Becoming a parent changes the way working parents, family, and support all fit together. For many pregnant people and new parents, the question is not just how to prepare for birth, but how to prepare for the real-life responsibilities, relationships, and needs that come with caring for a baby.

In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to birth support is rooted in trust, flexibility, and helping families feel supported through change. We talk about what it means to be a midwife, a mom, and a working mom, including the ways family support, boundaries, and asking for help can shape the transition into postpartum life.

For expectant families and first time parents trying to understand what support can look like beyond the birth plan, this conversation offers a grounded look at birth preparation, emotional health, unsolicited advice, and the practical skills that help working parents communicate what they need. We also talk about why receiving help can be just as important as asking for it, especially when a new parent's life brings more responsibility than anyone is meant to carry alone.

Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

Pregnancy care is shaped by more than appointments, providers, and birth plans. For many pregnant people, choices are also shaped by insurance, Medicaid access, local resources, and the policies that determine whether care is easy to reach or hard to navigate.

In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to birth support is rooted in trust, advocacy, and helping families understand their options. We talk about the current political landscape around pregnancy, postpartum care, and lactation, including how healthcare changes can affect dignity, access, and the ability to receive steady support close to home.

For expectant families and new parents trying to understand pregnancy rights, this conversation offers a grounded look at maternal health, birth rights, and why birth advocacy matters when systems feel strained. We also talk about practical ways to get involved locally, use your voice, and support stronger care for your own family and your community.

Ready to connect or learn more? Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

Pregnancy brings constant choices, and too often those choices are shaped by fear, pressure, or limited healthcare access instead of real understanding. When you are trying to make thoughtful medical decisions, it matters to know your voice still belongs in the room.

In this episode of Village360’s Birthworks, I’m joined by Brittany Ferguson, a midwife whose approach to pregnancy care is rooted in trust, relationship, and personal agency. We talk about what it means to practice informed consent in real time, especially when medical decisions feel heavy, rushed, or hard to question.

For expectant parents looking for steady midwife support, this conversation opens the door to a more grounded birth experience, a deeper understanding of reproductive health, and the kind of community resources that can make healthcare access feel more human.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

When you’re choosing a birth center, you deserve to know exactly how the team handles those 'every second counts' moments without losing sight of your informed consent. Prioritizing birth center safety before labor begins ensures you are prepared for any turn the journey takes.

A hospital transfer doesn't mean losing your voice; in fact, the right approach actually reduces clinical strain on the medical staff and creates a much higher level of safety for you and your baby.

Today, I walk you through the practical realities behind the 71% surge in home births since 2016 and exactly how that shift is reshaping the maternal health landscape for all of us. This growth is a cultural shift that demands a shift in our medical systems too.

We cover the importance of birth plans for both intended and transfer scenarios, the necessity of provider collaboration between midwives and doctors, the reality of patient rights in a high-pressure environment, and how to maintain physiological birth principles even when a pivot is required.

Strong labor support and active birth advocacy are the keys to maintaining your leadership in the birthing room. So, if you are looking for a safe and empowered outcome using clear communication and partnership, this episode is not to be missed.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you doing everything you can to prepare for childbirth, yet still feeling unsettled inside? I know how it feels to pour your whole self into motherhood and still wonder if you are doing enough.

Birth preparation is not only about information. It is about learning how to return to your body when stress rises. It is about strengthening the part of you that can stay grounded in the middle of intensity.

In this episode, we explore simple visualization, gentle breathing techniques, and a powerful grounding exercise that support nervous system regulation, strengthen your emotional health, and build lasting birth confidence, so you feel rooted, connected to your baby, and supported by your own inner champion through pregnancy, labor, and early parenting.

This is how holistic health becomes practical in your daily life. These practices connect your mind, body, and baby in a tangible way. They support pregnancy wellness now and help you prepare for birth with steadiness.

As you listen to Village360’s Birthworks, let these become simple labor tools you can return to anytime. When you steady your nervous system, support your maternal health, these same practices grow into practical parenting advice for the days ahead.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

Many families move through pregnancy with short visits and rising anxiety, without space to talk about what is happening in their bodies. Pregnancy health deserves more care, and birth preparation is more than packing a bag. You deserve support in naming how you want your birth space to feel and who you want beside you, so you can walk into birth steady and seen. The mind body connection matters. Learning to stay in your body shapes your experience of childbirth, and true birth readiness and labor preparation include steady mental health support.

Today on Village360’s Birthworks, I am with Rennetta Mulkey to talk about care that feels steady and deeply human. We begin with electrolytes in pregnancy and the gentle sea salt benefits that support hydration and overall care for your body.

We also talk about your support system, the courage to define your birth preferences, and why pregnancy advocacy matters at home, work, and in healthcare. We touch on intuitive eating and nourishing your body in ways that feel steady and sustainable.

Pregnancy does not happen in isolation. We talk about building a village, planning for postpartum recovery, and the role of community healing in changing maternal outcomes. When we care well for one pregnant person, families and communities grow stronger.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

When the baby is in your arms and the pushing is done, the work is not over. Your body still has one powerful job left. Few parents fully understand the delivery of placenta until it is already happening, and that moment can feel like a blur.

The third stage of labor deserves thoughtful planning. It plays a direct role in how the uterus tightens after birth, bleeding risk, and early postpartum recovery.

When you understand your birth choices around physiological birth, you are not adding more stress to your birth plan. You are strengthening it in a way that supports maternal health and informed decision-making.

Today, we explore the difference between active management with a pitocin injection and expectant management. We’ll discover how oxytocin acts as the hormone of love to power each uterine contraction, why nipple stimulation aids a placenta birth, and the reasons some choose placenta encapsulation.

You will gain a fresh perspective on how an evidence based birth approach honors your unique needs and values. By learning about these possibilities now, you replace uncertainty with the skills for empowered decision-making. You will leave this episode feeling prepared to own every part of your story.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.

Many expecting moms find that a simple late night snack can suddenly spark an intense burning sensation in the chest, or that going to the bathroom feels unusually difficult and stalled. If this sounds familiar, it is not something you simply have to put up with. There are practical and gentle ways to ease the discomfort and feel better.

It is a strange feeling when your body works so hard to support your baby that it seems to forget about your own comfort. This natural process is simply the physical reality of your system intentionally slowing your digestion to ensure your baby gets every possible nutrient. You are not failing and your body is not broken.

This episode introduces a stepwise approach to finding natural relief by starting with a simple habit and moving toward safe, evidence based supplements. You will learn why magnesium matters and how hydration supports regularity. We also discuss how sleep positioning and eating smaller meals can noticeably improve how you feel throughout the day.

We cover everything from the benefits of meal timing to the reasons walking after meals helps keep your system moving. I also explain why adding papaya enzymes can be a game changer for your pregnancy health. By understanding how your body works during this time, you can move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered.

These insights help you reclaim your well-being while your body does the miraculous work of growing a new life. Every small adjustment and every one of these constipation remedies brings you one step closer to a more comfortable pregnancy experience.

Ready to connect or learn more?

Visit myrvcc.org to explore our care options, upcoming prenatal classes, and community programs.

Have questions? Reach out anytime at hello@MyRVCC.org, we’d love to hear from you.