In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, an obstetrician with decades of experience advocating for physiological birth, midwifery collaboration, and informed consent. Dr. Stu shares his journey from medical student to outspoken advocate for respectful maternity care.
They discuss the importance of understanding the risks associated with various birth methods — including breech births and VBACs — and emphasize the need for individualized care in obstetrics. This conversation shines light on the challenges within the maternity care system and the importance of trusting women’s bodies during childbirth.
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What You’ll Learn:
• How Dr. Stu’s journey into obstetrics began unexpectedly
• Why informed consent is often misunderstood in the medical system
• The importance of midwives in supporting physiological birth
• Why VBAC should be viewed as a standard variation of normal birth
• How “high risk” is often defined by provider comfort rather than evidence
• The decline of breech and twin birth skills — and why they matter
• The dangers of profit-driven maternity care
• How to rebuild trust in nature’s design for birth
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Guest Bio:
Stuart J. Fischbein, MD is a community-based obstetrician and an Associate of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He is the author of Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife, and A Mom and several peer-reviewed papers including Homebirth with an Obstetrician, Breech Birth at Home, and Twin Home Birth: Outcomes of 100 Sets of Twins in the Care of a Single Practitioner.
After completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Stu spent 24 years assisting women with hospital births before transitioning to homebirth obstetrics for over 12 years. Since retiring from attending births in 2022, he has focused on teaching and advocacy — traveling internationally to reteach breech and twin birth skills, promote respect for physiological birth, and uphold informed consent.
He co-hosts the Birthing Instincts Podcast with Blyss Young, offering hope, reassurance, and evidence-based guidance to families who understand that pregnancy is a normal, healthy function — not a medical condition to be feared.
📍 Websites:
birthinginstincts.com
birthinginstinctspodcast.com
📸 Instagram: @birthinginstincts
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Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Birthing Instincts Podcast
• Dr. Fischbein’s Research Publications
• Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife, and A Mom
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Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the Born Wild Podcast to help more families discover empowering conversations about birth and beyond.
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Connect with Us:
Instagram: @sophiabirth | @bayareahomebirth | @bornwildmidwifery
Stay Wild 🌳
