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Artwork for Born to be Wild the podcast

Born to be Wild the podcast

Born to be Wild.pt
Home Birth
Portugal
Midwifery
Postpartum Care
Midwives
Mother Assisted Cesarean (MAC)
Premature Birth
Preeclampsia
Doulas
Hospital Transfer
Woman-Centered Care
Maternity Care
Maternity Care In the Netherlands
Santa Maria, Portugal
Birth
Cesarean Section
Matrescence
Nervous System
Perinatal Therapy
Self-Care

Every second, somewhere in the world, a woman gives birth. And in Portugal, she often does it in a system that was never really built around her.

We are Aviva Markowicz and Irene Jaspers. Aviva is a women's care activist building a birth center in Lisbon. Irene is a doula on the Azores island of Santa Maria. Together we have spent the past years talking to midwives, doulas, activists, doctors, and... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes14Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingHealth & FitnessKids & Family

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Artwork for Born to be Wild the podcast

Latest Episodes

Yes, we're talking to a couple again today! Meet Giulia and Charles.

Giulia's first birth in Paris had one tool: a bathtub. When that was taken away, she had nothing left.

Her second birth, at home in Ericeira, was different. She had movement, hyp... more

Did you know that having the same person support you through your entire pregnancy, birth and postpartum dramatically reduces the need for interventions? Fewer C-sections, less medication, shorter labour. Not because of a medical procedure, but becau... more

You deserve a village. But in Portugal, finding the right people around you during pregnancy and birth can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start?

In this episode, Aviva shares what she wished she had known when she was pregnant in Portugal, and... more

Mara never planned to become a mother. At thirty she was living in New York, chasing her career, with motherhood nowhere on her radar.

Then her partner gifted her something she never asked for: egg freezing. The morning after the procedure, he still... more

Isabel had a plan. Home birth, the right midwife, months of preparation....

Then, at 36 weeks, pre-eclampsia changed everything.

What she did next is what makes this story so powerful. Because even inside that hospital, Isabel stayed in charge. Sh... more

Sara Arruda is a nurse, a midwife, a health coach, and the author of Cuida-te. She is also a mother of three boys. All three born premature. And all three completely different births.

Her first started with a helicopter evacuation at 26 weeks. She w... more

There is a word that most women have never heard. But the moment they do, something shifts.

The word is matrescence.

It describes the complete transformation a woman goes through when she becomes a mother. Not just physically. but also eurological... more

Rita always knew she wanted to become a mother. What she didn't know was how long that road would be, or how many times she would have to start over.

Three miscarriages. IVF, alone, in a foreign country. A premature birth that left her with joy and ... more

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Recent Guests

Mara Liz
Mother and birth story guest, originally from Puerto Rico
Independent, lives in Lisbon
Episode: 11 | [birth story] Mara Liz - frozen eggs, an Uber discovery, and motherhood at 45
Sara Arruda
Nurse, midwife, health coach, and mother of three boys
Self-described professional in maternal health
Episode: 9 | Sara Arruda - three premature births, from trauma to empowerment, self-care as a radical act
Hannah Staunton
Somatic and yoga psychotherapist specializing in perinatal therapy
Private practice; perinatal therapy in Portugal/UK
Episode: 8 | Hannah Staunton - matrescence, the word that changes everything about motherhood
Filipa Piedade
Midwife and former hospital nurse
Independent midwife in Portugal
Episode: 6 | Filipa Piedade - midwife, her own traumatic birth, changing the system from within
Raquel Cajão
Midwife, expert in home births in Portugal
Independent midwife / home birth practice
Episode: 5 | Raquel Cajão - midwife, the art of doing nothing at birth
Irene Jaspers
A doula based in the Azores, invited guest for this episode
Azores birth community
Episode: 4 | [birth story] Irene - a hospital fire, an unplanned homebirth, trusting your body
Koen Deurloo
Obstetric gynecologist, advocate for women-centered care and MAC
Dier Ziekenhuis Utrecht (Netherlands)
Episode: 3 | Koen Deurloo - obstetrician, MAC pioneer, what it really means to put women at the centre
Sara do Vale
Doula founder and outspoken advocate for respectful childbirth in Portugal
Portuguese Birthrights Association (co-founder)
Episode: 2 | Sara do Vale - doula, birth activist, what they (don’t) tell you about giving birth in Portugal

Hosts

Aviva Markowicz
Host of the show; women's care activist; working to reshape maternity care in Portugal.
Irene Jaspers
Co-host; a doula based in the Azores; supports women in reclaiming power and voice in birth.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

3 | Koen Deurloo - obstetrician, MAC pioneer, what it really means to put women at the centre
Q: How do you handle patient autonomy when it conflicts with standard medical guidelines?
He explains that guidelines are not to be followed rigidly; care should incorporate the woman's preferences, quality of life, and personal risk tolerance. When a patient says no, the clinician should explore the reasons, ask why, and adapt the plan to support informed, shared decision-making.
3 | Koen Deurloo - obstetrician, MAC pioneer, what it really means to put women at the centre
Q: What inspired you to pursue MAC and how did you start implementing it?
Koen describes a traumatized patient who wished to guide her baby out during a cesarean, a request that sparked curiosity. He and colleagues experimented in the OR with a doll, then gradually refined the technique, documenting safety and benefits through data while engaging nurses and obstetric staff to support the new approach.
8 | Hannah Staunton - matrescence, the word that changes everything about motherhood
Q: How do you approach nervous system regulation in your work with new mothers?
Start with grounding and orienting, use slow, deliberate techniques like eye movements to reset the nervous system, and teach mothers to hold both intense emotions and the possibility of returning to baseline, thereby increasing their capacity to experience and recover from stress.
8 | Hannah Staunton - matrescence, the word that changes everything about motherhood
Q: What practical steps can first-time mothers take to prepare for postpartum?
Work on subconscious beliefs about birth and motherhood before birth, plan for postpartum support with attuned care (midwives, doulas, or therapists), involve a supportive partner, and build rituals that acknowledge the emotional and spiritual dimensions of birth and postnatal recovery.
8 | Hannah Staunton - matrescence, the word that changes everything about motherhood
Q: Why is birth trauma often unrecognized, and what should healthcare providers do differently?
Birth trauma is under-acknowledged because doctors may focus on the baby and physical outcomes, not the mother's subjective experience. Recognizing and validating birth experiences, assessing support systems, and providing attuned postnatal care can prevent long-lasting impacts.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Born to be Wild the podcast

What is Born to be Wild the podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on birth, maternity care, and women's autonomy, with a strong focus on Portugal's birth culture and the systems surrounding pregnancy and delivery. Through candid conversations with clinicians, midwives, doulas, activists, and parents, episodes explore informed choice, respectful care, and practical strategies for navigating a healthcare landscape that often feels over-medicalized or under-supported. Recent topics highlight home births, midwifery-led care, the ethics of intervention, and innovative approaches like MAC (Mother Assisted Cesarean) aimed at centering the birthing person's needs and preferences. A notable strength is the emphasis on personal stories, actionable guidance, and system-level critique from practition... more

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Born to be Wild the podcast launched 4 months ago and published 14 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Born to be Wild the podcast?

Recent guests on Born to be Wild the podcast include:

1. Mara Liz
2. Sara Arruda
3. Hannah Staunton
4. Filipa Piedade
5. Raquel Cajão
6. Irene Jaspers
7. Koen Deurloo
8. Sara do Vale

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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