Stop Writing a Birth Plan? Ayurvedic Doctor Reveals What Actually Matters in Labour | Dr. VJ Murthy

Why do we spend more time planning the nursery than preparing for labour? In this episode, I sit down with Ayurvedic doctor, naturopath and functional medicine clinician Dr VJ Murthy, who has supported thousands of women through pregnancy and birth. At seven months pregnant with my first baby, I came into this conversation wanting to know the benefits of unmedicated birth, and left realising I’d been asking the wrong question. We unpack why birth has never been safer yet feels scarier than ever, what hypnobirthing really is, why your partner should never try to “rescue” you, and why a woman who gives birth is a superstar, epidural or not. We talk about: Why we’re more afraid of birth than ever, and the role of social media Why motherhood is a learned skill, not an instinct Hypnobirthing explained, and how to feel safe and ready for labour Simple breathing and grounding techniques to calm your nervous system Why birth isn’t a performance, and the pressure to “bounce back” What a birth plan really is, and why it’s overrated How partners can support you without panicking Epidural vs unmedicated birth: the real benefits and drawbacks How your pelvis shape can affect birth Ayurvedic pregnancy foods, from ghee to eating dates from 36 weeks If you’ve ever felt scared of giving birth, or pressure to do it the “right” way, this episode is your reminder that there’s no right option, only feeling supported and empowered. Make sure you’re subscribed and have notifications on so you never miss an episode.

If you're ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to shopify.com  to start your free trial. Follow Dr VJ Murthy: AD: [Sponsor block, if applicable] #AMillennialMind #Hypnobirthing #PregnancyJourney Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:04 Why do we plan the nursery but not the labour? 1:59 Welcome Dr VJ Murthy 4:33 Why are we so afraid of birth? 5:30 Losing the wisdom of experienced women 7:08 Hiding a pregnancy from the algorithm 10:08 Preparing your mind vs your body for birth 12:09 What is unmedicated birth? 13:38 Hypnobirthing explained 14:48 How to feel safe and ready for birth 17:24 Building your birth support system 18:34 Why your breath matters more than the nursery 19:52 Grounding techniques to calm anxiety 21:31 The humming breath that soothes stress 24:03 Trusting “I am safe” and the diving reflex 25:52 Ayurvedic self-oil massage in pregnancy 29:23 Pregnancy hormones and letting go 30:31 Why birth isn’t a performance 32:28 Birth boundaries and visitors 33:39 What is a birth plan, really? 34:59 Partners: be present, don’t rescue 36:43 The woman whose hand he held for 8 hours 40:37 Making the epidural decision with agency 42:52 First baby nerves and the pain relief safety net 44:17 It’s not the method, it’s the support 44:48 What Ayurveda really says about birth 46:58 The benefits of vaginal birth 50:25 Epidural: benefits and drawbacks 53:27 Every woman who gives birth is a superstar 54:50 Does your pelvis shape affect birth? 59:05 Pilates, pelvic floor and breath 1:00:43 Natural ways to boost oxytocin 1:02:03 Eating dates from 36 weeks 1:03:10 The best foods for each trimester 1:07:45 Foods to avoid in pregnancy 1:10:09 Golden milk and sesame laddus 1:13:45 Quickfire round 1:15:05 You never go back to who you were 1:15:41 One message for every mother 1:17:58 Next week’s episode 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on mental health, personal growth, and healing! / @shivanipaupodcast ✨ Connect with Millennial Mind ✨ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amillennialmind Shivani Pau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivani.pau Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/shivanipaupodcast Performance Planner: https://my-performance-planner.myshopify.com/ Let Me Change Your Mind 🧠 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on mental health, personal growth, and healing! / @shivanipaupodcast ✨ Connect with Millennial Mind ✨ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amillennialmind Shivani Pau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivani.pau Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/shivanipaupodcast Performance Planner: https://my-performance-planner.myshopify.com/ Let Me Change Your Mind 🧠

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