160: From “Pick a Side” to “Pick What Fits”: How Our Birth-Work Views Changed

Gina (doula/perinatal fitness trainer) and Roxanne (CNM, former L&D nurse) unpack how a decade in birth work—plus Gina’s first, distrust-filled hospital birth—shifted them away from polarizing “all natural” vs “all medical” takes. They discuss how social media fuels hate on both ends, how tension between doulas and providers can hurt the birthing person, and why an empowering birth isn’t defined by epidural vs unmedicated, hospital vs home, or vaginal vs C-section. Their big takeaway: the goal is informed consent, autonomy, and a trusted team—plus asking good prenatal questions early to find the right provider fit. They also share how their childbirth education evolved to be judgment-free, option-rich, and confidence-building, and they plug their courses (including pelvic mechanics) with code mentioned in this episode!Check out all our courses here!: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup01:09 Meet Gina and Roxanne02:32 Social Media Polarization07:23 What Really Matters09:23 The Catalyst Gina’s First Birth11:22 From Indifferent to Unmedicated Plan12:26 Distrust and Traumatic Hospital Start15:11 Early Doula Era and Fighting Mindset20:29 Growth Through Many Births21:43 Trust the Team Above All23:36 Nuance Debriefs and Client Perspective25:23 Roxanne’s Shift Begins25:39 Postpartum Nursing Reality26:59 Labor Unit Wake Up Call28:17 Learning Comfort Skills30:07 Ginas Birth Catalyst32:02 Questioning Interventions34:57 Autonomy And Consent41:11 Team Tension In Birth43:37 Trust Building Questions46:31 Judgment Free Birth Choices50:50 Course Philosophy And Growth55:49 Wrap Up And Resources————🎉 Grab Your Copy of Training for Two → https://amzn.to/3VOTdwHYour go-to guide for prenatal fitness, birth prep, and postpartum recovery.👇 Start Preparing for Birth Today📥 Download our free Birth Prep Circuit Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit📥 Grab our free Pelvic Floor Prep Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-your-pelvic-floor-for-labor/Learn how to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor to support a smoother labor and pushing phase.💻 Explore Our Online Programs:Whether you're pregnant or postpartum—we’ve got you covered with expert-led fitness and education:🏋🏻‍♀️ Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Programs🎓 Childbirth + Postpartum Education Courses→ https://mamastefit.com🤱 Just Had a Baby?📥 Grab our free Postpartum Core Workouts → https://mamastefit.kit.com/coreStart reconnecting with your core and feeling strong again—safely and confidently.———📲 Follow Us on Instagram for Daily Tips + BTShttps://instagram.com/mamastefit———✨ Shop Our Favorites:⚡️ Electrolytes we love → https://drinklmnt.com/mamaste🌿 Supplements we trust – 20% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://thisisneeded.com/ginaandroxanne👖 Maternity clothing we actually wear – 10% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://rstr.co/lovesteady/3500——