Roxanne breaks down Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) —a pregnancy-specific liver condition (about 2–3% of pregnancies) where bile acids build up in the bloodstream, often causing intense itching on palms/soles with no rash. She reviews other possible symptoms (jaundice, dark urine, light stools, fatigue, right upper quadrant pain), how diagnosis is made with symptoms plus bile acid labs (and sometimes liver enzymes), and how treatment depends on bile acid levels. Roxanne discusses options such as meds to lower bile acids and improve itching, fetal monitoring (NSTs/BPPs), and sometimes induction as early as 36 weeks—especially if bile acids are over 100. She explains baby risks (preterm birth, respiratory distress, stillbirth), including stillbirth rates. ICP usually resolves after birth but can recur (40–60%).

00:00 Welcome and Overview

00:16 Meet the Hosts

01:04 ICP Symptoms and Why It Matters

01:29 What ICP Is in the Liver

02:15 Risks for Mom and Baby

03:32 Other Signs and Diagnosis

04:22 Treatment and Monitoring Plan

05:24 Bile Acid Levels and Induction Timing

06:49 Stillbirth Risk Numbers Explained

09:08 Quick ICP Recap

11:20 After Birth and Future Pregnancies

11:59 Questions, Course, and Wrap-Up

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📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth courses: https://mamastefit.com/prenatal-support

3rd Trimester Specific Prep Courses: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/third-trimester/

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📩 Join our free early postpartum recovery course: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/early-postpartum-recovery/

—-

Recover after birth and return to fitness with MamasteFit: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/postpartum/

💻 Postpartum Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Postpartum Fitness Programs

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Early postpartum recovery course:

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Birth Plan

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Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) break down what labor & delivery nurses do versus midwives, OBs, and some family medicine providers, including who typically handles low- vs high-risk care and which interventions midwives can’t do. They explain why some people choose midwives versus OBs, and note midwives can provide full-spectrum women’s health care. Roxanne outlines three midwife paths—CPM (apprenticeship plus education/exam; licensing varies by state), CM (non-nurse bachelor’s plus grad midwifery; limited states), and CNM (nursing degree to grad midwifery, boards, state licensure, collaboration requirements). They discuss clinical hour/birth requirements, costs, licensing logistics, and how Roxanne used ROTC and the GI Bill to pay for school, then end with a top tip: attend births (even on YouTube) to see if the calling is real.

00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup

01:17 Feeling Called to Midwifery

02:40 Nurse vs Midwife vs OB

07:15 Choosing Midwife or OB

13:06 Midwives Beyond Birth Care

14:54 Three Midwife Types Overview

15:47 CPM Path and Licensure

17:57 Unlicensed CPM Tradeoffs

22:13 Certified Midwife Route

24:19 CNM Training and Nursing Paths

29:06 Midwifery School Format and Clinicals

33:16 Clinical Skills and Birth Requirements

39:02 Clinical Volume Matters

40:04 Choosing the Right Provider

41:40 Certification Exam Reality

45:20 State Licensure and Reciprocity

48:46 Midwife Training Pathway

50:48 Costs and Barriers

52:52 Military Funding Options

58:49 Paying for Grad School

01:03:53 Labor and Delivery Nursing Route

01:06:08 Best Tip Attend Births

01:09:23 Wrap Up and Resources

————

Get Your Copy of Training for Two on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VOTdwH

📧 Download our free birth prep circuit guide with six exercises to prepare your body for birth: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit/

Prepare for your birth with MamasteFit:

💻 Online Childbirth Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Online Prenatal Fitness Programming

🧘‍♀️ Prepare Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Course

Explore our prep for birth courses: https://mamastefit.com/prenatal-support

3rd Trimester Specific Prep Courses: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/third-trimester/

-------

Freebies to Support Your Postpartum:

📩 Join our free early postpartum recovery course: https://mamastefit.com/freebies/early-postpartum-recovery/

—-

Recover after birth and return to fitness with MamasteFit: https://mamastefit.com/fitness-programs/postpartum/

💻 Postpartum Education Courses

🏋🏻‍♀️ Postpartum Fitness Programs

——

Follow Us on IG at https://instagram.com/mamastefit

On this episode of The MamasteFit Podcast: Birth Stories, Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) interview Destiny about her two births. Her first ending with an unplanned C-section in 2024 after laboring to 10 cm, pushing 1.5 hours, spiking a fever with concern for infection, and baby’s sustained high heart rate. Her second, a much faster VBAC just three weeks ago! For baby #2, Destiny had planned a repeat C-section because he was breech for weeks—until a last-minute ultrasound showed he’d flipped head-down, leading to a TOLAC with Pitocin, lots of movement (wireless monitors!), sudden transition, and a 15-minute unmedicated push. She shares postpartum comparisons, the importance of understanding why a C-section happened, limiting room “spectators,” and that unmedicated stitches plus a 45-minute intern tutorial is not the vibe.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:39 Meet The Hosts01:30 Destiny Joins01:41 First Birth Prep02:39 Late Pregnancy Recap04:13 Labor Begins05:18 Admitted And Monitored07:53 Epidural And Slowdown09:45 Pushing And C Section Call15:12 Recovery And Anxiety15:51 Second Birth Goals16:24 Breech Surprise Flip19:11 Tolac Induction Starts21:27 Pitocin And Hospital Checks22:22 Pitocin Starts Slow23:12 Hip Opening Moves24:17 Supportive Care Team25:27 Station Zero Progress27:49 Epidural Decision Talk28:58 Transition Hits Hard30:18 Chaotic Rapid Delivery34:11 Postpartum Recovery Win35:33 Advice After C Section38:41 Fast Labor Lessons40:58 Sutures and Boundaries42:31 Wrap Up and Resources____________🎉 Grab Your Copy of Training for Two → https://amzn.to/3VOTdwHYour go-to guide for prenatal fitness, birth prep, and postpartum recovery.👇 Start Preparing for Birth Today📥 Download our free Birth Prep Circuit Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit📥 Grab our free Pelvic Floor Prep Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-your-pelvic-floor-for-labor/Learn how to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor to support a smoother labor and pushing phase.💻 Explore Our Online Programs:Whether you're pregnant or postpartum—we’ve got you covered with expert-led fitness and education:🏋🏻‍♀️ Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Programs🎓 Childbirth + Postpartum Education Courses→ https://mamastefit.com🤱 Just Had a Baby?📥 Grab our free Postpartum Core Workouts → https://mamastefit.kit.com/coreStart reconnecting with your core and feeling strong again—safely and confidently.———📲 Follow Us on Instagram for Daily Tips + BTShttps://instagram.com/mamastefit———✨ Shop Our Favorites:⚡️ Electrolytes we love → https://drinklmnt.com/mamaste🌿 Supplements we trust – 20% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://thisisneeded.com/ginaandroxanne👖 Maternity clothing we actually wear – 10% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://rstr.co/lovesteady/3500