12. Empowering High-Risk Pregnancies Through Advocacy and Support

The Birth Advocacy Podcast — The Birth Prep Podcast for Pregnant Moms

The Birth Advocacy Podcast — The Birth Prep Podcast for Pregnant Moms
12. Empowering High-Risk Pregnancies Through Advocacy and Support
Jul 28, 2025 Season 1 Episode 12
Kiera Walsh

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If you’ve ever been told to “just trust the doctors” during a high-risk pregnancy… and then left an appointment more confused, anxious, or flat-out dismissed—you are so not alone.

High-risk doesn’t mean helpless. And in this episode, we’re breaking down how real advocacy can change the game when the stakes are high.

I'm joined by Jessica Freedman—a professional birth doula, Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator, prenatal yoga teacher, and student of Traditional Chinese Medicine—whose approach to perinatal care is anything but one-size-fits-all.

Jess brings a holistic, culturally-informed lens to birth work, blending movement, breath, and ancestral wisdom to help people feel grounded and empowered in their bodies. She’s studied birth culture across Asia, teaches from a deep commitment to bodily autonomy and informed consent, and has helped countless clients reclaim their power in pregnancy and labor.

Whether you're navigating gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, a previous loss, or just feeling like your care team is speaking a different language—this one’s for you.

What you’ll learn:

  • How to make informed decisions when everything feels urgent
  • The emotional toll no one talks about—and what real support looks like
  • How Jessica blends traditional wisdom with modern care to help her clients feel steady, safe, and so not alone

🎧 Additional Resources You’ll LOVE…

🔥 Free Birth Webinar: Birthing Your Way – Jess’s free class will help you feel less like a patient and more like a powerful decision-maker.

🔥 Lazy Girl’s Guide to Birth Prep – Too many TikToks, too many opinions, and still no clue what actually matters before birth? This guide gives you the basics—fast. Straight to the point, super practical, and made for the pregnant girlies who want to feel ready without the overwhelm.

🔥 The Doula’s Checklist for Beating Burnout – For every doula listening who’s one text away from losing it. Spot the signs, take the pause, reset your birthwork boundaries.

📲 Connect with Jessica Freedman

💬 Follow her on Instagram: @mamashaktiprenatalyoga

 🌐 Visit her website: mamashaktiprenatalyoga.com

💥 Let’s Keep the Advocacy Going

💬 Follow me on Instagram @birthadvocacypodcast for real talk on navigating a system that wasn’t built for your complexity—and making it work anyway.

⭐ If this episode hit home, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. It helps us reach more moms and doulas who need this message.

📸 Screenshot your review, upload it here, and I’ll send you a little surprise as a thank-you.

Episode Artwork 12. Empowering High-Risk Pregnancies Through Advocacy and Support 48:20 Episode Artwork 11. How Will I Know If I’m in Labor? (Here’s What to Actually Look For) 21:51 Episode Artwork 10. Sushi, Fentanyl, and Other Birth “Rules” That Are Completely Backwards 9:32 Episode Artwork 9. Five Unnecessary Hospital Interventions You Can Decline (And Why) 15:48 Episode Artwork 8. Why You Need a Doula (Even If You Think You Don’t) 10:28 Episode Artwork 7. If Hospitals Are So Safe, Why Do Homebirths Have Better Outcomes? 11:16 Episode Artwork 6. How to Avoid Burnout After Births with Interventions 17:55 Episode Artwork 5. How to Stop Hustling for Clients and Start Attracting the Right Ones 24:39 Episode Artwork 4. How to Avoid Doula Burnout by Saying No 10:27 Episode Artwork 3. Why Comparing Yourself to Other Doulas is Killing Your Business Growth 11:29 Episode Artwork 2. Why Overloading Your Doula Packages Is Hurting Your Doula Business (And How to Fix It) 12:24 Episode Artwork 1. Why Taking Every Client Is Killing Your Doula Business (And How to Stop) 13:01