The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

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 feeling more calm, confident, and clear in those early weeks of pregnancy.
In this episode, we cover:
Common (but scary-feeling) symptoms that are usually normal
What light spotting and cramping really mean
When nausea and vomiting cross the line
Why extreme fatigue and breast changes are expected
What it means if you don’t feel pregnant at all
Red flags like heavy bleeding, one-sided pelvic pain, and fever
Signs of ectopic pregnancy and when to seek immediate care
When a UTI can become more serious in pregnancy
A simple framework for knowing when to monitor vs. act

And always remember - if something feels off, you’re never wrong for reaching out.
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 First Trimester Symptoms
01:52 Scary But Normal Signs
02:16 Spotting Explained
03:29 Cramping And Nausea
04:34 Fatigue And Breast Changes
05:51 True Red Flags
06:03 Bleeding And Ectopic Warning
07:22 Severe Vomiting And Fever
08:22 UTI Symptoms To Watch
09:02 Anxiety And Provider Support
09:38 Simple Decision Framework

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 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 system sometimes works against us.
Tamari dropped three powerful, game-changing tips whether you’re exclusively pumping or mixing pumping with breastfeeding:
Size your flanges correctly - Most pumps come with the wrong sizes (21, 24, or 28 mm), but most moms need something much smaller like 13–18 mm. This one thing can stop pain and low output fast!
Pumping is not free - Invest a little in the right tools (extra parts, a good bra, a wearable, a milk chiller) to make your life so much easier. You don’t have to suffer with just the bare minimum.
Get real education and support - Breastfeeding and pumping are NOT as “natural” as everyone says. Learn from someone who actually specializes in pumping (not every LC does!).

We also got real about hospital lactation consultants, baby-friendly policies, mom guilt, and how preparation before baby comes can save you so much heartache later.
If you’re planning to pump, struggling with your pump, or just want to feel more confident, you need to hear this episode.
More from Tamari Jacob, CLC:
Use this link to get 10% off The Ultimate Pumping Course
Website: onewiththepump.com
Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, YouTube & Pinterest: @onewiththepump

Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Pumping Made Easier
04:02 Why Tamari Started Pumping
11:51 Top Tips Start Flange Fit
12:49 Gear That Makes It Easier
15:31 Finding the Right Lactation Help
18:32 Hospital Lactation Reality
22:38 How to Work With Tamari
24:29 Prep Before Labor

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

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