The Birth Lounge Podcast

What does it actually mean to be allowed to give birth a certain way? And who gets to decide? Spoiler: it shouldn't come down to hospital policy, a provider's comfort level, or skills they were never taught in the first place.

In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe dives deeper into Allowed to Birth, the documentary challenging the way we think about birth, autonomy, and the options parents are offered. From breech birth and VBAC to ultrasound, midwifery, and the fear that can shape the entire birth experience, this conversation gets into what happens when the system's limitations become your limitations. Plus, HeHe introduces the Labor Live Challenge, a three-day live birth simulation starting November 1, where you can practice making decisions, advocating for yourself, and navigating the unexpected before you're in the birth room. Sign up at joinlaborlive.com

You'll hear from experts featured in the film, including an OB/GYN who traveled to Germany to learn upright, physiologic breech birth skills; a certified nurse-midwife making the case for evidence-based care and real collaboration between midwives and OBs; and a midwife and sonographer unpacking how ultrasound can be a helpful tool without turning every finding into a reason to panic. The conversation also explores the global shortage of midwives, the difference between regulation and safety, and how fear affects the body's response to labor. Because information should help you feel more prepared, not more terrified.

The takeaway? You deserve options, honest conversations, informed consent, and a care team that respects your voice. This isn't about saying every birth option is right for every person. It's about making sure your choices are based on your individual circumstances, good information, and actual conversations, not fear or someone else's assumptions about what you're "allowed" to do.

In this episode:
Why birth options can depend on provider training, hospital policies, and the skills available in your area
What an OB/GYN learned while pursuing upright, physiologic breech birth training in Germany
How fear, litigation concerns, and gaps in training can influence breech birth and VBAC access
Why hands-on skills and true collaboration between OBs and midwives matter
How to approach ultrasound as a tool for information and planning, without treating every result as a worst-case scenario
The difference between understanding a baby's size or position and using those findings to fuel unnecessary fear
Why the global midwife workforce gap matters for families seeking more options
How regulation, access, and safety intersect in maternity care
What fear does to the body during labor, including the roles of adrenaline and oxytocin
How language and frightening messaging can shape the birth experience
Why hypnobirthing isn't about being hypnotized or magically having a pain-free birth
How partners can help you practice advocacy and prepare for decisions before labor begins
Why knowing your options is important, but practicing how to navigate them can make all the difference
Explore Allowed to Birth and find screening information: https://allowedtobirth.com

Practice your birth decisions before you're in labor with Labor Live: https://joinlaborlive.com

Explore The Birth Lounge: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Timestamps
00:00 Reclaim Your Power
01:23 Birth Simulation Idea
03:00 Labor Live Challenge
04:30 Allowed to Birth Setup
06:04 Breech Twins and VBAC Limits
11:19 An OB/GYN Trains in Germany
15:47 Why Breech Birth Is Limited in the U.S.
21:46 The Importance of Hands-On Breech Skills
24:16 Demanding Better Birth Options
33:44 What Does "Allowed" Really Mean?
35:39 Meet Midwife Whitney
38:47 Evidence-Based Hospital Birth
45:39 Collaboration and Accountability
48:46 Building Trust Around VBAC
50:04 Doulas and Team Culture
51:53 Gaps in Hospital Training
52:49 Redefining What's "Allowed"
54:17 Technology vs. Intuition
56:56 Ultrasound Safety Basics
01:00:13 Scan Limitations and Errors
01:08:25 Fearmongering Around a "Big Baby"
01:11:21 Ultrasound as a Planning Tool
01:15:52 Lineage, Trauma, and Power
01:22:33 Balancing Tools and Change
01:25:25 Non-Toxic Baby Gifts
01:27:34 Data vs. Certainty
01:30:37 The Reality of Emergency Planning
01:36:43 Ultrasound Limitations and Fear
01:44:38 Birth, Permission, and Autonomy
01:50:43 The Goal of One Million Midwives
01:58:45 Regulation vs. Safety
02:07:18 The Fear Response in Labor
02:11:30 How Words Can Trigger Fear
02:12:17 Adrenaline vs. Oxytocin
02:15:24 Induction and the Cascade of Interventions
02:18:35 Learning About Birth Without Fear
02:20:34 Hypnobirthing, Reframed
02:26:11 Debunking Hypnosis Myths
02:30:56 The Partner's Role and Practicing Advocacy
02:34:47 Planning Birth Decisions Ahead of Time
02:38:49 Who Decides What's "Allowed"?
02:45:45 Film Takeaways and Final Call
02:51:21 Inside the Labor Live Simulation
02:53:30 Final Wrap and Outro

Guests:
Dr. Bradley Meyer:
https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/bradley/

Whitney Pinger:
https://wisdommidwifery.com/about

 Amariee Collins:
https://radicle.my.canva.site/

Zulgeil "Zul" Ruiz-Ginés, LM:
https://kibimidwifery.org/about-the-team

Katharine Graves: 
https://www.kghypnobirthing.com/us/hypnobirthing-online-course
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ 
BIRTH EDUCATION:
Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection
Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy
And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/
Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

LINKS MENTIONED:
HeHe’s go-to gift is the Primally Pure Baby Bundle! After having Saggy, these became products she actually uses at home, from the baby balm and bath bar to the baby oil and powder. Want to gift a new parent some simple baby-care staples? Head to primallypure.com and use code HEHE for 10% off your order.
This episode contains affiliate links, which means HeHe may earn a commission if you purchase through her link, at no extra cost to you.

Birth changes you. The real question is whether you come out the other side feeling strong, supported, and like your voice actually mattered, or like it never did.

 

In this episode HeHe sits down with Jacinta Lagos, Argentinian-born filmmaker, birth photographer, and director of the documentary Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife, right after attending the film's premiere. Jacinta built the film after years of watching obstetric violence, disrespectful care, and hospital policy get put ahead of the person actually giving birth, and she wanted to do something bigger about it than another social post.

 

Knowing what's possible in your birth is one thing, actually practicing it before you're in the room is another. That's exactly what the Labor Live Challenge is built for, a three day live birth simulation you can do every single month: https://joinlaborlive.com/

 

Jacinta and HeHe get into the real story behind the documentary, from how midwife Kristine Lauria became the center of the film (including the triplet home birth that changed the entire shape of the project) to why Jacinta deliberately chose a cast with no political overlap, because birth doesn't have a side. They talk about the unexpected reactions she's gotten on the road, including a nurse-midwife who told her she felt threatened by the film, and what that reaction actually revealed. And they're both clear about one thing: this isn't an anti-hospital or pro-home-birth film. It's a film about informed choice.

 

In this episode:

• Why birth is a pivotal life transition, and why feeling safe, supported, and autonomous matters long after your baby arrives
• The Labor Live Challenge and why practicing birth decisions before labor can help you actually feel prepared, not just informed
• What inspired Jacinta to create Allowed to Birth after witnessing obstetric violence, disrespect, and hospital policies overriding patient choice
• Why midwife Kristine Lauria became central to the film, and what the triplet home birth she caught on camera did to the shape of the whole project
• How Jacinta chose her cast, and why she was intentional about pulling people from every corner of the political spectrum
• The unexpected reactions from screenings, including a provider who said the film made her feel threatened
• Why this isn't an anti-hospital or pro-home-birth documentary, but a conversation about informed choice
• Where to find a screening, how to host your own, and when the film is coming online

 

If you want to feel ready instead of just informed, go practice your birth before you're actually in it: https://joinlaborlive.com/

 

If this episode moved you, rate and review the show. It's the number one way other parents find it.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Birth Changes You

00:31 Practice Labor Live

02:27 Allowed to Birth Premiere

08:00 Why Jacinta Made It

23:00 Truly Free

26:36 Screenings and Pushback

35:27 System Failing Mothers

36:02 Premiere Speech Highlights

39:07 Choosing the Interviewees

44:07 Film Impact and Alternatives

49:11 How to Watch and Final Wrap

 

GUEST BIO

Jacinta Lagos is an Argentinian-born filmmaker, birth photographer, and videographer based in the United States. A former doula and mother of three, she is the director of Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife, marking her debut as a feature filmmaker. The documentary follows midwife Kristine Lauria and explores birth practices, maternal autonomy, and the importance of physiological birth, built as a tool for education and advocacy around informed choice in maternity care.

 

CONNECT

HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/

The Birth Lounge on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.birth.lounge/

Allowed to Birth: https://www.allowedtobirth.com/

Allowed to Birth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allowedtobirth/

 

TRULY FREE

This episode contains an affiliate link, which means HeHe may earn a commission if you purchase through it at no extra cost to you. After going down the laundry detergent rabbit hole, HeHe landed on Truly Free, a plant-based, dye-free option that comes completely unscented and actually gets the job done. Because baby clothes, sheets, and approximately a million loads of family laundry deserve a detergent that checks all the boxes. One box lasts for months, too! Head to trulyfreehome.com and use code HEHE to save on your order.

KEEP LEARNING WITH HEHE

Download The Birth Lounge app for evidence-based childbirth education and data-driven postpartum support delivered straight to your phone: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

 

LINKS MENTIONED

Watch or host a screening of Allowed to Birth: https://www.allowedtobirth.com/

Practice your birth with the Labor Live Challenge: https://joinlaborlive.com/

Truly Free (use code HEHE): https://www.trulyfreehome.com

Allowed to Birth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allowedtobirth/

The Birth Lounge app: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

 

LISTEN NEXT

Ep. 492: Kristine Lauria on Allowed to Birth, Informed Consent, and the Fight to Preserve Midwifery Skills (HeHe references this one directly in the episode as last week's conversation): https://youtu.be/OvNC_N8Y0Ig

 

Are you actually allowed to say no in the birth room? Kristine Lauria has spent her career helping women understand that birth is not something that should require permission.

HeHe sits down with Kristine, an internationally recognized midwife, educator, author and birth advocate known for her expertise in physiological breech birth, to talk about informed consent, autonomy, and what happens when the birth you planned runs into the rules and routines of the system. They unpack why women can feel like they have to ask permission to eat, move, labor in a certain position, or make decisions about their own care, and how to build a birth team that actually supports your goals.

The conversation goes deeper into the medicalization of birth, the loss of clinical skills like physiological breech and vaginal twin birth, and why Kristine believes birth should be understood as a normal physiological process that sometimes needs medical support. She and HeHe also talk about freebirth, choosing a provider and birth setting based on your own goals rather than fear, and what makes New Zealand's collaborative model of midwives and physicians so different.

In this episode:

• What does “Allowed to Birth” actually mean?
• Why do so many women feel like they need permission in the birth room?
• What informed consent and true autonomy can look like in practice
• How hospital policies can conflict with a patient's wishes
• What a “bait and switch” can look like when the birth plan meets the reality of labor
• Why skills like breech birth and vaginal twin birth are becoming increasingly rare
• What happens to your options when providers aren't trained in different types of birth
• Freebirth, autonomy and making decisions without fear
• How to choose a birth team and setting that actually align with your goals
• Why Kristine points to New Zealand as an example of collaborative maternity care
• The difference between supporting normal birth and being prepared when medical intervention is actually needed

If you want the actual words to use when you're advocating for yourself in the birth room, grab Scripts for Advocacy here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy

If this episode helped you, rate and review the show. It's one of the best ways to help other parents find the podcast.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Birth Beyond Medicine

00:56 The New Baby Sleep Guide

06:06 Why This Episode, Informed Consent

11:02 Meet Kristine And The Documentary

17:56 What Allowed To Birth Really Means

34:48 A Freebirth Reality Check

37:14 Autonomy Without Fear

40:15 Choosing The Right Birth Team

43:30 Hospital Policies And Real Consent

53:12 Fixing Birth Culture Worldwide

58:24 Patriarchy And Provider Ego

01:03:27 Birth, Power, And Gratitude

01:04:11 How To Watch The Film

01:05:58 Trusting Your Intuition In Birth

01:07:28 Final Links And Wrap-Up

 

GUEST BIO

Kristine Lauria is an internationally recognized midwife, educator, author, and birth advocate. Renowned for her expertise in physiological breech birth, she has dedicated her career to preserving and teaching clinical skills that support safe, individualized care for mothers and babies. A sought-after international speaker and educator, Kristine has trained midwives and physicians around the world, helping to revitalize knowledge and hands-on skills that are increasingly rare in modern maternity care. She is featured in the award-winning documentary Allowed to Birth, The Journey of a Global Midwife, which explores informed choice, the sacred nature of birth, and the preservation of the art of midwifery.

 

CONNECT

HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/

Kristine's website: https://www.allowedtobirth.com/

Kristine's website: https://www.kristinelauria.com/

Kristine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalmidwife64/

Allowed to Birth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allowedtobirth/

 

KEEP LEARNING WITH HEHE

Baby hit four months and sleep went sideways? HeHe's Baby Sleep Solutions Guide covers exactly that, grab it here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

 

LINKS MENTIONED

Scripts for Advocacy: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy

Baby Sleep Solutions Guide: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

Kristine's website: https://www.allowedtobirth.com/

Kristine's website: https://www.kristinelauria.com/

Kristine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalmidwife64/

Allowed to Birth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allowedtobirth/


Affiliates Mentioned (HeHe may earn a small commission when you use her link): Lalo Beautiful, minimalist baby gear that actually works for real life. From their travel-friendly Hook-On High Chair to their durable, design-forward Play Kit, Lalo creates pieces that grow with your family and look good doing it. Head to https://www.meetlalo.com/ and use code HEHE to save.

Your friend just had a baby and you have no idea what to actually do. Same.

HeHe is recording this one late at night in the thick of the 8 to 10 month growth spurt with her own son Saggy, and it got her thinking about something she has never actually sat down and mapped out for you guys: what does showing up for a postpartum friend actually look like, in practice, not just in theory.

 

This episode gives you the real playbook, but the next question is always what do I actually do when I walk in the door, and that's exactly what HeHe's new Baby Sleep Solutions Guide is built for too, giving you a concrete plan instead of vague advice: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

 

HeHe breaks down the difference between her pre baby support style (packing a suitcase and living with her postpartum friends, no joke) and what she does now that she has her own kid at home, plus the exact mental checklist she runs before showing up: do they want company or space, do they want you holding the baby or doing their dishes, and how to offer help without making it weird.

 

In this episode:

• What HeHe actually used to do when a bestie had a baby (here's a hint, it involved a suitcase)
• The one thing you should never do when you walk into a postpartum friend's house, even if you mean well
• How to run a meal train that doesn't backfire and leave a family drowning in lasagna
• Why checking in from far away matters just as much as showing up in person, and the exact apps and habits that make it easy
• When sharing your own experience helps a new mom, and when it crosses into advice she didn't ask for
• The one thing in every hospital bag that saved HeHe's nipples twice, once from a tongue tie and once from teething

 

If you have ever stood outside a friend's door with a casserole wondering if you're about to overstep, this episode is your permission slip and your plan. Grab the Baby Sleep Solutions Guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

If this episode helped you, rate and review the show. It's the number one way other parents find it.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Show Up As The Village

00:52 A Very Late Night Life Update

01:43 The New Baby Sleep Guide Is Here

05:44 Where This Episode Idea Came From

07:02 What HeHe Used To Do, Pre Baby

08:56 How To Help Without Holding The Baby

11:37 Meals And Meal Trains Done Right

14:58 The Silverette Fix For Nipple Pain

17:54 Checking In When You Can't Show Up In Person

26:06 Knowing Your Role And Final Thoughts

 

CONNECT

HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/

The Birth Lounge on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.birth.lounge/

 

SILVERETTE

This episode contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, HeHe may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. If you're planning to breastfeed, Silverette cups are a registry must. HeHe used hers for cracked, bleeding nipples from her son's tongue tie, and again months later for teething bites, and both times they were a lifesaver. They're real silver and a one time investment that lasts through every baby you have. Grab them at https://www.silveretteusa.com and use code HEHE for 10% off.

 

KEEP LEARNING WITH HEHE

Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

 

LINKS MENTIONED

Baby Sleep Solutions Guide: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

Silverette cups (use code HEHE): https://www.silveretteusa.com

Baby hit four months and sleep went sideways? HeHe's Baby Sleep Solutions Guide covers exactly that, grab it here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

 

Part three of the tongue tie series, and this one goes somewhere completely different. HeHe sits down with Michelle Emmanuel, a baby-specialized occupational therapist with 30 years in the field, to answer a question that never even crossed her mind before this conversation, what if a tongue tie isn't just about feeding at all?

 

Michelle breaks down why oral restrictions are connective tissue, not muscle, and why they start forming as early as eight to nine weeks in utero, genetically, before anything about birth or positioning even gets involved. From there she connects dots HeHe did not see coming, torticollis, high palate, micrognathia, a distended belly, reflux, slow gastric motility, even head shape and posture, all potentially tracing back to the same restricted tissue. Michelle's line that stuck with HeHe: the tongue is a multi-muscular midline organ connected all the way down to the toes.

 

Then HeHe gets vulnerable. Her son's tongue release at 48 hours old changed everything for breastfeeding overnight, but tummy time was still a nightmare, screaming, arching, refusing to tolerate it on any flat surface. Turns out that was a sign too. After staged revisions of his buccal ties and upper lip tie, tummy time stopped being torture and started being something he actually enjoyed. Michelle explains why that connection is real, why staged releases can be the smarter call for a brand new baby, and why rushing a release before a baby's tissue and nervous system are ready can actually backfire.

 

They also get into the messier, more honest parts of this world, the total lack of research on wound care and buccal or lip tie releases, why Michelle avoids the word "tongue tie" now in favor of "oral dysfunction and restrictions," and what to do when your pediatrician brushes off your concerns (her answer, start with an IBCLC). And because airway is where this whole series is headed, Michelle closes with the direct line between tongue mobility, mouth breathing, snoring, and the sleep disruption so many parents chalk up to "just a bad sleeper."

 

Oh, and don't skip the part where HeHe finally reveals which laundry detergent won the great mom-group debate, you'll want to hear this one.

 

Want the shortcut version of what HeHe has learned about getting real sleep from 4 to 24 months? Grab her Baby Sleep Solutions Guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Tongue Tie Breakthrough

00:57 Baby Sleep Guide Launch

06:06 Pandemic Parenting Rant

07:17 Oral Ties Explained

22:00 Signs And Support Strategies

40:40 Training Over Social Media

43:12 Tummy Time And Revisions

46:57 Staged Releases And Evidence

59:59 Wound Care Debate

01:06:25 Airway, Timing, And Wrap-Up

 

GUEST BIO

Michelle Emmanuel is a baby-specialized occupational therapist with 30 years of experience, focused on infant posture, body movement, and whole-body development from the newborn period through pre-crawling. She created the Tummy Time Method and Baby Myo, and spends much of her time training other therapists (OT, PT, speech, and lactation professionals) to support babies with oral restrictions as part of a multidisciplinary care team.

 

Connect with Michelle: https://www.tummytimemethod.com
https://www.babymyo.com

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

HeHe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe

Michelle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonguetiebabies

 

TRULY FREE

Ready to ditch laundry detergent that's secretly loaded with hormone disruptors? HeHe made the switch to Truly Free, plant-based, dye-free, and available completely unscented, and it's what she uses on everything her baby touches. Head to https://www.trulyfreehome.com and use code HEHE to save on your order.

 

BIRTH EDUCATION RESOURCES

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com

 

Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

 

LINKS MENTIONED

Baby Sleep Solutions Guide: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

Truly Free (use code HEHE): https://www.trulyfreehome.com

Hear Baby Saggy’s Tongue Tie release story here: https://podcast.thebirthlounge.com/e/ep-488-tongue-tie-release-signs-pain-and-why-some-babies-need-a-second-revision-my-babys-story/

 

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, makers of luxuriously soft bamboo sheets, blankets, and sleep essentials. Because your rest matters, mamas. Cozy Earth makes it easier to get the cozy, breathable sleep your body (and your little one) deserve. Use code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off your order and treat yourself to the sleep you've been dreaming of.

 

If you caught last week's episode, you already know HeHe's own tongue tie story was not exactly simple. This week she's zooming out with Dr. Heidi Aaronson, a general dentist who specializes in tethered oral tissues, to answer the question so many parents get stuck on: is this actually a tongue tie, or is something else going on entirely?

Dr. Heidi's whole approach starts with function over appearance, meaning what a tie looks like under your baby's tongue matters a lot less than what it's actually doing. She and HeHe get into why clicking, a poor seal, feeding fatigue, gas, reflux, and colic can all have more than one root cause, and why body tension and fascia can mimic or even feed into feeding problems that look exactly like a tongue tie on the surface. They also talk through when lactation consultants and bodywork should come before you even consider a release, because sometimes the answer really isn't a release at all.

From there they go deep on what actually happens during a frenectomy or frenotomy, laser versus scissors, what recovery looks like for a tiny human, and HeHe finally gets the truth on whether tongue ties really cause a lisp (spoiler, it's more myth than you'd think). And because ties don't just affect feeding, Dr. Heidi breaks down the sleep and airway side too, mouth breathing, snoring, tooth grinding, and the specific red flags that mean it's time to loop in an ENT.

Dr. Heidi's philosophy the whole way through is less is more, and this episode is basically a masterclass in knowing the difference between a tie that needs treatment and one that just needs time. Oh, and stick around for HeHe's current favorite low-tox laundry detergent.

In this episode:

• How tongue, lip and cheek ties can affect oral function
• Why function matters more than how a tie looks
• Tongue ties and breastfeeding or bottle-feeding challenges
• Clicking, poor seal, feeding fatigue, gas, reflux and colic
• How body tension can mimic or contribute to feeding problems
• The connection between oral restrictions, fascia and whole-body compensation
• When lactation support and bodywork may be helpful before considering a release
• What actually happens during a frenectomy or frenotomy
• Laser vs. scissors, pain and infant recovery
• Tongue ties, speech development and lisp myths
• Mouth breathing, snoring and disrupted sleep
• Why baby snoring can be an airway red flag
• When to involve an ENT
• Why Dr. Aaronson believes less is more when deciding what to release

Timestamps

00:00 Baby Snoring Red Flags
00:55 New Baby Sleep Guide
02:27 Four-Month Sleep Shift
06:06 Oral Ties & Sleep
11:24 What Tongue Ties Are
39:26 Tongue Ties & Digestion
41:26 Fascia Chain & Compensation
43:35 Feeding Fatigue & the Witching Hour
46:01 Injury Tension vs. Tongue Tie
48:22 Release Procedure Explained
52:58 Laser vs. Scissors & Pain
58:18 Speech Issues & Lisp Myths
01:02:44 Mouth Breathing, Snoring & Airway
01:07:24 Who to See: ENT & Red Flags
01:10:38 Wrap-Up, Resources & Insurance

Want more restful nights for the whole family? Grab HeHe's Baby Sleep Solutions Guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep, or treat yourself to Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets with code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Heidi Aaronson is a general dentist and owner of New Generation Dental Center in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a special focus on tethered oral tissues and their impact on feeding, oral function, growth and development. She evaluates and treats hundreds of infants and children each year for tongue, lip and buccal ties and works closely with lactation consultants, feeding therapists, myofunctional therapists and other healthcare providers to determine when treatment is appropriate — and, just as importantly, when it isn’t. Dr. Heidi has pursued extensive continuing education in tethered oral tissues and airway-focused dentistry and has trained with leading clinicians in the field. She also lectures to other healthcare professionals on the evaluation and treatment of tongue ties across the lifespan. Her approach focuses on function rather than appearance and on helping families understand the whole picture before deciding whether a release is right for their child.

 

Connect with Dr. Heidi: https://www.ngdentalcenter.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ 

Connect with Dr. Heidi on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bostontonguetie/

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:

Not ready for the 4-24 month sleep solution guide? Check out our Newborn Sleep Solution guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/newbornsleep

Want birth prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

Story time, and it's a personal one. HeHe is kicking off a brand new series today, and it starts with the very real, very messy saga of her own baby's tongue tie release. If a midwife or chiro has ever casually dropped "possible tongue tie" into conversation and sent your brain into a full spiral, welcome, you are exactly who this episode is for.

Here's how it actually went down for HeHe: both her midwife and her chiropractor flagged possible restriction, but the real diagnosis? That came from a pediatric dentist, not a hunch and not Instagram. She takes you inside the laser release itself (quick, weirdly anticlimactic), and then into the part nobody warns you about, the post-release stretches and exercises that keep scar tissue from creeping back in and undoing the whole thing.

You guys, the symptom list on this one is long: painful nursing, nipple damage, clicking, leaking milk, a poor latch, chomping, the lipstick-shaped nipple nobody wants to talk about, low milk transfer. Left alone, that combo can snowball into clogged ducts, mastitis, and a supply that just tanks. HeHe also calls out the guilt spiral hard, because no, you did not do this to your baby, and gets real about what the pain actually feels like versus what you're told to expect going in. Not every tie needs a release. Hers needed two. And both times? Immediate latch change, better drainage, zero regrets.

Want the shortcut version of everything HeHe has learned about getting real sleep postpartum? Grab her new sleep guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/babysleep

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ 

BIRTH EDUCATION:

Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection

Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

Ready to simplify your supplements with a brand you can actually trust? Check out Just Ingredients for clean protein, prenatals, electrolytes, and more, made with real, transparent ingredients. Head to https://www.justingredients.us and use code TRANQUILITYBYHEHE to save 10% on your first order.

 

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, makers of luxuriously soft bamboo sheets, blankets, and sleep essentials. Because your rest matters, mamas. Cozy Earth makes it easier to get the cozy, breathable sleep your body (and your little one) deserve. Use code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off your order and treat yourself to the sleep you’ve been dreaming of...

Here's a wild thought: what if your kid's snoring, tantrums, bedwetting, and bad posture aren't five separate problems, but one connected story your body is trying to tell you? That's exactly the rabbit hole HeHe goes down with Dr. Rachel Hamel this week, and honestly, it might change how you look at almost every "quirky" thing about your child.

Dr. Rachel breaks down why airway issues are so much bigger than "does my kid have a tongue tie," and why timing, nervous system regulation, and even birth history can completely change the picture. If you've been side-eyeing the snoring, mouth breathing, reflux, bedwetting, tantrums, or just a nagging "something feels off" gut instinct, this conversation hands you a whole new lens to look through. The part that really gets HeHe? A tongue release alone often isn't enough if a baby's body is still stuck in fight-or-flight, and doing things out of order can actually make everything worse.

In this one, you'll get into:

• Why airway health actually starts in the womb, and how pregnancy, labor, birth interventions, and early trauma can shape it
• How primitive reflexes, cranial nerves, the diaphragm, the pelvis, and posture are all quietly talking to each other
• What a C-section may actually change in a baby's skull, mouth, gut, and nervous system
• Why genetics matter, but epigenetics, nutrition, and environment are pulling just as much weight
• The signs parents should actually watch for, sleep issues, teeth grinding, an elongated facial shape, dark circles, and forward posture

Dr. Rachel also gets honest about why she is intentionally conservative with tongue releases, when they genuinely help, and why her approach leans multidisciplinary, think craniopathy, dentists, orthodontists, and myofunctional therapy working together instead of one quick fix. She unpacks what "early" really means, why the first few months carry so much weight, and why some of the most popular fixes out there completely miss the root of the problem.

Dr. Rachel Hamel is a certified craniopath for adults and children, founder of Hamel Cranial Chiropractic and Wellness, co-owner of Imprint Medical Center, host of the Unfiltered Healing Podcast, and author of Freedom Brain. Her work has been featured by Forbes, the World Federation of Chiropractic, and the Journal of Chiropractic Education.

If you're a parent navigating oral restrictions, airway concerns, or just wondering if your kid's symptoms are actually all connected, this is essential listening. This might be the clarity you've been waiting for.

 

Guest Bio:

Dr. Rachel Hamel has numerous credentials including being a certified craniopath for adults and children. She is the founder of Hamel Cranial Chiropractic & Wellness as well as co-owner of Imprint Medical Center which offers advanced regenerative medicine therapies. She also hosts the "Unfiltered Healing Podcast", and her perspectives have been featured in Forbes, the World Federation of Chiropractic, and The Journal of
Chiropractic Education. Lastly, she is the author of a best seller entitled Freedom Brain all about the health of the nervous system.

When she’s not empowering patients, you can find Dr. Rachel with family and friends or hiking in God’s creation.

Connect with Dr. Hamel: www.imprinthealthcenter.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ 

Connect with Dr. Rachel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/_drrachel_/

BIRTH EDUCATION:

Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection

Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Dr. Rachel’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@unfilteredhealingpodcast

 

Peak pediatric institute : SOT pediatric chiropractors finder near you - https://drmartinrosen.com/pediatric-referral-directory/

Be the first to know when the Baby Sleep Solution for ages 4-24 months is available here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/sleepwaitlist

Get the Newborn Sleep Solution Guide here: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/newbornsleep

Let's just say it. Co-sleeping is not illegal, it is not something you have to whisper about at your pediatrician's office, and it is definitely not something that only happens to parents who "didn't try hard enough" to get their baby in a crib. HeHe is coming in hot on this one because she lived it, and she is done letting this topic live in secrecy and shame.

HeHe gets real about her own pivot to bed sharing around 13 weeks postpartum, not because she had it all planned out on a vision board, but because her family was exhausted and it worked. She talks through how it changed the game for actual sleep quality, how breastfeeding fit into the picture, and why so many parents end up here even when it was nowhere in the plan.

But this is not a "just wing it" episode. HeHe walks through the real safe sleep guidelines that matter if you are going to bed share: a firm sleep surface (couches and recliners are an automatic no), zero substances, baby always on their back, the actual crescent position, never sandwiching baby between two adults, keeping baby lightly dressed, and ditching the swaddle the second baby is in your bed. She also gets into the nuance around premature or medically complex babies, and why breastfeeding may act as a protective factor, because context matters here and HeHe is not about one-size-fits-all fear tactics.

And because plenty of families bed share for a season and then want out, HeHe covers exactly how to transition, from crib sleep to floor beds to the "start the night in the crib, then bring baby into bed later" method that made the whole shift so much less painful for her own family.

 

00:00 Co-Sleeping Surprise Stats

01:00 Non-Toxic Registry Plug

04:43 Co-Sleeping Isn’t Illegal

06:36 My Unexpected Co-Sleep Journey

09:34 Safe Co-Sleep Basics

11:30 Positioning and Family Bed Rules

17:20 Breastfeeding Factor and Swaddles

21:34 How Accidental Co-Sleeping Happens

29:21 Transitioning Out of Co-Sleeping

40:37 Sleep Guides and Final Wrap-Up

BIRTH EDUCATION RESOURCES

Want more no-BS, evidence-based support for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum? Join The Birth Lounge, judgment-free childbirth education from HeHe that helps you feel prepared and supported every step of the way: thebirthlounge.com

Want prep on the go? Download The Birth Lounge App: thebirthlounge.com/app

We've officially become a Lalo household, the Hook-On High Chair, Play Kit, bath set, even their 3-in-1 potty, all of it built to grow with your family through every stage and every future baby. Head to meetlalo.com and use code HEHE for 10% off.

 

Her bottom line, and it's a good one to tattoo somewhere: routine doesn't mean required. You're allowed to ask "cool, but do I need this?" even when the answer everyone gives you is "we just do this for everybody." Ready to walk into your birth already knowing exactly what's negotiable? Grab your spot in the free class: thebirthlounge.com/csection

Okay, real talk. Have you ever had a pregnancy dream so unhinged you woke up questioning your entire life? You dreamed your baby had teeth, or your ex showed up at your baby shower, or you were somehow giving birth in a Target and nobody seemed alarmed but you. HeHe has been there. This week she sits down with D'Lisa, aka D'Lisa Dream Doula, to finally get some answers, and honestly, this one goes places HeHe did not expect.

D'Lisa is a life coach and artist out of Southern California who has built her whole thing around teaching women to actually listen to their dreams instead of just laughing them off at brunch. She and HeHe get into the real science of REM sleep first (yes, there is actual science here, this is not just vibes), and then things get juicy: why some dreams are just your brain doing dishes from the day and others feel like they are trying to tell you something. HeHe, who has definitely had a recurring dream or twelve, was very invested in this part.

Then D'Lisa drops the story that makes this whole episode: she dreamed her daughter's name before she ever knew it, and later saw firemen in black shoes right before a lightning-fast home birth. To be clear, she is not out here promising your dreams are a crystal ball, but if you have ever had a dream that felt too specific to just be random, you are going to want to hear this. They also run through the greatest hits of dream themes, falling, being chased, running in place, the anxiety dream you have had a hundred times, plus what is actually going on with sleep paralysis and sleepwalking (spoiler, less scary than it sounds).

If a pregnancy nightmare has ever left you spiraling at 3am googling "does this dream mean something is wrong," this episode is your permission slip to stop panicking. D'Lisa explains why a scary dream is far more likely to be your brain processing something emotional than it is to be predicting the future, and she teaches lucid dreaming as an actual tool you can use to change or straight up exit a nightmare mid-dream. She wraps it up with her own dream journaling method so you can start actually remembering this stuff instead of losing it the second your alarm goes off.

Ready to simplify your supplements with a brand you can actually trust?
Check out Just Ingredients for clean protein, prenatals, electrolytes, and more, made with real, transparent ingredients.
Head to justingredients.us and use code TRANQUILITYBYHEHE to save 10% on your first order.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Dream World Is Wilder Than You Think

01:15 Meet D'Lisa, Dream Doula

03:10 Why We Dream In The First Place

04:40 The Dream That Named Her Daughter

10:25 Consciousness And Different Dream Realms

14:43 How To Actually Remember (And Request) A Dream

17:59 Nightmares And The Spider Symbol

20:47 Why Recurring Dreams Keep Coming Back

28:17 The Anxiety Dreams Almost Everyone Has

29:30 Sleep Paralysis, Explained

30:23 Sleepwalking And Acting Out Dreams

30:55 Why Pregnancy Dreams Get So Intense

33:12 D'Lisa's Wildest Pregnancy Dream Story

35:39 Lucid Dreaming 101

40:46 Kids And Their Dreamlike Minds

42:29 Birth Memories And Past Lives

46:33 Hypnobirthing And Deja Vu

48:25 D'Lisa's Dream Journaling Method

51:03 What To Do With A Scary Pregnancy Dream

53:01 Where To Find D'Lisa

53:56 Final Thanks And Sign Off

 

GUEST BIO

D'Lisa is a life coach and artist living in Southern California. She teaches women how to tap into their intuition, analyze their own dreams, and manifest their best life using spiritual principles.

D'Lisa's website: https://coachingwithD.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

HeHe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe

D'Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dlisadreamdoula

D'Lisa's website: https://coachingwithD.com

 

BIRTH EDUCATION RESOURCES

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app