Beyond Beautiful Birth is a part of the EcoParent Podcast Network: https://www.ecoparent.ca/podcasts

This episode is generously sponsored by Ferritin+ by Flora Health: https://ca-en.florahealth.com/pages/ferritin

About the Episode:
In this episode Dr Ashley Girard, ND shares with us her intense, empowering, remarkable birth stories. Natalie and Dr Dori join in sharing all of our experiences with Pelvic Girdle Pain and Symphysis Pubis Discomfort, including practical tips on how to cope with the debilitating pain that can accompany these diagnoses. We delve into the difference between pain and suffering, how trauma can deeply affect the birth process and how to thrive through it. How to know when to pivot from the plan and really surrender to the birth process. We discuss the BRAIN decision making tool and how to apply it to all kinds of situations.

Then we go deep into the topic of Breech Babies - you may be shocked to learn that if your baby is not head down by the end of your pregnancy it doesn’t necessarily mean an automatic planned Caesarean section delivery. How one randomized control trial managed to obliterate the essential practice of delivering breech babies vaginally, a practice that was very successful for eons and is now a lost art. Finally, we reflect on the stress response, closure and completion when it comes to birth traumas and experiences. The one thing we all really want you to take away from this episode is the question that you should never stop asking - Is there another option? We hope you gain something from this episode, please let us know your thoughts.


Guest Bio & Links:
Dr. Ashley Girard is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and an associate member of the Canadian Urological Association. Dr. Girard's clinical focus is on female urinary conditions such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections, and other pelvic pain conditions. Her clinic Holistic Bladder Care provides telemedicine to patients throughout Ontario and focuses on getting to the root causes of these conditions. Dr. Girard lives in the country north of Barrie, Ontario and is working on becoming a homesteader with her loving husband Paul, 4 year old daughter Josephine and 15 month old son Archer.

Web: www.bladdercare.ca www.girardnd.com

Host Bio & Links:
Dr Dori Skye Engel is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Birth Doula practicing family medicine in Toronto with a special interest in Pregnancy, Pediatrics and Perimenopause. Mama to three wonderful, intense and dramatically different boys, she believes strongly in the innate wisdom of the human body and our powerful ability to heal. She can be found at http://www.familynaturopathy.ca
http://www.instagram.com/mamadoll
http://www.facebook.com/DrDoriND

Natalie Tregaskiss is a Registered Midwife, a Labour and Delivery Nurse and a Board Certified Lactation Consultant who has been supporting families for over 17 years. She has three amazing children whom she is constantly learning from. Through her unique breadth of experience she helps parents birth with autonomy and transition to authentic parenthood. She can be found at
http://www.instagram.com/tregaskiss1

About the EcoParent Podcast Network:
The EcoParent Podcast Network helps busy families live a healthier, greener lifestyle. Our host experts are imperfect, real, busy parents just like you who share ways to lower our collective carbon footprint and practical strategies that make a difference to your family’s health, the planet and to our children’s future. We offer raw, honest conversations and actionable advice across our six podcasts: pregnancy & birth, pediatric wellness, kids’ nutrition, green beauty, healthy home, and raising greener teens. Join us and get inspired to live a more sustainable, healthy life! www.ecoparent.ca/podcasts

Partnerships:

Audio magic on this episode was performed by Carlay Ream-Neal.

This episode was edited by Emily Groleau.