The Breath & Birth Co Podcast
Welcome to The Breath & Birth Co Podcast — a space for mindful preparation and grounded transformation through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Hosted by Vanessa Bauman, Certified Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Prenatal Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation Teacher, this podcast bridges evidence-based education with intuitive wisdom to help you feel informed, empowered, and at peace throughout your journey.
Each episode invites you to pause, breathe, and learn through guided meditations, expert interviews, and real birth stories that nurture your mind-body connection and strengthen your confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for your first birth, planning a VBAC, or seeking a calmer start to parenthood, you’ll find tools, stories, and support to help you cultivate calm, confidence, and connection every step of the way.
(Educational content only; not a substitute for medical advice. Visit breathandbirthco.com/disclaimer for full details.)
Keywords:
- pregnancy podcast
- prenatal education
- childbirth education
- evidence-based birth
- doula tips
- birth stories
- pregnancy meditation
- prenatal yoga
- mindfulness for pregnancy
- labor preparation
- birth plan support
- calm birth techniques
- cesarean birth preparation
- hospital birth advocacy
- breathing exercises for labor
- relaxation for pregnancy
- postpartum recovery tips
- mind-body connection
- birth confidence
- pregnancy affirmations
The Breath & Birth Co Podcast
17. Q&A: Rights vs. Policy, Cervical Checks, and Bishop Score
In this episode of the Breath and Birth Co. podcast, Vanessa, a Certified Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator, addresses key questions about labor and birth. Vanessa explores essential topics including informed consent, the importance of cervical checks, and what constitutes a Bishop score. She explains your rights throughout the birthing process, stressing the significance of bodily autonomy and informed decision-making. Additionally, Vanessa provides insights into the three crucial measurements taken during a cervical check—dilation, effacement, and station—and how they can affect labor. The episode concludes with a detailed look at the Bishop score and how it can predict the likelihood of a successful induction. Vanessa also highlights the value of comprehensive childbirth education and introduces her online course, 'Metamorphosis'.
00:00 Welcome to the Breath and Birth Co. Podcast
00:47 Introduction to Today's Q&A Session
01:02 Understanding Your Rights in Labor and Birth
01:51 Informed Consent and the BRAINS Acronym
05:02 Navigating Hospital Policies and Your Rights
05:55 Cervical Checks: What They Mean and Your Rights
09:28 The Importance of Baby's Station During Labor
12:30 Understanding the Bishop Score
15:07 Childbirth Education and Resources
17:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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As a reminder, the content discussed on this show is not medical advice. For more information, please see Disclaimer here.