Labor Lessons

E36 Missy Jul 15, 2026 2127 LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

E35 Sonia: Make Yourself a Priority- preeclampsia, covid quarantine pregnancy Feb 14, 2024 1738 Sonia is a former educator turned health coach. She developed preeclampsia suddenly at 34 weeks pregnant with her second child. This was during covid quarantine, and she was teaching from home while caring full-time for her toddler daughter. Sonia didn't have much time or energy to care for herself. She also didn't have many in-person visits with her OB. Most of her appointments were vir

E34 Natalie: Postpartum Rage, Prenatal Anxiety and Depression, Mood Disorders Jan 17, 2024 3140 Natalie is a second-time mom and co-host of The Golden Hour podcast. Last year, I spoke with Liz, the other co-host of The Golden Hour podcast, about her postpartum anxiety. In this episode, Natalie shares her battles with prenatal and postpartum mood disorders. After Natalie's son was born, she had postpartum anxiety. That anxiety was never fully resolved before she got pregnant with her dau

E33 Allison: The Need For Better Education On Mood Disorders- prenatal anxiety, postpartum depression, mental health during pregnancy and postpartum Nov 8, 2023 2476 Allison is an intuitive medium and owner of Souls of a Feather where she offers readings online. In this episode, she shares her experience with both prenatal and postpartum mood disorders. Allison suffered from PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), and tried for two years to get pregnant. She finally decided to take a break from trying to focus on her health. She asked her doctor for birth control

E32 Natalia: Using Grief To Grow- Infant Asphyxiation and Loss, Grief, Strength and Resilience Jun 28, 2023 2307 One year ago today, Natalia's son Xavian was born. Just 12 hours later, he passed away. Natalia is originally from Russia, and currently lives in Brazil. She and her husband love to travel. While in Egypt, she found out she was pregnant. They looked for a place to settle down and have their baby, and at six months pregnant decided on Brazil. She found a Russian midwife there and was excited

E31 Maureen: Listening To Your Intuition- homebirth, stalled labor, breastfeeding struggles postpartum, giving birth as a midwife May 24, 2023 2317 Maureen Farrell is a lactation counselor, doula, herbalist, and homebirth midwife practicing in rural West Virginia. She is also the co-host of the Milk Minute podcast, which provides evidence-based and entertaining breastfeeding information. Maureen had her first child at home before she became a midwife. Preparing for her first birth, she read a lot of books and thought that she needed to be cal

E30: How To Advocate For Yourself During Labor- 10 Doulas Share Their Best Advice May 10, 2023 1419 One of the most common things I hear when talking with women about their birth experiences is that they didn't know how to advocate for themselves going in. Whether they were overwhelmed by what they were feeling, or they were mistreated by the medical staff, they were unsure how to make themselves heard and respected. In this episode, 10 doulas share their best piece of advice for advocatin

E29 Stefanie: Trusting Your Support System During Birth- asphyxiation, potential traumatic birth, importance of strong support system Apr 12, 2023 2294 Stefanie lives in Scandinavia where she raises her two boys. Throughout her journey into motherhood, she experienced the benefits of a health system where midwives are the forefront of pregnancy and birth. Stefanie's first son asphyxiated right after being born. What could have been a traumatic event for her was not, due to her strong support system. Her birth team calmly handled the situatio

E28 Jenna: A Few Things Learned Through Three Different Experiences- severe UTI caused by catheter, induction by breaking water, fentanyl for pain relief Mar 22, 2023 2176 Jenna was induced with her first son at 41 weeks. She went into labor without having taken a birth class, and without doing any research because she believed that knowing too much about giving birth might hinder her ability to do it. Her body didn't respond to the Pitocin, which was continually increased. When her provider broke her water, labor kicked in very fast. However, due to the increa

E27 Kimberly Tara: Prepare for the Unexpected and Have Multiple Plans- precipitous labor, induced labor, birthing during COVID Mar 8, 2023 3359 At 36 weeks pregnant with her first child, Kimberly was concerned that her baby wasn't moving enough. Her doctor sent her for monitoring and even though she wasn't dilated, they decided to induce her. That night, she ended up going into labor naturally on her own! The epidural didn't work at first, but her labor progressed slowly enough that there was time to fix it. She ended up wi

E26 Jen Salk: It's Okay To Ask For Help- forceps delivery, third degree episiotomy, traumatic vaginal birth followed by positive c-section Feb 22, 2023 1434 Jen is very much a type A personality. She loves to plan way in advance of events taking place. Even with all of her planning, she still wasn't prepared for how her first birth went. Her daughter was stuck and delivered by forceps. She had her clavicle broken in the process of being delivered. Jen ended up with a third degree episiotomy, and needed a lot of time to recover. Jen spent a few ex

E25 Adrianne Babbitt: Be Your Own Advocate- induced labor, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy rainbow baby Feb 8, 2023 2998 Adrianne Babbitt is a Christian author, blogger, proofreader, and mentor. She recently relauched her debut book, "The Miscarriage Project" and her launched her new children's book series, "Princess With A Purpose". In addition, she also runs her own Christian lifestyle blog, The Haven.Adrianne's first labor did not go as she expected. Her water broke two days before l

E24 Eileen Joy: No One Cares About You More Than You- changing providers multiple times, homebirth with midwife, empowering birth Feb 1, 2023 2753 Eileen Joy is the Money Coach for Moms. She's also the woman who FIRED four doctors to have the birth she dreamed about!When she got pregnant with her son, Eileen totally changed her life around. She ate very clean and got rid of toxic chemicals in her house. She cared deeply about what she was putting into her body, and how she was treating her unborn son. This lifestyle carried over into he

E23 My Journey With Postpartum Anxiety: Unplanned C-Section, Postpartum Anxiety Jan 25, 2023 892 In this episode, I share some of my struggle with postpartum anxiety. During my unplanned c-section, I was left feeling out of control, with no one explaining to me what was happening. I felt like a bystander, watching birth happen to me. Afterwards, my anxiety was triggered when they took my daughter for her newborn screening tests. Again, no one explained to me what was happening or how long she

E22 Liz: Postpartum Anxiety Is Very Common- Know The Signs- postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, postpartum anxiety Jan 18, 2023 2541 Liz from the Golden Hour podcast joins me in this episode to share her story! Liz has always been a planner, and spent a lot of time preparing for birth. She found a birth center attached to a hospital, and loved the welcoming atmosphere. She hired a doula, and felt confident that her birth would go well. While Liz planned a lot for birth, she didn't plan as much for postpartum. She ended up

12th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- TENS Unit Jan 1, 2023 199 What the heck is a TENS unit? TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It works by sending electrical pulses through a handheld device through your body, to your spinal cord and brain. In this episode, I talk about what a TENS unit is and why it works. I share what it feels like and where you can find them if you're interested in trying them out. TENS UnitSong "Christ

11th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Visualization Techniques Dec 31, 2022 184 How can visualization exercises help you manage pain during labor? They help keep your mind focused, and can relieve anxiety and fear that you might feel. In this special episode, I share a few visualization exercises that I like, and explain how to do them. Birthing From Within Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusicLaborLessons.co

10th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Jingle/Poem Repetition Dec 30, 2022 144 This tool comes from the book "Birthing From Within", by Pam England and Rob Horowitz. Pam calls it a "self-hypnotic jingle". It's a rhythmic affirmation that states an outcome you want. In this episode, I share the story behind Pam's "chocolate cake" jingle, and the one I created for myself for my second labor. Birthing From WithinSong "Christmas&quot

9th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- The Comb Hack Dec 22, 2022 113 How can a comb help you manage pain during labor? Squeezing a comb during labor activates the Gates Control Theory of Pain, which says that when the pain "gates" are closed, you feel less pain. In this episode, I share about how a comb is a little known hack that can be used to help you feel less pain during contractions, and why this works. Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY

8th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Massager Dec 21, 2022 88 We've talked about counterpressure and light touch, but let's talk about something everyone loves: a good massage. A massager can help relieve pain during contractions and can be used to help you relax in between contractions. In this episode, I talk about why a massage gun is a good tool to bring with you to the hospital. Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™http

7th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Aromatherapy Dec 20, 2022 107 Aromatherapy works by stimulating the part of your brain responsible for emotions and memories. This includes the part responsible for anxiety and fear. In this episode, I share how aromatherapy can help lower pain during labor, and the best types of essential oils to use. Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusicLaborLessons.comEnjoy

6th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Light Touch Massage Dec 19, 2022 113 How can light touch massage help relieve pain during labor? Did you know that light touch massage can release endorphins? Endorphins help us cope with pain. In today's special episode, I share how to have your support person do a light touch massage on you during labor. Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusicLaborLessons.comEnjo

5th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Counterpressure Dec 18, 2022 142 What is counterpressure and how can it help relieve pain during contractions? In this episode, I talk about what counterpressure is and how it can be used during labor for pain relief. I also share about the different types of counterpressure and explain how to do one. 3 Types of Counterpressure Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusi

4th Day of Christmas: Coping With Pain During Labor- Hypnobirthing, Meditation, Breathing Techniques Dec 17, 2022 321 What is Hypnobirthing? How can it help you have a better birth? What's the difference between Hypnobirthing and meditation? In this special episode, I share a little about how hypnobirthing, meditation, and various breathing techniques can help you cope with pain during labor. I also share some of the differences between them, and the most important thing to keep in mind when using any of the

3rd Day of Christmas Special: Coping With Pain During Labor- Birth Affirmations Dec 16, 2022 333 Have you ever heard of birth affirmations before? How do birth affirmations work? What are some good birth affirmations? In this special episode, I share about how birth affirmations affect our mindset and our belief in our body's capabilities. I go over how affirmations helped me achieve my VBAC, and I also share some of my favorite birth affirmations.In episode 12, Anum shared about the po

2nd Day of Christmas Special: Coping with Pain During Labor: Using Water For Pain Relief Dec 15, 2022 105 Do you take a hot shower at the end of a long day to help you relax? Water can be a great tool to use for pain relief during labor. In this episode, I share my experience with using a shower during my second labor. I also share what might exclude you from being able to use the tub or shower at the hospital. Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic b

1st Day of Christmas Special- Coping With Pain During Labor: Movement During Labor Dec 14, 2022 171 How can movement help you cope with pain during labor? Welcome to the First Day of Christmas special episode! In this short episode, I share how movement can be helpful in progressing labor, and what that movement might look like. I also share how moving can help you manage pain during a natural birth. Stick around! There's 11 more days to go!Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY musi

E21 Jennifer Senn Talks Pregnancy Loss- stillbirth, navigating guilt and blame, how to support someone who has lost a baby Dec 7, 2022 2270 Jennifer is a certified life coach who specializes in pregnancy loss recovery coaching. She is also the creator and host of the Navigating Baby Loss podcast. Jennifer's third pregnancy ended in the stillbirth of her twin daughters, weeks before they were to be born. She had two young sons she was caring for, and didn't process her grief until much later. She suffered from physical ailmen

E20 Krista: Hold the Vision of What You Want and Trust Yourself to Let It Happen- difficulty finding a provider, short labor, accidental homebirth, Nov 30, 2022 2844 During Krista's fourth pregnancy, she had difficulty finding a provider and the care that she needed. She wanted to birth with a midwife, but there wasn't one accessible in her area. She ended up planning to deliver at a hospital that was pretty far from her house. She had recently moved and didn't have family nearby, and worried about what to do with her other children when she we

E19 Eir Atla: Listen To Your Body And Advocate For Yourself- partial placental abruption, medical negligence, severe infection leads to maternal death, standing up to medical professionals Nov 16, 2022 2949 Eir got pregnant unexpectedly after years of suffering from endometriosis. During her pregnancy, she had two partial placental abruptions and was put on bed rest. At about six months pregnant, Eir began to have severe pain in her abdomen. She tried multiple times to call her doctor, but was written off as a first-time mom who was experiencing ligament pain. Even with her history of TWO partial abr

E18 Alissa Alter: We Do Not Have To Tolerate Unnecessary Pain- posterior baby, stalled labor, 4th degree tear, ptsd Nov 9, 2022 3598 Alissa Alter is also known as the "Amy Poehler of Vaginas" for her unfiltered and unapologetic approach to exploring the female experience. She is a former Broadway performer, certified pilates instructor, pelvic health expert, comedian, author, host of the podcast Alter Your Life, and co founder of pstprtm.comWhile in labor at the hospital, Alissa knew that something didn't feel ri

E17 Monica Tanner: The Myth That Each Labor Gets Shorter- precipitous third labor followed by 12-hour fourth labor with vacuum assist Nov 2, 2022 2438 Monica's first three labors got progressively shorter. The first one was around 7 hours long, the second one a few hours shorter, and her third labor lasted just 3 hours total. With her third baby, Monica barely had enough time to make it to the hospital before her daughter was born!Monica expected her fourth labor to be even faster. She told her doctor that she was going to sneeze and birth

E16 Christie: Have A Supportive Birthing Team and Advocate For Yourself- traumatic first birth, postpartum anxiety, change to birth center, doula, redemptive birth Oct 26, 2022 1651 In Christie's first birth, she was treated like an assembly line part, not a first-time mom who was scared and had no birthing experience. She didn't know how to advocate for herself. She trusted that the doctors and nurses would support her. It was a traumatic experience for her. The nurses treated her horribly, and she didn't feel like she mattered. She developed postpartum anxi

E15 Dr. Stephanie Rimka: Copper Toxicity and Postpartum Depression- importance of copper during pregnancy, depression and anxiety, postpartum depression and psychosis Oct 19, 2022 3459 Dr. Stephanie Rimka is a holistic brain optimization specialist. She built Brain and Body Solutions in Atlanta, Georgia, where she focuses on neurotherapies to identify and address the root causes of mental illness, chronic illness, and learning disorders.In this episode, Dr. Rimka shares how copper toxicity can cause postpartum depression. During pregnancy, our need for copper rises. It helps cre

E14 Danielle Booher: Be an Advocate for Yourself and Your Baby During Pregnancy and Birth- stillbirth at 25 weeks, mistreatment by hospital, placenta abrupta, learning to advocate for yourself Oct 12, 2022 2923 October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. Danielle had a stillbirth at 25 weeks of pregnancy. She was young, and was completely unaware of what her or her baby's rights were. In addition to being treated horribly, Danielle never received a birth certificate or a death certificate for her son. Later, when Danielle was in nursing school, she learned that she could have advocated for

E13 CA Kanooble: Prepare Ahead of Time for Giving Birth, and Do Your Research- improperly inserted epidural, traumatic first birth, importance of support system Oct 5, 2022 2076 CA Kanooble is a comedian, author, podcast host, and mental health advocate. But before all that, she became a mom. CA expected a calm, supportive birthing environment for her first-time experience. But instead, she was neglected, disrespected, and uncared for. She still has long-lasting effects from the epidural that was improperly inserted multiple times. Instead of wanting to remember every b

E12 Anum: Keeping a Positive Mindset and Visualizing an Easy Labor and Delivery- anxiety, difficult birth followed by NICU stay, changing mindset, easy labor Sep 28, 2022 1911 Anum struggled with being anxious before she became pregnant for the first time. She was so anxious, she would worry that she didn't have anything to worry about! When she became pregnant with her first child, Anum worked to change her mindset. She told herself that everything was great, and that she would have an easy labor and delivery. And she did! She has since implemented that positive m

Quick Tip 6: How to Find a VBAC Supportive Provider Sep 23, 2022 359 If you're pursuing a VBAC, you might have gotten the advice to find a supportive provider. But what does a VBAC supportive provider look like? How you do know if yours is one?In this week's quick tip, I discuss what conditions might be placed on your labor by a provider that is not supportive. I also include what those conditions look like for a provider who is VBAC supportive. I also sh

E11 Katie: You CAN Have a Vaginal Birth After a C-Section- induced labor ending in c-section, positive induction for vbac, advocating for yourself Sep 21, 2022 1548 Katie's first birth was an induction that ended in a c-section. Being in the medical field, she knew it was possible to have a vaginal birth after a c-section (VBAC). Katie knew she wanted a VBAC for her next child. When she got pregnant with her second baby, Katie told her doctors right away that she wanted to try for a vaginal birth. She scheduled a repeat c-section, but was hoping to be in

E10 Amanda Rolph: Having Patience, Trusting Your Body, and Letting Go of Control- anxiety over big baby, interventions, hemorrhage, postpartum depression, learning to advocate for yourself Sep 14, 2022 2138 Amanda had a lot of anxiety while pregnant with her first baby. People's comments about how big her baby might be contributed to her anxiety and her need to control things. Amanda's first birth experience was full of interventions and ended traumatically. For her second pregnancy, Amanda knew she had to relax and trust her body to birth her baby. This time, she was able to advocate for h

Quick Tip 5: How to Advocate for Yourself and Give Informed Consent Sep 9, 2022 233 Do you know how to advocate for yourself during labor? Do you know how to make an informed decision, or give informed consent? Today's quick tip walks you through using the acronym BRAIN to advocate for yourself. I also use a real-life example so you can see it in action. When you are informed, you can confidently make the best decisions for you and your baby. If you enjoy this podcast, pleas

E9 Betsy Sloan: Traumatic Induced Labor Followed by a Traumatic C-Section- obstetric violence, induction ending in c-section, postpartum depression Sep 7, 2022 1493 Betsy's induced labor was long, painful, and extremely traumatic. At many point during her labor, she asked the doctors to give her a c-section, but they refused. After 12 hours in excruciating pain, the doctors finally decided that Betsy needed to have a c-section. Betsy's birth story may have happened 38 years ago, but it is still relevant today. Her doctors ignored her requests, the t

Quick Tips 4: Ice Cube Exercise Sep 2, 2022 228 Whether you are planning to go unmedicated or know ahead of time you want pain relief, it's a good idea to labor at home for a while before you head to the hospital or birth center. How can you prepare for managing contractions during labor? Have you heard of the ice cube exercise? Doing it can help you train your mind and your body to focus in and relax during contractions. This makes for an

E8 Cassie Hutton: Hormones Produced During Labor and Creating an Environment to Help Labor Progress- coping with labor pain, homebirth, long labor, labor process Aug 31, 2022 1461 Cassie's first two labors were long and extremely painful. After doing some research about the labor process, Cassie's next two labors were short and a lot less painful. In this episode, Cassie shares about the hormones that are involved during the labor process, and how to create an environment that helps produce those hormones. She also discusses how to manage pain during labor. Cassie

Quick Tips 3: Switching Providers While Pregnant Aug 26, 2022 161 A lot of us hold a strong loyalty to our medical providers, even though we may feel unheard or unsupported by them. In this week's quick tip, I'll let you in on a little secret that some people may not know. It could change the way you think about your current provider. LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and wh

E7 Ariell: Find A Provider Who Is Aligned With Your Birth Plan- birthing center, provider change, hiring a doula Aug 24, 2022 1780 Once Ariell began to create her birth plan, she realized how difficult it would be to stick to it with her current provider. She decided to look for a birth center and found one near her. Ariell did her research, made some changes, and set herself up for success. Her birth plan went exactly as she hoped, and she had an amazing birthing experience. Listen as she recounts her birth story: the proces

Quick Tips 2: C-Section Options/Gentle C-Section Aug 19, 2022 181 Do you know what a "gentle c-section" is? Gentle c-sections, also called "family centered c-sections" are being offered at more and more hospitals. They are less traumatic and have better outcomes for both mom and baby. Listen, and find out what some of the options are during a gentle c-section. LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know

E6 April: Recovery After Multiple C-Sections- unplanned c-section, long labor, planned multiple c-sections, caring for children after c-section Aug 17, 2022 1373 April's first labor with her daughter ended in a c-section. It wasn't what she expected, but she quickly learned what helped her during recovery. April's three subsequent children were also c-sections. After having multiple c-sections with small children at home to care for, April is a bit of an expert. She shares some of the struggles and some of the joys, and offers advice for wom

Quick Tips 1: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag Aug 12, 2022 457 One of the most commonly asked questions when preparing for labor is: what should I pack in my hospital bag? Today's episode is a quick tip of something you definitely should bring that you might not think of. Pack this in your hospital bag, and you'll be glad you did!LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!

E5 Christine: Glasses or Contacts During Labor and Delivery Aug 10, 2022 1330 Christine's experience wearing glasses for her first labor and delivery did not go well. They kept fogging up and falling off. She didn't see her son until he was lying on her chest after being born. For her second birth, she decided to take what she had learned the first time around and make some changes.In this episode, Christine shares what made her decide to wear glasses or contacts

E4 Lauren: Physical Recovery after an Episiotomy- tearing vs. episiotomy, padsicles, difficulty urinating after birth Jul 27, 2022 1022 Physically recovering from birth is difficult enough, but tearing or having an episiotomy can make it worse. Lauren had an episiotomy while birthing her son. Afterwards, she had difficulty peeing. When she did, it burned so bad it made her not want to. She also had trouble sitting down and getting around. In this interview with Lauren, she talks about certain aspects of the physical recovery tha

E3 VBAC Tolerant vs. VBAC Supportive Provider- ob vs. midwife, bait and switch, unsupportive provider and birthing environment Jul 20, 2022 994 Are you considering pursuing a VBAC(Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)? Are you unsure if your provider will support you? In this episode, I discuss the difference between a provider who is VBAC tolerant vs. VBAC supportive. I also share how I found out my provider was not VBAC supportive, and my experience birthing in a non-VBAC supportive hospital. The VBAC Link- VBAC Friendly DoctorsThe VBAC Link Po

E2 My Position vs. Baby's Position During Labor- posterior baby, birthing on your back, movement during labor Jul 13, 2022 1046 Baby being malpositioned is one of the leading causes of unplanned c-sections. In this episode I share how my first daughter's positioning led to my c-section. I also discuss the changes I made with my second daughter to keep the same thing from happening again. LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me o

E1 A C-Section is Major Surgery, and Comes with Major Risks- unplanned c-section, posterior baby Jul 6, 2022 896 Do you know how many layers are cut during a c-section? Are you aware that there are both short-term and long-term risks? Even though many people may make it seem like it's no big deal, a c-section is major surgery. In this episode, I discuss what's involved with a c-section, and the risks that come along with it. I also share my experience with having a c-section with my first daughter

Trailer Jul 2, 2022 42 Was your first-time birth experience not exactly what you wanted or hoped for? Would you like to make it better for the next time? Or maybe you’d just like to know that you’re not alone on your birthing journey?If so, then the Labor Lessons podcast is for you. Every episode shares one lesson learned from unique labor and delivery experiences. Every episode gives you the opportunity to expand your

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