Nancy Beyda is a homebirth midwife in Los Angeles. Prior to becoming a midwife, she was a birth doula for over 20 years. Nancy believes that the way we birth has a profound impact on how we move through life. She is also the Executive Director of FoodCycle LA, a nonprofit that recovers food to communities that are experiencing food insecurity. Nancy finds that there is a deep connection between childbirth and the environment and she consciously seeks out ways in which to improve the outcomes of both.
To find out more about her midwifery practice and her nonprofit, please visit http://www.nancybeyda.com
https://www.foodcyclela.org
*This episode is not medical advice.


1:08 Nancy Beyda’s journey of becoming a midwife
2:55 Midwifery vs. OBGYN care, and licensing for Midwifery services
9:22 Assessing risk and informed consent
15:09 Prenatal appointments and developing relationships with clients
17:57 The difference between doulas and midwives
20:27 Navigating conflict advice and birthing choices
25:20 Pitocin and medication
27:33 Preventing and dealing with tearing and hemorrhage
28:59 Due dates
36:51 Nancy's birth experience 
42:26 Free birth, vaginal exams, and trusting the birth process
51:27 Deciding on using a midwife or having an out-of-hospital birth

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