The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

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 understan...

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/cms Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle! 6 Ways to Prepare for An Unmedicated Birth:...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 wi...

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/cms Leave a review and incl...

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 hos...

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 absolu...

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 Chri...

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 a...

I sat down with Tamari Jacob, Certified Lactation Consultant and founder of One With The Pump , and we had the best chat about all things pumping and breastfeeding. Tamari knows the pumping journey inside and out - she exclusively pumped for her first baby for 10 months after he wouldn’t latch, and she’s been helping moms make pumping suck a whole lot less ever since. We talked about the emotional...

If the thought of labor makes your stomach drop and your heart race… this episode is for you, mama. Hey girl, I see you. The midnight Google spirals, the dramatic birth stories that left you spiraling, and that voice in your head whispering “there’s no way I can do that.” Fear of labor is incredibly normal - but left unchecked, it can actually make labor harder. Today I’m breaking down exactly whe...

Hey mamas! I am SO excited to share this episode with you. Today I’m chatting with Gabi, one of my Calm Labor Confident Birth students who also activated her Labor Bat Signal. She’s here to tell the raw, real story of bringing her fiery little girl into the world on January 26th, 2025. Gabi went from measuring small with low fluid at 38+5, to an induction she didn’t plan for, a midwife who wanted...

This week I grabbed the most common questions you sent me over on Instagram from my 418k followers and answered them the way your bestie labor nurse would - honest, no fluff, and zero fear-mongering. I’m answering: Is that sharp bump pain in the early second trimester normal? (And when to actually call your provider) The 4-1-2 rule for heading to the hospital with your first baby (and why it’s dif...

I got to sit down with Áine, the Baby Reflux Lady - a leading holistic expert in infant reflux, colic, and digestive discomfort. Drawing from her background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutrition, and her own journey as a mom of two babies with severe reflux, Áine shares why she refuses to accept the outdated idea that “this is just how babies are.” We dive deep into the real signs of reflux (...

Your doctor is NOT your boss. They are your medical consultant. You are the decision-maker. Period. In this episode Trish breaks down informed consent in the clearest, calmest, most confident way possible - because this one thing is the #1 reason women walk away from birth feeling powerless. It’s not the pain, not the interventions… it’s not knowing they had the right to say yes, no, or “I need a...

If you’ve ever been told “everything looks normal” but you’re still not pregnant, or if you’re just starting your trying-to-conceive journey and want real answers instead of vague “we don’t know,” this episode is going to feel like a warm hug and a game-changer all at once. I sat down with the incredible Dr. Sasha Hakman, a double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Inferti...

Hey Mama! Ever caught yourself making a birth choice out of straight-up fear? Yeah, me too - with my first baby, needles had me running unmedicated without a clue. But here's the real talk: it's not about the pain or the meds; it's about owning your power. In this episode, we dive into the big question - epidural or unmedicated? - and how to choose without regret. I share my stories from 16 years...

What if I told you that 9 out of 10 babies in America are missing key gut microbes right from the start? As a labor nurse who's delivered thousands of little ones and now a proud Gigi, this chat totally rocked my world and got me thinking about my own grandbabies' health. Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cms Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win ou...

Join me, as I talk with one of my VBAC Lab Students and Calm Mama Society Members, Cassie. She's going to be sharing her birth story and how the techniques we've been working on in class, have helped her to move through her birth trauma from her first birth and prepare for an empowered VBAC. Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cms Leave a review and include your Instagram username fo...

Trish sits down with one of her favorite doulas - Sarah Osborne, doula, doula mentor, mama of three, and the real-deal with 17 years and over 900 births attended. Sarah went from a thriving solo practice to building a doula collective in the Pacific Northwest, and she’s spilling all the tea on what actually matters when you’re hiring support for your birth. You’re going to hear why the “Google che...

Today, Trish is sharing the powerful birth story of her daughter where she went from being told she would have a ‘dead baby’ at 37 weeks pregnant if she didn’t induce, to having a beautiful unmedicated delivery. This birth story shows how her daughter navigated the difference between convenience-based and necessary interventions. Trish breaks down the distinction between these interventions, highl...

Trish welcomes a fellow labor and delivery nurse and childbirth educator, Lo Mansfield, also known as The Labor Mama. They discuss the intriguing question of why so many L&D nurses, midwives, and birth pros personally opt for unmedicated births, sharing behind-the-scenes insights from their years on the floor. Trish and Lo open up about their own journeys - Trish recounting her first unmedicat...