back from the borderline baby: pregnancy & motherhood

This is it—the ninth and final installment of the Labor Map series, a comprehensive guide designed to empower and prepare you for the stages of labor. In this episode, we’re covering the monumental moments that follow full dilation, leading to the birth of your baby, and beyond. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital birth, birthing center, or home delivery, this episode provides practical insigh...

This is part eight of our multi-episode Labor Map series, and today, we’re talking logistics. You’ve already learned how to recognize when labor is starting and how to tune into your emotional and physical signposts. Now, it’s time to figure out how to get to the hospital and what to expect when you walk through those doors.   In this episode, we’re getting practical: • When it’s time to head...

When it comes to how labor starts, Hollywood has done a hell of a job setting us all up for confusion. We’re taught to expect a dramatic gush of water, frantic dashes to the hospital, and chaos unfolding in real-time. But for most of us, labor doesn’t look—or feel—anything like that.   This is part seven of our multi-episode Labor Map series, where we’re breaking down the twists, turns, and u...

Welcome to part six of the Labor Map series—a deep dive into the unique patterns of labor progression and the often misunderstood role of cervical checks. Labor isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. Some mothers experience quick, intense progress (what we call the “speedster” pattern), while others settle into a slower, more measured rhythm (the “putterer” pattern). Neither is better or worse—they’re...

Welcome to Part 5 of the Labor Map series, a multi-episode guide designed to help you navigate the unpredictable journey of labor with confidence and clarity. In this episode, we explore the emotional map of labor —a groundbreaking way to understand and recognize the emotional signposts that guide you through the phases of childbirth.   Unlike the traditional focus on physical milestones like...

Welcome to part four of the Labor Map series, a comprehensive guide to labor preparation designed with real-life experience and research in mind. This episode tackles a vital but often overlooked aspect of birth: the six fundamental needs of the laboring mother. These are not luxuries or optional extras—they’re rooted in biology and essential for creating the conditions that allow labor to progres...

Part 3 of our Labor Map Series takes on one of the most essential tools in your labor prep: timing contractions. But here’s the truth—this process is often oversimplified and misunderstood. Timing contractions isn’t just about downloading an app and pressing a button; it’s about knowing when and how to track them, avoiding unnecessary stress, and tuning into what your body is telling you.   I...

Welcome to Part 2 of the Labor Map Series, your comprehensive guide to preparing for and navigating childbirth. This episode builds on the relaxation and mindset techniques discussed in Part 1, so if you haven’t listened to that yet, I highly recommend starting there. In this episode, we focus on a guided visualization designed specifically to support you during contractions. Whether you’re experi...

Welcome to the first episode of The Labor Map series—a comprehensive guide to navigating the mental and physical challenges of labor with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re gearing up for a hospital birth, a home delivery, or somewhere in between, this series is here to prepare you and your support partner for the dynamic and unpredictable process ahead.   In this episode, we focus on rel...

Parenting advice tends to focus on the surface: what to buy, what to avoid, and how to get it “right.” But what if the most important work of motherhood has nothing to do with the baby gear or the milestones? What if the real transformation is happening inside of you, shaping not just the way you parent but who you are becoming?   This episode peels back the layers of motherhood to explore th...

Pregnancy can feel like you’re drifting on an island—isolated, unsure, and constantly wondering if you’re doing it “right.” That’s where Reddit bump groups come in. They promise a space to connect with other moms-to-be, all due the same month as you. Sounds ideal, right? Not so fast. What I found is that these spaces can be a double-edged sword.   In this episode, I’m sharing the raw truth ab...

Labor is unpredictable. You can prepare all you want, but at the end of the day, labor is completely unpredictable. In this raw and deeply personal episode, I’m sharing my birth story—a journey filled with surprises, lessons, and the unexpected. I went into labor with a plan for a totally unmedicated birth. Things didn’t go as planned, but instead of feeling defeated, I came away empowered, inform...

Navigating the creation of a baby registry can feel like a nightmare. The pressure to “get it right” is real. Society, mommy bloggers, and aggressive marketing tell you your baby’s happiness depends on having ALL THE THINGS .   In this episode, I’m diving into the baby registry madness with a perspective you won’t find in influencer reels or one-size-fits-all checklists. We’ll start by unpack...

When it comes to hospital bag advice, the internet is a minefield. One list tells you to pack half your house, another says you’ll regret not bringing a portable fan, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what “essential” means. The result? Overwhelm, second-guessing, and the creeping feeling that you’ll forget something crucial. Let’s cut through the chaos. In this episode, I’m sharing w...

Feeding your baby can feel like navigating a maze of expectations, myths, and conflicting advice. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or exploring the world of combo feeding, there’s a pressure cooker of opinions waiting to tell you what you’re doing wrong. The truth? Fed is best . In this episode, I’m breaking down everything I wish I knew about feeding my baby—raw, real, and without ju...

Motherhood reshapes the Self in profound and unexpected ways. In the second part of this series, we delve into the psychological and existential depths of postpartum—a journey marked by identity loss, raw emotion, and the transformative power of self-compassion. This episode focuses on understanding the complexity of motherhood, beyond the clichés and idealized narratives. We begin by exploring po...

Postpartum is a transformative rite of passage. In this episode, we’re reimagining the postpartum journey—moving beyond clinical definitions and diagnostic labels to uncover its deeper, sacred, and primal essence. Far from the standard conversations about “baby blues” or “postpartum depression,” we’ll explore the soul of this experience, asking: What if the challenges and emotions that arise durin...

How long does postpartum really last—and why is so much of this journey left out of common advice? In this three-hour deep dive, I’m unpacking the full experience of postpartum, from the first vulnerable hours after birth to the unpredictable weeks and months that follow. Starting with the immediate aftermath, we’ll break down physical realities like standing for the first time, navigating postpar...

The third trimester of pregnancy (weeks 28 to birth) is a time of physical intensity, emotional reflection, and preparation for one of life’s most profound transitions. This episode dives into the realities of late pregnancy, covering everything from common symptoms like headaches and fatigue to the quieter, emotional shifts that often go unnoticed. Together, we’ll explore ways to manage pregnancy...

The second trimester (weeks 13-27) is often thought of as a “honeymoon phase,” a time when nausea fades, energy returns, and excitement builds as the pregnancy becomes more physically and emotionally tangible. Yet, this period also brings unexpected challenges that go beyond the common symptom checklist. In this episode, we dive into the complex, layered experience of the second trimester, offerin...

The first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12) is not just a whirlwind of physical changes—it’s an emotional, psychological, and spiritual transformation. In this episode, we go beyond the common symptom checklist to explore the deeper, unspoken realities of early pregnancy. From unrelenting nausea and fatigue to the sudden, jarring loss of control over your own body, we shed light on how this phas...