The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

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 board certification. In other words, she knows her stuff - and she explains it in the kindest, clearest way possible.
We cover:
What “unexplained infertility” actually means - it affects 15-20% of couples with infertility.
The hidden endometriosis link and why it can fly under the radar.
The basic fertility workup every woman deserves to know about.
First-line treatment: superovulation + IUI and the success rates.
When to move to IVF, embryo testing, and even whole genome sequencing.
Dr. Sasha’s own fertility journey at 39 while helping patients every day.
Her top 3 tips if you’re walking this road right now.

I walked away feeling so much more informed and hopeful, and I know you will too. Whether you’re deep in this journey, supporting a friend, or just educating yourself ahead of time - go you. I’m so proud of you for showing up and learning.
This episode is for every mama who’s ever felt unseen in her journey. I see you. I’m here for you. You are stronger than you know.
More from Dr. Sasha Hakman:
Listen to her podcast: Trying to Conceive
Follow her on Instagram @sashahakmanmd @tryingtoconceivepod
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Dr. Sasha Hakman
03:36 What Unexplained Infertility Means
07:26 Hidden Endometriosis Clues
12:14 Age And Family Planning
15:38 IUI To IVF Decision Point
22:05 IVF As Diagnostic Tool
23:33 Embryo Genetic Testing Basics
25:08 Whole Genome Sequencing Upgrade
28:58 IVF Success Rates by Age
30:37 Postpartum and Fertility Pressure
33:15 Top Three Infertility Tips
39:11 Where to Find Dr. Sasha Hakman

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!
Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍
⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐
Connect w/ Trish:
On Instagram
On YouTube
For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

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.
Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cms
Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!
Key Takeaways:
Regret Isn't About the Choice - It's About the Why: I've seen mamas rock both paths and also, regret both. The difference? Feeling informed, involved, and empowered, not rushed or pressured.
The pros & trade-offs of choosing the epidural or going unmedicated.
Prepping for what YOU want:No winging it, girl! Tools, knowledge, and advocacy are key, whether you're team epidural or going natural.
You can pivot without panic: Birth is wild - plans change. Stay flexible and informed, and you'll walk away feeling like the boss you are.

No perfect births here, just empowered ones where you say, "I understood, I decided, I owned it." If fear's been your driver, let's flip that script with education and confidence.
Share this with a mama who's wrestling with the decision, hit subscribe, drop a review (it means the world!), and remember: you're capable, you're seen, and I've got your back. 💕
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Epidural or Unmedicated
01:01 Trish’s Birth Story
01:49 Regret Comes From Fear
02:34 Question One: Know Options
03:34 Question Two: Prepare Well
03:58 Question Three: Stay Flexible
04:23 Empowered Birth Mindset
05:41 Final Encouragement

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!
Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍
⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐
Connect w/ Trish:
On Instagram
On YouTube
For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

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 PhD in chemical engineering from Caltech, tons of patents in synthetic biology, and a passion for using the gut microbiome to fight disease. Inspired by losing her grandmothers to cancer and her own journey as a first-time mom during COVID, she pivoted from cancer research to baby gut health. She's led the largest U.S. study on infant microbiomes and created groundbreaking products to restore what modern life has stripped away from the gut.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
Why modern babies are missing crucial bifidobacteria - and how it links to allergies, eczema, asthma, and even long-term risks like cancer.
The shocking impact of antibiotics, C-sections, and formula on gut health, and why it's a multi-generational issue.
Stephanie's "aha" moment that shifted her from cancer treatments to preventing issues at the source with Persephone's first-of-its-kind synbiotic.
Signs your baby's gut needs help: fussiness, colic, constipation, diaper rash, poor sleep - and how this product can turn things around fast.
Tips for new moms: Start from day one, even if breastfeeding (mix a smidge into colostrum or on your nipple!), and why it's great for C-section babies too.
Bonus: How this could be a game-changer for adults and pregnant mamas, too.

More from Dr. Stephanie Culler:
Persephone's Daily Synergistic Synbiotic: https://persephone.bio/products/bloom
Visit www.persephone.bio
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @persephone.bio
Connect with Dr. Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-culler
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Dr. Stephanie Culler
01:44 Stephanie’s Story: From Cancer Research to Babies
05:27 The My Baby Biome Study: The Shocking 9-in-10 Finding
09:26 Signs of an Off Microbiome + Benefits Seen
11:16 Why Start From Day One
15:42 Industrialization & Rising Allergies
20:41 Practical Tips for Breastfed Babies (No Bottle Needed)
23:15 C-Section Considerations + Final Takeaways for New Parents

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!
Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍
⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐
Connect w/ Trish:
On Instagram
On YouTube
For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

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 her birth experience, and how ultimately she was able to bring her baby into the world in a way that she was proud of.
This episode is packed with so much information and is really empowering for all the mamas out there who want to have an empowered birth.
So grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in for a chat with Cassie.
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Cassie: A VBAC Lab Student
02:16 Cassie's First Birth Experience
03:28 Discovering the VBAC Lab
07:11 Facing Challenges with the Provider
17:53 Preparing for Labor at Home
21:34 Arriving at the Hospital
24:47 Labor Begins: Early Contractions and Support
30:30 Challenges and Swelling
33:19 Decision for a C-Section
35:48 Meeting the Baby
37:52 Reflecting on the Birth Experience
40:45 Advice for Expecting Mothers

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!
Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍
⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐
Connect w/ Trish:
On Instagram
On YouTube
For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

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 care if she sees you naked and pooping), and why Sarah says you can’t say “never” in birth. She shares her own three very different birth stories, one of her favorite births she’s attended, and the powerful reminder that interventions have their place - and sometimes they’re exactly what you need. This conversation is packed with wisdom, zero judgment, and the kind of real talk that leaves you feeling empowered instead of overwhelmed.
Whether you’re a pregnant mama trying to build your birth team or a birth worker who wants to do this work with integrity, hit play. You’re going to walk away smarter, calmer, and even more fired up about birth.
More from Sarah Osborne, CD(DONA):
Checkout https://theexpertdoula.com/skills-lab
Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @the.expert.doula + @thebirthcollectivepnw
Visit TheExpertDoula.com
Visit TheBirthCollectivePNW.com
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Sarah
00:36 Sarah's Doula Journey
02:09 Sarah's Birth Stories
05:16 Choosing the Right Doula
12:31 Memorable Birth Experiences
15:06 The Role of Positioning in Pregnancy
17:26 The Importance of Medical Interventions
23:11 Respecting Personal Choices in Birth
27:04 Doula Mentorship and Community

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!
Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍
⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐
Connect w/ Trish:
On Instagram
On YouTube
For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services