Stefanie lives in Scandinavia where she raises her two boys. Throughout her journey into motherhood, she experienced the benefits of a health system where midwives are the forefront of pregnancy and birth. Stefanie's first son asphyxiated right after being born. What could have been a traumatic event for her was not, due to her strong support system. Her birth team calmly handled the situation, while keeping her informed of what was going on. She felt heard, supported, and involved in her birth. Stefanie also experienced the benefits of living in Scandinavia during her postpartum period. She was seen and visited multiple times, cared for, and supported during her transition into motherhood. In this episode, Stefanie shares about the importance of trusting your birth team. If there isn't a mutual trust, there is great potential for birth trauma. She also shares about the benefits of living and giving birth in Denmark, even without family or close friends. Stefaniefernandes.comRaw and Real with Stefanie FernandesLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Jenna was induced with her first son at 41 weeks. She went into labor without having taken a birth class, and without doing any research because she believed that knowing too much about giving birth might hinder her ability to do it. Her body didn't respond to the Pitocin, which was continually increased. When her provider broke her water, labor kicked in very fast. However, due to the increase of Pitocin, there was no gradual build up and she didn't have time to adjust. Jenna opted for an epidural to help relieve her pain. The epidural left Jenna feeling out of control in her body, and she couldn't feel anything. She tore severely and a few days postpartum developed a very high fever. She had a severe UTI and kidney infection from the catheter. Due to her first birth experience, Jenna wanted a different experience the second time around. She decided to go natural, and chose to be induced with her second just by having her waters broken. It was a much better experience and Jenna learned that she could have small doses of fentanyl to help with pain relief. Her third birth, Jenna also chose to be induced by having her waters broken, no Pitocin. Her son was sunny-side up and she had painful back labor, but she felt in control of her situation and heard by her support team. In this episode, Jenna shares a few things she learned from her three labors, how she learned to advocate for herself, and how she worked to have a better birth after her first experience. PurposeIntended.comLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

At 36 weeks pregnant with her first child, Kimberly was concerned that her baby wasn't moving enough. Her doctor sent her for monitoring and even though she wasn't dilated, they decided to induce her. That night, she ended up going into labor naturally on her own! The epidural didn't work at first, but her labor progressed slowly enough that there was time to fix it. She ended up with a second degree tear and had a rough recovery combined with breastfeeding issues. With her second baby, Kimberly walked around 4 cm dilated for weeks. She was eventually induced and had issues with the epidural again. This labor was super fast at only 2 hours long! Kimberly's doctor joked about keeping towels and scissors in the car if she and her husband decided to have a third. With her third pregnancy, Kimberly had a lot of anxiety. She was nervous about how the labor might go and how quickly it could progress. This was also during COVID, and she was worried about hospital policies and how that might affect her birth. After dinner on her birthday, Kimberly felt her water leaking. She was determined to hold the baby in until her birthday was over, but life had other plans. She and her husband made it to the hospital just in time for the baby to be born in the wheelchair on the way to labor and delivery! After deciding to have a fourth, Kimberly felt she needed a little more control over the labor, and was induced again due to low movement. Once her water was broken by her doctor, her baby was once again born very quickly. Listen in as Kimberly shares about the wild ride she and her husband had during her four labors, and things she learned along the way that helped her navigate each one. Kimberly's website and podcast- Messywonderful.comLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Jen is very much a type A personality. She loves to plan way in advance of events taking place. Even with all of her planning, she still wasn't prepared for how her first birth went. Her daughter was stuck and delivered by forceps. She had her clavicle broken in the process of being delivered. Jen ended up with a third degree episiotomy, and needed a lot of time to recover. Jen spent a few extra days in the hospital because she couldn't get out of bed. She needed extra help for her baby, so that her husband could help with her. She needed two additional surgeries to repair a fistula that resulted from her episiotomy. It was a traumatic experience for both Jen and her daughter. For Jen's second birth with her son, she opted for a scheduled c-section, and she loved it. For someone who is a type A personality, it was easier for her to plan this birth, and everything went smoothly. Her recovery was much easier compared to her vaginal birth. In this episode, Jen shares how she gladly accepted help after her first birth, and despite how unpredictable birth is, help and support is one thing that you can plan for. JenSalk.comLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Adrianne Babbitt is a Christian author, blogger, proofreader, and mentor. She recently relauched her debut book, "The Miscarriage Project" and her launched her new children's book series, "Princess With A Purpose". In addition, she also runs her own Christian lifestyle blog, The Haven.Adrianne's first labor did not go as she expected. Her water broke two days before labor started and she ended up with an infection in the hospital. She was young at the time, but felt that she wasn't treated well because the hospital staff thought she was a teen mom. During her second pregnancy, Adrianne found out that she had a low lying placenta. At 32 weeks pregnant, her daughter kicked part of the placenta out. Adrianne feared for her daughter's safety, but carried her to full term and had a fairly easy delivery with her. Her third pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and Adrianne was deeply affected by it. She carried fear, anxiety and depression with her after that. A week after her miscarriage, she got pregnant again. She found out that it was an ectopic pregnancy and was devastated at the thought of losing another baby. She prayed to God to save her baby and at her follow-up ultrasound, they found the baby in her uterus. She had a lot of anxiety throughout that pregnancy. Her rainbow baby was safely delivered without incidence. Adrianne was also induced for her fifth pregnancy, and despite it being her fifth time, she found that one to be the most traumatic.  At her 6-week postpartum checkup, Adrianne fell apart, and her doctor prescribed her medication for her depression. Adrianne's sixth pregnancy was a redeeming one, and her only unmedicated birth. Listen in as Adrianne's describes shares how different each delivery was, and how she had to advocate for herself. Check out Adrianne's website here. The Miscarriage Project LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Eileen Joy is the Money Coach for Moms. She's also the woman who FIRED four doctors to have the birth she dreamed about!When she got pregnant with her son, Eileen totally changed her life around. She ate very clean and got rid of toxic chemicals in her house. She cared deeply about what she was putting into her body, and how she was treating her unborn son. This lifestyle carried over into her medical care. She would go to doctor's appointments and feel completely uncared for. One doctor didn't even look at her for the whole appointment! Her doctors didn't acknowledge her birth plan and were more interested in keeping Eileen on their schedule than providing the best care for her. Eileen felt frustrated and knew she wanted something better for her and her son. When her chiropractor told her about the homebirth she had, Eileen decided to look into it. She fired her doctors, found a wonderful midwife and hired a doula. Eileen had a beautiful birth at home with her midwife and shares about what a wonderful experience it all was. She knew she made the right choices for herself and for her son. Listen in as Eileen shares how she took charge of her pregnancy and worked for the birth she knew she and her baby deserved. Eileen's Website Moms Who MoneyLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode, I share some of my struggle with postpartum anxiety. During my unplanned c-section, I was left feeling out of control, with no one explaining to me what was happening. I felt like a bystander, watching birth happen to me. Afterwards, my anxiety was triggered when they took my daughter for her newborn screening tests. Again, no one explained to me what was happening or how long she would be gone for. I hated to be separated from my daughter. I would feel like I was suffocating. I had panic attacks about returning to work. As someone who's never really had anxiety, all this was new for me. I didn't feel like myself. In this episode, I share how my anxiety affected my life postpartum. I explain how therapy didn't work great for me, but I share what did. E22 Liz's struggle with postpartum anxietyE16 Christie's struggle with postpartum anxietyE10 Amanda's birth story and postpartum depressionE9 Betsy's traumatic c-section and postpartum depression E18 Alissa's 4th degree tear and PTSDE13 CA's birth storyLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Liz from the Golden Hour podcast joins me in this episode to share her story!  Liz has always been a planner, and spent a lot of time preparing for birth. She found a birth center attached to a hospital, and loved the welcoming atmosphere. She hired a doula, and felt confident that her birth would go well. While Liz planned a lot for birth, she didn't plan as much for postpartum. She ended up hemorrhaging after birthing her son, and had to be transferred out of the birth center to the hospital. She had a retained placenta that had to be hand removed. Liz didn't recognize the trauma she experienced at the time. Afterwards, Liz had a lot of anxiety. She was breastfeeding, and both she and her son were struggling. She started exclusively pumping, but needed to supplement with insurance. She put a lot of pressure on herself to breastfeed without stopping to think if it was worth the mental anguish. Eventually Liz was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety. She was constantly worried that her son wasn't getting enough to eat, and hyper-focused about keeping him on a feeding schedule and herself on a pumping schedule. She stopped pumping and saw a counselor and began to feel more like herself again. When Liz became pregnant with her second, she was more prepared for postpartum this time. Listen as Liz shares her story battling postpartum anxiety and what a relief it was when she was finally diagnosed. LaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What the heck is a TENS unit? TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It works by sending electrical pulses through a handheld device through your body, to your spinal cord and brain. In this episode, I talk about what a TENS unit is and why it works. I share what it feels like and where you can find them if you're interested in trying them out. TENS UnitSong "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusicLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How can visualization exercises help you manage pain during labor? They help keep your mind focused, and can relieve anxiety and fear that you might feel.  In this special episode, I share a few visualization exercises that I like, and explain how to do them. Birthing From Within Song "Christmas" by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™https://ikson.com/musicMusic by @iksonmusicLaborLessons.comEnjoy listening to Labor Lessons? Leave a review here! Let me know what your favorite episode is and why!Follow me on Instagram: Labor LessonsDisclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.