In this powerful episode, Dr. Stuart Fischbein—renowned OBGYN, midwifery ally, and co-host of the Birthing Instincts podcast—unpacks the truth behind modern obstetrics, the rise in unnecessary interventions, and what it really means to trust your body during birth.
We explore my own C-section experience, why breech births aren’t inherently dangerous, and how to prepare for a VBAC, twins, or a home birth—even when everyone around you says you’re “high-risk.”
This is not just about birth. It’s about reclaiming our autonomy, questioning a broken system, and remembering that pregnancy is not a disease. It's a sacred biological process.
We talk about:
08:10 – The truth behind rising C-section and NICU rates
11:55 – Choosing your birth team like you would buy a house
15:30 – Why midwifery care is essential, even if you choose a hospital birth
19:10 – What really causes the cascade of interventions
27:50 – My breech baby experience: Navigating fear, pressure, and a last-minute C-section
33:30 – Why doctors rarely ask if you want more kids after your first C-section
43:50 – VBACs: What the data actually says about risks and scar rupture
51:30 – The misleading “scar thickness” test and why some doctors weaponize it
56:20 – What hospitals don’t want you to know about twin births and VBACs
1:01:20 – The outdated rituals of hospital birth and what to ask instead
1:07:30 – How the hospital environment sabotages labor
1:14:30 – Educating our daughters (and sons) to break the cycle
1:30:15 – Red flags to look out for in your OB care
Questions answered in this episode:
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What’s wrong with how modern hospitals treat birth?
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Why are C-section and NICU rates still rising despite medical advances?
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Is breech birth actually dangerous for your baby?
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How can you prepare for a VBAC after having a C-section?
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What are the real risks of uterine scar rupture—and are they being exaggerated?
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Why do so many OBs refuse to support home births or twin deliveries?
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What should you ask your OB before deciding on a birth plan?
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What red flags should you look out for when choosing a care provider?
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How can you find a midwife who truly supports physiological, low-intervention birth?
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What should you do if your partner or family doesn’t support a home birth?
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What are the long-term consequences of unnecessary birth interventions?
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Why is the current obstetric system driven more by profit than patient outcomes?
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How can you balance trusting your intuition with listening to medical advice?
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Resources:
- Trying to conceive? Join my Baby Steps Course to optimize your fertility with biohacking.
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- Dr. Stuart Fischbein’s Birthing Instincts website and Instagram
- The Birthing Instincts podcast
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