You're in labor and your provider recommends something you weren't expecting — and you don't know how to push back without seeming difficult or putting your baby at risk.

In this episode, two Black OB-GYNs break down:

• Why interventions get recommended and what's really happening in that moment
• How to slow down the room and ask questions without creating tension
• The BRAIN tool — the 5-question framework every pregnant woman needs to know
• How to advocate for yourself without saying no
• The difference between real urgency and perceived pressure
• What your care team owes you even when time is limited

Because asking questions is not the same as refusing care. And when you understand your options — you stop feeling powerless.

📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquad

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤

#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthAdvocacy #HospitalBirth #PatientRights #BRAINTool #LaborAndDelivery #BlackMothers #BlackWomensHealth #KnowYourRights

S4 Ep3: The Truth About Birth Plans Nobody Warns You About | The Birth Squad Podcast

You spent hours on your birth plan — but what actually happens when labor moves fast and decisions have to be made in real time?

In this episode, two Black OB-GYNs break down:

• Why your birth plan doesn't always get followed line by line
• What providers are actually focused on when things shift quickly
• The difference between a birth plan and a birth preference
• What to include so your voice is still heard even when things change
• Why flexibility isn't giving up your power — it's protecting it
• How a doula can bridge the gap between your plan and your care team

Because the goal was never to control every moment. It's to make sure what matters to you is understood — no matter what happens in that room.

🎧 Listen now — link below.

📲 Follow us for more:Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthsquad

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🖤

#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthPlan #HospitalBirth #BlackMothers #BirthPreferences #KnowYourRights #LaborAndDelivery #BlackWomensHealth #MaternalHealth

You're contracting. It's real. It's painful. You go to the hospital — and they send you home.

Hours later, you're back. Exhausted. Further along than they thought. So what actually happened?

In this episode, Dr. Ijeoma Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas break down one of the most common — and most misunderstood — experiences in labor: being sent home from triage when your body says otherwise.

What you'll learn:→ How hospitals actually decide when to admit you — and what "active labor" really means→ Why early labor can last hours or days and still not meet admission criteria→ Why being sent home doesn't mean you're not in labor→ Who has the power to make that call — and how much it depends on who's in the room→ The exact questions to ask before you leave triage

🎙️ Season 4 is HERE — and we're kicking it off with the conversation every Black woman deserves to have before she ever steps foot in that delivery room.S4E1 — The Birth Room Power Struggle: When a C-Section Changes Everything.Hosted by Dr. Ijeoma Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas — two Black OB-GYNs with over 20 years of combined experience — pulling back the curtain on what's really happening behind the scenes when labor shifts fast.In this episode:🩺 Why your doula might be turned away from the OR🩺 Who actually has the power in that delivery room🩺 What hospitals don't tell you before a C-section🩺 How to protect yourself and your birth support before labor startsThis is not just a podcast. This is your blueprint.—📲 Stay connected with The Birth Squad:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthsquad/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthsquad—#TheBirthSquadPodcast #BlackMaternalHealth #Season4 #HospitalBirth #BirthRights

Are your most important birth moments fully explained? Or are you missing the real story behind your delivery?

As OB-GYNs with 20+ years of experience, Dr. Ijeoma Bello & Dr. Kimeshia Thomas are pulling back the curtain on labor and delivery. No fluff, just real talk about the decisions, the dynamics, and how you can stay in control — especially if you’re a Black woman expecting.

Knowing what’s happening means moving differently, asking smarter questions, and ultimately changing the outcome. This isn’t just about prep; it’s about strategy.

Are you ready to be empowered in your birth journey?

#BirthSquad #BlackMamasMatter #BirthTruths #Season4

What have we learned about birth, loss, recovery, and resilience this season? A lot.

In this reflective Season 3 recap of The Birth Squad, Dr. Ijeoma Okwandu Bello and Dr. Kimeshia Thomas sit down to discuss the powerful themes, stories, and lessons that shaped this year’s conversations. From postpartum recovery to infertility, pelvic floor health to pregnancy loss, we dive into the core truths about motherhood—both the beautiful and the painful.

This episode is for anyone navigating the complexities of pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery. It’s a space to honor every path, empower every decision, and embrace the power of community in maternal health.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✔️ Why postpartum care is often overlooked—and why that must change

✔️ Why we must talk openly about pregnancy loss

✔️ How pelvic floor therapy can change your life

✔️ Why a skilled birth team is essential when things don’t go as planned

✔️ The role of community in sharing and supporting our stories

🎧 Whether you're a new mom, a birth worker, or someone supporting a loved one— you’ll leave this episode more informed, more connected, and more empowered.

💬 This season, we were especially honored to share the deeply moving episode with Dr. Margaret Towolawi, a family medicine physician, author, speaker, and founder of Nurture Well Center and SkinStatMD.

In her episode, Dr. Towolawi bravely shared her personal experience with cervical insufficiency and second-trimester pregnancy loss.

Her vulnerability and clinical insight created space for healing and awareness around a condition that is too often misunderstood. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Towolawi for trusting us with her story—and for helping so many others feel seen, validated, and less alone.

🩺 Connect with Dr. Margaret Towolawi:

📘 Ayomide’s Train Ride to Graceland – Dr. Towolawi’s children’s book honoring pregnancy loss: Buy on Amazon

Website: www.margarettowolawimd.comPrimary Care: www.nurturewellcenter.comSkin Care: www.skinstatmd.comInstagram: @dr.margaret.towolawi

💛 If you’ve experienced loss, or if any part of this season resonated with your journey—we want to hear from you. Share your story in the comments. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. You are not alone.

🎙️ The Birth Squad is where real moms share real stories.

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to help us uplift more voices in maternal health.
#TheBirthSquad #MaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthStory #RealTalkHealing #CommunitySupport

What happens when a routine delivery turns into an emergency—and a mother has to dig deep to stay calm, focused, and strong?

In the last episode of season 3 of The Birth Squad Podcast, we’re joined by Perlita Ortega, a courageous mama who’s opening up about one of the most serious (and often misunderstood) birth complications: shoulder dystocia.

Perlita shares her real, raw, and powerful experience of what it felt like in the moment, how her birth team responded, and the lasting impact it’s had on her as a mother. This is a story of strength, awareness, and the importance of being prepared—even when you least expect complications.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

✔️ What shoulder dystocia is—and why it matters

✔️ How Perlita recognized something was wrong in the moment

✔️ The emotional and physical impact of the experience

🎙️ “It happened so fast—but I’ll never forget how strong I had to be in that moment.”

💪🏾 Whether you’ve faced complications in birth, work in maternal care, or just want to understand the full spectrum of birth experiences, this episode will leave you informed, inspired, and empowered.

💬 Have you experienced a shoulder dystocia or other unexpected birth complication? Share your story in the comments—we're building a community through real talk and lived experience. 💕

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tap the bell so you never miss a new episode—airing every other Sunday!

🎙️ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5oUKy30oJQPTYzK25kVLlw?si=ab88aa2fbe3e4153

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCucYqnP446Gp86B-1gISc6g

#TheBirthSquadPodcast #ShoulderDystocia #RealBirthStories #EmpoweredBirth #PregnancyEducation

What happens when a doctor becomes the patient—and experiences the very loss she’s spent years helping others navigate?

In this deeply moving episode of The Birth Squad, we sit down with Dr. Margaret Towolawi—family medicine physician, author, speaker, and founder of multiple wellness-focused practices including Nurture Well Center and SkinStatMD. Dr. Towolawi opens up about her personal journey through cervical insufficiency and second-trimester pregnancy loss, offering both clinical insight and raw vulnerability.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss—or walked beside someone who has. From warning signs to diagnosis, treatment options to emotional recovery, we’re breaking the silence around an often-overlooked condition and offering hope through shared experience.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What cervical insufficiency is—and why it’s often missed
• Dr. Towolawi’s own story of pregnancy loss as a physician and mother
• Current treatment options, including cerclage and progesterone
• The emotional toll of loss and the process of healing
• How we can better support families facing second-trimester loss

Connect with Dr. Margaret Towolawi:

• Clinical Practice: www.margarettowolawimd.com
• Primary Care: www.nurturewellcenter.com
• Skin Care: www.skinstatmd.com
• Speaking Engagements: admin@margarettowolawimd.com
• Children’s Book: Ayomide’s Train Ride to Graceland – Buy on Amazon

Resources for Pregnancy Loss Support:

• Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

• Star Legacy Foundation

• Return to Zero: HOPE

• Postpartum Support International

If you’ve walked this road, or are walking it now—you are not alone. Share your story in the comments or reach out to connect. We see you. We honor you.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share The Birth Squad—where real moms share real stories, every other Sunday.

#PregnancyLoss #CervicalInsufficiency #HealingAfterLoss #TheBirthSquad #MaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #RealTalkHealing