Ep17 Perinatal Acupuncture with Dr. Deb Davies, DACM, L.Ac., Birth Doula

This episode enters a tender and brave space. This conversation holds the weight of love, grief, anger, and the quiet stories that often go unspoken. Our guest, Dr. Deb Davies, DACM, L.Ac., and birth doula, shares how losing her first baby at birth led to where she is today in holistic perinatal care, specializing in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Not only do we speak of loss and miscarriage, we discuss perinatal health disparities and the heart-breaking truths about the major gaps in perinatal healthcare in the U.S. and how these gaps ripple out to create real health disparities for people of color and underserved communities.You’ll hear us get fired up and also tear up.This is another conversation reminding me there is still so much work to be done.Whether you’re listening as someone who has walked this path, supported someone through it, or are simply seeking to understand and make an impact on maternal health, we invite you to join us with open hearts and curious presence.SummaryIn this episode of Yinspired, Dr. Haunani Chong-Drake, DACM, interviews Dr. Deb Davies, DACM, a specialist in perinatal acupuncture. They discuss the importance of acupuncture in women’s health, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. The conversation highlights the need for education on pregnancy loss, the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating conditions like placenta previa, and the importance of a collaborative pregnancy care team to improve maternal health outcomes. As leaders and advocates of Integrative Medicine since the early 2000s, they speak candidly of the current challenges and misconceptions of integrative medicine.Links to all episode show notes, guests' bios, references, and shoutouts can be found at Yinspired.substack.com/podcastChapters00:00 Introduction to Yinspired Podcast00:54 Meet Dr. Deb Davies: A Journey into Acupuncture03:28 The Path to Acupuncture: Personal Experiences07:49 Specializing in Perinatal Acupuncture09:40 Overcoming Fears in Treating Pregnant Patients12:35 The Importance of Support in Women’s Healthcare15:58 Addressing Pregnancy Loss and Emotional Support18:10 The Role of Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth20:14 Understanding and Treating Placenta Previa25:30 Success Stories in Perinatal Acupuncture27:41 Understanding Pregnancy Complications30:41 The Role of Acupuncture in Pregnancy33:53 Building a Pregnancy Care Team36:22 Maternal Mortality and Healthcare Disparities39:36 Advocacy and Empowerment in Childbirth44:39 The Importance of Community Support48:35 Navigating Hospital Policies and Procedures57:24 The Importance of Postpartum Care01:00:13 Cultural Perspectives on Recovery01:02:59 Challenges of Postpartum Life01:05:45 Integrative Medicine and Support Systems01:08:46 The Future of Healthcare and Women’s RightsDo you have something to add to this conversation? Head on over to Yinspired.substack.com/podcast, find the episode and leave your kind comments, questions, and keep the conversation going. This is the only place to interact with the Yinspired host and guests.Enjoying Yinspired?Please remember to share a favorite episode with someone you love and subscribe to Yinspired wherever you listen. If you could leave a five-star review and rating, that would help others find Yinspired. If that’s not your thing, don’t worry. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yinspired.substack.com