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12. Hoping for an Unmedicated Birth? Listen to This Before You Decide | Holistic Doula Sarah Malka Malik-Foster

Season #1

Unmedicated birth after epidurals | acupressure and reflexology for labor | home birth and water birth myths | holistic doula advice

Can acupressure and reflexology help you go into labor? Is home birth safe? And what makes an unmedicated birth possible, even after epidurals with every baby before?

Holistic doula Sarah Malka Malik-Foster joins Toby on the Gentle Beginnings Podcast to answer all of it.

Sarah Malka's path into birth work began about thirty years ago with two C-sections she now knows didn't need to happen. Today she's a mom of three, a stepmother of eight, and a holistic doula, Chinese medicine practitioner, reflexologist, sound healer and Reiki master with more than a decade of experience.

For the last seven years she's worked mostly with pregnancy, labor and postpartum, in English and Spanish. She explains what qi, acupressure and reflexology actually are, and why she thinks of them as inviting your baby rather than forcing labor. She shares her rule about not starting natural induction techniques before 40 weeks, why she doesn't love the term "comfort measures," and the biggest misconceptions about home birth and water birth. And she tells the stories of moms who went unmedicated after several epidural births, including a reframe of the ring of fire that gave Toby chills.

Whether you're planning a hospital birth, a home birth, an epidural or an unmedicated birth, this conversation is about choosing your birth from knowledge, not fear.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial

ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Can acupressure or reflexology help start labor? Sarah Malka uses them to help "invite" labor when a mom is ready, often by helping her release fears that are holding her back. She asks doulas not to start these techniques before 40 weeks, since pushing too early can lead to prodromal labor. 
  • Is home birth safe? For low-risk moms with a qualified midwife and a clear transfer plan, many families choose home birth. Midwives transfer at the first "yellow flag," before anything becomes urgent. The most important thing is to birth where you feel safe. 
  • Is a water birth the same as a home birth? No. Many moms who birth at home never get in the water, and some hospitals offer birth tubs. 
  • Can I have an unmedicated birth if I had epidurals before? Many moms do. Sarah Malka shares stories of moms who had three or four epidural births and then went unmedicated. It takes physical, mental and spiritual preparation, and an epidural is always a valid choice. This episode is for educational purposes and isn't medical advice. Talk to your provider about what's right for you and your pregnancy.

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: 

  • How traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure and reflexology can support pregnancy, labor and postpartum 
  • Home birth and water birth myths, and why feeling safe shapes how labor unfolds 
  • Preparing for an unmedicated birth with breath, presence, faith and a supportive team

CONNECT WITH SARAH MALKA: ā€¢

  • Instagram: @SarahMalkaFoster_HolisticDoula 
  • Email: [email protected] 
  • Phone: 305-206-6920 (English and Spanish)

CONNECT WITH TOBY: 

  • Follow Toby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/gentlebeginningsofficial/ 
  • Website: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/ 

Need support? Here are a few resources: 

About Toby:

Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.