Doulas Unhinged

Ep 3: A Broken Hospital System, The Harm They Caused and Deets on ECV

Lacey Morgan and Alex Shaw Season 1 Episode 3

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0:00 | 52:47

In this episode, we unpack a client’s distressing induction experience that occurred at a local hospital—and use it as a springboard to discuss broader patterns of medical mismanagement we’ve repeatedly witnessed at this facility.

We walk listeners through what went wrong, why it matters, and how these experiences are not isolated incidents, but part of a larger systemic problem rooted in routine interventions, poor communication, and a failure to respect informed consent.

This conversation is raw, honest, and rooted in our lived experiences supporting birthing families.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • A real client story involving a seemingly medically mismanaged birth
  • How “standard hospital policy” is often used to override patient autonomy
  • Red flags we consistently see at this particular hospital
  • Why outcomes matter—but how care is delivered matters just as much
  • The importance of having support and education before labor begins and why it's worth arguing against hospital policies. 

ECV & Informed Decision-Making

In the second half of the episode, we shift gears and discuss External Cephalic Version (ECV)—a procedure sometimes offered when a baby is breech—using the BRAIN acronym to support truly informed consent.

We break down:

  • B – Benefits: What are the potential upsides of ECV?
  • R – Risks: What are the known risks, and how common are they?
  • A – Alternatives: What other options exist?
  • I – Intuition: What is your body, gut, and lived experience telling you?
  • N – Nothing: What happens if you decline or delay the procedure?


Why this episode matters

Birth trauma doesn’t happen because people “fail to cope”—it happens when systems fail to listen. This episode is about shining a light on harmful patterns, empowering families with language and tools, and reminding listeners that you are allowed to ask questions, slow things down, and say no.

If you’re pregnant, supporting someone who is, or still processing your own birth experience, this episode is for you.


Go check out Joe at the Yupaichani Center For Healing !!!

Want to read more about ECV? Check out these resources. 

Evidence Based Birth

Kopa Birth

PubMed

PubMed2