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Birth should feel safe, familiar, and centered on the family—yet too often the system delivers the opposite. We sit down with nurse, doula, educator, and Uzazi Village founder Hakima Payne to trace how personal experience scales into community clinics, data-driven policy, and a blueprint for culturally rooted prenatal care. From the early days when “doula” wasn’t a household word to today’s Medicaid reimbursement wins, Hakima shares what’s changed, what stalled, and what’s getting worse for Black maternal and infant health.

Together we unpack the difference between doulas and midwives, why VBAC remains restricted across many hospitals, and how routine inductions became normalized without consistent shared decision-making. Hakima explains why race-specific data is essential to make disparities visible, how policy lags behind evidence, and what it takes to convert awareness into funding, regulation, and accountability. We also talk candidly about the insurance industry’s outsized influence on bedside care and clinician autonomy, and why clinicians employed by hospital systems may have less power to bend the rules than many assume.

The heart of the conversation is a model: community-embedded prenatal care. Think accessible clinics in the neighborhoods they serve, culturally concordant teams, and integrated services—midwifery, doulas, lactation, chiropractic, herbal support—wrapped in details that signal safety and belonging. For parents, we share practical steps to shape their birth experience and ask better questions. For doulas, nurses, and providers, we outline how lifelong learning, anti-racism training, and cross-setting collaboration can move outcomes. Stay for a grounded call to action that keeps momentum alive even when media attention fades.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who cares about maternal health, and leave a review with the one change you want to see in birth care. Your voice keeps this movement growing.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
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Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

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Nausea that won’t quit can turn early pregnancy into a maze of guesswork, guilt, and survival tactics. We’re pulling that experience into the light with a clear look at what drives “morning” sickness, why it rarely sticks to mornings, and how to find practical relief that respects your limits. Drawing on years of doula care and personal trial and error, we map the spectrum—from everyday nausea to hyperemesis gravidarum—so you can recognize red flags early and get the right support.

We talk through real-world strategies that fit into a busy life: small, frequent snacks that keep your stomach from tipping into empty, gentle proteins paired with bland carbs, and hydration plans that work when plain water tastes off. You’ll hear how ginger, vitamin B6 with doxylamine, and P6 acupressure can help, along with environmental tweaks like cooler air and scent-free spaces. When symptoms surge, we walk through medical options, from antiemetics to IV fluids, and why early intervention protects both you and your baby. Throughout, we name the emotional weight of constant nausea, and how humor, permission to slow down, and a small, informed support circle can restore dignity and hope.

This conversation holds space for the messy middle: the days when brushing your teeth is a victory, the moments when a bowl of cereal genuinely saves the afternoon, and the stories that remind you you’re not alone. If you’re navigating nausea now, or supporting someone who is, you’ll leave with clear tools, language to ask for help, and a kinder frame for the work your body is doing. Subscribe for deeper, evidence-informed guidance on pregnancy and birth, share this with a friend who needs reassurance, and leave a review with your go-to nausea tip—what helped you most?

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

Send us a text

The internet gives you a million opinions on birth; we give you a map. Angie sits down with veteran childbirth educator and doula Andrea Lythgoe to unpack how a thoughtful class can transform uncertainty into confidence, whether you’re planning an unmedicated birth or want to be epidural-ready. We explore what a local class adds that videos can’t: real-world insight into your birthplace, equipment practice, and the language to navigate risks, benefits, and alternatives with your care team.

Across a lively, practical conversation, we compare formats and methods so you can choose what fits your goals, budget, and schedule. From weekend intensives to seven-week series, from live online to private sessions, you’ll hear how each option supports different learning styles. We break down the pros and cons of hospital versus independent classes, why quality varies, and how to spot a program that respects your birth plan. You’ll also get a clear overview of approaches like the Bradley Method, hypnosis-based programs, Birthing From Within, and research-forward courses tailored to analytical minds.

We also address the reality of information overload. Social media and TV can raise awareness and anxiety at the same time, leaving parents informed yet confused. Andrea shares how skilled educators filter noise, answer nuanced questions in real time, and guide you through hands-on practice so comfort measures become second nature. Expect actionable tips on matching a class to your personality, using local knowledge to reduce surprises, and carving out time to prepare with intention.

Ready to feel prepared instead of overwhelmed? Press play, learn how to pick a class that truly fits, and then share this episode with a friend who’s expecting. If you find value here, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us: what’s the one skill you most want to practice before labor?

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker