#16: Informed choice, consent, and taking responsibility for your birth – with midwife Silja Seppänen

In today’s episode I’m bringing you my conversation with Silja Seppänen, a midwife and childbirth educator. Silja discovered her passion for midwifery when she was just 9 years old and living in Kenya with her family. Our conversation today will take a deeper look into the topic of informed choice and informed consent of the birther and everything that comes Read more…

#15: Parent-infant bonding support as a public service – with psychologist Mirjam Solomon

On today’s episode I’m chatting with Mirjam Solomon. Mirjam is a psychologist who has spent the last 6 years working in Terapeuttinen vauvaperhetyö which is a public service provided by the city municipality. Mirjam specializes in psychological therapy that helps parents who feel that they are struggling to build a bond with the baby in pregnancy and or afterwards. In Read more…

#14: Emotional vulnerability for men and fathers – a non-violent approach for communication with Giuliano Valentini

On today’s episode I’m chatting with Giuliano Valentini about communication and vulnerability. Giuliano facilitates a peer support group and a workshop through the organization Mielen Portti. The peer group is called “Men Talk” and is a safe space for men to openly discuss their struggles, and the workshop is called “Communication Talk” and is centered around non-violent communication. In this episode Read more…

#13: Birth as a sexual experience with sex therapist Anna-Riitta Kässi

On today’s episode you will meet Anna-Riitta Kässi, a doula, owner of Doula Akatemia a center for doula training, as well as a sex educator and therapist. Our conversation focused on the topic of sex and sexuality along the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Anna-Riitta goes into the sensitivities around sex and intimacy at each of these very different Read more…

#11: The energetic experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with Brenda Miquiztli

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Brenda Miquiztli. When I asked Brenda how she would describe herself, she said “medicine woman”. In the first part of the episode you’ll hear what this means to Brenda and why she chose this description. Brenda grew up in Mexico surrounded by natural remedies, witnessing the traditional care women receive especially in pregnancy Read more…

#09: A supportive community of foreign mothers – “Neighborhood Mothers” with Anna Lenkewitz

Today I’m excited to share with you my conversation with Anna Lenkewitz who is the area coordinator for the Neighborhood Mothers activities in Helsinki. Neighborhood Mothers is part of Nicehearts ry and it provides a platform for and with women of migrant backgrounds to initiate community activities, to share knowledge in Finnish or the participant’s own mother tongue, as well Read more…

#08: Overcoming breastfeeding challenges using baby massage and reflexology with Laura Merivirta

On today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Laura Merivirta about breastfeeding, baby massage, and reflexology. Laura owns a private neuvola practice where she sees babies as well as helps with breastfeeding challenges, gives baby massages, and treats with reflexology. Laura is a qualified IBCLC which stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This means that Read more…

#07: Menstrual awareness for fertility and beyond with Carmen Lorenzana

Today I’m sharing with you my really amazing conversation with Carmen Lorenzana, a menstrual educator and coach working on fertility awareness, menstrual tracking, and more! Carmen goes into the basics of fertility, when are we fertile, how can we notice it in our body, how can we use this knowledge as natural contraception, how can the knowledge of your body Read more…