Shows
Birthing in Finland#56: Final episode before my maternity leaveOn this episode I will be wrapping up the podcast for a few months as I go on my maternity leave. I share with you what I have been doing in the past few weeks to prepare for birth and postpartum as well as what I am hoping to feel and do in the last weeks of my pregnancy. The future of the podcast still remains unclear to me but I will be popping in and out, maybe surprising you with an episode here or there before I make any official announcements as to how it will continue. I...2023-05-2931 min
Birthing in Finland#55: Alma's birth story - navigating preeclampsia, induction, and a cesareanOn this episode of the podcast, I'm sharing with you Alma's birth story. In this episode Alma shares her challenging experience of dealing with a late diagnosis of preeclampsia which led into an induction and then to a cesarean birth. Alma so vulnerably shares how one of her biggest fears was having a cesarean and how throughout her pregnancy she didn't really deal with that fear. She also talked about the disappointing and difficult experience she had after the surgery where she was in the recovery ward separated from her baby. She talked about the really primal instinct and...2023-05-221h 07
Birthing in Finland#54: Maria's birth story - a healing second birth experienceWelcome to this episode of the podcast where we dive into Maria's birth stories. A first birth story which left Maria feeling broken and traumatized followed by a healing and empowering experience of birth with her second child. Maria talks about the importance of good support in healing from birth trauma as well as recognizing it as such in the first place. This episode is for anyone who has had a challenging first birth experience and maybe wants to hear that it's possible to birth with positivity in consecutive births. I hope this episode gives you hope and encouragement...2023-05-1555 min
Birthing in Finland#53: Giving birth at Lohja hospital with midwife Linda TöttermanOn this episode of the podcast I chat with Linda Tötterman, a midwife working at Lohja hospital. Linda used to work at Naistenkilinikka before Lohja and we got to chatting about some of the differences between these two hospitals. We touched upon the capacity, the amount of midwives there, the general approach and atmosphere, and much more. Linda shared her passion for physiologic birth and talked as well about the challenges that a midwife might experience due to the lack of continuity of care in the Finnish maternal care system - essentially supporting a woman whom she is m...2023-05-0859 min
Birthing in Finland#52: Water birth - with midwife Johanna HonkanenToday's episode is all about water birth! Johanna Honkanen has been working as a midwife for 17 years. She has been in the hospital and now has her own private practice. She is one of the leading midwives in Finland about childbirth and has been involved in writing the water birth guidelines and recommendations that are used in hospitals all around Finland. She also trains midwives and doctors in hospitals around Finland to be able to support water birth better. In this episode you will find out what those guidelines are, why the training is so important and the impact...2023-05-0154 min
Birthing in Finland#51: Mai's birth story - feeling trust in my bodyOn today's episode you will hear another wonderful birth story from Mai who shares about the birth of her first daughter. We also got a bit into the birth of her second son and how those two were a bit different and of course connected. Mai talked about the importance of preparation and having a support person such as a doula for herself and for her partner just as much if not even more. We talked about the importance of the birth team and the atmosphere of the birthing room. Mai shared how much trust she gained in herself...2023-04-241h 03
Birthing in Finland#50: My feelings on becoming a mom of two with Danielle BenskyWelcome to this episode of the podcast - a solo episode with your host Danielle Bensky. Today I share with you my feelings and thoughts about becoming a mom of two. In the moment of this recording I am 2 months away from giving birth and I wanted to share from the place that I am in right now just as I stand in front of the big unknown and this transitional moment. Listen to find out about my excitement, sadness, grief, anxiety. Find out what I'm hoping to use as my tools to support myself and how I hope...2023-04-1733 min
Birthing in Finland#49: Breech and twin births in Finland with perinatologist Georg MachareyOn this episode my guest is Georg Macharey - a perinatologist working in the delivery ward of Naistenklinikka. Georg has written his PhD on the topic of breech presentation and is one of the experts in this field in Finland. In today's episode Georg explains the different breech positions that exist and their implications for the birth as well as how the position is discovered. We spoke about what makes vaginal breech birth different from cephalic and what are some criteria that the hospital follows when advising for vaginal vs. cesarean birth for a breech baby. We then also...2023-04-1056 min
Birthing in Finland#48: What happens to our pelvic floor through pregnancy and birth with pelvic floor PT Mari CamutThis episode of the podcast is all about the pelvic floor or as we've been calling it on the episode - the pelvic trampoline. Listen in to find out why my guest Mari Camut prefers this imagery to more accurately represent what this area of our body is all about. Mari talked a lot about what can happen to the pelvic floor or trampoline through the pregnancy and after birth. She also explained why having a check up with a physiotherapist can be so important and where to even find one here in Finland. We briefly touched on the...2023-04-031h 05
Birthing in Finland#47: Ana's Hypnobirthing birth story - "I was so calm my husband thought labor had stopped"Welcome to today's episode where you'll hear another birth story. This time it's from a second time mother who talks so beautifully about getting ready for labor using hypnobirthing, and learning to trust herself through understanding what it is she wants. Ana shared how relaxed she got in labor using hypnobirthing to the point that her husband thought that labor had actually stopped. Listen in to hear Ana's experience with being 10cm dilated and yet not ready to push and how this was something totally new for her. These birth stories remind me just how strong of a rite...2023-03-2757 min
Birthing in Finland#46: The birth story of Saskia's third childWelcome to this episode with Saskia who shared the birth story of her third child. Saskia gives us her experience of the challenges she faced as well as the non linear progression of her fast birth. Listen in to find out about some upcoming events this month of March 2023 and sign up with the links in the show notes!
Topics:
Saskia's third birth
mental challenges during pregnancy
a birth initiated by balloon induction and membrane rupture
a fast labor
going from 5cm to pushing within minutes
the importance of upright positions and movement in labor
labo...2023-03-2059 min
Birthing in Finland#45: "It was cool, I liked it" - A birth story with AnayteWelcome to the 45th episode of the podcast and to our one year anniversary! This is such a wonderful milestone of creating content for you that is relevant and helpful in navigating your way through giving birth in Finland, especially as a foreigner. Thank you for being with me on this journey and for coming back each week to listen to these episodes! On the podcast today, I have Anayte on to talk about her birth story which was also attended by her Nest doula Rosalia. Anayte shared how, already in her childhood, she was inspired by a book...2023-03-131h 01
Birthing in Finland#44: A birth story from the perspective of the partner - with JohannesOn this episode of the podcast you will hear a birth story from the perspective of the partner! How did he experience the birth of his daughter, what effect did having a birth doula have on his experience and what are some things that were really touching and challenging for him.
Johannes and his wife had Chloe (from The Nest) as their birth doula. You can find more information about Chloe in the show notes.
Join Johannes and I as we explore the birth of his daughter. This episode will give you a nice point of view...2023-03-0647 min
Birthing in Finland#43: Birth story with Amelia (and birth doula Rosalia Pihlajasaari)On this episode we will hear Amelia's birth story of her son Phoenix. Together with Amelia, I have on the episode her birth doula Rosalia from whom you will find out how Amelia prepared for birth and what happened in the labor as well as in the moments after.
Amelia's story is an unmedicated vaginal birth at Jorvi hospital with so many wonderful details from the car ride to the hospital to her baby's first poop while being born.
Join us on this episode to hear what birthing in Finland was like for Amelia!
M...2023-02-2753 min
Birthing in Finland#42: Perinatal mental health care in Finland with Inka and Laura from Äimä ryOn this episode of the podcast I welcome Inka and Laura who work at a charity called Äimä. This is a charity aimed at dealing with perinatal mental health challenges while looking at the entire family unit as well as how to make change on a national political level. We talked about the kind of mental health challenges that the charity supports as well as how they are involved in making national impact. Laura talked about the challenges that face women when they try to receive help from the system and what she thinks needs to be changed. We tou...2023-02-2055 min
Birthing in Finland#41: Emotional and physical healing of birth scars with Soňa Jány-LouhivoriOn this episode of the podcast Soňa Jány-Louhivori explains the importance of caring for your birth scars. We dive into the emotions that our scars carry and how those emotions can be different depending on the birth story we experienced. Soňa shared her own story of healing her scar and how she noticed what she calls the "chaining effect" in which one scar can have a direct influence on other body areas. Soňa also explained how one can do their own scar massage and invites our listeners to a hands on in-person workshop happening on Febr...2023-02-131h 05
Birthing in Finland#40: Emotional support through pregnancy loss with doula Rosalia PihlajasaariOn this episode of the podcast Rosalia and I speak about pregnancy loss. We touched on the emotional experience of families who are going through this, what are their needs and how a person like a bereavement doula can meet those needs. We talked about the terminology and the importance of the words we use, as well as the statistics on pregnancy loss. I had a real aha moment towards the end of the episode related to the experience of trying to conceive again following a loss. We finished the episode by talking about the Finnish system and what...2023-02-061h 01
Birthing in Finland#39: Family friendly playgrounds in Helsinki with Leikkipuisto Loru instructor Laura LaitalaWelcome back to this episode of the podcast with Laura Laitala, organizer and instructor at the Loru Leikkipuisto inside Oodi. Laura came on the podcast to introduce the concept of Leikkipuistos (playgrounds) to any foreign parent who doesn't know it. We spoke about the history of the playgrounds, what you can find there, why the instructors could be a great person of contact to have for any family issues or challenges, and why the playground itself is such a fantastic place for families to gather, meet, and spend their mornings. The playgrounds are wonderful places for families with children...2023-01-3040 min
Birthing in Finland#38: Normalizing the needs of a new mother and her newborn baby with postpartum doula Danielle BenskyWelcome to episode 38 of the podcast and the second episode in my mini-series of solo episodes about postpartum.
This episode is dedicated to newborn mother and newborn baby needs and expectations. I'll be explaining what new mothers need and what is found across several traditions and cultures that is in common to postpartum care. You'll find out how you can plan your postpartum around those needs and why that can make a great foundation to a postpartum plan. The second part of the episode talks about the baby's biological expectations of life outside the womb in the fourth...2023-01-2335 min
Birthing in Finland#37: Mindfulness as a parenting superpower with postpartum doula Danielle BenskyIn this episode of the podcast I talk about using mindfulness in parenting. This is the third and last episode in my mini-series of solo episodes that have focused on postpartum and parenting. Mindfulness has been a big teacher in my mothering and I love sharing that with other parents!
I spoke about what mindfulness could look like at the different stages and phases of parenthood and how we could put them into practice. I shared about how my baby's sleep was a big opportunity for me to practice mindfulness and why I feel that it is exactly...2023-01-1619 min
Birthing in Finland#36: Preparing for postpartum in pregnancy with Postpartum Doula Danielle BenskyHappy New Year to those listening just as this episode airs. We are just a few days into 2023 and that marks 1 year since I started working on this podcast full time. To mark this beautiful celebration I'm coming out with a mini series of 3 solo episodes dedicated to postpartum preparation and expectations. Think of it like your mini course with me on how to get ready for postpartum. This first episode will be all about preparing for postpartum in pregnancy where I'll be explaining about what can an expecting family start doing in order to help themselves have a s...2023-01-0925 min
Birthing in Finland#35: Homeopathy for the parenting journey with Anna PeräläOn this week's episode we're having Anna Perälä back on the show to talk about her other passion - homeopathy. Anna is a homeopathic birth doula who introduces us to the world of homeopathy. In this episode we debunk some myths about this healing modality and I have to say that it made me curious! Anna explained the basics and origins, the importance of looking and treating the person as a whole, as well as how it can support each stage of the parenting journey from conception through to the postpartum. Anna gave us some of her favorite re...2022-12-1259 min
Birthing in Finland#34: The baby's position in pregnancy and what it means for birth - with doula Chloé BernardWelcome to this episode all about baby's position in utero. Chloé and I spoke about the different positions that the baby could have during the pregnancy and especially at the end. We made the connection between your baby's position and the labor that you might have, recognizing the importance of the baby's position in that. We explained how the way that we move and sit during pregnancy is related to our baby's position and spoke about the importance of creating room for the baby in the front of our body rather than in the back. If this all sounds a...2022-12-0548 min
Birthing in Finland#33: Supporting baby's emotions after birth using Zone Therapy with Heli AhlstenThis episode of the podcast starts the conversation about the baby's experience of birth and the way in which babies too want to tell their birth story. Heli shared the ways in which Zone Therapy can support the parenting journey from conception to postpartum as well as how it can help the babies after they are born. By helping the baby relax and ease tension in their body, Heli helps families who deal with belly aches, unexplained crying, sleep challenges, and more.
We spoke about the patterns that Heli notices in the baby's body depending on the kind...2022-11-2840 min
Birthing in Finland#32: Nutritional preparation for labor and birth with Rosalia PihlajasaariOn today’s episode Rosalia and I talk about preparing for birth with nutrition. We get into exactly why nutrition plays such an important part and what are some of the problems it can help you overcome or avoid. Rosalia explains the connection between the food we eat, suggesting that one thing influences the other and depends upon the other for smooth operation, which is why a holistic approach is often the one she prefers. She explains how she works with her clients and some of the amazing results that she notices from people who follow this process! I wa...2022-11-2136 min
Birthing in Finland#31: The first 40 days after birth with midwife Anu LampinenToday I have the pleasure of interviewing Anu Lampinen once again. Today’s episode with Anu will focus on the postpartum time after birth. The 40 days after the birth where your body and mind go through so many changes and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. There is so much to say about the postpartum and in this episode we just scratch the surface. If you are pregnant, don’t shy away from this episode as it is so important to start preparing for your postpartum recovery already now in pregnancy.
Show notes:
1...2022-11-141h 22
Birthing in Finland#30: What you'll want to know about breastfeeding your newborn with Maria FernandezWelcome back to the Birthing in Finland podcast and to today’s episode with our nest doula Maria Fernandez!
This episode will be all about breastfeeding in the early days of newborn life. You’ll find out what a pregnancy person needs to know about breastfeeding, whether or not you should prepare the body for breastfeeding, prenatal colostrum expression, the most common issues in the first weeks, and how to know if the baby is getting enough milk. We then moved into talking about getting breastfeeding help in Finland and asked the question where can people find breastfeeding supp...2022-11-071h 08
Birthing in Finland#29: Maria's mindful postpartum journey and transition to motherhoodWelcome to this episode about Maria's postpartum story. In this episode Maria shares her experience of having Danielle Bensky (myself) as her postpartum doula. We spoke about what was meaningful to her, how preparing for postpartum assisted her and her partner in getting aligned on their expectations, allowed them to see their blind spots and feel more ready. Maria also spoke about the way in which having me as her postpartum doula helped her transition to motherhood in a more mindful and aware way. Maria mentioned that she felt more resourced and therefore felt more able to show up...2022-10-3150 min
Birthing in Finland#28: Having a homebirth in Finland with midwife Ria MalvaThis episode introduces you to Ria Malva, a home birth midwife. I will be asking Ria all the questions that parents want to know when considering the option of a home birth in Finland. From worries about what happens if a transfer to the hospital is needed, to how much home birth might cost. We go into different worries and concerns that parents have including the mess at home, the safety of homebirth, the tools that Ria brings to the birth, having a backup midwife, and more… I hope that this episode helps you gain more information about this ver...2022-10-241h 07
Birthing in Finland#27: What's in common to having sex, pooping, and giving birth? - with Sona Jany LouhivuoriWelcome to another episode of birthing in Finland. On this episode I sat down with our nest doula Sona Jany Louhivuori, to have a really casual and fun conversation about how having sex and pooping can give us clues about the ideal environment to have a baby. Are you getting curious? Haha this is a great episode with many golden nuggets that im sure you’ll enjoy. We spoke about how some of the birth preparation methods are also used when training for professional sports, and why we think that there’s a really important lesson there.
We g...2022-10-1744 min
Birthing in Finland#26: Babywearing through the Finnish winter with Hanna GrankvistWelcome to my conversation with Hanna Grankvist. Hanna is a birth and postpartum doula as well as a babywearing instructor living right here in Finland. Hanna is also so gifted and talented that she weaves her own baby carriers made locally under the name of Tyykityy. In our chat we talk about the importance of choosing an ergonomic carrier and how to spot if it is indeed ergonomic, why you might need more than one carrier for your family, and how you can continue to wear your baby also through the harsh Finnish winters. Hanna then tells us in...2022-10-1049 min
Birthing in Finland#25: Why asking for help is actually a radical act of community building with Gabriela ArianaOn today’s episode I share with you my conversation with Gabriela Ariana. Gabriela is an ecological artist, body therapist, ecosomatic practitioner, dancer and singer. She has been working with mothers and women on their feminine journey for over 20 years. Gabriela also trains postpartum doulas right here in Finland together with Anu Lampinen who has also been a guest on the podcast. In our conversation today we dive into the path of motherhood. We talk about the way motherhood is seen in our culture and society, the disconnection of that definition from our sexuality, why motherhood can be a ga...2022-10-031h 25
Birthing in Finland#24: Acupuncture for gestational migraine and obstetrics, and the integrative exploration of the treatment of primary and secondary infertility with Sari Tjurin-ZeigerOn today’s episode I’ll be chatting with Sari Tjurin-Zeiger. Sari is an acupuncturist specializing in gynecology, obstetrics, and reproductive medicine. In this episode you will find out what kinds of challenges Sari can help people with, why scientific research is so important to inform the working practice, and how it supports reproductive health including secondary subfertility. We spoke about how secondary infertility sometimes receives less attention and those who are experiencing it may feel marginalized. Sari is a great person to know for your entire parenting journey from conception to postpartum and beyond and that’s why she’s...2022-09-2655 min
Birthing in Finland#23: Parenting with acceptance and unconditional love - An introduction to Conscious Parenting with Clara VazquezWelcome back to the Birthing in Finland podcast! Today I am talking about a topic I love so much - conscious parenting. My guest is Clara Vazquez, a conscious parenting guide and psychologist who facilitates conscious parenting trainings right here in Finland. In this episode we explored how conscious parenting is actually much more about discovering who we are more than about our children, why it’s a philosophy more than a method, how the way in which we were parented influences the way we parent, why emotions are a compass in our life. We explored together the question wh...2022-09-191h 02
Birthing in Finland#22: The reality of life with a newborn and having "baby brain" with Maria FernandezWelcome back to the birthing in Finland podcast. This is another special episode that was recorded a little over one year ago to capture the special moment. Today I have Maria Fernandez with me again along with her then 4 week old newborn baby. We got to talking about baby brain in the immediate postpartum, the use of mantras or affirmations also for postpartum, what you can do to help support your baby brain, why the hormone oxytocin continues to be important also after birth, and why talking about “getting back to yourself” can be quite a misleading idea to keep...2022-09-1255 min
Birthing in Finland#21: Getting into "birth brain" mode with Maria FernandezHello and welcome back to the show. This episode with Maria Fernandez about birth brain is brought to you by the Positive Birth Helsinki meetups. Our free upcoming session will take place on Saturday September 10th at LillaLuckan near Kamppi from 10 to 12am. The topic of this meetup will be “induction”. When might you be offered one and how to know if your body is ready for it? Meet our Nest doulas there, get to know other expecting families, and learn more on this topic. If you have a toddler, they are welcome to join you. If you have a pa...2022-09-0555 min
Birthing in Finland#20: An introduction to hypnobirthing with Anna PeräläOn today’s episode I’m bringing you my conversation with Anna Perälä, a doula, homeopath, reiki healer, clinical hypnotherapist and hypnobirthing practitioner. Anna lives in Seinäjoki and has been supporting both Finnish and international families. Anna has a lot of knowledge and expertise to share but for today, we’ve decided to dive deep into hypnobirthing. Today’s episode is brought to you by Rosalia’s Pihlajasaari’s pain coping for labor 1hr workshop on Sep 1st 2022. This workshop will give you two proven techniques for pain coping, give tips to the partner, as well as much more. To f...2022-08-291h 01
Birthing in Finland#19: Supporting the well-being and mental health of foreigners in Finland with Clara VazquezOn today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Clara Vazquez about her role as a family expert and psychologist with Mielen Portti. Clara facilitates and leads events and gatherings for families with immigrant background, with the focus of mental health and well being. In this episode, you’ll hear more on what Mielen Portti has to offer your family and why Clara is such a fantastic person to know! We spoke about the challenges of foreign families living here and how having time for yourself as a parent with little family help can be very...2022-08-2241 min
Birthing in Finland#18: A cozy living room for families in the middle of Helsinki with Olavi KarvonenOn this episode of Birthing in Finland I am going to tell you about a sweet little, almost secret oasis for parents at the heart of Helsinki. It’s a place called Albert’s Living Room and in this episode you’ll get to meet the main coordinator of this space, Olavi Karvonen. Albert’s Living Room is run by HelsinkiMissio, an organization with the mission to reduce loneliness. Olavi and I got to talking about the values of the place, how it started and how you can benefit from coming over there. We also talk about the importance and beau...2022-08-1537 min
Birthing in Finland#17: Perspectives on Finnish birth culture with Johanna Sarlio-NieminenOn this episode of Birthing in Finland I will be speaking with the wonderful midwife Johanna Sarlio-Nieminen. Johanna has been working as a midwife for 25 years in the hospital as well as home birth setting. She is active in efforts to improve maternity services and is a passionate doctoral researcher.
Before getting into the details of the episode i want to use this opportunity to share some exciting things that are happening. On Thursday I will be starting the August group of Milky Mornings - a supportive mothers group for moms and babies in Espoo in the...2022-08-081h 05
Birthing in Finland#16: Informed choice, consent, and taking responsibility for your birth - with midwife Silja SeppänenIn today's episode I’m bringing you my conversation with Silja Seppänen, a midwife and childbirth educator. Silja discovered her passion for midwifery when she was just 9 years old and living in Kenya with her family. Our conversation today will take a deeper look into the topic of informed choice and informed consent of the birther and everything that comes with that. We spoke about informed choice as the building block for a positive birth experience, the difference between informed choice and consent, navigating risks and doing risk assessment in birth, as well as the relationship between informed cho...2022-06-201h 04
Birthing in Finland#15: Parent-infant bonding support as a public service - with psychologist Mirjam SolomonOn today’s episode I’m chatting with Mirjam Solomon. Mirjam is a psychologist who has spent the last 6 years working in Terapeuttinen vauvaperhetyö which is a public service provided by the city municipality. Mirjam specializes in psychological therapy that helps parents who feel that they are struggling to build a bond with the baby in pregnancy and or afterwards. In this episode we speak about why it may be beneficial to apply for this kind of service already during pregnancy, how cultural background can influence parenting values, and how Mirjan has seen these differences play out for families here...2022-06-1358 min
Birthing in Finland#14: Emotional vulnerability for men and fathers - a non-violent approach for communication with Giuliano ValentiniOn today’s episode I’m chatting with Giuliano Valentini about communication and vulnerability. Giuliano facilitates a peer support group and a workshop through the organization Mielen Portti. The peer group is called “Men Talk” and is a safe space for men to openly discuss their struggles, and the workshop is called “Communication Talk” and is centered around non-violent communication. In this episode Giuliano explains about these two initiatives in more detail. We get to talking about the reason why men also need a safe space to talk about their emotions, how this can be very important as a father as we...2022-06-061h 01
Birthing in Finland#13: Birth as a sexual experience with sex therapist Anna-Riitta KässiOn today’s episode you will meet Anna-Riitta Kässi, a doula, owner of Doula Akatemia a center for doula training, as well as a sex educator and therapist. Our conversation focused on the topic of sex and sexuality along the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Anna-Riitta goes into the sensitivities around sex and intimacy at each of these very different times in the relationship and in each one of the partners separately as well. We explore body image issues after birth, how a positive or a negative birth experience can influence your sexual desires, bust a few myt...2022-05-3050 min
Birthing in Finland#12: What makes for a positive birth experience with midwife Anu LampinenToday I have the pleasure of interviewing Anu Lampinen, a seasoned midwife of over 30 years. Anu has worked as a hospital and home birth midwife throughout her career. She also has knowledge in Chinese medicine and acupuncture as well as breastfeeding consultancy and postpartum recovery. In this episode Anu and I talk about what a positive birth means for the birthing person, what kind of changes Anu has seen in the Finnish birth culture and what she still hopes will improve. We speak about the importance of continuity of care and why it can make such a difference in...2022-05-2358 min
Birthing in Finland#11: The energetic experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with Brenda MiquiztliToday I have the pleasure of interviewing Brenda Miquiztli. When I asked Brenda how she would describe herself, she said “medicine woman”. In the first part of the episode you’ll hear what this means to Brenda and why she chose this description. Brenda grew up in Mexico surrounded by natural remedies, witnessing the traditional care women receive especially in pregnancy and postpartum. When she moved to Finland in 2011, Brenda noticed the gaping hole that exists especially with postpartum support, and decided to share her wisdom with the people living here. Brenda supports families through the entire pregnancy, birth, and po...2022-05-161h 01
Birthing in Finland#10: Debunking the myth that a birth doula replaces the partner with Chloe BernardOn today’s episode I bring you my conversation with Chloe Bernard who is a birth and postpartum doula. In this episode we talk about the difference between the role of the birth doula and partner. We speak about the doula’s job in bringing evidence based information to the family to help them make informed choices, the continuity of care that a doula provides, and why having a doula can be reassuring for the partner just as much. We also speak about what the birthing partner might feel and can expect from labor and birth, the unique aspects that...2022-05-0944 min
Birthing in Finland#09: A supportive community of foreign mothers: "Neighbourhood Mothers" with Anna LenkewitzToday I’m excited to share with you my conversation with Anna Lenkewitz who is the area coordinator for the Neighborhood Mothers activities in Helsinki. Neighborhood Mothers is a part of the charity organization Nicehearts and it provides a platform for and with women of migrant backgrounds. The organization encourages women to initiate community activities, share knowledge, as well as to become an active part of the Finnish society. Anna shares with us how this organization supports mothers and women on their parenting journey and what people can gain by joining their training and becoming a part of the co...2022-05-0246 min
Birthing in Finland#08: Overcoming breastfeeding challenges using baby massage and reflexology with Laura MerivirtaOn today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Laura Merivirta about breastfeeding, baby massage, and reflexology. Laura owns a private neuvola practice where she helps with breastfeeding challenges, gives baby massages, and treats with reflexology. Laura is a qualified IBCLC which stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This means that she is well able to support unique and more challenging breastfeeding complications, and she has the most up to date information about breastfeeding research. In this episode, Laura and I talk about her journey to starting a private neuvola practice and how baby ma...2022-04-2545 min
Birthing in Finland#07: Menstrual awareness for fertility and beyond with Carmen LorenzanaOn today’s episode I’m sharing with you my really amazing conversation with Carmen Lorenzana, a menstrual educator and coach working on fertility awareness, menstrual tracking, and more! Carmen goes into the basics of fertility, when are we fertile, how can we notice it in our body, how can we use this knowledge as natural contraception, how can the knowledge of your body change your conception and birthing journey, as well as your connection with your body after birth. We also touch on the way our cycle can be mirrored by the seasons of nature and why this can...2022-04-1846 min
Birthing in Finland#06: Yoga as birth preparation and postnatal healing with Nicola MobergOn today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Nicola Moberg! Nicola is a yoga teacher teaching Purna Yoga, prenatal and postnatal yoga in Helsinki at her English speaking yoga studio - Purna Yoga Helsinki. In this episode, Nicola and I talk about the beautiful benefits of yoga in pregnancy and postpartum, the power it has in building self confidence, and the lifestyle it invites to those who practice. Nicola shares so many gems with us on this episode that I’m sure you will love her! Go ahead and get comfy as we’re about...2022-04-1151 min
Birthing in Finland#05: Prioritising the well-being of parents with Anna SuarezToday I’m talking with Anna Suarez, one of the Nest Doulas! Anna is a psychologist, psychotherapist and researcher specializing in maternal mental health. Join us as we talk about the importance of prioritizing parent’s well being and mental health for the benefit of the entire family unit! You’ll hear Anna’s tips on how to take care of yourself even in those moments when you cannot get away from your kids as well as how you can prepare for your postpartum already during pregnancy.
Relevant links:
Register for Positive Birth Helsinki on Apr 9th, 2022...2022-04-0449 min
Wellbeing in Focus - for thriving families, workplaces, and communitiesBeing a postpartum doula - with Danielle BenskyIn this podcast episode we're talking about postpartum care and the work of postpartum doulas with Danielle Bensky. Danielle is a postpartum doula and Founder of Mothers Transition, providing postpartum doula services in Helsinki, Finland. She is also part of the NEST doula collective in Finland, working with foreign families in English.Danielle tells us about what it is exactly that postpartum doulas do, and why their support is invaluable for new mothers. She highlights how this kind of postpartum care used to be universal a very long time ago, and how it is important...2022-03-3043 min
Birthing in Finland#04: A mothers group for new moms with Annabel BattersbyOn today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Annabel Battersby, a clinical psychologist and founder of Compass Psychology here in Helsinki. In 2017, Annabel opened the New Mothers Group together with her colleague, Jane, based on the mothers group concept that exists in Australia where Annabel comes from. The New Mothers Group allows first time non-Finnish moms to meet, spend time sharing birth stories and supporting one another. Annabel shares how the group started and what makes them so amazing for the moms who join.
Relevant links:
Compass Psychology: https://compasspsychology.fi/2022-03-2849 min
Birthing in Finland#03: Pregnancy and postpartum massage with Sona Jany LouhivuoriOn today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Sona Jany Louhivuori about pregnancy and postpartum massage. Sona is a birth doula, a masseur, a hypnobirthing practitioner, and so much more! Sona explains the beautiful advantages of the massage, why she loves it so much, and the effect she has seen it have on her clients. We’ll talk about the difference between the pregnancy and postpartum massage as well as why this postpartum treatment can really make a huge difference in your physical and emotional recovery.
I also remind you about our Nest...2022-03-211h 00
Birthing in Finland#02: The physiology of birth with Rosalia PihlajasaariToday I have Rosalia Pihlajasaari with me. Rosalia is one of the Nest doulas, working as a birth doula since 2003. She has attended over 1,000 births and has supported many women in prenatal education, breastfeeding, pregnancy loss, and much more! She is an incredible asset for birthing people in Finland and is a wealth of knowledge and experience. Rosalia and I get into the physiological course of birth, the hormones at play, the unfolding of the body and birth when it has the chance to go undisturbed. You’re going to want to hear this one, so come in close.
...2022-03-141h 00
Birthing in Finland#01: Welcome to the podcast!In this episode I share with you why and how this podcast was created, taking you back in time with me to when I was pregnant and listening to podcasts biking through the city of Amsterdam.
I will also introduce you to The Nest - Helsinki International Doulas+, our doula collective that creates the foundation of this podcast.
Relevant links:
The Nest: https://www.doulacollective.fi/
Upcoming Nest webinar: https://mailchi.mp/0c193baea468/monthlywebinar
Upcoming Positive Birth Helsinki meetup: https://mailchi.mp/648e302327d5/positivebirth
2022-03-0712 min
Birthing in FinlandBirthing in Finland TrailerBirthing in Finland is a podcast created by 6 international doulas who specialize in helping foreigners on their parenting journey in Finland - we are The Nest Doulas. I am Danielle Bensky; a mother and postpartum doula specializing in maternal well-being and psychology. This podcast was created to be your guide in finding amazing people that can support you through birthing and parenting right here in Finland. In these weekly episodes, released every Monday, you’ll find interviews that will enrich you with information and knowledge as well as introduce you to new people specializing in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I...2022-02-2101 min