Ep 37: NST Explained

Informed consent or refusal is a hot topic on the internet, probably because it isn't often happening in the delivery room. It is the responsibility of your care provider to fully inform you of your options including the risks, benefits, alternatives and the option to either consent or refuse along with the right to withdraw consent at any time. Alex and Lacey share examples of times they have seen this occur and more often the times they don't. The provide you real language you can use to help guide informed conversations and what to do if you feel your consent was not given but medical procedures were done anyway. 

In this episode, Alex and Lacey discuss tips and tricks to help contractions "suck less". They offer suggestions from shifts in the environment, to mindset, to ways to use facial connections to support releasing for labor. Tune in to learn some quick and easy tips for labor.  

Join us as Colleen shares how her birth experiences shaped the mother she is today. From two hospital births where she felt pressured into decisions she didn’t want, through a pregnancy marked by empowerment, unexpected roadblocks, and the heartbreak of stillbirth, to a peaceful unassisted homebirth, Colleen reflects on her evolving identity as a mother. Throughout her story, she explores how faith, trust, and learning to release fear have guided her through grief, healing, and joy.

When the unimaginable happens, partners are often expected to be strong, support mom, and keep everything moving. But who is supporting them?In this episode, Lacey and Alex explore the often-overlooked grief of partners following miscarriage, stillbirth, and pregnancy loss. They discuss how partners’ experiences may differ from the birthing parent’s, why quiet grief can go unnoticed, and how couples can navigate loss when their needs and ways of processing don’t match.From asking meaningful questions and acknowledging their parenthood to helping with household responsibilities and remembering important dates, this conversation offers practical ways friends, family, and doulas can show up for both parents—long after the initial wave of support fades.A partner’s grief deserves space, even when they appear to be functioning and caring for everyone else.Content note: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, stillbirth, grief, and traumatic birth experiences. Please listen when and if you feel ready.

Your birth story doesn’t have to be joyful—or inspiring—to deserve to be heard.In this episode of Doulas Unhinged, Alex and Lacey explore why every birth story deserves space, including those marked by disappointment, trauma, or loss. They discuss how well-intended responses like “at least the baby is healthy” can silence parents, why joy and grief can coexist, and why changing your birth plan doesn’t mean you failed.Through personal experiences and reflections from their work as doulas, they share ways to listen without judgment, validate without forcing a silver lining, and ask permission before offering advice or another perspective. They also explore respecting each family’s interpretation of their birth and helping parents connect with additional support when needed.During Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, this conversation makes room for stories too often left out—and reminds parents that they don’t have to soften their experiences to make others comfortable.Content note: This episode includes discussion of traumatic birth, pregnancy and infant loss, and the death of a baby, including a personal account of attempted resuscitation. Please listen when and if you feel ready.

In today's episode Emma DeVanzo walks us through the experience of losing her son Austin at 39.5 weeks into her pregnancy. We discuss the isolation created by Covid and loss, tips for how others can help hold space for those they love who have experienced loss and tips for future pregnancies. We hope you will find this episode valuable should you find yourself or a loved one faced with the loss of a baby. 

This week Alex and Lacey share some tips for how to get the most bang for your buck when hiring a doula. They discuss: When to hire a doula, the importance of finding the right fit, speaking up to share what you need from your doula and communicating if her support is not meeting you where you are. They also dive into when it's a good time to chat with your doula and the types of details a doula is often listening for. 

On this episode Alex and Lacey discuss the diagnostic testing often referred to as an NST (Non- stress Test). They explain what is being measured, what it might mean and how accurate the test actually is. Dive in for another episode of Doulas Unhinged. Risk of PPH in otherwise unmedicated birth is between 1.5-3%. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11239210/Discuss aminoinfusionNSTRecommended frequently 

Hiring your provider is the most influential piece of your outcome for labor and delivery. Not your age, weight, genetic lineage, health history. Your care provider can contribute positively or negatively to your birth experience so it is critical to choose them wisely. Join Alex and Lacey as they discuss questions to ask, red flags and share stories of how providers impact your journey. 

What does it really take to nourish yourself through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum?This week, we’re joined by Dr. Megan Bragg, a registered dietitian nutritionist with a PhD in nutritional biology and the owner of Family-Centered Nutrition Science. Megan breaks down pregnancy and postpartum nutrition without the fear, perfectionism, or trendy wellness noise.We discuss protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, choline, folic acid versus methylated folate, prenatal vitamins, hydration, and how calorie needs change throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Megan also explains why more supplementation isn’t always better—and why food should remain the foundation whenever possible.We also explore:Preparing nutritionally for labor as you would for an athletic eventEating and rebuilding your body during the early postpartum periodNutrition for fertility and preconception—for both partnersBreastfeeding food restrictions and when elimination diets may do more harm than goodDates, red raspberry leaf tea, pineapple, and other popular labor-preparation recommendationsStarting solids, early allergen exposure, and raising confident eatersHow working with a registered dietitian can make feeding yourself and your family feel more manageableBefore Megan joins us, Lacey shares an incredible first-time birth story involving an unpredictable contraction pattern, a strategically timed chiropractic adjustment, instinctive pushing before complete dilation, and a baby born after only 12 minutes of pushing.Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, currently expecting, newly postpartum, or simply exhausted by the pressure to eat “perfectly,” this episode offers practical guidance, thoughtful nuance, and permission to focus on nourishment—not perfection.Learn more about Megan and her services at FamilyCenteredNutritionScience.com.