What if your best motherhood choices aren’t my best motherhood choices?
Each week on Lo & Behold, we’re leaning into that real, messy, necessary question as we navigate all the choices you’ll find yourself making in pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and modern motherhood.
Hosted by Lo Mansfield — former labor and postpartum nurse, certified lactation counselor, mom and RN behind The Labor Mama, and real life mama of four — this show is your judgment-free space to explore all the options in front of you. Whether you’re navigating a birth plan, wondering about labor induction methods, worried about breastfeeding challenges, or figuring out how to advocate for yourself or your littles, you’re not alone here.
On Lo & Behold, we’re cutting through the noise of the motherhood space and ditching the black-and-white takes. Each episode, Lo brings her years of experience in maternity care, lactation support, and real-life motherhood straight to your earbuds — through candid insights from her own successes and mistakes, expert interviews, and other real mom and dad story shares you’ll actually relate to.
Each week, you’ll find relatable, honest stories and reflections that help you make intuition-led, evidence-informed decisions in your own birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and motherhood stories — with zero shame and zero slant. Because your best story is the one that feels right to you — and no one else gets to tell you what that is.
If you’re craving confidence, clarity, friendship, and a space that says “you get to choose” and “I trust you,” this podcast is for you.
Whether you’re pregnant with your first baby, planning a hospital birth, or knee-deep in the chaos of raising toddlers and raising babies, grab your coffee, your electrolytes, or your raspberry leaf tea, hit play, and let’s chase down your best story — together.
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Low Fluid, Surprise Induction, Two Push Birth & the NICU: Beth Gaskill’s Birth Story | Episode 75
lundi 26 octobre 2026 • Durée 01:01:05
Beth Gaskill, aka Miss Beth from Big City Readers, is back on the podcast, and this time she’s holding her baby girl! I’ve been so excited to hear this one. A routine 36-week appointment, after a seven-mile walk in 100-degree heat with no shower, turned into “you’re having a baby today” when Beth’s ultrasound showed low amniotic fluid. We talk through her induction from start to finish: a Cytotec and Foley balloon start, a rough night of cervical checks that went sideways, a partner who stepped up as her advocate, and a midwife who showed what real consent during an exam looks like. Then her body took over, with Pitocin, an epidural that needed a few adjustments, and a baby born in just two pushes. I also share my nurse perspective on why I don’t want us treating “risk” as “reality,” and why a first-degree tear is not a failure.
But Beth’s story didn’t end in the delivery room. After a perfect first night, her daughter was admitted to the NICU for breathing support and stayed 12 days. Beth opens up about how disorienting that was: being separated from her baby, fighting to protect breastfeeding, and how much the right nurses changed everything. We also talk about what providers, and the people who love you, can do better, like simply acknowledging that it feels unfair instead of jumping straight to “we just want baby to be safe.” If you’ve ever had a birth plan take a sharp turn, or a NICU stay you didn’t see coming, I think you’ll feel so seen in this one.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Transformed by Birth: How Becoming a Parent Changes Everything with Britta Bushnell, PhD | 74
lundi 19 octobre 2026 • Durée 50:07
I was so excited to speak with our guest today, Britta Bushnell, PhD. Britta is the author of Transformed by Birth, host of the Transformed by Birth podcast, a mother and grandmother, a mythologist, and a childbirth educator who has spent the last 25 years walking families through one of life’s biggest thresholds: birth and new parenthood. We talked about why birth is truly a rite of passage, and why that transformation doesn’t stop when your baby is born. Your identity shifts, your marriage shifts, even what you mean by “my family” shifts. And it happens again with every single baby. Britta also shares her “turning of the family wheel,” which is so helpful for anyone working through new dynamics with in-laws (or, like her, learning how to step into the grandparent chair!).
We also got real about control. As a type-A mom of four, I felt this one. Britta tells an unforgettable story about trekking the Himalayas that shows the difference between what we can prepare for and what we simply have to respond to in the moment. We talked about how to learn about birth without overstuffing ourselves with an overload of information, what to do if a doula isn’t in the budget, and how to take the next step even when you don’t feel confident. We ended on one of my favorite parts: how to speak to yourself with kindness through these transformations instead of judging the version of you who didn’t know then what you know now. You’re going to walk away with stories that stick, I promise.
Catastrophic Birth Plans & Centering Hope with Kayleigh Summers, The Birth Trauma Mama | Episode 73
lundi 12 octobre 2026 • Durée 48:53
Today’s conversation is a heavier one, and I want to say that up front: if you’re not in a place to take it in, it’s okay to skip this one and come back when you’re ready. I’m joined by Kayleigh Summers, a licensed clinical social worker, perinatal trauma specialist, amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) survivor, and the voice behind The Birth Trauma Mama. She shares how her own experience shaped the work she does now, and we talk about what it looks like to prepare for birth with hope at the center while still making room for the “what ifs.” We get into what Kayleigh calls catastrophic birth planning: not as a way to plan for the worst, but as a way to have a say in situations where you might not be able to speak for yourself. We also talk about why that preparation matters for partners, who may end up making the big decisions, and we cover the gift of putting your wishes in a notes app and sharing it with someone you trust.
I also wanted this to be real and practical. AFE is incredibly rare, about 1 in 40,000 births, and Kayleigh and I both agree that “it won’t happen to you” isn’t a helpful thing to hear.
We talk about:
How to ask your provider what protocols and training they have in place
How to respond when a question gets brushed off
Why you don’t have to deliver at any particular type of hospital to be doing this “right”
Keeping your awareness on the shelf instead of letting it take over your feed
The reminder that surviving something hard doesn’t mean you owe the world anything
If you’re a provider, Kayleigh shares a free course through the AFE Foundation, and I’ll link it, along with her website, podcast, and social handles, in the show notes. Wherever you are in your own prep, I hope you walk away feeling a little more informed, a little less alone, and still free to get excited about the parts of your birth you’re hoping for.
Mentioned in this episode:
Course Name:
Labor Nurse’s Fourth Birth Story: 19-Minute Unmedicated Hospital Birth Caught by Dad | Episode 72
lundi 5 octobre 2026 • Durée 42:59
Friends, it's finally here: my fourth (and final) birth story. I'm sharing how Kelvin and I went from "we'll have three" to parenting our way into a fourth baby, and what it was like to get pregnant and receive maternity care as an expat in the Netherlands. As someone who loves this work, I got to see that midwifery model up close, and I'll be honest about the hard parts too, like language barriers and a fragmented system that left me biking home twice after a midwife couldn't find a heartbeat. Then we moved back to the U.S. halfway through the pregnancy and I felt amazing, but I was wrestling with a due date that landed right around my mom's heaven day, and with the question of when we grieve and when we celebrate.
Then we get to the birth itself: a sneaky Sunday morning, a very precipitous labor, and just 19 minutes in the hospital. I talk about laboring on hands and knees, experiencing the fetal ejection reflex for the first time, the baby girl who came out screaming, and why I was so sure I'd torn when I hadn't at all. I also talk about what it's like to process a birth this fast, when your brain needs time to catch up to what your body just did, and the gift Kelvin was as a birth partner who owned that room. This birth felt redemptive and normal in the best way, and it was bittersweet to close the book on this chapter. Grab a snack, because this one is full of joy and gratitude.
Pregnant, Nauseous & Over It: What to Do When you Feel Like Crap with Pregnancy Nutritionist | Episode 71
lundi 28 septembre 2026 • Durée 46:49
I sat down with Stephanie Lauri, registered dietitian, also known as the Pregnancy Nutritionist, to talk about something almost all of us experience in some form: nausea, food aversions, and that first-trimester question of whether we'll ever feel like ourselves again. Stephanie started this work while pregnant with her second daughter, after realizing just how little nutrition guidance actually gets offered during prenatal care, and she's since helped thousands of moms-to-be manage their symptoms, feel more confident in their food choices, and head into delivery and postpartum recovery feeling supported. We talked through what's actually "normal" across that first trimester spectrum, why symptoms don't magically disappear at 12 weeks for most people, and how blood sugar balance, timing, and small additions (not restrictions) can make a real difference even when you can't control the hormones driving it all.
We also got into what to eat when nothing sounds good, how to build a more balanced version of the carby, bland foods you're already craving, the role of electrolytes and hydration, and when medication might genuinely be the right and non-guilty answer. Stephanie's whole philosophy is about addition over restriction: instead of a list of what to avoid, focusing on what you can add to support yourself and your baby, wherever you're starting from. If you've ever felt like "just survive it" was the only advice on offer for how you're feeling, this conversation is the permission slip to expect more and try a little more, too.
Latch Issues, Tummy Time, Torticollis, and Flat Heads with Dr. Brita, Infant PT | Episode 70
lundi 21 septembre 2026 • Durée 46:19
Nine years ago, when I had my first baby, infant physical therapy wasn't even on my radar - it just wasn't something being talked about, especially not the way it is now. So I sat down with Dr. Brita DeStefano, founder of Progress Through Play in Denver, a mom of two and an infant physical therapist who's spent the last seven years specializing exclusively in that first year of life, to change that for you. We get into what infant PT actually is (spoiler: it's so much more than "my baby isn't rolling yet"), and Brita breaks down how womb positioning, delivery, and even reflux can all show up in your baby's body as tension - impacting everything from feeding to tummy time to sleep. We talk about torticollis, head flattening, and her favorite at-home "boomerang test" that can help you catch tightness before your pediatrician might even notice it.
What I loved most about this conversation is how Brita reframes the whole thing - it's not about parents needing to be on high alert, it's about approaching your baby's body with curiosity instead of worry. We also get real about the accessibility side of things, because I don't think we talk enough about how frustrating it is that this kind of proactive, whole-body care isn't always covered by insurance or easy to access. If you've ever wondered why your lactation consultant is asking questions your pediatrician isn't, or you've just felt like something's a little off with how your baby is feeding or sleeping and couldn't put your finger on it, this episode is going to hand you the language - and the confidence - to advocate for your baby.
Are Pitocin Contractions More Painful than “Normal” Ones? | Episode 69
lundi 14 septembre 2026 • Durée 18:09
This is part two of our Pitocin deep dive (if you haven't listened to episode 68 yet, hit pause and go do that first - it lays the foundation for everything we talk about here). In this episode we're tackling the question I get asked about more than almost anything else on social media: are Pitocin contractions more painful than spontaneous ones? I walk you through the real differences between Pitocin and oxytocin - how they act on your uterus in similar ways but flow through your body completely differently, why Pitocin tends to be more rhythmic and relentless compared to the natural ebb and flow of spontaneous labor, and why the fact that Pitocin doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier (so you miss out on some of that natural endorphin flood) matters so much for how contractions feel.
But here's the thing - I'm not going to give you a flat yes or no on this one, and I explain exactly why. I share two totally opposite experiences with Pitocin to show you just how much nuance is actually at play here, and then I walk you through the questions I think you should actually be asking yourself before you're ever in an induction situation - things like your environment, your care team, your relationship with your nurse, and your own mindset going in. My hope is that you leave this episode not with a scary verdict about Pitocin, but with a roadmap: real understanding, real questions to ask, and genuine empowerment for whatever your induction story ends up looking like.
Yes or No to Pitocin? 8 Things You Need to Know Before Your Birth | Episode 68
lundi 7 septembre 2026 • Durée 28:15
Pitocin is one of those topics that comes up in almost every birth conversation, and it can feel so spicy - like you have to pick a side before you even understand what it is. So in this episode, I'm pulling the spice out of it and just giving you the practical, foundational stuff: what Pitocin actually is (hint: it's synthetic oxytocin, not the real thing, even though the bag says otherwise), how it's different from the oxytocin your body naturally makes, and why the fact that it doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier actually matters for how your labor might feel. I'm walking you through eight things I think every person giving birth should know - from how it's dosed and titrated, to what your nurse is actually watching for on that monitor, to the difference between Pitocin during labor versus that standard dose you get afterward to help prevent hemorrhage.
My goal here was never to tell you whether to say yes or no to Pitocin - that's not my job, and it never will be. What I want is for you to walk away understanding it well enough that when it comes up in your own labor, you feel educated instead of overwhelmed, and you know exactly what questions to ask. Because at the end of the day, you don't have to be pro-Pitocin or anti-Pitocin. You just deserve to understand what it is so you can be part of that conversation when the time comes.
First Hospital Birth with Cook’s Catheter, Epidural & Postpartum Vaginal Hematoma with Labor Lauren | Episode 67
lundi 31 août 2026 • Durée 49:19
There's something so special about hearing a labor nurse tell her own birth story, and today's guest, Lauren, delivers exactly that. Lauren's been a labor and delivery nurse for over 10 years, mom to a three year old, is an IBCLC, and runs Labor Lauren - a faith-based birth education platform. She brings us into her journey from years of trying to conceive, through a peaceful unmedicated labor at home with her midwife, all the way to a hospital birth that went about as smoothly as she could have hoped. But what happened after birth is the part of this story that changes everything - a rare, fast-escalating complication that neither Lauren nor her coworkers saw coming, even with all of her clinical experience in the room.
I loved getting to sit with Lauren in this one, not just because her story is wild (it truly is), but because of how honestly she talks about being both the nurse and the patient - and what it taught her about advocacy, humility, and trusting her care team even when things don't go according to plan. We talk about hypnobirthing, placenta painting, the messy reality of "the plan" versus what labor actually gives you, and how her faith carried her through the scariest hours of her postpartum recovery.
Simple Birth Prep for Both of You: How to Truly Feel Prepped for Birth with The Baby Chick | Episode 66
lundi 24 août 2026 • Durée 54:57
Today I’m welcoming Nina Spears - founder and CEO of Baby Chick, author of The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy, and honestly, a bit of a unicorn in this space. She's a certified baby planner, birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, newborn care educator, infant massage instructor, and perinatal nutrition expert. Over the past 15 years she's supported more than 800 families in person and thousands more online. We get into it all - the mental load that sneaks up on you the second you see that positive test, why bringing your partner into the decision-making early (not after you're both exhausted) changes everything, and the very practical ways partners can actually show up during pregnancy instead of just feeling helpless on the sidelines.
We also talked about something I think about constantly: how to take in information without drowning in it, and why finding a few trusted voices matters so much more than trying to listen to everyone. Nina got real about the stuff nobody prepares you for - how birth is so much more mental than physical, how much you lean on your people (yes, even your nurse) more than you expect, and how lonely postpartum can feel even when you're surrounded by support. If you've ever felt like you're supposed to have it all figured out before baby even arrives, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, ask for help, and trust your own intuition along the way.
Découvrez des podcasts liées à Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
