Birth as a Rite of Passage

Rainbow Rosenbloom is a Waldorf educator and the founder of Live Education!, where he consults on and creates engaging curriculum for children of all ages. Listen in as he and Midwife Aleks discuss the effects of the pandemic on children and how best to tackle home schooling for those that never considered it an option.

We're  back with a special episode to help you navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum in the middle of the current pandemic. Midwife Aleks and Executive Producer Chelsea weigh in on changing birth plans and how to care for yourself and your growing family during uncertain times; From food and nutrition tips, to ways to de-stress ahead of labor, we're here to help all of you mamas and soon to be mamas deal with the unknowns and changing situation of the current pandemic.   

From pelvic floor health to the mythology of birth stories to abortion doulas, we covered a whole gamut of topics in season 2. Listen in as the Under the Hood team discusses the highlights and stories behind the episodes and what lays ahead. 

There is no better guest than Aviva Romm, physician, midwife, herbalist, and author as our final interview of season 2. Listen in as Aleks, Patti, and Aviva discuss the current state of women’s health, where we are headed, and how far we’ve come. Aviva shares special insight into her journey from a young apprenticing midwife to Yale Medical School graduate, in a career that has focused on elevating women and the quality of medical care they recieve.

Executive Producer Chelsea and her husband David share an intimate conversation between them about the months following the birth of their daughter. Our last episode with Kimberly Johnson covered practical steps you can take to plan for a fulfilling postpartum period. In this special story episode, Chelsea and David discuss the ups and down of life in the "fourth trimester", how it unfolded and what they would do differently next time around. 

Postpartum health expert Kimberly Johnson has laid out a system of support to help new mothers take care of themselves following birth. Under the Hood's Patti and Aleks spoke to her at a live event at Hatch in Los Angeles a few months back. From healing your body to deciding who to allow into your space following birth, this conversation touches on every aspect of postpartum life. It is essential listening for anyone embarking on the postpartum journey or anyone interested in how they can support new mothers following birth. 

Lymphedema Therapist Lisa Levitt Gainsley describes the body's Lymphatic System as the great recycling system, helping to clean out the waste product that gets accumulated in your body's tissue. Lymphatic massage, whether done by a therapist or by yourself can help you boost your immune system, reduce bloating and swelling in the body, and promote general healing and rejuvenation. Patti and Aleks take a deep dive into the Lymphatic System with Lisa, who talks about what led her down this path and why she thinks everyone can benefit from lymphatic body work. 

The process of giving birth, with its challenges and joys, can be compared to a microcosm of life itself. In this episode with Dr. Britta Bushnell, Patti and Aleks discuss the idea of birth as a rite of passage for those on the journey to becoming mothers. Dr. Bushnell dives into the thoughts and inspiration behind her upcoming book Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood.

How does Chinese medicine and acupuncture view and treat the pregnant body? We are back with part II of our conversation with Spirit Gate Acupuncture and Wellness founder Katya Mosely, who this week sheds light on the energetic imbalances that can arise in pregnancy and what you can do to treat them. She also discusses the effects of energy depletion both during pregnancy and in life and how acupuncture and other methods of self care can restore your health and vibrancy.

Founder of Spirit Gate Acupuncture and Wellness, Katya Mosely has built her career on caring for the body and spirit of mothers during all stages of pregnancy. In this episode, she shares her own personal story about pregnancy loss and how it has enabled her to treat women going through similar circumstances. She also shares tips for how to take care yourself or a loved one who may have experienced a pregnancy loss.