Notes on Arrival

That's a wrap on season 2! We reflect on what we've learned in 40 episodes (!!!), and share about what we'll be working on over the next few months. Expect new episodes in March 2026! In the meantime, help us out by sending your favorite episodes to your friends and family. Interested in sharing your story? Email us at notesonarrival@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @notesonarrival

Induction rates have skyrocketed in recent years, with 30-32% of births now being induced and over 40% of women reporting their providers attempted induction. We break down what labor induction actually involves, from cervical ripening techniques to the pitocin-epidural cycle that often follows. We explore when induction is truly medically necessary versus when it's recommended for questionabl...

In this episode, we share our personal rationales for choosing unmedicated births and dive deep into what that experience really looks like. We break down epidurals - what they are, how they work, and the potential risks and considerations that factored into our decisions. From the intense emotional rollercoaster of unmedicated labor to the practical prep work that helped us through, we're get...

Jamie is a single mother by choice. Her journey to becoming a mom is brave and inspiring, and she shares so much about the unique and challening experience as a single mom. Jamie is also a maternal mental health specialist who focuses on individuals that use third party reproduction to have children. Ever thought about having a kid on your own without a partner? Or considering using a donor? This...

Cara's birth took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition involving multiple bags of water, leading to an unplanned c-section. Cara shares her journey with incredible humor and authenticity, offering wisdom about finding the right provider and navigating the emotional recovery process. Her story is perfect for anyone whose birth didn't go as planned or for those...

Shreya "science-d her baby into existence". Which really just means that she used her Oura ring to track her cycle and successfully get pregnant on the first try. She was fortune during conception, pregnancy and even birth which ended up being a smoother and faster experience than she had planned for. Shreya admittedly didn't do a ton of birth prep, but had support from an amazing do...

What happens when you're navigating pregnancy and birth in a foreign country? Jenny shares the story of her two births, both from surprise pregnancies. For her second, she chose a homebirth in her adopted home of Colombia, where she faced the unique challenges of finding trusted providers, understanding different healthcare systems, and adapting to new cultural approaches to birth. Jenny had t...

Jordan Wolff is a chiropractor based in NYC who is trained in the Webster Technique. This technique is specifically used on pregnant women to help relieve pain, improve baby's position and optimize spine health in preparation for birth. He has many pregnant patients, but is adamant that everyone can benefit from chiropractic care. After listening to this episode, you'll be thinking to your...

Join Notes on Arrival hosts Gwen and Margo for the second part of their "ask me anything" series. Gwen and Margo answer questions from listeners about postpartum and motherhood. Check us out on Youtube! https://youtu.be/QVl0Lry57fw Resources: Bringing Up Bebe This podcast does not offer medical advice. Interested in sharing your story? DM us on instgram @notesonarrival or email us at not...

Join Notes on Arrival hosts Gwen and Margo for their first ever video episode ! Gwen and Margo answer questions from listeners about trying to conceive, pregnancy and birth. This is part 1 of 2, so be sure to tune in in two weeks for the second part of this "ask me anything" series. YouTube Link! Resources Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Spiritual Midwifery Expecting Better Birthing fr...

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->IVF, Gestational diabetes, and a birth complication. Kate White's jouney to becoming a mom was far from easy. Tune in to today's episode to hear how Kate navigated her trials during pregnancy and birth by leaning on her network, and finding humor wherever possible. Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother Real...

Chelsea Calello is a highly trained clinical therapist who shared with us her birth story, and her expert advice on navigating parenthood with your partner. She and her baby developed dangerous fevers and high blood pressure during labor, leading to an emergency c-section. Only a few days after getting home, Chelsea was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia and was re-emitted to the hospital. She...

Brittany Blumenthanl is a mother of three who conceived through IVF for her first two children and had a surprise natural conception for her third. After a challenging first birth experience, she chose home births for her subsequent children. Brittany discusses her IVF journey, the unexpected joy of her third pregnancy, and her transition from hospital to home birth settings, offering insights int...

Let's be honest, most people don't want to talk about how pregnancy, birth and postpartum changes your sex life. From a changing body, to hormonal roller coasters, Gwen and Margo discuss how intimacy evolves when you become parents. Is pregnant sex fun? Does nursing affect your sex drive? How do you find time for intimacy when you're both running on empty? Tune in to hear how sex and i...

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->Nicole expected that she would have a smooth labor, like the ones she sometimes witnessed as an ER Nurse. After her medical team pressured her into a c-section for her first birth, she got home and realized just how traumatic and unfair her experience was. During her second pregnancy she dove deep into research to improv...

Less than 1% of women suffer from postpartum psychosis. Sadly, shortly after the birth of her daughter, Erin found herself in that position. Tune in to hear how she navigated this and postpartum depression, and how a diagnosis brought her clarity. TW: Ideation of suicide. If you or someone you love is experiencing thoughts of self harm or suicide, please do not hesitate to contact the 988 Lifeline...

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->For both of her pregnancies, JJ decided she wanted to birth unmedicated in a hospital with a team of OBs. Her first labor began with her water breaking followed by contracts and an empowering birth. Her second was an uncommon precipitous birth, lasting only 3 hours from start to finish. Resources: Mama Natural Birth Clas...

Salina D'Onofrio was told at her 8-week appointment that there was no chance her pregnancy was viable. She was prescribed Misoprostol to end her pregnancy, only to discover 2 weeks later that there was a healthy, living baby inside of her. Salina's story is a cautionary tale about always trusting your instinct, getting a second opinion, and not settling for care providers who don't listen to their...

Nidhi Sharma, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS is a pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapist. Today Nidhi teaches us all about the pelvic floor and how pregnancy and childbirth impacts it. She shares why it's so important to focus on pelvic floor health BEFORE getting pregnant. You'll also learn three exercises every expecting mom should do during pregnancy and postpartum. Resources: Nidhi Sharma, PT @pel...

Andreina shares her homebirth experience which included waters broken for over 24 hours, meconium staining, and resuscitation for baby. She talks about her experience attending hospital births as a doula, and helps us debunk some common hospital policies. Resources: Manhattan Birth Evidence Based Birth: The ARRIVE Trial In Your Own Time Interested in sharing your story? Email us at notesonarrival@...

That's a wrap on Season 1! Stay tuned for Season 2, launching early 2025!

Margo's husband Marcello joins her to discuss his experience witnessing Margo bring their two children into this world. Once a home birth skeptic, the birth of their daughter Lucia has evolved his perspective to be that everyone should give birth at home. Listen in to hear about how parenthood has Marcello feeling "the most tired but also the most happy" he's ever been in his life. 5 Things I Wish...

Before Jenny ever got pregnant, she was diagnosed with PCOS. Like so many of the 8-13% of American women with PCOS, she was not given a full picture of how this disorder would affect her fertility. She began her journey to motherhood in fertility clinics, and was one of the lucky women who can now share her story with a healthy baby in her arms. Resources: Expecting Better The Mayo Clinic Guide to...

Our co-host Margo is back to share the birth story of her daughter Lucia. Less than two years after her son’s hospital birth, Margo realized that she was being pulled to have a home birth. She dives into the difference in her prenatal care and labor experiences from her hospital and home births. Even though her first birth was positive, a shorter and more peaceful birth at home still felt like a r...

Only 12% of births in the US are attended by midwives, with OBs being the default care provider for nearly 90% of pregnant Americans. When we asked Alex why she decided to work with midwives instead of an OB, she said she didn't really know. Without realizing it, Alex went against the grain and followed her intuition directly into an empowering, unmedicated out-of-hospital birth. Even though she s...