The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

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.
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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

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.

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 birth. You'll also hear an inspirational birth story from one of Trish's students, who delivered just a week after her daughter, showcasing the impact of her comprehensive birth education and how it helped her navigate a fast, unexpected home birth!
More from this episode:
Listen to the ‘My Daughter’s OB Said She’ll Have a Dead Baby (I’m a Labor Nurse Ya’ll)’ episode!
Watch this FREE Birth Class: 3 Secrets to a Smoother, Faster Birth
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 My Daughter’s Birth
01:08 The Importance of Informed Decision Making
02:40 The 37-Week Appointment
04:42 The 39-Week Emergency Induction
07:16 Advocating for Yourself During Labor
11:58 The Birth Experience
14:11 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts
17:22 Student Birth Story

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 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 as immediate mobility if baby needs the NICU.
They swap hilarious and heartfelt stories of fast labors, OP babies, and the power of a supportive partner, emphasizing how education and trust in your body can make all the difference. Trish and Lo keep it real, reminding mamas that unmedicated birth isn't for everyone - epidurals and interventions can lead to beautiful births too - but empowerment comes from listening to your inner voice and advocating for yourself.
More from The Labor Mama
Visit thelabormama.com
Listen to the Lo & Behold Podcast
Follow @thelabormama on Instagram
Helpful Timestamps:
01:44 Lo's Journey into OB Nursing
04:52 Unmedicated Birth Choices
05:28 Lo's Birth Stories
09:23 Trish's Birth Stories
17:42 Navigating Hospital Births, Interventions, & Autonomy
29:12 The Value of Immediate Post-Birth Mobility
31:41 Choosing the Right Birth Setting
34:59 Trusting Your Intuition in Birth Choices

Join the Sold Out Offer Challenge at trishwarecoaching.com/soo happening this February 2nd-6th!
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