The Birth Lounge Podcast

Feeling exhausted, foggy, short of breath, or just not like yourself during pregnancy and being told “that’s normal”? This episode is for you.

In Episode 417 of The Birth Lounge, HeHe sits down with OB/GYN PA and public health expert Kristy Goodman to talk about anemia in pregnancy and why it’s so often overlooked, minimized, or brushed off until it becomes a much bigger issue. Together, they break down what anemia actually is, how and when it should be screened for, and why catching it early can completely change how you feel during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

They explore how untreated anemia can impact energy levels, labor stamina, recovery, and overall well-being, and more importantly, what becomes possible when it’s properly identified and treated with intention. Think more clarity, more strength, better healing, and the confidence to advocate for yourself instead of second-guessing your symptoms.

Kristy brings an evidence-based, patient-centered lens to this conversation, helping listeners understand what labs matter, what questions to ask their provider, and how to push back when concerns are dismissed as “just part of pregnancy.”

This episode is grounding, empowering, and deeply validating. If you’ve ever felt brushed off, unsure whether what you’re feeling is normal, or just want to feel stronger and more supported in your body, this conversation will give you real tools and real answers.

🎧 Tune in to learn how understanding anemia can help you reclaim your energy, protect your recovery, and walk into birth feeling informed and capable, not depleted.




Guest Bio:

Kristy received a Master of Science in PA Studies and a Master of Public Health in Health Education and Behavioral Science from Rutgers University. She completed a postgraduate residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has worked as an OB/GYN PA for over 10 years. She is an advocate for evidence-based, patient-centered care and has worked in a variety of women's health settings with a particular focus on preconception care.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Kristy on IG 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

This episode is brought to you by our Newborn Sleep Solutions Guide, because newborn sleep doesn’t need fixing, it needs understanding.

Newborn sleep can feel like one of those things everyone has opinions on… and somehow none of them actually help at 3am. In this episode of The Birth Lounge, HeHe breaks down what newborn sleep really looks like and why daytime sleep matters way more than most parents are ever told.

This conversation focuses on biology, not bootcamp sleep rules. HeHe explains how supporting daytime rest sets the stage for better nights, what wake windows actually mean for a brand-new baby, and how simple tools like swaddling, white noise, and a full belly can make a big difference. No rigid schedules. No “cry it out.” Just realistic, nervous-system-friendly support for brand-new humans and the parents learning alongside them.

You’ll also hear HeHe’s go-to tips for creating a sleep environment that works with your baby’s circadian rhythm (hello, darkness and sound), plus gear recommendations that are actually useful, not just trendy. She wraps it all up with resources like the Newborn Sleep Solutions Guide for parents who want clarity without overwhelm.

If you’re wondering whether your baby’s sleep is normal, or you just want a calmer, more intuitive way to approach those early weeks, this episode is your exhale.

Timestamps
00:00 Newborn sleep expectations (and why you’re not doing it wrong)
01:11 Personal update + what this episode is really about
02:51 What newborns biologically need for sleep
06:39 Daytime sleep, wake windows, and overstimulation
09:28 Swaddling, sensory input, and calming the nervous system
18:12 Feeding tips that support better rest
20:36 White noise and why silence isn’t always your friend
22:55 Light, darkness, and circadian rhythm support
24:47 Final reassurance + helpful resources

Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

 

LINKS MENTIONED:
Grab your copy of the Newborn Sleep Solution here!

If pregnancy sleep has you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., running through every thought you’ve ever had… you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong.

In this episode, HeHe sits down with licensed midwife, educator, and Milk Trails podcast host Hayley Oakes to unpack why sleep can feel so hard during pregnancy and what actually helps. From first-trimester hormone shifts to third-trimester heartburn, nighttime anxiety, and the pressure to “sleep perfectly,” this conversation is equal parts evidence-based and deeply reassuring.

Hayley brings over a decade of experience attending births in home, birth center, and hospital settings, plus her lived experience as a mom. Together, they break down how nutrition, blood sugar balance, movement, mental load, and sleep environment all play a role in night waking. They also tackle common fears around sleep positions (yes, including back sleeping), strategies for middle-of-the-night wakeups, and why self-care and nervous system support matter just as much as sleep hacks.

This is not a “just relax” conversation. It’s practical, grounded, and designed to help you feel more confident in your body and your choices.

If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this episode will leave you feeling calmer, more informed, and way less alone in the sleep struggle.

 

Guest Bio:

Hayley Oakes is a licensed midwife based in the Central Coast of California. She has been attending births since 2010 as a doula, midwife assistant, apprentice and midwife, witnessing and supporting birth in all settings: home, birth center and hospital. Hayley is the host and creator of Milk Trails -- a podcast dedicated to the out-of-hospital birthing experience. In February 2019, Hayley became a mother herself and welcomed her second child in January 2022. She currently offers private consultations for expectant mothers planning hospital births who desire holistic medical support. As a midwife, educator and mother, she is committed to supporting women in having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience to help grow healthy, happy babies.

 

Connect with Hayley: www.hayleyoakes.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Hayley on IG 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

LINKS MENTIONED:
Expectful App

Grab HeHe’s favorite magnesium supplement

This is one of those conversations that pulls the curtain all the way back.

In this powerful episode of The Birth Lounge, HeHe sits down with traditional birth companion and educator Billie Harrigan for an honest, unfiltered look at the modern medicalized birth system and how it impacts families. Together, they explore how maternity care has shifted away from physiology and toward control, efficiency, and liability, often at the expense of autonomy, trust, and emotional safety.

Billie brings decades of lived experience and deep systems-level insight to this conversation, naming the ways many parents feel silenced, rushed, or traumatized within institutional birth settings. They talk openly about birth trauma, why so many families are opting out of the system altogether, and what it actually looks like to center consent, choice, and community support in birth.

This episode is not about telling you what kind of birth to have. It’s about understanding the system you’re navigating so you can make informed, intentional decisions that align with your values. From the rise of free birth and traditional birth companionship to trauma-informed care and restoring birth wisdom to families, this conversation invites you to question what you’ve been told and reconnect with your own inner authority.

If you’ve ever felt unsettled by how birth is handled, curious about alternatives, or hungry for a deeper understanding of how we got here, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

Guest Bio:

Billie Harrigan is a Traditional Birth Companion and owner of Birth Trauma Ontario in Canada who has been serving families for over 40 years. With extensive international experience, Billie understands the complexities of modern maternity services and the pervasive issues that contribute to birth-related trauma and negative outcomes. Today’s conversation will challenge your assumptions of the medical system and push you to expand the perspectives in which you see the delivery of healthcare in the US & Canada by discussing common tactics used by cults and the resemblance of hospital care. We dive into the impact of non-trauma-informed care on patients’ short-term and long-term well-being. Buckle up because this episode is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced!

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Billie on IG 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

 

LINKS MENTIONED:
Billie’s Traditional Birth Companion Program: https://billieharrigan.com/becoming-a-traditional-birth-companion 

Is hospital care actually evidence based? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241518/

The System Isn’t Broken: https://billieharrigan.com/blog/2019/11/6/the-system-isnt-broken-but-its-people-are

Here is the link to the original episode: https://podcast.thebirthlounge.com/e/ep-218-hospital-culture-or-cult-behavior-with-billie-harrigan/

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, one of HeHe’s favorite things to have on hand for a comfy pregnancy and postpartum period! They’re also a great way to detox your home! Use code HEHE for 20% off the softest PJ’s, loungewear, or even new sheets to make your pregnancy and postpartum feel a little more luxurious: https://cozyearth.com/

In this episode, HeHe sits down with pelvic floor expert Nikki to talk about the part of birth that somehow never gets explained until someone is telling you to “push.” Yep. That part.

They break down how the pelvic floor actually works in labor, what truly helps reduce tearing, and how to push in a way that works with your body instead of against it. No fear tactics. No vague advice. Just clear, physiology-first education you should’ve been given way earlier.

Nikki shares practical, evidence-based strategies you can actually use, from breathing and positioning to perineal prep and postpartum rehab. They also get into advocacy, provider skill, and why your autonomy in birth matters just as much as any technique or tool.

This conversation is empowering, grounded, and full of “ohhhh, that makes sense” moments, whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or supporting birthing families in any capacity.

If you want to understand your pelvic floor, protect your perineum, and walk into birth feeling informed and confident instead of guessing and hoping for the best, this episode is for you.

Guest Bio:

Nikki Bergen is a globally recognized Pilates expert, women’s pelvic health advocate, and founder of The Belle Method. With over 20 years of experience, she’s helped thousands worldwide build strength, restore function, and thrive through every life stage - through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and beyond.

 

Learn from Nikki

The Core Restore Course: https://thebellemethod.com/core-restore/ 

The Push Prep Course: https://thebellemethod.com/push-prep/

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Nikki on IG 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection