Birthing Instincts

A home birth.A tragic outcome.And a midwife the state tried to make an example of.In this episode, Blyss and Stu talk with Angee Hock to unpack what it’s really like to be prosecuted for birth work. From a traumatic breech birth to jail time, national headlines, and a courtroom battle that could have changed everything, this conversation goes where most won’t.But what came out of her trial may change everything: a judge declaring home birth is a constitutional right. This isn’t just her story. It’s about who controls birth in America, and what it costs to challenge it.About Angee:Angee’s greatest passion is to be in-sync with the heartbeat of God. She longs to help people reach their God-given potential through their God-given identity and all aspects of growth. She has a heart for Christian leaders and churches to thrive for greater impact on earth. Angee is a certified instructor with People Skills for You  and a certified pastor and church coach through Church Boom. She is currently working towards her masters and doctorate in Global Leadership and Applied Ministry and Theology through Wagner University. She serves as Volunteer Coordinator, Council, and Board member for Nebraska Christian Leader’s Forum. Angee is a retired traditional midwife and wholistic wellness and health practitioner. She has served as peer counsel internationally in peer legal cases in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, with focuses on human rights, medical freedom, and private and constitutional law. Additionally Angee has experiences within the Nebraska legislature with Senator support and bill support.Angee’s hobbies can be mostly summed up with the enjoyment of traveling and experiencing the world, near and far.  She lives north of Kearney with her amazing husband and has six wonderful children, ranging from adults to elementary. Instagram: @nebraskabirthkeeperReferences:The Highwire with Del Bigtree THE CRISIS IN MODERN MATERNITY CARE | DR. STU FISCHBEINSafe and Effective? LIVE with Nico LaganNE v. Angela Hock: Midwife Delivery Death Trial on Court TVA&E Show Accused: Did I Do It? Negligent Midwife or Responsible Caregiver?Discussed in This EpisodeThe 2019 Nebraska breech trialEmergency maneuvers, impossible conditions, and a devastating outcomeArrested, jailed, and made an example“I’d rather go to prison than lie.” Why Angee refused a plea dealThe real punishment: fear, restrictions, and a life on holdThe courtroom battle: truth vs. narrativeA judge declares: home birth is a constitutional rightEmotion vs. logic, and the strategy behind choosing a bench trialWhat was really lost, even with a not guilty verdictPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when we monitor birth too much?In this episode, Blyss and Stu pull back the curtain on one of the most normalized, and least questioned, practices in modern obstetrics: continuous monitoring. What starts as “safety” can quietly become interference, and the consequences aren’t small.Together, they break down how over-monitoring can derail physiologic birth, increase unnecessary interventions, and shift trust away from a woman’s body and into machines. From hospital protocols to real-world birth room dynamics, this conversation challenges the narrative that more data always equals better outcomes.If you’ve ever been told “we just want to keep an eye on things,” this episode will make you ask: at what cost?References:Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #416: Disentangling Mono-chorionic TwinsDr. Stu’s Mind Attic: Routine Use of Color Flow Doppler: Who Benefits? (youtube.com/@birthinginstinctspodcast)Birthing Instincts Podcast Episode #433: Q & A with Dr. K, Pregnancy SpecialistBirthing Instincts Podcast Episode #294 Group B Strep: Prioritizing Agenda Over ScienceBirthing Instincts Podcast Episode #408: Neonatal Jaundice. Be Vigilant, Not OverzealousDiscussed in This EpisodeHow monitoring became synonymous with safetyThe unintended consequences of continuous fetal monitoringFriedman’s Curve: The outdated standard still running birthWhat the research actually says about EFMHow liability and fear shape birth practicesBreaking down the glucose drink, thresholds, and alternativesWhen NSTs are useful, and when they’re just routineBiophysical Profiles: What Are We Really Looking For?Color Flow Doppler: More Information…or More Intervention?How “abnormal” findings can fast-track inductionPractical, empowering questions for parents navigating hospital birthPodcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any orderChristian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a skeptical dad starts asking real questions about birth? Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss sit down with Dad Jacob Dubois, author of Why Home Birth, to talk about how he went from doubter to outspoken home birth advocate, and why fathers may be one of the missing voices in the fight to reclaim birth from the medical system.About JacobJacob Dubois is a devoted husband to Madison and a proud father to two young sons (ages 2 and 4 months). He is the author of Why Home Birth? How hospitals turned birth into a medical procedure — and what the evidence actually shows, an evidence-based exploration that chronicles his personal journey from former home birth skeptic to confident advocate, drawing on what he learned over the past two years while supporting his wife through transformative birth experiences.As @apogee.dad on Instagram, he shares authentic content centered around faith, fatherhood, and awakening perspectives on topics like birth and parenting.Professionally, Jacob is an active-duty Marine Corps Officer with a background in logistics. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a Master’s of Science in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School.Jacob is committed to sharing his story of transformation, bringing more fathers into the conversation around birth, and empowering families to question mainstream narratives on health and childbirth.Instagram: @apogee.dadWebsite: whyhomebirthbook.comReferences:Business of Being Born Documentary: https://www.thebusinessof.life/the-business-of-being-bornDiscussed in This EpisodeWhy most people believe hospital birth is safestMidwifery care vs obstetric care differencesThe true meaning of birth beyond medical outcomesThe role of fathers in birth and pregnancyMedicalization of birth in America explainedBirth trauma in hospital settingsACOG guidelines, evidence-based care, and biasWhy dads need to speak up about birth Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Is every positive urine culture in pregnancy a problem that needs antibiotics? Dr. Stu and midwife Blyss explore ACOG’s UTI guidelines, the evidence behind screening, and the growing concern about microbiome disruption and antibiotic resistance.References:Motherhood Equipped Podcast: 62. Birth Freedom, Breech Truth, and Why Physiologic Birth Matters with Dr. Stuart FischbeinPatreon.com/BirthingInstinctsPodcast Support the Podcast Velvet and Bone Somatic & Trauma-Informed Doula Training (velvet-and-bone.com)ACOG Clinical: Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant IndividualsPubMed: Asymptomatic GBS bacteriuria during antenatal visitsBirthing Instincts Podcast Episode #294 Group B Strep: Prioritizing Agenda Over ScienceDiscussed in This EpisodeBladder Infections Kidney Infections The Various Screening Recommendations and TreatmentsWhat is Asymptomatic Bacturia Benefits of Asymptomatic BacturiaWhy Eradicate Asymptomatic Bacturia?Alternatives to AntibioticsWhen to Seek Medical AdviceRisks of Antibiotics in Pregnancy, Labor and to Newborn Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

On this week’s episode Blyss and Stu introduce guest Abigail Iovine, a Pennsylvania traditional midwife, and her mission to create legislation to protect traditional midwifery through her organization The National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights. Iovine discusses how legislation and institutional credentialing can criminalize basic midwifery care and shrink options. This episode outlines harms from siloed maternity care and discusses NARM’s influence.About Abby Iovine:Abby is a traditional midwife, mother of ten, and a passionate advocate for medical freedom who was raised with a deep love for God and family. Yes, all ten are hers, and yes, she has given birth ten times, an experience that profoundly shaped the way she approaches birth and care.Her journey into midwifery began after the birth of her fourth child, and while pregnant with her fifth, she famously searched, “How to NOT have a baby in the hospital?” That question set her on a new path. After welcoming her first homebirth with her fifth baby, she began formally studying midwifery in 2010, later becoming a certified doula in 2013 and attending births soon after.Trained through a five-year traditional apprenticeship under local elder midwives, she built her foundation in hands-on, relationship-centered care. In 2018, she officially began serving families through Cardinal Birth Midwifery, a family-centered, autonomy-respecting ministry that places real life, children, and family needs at the heart of care.In 2025, she also founded the National Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights, further expanding her advocacy for family-centered care and the preservation of traditional midwifery.Facebook: ProtectTraditionalMidwifery / YourBirthMattersWebsite: Natbr.orgReferences:Back to Basics Podcast 42: Dr. Stu Fischbein, MD - Childbirth 101: Home birth, breech, VBAC, and moreAttend a Reteach Breech Workshop: birthinginstincts.com/eventsACOG Releases Updated Guidance on Maternal ImmunizationsThe Highwire Episode 464: STEEP TERRAINNational Alliance for Traditional Birth Rights (NATBR) Federal Policy BriefALEC Birth Freedom ActNATBR Petition Demand federal safeguards for traditional midwives and family choiceDiscussed in This EpisodeEffects of Legislation on Midwifery InvestigationsBill SB507 in PennsylvaniaAMA Influence and Hospital ControlDefining Traditional MidwiferyNARM Critique and LicensingHow Standards of Care Can Be ImprovedEradication of Midwifery and its Impact on Maternal Mortality“Heritage Care” Brief to Protect Midwifery Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care This show is supported byWeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 offGirls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% offConnect with Dr. Stu and BlyssJoin our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcastInstagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyssWebsite: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.comEmail: [email protected] webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands