Maternal Mammalian Ecstasy: The Ancient Hormonal Blueprint for Optimal Birth and Bonding - Sarah Buckley

Maternal Mammalian Ecstasy: The Ancient Hormonal Blueprint for Optimal Birth and Bonding - Sarah Buckley

Author: Amber Magnolia Hill July 8, 2019 Duration: 1:33:00

Through untold eons mammals have evolved a beautiful birth-giving physiology based around a complex cascade of hormones that are released during labor. We give both mother and baby the best chance at a peaceful, ecstatic birth and postpartum period when we remember and respect this ancient dance.

IN THE INTRO:

  • Complex parenting topics: sleep, immunity, birth

IN THE INTERVIEW:

  • Sarah's mainstream doctor grandfather and how she got interested in natural birth
  • The exquisitely designed ancestral/mammalian hormonal blueprint of labor 
  • The impact of (unnatural, external) stress on a laboring woman and how it disrupts the optimal hormonal flow
  • Creating optimal conditions for birthing and for bonding
  • The hormonal consequences of bypassing the natural physiological onset of labor (such as by induction or scheduled C-section)
  • How feeling unsafe (at a subconscious, limbic system level) disrupts the flow of birth
  • The irony of how we treat animals in labor v how we treat human women in labor
  • The ecstatic, altered state of mind we enter into during labor 
  • What first time mothers need to know but are often not told
  • Fear and mystery in birth
  • The body is designed to transcend the (natural, intrinsic) stress and pain of labor and they play a critical role in bonding
  • The role of vocalization in labor
  • Newborns need placental blood: cord clamping and how our cultural beliefs around that have changed over time
  • What "No hatting, no patting, no chatting" means for the postpartum period
  • Ancestral family sleep and motherbaby biological regulation: the many reasons that co-sleeping is best for babies and the science that backs it up
  • The fascinating phenomenon of some birth attendants being able to smell the moment before the baby is born

LINKS


Amber Magnolia Hill hosts Medicine Stories from a place of hard-won experience, having navigated her own journey back from exhaustion. As a mother and practicing herbalist, she frames each conversation around the idea that true wellness is a tapestry woven from many threads. You’ll hear discussions that go beyond simple remedies, delving into the practicalities of herbal support, the nuances of metabolic balance, and the often unspoken realities of navigating life as a woman today. This podcast serves as an audio companion for those feeling the pull to slow down and reconnect. Episodes feel like honest talks with a knowledgeable friend, exploring how personal vitality is deeply linked to our relationship with our own bodies, our community, and the natural world. It’s for anyone curious about moving from burnout toward a more grounded and resilient way of living, with Amber’s guidance offering both wisdom and tangible practices. Tune in for a thoughtful blend of personal narrative, herbal wisdom, and collective reflection on what it means to heal.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Medicine Stories
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