Andrea's Inspiring Natural Birth Story

Did you know that over 80% of pregnant women across the US hope to give birth without an epidural?? Can you take a guess on how many women end up getting an epidural - 71%! So what's with this big discrepancy?!

The truth is, many women go into their labor and delivery experience completely unprepared for what an unmedicated birth involves. So today, let's talk about tips and strategies for the mamas that do want to try to birth without an epidural. Because I believe in you and know you can do it!

And even if you are 100% set on getting an epidural, this is a good listen because you just never know how it's going to go down on the big day!

Want to birth without an epidural?

Get our FREE Natural Birth Prep Pack to gain 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 and Resources

• EP126: Natural Labor Birth Story After a Traumatic Birth
• EP135: A Positive Natural Birth Story
• The Leapfrog Group
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

In this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we are talking about some of the weirder postpartum symptoms you might experience!

I'm sure there are some aspects of postpartum recovery that you're ready for - the bleeding, the exhaustion, the soreness. But did you know about the night sweats that may leave you soaking wet? Or the postpartum chills that will have you wearing a hoodie in the dead of summer?

If not, tune in as I review a thorough list of postpartum symptoms to be on the lookout for! I'm confident after listening, you'll feel at least a *little* more prepared for postpartum life!

Limited Time Offer!

Grab our brand new (and FREE!) Pregnancy Planner and eliminate that pregnancy and postpartum overwhelm 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

• EP74: Seriously Why is Postpartum so Hard?
• EP113: Postpartum Nutrition and Wellness

In today's episode, we dive into Fallon's incredible journey through pregnancy, birth, and caring for her premature baby.

From the minute she found out she was pregnant, to weeks after he was born - Fallon's story has a ton of ups and downs! Her story is one of resilience, intuition, and the power of advocating for yourself in the face of medical challenges.

So join me for this rollercoaster of a birth story, and hear about the valuable lessons she learned along the way! 

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!

Pregnancy is often a time centered around the birthing mama. Right from the beginning, you and baby start to bond as he/she grows inside you. But, are you wondering how to get your partner excited about pregnancy too?

On today's episode, we're talking about partners and how to help them get excited about pregnancy right from the start!

We'll talk about bonding ideas between partner and your growing bump, big events your partner can play a role in, and inspire some ‘expecting dates’ you can do in every trimester. 

With these ideas, your partner will be just as excited about pregnancy as you are!

Grab our FREE Partner Support Guide!

To prepare your partner to support you in pregnancy, birth, and beyond! You can grab it right here!

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

• EP70: Why Do We Fight With Our Partners After Having Babies?
• EP136: Preparing Your Relationship for Baby with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

In today’s episode we're diving into a topic that sometimes hides in the shadows — anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum.

Anxiety isn't just confined to the postpartum period; it can weave its way into the fabric of pregnancy too. So in this episode we unravel the layers of anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, explore natural remedies to ease the journey, and talk about when medication is the right move.

If you or a loved one is suffering from ANY perinatal mood disorder, know that there is help out there. Call your provider right away and let them know that something isn't right.

For more acute situations, call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

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 Resources and Episodes

• EP142: Mental Health in Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Motherhood with Dr. Ashurina Ream
• EP157: Discussing Perinatal Mental Health with Perinatal Psychiatrist, Nichelle Haynes
• EP187: Understanding Postpartum Psychosis with Erica Djossa
• Find a perinatal therapist
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline number: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)

Welcome back to another episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the world of baby movement during pregnancy with special guest, Kimberly Isburg from one of my favorite organizations, Count the Kicks!

Kimberly is a passionate advocate for maternal health causes and is honored to work for an organization that is dedicated to improving birth outcomes and saving the lives of moms and babies.

Inside the interview, I will be exploring crucial aspects of kick counting during pregnancy with Kimberly. She will share her insights on the importance of kick counting, dispel myths surrounding fetal movement, provide valuable tips for expectant mothers, and more!

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 Episode and Resources

• EP127: Stillbirth Prevention Tips
• Count the Kicks Website
• Count the Kicks FREE App
• Count the Kicks Instagram

About Kimberly Isburg

Kimberly Isburg is the Communications Manager for Healthy Birth Day, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that created the Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention program. Kimberly used Count the Kicks to get to know her babies’ normal movement patterns during both of her pregnancies and is proud to be the mom of two healthy boys.

She is a passionate advocate for maternal health causes and is honored to work for an organization that is dedicated to improving birth outcomes and saving the lives of moms and babies.

This week, let's talk about a situation I hope you never need but should definitely know - how to deliver a baby at home. Better to be prepared, right?!

Listen in as I explore the 10 steps to delivering a baby. From recognizing when it's time to head to the hospital to handling emergency situations, I've got you covered.

This practical guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge you might need in unforeseen circumstances - because, let's face it, life is unpredictable!!

Want to feel more in control of your birth experience?

No matter how you plan to deliver, the FREE Birth Prep Guide is here to help you prepare.

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 Episode

• EP96: Tess's Very Precipitous Birth Story!

Today we're delving into the nitty-gritty of postpartum life - from managing those initial cramps while breastfeeding to understanding the ebb and flow of post-birth bleeding.

We'll also explore C-section recovery, red flags to watch for during those first 6 weeks, and I'll demystify the phenomenon of postpartum night sweats.

This is a great one to listen to whether you are still pregnant or already cuddling your sweet baby! 

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

• EP81: I Wish I Knew This Before Having My C-Section
• EP167: Preparing for Postpartum: What You Can Do Before Giving Birth

On this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, Mae Yoshikawa joined me all the way from Japan to share her 2 epidural-free birth stories.

Her first was born in a birth center in South Japan, and was rather traumatic. Mae dealt with a long, intense labor with a significant amount of pain throughout. Eight years later, she used the wisdom that she's learned from years of intense practice as a yoga and meditation teacher and applied it to her birth. She was able to have an all natural and almost pain free water birth at her home with her husband and midwife by her side.

Mae’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact that your mindset can have on your birth experience. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it!

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!

About Mae Yoshikawa

Mae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, she became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. Since then, Mae has been a trailblazing force in the wellness field throughout the Asia-Pacific region as Japanese Yogini magazine featured her on 42 consecutive covers.

As the face of Adidas yoga, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People’s Award” in 2016 for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Life’s Tidal Waves + Epiphanies = Love Beyond Time and Death is a heart-wrenching and heart-arousing memoir that chronicles her experience of finding herself again through grief after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018. 

Learn more about Mae and her upcoming book Kizuki at her Flagship Website or on Instagram. 

Today we're diving into a topic that's close to the hearts (and stomachs!) of many expecting moms - nausea and vomiting!

I do want to give a little trigger warning that if your nausea is triggered by the discussion of this topic, you may want to skip this episode. I know how sensitive some can be with this stuff!!

I'll start out by exploring some dietary tips to tackle pregnancy nausea head-on. Then, I'll shift the focus to vomiting during labor. It’s definitely not everyone's favorite topic, but it's a reality for many moms-to-be!

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!

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