep. 28 - Sexual Relationships and Childbirth After Sexual Trauma
ep. 27 - Why Does Orgasmic Birth Matter?
ep. 26 - The Role of the Clitoris in Labour
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