The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

This Episode is Sponsored by SnugghugDid you know 80% of your immune system lives in your gut - and your baby gets theirs from you? Whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, breastfed or formula fed, this episode is going to change the way you think about your baby's health from day one.Trish sits down with Cheryl Hoy, CEO and founder of Tiny Health, the first at-home microbiome testing company for moms and babies. Cheryl's journey started with her own breech C-section birth and a mission to understand what that meant for...

You're 10 centimeters, and your nurse says "okay, let's push" - and without any discussion, you're guided into whatever position is easiest for everyone else in the room. Except it doesn't have to go that way. Trish is breaking down pushing positions, what the research actually says about each one, and exactly how to get the birth room to work with you - even if you have an epidural.Trish pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked parts of birth prep: how you push. She traces the surprising (and slightly wild) history of why flat-on-your-back...

What would it feel like to go into labor fully prepared for your VBAC - and then have your baby flip breech in the middle of it? That's exactly what happened to Kathryn May, a VBAC Lab student and stay-at-home mom of two from Charlotte, NC.After a traumatic first birth that ended in an unplanned C-section, Kathryn was determined to do things differently the second time around. She switched to a VBAC-supportive practice, brought her husband fully into the process, and walked into labor informed and ready. Things were progressing beautifully - until a routine check...

Birth vibes are everywhere right now - and Jen Hamilton's book earned every bit of its #1 spot. But vibes alone won't get you through a decision in the delivery room. This week, Trish breaks down what Jen gets so right, and why you need both the vibes and the map. Jen Hamilton's Birth Vibes has taken over birth prep conversations everywhere, and moms keep asking Trish the same question: is it vibes over plans now? Trish's answer - Jen's right, but it's not the whole picture. In this episode, Trish unpacks what "birth vibes" actually means (mindset...

I'm joined by Dr. Brooke Kalisiak, a pelvic physical therapist and owner of Legacy Physical Therapy in St. Louis. We’re diving into one of the most overlooked - but incredibly important - parts of your birth and postpartum journey: your pelvic floor.Dr. Brooke Kalisiak helps women prepare for birth, recover postpartum, and overcome pelvic health issues like pain and bladder leakage so they can feel strong and confident without relying on medications or surgery. She’s passionate about educating women on what’s normal, what’s not, and how to take control of their pelvic health.<...

You got your GBS results back and they're positive - and suddenly it feels like your entire birth plan just got ripped out of your hands. Does this mean induction? Antibiotics no matter what? Is an unmedicated birth even still on the table?Before you spiral into a Google hole at midnight, Trish is here to set the record straight. As a 16-year high-risk L&D nurse who's been in the room with hundreds of GBS positive mamas, she's breaking down exactly what this diagnosis does - and doesn't - mean for your birth.In...

If your sex life basically disappeared after baby, this one's for you, mama.You're touched out, running on fumes, and the LAST thing on your mind is sex - but your partner keeps bringing it up, and now you're stuck in this exhausting cycle of guilt, resentment, and disconnection. Sound familiar?This week I'm sitting down with Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy, a certified sex and couples therapist (and mama of two) who's spent 15 years helping couples navigate exactly this. We're getting real about why your desire disappears after baby, why "just fix the emotional connection...

You've probably already made a decision about your epidural. The problem? You made it before anyone walked you through what actually happens.In this episode, I'm breaking down the entire epidural process from the moment you say "I think I want it" to the moment we pull the catheter out after delivery - the timing, the placement, what it actually feels like, the side effects nobody mentions, and the questions I get asked most as a 16+ year L&D nurse. Whether you're planning to get one, planning to go unmedicated, or you're a "let's see how I...

Your discharge is not a problem to Google in a panic - it's one of the most powerful fertility signals your body produces. And yet, most of us were never taught that. In this episode, Trish sits down with Sabrina Nowicki, CEO of Cyclisity - the official charting app of the landmark book Taking Charge of Your Fertility - for a conversation about body literacy, fertility awareness, and why understanding your cycle might be the most empowering thing you do for your reproductive health.Sabrina brings an engineering and product design background to her role as CEO...

In this insightful podcast episode we focus on preparing for an unmedicated birth.Emphasizing on how you can address your fears and the importance of understanding your “WHY” for choosing an unmedicated birth.Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cmsLeave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!6 Ways to Prepare for An Unmedicated Birth:Mindset Matters: Addressing your fears and your mindset happens long before the labor room. Replace your fears with TRUTH, and having a clear “WHY” for choosing an unmed...

Most birth prep focuses on you - your breathing, your birth plan, your body. But what about the person standing next to you? Because here's the truth: if your partner isn't prepared, they will default to the doctor. Every single time. And you'll be left feeling completely alone in one of the most intense, vulnerable moments of your life.That's exactly why I brought Lena Athena onto the show. Lena is changing how the world understands boundaries. She created the Kind Boundaries framework to show that boundaries aren't a source of conflict, they're the foundation of every...

You spent months preparing for an unmedicated birth - the classes, the breathing, the mindset. And then your provider says induction, and your stomach drops. You know it's medically the right call, but it feels like everything you planned just went out the window.Here's what I need you to hear: induction and unmedicated birth are not mutually exclusive. I've done it three times myself, and I've helped countless students do it too.In this episode, we're breaking down exactly what induction actually means, what your real options are, and how to stay in the...

Ever stood in the baby food aisle feeling completely lost? This episode is for you.This week, Trish sits down with Jordyn Koveleski Gorman - licensed speech-language pathologist, feeding specialist, and founder of Eat Play Say - to talk about the stuff your pediatrician simply doesn't have time to cover at a 15-minute well visit.With nearly a decade of clinical experience and a community of over 800,000 parents, Jordyn breaks it all down in a way that will actually make mealtimes feel less like a battle and more like a win.Join the...

She was 12 hours into labor when a nurse walked in carrying a tablet - and a judge appeared on the screen to decide what would happen to her body.This isn't a social media horror story. This happened in Florida, in 2026, to a woman who was not only informed - she was a doula. She had a prior C-section complicated by a dangerous hemorrhage. Refusing another surgery wasn't a whim. It was a medical decision she had every right to make.And a judge overruled her anyway.In this episode, we're getting into...

Stephanie brings a unique perspective to breastfeeding and postpartum support by combining occupational therapy expertise with lactation consulting. After 9+ years in the NICU and her own breastfeeding journey with her premature son in 2023, she's committed to helping families navigate lactation and infant development with confidence and compassion. In this episode, we talk about what a session with Stephanie looks like, prenatal prep, postpartum red flags, and why asking for help isn't optional—it's essential. Key TakeawaysBefore Baby Arrives: 3 Powerful Prenatal ChoicesTake a prenatal lactation class — Most insurance covers it. Being prepped gives you...

Everyone calls the second trimester the "honeymoon phase" - but if you're in it right now and not feeling blissful and glowing, you are not doing it wrong. In this episode, Trish is pulling back the curtain on what's actually happening in your body during weeks 13 through 27, because comfortable does not mean uneventful.Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cmsLeave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!In this episode, Trish covers:Why the second trimester gets its reputation - and where...

I am SO excited for you to hear this birth story with my Calm Labor Confident Birth Course student, Linda Kelly. Linda has been part of the Labor Nurse Mama community since 2021. She joined the Calm Labor Confident Birth course after her first birth that left her feeling like it just happened to her - no knowledge, no voice, no power. Fast forward to baby number two, and Linda walked into that hospital armed with her birth plan, her snacks, her AirPods in, Modern Family queued up, and absolutely zero tolerance for being told what to do...

Let's talk about birth plans - and yes, I know that's going to land differently for everyone reading this. But after 16 years as a high-risk labor and delivery nurse and thousands of births, I need to say what I've seen: the traditional birth plan might not be helping you the way you think it is. In fact, it could be setting you up for unnecessary disappointment and a feeling of failure you absolutely do not deserve.In this episode, I'm introducing you to a concept I teach all of my students - the birth map - and...

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “how do I get my baby to sleep?” at 2 AM… this episode is for you. Because let’s be honest - baby sleep advice is LOUD, conflicting, and overwhelming. One expert says cry it out, another says never let them cry. One says strict schedules, another says go with the flow. And you’re left exhausted, questioning everything.In this conversation, I’m joined by Chrissy Lawler, therapist, baby sleep consultant, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper - and she’s breaking down what actually works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to i...

If you’ve been Googling every little symptom in early pregnancy… you’re not alone. But the internet can’t tell you what’s actually normal vs. what needs attention - and that uncertainty can send you into a spiral fast.In this episode, Trish breaks it all down in a way Google never could. You’ll learn which first trimester symptoms might feel scary but are usually totally normal - and which ones are true red flags that deserve a call to your provider (or even a trip to the ER).This is your guide to fee...