The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

This episode is sponsored by Motif Medical

After 16 years as a high-risk labor and delivery nurse, Trish shares the five truths she wishes every mama heard before she puts on that hospital gown. Spoiler: you don't have to be the "good patient," and you don't have to prove a thing.

In this episode:

What if tearing isn't inevitable? There is so much more you can do than "hope for the best," and it starts with a part of your body nobody ever taught you about: your pelvic floor.

My friend Sarah Almodovar is a mom of three, a prenatal yoga teacher, and a pelvic floor expert. She started by teaching yoga on a rooftop in NYC, and now she helps moms all over the world show up to birth prepared, confident, and far less afraid.

We're talking about the thing you've all told me you're most scared of...

This episode is sponsored by Haakaa

Prodromal labor is one of the most frustrating things you can go through at the end of pregnancy, and hardly anyone prepares you for it. I'm walking you through what it is, what your body may be doing, how to tell it apart from active labor, and what to do when you're up night after night. You'll leave with a plan and a lot less panic.

In This Episode:

This episode is sponsored by Snugghug

Have you ever been told your iron levels are "fine" and still felt exhausted, anxious, and completely off during pregnancy? I'm sitting down with Samantha Chandler of Wellness & Womb, a women's wellness coach who has completely changed the way I think about iron, minerals, and what our blood work is actually - and isn't - telling us.

Samantha's own journey started with a simple question during her second pregnancy: why were so many women around her low in iron? What she uncovered led her down a path most OBs...

Just found out you're pregnant and wondering "now what?" Trish is breaking down the first trimester essentials - the stuff nobody tells you until you're six weeks in and suddenly flattened by exhaustion. From what's really happening in your baby's development to the food rules, spotting fears, and when (or if) to tell people your news, this episode is the guide Trish wishes every mama had the moment she saw two pink lines.

In this episode:

This Episode is Sponsored by Snugghug

Did you know 80% of your immune system lives in your gut - and your baby gets theirs from you? Whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, breastfed or formula fed, this episode is going to change the way you think about your baby's health from day one.

Trish sits down with Cheryl Hoy, CEO and founder of Tiny Health, the first at-home microbiome testing company for moms and babies. Cheryl's journey started with her own breech C-section birth and a mission to understand what that meant for...

You're 10 centimeters, and your nurse says "okay, let's push" - and without any discussion, you're guided into whatever position is easiest for everyone else in the room. Except it doesn't have to go that way. Trish is breaking down pushing positions, what the research actually says about each one, and exactly how to get the birth room to work with you - even if you have an epidural.

Trish pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked parts of birth prep: how you push. She traces the surprising (and slightly wild) history of why flat-on-your-back...

What would it feel like to go into labor fully prepared for your VBAC - and then have your baby flip breech in the middle of it? That's exactly what happened to Kathryn May, a VBAC Lab student and stay-at-home mom of two from Charlotte, NC.

After a traumatic first birth that ended in an unplanned C-section, Kathryn was determined to do things differently the second time around. She switched to a VBAC-supportive practice, brought her husband fully into the process, and walked into labor informed and ready. Things were progressing beautifully - until a routine check...

Birth vibes are everywhere right now - and Jen Hamilton's book earned every bit of its #1 spot. But vibes alone won't get you through a decision in the delivery room. This week, Trish breaks down what Jen gets so right, and why you need both the vibes and the map.

Jen Hamilton's Birth Vibes has taken over birth prep conversations everywhere, and moms keep asking Trish the same question: is it vibes over plans now? Trish's answer - Jen's right, but it's not the whole picture. In this episode, Trish unpacks what "birth vibes" actually means (mindset...

I'm joined by Dr. Brooke Kalisiak, a pelvic physical therapist and owner of Legacy Physical Therapy in St. Louis. We’re diving into one of the most overlooked - but incredibly important - parts of your birth and postpartum journey: your pelvic floor.

Dr. Brooke Kalisiak helps women prepare for birth, recover postpartum, and overcome pelvic health issues like pain and bladder leakage so they can feel strong and confident without relying on medications or surgery. She’s passionate about educating women on what’s normal, what’s not, and how to take control of their pelvic health.<...

You got your GBS results back and they're positive - and suddenly it feels like your entire birth plan just got ripped out of your hands. Does this mean induction? Antibiotics no matter what? Is an unmedicated birth even still on the table?

Before you spiral into a Google hole at midnight, Trish is here to set the record straight. As a 16-year high-risk L&D nurse who's been in the room with hundreds of GBS positive mamas, she's breaking down exactly what this diagnosis does - and doesn't - mean for your birth.

In...

If your sex life basically disappeared after baby, this one's for you, mama.

You're touched out, running on fumes, and the LAST thing on your mind is sex - but your partner keeps bringing it up, and now you're stuck in this exhausting cycle of guilt, resentment, and disconnection. Sound familiar?

This week I'm sitting down with Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy, a certified sex and couples therapist (and mama of two) who's spent 15 years helping couples navigate exactly this. We're getting real about why your desire disappears after baby, why "just fix the emotional connection...

You've probably already made a decision about your epidural. The problem? You made it before anyone walked you through what actually happens.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the entire epidural process from the moment you say "I think I want it" to the moment we pull the catheter out after delivery - the timing, the placement, what it actually feels like, the side effects nobody mentions, and the questions I get asked most as a 16+ year L&D nurse. Whether you're planning to get one, planning to go unmedicated, or you're a "let's see how I...

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 understanding your cycle might be the most empowering thing you do for your reproductive health.

Sabrina brings an engineering and product design background to her role as CEO...

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.

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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 is changing how the world understands boundaries. She created the Kind Boundaries framework to show that boundaries aren't a source of conflict, they're the foundation of every...

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 helped countless students do it too.

In this episode, we're breaking down exactly what induction actually means, what your real options are, and how to stay in the...

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 800,000 parents, Jordyn breaks it all down in a way that will actually make mealtimes feel less like a battle and more like a win.

Join the...

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 decision she had every right to make.

And a judge overruled her anyway.

In this episode, we're getting into...

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 with Stephanie looks like, prenatal prep, postpartum red flags, and why asking for help isn't optional—it's essential.

Key Takeaways

Before Baby Arrives: 3 Powerful Prenatal Choices

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 include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

In this episode, Trish covers:

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 hospital armed with her birth plan, her snacks, her AirPods in, Modern Family queued up, and absolutely zero tolerance for being told what to do...

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 absolutely do not deserve.

In this episode, I'm introducing you to a concept I teach all of my students - the birth map - and...

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 Chrissy Lawler, therapist, baby sleep consultant, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper - and she’s breaking down what actually works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to i...

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 are true red flags that deserve a call to your provider (or even a trip to the ER).

This is your guide to fee...

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 side of feeding your baby (hello, grief and rejection when it doesn’t go as planned), why finding the right lactation consultant is everything, and how the sy...

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 where that fear comes from, what it does to your body, and what I personally tell every terrified mom I work with as a high-risk...

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 to break her water way too early, a deceleration scare, and back-to-back contractions that had her questioning everything… to going from 2-3 cm to 10...

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:

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 (it’s not just spitting up!), why so many parents feel dismissed by “they’ll grow out of it,” and how listening to your instincts can change everyth...

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 minute.”

You’ll hear the powerful story of my student who went from scheduling a C-section out of pure fear to rocking a beautiful...

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 & Infertility (REI) specialist at HRC Fertility in Beverly Hills. She’s highly awarded, stays on the cutting edge of research, and is even a subject matter expert for the American Board of OB-GYN in REI boar...

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 as a high-risk labor nurse and mama of six, plus three game-changing questions to guide you to a birth where YOU call the shots.

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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 our monthly raffle!

I'm thrilled to welcome Stephanie Culler, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences. Stephanie's a powerhouse scientist with a...

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 for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

Cassie gives us all the details, shares the highs and lows of...

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 checklist” of doula questions is kinda useless, how to spot the vibe you really want (yes, you should feel like you could be friends with her - and not ca...

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, highlighting the importance of informed decision-making and self-advocacy. She recounts how her daughter navigated medical advice and ultimately delivered her baby safely amidst true medical necessity at 39 weeks. This story underscores the value of patient education, boundaries, and empowerment in bir...

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 unmedicated birth at 17 out of sheer needle fear (and loving how she felt like a boss + queen afterward), while Lo explains her mix of clinical experience, like minimizing interventions for better outcomes, and practical perks, such...

Trish shares a deeply personal and shocking account of a recent doctor's appointment for her 37-week pregnant daughter. Despite being a highly experienced labor and delivery nurse, she found herself shaken by the fear-inducing tactics used by the doctor to push for an induction at 39 weeks, with a beautifully healthy baby and mama. Trish discusses the importance of making informed medical decisions based on knowledge rather than fear, explaining how to navigate these critical conversations with healthcare providers. She emphasizes the power of asking questions, seeking second opinions, and trusting one's maternal instincts.

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In this heartfelt finale of the Postpartum Unpacked series on The Birth Experience Podcast, Trish reassures new mamas that perfection isn't required to be a great mom. Drawing from her experience raising seven children, she emphasizes that confidence comes from trusting your growth, learning from mistakes, and evolving through reflection and new wisdom. Trish shares how postpartum transforms your identity, inviting you to embrace change without shame or fear, and reminds listeners that they're uniquely chosen and equipped for their baby - any gaps in knowledge are simply opportunities to seek support and keep growing. This isn’t the “end...