Welcome to Birth with Power. I am so glad you're spending some time with me today, even though this episode is a little different from what I normally share.

Today, I just want to talk to you one-on-one and share something personal. So here's the truth. Life is full right now. As you probably know,

I work full time as an OB-GYN. I'm also a wife, a mom to two teenagers, one of whom is

about to leave for college and a daughter to an elderly parent.

On top of all that, I am deep in writing and recording my updated childbirth education

course, the birth with power pathway.

And I have realized I just can't do it all. Right now, trying to do it all has been stressful.

It's come at the cost of my peace, quite frankly. So I've made the difficult decision to take a full break from the podcast, social media, emails,

all of it this summer. Not because I don't love this work, but because I do love this work with

my whole heart. I am truly called to it, but I have to do it in a way that is sustainable.

And right now, that means pressing pause. This was not an easy decision for me. I am a type A,

high achieving, do all the things kind of woman. Maybe you can relate to that. But I also believe in practicing what I teach.

And that includes rest. I know that rest is a form of resistance. It's how we push back on a world

that constantly tells women, especially mothers and caregivers, that we have to keep grinding no matter what. Well, no thank

you. This pause for me is an intentional realignment and refocus. It's so I can soak up time

with my daughter before she has off to college. It's so I can finally finish

creating this magnificent course that will truly empower you for birth. And it's so I can

return in the fall with the energy and clarity to deliver on the vision I so clearly see in my mind for the way I want

to serve you. So here's what to expect while I'm away. I will be back in October with brand

new podcast episodes.

In the meantime, the podcast is not going silent.

You will still get episodes every week, but they will be power replays, some of the most downloaded, most talked about, most helpful episodes from the archives of over 300 episodes.

...