Working mom guilt? Yep, it's very real. Dr. Sarah Allen joins me to unpack where that guilt comes from, how to navigate it, and ways to feel more confident in whatever choices work best for your family.

Having a baby is a huge transition – and it's totally normal for your relationship to feel the impact. In this episode, we're talking about ways to stay connected, set expectations, and support each other through the fourth trimester and beyond.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're diving into a Q&A episode all about the third trimester! These questions came straight from you on Instagram, and I'm so excited to dig into them with more detail than I can fit in a story slide.

The third trimester can be a wild ride – full of physical changes, emotional shifts, and so many "is this normal?" moments. Whether you're prepping for labor, feeling the nesting urge kick in, or just dealing with discomforts, this episode is here to support you through it all 💪

We're covering:

• What to expect as labor approaches

• Tips for easing common third-tri symptoms

• How to prep your body and mind for delivery

• Final to-dos before baby arrives

• And lots more real talk + reassurance

Whether this is your first rodeo or your fourth, there's something here for every mama navigating those final weeks.

This checklist was made by a labor nurse (hi, it's me!) to help you feel calm, confident, and ready as birth day gets closer.

📥 Download the 3rd Trimester Prep Pack

Our MLN Birth Classes break it all down – from contractions to pushing to postpartum – in a way that's clear, supportive, and confidence-building.

💻 Explore the MLN All-Access Birth Classes

Follow @mommy.labornurse for daily pregnancy tips, birth prep guidance, and real support from a labor nurse who's been there 💛

Did you know that an estimated 60% of expecting couples take a babymoon before the birth of their first child? It's true! And while it's most common among first-time parents – veteran parents can (and do!) take a babymoon before their next baby's birth as well.

So in today's episode, I thought it would be fun to talk more about babymoons! We'll talk about why you should do it, when you should do it, planning tips, destination ideas, and more.

But first, I'll start the episode with some pregnancy travel advice and tips so that you can travel safely during your pregnancy! I've got info surrounding flying during pregnancy, long car rides, what to pack, and lots of other great advice.

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related Episodes

• EP160: Ask an OBGYN Anything with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am focusing exclusively on the first trimester of pregnancy!! It's an ask me anything style episode which I LOVE doing for you guys!

All of the questions on today's show were submitted via Instagram stories. I selected a bunch that I wanted to answer with more detail than I can on Instagram - and this episode was born!

Are you ready to learn how to tackle nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and so much more? Let's get into it!

Feeling overwhelmed in the first trimester?

Get support in the early weeks with our FREE 1st Trimester Prep Pack and gain a sense of control!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related Episodes and Resources

• Episode 1: Perinatal Mental Health Interview With Dr. Ream
• Episode 35: FAQ's About the First Trimester!
• MLN Weekly Pregnancy Email Series
• Expectful App
• Ritual Prenatal Vitamins

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This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I have a positive planned induction birth story from MLN Community mama, Marissa!

Marissa described her birth as difficult, amazing, and fast, even though it took a while. This is a perfect example of how birth can be a mix of different feelings and perceptions all at once - something that I definitely see as true! Marissa's story includes a hospital-planned induction and epidural.

Want to feel in control before birth? 

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes

• EP166: Giving Birth Overseas: One Mom's Birth Story Navigating an International Healthcare System
• EP172: How One Mama's Birth Started with the Midwives' Brew

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am going to talk about one of my absolute favorite things - birth affirmations!! And no I'm not kidding. I'm obsessed with them and know how much they can help you manage your labor pain.

You see, our minds can be one of our best assets to help manage the pain and anxiety associated with childbirth! And birth affirmations are one of my favorite ways to tap into that mental strength.

What are they? Simply positive words and statements about the birth process that can give you extra confidence, a sense of calm, and even impact your perception of pain.

To get the most out of using birth affirmations during your labor, I recommend repeating them regularly leading up to birth – and actually saying them aloud – I promise it makes ALL the difference.

Then during labor, you can say them out loud, listen to them, read them, or simply think them! But we'll get more into that inside the episode.

Want to birth without an epidural?

Get the FREE Natural Birth Prep Pack for the confidence you need, because simply wanting it might not be enough!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes

• Episode 106: Mindset Tips for Pregnancy and Birth with Natalie Bacon
• Episode 154: Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts from Peloton Talks Yoga & Meditation During Pregnancy

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're talking all about labor signs! And more specifically the weird signs of labor you might not know about yet!

I think it's safe to say that if you've ever been pregnant, you've probably found yourself googling, "Is XYZ a sign of labor?". And there are actually quite a few weird things that happen before labor!

The anticipation of meeting your little one soon can definitely cause mamas to be on high alert for any sort of body changes. And this is a good thing! It's great to be in tune with your body, especially during pregnancy. 

Aside from the obvious signs of labor: contractions and water breaking (which isn't always as obvious as you might think!) there are quite a few other things that can give you a clue that labor is near! 

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

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Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

In this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I am joined by Charles Johnson, the founder of 4Kira4Moms. 

Charles tragically lost his wife Kira during a routine C-section at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California in 2016. This experience led him to create 4Kira4moms in 2017.

The goal of 4Kira4Moms is to be a voice for other mothers and families facing unnecessary maternal loss and to help put an end to the black maternal mortality health crisis.

It is a sad reality that in the US, black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than white women. This is due to implicit bias and systemic racism within the healthcare system, as well as a lack of access to high-quality maternal healthcare and resources.

Inside the episode, Charles and I discuss this tragic epidemic and talk about what platforms like 4Kira4Moms are doing to spark change and shed light on the issue. Then we get into what we can do to support his mission!

Tune in to hear Kira's story and learn how you can help make a difference.

Learn more about Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson has dedicated his life to the pursuit of what his own family failed to receive – safe, respectful, and equitable maternal health outcomes in America. His passion for systemic change is driven by his love for his wife, Kira, who passed away following the birth of their second child. In April 2016, Kira underwent a routine C-section following an uncomplicated pregnancy. Hours later, she died from internal hemorrhaging despite adamant pleas for help from medical professionals by her husband and loved ones. Her story exemplifies the current crises happening in America: rising rates of maternal mortality and the silencing of Black voices.

After experiencing the unimaginable, Charles harnessed his pain and used it to pursue the highest level of good. He channeled his grief into founding 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving birth outcomes in America. Charles knows childbirth should be empowering and free of fear for all mothers. 4Kira4Moms advocates for improved maternal health policies and regulations, educates about the impact of maternal mortality in our communities, provides support to victims' loved ones, and approaches maternal mortality as a human rights issue. Mothers are the very framework of our society. They teach us how to love unconditionally and are willing to protect the most vulnerable among us. The loss of even one at the hands of an unjust system robs our country of what it needs most.

Charles has used his voice and story to advocate for change at countless events and media appearances all over the country. He is a board member of March for Moms and serves as Chairman of the Fairness of Injured Patients Act, which seeks to restore the rights of victims of medical negligence in California. Charles has testified twice before Congress and helped pass key legislation including: the Preventing Maternal Death Act of 2018, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021, and the California Momnibus. He is currently working with Congress to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, an unprecedented set of bills addressing every aspect of the maternal health crisis happening in America. Charles was also honored by Oprah Winfrey on OWNSpotlight's 2020 fatherhood special entitled, "Honoring our Kings – Celebrating Black Fatherhood."

In addition to his advocacy work, Charles is busy raising his two beautiful boys, Charles V and Langston, who keep their mothers' spirit alive powerfully every day.

Learn more about 4Kira4Moms

• 4Kira4Moms
• HR 1318 - Preventing Maternal Death Acts of 2018
• Kira Johnson Act
• Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast you'll hear an Ask Me Anything style episode, where I give in-depth answers to a few labor and delivery questions left on the podcast hotline. 

I'm covering questions about extra placental lobes, timing an epidural to potentially avoid blood pressure-related side effects, postpartum hemorrhages (particularly if you've had one before!), and if there are any specific things that moms can do in their second pregnancies to prepare for birth.

If you have a burning question about pregnancy, birth, or postpartum that you'd like me to answer on the show, all you have to do is call 919-213-8719 and leave a voicemail!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes and resources

• Episode 168: Ask Me Anything
• Sibling Basket Ideas

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Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're going to talk about your cervix! To be more specific, we'll be diving into cervical checks and membrane sweeps.

Your cervix is essential to birth and can often be used as an indicator of how "prepped" your body is for labor before labor even starts. Today, you'll learn how cervical checks are done, how to handle them, and the general pros and cons during pregnancy and labor.

Then, we'll talk about membrane sweeps, which involve the cervix and are one of several things you can do to help jump-start labor. So, what exactly is a membrane sweep? Here's a hint, it has nothing to do with actual broom sweeping! Tune in to learn more.

Want to birth without an epidural?

Get the FREE Natural Birth Prep Pack for the confidence you need, because simply wanting it might not be enough!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes

• Episode 77: Why It's Important to Prep Your Body for Labor
• Episode 112: Chatting Prenatal Fitness with Ashley Knowe of Get Mom Strong

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

In this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, Sami shares her birth story where she tried a well-known, and semi-controversial method to kickstart labor! I have never actually talked to anyone who has tried this before so it was very interesting to hear about her experience!

When she was pregnant with her daughter, she tried a bunch of things to jump-start labor, but ultimately ended up being induced. But for her son, she thought she'd try the same things plus one other method that we will talk about today. So stay tuned to see if it worked!

Want to feel in control before birth?

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related resources

• The Midwives' Brew: A Natural Way To Induce Labor You've Probably Never Heard Of...

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

When it comes to talking about birth, epidurals are often a part of the conversation in one way or another. And I'd guess that most of you already know that epidural placement eliminates labor pain.

But beyond that? Well, a lot of people don't actually know that much!

I often get questions about how epidurals are placed, how big an epidural needle is, if getting an epidural hurts, and lots more! So in this episode I unpack these epidural placement FAQs that frequently show up in my DMs. Additionally, you'll get a bit of deep dive into WALKING epidurals.

Walking epidurals are very similar to a traditional epidural, but they allow for greater feeling and movement in the lower half of the body.

This makes them very appealing to mamas that want a sort of "hybrid" birth experience. One where the edge is taken off the pain, but not so much that they can't move or feel the sensations of labor and delivery.

Want to feel confident before your epidural birth?

Get the FREE Epidural Birth Prep Pack to gain a sense of control before the big day!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related Episodes

• Episode 31: What it's like to get an epidural
• Episode 101: Talking Anesthesia and L&D with Dr. Magnolia Printz 

Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy Podcast

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Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're doing another Ask Me Anything – and this time it's all about the second trimester!

These episodes are always a hit (and one of my faves to record!) because I get to answer your real questions from Instagram stories – with way more detail than I can fit into a slide.

Inside this episode, we're covering:

• What's up with peeing when you sneeze (and what to do about it)

• Kick counting basics – when to start and how it works

• Glucose tolerance testing tips and what to expect

• What to know about placenta previa

• Do you really need a birth class?

• And more second-tri insights you don't want to miss!

Whether you're 13 weeks or 27, this one's full of relatable info and practical tips to help you feel more confident in your pregnancy.

Registry stress? To-do list overwhelm? This free guide is here to help you stay on track and actually enjoy this trimester!

📥 Grab your 2nd Trimester Prep Pack

Our MLN Birth Classes cover everything you need to know – from contractions to confidence – and are perfect for second-tri mamas looking to get ahead.

💻 Check out the MLN Birth Classes

Follow @mommy.labornurse for daily pregnancy ed, tips, and a supportive community of 700k+ mamas 💛

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're going to dive into the topic of medical induction of labor. I'm going to talk about the reasons you might be induced and the various induction methods your provider may use. 

But before we get into it, I want to quickly review what induction is, just in case you're not quite sure! Induction of labor is exactly what it sounds like: you aren't in labor yet so we put you into labor (or we attempt to push you into labor!) through different methods.

There comes a point in pregnancy where the risk of continuing the pregnancy is actually greater than the benefits of keeping baby inside. And that point can be different for different moms!

Keep listening to learn more about why you might need one and how we might do it.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes

• Episode 72: Help! What is an induction?
• Episode 36: Haley's Positive Induction Story! 

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Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labour Nurse Podcast, I am joined by my friend and fellow podcaster Dr. Mona from PedsDocTalk to discuss common newborn behaviors.

Dr. Mona Amin is a pediatrician and parenting expert who equips parents with the tools they need to thrive and feel confident in parenthood. 

In today's episode, Dr. Mona is going to go through 10 newborn realities that are actually very standard - things like hiccups, day and night reversal, and feeding volumes.

And after you're done with this episode, you can keep learning about the newborn days with Dr. Mona. She was on my podcast way back in Episode 9 when she came on the show to answer your most common newborn questions.

Want to eliminate stress before birth?

Get your FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack to know everything is done and feel completely confident with your birth plan and hospital bag!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes and resources

• Episode 9: Mona the Pediatrician Answers Your Most Common Newborn Questions!

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

About Dr. Mona Amin

Mona is a first-generation Indian American, born and raised in southern California. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate training, majoring in psychobiology (the study of how the brain affects our behaviors).

She went on to attend medical school at ATSU-SOMA in Arizona where she obtained her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. 

After medical school, she completed pediatric residency training at the Bernard and Millie Duker Children's Hospital in Albany, New York.

She is a currently practicing Pediatrician where she sees babies and moms of every ethnicity and social circumstance.

She loves her work and sharing smart, helpful advice to make the motherhood journey a little easier and a lot more joyful. She's built an inclusive and caring community of over 100,000 fans and followers on her various channels.

This week I'm coming at you with an "Ask Me Anything" episode based on questions my listeners submitted on our new podcast hotline!

My plan for 2023 is to do more "Ask me Anything"-style episodes, and to make it even more fun, I want to feature voices from the community!

So, if you've got a burning question about pregnancy, birth, or postpartum that you'd like me to answer on the show - all you have to do is call: 919-213-8719 and leave a voice message.

If chosen, I will play the question on a future episode and answer it right here on the show!

In this episode, I will be covering questions about cholestasis, placenta encapsulation, epidurals, and more.

If you love episodes where it's just me answering questions, do yourself a favor and go listen to the most embarrassing questions about pregnancy and birth on Episode 161 and Episode 162.

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes and resources

• Episode 161: Your Most Embarrassing Birth Questions Answered - Part 1 
• Episode 162: Your Most Embarrassing Birth Questions Answered - Part 2
• Pine tar bar soap
• Cholestasis research article

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I'm doing an episode all about postpartum prep!

As a labor and delivery nurse, I am ALL about getting you prepared for birth. But in my opinion, preparing for birth ALSO means preparing for postpartum.

Because when it's all said and done, you're going to have a newborn to take care of, and YOU are going to be an entirely new person as well.

Inside of today's episode, we're going to unpack what you can do during pregnancy to prepare for postpartum including education, supplies, mindset tips, and more.

Getting educated for birth is so, so important, but truly, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't make sure you were ready for postpartum too.

Not sure how to care for yourself down there after birth?

Access our FREE Postpartum Essentials Checklist to know you've got what you need to feel clean and comfortable while you're healing from birth.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related Episodes

• Episode 48: How Has Liesel's Postpartum Experience Been? Part 1 of 2

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

In this week's episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I am joined by a fellow mom with an extraordinary birth story that entails being pregnant and giving birth in a foreign country.

This birth story is told by Katie, whose husband was stationed at an American army base in Germany.

With the war in Afghanistan coming to an end and a flood of refugees needing medical attention, Katie wasn't able to receive care at the base but found herself giving birth in a German hospital instead.

Today, she will share with us how she experienced the differences in healthcare systems and how a C-section unexpectedly became part of this international birth story.

Want to eliminate stress before birth?

Get your FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack to know everything is done and feel completely confident with your birth plan and hospital bag!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related Episodes

• Episode 45: Midwife Marley Talks To Us About UK Maternity Care!

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about the Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we are chatting about hospital bags! For a first-time mom, I was SUCH a slacker when it came to packing my hospital bag for labor. I was lucky I didn't go into labor a few weeks early, because I would not have been prepared! For my second birth, I was way more organized and prepared.

Because I know this is a very buzz-worthy topic when it comes to birth prep, I thought it only made sense to make an episode out of it! You see, I'm a BIG fan of packing individual bags for labor, recovery, partner, and baby. This keeps everything so much more organized.

Inside the episode, I'll get into what should be in each of those bags. I'll also cover some things to specifically NOT bring with you, and then we'll talk in-depth about snacks for labor and touch a bit on eating during labor too.

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Liesel's essential oil blend

• 2 drops Yang Ylang
• 7 drops Clary Sage
• 3 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Frankincense

Combine oils in glass bottle and fill to top with a carrier oil.

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about the Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

When it comes to making decisions surrounding your birth, you need to think about the immediate after birth, too! Often, we think that's just for newborn care procedures, but today, I want to talk in depth about cord blood banking, placenta donation, and placenta encapsulation.

As always, the purpose of this podcast episode is to inform you so that you can make the right decisions for your birth and family. I encourage you to take this information, do your own research, and discuss this decision with your OBGYN or midwife before giving birth. 

Want to feel in control before birth?

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Sponsor

Are you in search of the perfect pump for your breastfeeding days? Proven to provide more milk in less time, the Motif Luna is a powerful breast pump that's built for modern motherhood and covered by insurance. With a battery-powered or non-battery version, the Luna is perfect for today's busy mom.

Click HERE to learn more about the Luna and order one for your breastfeeding and pumping journey. And as a special offer for MLN podcast listeners you can get 15% off site-wide, including the Luna plus all supplies and accessories with code: MLN23. Some exclusions may apply.

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am joined by the amazing Dr. Nicole Callaway Rankins who you may know from her very popular pregnancy podcast, All About Pregnancy and Birth Podcast!

Similar to Mommy Labor Nurse, Dr. Rankins offers amazing, online resources for pregnant women because she too knows what a critical role education plays in a woman's ability to advocate for herself during birth and reduce any sense of fear or anxiety she may have.

On today's show, Dr. Rankins is going to share with us more about what it's like to be an OBGYN, memorable moments from her years of practice, thoughts on doula and midwifery care, a bit of birth advice, and more. I'm so excited to share Dr. Rankins with you today, so let's get right into it!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Want to feel in control before birth?

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

About Dr. Nicole Rankins

Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins is a board-certified, practicing OBGYN and mom of 2 who empowers first-time moms to feel calm, confident, and empowered for pregnancy and birth. In her over 15 year career she's helped more than 1,000 babies into this world and has demystified pregnancy and childbirth for thousands more women through her popular podcast All About Pregnancy & Birth, which has been downloaded over 1.25 million times.

She regularly shares holistic, evidence-based pregnancy and birth info with her community of 19K+ on Instagram @drnicolerankins, and has served thousands of moms-to-be through her online birth plan class, Make A Birth Plan The RIGHT Way, and comprehensive online childbirth education class, The Birth Preparation Course.

This week I am back to answer your most embarrassing birth questions, part 2! I had so much fun with last week's episode, I just had to come back and answer more of your questions because we got so many good ones!

Not only are these "Ask Me Anything" style episodes fun, but it's my hope that they are really informational and educational for you as well. We all have questions that we might be a little embarrassed to ask our provider (even I do!), but have no fear, I'm here to unpack it all.

And be sure to tune into next week's episode, where I chat with OBGYN Dr. Nicole Rankins on what it's like to be an OBGYN, doula care, midwifery care, and much more! You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Want to feel in control before birth?

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes and resources:

• Episode 20: Liesel Answers Your Most Common Breastfeeding Questions - Part 2
• Episode 137: Ask Me Anything About Labor and Delivery
• Episode 155: Ask Me Anything About Pregnancy and Birth
• Episode 161: Your Most Embarrassing Birth Questions Answered - Part 1

Happy New Year podcast fam! If you are listening to this in real time, then you know that this is the very first episode of 2023, and we're kicking off the year with a super fun "Ask Me Anything" style episode. This time, I asked our community over on Instagram for their most embarrassing questions that they had around birth (you know, the kind of things that you might be a little bit shy to ask but you really want to know), and let me tell you, you guys delivered - no pun intended!

I had such a great time doing this episode for you because I love talking about embarrassing stuff. And we had so many questions come in that I actually broke it up into two parts for you, with part two airing next week.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Related episodes and resources discussed in this episode:

• Episode 11: Jeanice Talks To Us About Pelvic Floor Sexual Health
• Episode 58: FAQs About Labor and Delivery
• Episode 121: Tearing During Birth
• Episode 137: Ask Me Anything About Labor and Delivery
• Episode 155: Ask Me Anything About Pregnancy and Birth

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're talking all things first trimester!
It's one of our signature Ask Me Anything episodes – and yes, I love doing these for you guys!

Every question in this episode was submitted by my IG fam (hey Insta besties 👋) – and I picked the ones that needed a deeper dive than stories allow. So if you're navigating those early weeks and wondering, "Is this normal??" – you're in the right place.

Inside the episode, we're chatting about:

• How to handle nausea without losing your mind

• Fatigue hacks that actually help

• What's up with first-trimester anxiety

• And so much more!

Whether you're newly pregnant or just want to feel a little less alone in those first 12 weeks, this episode is packed with validation, tips, and real talk 💛

Overwhelmed in the early weeks? This free guide will help you feel more in control, more prepared, and more you.

📥 Grab your 1st Trimester Prep Pack here

Our online birth classes walk you through every stage of pregnancy – from trimester one to postpartum – so you feel confident and supported.

💻 Check out the MLN Birth Classes

Follow @mommy.labornurse for daily education, encouragement, and that "you're not alone" kind of support through pregnancy and beyond 💛

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I had the chance to interview the amazing Dr. Jennifer Lincoln! Jen is a board-certified OB/GYN that works as an OB hospitalist, and she is also an IBCLC. 

In addition to her bedside work, Jen is a total TikTok Doc celebrity with 2.8 million followers where, in her words, she makes educational videos that are "the health class you wish you had in high school".

Inside of today's episode, we did an "ask an OBGYN anything" based on questions submitted by the MLN community. We covered a broad range of topics and used questions that we saw submitted frequently to make sure they would appeal to the widest audience.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I am joined by fellow mom, Gabby. Gabby reached out to share her difficult birth story with us and to hopefully inspire others to advocate for their care if they are not being treated right.

When Gabby got in touch with us, she explained that her appearance caused an inattentive and hostile labor process in which she had to advocate for her care.

You'll hear her talk about how her epidural caused a panic attack that was not taken seriously and more. After birth, Gabby suffered from postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD and was only offered help at 9 months when it was severe.

I am so grateful that Gabby was willing to come on to the show to share her story because every birth needs to have a voice and sometimes telling your story can be a step forward in the healing process.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're talking all about group B strep and how it might affect your birth.

Here we're going to learn the details about this infection, how GBS disease can impact your baby, and how your provider will screen for GBS. Lastly, we'll take a look at what it means for birth if you're GBS positive.
 
If you do have group B strep, your birth will be a little bit different, because antibiotic treatment is highly recommended. But luckily, it's not as big of a deal as it sounds.

Want to eliminate stress before birth?

Get your FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack to know everything is done and feel completely confident with your birth plan and hospital bag!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we are talking about perinatal mental health – a topic that is near and dear to my heart. My guest, Dr. Nichelle Haynes is a Clinical Psychiatrist who specializes in perinatal mental health.

There's not a lot of psychiatrists who specialize in the pregnant and postpartum population. So Dr. Haynes and I talk about a day in her life, what sort of patients she sees, and what's the first step if you're struggling.

We also talk about the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a therapist because there's a big difference. We also discuss medication, when to intervene with medication, and what signs and symptoms you should be looking for.

And finally, you'll hear us debunk the unfortunate societal stigma surrounding psychiatric medications.

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I chatted with Sally about the birth of her first son, Bodey. 

Sally and her husband Ash are a queer couple that conceived at home with donor sperm from a good friend of theirs!

Once pregnant, Sally discussed navigating hyperemesis gravidarum, switching care providers later in her pregnancy, and a pretty scary event that disrupted Bodey's entrance into this world.

Want to feel in control before birth?

Use our FREE Birth Plan Templates to take the first step towards the birth experience you desire.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I'm coming at you with a good old ask me anything style episode.

For this episode, I pulled some questions I didn't get to and addressed them here! There's a good mix of questions in this episode covering epidurals, sex in pregnancy, water birth, milk supply, and more!

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am so excited to share my interview with internationally celebrated Peloton yoga teacher and scholar, Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts.

As some of you may know, Chelsea is currently pregnant with her first child and during today's interview, we talked all about the ways pregnancy has impacted her own yoga and meditation practice, and her teaching. 

We touched on the benefits of yoga for pregnancy, the mindset with which women should approach prenatal fitness and their changing bodies, how yoga and meditation can play a role in erasing some of the fear and unknown of birth, and so much more.

Stressed about your baby registry?

Get the FREE Baby Registry Checklist created by an L&D nurse and veteran mom for insider tips and an organized list of the things you *actually* need!

Pregnancy to-dos piling up already?

Get your FREE Second Trimester Prep Pack to create your registry with ease and know you're staying on track!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I have a birth story to share with you. I want to give a content warning for this episode because we do talk about child loss. If this subject could trigger you, please skip this episode and tune in next week.

Shea's daughter was diagnosed with Trisomy 13, which was found at a genetic screening in the first trimester. Trisomy 13 is a genetic disorder caused by an extra 13th chromosome. This extra chromosome can cause severe mental and physical problems. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is usually associated with a short life expectancy, and some babies are not even born alive.

Even though this specific diagnosis is rare, I wanted to have Shea share her story on the podcast this week about what it's like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis during pregnancy and how to navigate that journey.

Feeling overwhelmed in the first trimester?

Get support in the early weeks with our FREE 1st Trimester Prep Pack and gain a sense of control!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I'm joined by my sister and MLN team member, Jenna, for a fun get-to-know-me style episode.

Usually, I'm the one interviewing other people, but this week Jenna is going to interview me so that you can get to know me better, professionally and personally!

You'll hear about how I got started in L&D, my L&D superpower, what I'd be doing if I wasn't a labor and delivery nurse, and a whole lot more.

Pregnancy to-dos piling up already?

Get your FREE Second Trimester Prep Pack to create your registry with ease and know you're staying on track!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am joined by speech and language experts, Brooke and Bridget who you probably know better as The Speech Sisters on Instagram! Brooke and Bridget are Certified Speech Therapists, and have an incredible platform dedicated to getting your child talking. 

Inside the episode you'll hear us talk about key things moms can do right from birth, the role of baby sign language in early communication, examples of how to incorporate these things into daily routines, very early speech and language development milestones to be on the lookout for, and lots more.

Want to birth without an epidural?

Get the FREE Natural Birth Prep Pack for the confidence you need, because simply wanting it might not be enough!

Feeling alone on your postpartum journey?

CLICK HERE to get supportive tips and advice from an L&D nurse and veteran mom sent straight to your inbox each week!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're welcoming a very special guest – the amazing Dr. Rebecca Dekker from Evidence Based Birth®!

Rebecca is a PhD nurse, researcher, educator, and fierce advocate for evidence-based maternity care. She's also the author of Babies Are Not Pizzas and host of the Evidence Based Birth® podcast, which has over 4.5 million downloads 👏

In this episode, we're digging into the topic of natural labor induction – what works, what doesn't, and how to tell the difference.

Inside the episode:

• Evidence behind common natural induction techniques

• The difference between "throw you into labor" methods vs. gentle nudges

• Pros, cons, and safety of various approaches

• How to think critically and make informed decisions around induction

Whether you're hoping to avoid a medical induction or just want to be informed, this episode is a must-listen!

Want to feel more confident and in control heading into labor? Grab this free guide packed with tips, checklists, and prep strategies from a labor nurse!

📥 Download the Birth Prep Guide

My MLN Birth Classes will help you feel so ready – with evidence-based lessons, practical tips, and support for every type of birth.

💻 Check out the MLN Birth Classes

• EP77: Why It's Important to Prep Your Body for Labor

• The Miles Circuit by Sharon Muza

Rebecca is the founder and CEO of Evidence Based Birth®, where she and her team are on a mission to make research on pregnancy and birth accessible and empowering for all families. She's a former nursing professor, passionate educator, and mom who's changing the birth world – one fact at a time.

• Visit the Website

• Follow on Instagram

• Listen to the Podcast

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am airing a special episode in honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which is observed on October 15th every year.

For our special episode, I had the chance to chat with Danielle Lampman. She shared the birth story of her daughter, Rosie Noelle, with me. 

Rosie was stillborn in December of 2021 when Danielle was 37.5 weeks gestation - it was all completely unexpected. It is always so special when mamas reach out to share the stories of their stillborn babies, and it is my absolute honor to share Danielle and Rosie's story with you today.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I'm going to share tips for choosing a pediatrician. Because as you're working your way through (your seemingly endless) to-do list before birth, one important task is choosing a provider for your newborn.

In this episode, I'll share a list of considerations for choosing a pediatrician, questions to ask a pediatrician before deciding, and even a little bit about what to expect from your newborn pediatrician visits. Let's tackle this item that's been sitting on your to-do list mama! And let's take it on with confidence!

Want to eliminate stress before birth?

Get your FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack to know everything is done and feel completely confident with your birth plan and hospital bag!

Stressed about your baby registry?

Get the FREE Baby Registry Checklist created by an L&D nurse and veteran mom for insider tips and an organized list of the things you *actually* need!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week, I have a cute little episode for you about meal prepping and postpartum. My guest, Talia is the founder of a program called workweek lunch – a blog and digital meal plan subscription that has helped 1000s of people all over the world master the art of meal prep. She is also the author of The Workweek Lunch Cookbook, which includes 60 approachable and delicious recipes that are designed to be prepped and stored.

On this episode, we talk about the benefits of meal prepping for pregnancy and postpartum, how to get started, and tips for meal prepping in that last month of your pregnancy to make your life easier once baby comes.

Towards the end, we talked about some tools that you might need on hand to make it a little bit easier!

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Want to eliminate stress before birth?

Get your FREE 3rd Trimester Prep Pack to know everything is done and feel completely confident with your birth plan and hospital bag!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I have Jordan joining me to talk about her birth story! Jordan is a black woman & first-time mom who had a fairly uneventful pregnancy but unfortunately dealt with some traumatic events that occurred during the birth of her son.

Jordan tells me in the episode that while pregnant, she had educated herself about the racial disparities that unfortunately exist here in the US and she felt informed, and prepared going into her birth. She never really thought she would actually be treated differently because of the way that she looked. 

Stressed about your baby registry?

Get the FREE Baby Registry Checklist created by an L&D nurse and veteran mom for insider tips and an organized list of the things you *actually* need!

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we're going to talk all about birthing without an epidural, and answer a question I get all the time - "How do I have a natural birth?"

And while there is no secret formula…I definitely have some insight into what you can do to set yourself up for success.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I had the opportunity to interview Erica Campbell, who is a mom of two, registered nurse, and international board-certified lactation consultant! Erica is also the face behind the growing Instagram platform @themilkmanual, where she aims to make lactation education chill and attainable for all.

In the episode, you'll learn more about Erica and her platform, find out what she recommends for breastfeeding prep during pregnancy, learn about the benefits of hand expression during pregnancy, and then we'll get into lactation and the NICU! 

Feeling alone on your postpartum journey?

CLICK HERE to get supportive tips and advice from an L&D nurse and veteran mom sent straight to your inbox each week!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

On this episode, Carly talks about her journey to motherhood. Carly is a part of a two-mom family, and she's actually now pregnant with her 3rd baby! She and her wife used the same sperm donor for all three of their babies, but the way Carly got pregnant was different all three times.

It's a very interesting, and heartfelt story that you don't want to miss!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

Are you wondering what to do while waiting for baby to arrive? I get it, when your due date countdown goes from weeks to days, time can start to feel extra slow. We've all heard the joke about the last month of pregnancy lasting 5,654,213 days, right??

Well, this week I'm going to share some ways to help you pass that time and get you a little more prepared mentally, physically, and sentimentally (is that a thing?) for your baby to arrive.

Keep in mind that these are the things that aren't absolutely essential, but are a great way to fill those waiting days!

Anxious about packing for the hospital?

Grab the FREE Hospital Bag Checklist created by a practicing L&D nurse and feel 10000% certain you've got everything you need on the big day!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I was joined by my good friend and fellow Instagram educator, Dr. Ashurina Ream - you may know her as @psychedmommy on Instagram. Ashurina is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with certification in perinatal mental health. 

I put out a call for questions on my Instagram story for this one, and we were able to group questions into three categories to help keep the episode structured.

You'll hear us cover mental health in pregnancy, mental health after birth, and then some mental health "in general" questions. I always learn so much anytime I have the chance to chat with Dr. Ream, and I know you will too.

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

I am so excited to share this birth story with you guys. Cathryn struggled with secondary infertility with the birth of her daughter. It was actually a full 18 months of going through rounds of Clomid, IUI, and IVF before conceiving.

It was really tremendous to hear the whole process, have her explain how she was feeling throughout it, and just everything that goes along with infertility because there's a lot to it and it can be really hard to relate to others who are going through infertility if you haven't been through it yourself. I love that she touched on that and shared her story so openly.

During the second half of the episode, Cathryn talks about her pregnancy with her daughter and her amazing birth story, too!

Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there?

CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again!

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

Get instant access to my FREE Birth Workshop to learn tons of pain-coping strategies and actionable tips today!

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we're chatting about labor signs – but not the obvious ones like contractions or water breaking. We're talking about the weird, lesser-known signs that your body might be getting ready for labor 👀

Because if you've ever found yourself googling, "Is ___ a sign of labor?"...you're so not alone.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The most common (but surprising!) symptoms I see before labor begins

• Why it's totally normal to feel hyper-aware of every body change in the final weeks

• What to actually pay attention to as you approach labor day

Whether you're 36 weeks or just curious about what's coming, this episode will help you feel more in tune with your body and what it's trying to tell you 💛

Feeling anxious about packing? This free checklist was made by a practicing L&D nurse (hi, that's me!) to help you pack like a pro and actually feel ready.

📥 Grab your Hospital Bag Checklist

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This week on the podcast, I had my sister Jenna come on the show for a fun and light hearted episode that I'm really excited to share with you guys.

Jenna and I watched some birth videos - but not the kind of birth videos that you're thinking of! - and react to them live on the episode.

I thought it'd be interesting coming from me as a labor and delivery nurse and from Jenna, who you know has never been pregnant and doesn't have any kids.

I'm not gonna spoil too much of the episode. It was a lot of fun to record, but was also a big pain in the butt to get ready for, so I hope you guys like it!

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Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

For today's episode, we spoke specifically about flipping the narrative on working mom guilt and Sarah weighed in with her brain expertise to share why being a working mom benefits children and their development!

You'll hear as discuss what working mom guilt typically looks like, research-backed reasons why being a working mom can benefit your children, discuss the pros and cons of daycare vs. nanny care in the first year from a neuro-development perspective, and maternity/parental leave in general here in the US.

Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

Feeling alone on your postpartum journey?

CLICK HERE to get supportive tips and advice from an L&D nurse and veteran mom sent straight to your inbox each week!

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!

This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I have a birth story to share with you guys from Bryce Reddy who you probably know as @mombrain.therapist over on Instagram.

You'll hear Bryce open up about her struggles, what it was like to navigate this unexpected pregnancy and the amazing birth story of her third little kiddo.

Want to erase anxiety and actually feel excited about birth?

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Have an even better birth!

CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.

And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!