What really happens behind the curtain of a hospital birth? In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, Deb sits down with Dr. Amber Warmsley, a board-certified OB/GYN and childbirth educator, to explore the realities of hospital-based maternity care and how expectant parents can navigate their birth experience with confidence, clarity, and a sense of agency. Together, they unpack the differences between the medical model of care and the physiologic model of birth, highlighting the strengths and limitations of hospital systems and the ways policies, staffing, liability, and institutional culture can shape the care families receive.
At the heart of this conversation is the importance of shared decision-making, respectful communication, and collaboration between birth workers and medical teams. Dr. Warmsley offers practical insights into how parents can identify and communicate their birth values, participate actively in decisions during labor, and build a birth team that supports their choices. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital birth, working as a doula, teaching prenatal yoga, or supporting families through childbirth education, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating differences, reducing tension, and keeping the birthing person’s needs at the center of care.
In this episode we discuss:
- The medical model of care versus the physiologic and midwifery models of birth
- The strengths and challenges of hospital-based maternity care
- How hospital policies, staffing, and institutional culture influence birth experiences
- What shared decision-making looks like in practice
- How expectant parents can communicate their values and preferences
- The role of doulas, prenatal yoga teachers, and childbirth educators in supporting informed choice
- Building trust and collaboration between birth workers and medical providers
- Practical strategies for respectful communication and advocacy during labor
About Dr. Warmsley:
Dr. Amber Warmsley is a board-certified OB/GYN with 18 years of experience, a childbirth educator, wife, and mother of three. A California native now living in Maryland, she is a global traveler and passionate advocate for respectful, shared decision-making in maternity care. Having chosen midwifery-supported home births for two of her three children, Dr. Warmsley brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work supporting birth choices and improving collaboration between birth workers and medical teams.
Connect with Dr. Warmsley:
www.butterfly-births.com
This episode is brought to you by beYogi offering professional liability insurance designed specifically for yoga teachers and wellness professionals. Whether you’re already teaching or just beginning your teacher training, beYogi helps protect you so you can focus on supporting your students. Yoga Birth Babies listeners receive $20 off an exclusive professional insurance membership. Visit beYogi.com/yogabirthbabies (https://beyogi.com/yogabirthbabies) to claim your discount.
Check out similar Yoga| Birth| Babies episodes:
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Instagram, Tik Tok, & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
