Birth Untethered

Unlock the truth about common obstetric interventions with Caz's powerful birth stories. See how choices around procedures like artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) and amniotomy truly impact your labor, your confidence, and your lifelong bond with your baby.In this episode, Caz recounts her first birth, where interventions like ARM were routine but led to overwhelming pain, loss of control, and feelings of being a 'caged animal.' She reveals how these experiences deeply affected her confidence and her relationship with her newborn. You'll discover specific details about how and why interventions such as ARM are often used without full informed consent, and the long-term consequences; including increased risks of trauma, delayed bonding, and unnecessary surgical procedures.We break down the research behind these procedures, shown to do more harm than good and discuss how physiological birth can be supported through simple, evidence-based strategies that honor your body's natural rhythm.This episode is essential listening if you’re pregnant, planning a home birth, or simply questioning routine hospital practices. Misconceptions about interventions like ARM and fetal monitoring are widespread, but understanding their true risks opens the door to more respectful, informed choices. Cas's story illustrates the profound difference that mindful, respectful care can make, transforming birth from a medical ordeal into a celebration of your strength and sovereignty - Make sure to listen to our next episode to hear her second birth story.Guest Cas, a mother and birth advocate, bravely shares her raw, real experience of how interventions can unintentionally cause trauma, and how trusting your body and your choices leads to more positive outcomes. Her insights are a rallying cry for women to reclaim birth as a natural, powerful experience, one they can and should own.If you're committed to birth that feels right for you, free from unnecessary procedures and large-scale intervention, this episode will inspire, inform, and empower you to ask the right questions, make confident decisions, and experience the joy of truly autonomous birth.Perfect for expectant mothers, birth workers, and advocates for respectful maternity care, this episode challenges the norms and encourages a shift towards more compassionate, evidence-based practice. Tune in to hear Cas’s transformational journey because every woman deserves a birth story she can be proud of.Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjBApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

Most women are told that induction is a lifesaver, but what if everything you’ve been led to believe is misleading? Shellie and Kemi untether the complex truths behind common induction practices, revealing how often interventions are unnecessary and the true risks you face. This eye-opening conversation exposes the real impact of medical procedures that are presented as safety measures but often lead to cascades of intervention like more c-sections, NICU admissions, long-term health issues, and compromised birth experiences.You’ll discover:The astonishing disconnect between perceived and real risks of stillbirth at various gestations, and how the tiny 0.05% difference in "safety" is offered by induction at 41 weeks.Why the widely promoted benefits of induction, like reducing NICU stays or NICU admissions, are often overstated or misunderstood.The insidious role of medical industry incentives and societal myths that skew the narrative around “necessary” interventions.How advancements in understanding birth physiology point to safer, more empowering alternatives to forced labor.The emotional and physical toll of excessive intervention, and how to reclaim control over your birth choices.This episode isn’t just for pregnant women; it’s essential listening for any parent, birth supporter, or health advocate frustrated by the system’s bias towards unnecessary interventions. With detailed analysis of medication risks, intervention cascade, and the true narrative on long-term outcomes, Shellie and Kemi empower you to ask the right questions and make informed decisions.Join them to challenge the status quo, understand the real science, and discover how informed choice can transform birth from a process of fear to one of empowerment. Whether you’re facing a decision right now or simply want to rethink what you’ve been told, this episode offers clarity, courage, and a new perspective on birth rights and safety.Trust your instinct. Know your options. Own your birth.
Website:
https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered
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Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered
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Shellie Poulter and Kemi Johnson reveal the shocking realities behind common induction methods, their risks, and the patriarchal forces shaping our maternity care system.Did you know that many induction medications can cause severe side effects like uterine rupture, fetal distress, and even catastrophic conditions like DIC? Or that the actual risk of stillbirth at full term isn't nearly as high as hospitals make it seem? Shellie breaks down the confusing, often misleading language in medical leaflets, exposing the lies and fear tactics used to coerce women into unnecessary procedures. Yet again, the evidence suggests these interventions often do more harm than good.You'll discover:The true risks and benefits of chemical induction agents, prostaglandins and why they can trigger a cascade of interventions leading to unnecessary cesareans.How hospital protocols and false safety claims undermine women’s bodily autonomy and support for natural birth.Evidence-based insights on the minuscule increase in stillbirth risk with induction versus the tremendous side effects and trauma caused by these procedures.Why informed consent is often sidelined in maternity care, and how to advocate for yourself in a system prone to coercion.Practical strategies for supporting spontaneous labor and avoiding harmful interventions, whether at home or in the hospital.This episode is perfect for anyone facing a medicalized birth, questioning routine practices, or passionate about reclaiming control over pregnancy and childbirth. Don’t let ignorance or industry propaganda hijack your birth experience, educate yourself now and prepare to challenge the status quo.Remember: Your body, your birth, your choice. If you want to understand what’s really happening behind the scenes of hospital inductions and how to avoid unnecessary risks, this episode is essential listening for every pregnant person and birth supporter aiming for a safer, more conscious birth.

Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB
Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/
https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/
https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/
Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch
Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

Most women are told induction is the safest way to start labour, but what if it's often the very thing that increases risks instead?
In this eye-opening episode, Shellie and Kemi cut through the medical jargon to reveal the true risks behind mechanical induction methods like balloons and rods, and question whether waiting naturally might be the safer, smarter choice.
You’ll discover:
Why balloon catheters and dilapan rods often lead to longer, more complicated labors rather than a quick, straightforward birth.
The astonishing statistics on cesarean rates, forceful interventions, and the cascade of medical procedures that commonly follow mechanical induction.
How data reveals that induction, especially with balloons or rods, frequently doubles or triples your risk of uterine rupture compared to spontaneous labor, yet this reality is often concealed or misrepresented.
Why the supposed safety benefits of mechanical methods are largely myths designed to cover up the cascade of interventions they trigger.
The importance of informed consent and understanding true risks versus what the system wants you to believe because your body and baby are perfectly capable of doing this on their own, with less trauma and fewer interventions.
This episode is essential listening for expectant parents questioning routine induction or birth workers committed to truly empowering birthing women. If you're tired of being led down the cascade of interventions that often cause more harm than good, this episode offers crucial facts you need to make empowered choices. Whether you’re facing an induction decision or simply want to understand the real risks behind medical interventions, this episode gives you the tools to see through the hype and choose what’s best for you and your baby.
Get ready for raw truths, proven data, and a call to question the status quo. The power to birth on your own terms starts with understanding the facts and this episode delivers them unfiltered.
Ready to challenge the conventional narrative? Come and Join the Untethered Rebels!

Get the BirthRights Class and PDF: https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdf

Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered

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Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB

Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/
https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/
https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/

Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch

Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

Shellie and Kemi discuss mechanical induction methods. If you're facing induction and want to know more or are questioning its necessity, this eye-opening episode exposes the myths, risks, and emotional toll of these interventions, not just on your labor but on your baby's lifelong health. Most women are unaware that procedures like balloon catheters, osmotic rods, and cervical ripening devices come with significant pain, unspoken risks, and often lead to a cascade of interventions; cesareans, instrumental births, and early NICU admissions, far more frequently than spontaneous labor. We dive into the history, purpose, and pitfalls of these techniques, revealing how they bypass your body's natural safety and signaling echanisms.You'll discover:Why forcing your cervix open with physical stretch damages the body's innate communication pathways and can trigger stress responses that inhibit true labor.How mechanical methods such as Foley balloons, laminaria rods, and saline infusions work, and why they may prolong labor or increase infection risk without improving outcomes.The staggering data showing induction leads to a cascade of further interventions, higher epidural use, instrumental delivery, and cesarean rates, that could be avoided with patience and trust in your body.The emotional and psychological impacts of feeling disempowered during birth, and how it shapes your postpartum experience and long-term relationship with your child.Critical insights on the false narratives surrounding 'safety,' and why waiting naturally often results in better health and bonding outcomes for both mother and baby.This episode is perfect for pregnant women, birth professionals, and anyone questioning the routine use of induction. If you believe birth should honor your physiology and emotional wellbeing, you'll find empowering truths that challenge the conventional medical paradigm. You're in control. Understanding the risks and alternatives can change your entire birthing experience.Join us as we unravel the realities of mechanical induction, highlight choices, and advocate for birth practices rooted in respect, intuition, and evidence. Your informed decisions now can shape a joyful, healthy beginning for your family, don't miss this vital conversation.

Get the Birthrights Class and PDF: https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdfWebsite:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredhttps://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/
https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie