Birthing Instincts

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny joins Blyss and Dr. Stu for a wide-ranging conversation about vaccines, pregnancy, medical freedom, informed consent, institutional trust, and what it means to question the systems we’ve been taught to rely on.
Blyss asks an important question for parents and birth workers: when major medical organizations say there are enormous amounts of data supporting recommendations during pregnancy, how is the average person supposed to evaluate those claims? 
Stu and Sherri also challenge the influence professional medical organizations have on hospital policy and discuss what happens when recommendations become protocols, sometimes without the kind of long-term or downstream outcomes they believe should be considered.
But underneath all of these topics is a bigger conversation: How do we think for ourselves without simply replacing one authority with another?
And that brings Blyss and Stu back to something they talk about often: we need each other, our community. Whether you agree with every perspective in this episode or find yourself questioning some of it, the invitation is the same, stay curious, look deeper, ask for the evidence, and make informed decisions for yourself and your family.

About Dr. Sherri Tenpenny:
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny is a globally recognized leader in exposing vaccine dangers and medical corruption. With over 50,000 hours of research spanning more than 25 years, she was one of the first medical professionals to sound the alarm on vaccine risks, paving the way for many of today’s voices in the medical freedom movement. Her relentless dedication to uncovering the truth behind public health policies, pharmaceutical influence, and vaccine-related injuries has made her one of the most sought-after educators and speakers in the field.
Dr. Tenpenny began her career as an emergency room physician and served as Director of a Level II Trauma Center for 12 years, where she gained firsthand experience in critical care and the failures of conventional medicine. Realizing the limitations of the mainstream medical system, she founded Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center near Cleveland, Ohio, where she helped thousands of patients from all 50 states and more than 20 countries achieve true wellness through natural, holistic approaches.
She was also one of the first doctors in the world to warn about the dangers of the COVID-19 shots. In April 2021, she released the groundbreaking ebook and webinar, “The 20 Mechanisms of Injury,” detailing how the shots could cause widespread harm. By July 2021, she expanded her research with “20 MORE Mechanisms of Injury,” further exposing the devastating effects of these experimental injections. Her work provided early, critical insights into the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 jab, helping countless people make informed choices—insights that other media sources slowly began to acknowledge long after her early dire warnings.
A dynamic speaker, prolific writer, and fearless advocate, Dr. Tenpenny has appeared on countless media platforms, challenging the medical establishment and exposing the systemic deceptions behind vaccines, public health mandates, and Big Pharma’s unchecked power. She continues to educate, empower, and fight for medical freedom, making her one of the most influential and unwavering voices in the movement today."
Instagram: @realdrsherritenpenny and @busydrt
Website: DrTenpenny.com, Shoptenpenny.net, Vcourses.drtenpenny.com, primemembership.drtenpenny.com
Substack: drtenpenny.substack.com, 
Podcast: The Tenpenny Files Podcasts
Published Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sherri%2Btenpenny&crid=1QNWOKPFHKB8X&sprefix=sherri%2Btenpenn%2Caps%2C241&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Vax App: drtenpenny.com/vaxapp/

References:

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training
https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo

NAET Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques
naet.com

Thyroid Function Throughout Pregnancy in Women With Subclinical Hypothyroidism or Hypothyroxinemia
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006373

A Quality-Improvement Study Evaluating Three Postpartum Prophylactic Oxytocin Rates and Blood Loss After Vaginal Birth
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006355

High-Dose Oxytocin Protocol Implementation and Postpartum Hemorrhage
ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000006351

Vaccines and the Diseases They Target: An Analysis of Vaccine Safety and Epidemiology (The Silver Booklet)
physiciansforinformedconsent.org/silver-booklet/

Book: Tylenol and Autism: Evidence, Scientific Blunders, and Medicine Gone Wrong

Book: Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory

Discussed in This Episode
Pregnancy and vaccine recommendations
What “safe and effective” actually means, and what evidence should support those words
Preparing for newborn medical decisions before labor
Grandparents, Pertussis & the Newborn Bubble
Combination vaccines and the questions parents should be asking
Why asking questions may be more effective than arguing facts
The importance of community when your choices fall outside the mainstream
Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome
Breast implant illness
“Turbo Cancer” & COVID Claims
How professional medical organizations influence hospital policy
Scientific research, peer review, and fabricated AI citations
Why Sherri believes being a “seed sower” matters

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Subscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What if the way we enter the world has consequences that reach far beyond the day we're born?
This week, Blyss and Stu dive into “Microbirth”, the 2014 documentary exploring the human microbiome and what happens during the extraordinary biological transition of birth. From exposure to maternal bacteria during vaginal birth to skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, antibiotics, cesarean delivery, and the hormonal physiology of labor.
At the heart of the conversation is a much bigger question: When we intervene in birth, are we considering only the immediate outcome, or the ripple effects that may follow a baby for years, and perhaps even generations?
Because birth isn't simply the moment a baby arrives. It may be one of the most important biological programming events of our lives.
Listen now and join us as we ask: How much does the way we birth really matter?

References:
Microbirth Film
https://play.xumo.com/free-movies/microbirth/XM0KT28KHM1VCA

Do Antibiotics Given to Pregnant Women Harm the Baby's Brain? By Jennifer Margulis
https://jennifermargulis.substack.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=192562195

Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.13601

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Intentional Birth Pro Advocacy Training
https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/HUkqrEuo

Discussed in This Episode
Microbirth documentary
Humans as Living Ecosystems
What Happens to the Microbiome During Birth?
Ripple Effects of Antibiotics
The Incredible Biology of Breast Milk
The Gut-Brain Axis
What Is Vaginal Seeding?
Does Too Much Protection Hurt the Microbiome?

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com
Subscribe to podcast newsletter: birthinginstinctsp.wixforms.com/f/7498520437421245447

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Thyroid health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pregnancy, but thyroid hormones play an important role in both maternal health and fetal development, especially during those early weeks when baby is relying on mom's thyroid hormones.
This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into thyroid disease in pregnancy. Stu breaks down the basics of how the thyroid works, the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's versus Graves' disease, and what TSH, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies can actually tell us. They look at the potential pregnancy risks associated with overt thyroid disease, why subclinical disease is a very different conversation, and why pregnancy itself can change thyroid lab values.
Together they answer the question, should every pregnant woman have her thyroid screened? And discuss how testing itself can sometimes set off an unnecessary cascade of referrals, surveillance, and intervention.
This one gets into the weeds, but it's an episode worth saving as a resource for pregnant families, birth workers, and anyone navigating thyroid disease during the childbearing years.

References:
Reclaiming Birth Gathering
reclaimingbirthconference.com/

 Birth and Birth Psychology Congress in Istanbul, Turkey
Instagram: @birthandbirthpsychology
Website: dogumicinelele.org/

Birthing Instincts Podcast Patreon
Patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast

Open Evidence Links
https://www.openevidence.com/ask/04b52887-1c7f-423d-aeb4-7d28376e225a

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy
www.ovid.com/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003893

Maternal thyroid function during gestation is related to breech presentation at term
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19832853/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Discussed in This Episode
Thyroid 101: TSH, T3, T4 & How It All Works
Hashimoto's vs. Graves' Disease
Why Thyroid Hormones Matter for Fetal Development
Thyroid Disease & Pregnancy Risks: What Do the Numbers Actually Mean?
Should Everyone Be Screened During Pregnancy?
How Pregnancy Changes Thyroid Labs
Hypothyroidism: When Pregnancy Symptoms Look Like Thyroid Symptoms
Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Does It Need Treatment?
What Thyroid Labs Should Actually Be Ordered?
Treating Overt Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
Hyperemesis and Thyroid Changes

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Blyss and Stu run the gamut, from joy and grief to frustration, research, and a whole lot of questions about who really gets to decide what “safe” birth looks like.
After sharing personal updates and a moving remembrance of Dr. Rob Biter, Blyss and Stu turn their attention to autonomy in birth. They discuss a mother struggling to find a midwife willing to truly meet her where she is, the ongoing fight over traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania, and what happens when regulation and institutional standards begin limiting the choices available to birthing families.
Then, Dr. Stu dives into new research examining oxytocin (Pitocin), TOLAC, and uterine rupture. What does the research actually tell us about uterine rupture when Pitocin is used during a VBAC? How much does the risk change compared with spontaneous labor? Does a higher dose matter? And perhaps most importantly, are we paying enough attention when a laboring body, or the woman herself, is telling us something isn't right?
Blyss brings the midwifery perspective to the data, questioning directed pushing, prolonged augmentation, hospital timelines, and what can happen when physiology is pushed rather than supported. Together, she and Stu unpack the difference between relative risk and absolute risk, how the same research can be used to either support or discourage VBAC, and why informed decision-making requires more than simply being told what the “standard of care” recommends.

References:
Reclaiming Birth Gathering
reclaimingbirthconference.com/

Allowed to Birth Ashland Screening
birthinginstincts.com/events/allowed-to-birth

Inquirer Article: Why Pennsylvania quietly repealed its 1929 midwifery law — and is now getting sued for it
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/midwives-pennsylvania-budget-law-20260804.html

PubMed study: Maximum Oxytocin Dose and Uterine Rupture During Trial of Labor After Cesarean
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41325062/

Discussed in This Episode
Remembering Dr. Rob Biter and his contributions to physiologic birth
What’s happening with traditional midwifery in Pennsylvania
How regulation can indirectly restrict access to home birth
Newest Research on Pitocin use during TOLAC
Uterine rupture rates with spontaneous labor vs. oxytocin exposure
Relative risk vs. absolute risk when counseling families
Why increased Pitocin doses may be telling us something about the labor itself
Directed pushing, augmentation, and listening to the body
How confirmation bias influences the way research gets interpreted

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when the medical record doesn't match the birth experience?
This week, Blyss and Stu dive into one of the most uncomfortable, but critically important topics in maternity care: documentation, informed consent, and the ways language can shape a family's entire birth experience.
Using real-world examples, published legal cases, hospital consent forms, and an anonymous patient story, they examine how documentation can influence clinical decisions, legal outcomes, and patient autonomy. They discuss the difference between genuine informed consent and liability-driven documentation, why wording matters, and how routine practices can become normalized before parents even realize they have options.
Whether you plan to birth at home, in a birth center, or in the hospital, understanding how consent, documentation, and communication intersect can help you become a more informed participant in your own care.

References:
Girls Who Know: girlswhoknow.com (code instincts for 15% off)
Case Law Update: Gawthrop v Bendigo Health [2026] VSC 157
https://bravelegal.com.au/gawthrop-v-bendigo-health-vaginal-examination/
Melissa Philippe Facebook Post
The Doula Group on Facebook
Johns Hopkins: Delivering Your Baby
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/delivery

Discussed in This Episode
What true informed consent should look like
How documentation can influence legal and medical narratives
The difference between physiologic birth and procedure-based birth education
Why coercive language matters
A court ruling that recognized non-consensual vaginal exams as assault.
How fear-based counseling can affect birth decisions
Why birth education before labor is more important than ever

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
LMNT | Got to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
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 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@wovenmoon_
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: birthinginstinctspodcast@gmail.com
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands