Best After Csection Podcasts (2025)

1
88. Why Yoga is an Important Addition to the Prenatal and Postpartum Season with Taylor Kaulius 27:01

12d ago27:01

27:01

Our guest on today’s episode is mom of two, founder of Taylor Lee Yoga, and yoga trainer in the Expecting and Empowered app, Taylor Kaulius! So many mamas requested prenatal and postnatal yoga be included in our workout app, so we brought Taylor onto the team! We have loved her perspective on why including yoga during pregnancy and postpartum as no…

1
61. Maternal Ambivalence and the Power of AND with Dr. Margo Lowy, BSW, MSW, PhD 31:44

21d ago31:44

31:44

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Margo Lowy, a psychotherapist, author, and expert in maternal mental health, for a powerful conversation about the often unspoken emotional realities of motherhood. Dr. Lowy shares what led her to explore the concept of maternal ambivalence and how naming and normalizing our full emotional experience can transform…

1
87. Fixing Your Urgency Incontinence (And the Free Resource That You'll Need to Help!) 22:44

26d ago22:44

22:44

Urinary urgency and incontinence are topics that often don’t get enough attention in women’s health—which is exactly why we're diving into them in today’s episode. Join hosts Amy and Krystle as they share top tips for better bladder health! It’s common to be practicing unhealthy bladder habits without even knowing it, so we will cover what healthy …

1
60. Esophageal Atresia, Unexpected C-Sections, and Trusting Your Intuition with Liz Eidelman 49:13

1M ago49:13

49:13

In this episode, I’m joined by Liz Eidelman, a New Jersey mom of two, doula, and content creator with a passion for helping women take control of their birth experiences. Liz shares her journey through two very different, yet equally challenging, births—and how those experiences sparked her desire to empower others to have satisfying, informed, and…

1
59. Why I'm Choosing NOT to Have an HBAC 9:15

1M ago9:15

9:15

I have previously said that I would love to have a homebirth after cesarean (HBAC) if I had a third baby. Well, I've changed my mind and I'll go over why in this episode. I am an advocate for choice and informed consent. I believe everyone has a right to weigh the risks and benefits and decide what type of birth is best for them. Whether that be a …

1
86. Morgan Cutlip on Sharing the Mental Load of Parenting Better 40:29

1M ago40:29

40:29

Today on the podcast, we are honored to have relationship expert Dr. Morgan Cutlip on to talk all about sharing the mental load as mothers and some tangible tips on how to do so. Transitioning from committed partners or a married couple to parents of young children can come with seemingly never ending to-do lists and a lot of emotions. Sharing the …

1
"Society has let us down as women and mothers" with Daniella Moyles 1:01:56

1M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

My conversation this week with Daniella Moyles is one that will stay with me. Daniella is a former model, radio DJ and presenter who didn't take her foot off the pedal for close to a decade, resulting in a period of intense physical and mental anxiety and burnout. When she realised her life needed to change, she took time out to jump into the new: …

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What you need to know about living with ADHD, with Claire Quigley Ward 46:58

2M ago46:58

46:58

This week, I spoke to the fascinating and passionate Claire Quigley Ward, a UK-based certified ADHD coach. Claire is also host of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, she's a Microsoft Accessibility Champion, and the founder of an organisation called ADHD Winchester, which supports those in her city who want to know more or to find support with their own A…

1
58. Preparing for My Second VBAC (I'm Pregnant!) 7:15

2M ago7:15

7:15

Text Hannah! First 3 Steps to VBAC Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/firststeps Quiz - Is Your Provider VBAC Supportive?: https://thehannahgill.com/quiz Doula VBAC and Repeat Cesarean Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/newdoulatipsBy Hannah Gill | VBAC Mom, VBAC Doula, and Childbirth Educator.

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85. C-Section Awareness Month Special: Everything You Need to Know the First Two Weeks After a C-section 33:16

2M ago33:16

33:16

One-third of babies in the United States are delivered via c-section. In honor of C-Section Awareness Month, we thought it would be a great opportunity to revisit one of our earliest episodes about everything you need to know during the first two weeks after a c-section. Here at Expecting and Empowered we celebrate all births whether they are vagin…

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Mothering four Autistic children while being Autistic yourself, with Amanda McGuinness 52:03

2M ago52:03

52:03

My guest this week is Amanda McGuinness from LittlePuddins.ie. Amanda is a truly inspiring voice in the parenting community and a powerful advocate for autism acceptance and understanding. Amanda is a mum of four beautiful children, all of whom are neurodivergent, and her journey into the world of neurodiversity has shaped not only her family’s lif…

1
Raising self-compassionate children with Louise Shanagher 47:00

2M ago47:00

47:00

My guest this week is author and mindfulness educator Louise Shanagher. Louise is also the founder of the Creative Mindfulness method, a programme that introduces mindfulness and self-compassion to children through creative activities like storytelling, art, and meditation. She has authored several children's books, and through her Creative Mindful…

1
84. Postpartum Issues They Don't Tell You About with Stacia Scott 49:20

2M ago49:20

49:20

Transitioning from pregnancy to postpartum can sometimes leave new moms feeling confused, tired, and depleted. Here at Expecting and Empowered, we feel passionately that every mama should get the care, education, and support they deserve and love sharing the microphone with other women who feel the same. That's where Stacia Scott and her company Po…

1
Your thoughts are not your actions, and healing from trauma with Emma Flynn 1:01:06

2M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

This week, I spoke to returning guest Emma Flynn. Emma was first on the podcast with the lovely Sinead more than three years ago, but her story was so compelling and so important that I wanted to catch up with her and see how things are for her now. Emma's story can be difficult to hear and can be triggering, so if you're a new mam or in a particul…

1
"You just wait!" and other advice no pregnant person wants to hear, with Niamh O'Sullivan 53:05

3M ago53:05

53:05

The lovely Niamh O'Sullivan is my guest this week, and although I've known Niamh for a good few years, and she's always radiant, she was absolutely GLOWING with the joy that only arrives when you're expecting your first baby. At the time of recording, Niamh is about half way through her pregnancy, and she's just now coming out of the horrendous sic…

1
83. How to Find the Motivation to Make Exercise Stick 22:45

3M ago22:45

22:45

Finding the motivation to workout while being a mom can be hard. Our to-do lists are long and our schedules are busy! Amy is solo for today’s episode to share why we feel pure motivation isn’t going to get you to workout. Instead, changing your mindset, prioritizing yourself, and creating the habit of exercising by knowing your “why” are the three …

1
Having children doesn't mean you stop following your passion, with sports star Louise Galvin 51:23

3M ago51:23

51:23

I absolutely LOVED this week's episode. Not only was Louise Galvin extremely sound to chat to and I left wanting to be her pal, she was so open and honest and candid about how she and her husband manage parenting. Louise, for those unfamiliar, is one of Ireland's most successful sports stars – playing at senior level with the Kerry football team, p…

1
57: Doula Support During C-Sections 10:43

3M ago10:43

10:43

In this episode, I'm going over the role doulas play in supporting clients through both planned and unplanned c-sections. Many people believe that once a c-section is decided on (whether planned or unplanned), a doula is no longer needed. That is absolutely untrue. Doula support is extremely beneficial in all birth scenarios. Text Hannah! First 3 S…

1
Avoiding mastitis, fed is best and a breastfeeding Q&A with Orla Dorgan 49:23

3M ago49:23

49:23

My guest this week is award-winning lactation consultant Orla Dorgan, who is the founder of mylactationconsultant.ie. Orla is a nurse by profession, but when she breastfed her children and had a good experience, she wanted to bring the tools and advice she had to as many parents as possible. This episode covers a lot – both general chats about feed…

1
56: How to Choose the Best Hospital for Your VBAC and Best Maternity Care Hospitals with Dr. Jennifer Winston from U.S. News & World Report 20:44

3M ago20:44

20:44

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Winston, Health Data Scientist at U.S. News & World Report, to discuss the powerful data behind the rankings of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and Maternity Care Access Hospitals. Here's what you'll learn: What defines a Best Hospital for Maternity Care and a Maternity Care Access Hospital, and …

1
55: How Long to Wait Between Your C-Section and VBAC 8:35

3M ago8:35

8:35

In today’s episode, I'm diving into a key consideration for VBAC planning...the timing and spacing between your c-section and VBAC. If you’re planning a VBAC then understanding the spacing between births can make a big difference. I go over ACOG guidelines but also give some personal insight into the topic and remind you to trust your gut and intui…

1
82. How is Your Pelvic Floor Doing Postpartum? Pssst...We're Including a Free Resource that Helps You Check! 26:10

3M ago26:10

26:10

Over our last few episodes, we’ve gone over our #1 most downloaded resource about c-section scar mobilization AND our second most downloaded resource ever on labor positions! Today we are bringing you a BRAND NEW resource we think all of you need to see all about the pelvic floor! The pelvic floor is the “basket” keeping all of our internal organs …

1
Travelling with toddlers, work/life balance and more with Ailbhe Garrihy 51:52

3M ago51:52

51:52

This weeks episode was just such a pleasure to record from start to finish – Ailbhe Garrihy is my guest this week and she is just the most engaging and warm person to chat to, and I know it's such a podcast cliche but I really could have talked to her for hours. Ailbhe is not only the general manager of her thriving family business Dublin Bay Cruis…

1
Baby incoming! 39 weeks pregnant and going from 2 to 3 with Grace Mongey Gernon 43:50

3M ago43:50

43:50

My guest for our first episode of season 16 is the lovely Grace Mongey Gernon. Grace has been working full time as an influencer for the past nine years – there was somewhat of an urgency with getting Grace's episode recorded, because when we spoke she was 39 weeks pregnant and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her third child, a little boy who's nam…

1
54: Pelvic floor exercise after c-section and to prepare for VBAC with Dr. Jessica London, PT, DPT, PCES 42:59

3M ago42:59

42:59

In today's episode I dive deep into pelvic floor PT with Dr. Jessica London, PT, DPT, PCES. I also hear a bit about her birth stories (unplanned c-section and HBAC). Here’s what you can expect: How Jessica's first birth experience shaped the decision for a second homebirth, and the mental preparation involved. Differences in preparing for a VBAC at…

1
53: 5 Questions to Ask Your Provider About VBAC 7:53

4M ago7:53

7:53

https://www.thehannahgill.com/blog/5-questions-to-ask-your-provider-about-vbac Text Hannah! First 3 Steps to VBAC Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/firststeps Quiz - Is Your Provider VBAC Supportive?: https://thehannahgill.com/quiz Doula VBAC and Repeat Cesarean Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/newdoulatips…

1
81. All Things Sleep: Mom Edition with Sleep Dr. Shelby 35:22

4M ago35:22

35:22

As moms of young babies and children, we focus so much on their sleep. Baby sleep is so important for growth and development. But why isn’t the sleep of the mother more talked about? Today on the podcast, Dr. Shelby Harris, a Board Certified Sleep Psychologist and mother, is here to help us dissect sleep as a mom. There are so many different influe…

1
52: More Nurses, Fewer c-sections. Why Hospital Staff Matters More Than You Think. 7:20

4M ago7:20

7:20

In today’s episode, I'm diving into an important but often overlooked factor that can make all the difference in your VBAC journey: nurse staffing. You might not have considered how hospital staffing levels can influence your VBAC success, but research shows that more nurses could mean fewer C-sections. I dive into: Why your hospital’s nurse-to-pat…

1
80. Running with Prolapse: How to do it Safely 34:03

4M ago34:03

34:03

As avid lifelong runners, we, Amy and Krystle, know that when you’re a runner, you want to keep running through all phases of life! And sometimes, pelvic organ prolapse can feel like it’s keeping you from doing the thing you love. One of our most popular blog posts was about running with prolapse. So, today we thought we’d expand on that post and b…

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79. Why a High Pain Tolerance Alone Won't Get You the Unmedicated Birth That You're Hoping for with @alifeinlabor 59:52

5M ago59:52

59:52

On the podcast today, we are happy to have Heather Knezic! Heather is a Labor & Delivery nurse, wife, mom of 3, birth educator and founder of A Life In Labor who has helped thousands of women achieve their most empowered birth experience. This episode is an open and honest conversation about having the goal of an unmedicated birth. We recognize and…

1
51: How Are You Preparing for a VBAC? 11:00

5M ago11:00

11:00

https://www.thehannahgill.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-vbac-courses Text Hannah! First 3 Steps to VBAC Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/firststeps Quiz - Is Your Provider VBAC Supportive?: https://thehannahgill.com/quiz Doula VBAC and Repeat Cesarean Guide: https://www.thehannahgill.com/newdoulatips…

1
Millie Mackintosh, on navigating through motherhood, wellness, and her journey with alcohol 40:10

5M ago40:10

40:10

This week I was delighted to welcome the lovely Millie Mackintosh to the podcast. She’s a reality TV star turned entrepreneur, she's a mother to two girls and many of you will recognize her from her breakout role on Made in Chelsea. Since then, she’s carved out an incredible career as a wellness advocate, businesswoman, and with her new book, Bad D…

1
78. Labor Positions That Will Help Keep Labor Moving (Includes Our 2nd Most Downloaded Resource!) 41:32

5M ago41:32

41:32

Today, Krystle and Amy are diving into different laboring positions to utilize during labor and delivery! There is still a big misconception about movement during the laboring process, however, we know from the research that utilizing several positions can help your baby descend during the labor process. Our goal during this episode is to educate y…

1
Parenting five children while being a full-time carer for one of them, with Katie Healy Nolan 50:46

5M ago50:46

50:46

My guest this week is Katie Healy Nolan, whose life is chaotic but filled with gratitude, as she parents her five young children, ages 8 down to just six weeks. Her eldest child, her daughter Penelope, is living with a life-limiting illness and requires 24-hour care, with Katie provides, as she says herself "with a heart and a half". Katie and her …

1
Music and motherhood, and the constant juggle, with Lisa McHugh 46:41

5M ago46:41

46:41

Joining me for this week's episode is Lisa McHugh, an award-winning singer-songwriter and one of the brightest stars in Irish country music. Beyond her music, she’s also an entrepreneur, a proud mam of two, and a voice of positivity and empowerment for women. Her two children, Milo who is two and Hallie who is just five months, are the centre of he…

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50: Navigating Boundaries, Postpartum Emotions, and Building Confidence with Alexis Adams MS, LMHC 28:44

5M ago28:44

28:44

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Alexis Adams, CEO and therapist at Confidently Therapy, to dive into setting boundaries during pregnancy, birth and postpartum and the mental and emotional challenges of parenting. In this episode we cover: How to set boundaries without guilt and maintain them Overlooked aspects of mental/emotional preparation for …

1
77. All About Pumping with Dr. Dianna Dixon of @pumpwithpurpose 1:00:46

6M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

We could not be more excited to bring you today’s episode! Our special guest, Dr. Dianna Dixon is a Postpartum Certified Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and Certified Lactation Counselor, as well as a Doctor of Public Administration among other amazing qualifications. She created her platform, Pump with Purpose, after her final breastfeed…

1
49: Why You May Choose to Have an HBAC. Chelsea's Homebirth After Cesarean Story. 52:55

6M ago52:55

52:55

On today's episode, Chelsea shares her beautiful HBAC story. Chelsea is a podcast host, teacher, and mother who lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner and their two daughters. Chelsea had an unplanned caesarean-section in hospital for her first birth and after 2+ years of preparation and research, had a beautiful, transformative VBAC at ho…

1
76. Greatest Hits Episode 16: Preparing Your Body and Mind For Labor + Delivery 56:00

6M ago56:00

56:00

This week we are revisiting one of our most listened to episodes, ever! This Christmas we wanted to give you the gift of information - and this episode is packed FULL of info we want you to know! We get asked often in our community about preparing for labor and delivery, which is why we recorded this episode in 2022 and thousands of you have listen…

1
75. The C-Section Scar Mobilization Episode (Includes Our Most Downloaded Resource EVER!) 33:36

6M ago33:36

33:36

We feel very passionately that c-section mamas deserve to have all the information they need to have a full recovery after birth. Co-founder of Expecting and Empowered, Krystle, is a c-section mama herself, having had 3 cesarean births! Her personal experience combined with her professional experience as a Women’s Health Physical Therapist means sh…

1
Letting your 'old self' go after becoming a parent, with Anna Geary 58:33

6M ago58:33

58:33

My guest this week is the incredible Anna Geary, broadcaster, author and former All Ireland medal-winning camogie player. Anna is a national treasure, a wellness advocate and an inspiration to to others, and she's also a mum of one – her little boy Ronan is 16 months old and as Anna says, changed her life for the better. This episode was the defini…

1
Teaching, influencing and parenting: Juggling three jobs, with Rachel Ivie 53:36

7M ago53:36

53:36

My guest this week is Rachel Ivie, someone I'm certain lots of you will follow online for her style and outfit ideas. Rachel is a fashion influencer, almost by accident, having started her outfit posts during Covid when she wasn't working at her other job as a primary school teacher. She's also a mother of two, as if there wasn't enough going on. W…

1
74. Understanding Provider Lingo During Birth with @myessentialbirth 47:17

7M ago47:17

47:17

Today we are happy to host Stephanie King from My Essential Birth (@myessentialbirth), a mother, childbirth educator, and doula. After experiencing several unexpected changes leading up to the births of her children, Stephanie was inspired to get educated on the birthing process so she could inform and educate pregnant mothers to trust their bodies…

1
Dispelling the myths around fostering with Deirdre McDonagh 52:18

7M ago52:18

52:18

This week, I chatted to the incredible Deirdre McDonagh, a social worker who founded Five Rivers Fostering over 22 years ago. I knew very little about fostering at the start of our conversation, so I was coming to this topic with mostly questions, and Deirdre was certainly the right person to ask. We talked about the basic types of fostering, from …

1
Perception is NOT reality in parenting, with Courtney Smith 45:59

7M ago45:59

45:59

This week's guest is my lovely friend Courtney Smith. Courtney is an incredibly talented creative director and stylist, a truly beautiful person inside and out and is someone I've worked with and admired for a long time, so it was great to speak to her about being a mam. At the time of recording, she's about to have her third baby, and though we jo…

1
73. 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Ask For During a C-section 27:27

7M ago27:27

27:27

Krystle and Amy are back together to bring you today’s episode, 5 things you didn’t know you could ask for during a c-section! Krystle is not only our Expecting and Empowered in-house Physical Therapy expert, but is a three-time cesarean birth mama, making her a wealth of knowledge about the c-sections. Krystle is going to walk us through today’s 5…

1
Taking care of yourself first is okay, with Laura Drury 49:47

7M ago49:47

49:47

This week, I spoke to lovely Laura Drury, also known as The Glam Shamrock, about her life as a content creator and mother of three children under the age of four. Yes, three under four – the woman is a hero. We spoke about how much she leans into the chaos, embraces the challenges but always tries to do one key thing: Find time in her day to do som…

1
Induced VBAC due to Preeclampsia after Failed Induction and Small Pelvis Diagnosis, with Hannah 40:13

7M ago40:13

40:13

“I think your pelvis is too small. I could give you another hour, or we could just go do a c-section now” -Midwife to Hannah during her first birth After a C-section with her first, Hannah went on to have a successful VBAC, even though she faced a few challenges including getting COVID at 37 weeks pregnant, and being in the beginning stages of pree…

1
48: Is An Epidural Required for a VBAC? 21:19

7M ago21:19

21:19

Are you considering an unmedicated VBAC but feeling unsure about how to prepare or if it's even possible? In this episode I dive into the misconceptions around unmedicated VBACs and I discuss essential preparation strategies (both physical and mental) that can help you approach your VBAC with confidence. Tune in for action steps to help you prepare…

1
How to Prepare for a VBAC: with VBAC researcher, author (and VBAC mom) Dr. Hazel Keedle 50:35

8M ago50:35

50:35

Today we have Dr. Hazel Keedle--VBAC researcher, author, and VBAC mom-- on the show. Hazel had a VBAC with only 13 months since her C-section, and the experience lead her to become a Midwifery researcher and complete a PhD on women's experiences of planning a VBAC in Australia. You are not going to want to miss all of her practical advice on how to…

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