The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

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 labor and delivery nurse.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why most of what you think you know about birth is skewed (thanks, TV, horror stories, and the unknown)
How fear creates the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle and fights against the very hormones you need for labor
The 4 powerful truths I share with scared mamas that completely shift their perspective
Practical steps to turn uninformed fear into confident preparation (education, real birth classes, relaxation practice, and strong support)

By the end, you’ll have a totally different relationship with your fear - and you’ll walk into your birth feeling more prepared and empowered instead of terrified.
Your body was literally built for this. Labor has rhythm. You have more control than you think. And that fear? It just means you care deeply - now let’s give it the right outlet.
If you’re ready to stop spiraling and start preparing like a boss, this one’s for you.
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 What I Tell Moms Who Are Terrified of Labor
01:56 Where Fear Comes From
03:42 Fear Changes Labor Biology
05:11 Four Reframes for Scared Moms
07:51 How to Calm Fear
09:33 You Can Do This

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 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 cm in ONE HOUR and pushing her baby out in just 18 minutes (six pushes!) on hands and knees.
She stayed calm and confident because she had the knowledge, the tools, the mantras ("You're one contraction away from meeting your baby"), and the support from the Labor Bat Signal when it mattered most. The toilet was her magic dilation station, she advocated like a boss, and she walked away feeling completely empowered - even when her birth map took some unexpected turns.
This episode is proof that when you know your options, trust your body, and have the right support, you can handle whatever labor throws at you.
Key takeaways you’ll love:
Why a birth map (not a rigid plan) is everything
The power of saying “no” when you know why
How the toilet can be your best friend in labor
Why the Labor Bat Signal is a game-changer (especially when things shift fast)
Turning fear into fierce advocacy in real time

If you’re pregnant and want to feel prepared, calm, and confident - no matter how your birth unfolds - this one’s for you. Gabi’s story will fire you up!
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Gabi’s Birth Story
05:26 Labor Bat Signal
07:29 Low Fluid Diagnosis
08:55 Induction Advice
10:53 Pitocin Pressure Begins
12:21 Toilet Dilation Station
14:40 Urge to Push
15:39 Toilet to Ten Centimeters
19:10 Advocacy and Pitocin Decisions
21:44 Empowered Birth Map Mindset
22:52 Tear Stitch and Baby Two

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

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 different for your second)
How long postpartum bleeding really lasts + the red-flag signs you can’t ignore
The truth about the 24-hour water-breaking rule (it’s not the automatic emergency most hospitals make it sound like)
Postpartum night sweats, when your milk actually comes in, and why those night sweats hit so hard
Big baby at 39 weeks - do you have to induce or schedule a C-section? (Spoiler: I’ve got strong feelings on this one)
Tips for flipping a breech baby, scar pain in pregnancy, Pitocin realities, and so much more

If you’ve ever been up at 2 a.m. Googling your questions while pregnant, this episode is your calm in the chaos. Knowledge flips fear into power, mama - and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.
Whether you’re prepping for birth or deep in the postpartum trenches, you’ll walk away feeling seen, informed, and way more confident.
More from this episode:
Listen to Episode 217: Your Essential Second Trimester Checklist for a Smoother Birth Experience | 217
Calm Labor Confident Birth Course
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Answering Your Top Questions
01:43 Second Trimester Bump Pain
02:24 Postpartum Bleeding Timeline
03:00 When To Go To Hospital
04:30 Water Break 24 Hour Rule
05:12 Fear Of Giving Birth
05:51 TDAP And Whooping Cough
06:21 Flipping A Breech Baby
07:19 C Section Scar Pain
07:59 Postpartum Night Sweats
08:16 When Milk Comes In
09:02 What Contractions Feel Like
09:43 Pitocin Pros And Risks
10:08 Big Baby Induction Pressure
11:48 Small Baby Growth Concerns

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

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 everything. Áine explains the importance of looking at the whole baby, uncovering root causes instead of just managing symptoms, and shares practical steps for overwhelmed moms - from what pregnant mamas can watch for to simple ways to support your nervous system when things feel heavy.
If you’ve ever been told your baby’s discomfort is normal, this episode will give you permission to trust yourself and know there is another way. Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or deep in the thick of sleepless nights and constant crying, Áine’s wisdom offers real hope and clear direction.
More from Áine The Baby Reflux Lady:
Visit https://www.thebabyrefluxlady.co.uk/
Check out the Symptoms Tracker
Follow Áine on Instagram: @babyrefluxlady and FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/theBabyRefluxLady
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Áine The Baby Reflux Lady
06:43 Pregnancy Prep and Early Red Flags
10:27 Calming Yourself to Calm Baby
14:24 Clear Signs It’s Reflux
17:34 Smelly Gas and Gut Discomfort
20:45 Breastmilk, Carbs And Stress
27:35 Programs And Support Options
29:58 Fast Results Story
32:08 Where To Find Áine

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

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 unmedicated birth - simply because she understood her rights and started using them calmly.
I also walk you through:
What informed consent actually means (it’s NOT just signing a paper)
The four powerful questions that turn any “order” into a conversation
Why labor makes us forget our rights, and exactly how to protect them before you even step foot in the hospital
How to advocate without yelling, arguing, or being labeled “difficult”

This isn’t about being combative. It’s about walking in informed, respected, and owning your power - the exact power that changes everything in the birth room.
You are becoming a mom. That’s the most powerful role on the planet. Informed consent is how you protect that transition.
So take a deep breath, mama. Your voice is the most important one in that room.
If this episode hit home (or if you know a pregnant friend who needs to hear she’s the boss), please share it with her.
Hit subscribe, leave a quick review, and I’ll see you next week.
You’ve got this. ❤️
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Your Doctor is Not Your Boss
01:00 Birth Student Finds Her Voice
02:39 What Informed Consent Means
03:23 Orders Versus Options
04:39 Calm Advocacy Questions
05:08 Emergencies Still Need Consent
05:32 Preventing Birth Trauma
06:15 You Are The Decision Maker

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