The Best Birth Podcast Episode 28 - Cultivating Wellness and Community During Pregnancy Through Prenatal Yoga with Deb Flashenberg
INTERVIEW OVERVIEW
Deb Flashenberg, a prenatal yoga instructor and birth advocate, shares her journey into the birth field and the importance of education and preparation for childbirth. She discusses how yoga and meditation can help with pain management and coping skills during labor. Deb also highlights the Spinning Babies technique and the role of community support in the perinatal period. She emphasizes the importance of evidence-based research and the changes in Lamaze childbirth education. Deb provides advice on pain techniques during labor and the need for flexibility and openness in birth plans. She recommends prenatal yoga, Spinning Babies, chiropractic work, and pelvic floor physical therapy as valuable resources for pregnant individuals.
TAKEAWAYS
Prenatal yoga and meditation can help with pain management and coping skills during labor.
The Spinning Babies technique focuses on creating movement, internal balance, and baby alignment to facilitate a more functional birth.
Community support and connection are important during the perinatal period.
Lamaze childbirth education emphasizes evidence-based research and empowering individuals to advocate for themselves.
Flexibility and openness in birth plans are crucial, as preferences and needs may change during labor.
Exploring various pain techniques and preparing for different scenarios can increase confidence and resilience during childbirth.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Riding the wild river, but having a little bit of an idea of how that's going to look.
Transition is that moment where every individual says, 'I don't want to be here anymore.'
The first place they should look at in preparation is look back at who they've assembled.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Background of Deb Flaschenberg
09:44 The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation for Pregnancy and Birth
11:55 Understanding Spinning Babies and its Role in Birth
14:15 Creating Community Support in the Perinatal Period
17:51 The Evolution of Lamaze Childbirth Education
19:46 The Importance of Flexibility and Openness in Birth Plans
20:08 Exploring Pain Techniques and Coping Skills for Labor
24:07 The Excitement of Transition in Labor
27:14 Recommended Resources for Pregnancy and Birth
TALKING POINTS
prenatal yoga, birth advocacy, education, preparation, pain management, coping skills, Spinning Babies, community support, evidence-based research, Lamaze childbirth education, birth plans, prenatal resources
RESOURCES
BOOKS
Transformed by Birth by Britta Bushnell, PhD
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way - Susan McCutcheon
"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers — strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength."
What to Expect the First Year
What to Expect the Second Year
Deb Flashenberg
Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC. Along with being a prenatal yoga teacher, she is also a labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator, mother of two and self proclaimed "birth and anatomy geek”. For the past 8 years, Deb has also greatly enjoyed being the host of the podcast, Yoga | Birth | Babies, where she speaks with some of the world’s leading experts in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood. Most recently, Deb completed Dr. Sarah Duvall’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist program and the Spinning Babies Parent Educator certification.
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