From Courtroom to Delivery Room: How to Prepare for Childbirth - SE3EP8 - Gina Mundy

Gina is not your average attorney; she specialises in childbirth cases, offering insights that extend from the courtroom to the delivery room. But that's not all—Gina is also a bestselling author who's shifting the narrative from being reactive to proactive in childbirth. Her groundbreaking book serves as a comprehensive guide for expectant parents, covering everything from the essential labor and delivery lingo, to selecting the right healthcare team, to monitoring your baby's well-being during labour. Don't miss this episode if you're looking for actionable insights that can help you prepare for one of life's most transformative experiences.
Connect with Gina Mundy
https://ginamundy.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9KFNPNQ/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687943679&sr=8-1
Sponsored by Skill Samurai - Coding, Maths and STEM Academy www.skillsamurai.com.au 

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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to the Parenting in the Digital Age podcast. Many parents are concerned that their child might be falling behind. Others are just looking for ways to help their children thrive, not just in the classroom, but socially and well into their future careers. Each episode we explore the challenges facing parents in the modern world, from behavior, education, and nutrition to device and gaming addiction. We interview a range of leaders in the area of childhood development to help you successfully navigate parenting in the digital age. Here is your host, Jamie Buttigieg.

Jamie:
Welcome to Parenting in the Digital Age, the podcast where we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of raising children in today's fast-paced, tech-driven world. Each episode features conversations with experts and thought leaders who provide actionable insights and practical guidance for navigating life as modern parents. Today we have an absolutely extraordinary guest with us, Gina Mundy. Gina is an attorney, but not just any attorney. She's one who specialises in childbirth cases. providing invaluable insights that go beyond the courtroom and into the delivery room. She's also a best-selling author of a groundbreaking book that shifts the narrative from reactive to proactive. Aimed at parents-to-be, her book is a guide on how to navigate the myriad of decisions during labour and delivery. You'll learn the jargon you absolutely need to know, tips for picking your healthcare team and how to ensure your baby is doing well throughout the whole process.
Jamie:
Gina, welcome to the show. Please share with our listeners what you do and what you are passionate about.
Gina Mundy:
Sure. Well, thank you, Jamie, for having me today on your podcast. I'm very excited for our conversation. So I have been a child birth attorney for over 20 years. So these are cases that involve the birth of a baby. And unfortunately something, something happens. Something goes wrong, whether it's a mistake or a complication. And unfortunately it results in baby not being born healthy. that could be a permanent injury to the baby. Sometimes a baby may pass before childbirth or may pass right after childbirth. And in some very sad cases that I've had, moms have passed away. So my job then as the attorney in the cases is to look at the care that mom received during labor and delivery and find out what went wrong and why. And what's probably the most important question, what decisions needed to be made for baby to be born healthy or mom to be around to raise her kid? So those questions have taken me across the United States more than once, just going to different hospital systems and meeting with the doctors and. nurses, pretty much everyone on the delivery team, just hashing out every aspect of labor and delivery, trying to, you know, what happened, why, and there's a lot, probably a lot more to what I do, but that's probably a good overview. So I took that experience and in June of this year, June 2023, I published a book called A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth. So the goal of the book is to is to help parents prepare for childbirth to make sure these mistakes and complications that I have seen for over 20 years don't happen during the birth of their baby so we can make sure they have a healthy baby. So basically, instead of getting involved only in the aftermath of something going wrong, I'm now getting involved before childbirth in hopes of preventing, preventing this from happening because I'll tell you. When something happens that's, you know, especially a preventable mistake, the families are never the same. It's, you know, to lose a child to something like that, I don't know. I've talked to, you know, I have to talk to the families and go through that day with them. And it's definitely as a mom and as a human, probably one of the, no, it's not probably, it is the hardest part of my job. So hopefully, you know, if I can even. I can just even prevent one mistake or anything that it would be worth all of the time and effort because it's just very difficult on the families.
Jamie:
Yeah, and it's certainly what we'll unpack here, but it's quite inspiring, you know, having your, you know, years of attorney experience, you know, kind of on that reactive side of the law and childbirth. Now using all that experience and your knowledge to, you know, publish this book, which is, which will be a lifesaver. It's very proactive and parents should be on that proactive side of labour. So I'll go back a step. What inspired you to get into that part of law?
Gina Mundy:
I stumbled on it. I was going to be a real estate attorney.
Jamie:
Okay.
Gina Mundy:
And they don't teach you about baby law or child birth cases in law school. So basically I just got out of law school and I stumbled on it. I just needed a first job. And it was February 2003 and I got my first case. That was it. You know, I was I was newly married Having kids was on my radar. So when I'm like, whoa, things don't always turn out hunky-dory you know and then I get into this field and I just started learning so much and I just you know almost like I was like obsessed with the medicine and I just wanted to learn and I would read and study and You know just engage with these health care professionals trying to you know, hash out, hash out these cases. So it's, uh, yeah. And they take years. So when I'm saying traveling the country, you know, a typical case in, in my courts and the courts around here, about two years. So this is, you know, each case is about, you know, sometimes up to two years of my life. So
Jamie:
Yeah. And two years of the family's life, you know, that's, they've got to, I mean, they'll carry this with them forever. This, you know, the complication, whether it was the, the child passed or whether it's something else, some of the complication, but it's a, particularly if it's preventable. Let's talk about that for a minute. What are some of the more common mistakes perhaps that you've seen during labor and delivery and maybe how can parents proactively prevent those?
Gina Mundy:
So in my book, that's chapter 11. So I wrote a chapter, the top 10 most common issues or facts in a legal baby case. These are reoccurring issues that every parent needs to know before they go into childbirth. So number one, Pitocin. Pitocin is a drug that induces mom's labor. So it does that by making mom contract. by making mom contract that jump starts her labor. When I get a case in almost all cases, the first thing I read mom is being induced with pitocin. So that's important that families understand that when there are mistakes or complications, most of the time it's when pitocin is being used and with pitocin being used more and more frequently in labors these days. it's important for families to know how to have a safe induction. Because listen, Pitocin scares a baby lawyer like me, but it doesn't scare the doctors and it doesn't scare the nurses and they may, they may recommend it. And if they do, let me tell you, there's certain things that you have to know. So chapter 14 of my book goes through how to have, you know, a safe Pitocin induction. Another common one is a busy labor and delivery unit. So remember, hospitals like a labor and delivery unit, they're not scheduled. So for instance, if you go to a surgery center, you gotta get surgery at 10 o'clock on Tuesday. You know, the hospital's equipped for everybody to get their surgeries at their scheduled time. Childbirth is different, babies come when babies wanna come. And I know around here, there are more busier months that babies come in May, June, and July. And late mornings are super busy. So... But when there's a busy labor and delivery unit, you have a delivery team that's running hard and they're thin and they can't just sit at your bedside and make sure your pitocin induction is going okay. So that's a big one and that is more like another reason you need to prepare for child birth because if you roll in and it's really, really busy, you have to know or the people you're with, your husband, your... your mom or your friend or whoever, they have to have an idea, like be ready for childbirth. So maybe you can work with your delivery team, alert them if something is wrong or off. In the book I talk about at this section, you know, busy labor and delivery and units like you're probably the number two most common fact in a case. And, but I gave an example and it's just heartbreaking. It was a super busy unit in this case. Mom went in, they started the heart rate, the fetal monitor. So the, explain fetal monitor real quick. So your baby is inside you. So it's not, doctors have to use, almost like the heart rate to see how baby's doing. So where, you know, you can look, a doctor can look at a mom and say, ooh, you don't look great. What's wrong? You're swollen or, you know, and then you communicate and you have a discussion and he can do a diagnosis. Baby's different, baby's inside you. and we can't look inside. I mean, there's an ultrasound that's very limiting. So the one way that they, that tells the doctor how baby's doing is the baby's heart rate. Anyway, so on that busy labor and delivery unit, they put the, they started the baby's heart rate and it was kind of concerning. But the doctor who was in a rush, he rushes in, you know, they're, you know, they're reassured enough to leave mom. So we know what, if you think your baby's gonna be fine, the heart rate's going rough, and they're off to the next patient trying to make their rounds, going fast. And when the delivery team was gone, the baby's heart rate stopped graphing. And when the delivery team came back, they're like, oh, we gotta hook you back up to the fetal monitor to see the baby's heart rate, to see how the baby is doing. They couldn't find it. and they brought in the ultrasound and they confirmed that on the labor and delivery unit, the baby passed away. Had the family known the importance of the baby's heart rate, especially when there's a concern like that, that monitor should have been on. And yes, here's the deal, the delivery team, if they would have known, if that monitor was on, or I'm sorry, when that monitor went off, if the family would have gotten the delivery team who could have then picked up that baby was in trouble, they would have been on it. But if they don't know, they don't know. And they didn't. So, you know, when you have a busy unit like that, it's important that you have some knowledge so you can kind of work with your delivery team to make sure that something like that doesn't happen. And then... The other common fact, so there's 10, but I'll just give you three, because I like this one, this was like a aha moment. Because you're staring at these cases, like what is in common with all of these? And some of them are easy, pitocin easy, but this one that I picked up on, so mistakes and complications typically almost all the time occur after mom's water breaks. So baby is nice and comfy. surrounded by the fluid that they've been in for nine months, everything's great, boom, water breaks and baby's environment's changed and that can make baby a little bit more vulnerable to something happening. So once that water breaks, it's very, very important to make sure baby's heart rate's being monitored and that helps, again, detect if baby's getting into any kind of trouble. And listen, I can look at a baby's heart rate and I can tell you if the baby is a rock star or I can tell you a baby struggling. And it's not hard. I don't know. You know, the medical community seems like, you know, this should be left to the professionals. Well, I'm a non-medical person and I've been able to read a baby's heart rate from the minute I looked at it. It's very easy. There's just some basics that if you know, and listen, you don't have to be perfect at reading it. You just have to know what's important about it. So again, if your delivery team's out of the room and something happens, you can alert them or you can have a discussion with them. Or if the delivery team says, hey, the baby's heart rate keeps dropping with contractions, which means usually baby's struggling, then you guys can move forward and try to make some decisions together.
Jamie:
Yeah,
Gina Mundy:
But those
Jamie:
that's...
Gina Mundy:
are probably the top three. But there's this information that, you know, there's, I was on a podcast earlier today and he's like, why is this information just surfacing now? And I'm like, you know, I just don't think a childbirth attorney ever thought to write a book on childbirth, you know? And it was just one of those things where something had happened in my family. It's actually the introduction to the book. And all of a sudden this idea came and, you know, but yeah, so this isn't information you're gonna get in a typical, you know, pregnancy book or anything like that, but this is definitely information that parents need to know. so they can make those good decisions. Because in a lot of these cases, these families are only one decision or mere minutes from a healthy baby. So the importance of decision-making during childbirth, I can't emphasize it enough.
Jamie:
Yeah, decision making and knowledge to a degree too. You talked about the fetal monitor and you've kind of touched on this, but I do have a question here I want to touch on. It's a nice segue. It's how can parents monitor the wellbeing of their baby during labor? So apart from listening for heart rate, are there any other signs or indicators that we should be aware of? Because it's really, I don't know, volatile is the right word, but there's so many emotions and so many things and beeps and bongs going on. There's fear, anxiety, excitement. joy, pain, and that's just dad. I'm just kidding. But what are some of the signs or that both mom, dad, or mom partner can look for during that labor if the medical team is out of the room?
Gina Mundy:
So, I mean, it really is the baby's heart rate. And in my book too, I also go over, there's three different types of machines that can monitor the baby's heart rate. And sometimes when the wrong machine is being used, it's not good. So making sure you have the most accurate way to monitor your baby's heart rate, especially if maybe there's any concerns about the baby, that's probably the biggest thing. And again, that's all covered in the book. But baby, you know, fetal movement is huge. Sometimes when babies are struggling, they stop moving. So almost like they're conserving their oxygen or something. That's the, that's the, that's the macros. So they're conserving their oxygen. So they, they may not move. So, you know, you want to make sure, you know, baby's moving and whatnot. And I know and I'm trying to think of things that parents, I'm telling you, the baby moving and fetal monitoring, it's really it. I mean, it's,
Jamie:
Okay.
Gina Mundy:
and that's why childbirth, you know, I traveled the country, but these, all the doctors have different opinions on childbirth. No one ever agrees. So it's, you know, because baby is not, you know, baby's inside you. So
Jamie:
Yeah.
Gina Mundy:
it's, you know, it's the really forming opinions. based upon their knowledge and experience and whatnot. So yeah, I'll have two different doctors, two different OBGYNs who deliver babies, look at a case and one doctor will literally tell me everything was done perfectly and another doctor will tell me everything was done wrong. So, you know, so it's, you know, and these doctors also have the benefit of hindsight if it's a baby case. So,
Jamie:
Yeah.
Gina Mundy:
but yeah, you know what, it really, it's... The baby moving in its heart rate is just the best way.
Jamie:
Yeah, good. So be informed, ask questions and understand that. Like I'm guilty as a father, you know, in maternity ward with the birth of my own children. I wouldn't have known what the heart rate monitor was telling me. And because,
Gina Mundy:
and
Jamie:
you know, we kind of leave that to the domain of the experts, the medical professionals. And I love your view of saying, you know, as a parent, you can and you should know this stuff and you should be aware of it, because it's something that can potentially prevent disaster. So what advice would you give to a parent now? if they feel their concerns aren't being adequately addressed by the delivery team, like I raise a concern and maybe I get dismissed or maybe it's inefficiency or maybe it's a patronising remark. But, you know, what advice would you give to a parent in that situation?
Gina Mundy:
There's a couple of things. So, okay, your delivery team, keep in mind, is responsible for bringing your baby safely into the world. Okay. In the cases, it's the delivery team's care that is at issue and analyzed more than any other aspect of the case. So keeping that in mind, you want the dream team. And if you have a team that was a bad apple, or even in my book, I call it you know, Bush league to give a really bad like bunch of, you got more than one team member who's not good. You got to say something. So if they're not, if they're dismissive and you don't like them and you are not comfortable, then my book actually then tells you, you know, what to do. For instance, your doctor, if your doctor's not part of the problem, which I hope after nine months you would know if your doctor was a good doctor or not, but you got to remember you. the, your doctor is in a position to drop everything and come to the hospital to deliver the baby. So if you're not comfortable or you're being ignored or whatnot, you need to get your doctor on the phone and, you know, talk to them about it. But another avenue too, is that hospitals typically have a nurse that's in charge, the charge nurse, and the charge nurse can step in too and help you. In the book, So there was like a delivery, you know, there was, well, back up in the book, I talk about a scenario. There was a case where there were two nurses. One nurse had 20 years experience and she was literally born to be a labor and delivery nurse. She was awesome. The other nurse that day at the hospital had just finished training and figured out she hated labor and delivery and was about to quit her job. So that day when the patients walked in, it was luck of the drop. Who got the experienced nurse and who got the unexperienced nurse who hated her job? So listen, here's the deal. Most, like the great nurse and the other nurses know that this new nurse in training is not a good nurse, but they can't do anything. It's usually a hospital system. They don't hire and fire, they just go to work. So if you say something, they can step in and help you, but they can't just stick their head in your door, you know, in the door of your room and say, hey, your nurse socks, let me know if you need a new one. They
Jamie:
Yeah.
Gina Mundy:
can't do that. So you have to say something and they'll, they most likely already know because it's a big hot thing about you have a big institution with a bunch of, they don't do the hiring and the firing. They're just, they're trying to work their, you know, work their shift. And you got to remember. People on your delivery team are typically the people that are scheduled to work that day So again, it's luck of the drive because you know babies come when they want to come so um But that's the delivery team and if you don't like them what to do. I feel like there was another part for that question Or maybe I got it all
Jamie:
I'm pretty sure you covered that. So in your book, Gina, you talk about labor and delivery lingo and that parents need to know this lingo. So can you give me an example? Like I'm a dad that's out of touch. My youngest is 16 years of age. So what lingo should parents be aware of and why is it critical to know?
Gina Mundy:
So, yeah, no, that's a great question. So basically all of the childbirth facts that I rely on as an attorney and reviewing these cases, analyzing these cases, I put what I need to know or what I do know as chapter two of the book that goes through your labor lingo and whatnot. But listen, if you know these terms, you know how this stuff works, you're gonna speak the language of your delivery team. they're gonna be able to communicate with you more effectively. It's gonna be streamlined communication. And it helps you make better decisions, but a labor link, okay. So in the book, and I keep reading this in reviews, which to me it's very second nature, but most people don't understand that when a mom has a contraction, it squeezes the baby, and it basically stops the oxygen to the baby. And listen, babies are made to handle contractions. This is completely normal. However, you know, you get a drug like Pitocin and that makes mom contract and you know, they're turning it up really fast and now mom just keeps contracting a lot. That's just baby going, no oxygen, no oxygen, you know. So. You know, in labor, in the section, we're like, okay, contractions, yes, they're not only hard on mom, but they're also hard on baby. So if you want to know if baby is tolerating their contractions, especially if you're on pitocin, because that's really when it becomes an issue, because it's, you know, they're like, artificial contractions, right? It's not just a natural, it's not your body naturally contracting. But you, so in that chapter, you would learn, okay, to see if baby's handling a contraction. you look at their heart rate. And if their heart rate, so when the contraction goes up and that squeeze, that means the baby's being squeezed, the oxygen stopping. And if their heart rate keeps dropping when that happens, baby is not doing, like baby's not handling the contractions and it can be very subtle and then it can kind of grow and grow and grow. So that's important for parents to know that would be something you could go, or if your delivery team comes in, you guys can have a little discussion about the. um, you know, the heart rate and what's going on. Does the pitosa need to be turned down? Why, you know, you don't just keep letting this happen. Do they take action and either they change the plan or maybe they modify it. But that one is huge. You know, another thing I always liked is one of the first things I learned is the umbilical cord and the placenta are the baby's lifeline. So those are huge. So if that cord becomes compressed, it's just like a hose. So, you know, You've got to, so during labor it's very important that, you know, the placenta stays intact, it's attached to the uterus, you know, just stuff like that. But just understanding the importance of the umbilical cord, you know, and even the placenta is, you know, that's what's giving the baby life. And that becomes super important during the birthing process because that can be tough on babies and that means the placenta and the umbilical cord can be affected. So it's stuff that I know. So this isn't the basics. This isn't the labor and delivery lingo. You're gonna go read another book. This is what the childbirth attorney does.
Jamie:
Yeah, it's a proactive view, but it's a wonderfully different view and a fresh view that parents should all be aware of. So are there interesting question, are there any rights that parents have in the delivery room that they might need to be aware of?
Gina Mundy:
So mom's the decision maker. Like the delivery team, they're technically advisors, like medical advisors. They're advising mom what to do, but mom's the decision maker. They're not doing pitocin, C-section, IV, turning mom. They have to have consent for everything. So basically they make recommendations and mom ultimately makes the decisions. So if you had, so, you know, I'll tell someone that and they'll be like, oh, well, our doctor came in and said we had to have a, you know, a C-section. And I'm like, well, they were technically recommending a C-section. They can't make you have a C-section. You know, but that's a, you know, big, big factor in there. And so, you know, that's why, then sometimes, when you get to the hospital or maybe during labor, you know, they may give you a couple different options. you know, and they may recommend one over the other, but again, it's mom's choice. So it's, you know, that's really, that's one thing I don't think that many moms know. To me, it's very simple because that's what I do, right? That's, but yeah, no, they're the decision-maker. They, that's their body, that's their baby. Now, obviously most patients listen to their doctors, but yeah, that's probably the main thing.
Jamie:
Yeah, yeah. So what are some of the, let's talk law for a minute, what are some of the legal implications that parents should consider if things go wrong during childbirth?
Gina Mundy:
Oh, and something happens to baby or mom.
Jamie:
Yeah, yeah,
Gina Mundy:
Yeah.
Jamie:
like.
Gina Mundy:
So, yeah, I mean, you would probably, unfortunately, want to, you know, you want to find out, you got to reach out to a childbirth, you know, attorney or attorney specializing in these childbirth cases to find out, you know, what's something done wrong? I mean, you know, and listen, I've had cases where, you know, the, the bad outcome, but it's. you know, they didn't do anything. So it's, you know, nature will take its course too. But if there's something that was bad, like a preventable mistake, maybe, you know, something went wrong with the pitocin, then that's something that, you know, you can seek an attorney. And an attorney should be able to look, an experienced attorney, like me, I can look at a case and tell you if it was good or bad care. It's not, he doesn't have to. I don't need a doctor to tell me that. Actually, I retained a doctor and I'm like, I already know your opinions. Because they couldn't talk for a couple of weeks. Then I'm like, it's fine, I already know what you're gonna say. So we'll just don't rush. We'll talk when we can. I already know exactly what you're gonna say. They get irritated with me, but I'm like, I've been working with you guys a long time. I know, and since we do have a lot of the same issues, I already know how they're gonna respond.
Jamie:
Yeah, yeah, very interesting. Let's, we'll change lanes for a minute. Can you talk about the role of fathers or partners during the labor and delivery? What can they do to be an effective support system?
Gina Mundy:
Oh yeah, that's a great question. You're just filled with great questions.
Jamie:
I try, I try.
Gina Mundy:
So that's, so that might be, that'd be chapter seven. So chapter seven, basically it's having a baby advocate. So as mom, you are going to be mentally and physically focusing on delivering baby. You staring at a baby's heart rate, unless you're. like a childbirth attorney, it's not happening. So, you know, you're going to want to be in your moment, concentrating, you know, just working through your contractions. So it's really, really important that you do have a baby advocate. And that could be that could be dad easily. So what Chapter seven does is it goes over the role of a baby advocate. And then at the end, I'm like, okay, this is the five things that are going to overwhelm the new baby advocate. But this is five things that they need to know so they can advocate for baby and you and be that second set of eyes again, which is very important because the delivery team just doesn't stand at your bedside. So them knowing certain information is huge. And then also, let's say, oh, and you know, this was the other part of the question for the delivery team. Let's say. You don't like somebody on your delivery team. Well, you're in labor. So you know what? Make your husband handle it. Call if your mom's there. Mom, you know, soon-to-be-grandmas are the best baby advocates. They're, wow, they're on it. And you know, those expecting grandmas love my book, by the way. Though, I feel sometimes I'm getting more expecting grandmas than the expecting patients, because the grandmas, and you know what? It makes sense because my daughters are 19 and 15 and I wrote this book for really my daughters to make sure I have healthy grandkids. So it doesn't actually, you know, it shouldn't surprise me that the expecting grandmas are reading it because really that's why I wrote it. So yeah.
Jamie:
That's wonderful. OK, so as we round off our podcast today, I've asked a lot and you've certainly given a lot of valuable information. And I know our listeners got a lot of value from. But is there something maybe I should have asked or something that you want to share with our listeners that's really important that I perhaps haven't covered off here today? And I know there's a lot, probably a really broad question. But is there, you know, a takeaway or something you want to share with our listeners?
Gina Mundy:
Yeah, there's a couple other good things. So listen, your doctor is super important. And sometimes when you're newly pregnant and you're like, oh, you're thinking of pregnancy. But listen, the grand finale is childbirth. So it's really important that when you pick your doctor, you're thinking of childbirth because you have to have a good doctor because they're heading your team. So that is huge. So I have analyzed... Doctors who deliver babies for over 20 years. I mean, it's almost creepy. So But I that's my job, right? I have to analyze the doctors analyze their opinions How are they gonna perform in front of a jury? Who you know, how you name it? I've had to just every doctor undergoes a pretty big analysis So I took a lot of what I've learned from that and I wrote a chapter on how to pick a good doctor and then I have like 20 questions that you have to ask your doctor or you should know just to make sure that you and your doctor, you guys are going to be a good fit. So that is super, super important. And then another thing, chapter one, we have talked about, that's the lessons. So these are the lessons from the cases from the families, doctors, delivery teams. But if you understand the lessons in chapter one. That is so important. It's gonna give you an idea of every subject that is really important that you need to know about. So what I did is that is on my website for free. You can download it. You don't even have to give me your email. You know, I know a lot of times it's like, oh, go to my website. Oh, you gotta give me your email. Just, it is so important. And so that's there. And then, you know, that is free for all parents to read, share. Do what you need to do, just so you, that definitely will give you a great starting point. And then with the chapters again, it's just a lot of information in this book that you're just not going to find anywhere else. I'm going through, having a plan is huge. And listen, it's not because you're going to sit and stare at your plan in the middle of childbirth. It's more of the preparation and preparation. preparing for it. So you're ready to pivot if you have to. You're pondering possible decisions in case you have to make one and you're doing it in the comfort of your own home where you can make a phone call, you can call somebody, you can do some research. But it kind of gets you going, you know, the planning process. And, you know, I too, like just preparing for child is so important. It's not, you know, everybody wants to decorate the nursery, buy cute clothes, you know, and I'm like, no, prepare for childbirth. So, but just the act of putting that plan together and starting to think through different processes is absolutely huge. And then we went through, yeah, Baby Advocate Chapter 11, C-sections, most cases end in a C-section. you really want to have an idea of c-sections. And especially if in a lot of these cases during labor, mom will be offered the option of a c-section. And so that's a huge decision and I give examples of you know three completely different cases where you know mom didn't she didn't want her c-section and then something happened. And then another one, mom didn't want the C-section, but the baby's fine. So, and then the doctor recommended and pushed for, in another case, you know, there was the option of a C-section, but she pushed for a natural delivery. That person picked C-section and the doctor ended up thanking her for having a C-section because if she wouldn't have, it could have been very, very bad for the baby. So, you know, it's just a really big decision. So just understanding what that entails, you know, it's just huge. Um, but yeah, the book is just, I mean, I could just go and go and go, but I won't, but definitely, um, again, just heading back to the lessons that I, you know, I laid out and just that, that will just, it's a 20 minute read and I read slow. So most people can probably read it in 15. So you can check it out and, um, You have my website, GinaMonday.com, by the way. I don't know if I said that, but that will definitely just point everybody in the right direction.
Jamie:
Perfect. And that's the free resource on the website. I'll put a link in the show notes so parents can find that. And in terms of getting your book, can they get it through the website? Is it Amazon? Like how do we get a hold of the book? And what, sorry,
Gina Mundy:
Oh,
Jamie:
give
Gina Mundy:
yeah,
Jamie:
us the
Gina Mundy:
so, um...
Jamie:
title of the book as well.
Gina Mundy:
Yeah, so the book's called A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth. And if you go on my website, GinaMundy.com, G-I-N-A-M-U-N-D-Y.com. There's a link to Amazon and then you can just buy it on Amazon. But another really good thing on my website is a childbirth blog that I've started. Because obviously, you know, once you publish a book, you're like, oh, I should have included that. Oh, I should have included that. So instead now I'm like blogging on it. I'm like, okay, Terrence need to know this. You know, how could I leave this out? So it's almost like a continuation of my blog. And it's, you know, it's like a blog. I'm like kind of writing it to my kids. Like, hey, I'm excited to meet my future grandkids one day. Here's the blog I started for you. So, but it has, you know, for instance, the article I just posted yesterday is, and they're just short, but it's like. not in my labor, said the childbirth attorney. And it was a sad case. I was talking to an expert and kind of sparring with the expert a little bit. You're like, I don't think anything that bad. Whatever I was saying. And then he's like, well, Gina, would you allow this to happen in your labor? I'm like, no, that would never happen in my labor because of what I know. And it is what it is. So having the expecting moms kind of adopt that philosophy of not in my labor. And it's not to be confrontational, but it tells you why it's important to be able to say that. And to be able to say that, you need to prepare and know what you're talking about. Otherwise that statement's kind of meaningless. And then it goes like another one was how to make good decisions during pregnancy and childbirth and how to talk through those with your doctor. I really should have had that in the book. I don't know why I... I didn't. So, you know, it's funny that was pre-written and, you know, just the end of a book with publishing and taking in and out and I was like, oh man, this is so good. You know, it's literally, yeah, I may, I don't know, I may try to sneak that in the book somewhere but right now it's on my website under my childbirth blog, how to make literally how to things just how to make good decisions during pregnancy and childbirth. So anyway, so that is another just resource. And then there's some other stuff on there. And as time goes on, I want to just keep adding some great resources for parents, again, just to help them, help make sure that they have their, their nice healthy, healthy baby. And then you can go to Amazon also and get the book. You can put my name in the search bar, Gina Mundy, except that I've done that a couple of times. And I'm, I think. I think the other pregnancy books are on to me because I put in Gina Mundy and their books pop up and I'm like, okay, listen, so you may have to scroll down. So just so you know.
Jamie:
Wonderful. OK, Gina Mundy, M-U-N-D-Y dot com. Check it out. We'll put links in the show notes as well. One more question before we go. Just a lighthearted way to finish off the podcast. As we do with all our guests is we have a very simple question. Gina, if we had a time machine and you could travel back to your, say, your 12 year old self, what's one piece of advice that you would give to young Gina?
Gina Mundy:
Oh, that's a great question. You know, I just would not have hesitated with my dreams. I've always been like a dreamer, you know, and I'm following them more now than I had earlier in my life. You know, I think just the route I took, but just going for it. You know, if that's something I keep dreaming about. And I have... figured out that a lot of the things my dream, you know, that I've dreamt of or wanted to do where my goals are, my gosh, I want to do this, like as I'm aging, I'm almost 48. So as I'm aging, a lot of them, those goals and dreams are my goals and dreams because they're happening. So and I'm like, and when they happen, I'm like, I should have done this like 10 years ago, you know? So but, um, you know, I think they're your goals and your dreams because that's your path. It's just, you know, make it happen. The earlier the better so you can enjoy it.
Jamie:
So go for it. That's great advice, Gina. Thank you so much for your time and generosity today. I know our listeners will get a lot from this information on the podcast today as I did. And I'm sure they'll search out your book as well. Thanks again for your time and hope we cross paths again soon. Thanks Gina.
Gina Mundy:
Thank you, Jamie, for having me. I appreciate it.
Jamie:
You're welcome.

If you enjoyed the show, please connect with Jamie on LinkedIn or Instagram. You'll find links in the podcast description. Parenting in the Digital Age is sponsored by Skill Samurai Coding and STEM Academy for Kids. Skill Samurai offers afterschool coding classes and holiday programs to help kids thrive academically and socially while preparing them for the careers of the future. Visit www.skillsamurai.com.au.
This episode is sponsored by Skill Samurai - Coding & STEM Academy www.skillsamurai.com.au