What really happens behind the curtain of a hospital birth? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb sits down with Dr. Amber Warmsley, a board-certified OB/GYN and childbirth educator, to explore the realities of hospital-based maternity care and how expectant parents can navigate their birth experience with confidence, clarity, and a sense of agency. Together, they unpack the differences between the medical model of care and the physiologic model of birth, highlighting the strengths and limitations of hospital systems and the ways policies, staffing, liability, and institutional culture can shape the care families receive.

At the heart of this conversation is the importance of shared decision-making, respectful communication, and collaboration between birth workers and medical teams. Dr. Warmsley offers practical insights into how parents can identify and communicate their birth values, participate actively in decisions during labor, and build a birth team that supports their choices. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital birth, working as a doula, teaching prenatal yoga, or supporting families through childbirth education, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating differences, reducing tension, and keeping the birthing person’s needs at the center of care.

This episode is brought to you by beYogi offering professional liability insurance designed specifically for yoga teachers and wellness professionals. Whether you’re already teaching or just beginning your teacher training, beYogi helps protect you so you can focus on supporting your students. Yoga Birth Babies listeners receive $20 off an exclusive professional insurance membership. Visit beYogi.com/yogabirthbabies (⁠https://beyogi.com/yogabirthbabies⁠) to claim your discount.

• Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prenatalyogacenter.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram, Tik Tok, & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prenatal Yoga Center⁠

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know that stress and anxiety can affect your pelvic floor health? When we experience stress, our bodies often hold tension in unexpected places, including the pelvic floor. For pregnant and postpartum people, this tension can contribute to pelvic pain, discomfort, and other symptoms that are easy to overlook. But how can you tell if stress is affecting your pelvic floor, and what can you do to find relief?

In this revisit episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb welcomes pelvic floor physical therapist Hayley Kava, PT, MPT, to explore the connection between stress, anxiety, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Together, they discuss how the nervous system and hormonal stress response can influence pelvic floor tension, why relaxation is just as important as strength, and how exhaustion may play a role in pelvic discomfort. They also explore the fascinating connection between jaw tension, breathing, and the pelvic floor.

Whether you’re pregnant, navigating postpartum recovery, or experiencing pelvic floor symptoms, this conversation offers insight into understanding your body and finding ways to release tension. You’ll learn why pelvic floor health isn’t just about doing Kegels, how to recognize signs of an overly tight pelvic floor, and when working with a pelvic floor physical therapist may be beneficial.

This episode is brought to you by beYogi offering professional liability insurance designed specifically for yoga teachers and wellness professionals. Whether you’re already teaching or just beginning your teacher training, beYogi helps protect you so you can focus on supporting your students. Yoga Birth Babies listeners receive $20 off an exclusive professional insurance membership. Visit beYogi.com/yogabirthbabies (https://beyogi.com/yogabirthbabies) to claim your discount.

• Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prenatalyogacenter.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram, Tik Tok, & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Becoming a mother changes so much about your life, including how you see yourself, your priorities, and sometimes even your career. But what happens when the job you spent years building no longer feels like the right fit? Returning to work after maternity leave can bring unexpected questions about identity, purpose, and what you truly want from your professional and personal life.

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb Flaschenberg welcomes Leah Smart, personal development editor, podcast host, and certified coach, to explore why motherhood can spark a career identity crisis. Together, they discuss the emotional complexities of returning to work after having a baby, the pressure to balance career and family, and how to navigate career decisions during the postpartum period without feeling rushed to have everything figured out.

They also explore the practical realities of career transitions, including childcare, finances, relationships, and the importance of reconnecting with yourself beyond your identity as a parent. Whether you're preparing to return to work, considering a career change after having a baby, or simply wondering how motherhood fits into the life you've built, this conversation offers a compassionate perspective on navigating change with clarity and intention.

This episode is brought to you by beYogi offering professional liability insurance designed specifically for yoga teachers and wellness professionals. Whether you’re already teaching or just beginning your teacher training, beYogi helps protect you so you can focus on supporting your students. Yoga Birth Babies listeners receive $20 off an exclusive professional insurance membership. Visit beYogi.com/yogabirthbabies (⁠https://beyogi.com/yogabirthbabies⁠) to claim your discount.

• Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prenatalyogacenter.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:

Instagram, Tik Tok, & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Prenatal Yoga Center

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.