The Birth Prep Podcast with Taylor Minaberry

Choosing an unmedicated birth doesn't mean choosing to feel everything with no plan. It means building a different kind of plan - one that is more effective, more accessible, and more overlooked than anything a hospital can offer you. In this episode, I break down exactly why preparation is your most powerful pain management tool and what that preparation actually looks like in practice. In this e...

One of the most common - and most consequential - mistakes women make when planning an unmedicated hospital birth has nothing to do with their provider, their birth plan, or their mindset. It's going to the hospital too early.  In this episode: 💖 What actually happens to your labor when you arrive at the hospital too early - and why your home is doing something for your oxytocin that the hos...

If you've ever wondered why some women walk out of their unmedicated births saying "I can't believe I did that" while others feel like they barely survived - this episode is your answer. Today we're talking about the fear-tension-pain cycle. What it actually is, how it works inside your real body, and exactly what you can do to stop it before it ever gets started. In this episode: 💖 The physiolog...

There is a five-letter framework that will completely change how you show up in your prenatal appointments and your labor room. Inside we break down B.R.A.I.N. - the informed consent tool that turns you from a passive patient into the HGIC of every single decision made about your birth! B - Benefits R - Risks A - Alternatives I - Intuition N - Nothing (or not yet) 💖 B.R.A.I.N. Cheat Sheet: https:...

Your birth partner could be the difference between the birth you planned and the one you're still emotionally recovering from two years later - and most of them are walking into that room completely unprepared. In this episode, we break down exactly what it takes to turn a well-meaning partner into a genuinely powerful one. 💪 In this episode: ✨ The unprepared partner problem - why good inte...

Wanting an unmedicated birth and actually being prepared for one are two veryyy different things - and in this episode, we break down exactly what separates the women who walk out of that delivery room saying "I did it" from the ones who weren't ready when it mattered most. In this episode: 💖 Why your pain tolerance has nothing to do with whether you can have an unmedicated birth - and what...

After a little time away, I'm backkkk - and I'm sharing something I kept pretty close to my chest these last few months. Baby number six has arrived, and her birth story is unlike anything I've ever experienced or even planned for 🫶 All glory to GOD! In this episode: ✨ Why we chose a free birth and what led me to that decision after my last experience with provider pressure ✨ What early/active...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… unless you’re due in December and your provider just mentioned “getting that baby out before Christmas.” 👀 In this episode, we’re talking about what really happens inside hospitals during the holidays, why so many December babies are born early, and how to protect your peace when everyone else is rushing through the season. Whether you’re due this winter...

Birth isn’t just physical - it’s spiritual. I’m diving into how the enemy uses fear to steal your peace, what it actually means to armor up using the Word of God, and how to walk into birth covered, equipped, and confident in who God says you are! Inside this episode: 💖 Why birth is a form of spiritual warfare (and what that really looks like) 💖 How fear becomes the enemy’s most effective weapon...

It’s time to reframe how you think about the hospital... In this episode, I break down why seeing the hospital as your friend can actually hold you back - and why thinking of it as your enemy isn’t helpful either. Instead, I want you to walk in seeing the hospital as a tool - something you can use to get the birth experience you want. I’m also sharing the STEER Framework, my 5-step strategy to hel...

A sweet provider ≠ solid support. The #1 mistake I see women make? Hiring a provider without ever pressure-testing the partnership. In this episode, you’ll learn: 💖 The 3 layers of alignment: values, process, and receipts 💖 Smart questions that reveal if your provider is truly on board with an unmedicated birth 💖 Red flags vs. Green lights to look out for 💖 Scripts for switching late in pregna...

You’ve got the call. You know this birth isn’t random -  God assigned it to you . But now you’re stuck in the swirl: should you prep harder or surrender more? In this episode, I walk you through how to steward your birth prep with boldness and faith - without spinning out in overwhelm, control, or confusion. Here’s what we're covering: 💖 Why trusting God doesn’t mean skipping the prep...

Feeling snacky, sleepy, and a little overwhelmed? Sameee. But hear me loud and clear: it’s not too early to start prepping for your birth. In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 simple, powerful ways to lay the groundwork now - so you’re not scrambling at 37 weeks. 😅 Inside we're talking all about: ✨ Vetting your provider like it actually matters (because it does) ✨ Learning how birth reall...

Just found out you’re pregnant and feel completely lost? This episode is your starting point! Inside this episode, I walk you through the five things every newly pregnant woman needs to know: 💖 Why overwhelm is normal (but not necessary) 💖 The problem with drowning in random birth content 💖 The decision that impacts your birth more than your due date 💖 Why you are not a passive patient -...

You walk into your appointment with confidence, but leave feeling dismissed, confused, or unsure. Sound familiar? That’s pushback - and it’s way sneakier than you think. In this episode, we’re talking about: 💖 What pushback really sounds like (hint: it’s not just a straight-up “no”) 💖  Why it happens so often - even with “nice” providers 💖  Real-life tools to stand firm and respond wi...

You don’t need 17 birth books, a 40-tab browser, and 10 different birth workers in your feed... You need a strategy. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason so many moms feel confused, overwhelmed, and stuck - even after they’ve consumed all the content. Spoiler: it’s not because you’re lazy or behind. It’s because you’re overloaded, babe.  Here’s what you’ll learn: 💖 How the birt...

You wouldn’t hit the road without directions, and birth is no different.  If you’re aiming for an unmedicated hospital birth, you need a strategy, not just a wish and a cute birth plan with “no epidural” scrawled across the top. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3-part birth map that will change how you prep, how you plan, and how you show up for the big day. This is the foundational wor...

Think you're "just not the type" to handle an unmedicated birth? Think again, babe. This episode is your official permission slip to toss out the “I could never” narrative and replace it with actual skills. 🙌 Because coping with labor isn’t about being tough, chill, or God’s favorite - it’s about being prepared. If you've ever thought: “I have a low pain tolerance.” “I’m not strong enough.” “That...

This episode is a wake-up call… with love, of course. 🫶 Because here’s the truth: Nobody is coming to save you. Not your doctor. Not the hospital. Not the birth plan checklist you printed off. But before you panic... this is actually the best news you’ll hear today. Why? Because it means YOU are in charge. And the second you stop waiting to be rescued and start leading your own experience, e...

Whether you’re worried about hitting the “I can’t do this” wall, having to throw your birth plan out the window, or how to handle boundary-crossing family members in the hospital… this episode is packed with support, strategy, and the reminder that you are the HGIC. Inside this episode, we’re unpacking: 💖  What to do when you hit “the wall” during labor (and how to push through it) 💖 ...

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if birth plans are even worth it, felt overwhelmed by all the checklists, or worried that your plan will just fly out the window once labor starts… this one’s for you. In this episode, I’m busting three of the most common myths I hear about birth plans - and showing you how to make one that actually works (and holds up under hospital pressure). Because your...

In today’s episode of the HGIC Hotline, we’re hitting three hot questions from you—and trust me, they’re GOOD ✨ Here's a peek at what's inside: 💖 Why you don’t have to sprint to the hospital the second your water breaks 💖  5 ways to start prepping for pregnancy (even if it’s a couple years out) 💖  How to confidently decline a cervical check - with zero guilt 💖  Why the Birth Pl...

If your last birth felt out of control, confusing, or even traumatic—this episode is for you. We’re getting honest (and a little intense) about why healing doesn’t just happen with time, and how to finally take your power back. Inside this episode: ✨ Why “that’s just how birth goes” is a lie that keeps you stuck 💖 The truth about trauma, even when you didn’t realize it was trauma ✨ How to stop...

This week’s questions are so good, and if you’re prepping for an unmedicated hospital birth, you’ll want to grab a notebook. We’re covering exactly what to ask on your hospital tour, how to actually train your pain tools, and what to do when someone you love wants to be in the room…and you don’t want them there. Inside this episode: ✨ What to really ask during a hospital tour (hint: it’s not abou...

If you’re planning an unmedicated birth in the hospital , you cannot afford to wing it. The system wasn’t built for the kind of birth you want - but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get it. You just need to know what you’re walking into and how to walk in ready! Inside this episode: 💖 Why hospitals are built for managed birth, not physiological birth 💖 The 4 things you actually need to go unmed...