Radical Childbirth Education
Claim This Podcastby Joni Edelman
Podcast Overview
<p>Childbirth Education for parents and providers who want the low-down on the down-low. </p><p>Episodes on subject matter that is important to you and includes unbiased, objective information to aid you in decision-making through your pregnancy and birth. </p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/20/2024
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Recent Episodes
September 16, 2025
ep. 14 diabetes in pregnancy
<p>In this episode of Radical Childbirth Education, Joni Edelman takes on the diabetes debate with zero sugar-coating (pun intended). She breaks down how your pancreas actually works, why gestational diabetes diagnoses skyrocketed after the 2020 guideline shift, and how the fear of ‘big babies’ fuels unnecessary inductions and interventions. Expect a mix of physiology, politics, and birth sovereignty that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about glucose tests. Whether you’re pregnant, a doula, or just birth-curious, Joni dishes the real talk: controlled blood sugar means healthy outcomes, and women still deserve full autonomy over their care.</p><p><strong>00:00 – 02:15</strong> — Welcome & why diabetes in pregnancy matters</p><p><strong>02:16 – 07:20</strong> — Anatomy & physiology refresher: pancreas, insulin, glycogen, glucagon</p><p><strong>07:21 – 12:23</strong> — Type 1 vs. Type 2 diabetes: causes, history, lifestyle, and diet</p><p><strong>12:24 – 20:20</strong> — Gestational diabetes explained & global testing differences</p><p><strong>20:21 – 27:36</strong> — The 2020 parameter change: how diagnosis rates jumped from 1 in 20 → 1 in 5</p><p><strong>27:37 – 36:45</strong> — Fear of large babies, shoulder dystocia, and malpractice pressures</p><p><strong>36:46 – 44:43</strong> — Induction for “big babies,” the role of relaxin, and why outcomes aren’t improving</p><p><strong>44:44 – 52:26</strong> — False positives, dietary restrictions, growth-restricted babies, and rising inductions for “small babies”</p><p><strong>52:27 – 56:54</strong> — Joni’s personal stories: birthing 10–11 lb babies & testing alternatives</p><p><strong>56:55 – 1:02:38</strong> — Key takeaways: controlled diabetes = healthy outcomes; autonomy in care</p><p><strong>1:02:39 – End</strong> — Call to action: your body, your baby, your choice</p><p>STUDIES:</p><ul><li>Metzger BE, Lowe LP, Dyer AR, et al. Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes (HAPO) study. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:1991–2002. Link ➝ Found continuous relationship between maternal glucose levels and risk, which influenced stricter diagnostic criteria.</li><li>Farrar D, Simmonds M, Bryant M, et al. Hyperglycaemia and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2016;354:i4694. Link ➝ Supports nuanced view: risks rise with uncontrolled hyperglycemia, but cutoff thresholds are contested.</li><li>Crowther CA, Hiller JE, Moss JR, et al. Effect of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus on pregnancy outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:2477–2486. Link ➝ Treating GDM reduced serious outcomes, but also increased induction rates.</li><li>Boulvain M, Senat MV, Perrotin F, et al. Induction of labour versus expectant management for large-for-date fetuses: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;385:2600–2605. Link ➝ Induction slightly reduced shoulder dystocia, but increased maternal complications.</li><li>American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Practice Bulletin: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135:e237-e260. Link ➝ Current clinical guidance, including diagnostic cutoffs and management.</li></ul>
September 13, 2025
ep 13. history of midwifery & freebirth chat
<p>After a six-month break, Joni returns to the mic with an honest and fiery episode. She shares updates on her recent apprenticeship, dives into the tangled history of midwifery, and speaks candidly about licensure, free birth, and the deeper questions of autonomy in birth work. This episode is part personal reflection, part history lesson, and part call to reclaim traditional wisdom in the face of state control.</p><p></p><p><strong>00:00 – 02:30</strong> Introduction, welcome back after a long break, intention-setting for the episode.</p><p><strong>02:30 – 07:30</strong> Apprenticeship experiences, counting numbers for licensure through the PEP process, and reflections on traditional vs. licensed midwifery.</p><p><strong>07:30 – 12:30</strong> History of midwifery: ancient practices, witch hunts, granny midwives, propaganda campaigns by Rockefeller and Carnegie, rise of hospital birth.</p><p><strong>12:30 – 18:30</strong> Medicalization of birth, Twilight Sleep, patriarchy in maternity care, and the second-wave feminist movement’s impact on birth culture.</p><p><strong>18:30 – 23:30</strong> Licensure battles across U.S. states, legal diversity, CPM recognition, and restrictions on practice (e.g., twins, breech).</p><p><strong>23:30 – 27:00</strong> Personal story: leaving an unaligned apprenticeship, integrity in midwifery, being reported to the licensing board, reflections on autonomy vs. state regulation.</p><p><strong>27:00 – End</strong> Fundamental problem with licensure: loss of women’s choices, example of type 1 diabetes in pregnancy, autonomy vs. risk-out requirements.</p><p></p><ul><li><strong>Historical context</strong>:<ul><li>Ehrenreich & English (1973), Witches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers.</li><li>Wertz & Wertz (1989), Lying-In: A History of Childbirth in America.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Hospital vs. home birth safety</strong>:<ul><li>Cheyney et al. (2014), Outcomes of care for 16,924 planned home births in the United States: the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health.</li><li>Hutton et al. (2016), Outcomes associated with planned place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies. CMAJ.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Diabetes in pregnancy (autonomy vs. risk-out debate)</strong>:<ul><li>Feig et al. (2014), Risk of adverse neonatal outcomes among women with diabetes in pregnancy. CMAJ.</li><li>American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Screening and Management (Practice Bulletin).</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Find me:</strong></p><p></p><p>Radical Childbirth Education @ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.13moonsbirthwork.com">https://www.13moonsbirthwork.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="">Personal Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="">Birth Instagram</a></p><p>Email me: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:joniedelman@gmail.com">joniedelman@gmail.com</a></p>
October 23, 2024
ep. 12 | care provider breakdown
<p>All about care providers in pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. But first we'll address medical research in maternal-fetal medicine and the ways it fails us and how we can better make decisions during the childbearing year. </p><p></p><p>OB/GYNs to traditional midwives and everyone in between. We talk about education and outcomes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Find me:</strong></p><p></p><p>Radical Childbirth Education @ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.13moonsbirthwork.com">https://www.13moonsbirthwork.com</a></p><p></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="">Personal Instagram</a></p><p></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="">Birth Instagram</a></p><p></p><p>Email me: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:joniedelman@gmail.com">joniedelman@gmail.com</a></p>
14 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Radical Childbirth Education?
<p>Childbirth Education for parents and providers who want the low-down on the down-low. </p><p>Episodes on subject matter that is important to you and includes unbiased, objective information to aid you in decision-making through your pregnancy and birth. </p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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