S2E15 - Mechanical Induction - Balloon Catheters, Dilation Rods - Part 1

S2E17 - Chemical Induction - Prostaglandins, Side Effects and Information

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

S2E16 - Mechanical Induction - Balloon Catheters, Dilation Rods - Part 2

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

S2E15 - Mechanical Induction - Balloon Catheters, Dilation Rods - Part 1

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-pdf [https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdf]Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredhttps://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered [https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered] Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join [https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join]Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735]Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered [https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered]Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/ [https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/] https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/ [https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/]https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/ [⁠https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/]Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch [https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch]Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

S2E14 - Membrane, Cervical Stretch and Sweep

When routine cervical sweeps are actually invasive, coerced interventions, are we doing more harm than good?If you're pregnant or supporting someone through birth, understanding the truth about cervical sweeps could change your entire perspective on labor and medical intervention. This episode exposes the often-hidden reality: cervical sweeps are not just gentle, routine procedures, they're invasive, often coercive, and rooted more in tradition than evidence. Kemi Johnson and Shellie Poulter share the unfiltered truth, backed by the latest research and your own stories, about why these interventions may be causing more harm than benefit.Women deserve respectful, informed choices, yet countless women are subjected to these procedures without genuine consent, often feeling violated and confused about their options. You’ll discover how cervical sweeps can trigger uncomfortable inflammatory responses, increase pain and distress, and even impact long-term sexual health. We break down the history, the biomechanics, and the neurophysiology of the cervix, revealing why this vital organ is far more sensitive and complex than outdated myths suggest.You'll learn about the real risks: increased infection, unnecessary intervention, and the unsettling truth about how medical culture has normalized coercion and violated human rights. Most importantly, we empower you with the knowledge: your body, your baby, your right to say no. If you're pregnant, planning birth, or a supporter of birthing women, this episode is your call to question unecessary and often unhelpful routine practices and reclaim autonomy. As the legal case from Australia highlights, calling out assault and negligence in maternity care sparks the potential for systemic change. Don’t accept the illusion of 'routine', know your rights, understand the science, and stand against unnecessary interventions. This is essential listening for anyone wanting to protect their dignity and champion respectful, evidence-based childbirth. Your body is a miracle designed for birth, don't let outdated practices sabotage that process.Tune in, get informed, and take your power back.Birthrights document on Coercion in maternity care:https://birthrights.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BirthrightsEndCoercion_Report.pdf [https://birthrights.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BirthrightsEndCoercion_Report.pdf]Link to Shellie's Birth Rights Class and PDF: https://https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-class-recording-and-pdf [https://https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-class-recording-and-pdf]Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered [https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered]Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join [https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join]Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735]Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered [https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered]Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/ [https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/]https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/ [https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/]https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/ [https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/]Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch [https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch]Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

S2E13 - The Intervention of Late Pregnancy Surveillance - NST, Scans, Foetal Movement

This comprehensive discussion explores the limitations and realities of fetal monitoring techniques like CTG, Doppler scans, and fetal movement assessments. It emphasizes informed decision-making, the importance of understanding medical interventions, and advocating for respectful, evidence-based maternity care.Most women are often pushed into a cycle of unnecessary interventions, believing they're safeguarding their baby's safety, when in reality, many of these tests and procedures offer little long-term benefit. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the array of monitoring tools in pregnancy, like CTG scans, Doppler studies, or fetal movement counts, you're not alone. This episode uncovers the truth behind these widely used but poorly supported practices, revealing how they often lead to more harm than good through false positives and increased surgical interventions.Shellie and Kemi dive deep into the limitations and questionable efficacy of commonplace diagnostics such as fetal heart rate monitoring, ultrasound estimates, and pregnancy tests. You'll discover: why CTGs are more about legal protection for hospitals than actual safety; how reduced fetal movements, while oncerning, rarely predict serious outcomes; and why routine scans often do more to raise anxiety than improve health. They explain the subtle ways medical systems profit from unnecessary testing, fueling a cycle of intervention that doesn't improve long-term outcomes and equip you with critical questions to ask your healthcare providers.This episode challenges you to rethink what “monitoring” truly means, empowering you to take control of your birth experience. You'll explore how a reliance on flawed technology can obscure natural processes and delay crucial, less invasive care. If you're pregnant or supporting someone through pregnancy, this is essential listening to arm yourself with truth and clarity, enabling informed choices that prioritize your wellbeing and that of your baby.Join Shellie and Kemi as they expose the myths around fetal surveillance, advocating for evidence-based, respectful care. Knowledge is power - know the limits of these tools, and learn how to advocate for a birth experience rooted in confidence, not fear.