What if I told you that 9 out of 10 babies in America are missing key gut microbes right from the start? As a labor nurse who's delivered thousands of little ones and now a proud Gigi, this chat totally rocked my world and got me thinking about my own grandbabies' health.

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I'm thrilled to welcome Stephanie Culler, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences. Stephanie's a powerhouse scientist with a PhD in chemical engineering from Caltech, tons of patents in synthetic biology, and a passion for using the gut microbiome to fight disease. Inspired by losing her grandmothers to cancer and her own journey as a first-time mom during COVID, she pivoted from cancer research to baby gut health. She's led the largest U.S. study on infant microbiomes and created groundbreaking products to restore what modern life has stripped away from the gut.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

1. Why modern babies are missing crucial bifidobacteria - and how it links to allergies, eczema, asthma, and even long-term risks like cancer.
2. The shocking impact of antibiotics, C-sections, and formula on gut health, and why it's a multi-generational issue.
3. Stephanie's "aha" moment that shifted her from cancer treatments to preventing issues at the source with Persephone's first-of-its-kind synbiotic.
4. Signs your baby's gut needs help: fussiness, colic, constipation, diaper rash, poor sleep - and how this product can turn things around fast.
5. Tips for new moms: Start from day one, even if breastfeeding (mix a smidge into colostrum or on your nipple!), and why it's great for C-section babies too.
6. Bonus: How this could be a game-changer for adults and pregnant mamas, too.

More from Dr. Stephanie Culler:

Persephone's Daily Synergistic Synbiotic: https://persephone.bio/products/bloom

Visit www.persephone.bio

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @persephone.bio

Connect with Dr. Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-culler

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:00 Meet Dr. Stephanie Culler
2. 01:44 Stephanie’s Story: From Cancer Research to Babies
3. 05:27 The My Baby Biome Study: The Shocking 9-in-10 Finding
4. 09:26 Signs of an Off Microbiome + Benefits Seen
5. 11:16 Why Start From Day One

Join me, as I talk with one of my VBAC Lab Students and Calm Mama Society Members, Cassie.

She's going to be sharing her birth story and how the techniques we've been working on in class, have helped her to move through her birth trauma from her first birth and prepare for an empowered VBAC.

Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cms

Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

Cassie gives us all the details, shares the highs and lows of her birth experience, and how ultimately she was able to bring her baby into the world in a way that she was proud of.

This episode is packed with so much information and is really empowering for all the mamas out there who want to have an empowered birth.

So grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in for a chat with Cassie.

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:00 Meet Cassie: A VBAC Lab Student
2. 02:16 Cassie's First Birth Experience
3. 03:28 Discovering the VBAC Lab
4. 07:11 Facing Challenges with the Provider
5. 17:53 Preparing for Labor at Home
6. 21:34 Arriving at the Hospital
7. 24:47 Labor Begins: Early Contractions and Support
8. 30:30 Challenges and Swelling
9. 33:19 Decision for a C-Section
10. 35:48 Meeting the Baby
11. 37:52 Reflecting on the Birth Experience
12. 40:45 Advice for Expecting Mothers

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!

Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍

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Connect w/ Trish:

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For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Trish sits down with one of her favorite doulas - Sarah Osborne, doula, doula mentor, mama of three, and the real-deal with 17 years and over 900 births attended. Sarah went from a thriving solo practice to building a doula collective in the Pacific Northwest, and she’s spilling all the tea on what actually matters when you’re hiring support for your birth.

You’re going to hear why the “Google checklist” of doula questions is kinda useless, how to spot the vibe you really want (yes, you should feel like you could be friends with her - and not care if she sees you naked and pooping), and why Sarah says you can’t say “never” in birth. She shares her own three very different birth stories, one of her favorite births she’s attended, and the powerful reminder that interventions have their place - and sometimes they’re exactly what you need. This conversation is packed with wisdom, zero judgment, and the kind of real talk that leaves you feeling empowered instead of overwhelmed.

Whether you’re a pregnant mama trying to build your birth team or a birth worker who wants to do this work with integrity, hit play. You’re going to walk away smarter, calmer, and even more fired up about birth.

More from Sarah Osborne, CD(DONA):

Checkout https://theexpertdoula.com/skills-lab

Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @the.expert.doula + @thebirthcollectivepnw

Visit TheExpertDoula.com

Visit TheBirthCollectivePNW.com

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:00 Welcome Sarah
2. 00:36 Sarah's Doula Journey
3. 02:09 Sarah's Birth Stories
4. 05:16 Choosing the Right Doula
5. 12:31 Memorable Birth Experiences
6. 15:06 The Role of Positioning in Pregnancy
7. 17:26 The Importance of Medical Interventions
8. 23:11 Respecting Personal Choices in Birth
9. 27:04 Doula Mentorship and Community

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!

Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍

⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.