Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

I’m so excited to bring you a topic we’ve never covered on the podcast before: prenatal yoga! Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC and creator of the PYC Method. She’s also a Lamaze childbirth educator, postpartum corrective exercise specialist, Spinning Babies parent educator, former labor support doula, mom of two, and host of the Yoga Birth Babies podcast for over 10 years. I’ll be honest, yoga isn’t part of my own routine, so I asked Deb to talk to me like the person who’s never rolled out a mat. Before you skip this one thinking, “I’m not a yogi,” stay with me, because this conversation is for every kind of birth. We talk about why yoga is such a powerful tool for calming your nervous system, building coping skills through “safely uncomfortable” poses, and creating balance and mobility in the pelvis. We also get into why your pelvic floor should be springy like a trampoline, not tight. And Deb explains why prenatal yoga done well is so much more than sitting and stretching.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

We also dig into the real-life questions I know so many of you have. Where do you start if you’re 34 weeks and have never done any of this? Why do movement and position changes still matter if you’re planning an epidural? And how do these tools support you during a cesarean, too? Deb shares practical ways to get your birth partner involved, from cheat sheets in your hospital bag to her upgraded ice water test for practicing discomfort together. We also talk about what to do if a doula isn’t in the budget. These practices aren’t just for birth. You’ll carry them into recovery, parenting, and so many moments beyond. I loved this conversation, and I think you’re going to walk away feeling more confident in your body, whatever your birth looks like.

More from Deb Flashenberg:

http://prenatalyogacenter.com

Connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @prenatalyogacenter

Grab her free guide: 5 Simple Solutions to Pregnancy Aches & Pains

Listen to her podcast: Yoga Birth Babies

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Yoga for Every Birth
• 07:15 Why Yoga for Birth Prep
• 09:53 Pelvic Mobility and Strength
• 14:45 Yoga Plus Cardio and Strength
• 29:23 Epidurals and Smart Movement
• 37:10 Doula Alternatives and Partner Prep
• 45:54 Where to Find Deb

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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Beth Gaskill, aka Miss Beth from Big City Readers, is back on the podcast, and this time she’s holding her baby girl! I’ve been so excited to hear this one. A routine 36-week appointment, after a seven-mile walk in 100-degree heat with no shower, turned into “you’re having a baby today” when Beth’s ultrasound showed low amniotic fluid. We talk through her induction from start to finish: a Cytotec and Foley balloon start, a rough night of cervical checks that went sideways, a partner who stepped up as her advocate, and a midwife who showed what real consent during an exam looks like. Then her body took over, with Pitocin, an epidural that needed a few adjustments, and a baby born in just two pushes. I also share my nurse perspective on why I don’t want us treating “risk” as “reality,” and why a first-degree tear is not a failure.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

But Beth’s story didn’t end in the delivery room. After a perfect first night, her daughter was admitted to the NICU for breathing support and stayed 12 days. Beth opens up about how disorienting that was: being separated from her baby, fighting to protect breastfeeding, and how much the right nurses changed everything. We also talk about what providers, and the people who love you, can do better, like simply acknowledging that it feels unfair instead of jumping straight to “we just want baby to be safe.” If you’ve ever had a birth plan take a sharp turn, or a NICU stay you didn’t see coming, I think you’ll feel so seen in this one.

More from Beth Gaskill:

Follow her on Instagram @bigcityreaders

http://bigcityreaders.com

Make Reading Click, our first free learning to read workshop: https://my.demio.com/ref/NdBsEKF5wWoY4Tbs

Listen to the Play On Words Podcast & her episode with Lo: Third Trimester: What's Worth Doing... and What's Just Internet Noise with Lo Mansfield @TheLaborMama

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to episode 25: School Readiness and Kids Who Love to Read with Beth Gaskill of Big City Readers

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Beth Gaskill’s Birth Story
• 06:18 Trying For Baby
• 13:07 Low Fluid Surprise
• 24:26 Induction Begins
• 26:22 Painful Cervix Checks
• 30:05 Confronting Mistreatment
• 32:24 Midwife + Consent Done Right
• 34:44 Balloon Induction Pain
• 36:30 Pitocin and Epidural Hiccups
• 40:06 Lightning Fast Delivery
• 44:23 NICU Admission Shock
• 51:40 Making NICU More Humane

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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I was so excited to speak with our guest today, Britta Bushnell, PhD. Britta is the author of Transformed by Birth, host of the Transformed by Birth podcast, a mother and grandmother, a mythologist, and a childbirth educator who has spent the last 25 years walking families through one of life’s biggest thresholds: birth and new parenthood. We talked about why birth is truly a rite of passage, and why that transformation doesn’t stop when your baby is born. Your identity shifts, your marriage shifts, even what you mean by “my family” shifts. And it happens again with every single baby. Britta also shares her “turning of the family wheel,” which is so helpful for anyone working through new dynamics with in-laws (or, like her, learning how to step into the grandparent chair!).

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

We also got real about control. As a type-A mom of four, I felt this one. Britta tells an unforgettable story about trekking the Himalayas that shows the difference between what we can prepare for and what we simply have to respond to in the moment. We talked about how to learn about birth without overstuffing ourselves with an overload of information, what to do if a doula isn’t in the budget, and how to take the next step even when you don’t feel confident. We ended on one of my favorite parts: how to speak to yourself with kindness through these transformations instead of judging the version of you who didn’t know then what you know now. You’re going to walk away with stories that stick, I promise.

More from Dr. Britta Bushnell:

http://brittabushnell.com

Grab her book: Transformed by Birth

Listen to her podcast: Transformed by Birth Podcast

Follow her on Instagram & FaceBook @brittabushnellphd

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to episode 24: Boundaries, Babies, You & Your Mother-in-Law with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome Dr. Britta Bushnell
• 08:15 Redefining Family After Baby
• 17:05 Parenting Keeps Evolving
• 24:04 Each Baby Rocks the System
• 31:15 Do You Need a Doula?
• 43:21 Self Compassion After Birth

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

YBYB 20% off ad link

Today’s conversation is a heavier one, and I want to say that up front: if you’re not in a place to take it in, it’s okay to skip this one and come back when you’re ready. I’m joined by Kayleigh Summers, a licensed clinical social worker, perinatal trauma specialist, amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) survivor, and the voice behind The Birth Trauma Mama. She shares how her own experience shaped the work she does now, and we talk about what it looks like to prepare for birth with hope at the center while still making room for the “what ifs.” We get into what Kayleigh calls catastrophic birth planning: not as a way to plan for the worst, but as a way to have a say in situations where you might not be able to speak for yourself. We also talk about why that preparation matters for partners, who may end up making the big decisions, and we cover the gift of putting your wishes in a notes app and sharing it with someone you trust.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

I also wanted this to be real and practical. AFE is incredibly rare, about 1 in 40,000 births, and Kayleigh and I both agree that “it won’t happen to you” isn’t a helpful thing to hear.

We talk about:

• How to ask your provider what protocols and training they have in place
• How to respond when a question gets brushed off
• Why you don’t have to deliver at any particular type of hospital to be doing this “right”
• Keeping your awareness on the shelf instead of letting it take over your feed
• The reminder that surviving something hard doesn’t mean you owe the world anything

If you’re a provider, Kayleigh shares a free course through the AFE Foundation, and I’ll link it, along with her website, podcast, and social handles, in the show notes. Wherever you are in your own prep, I hope you walk away feeling a little more informed, a little less alone, and still free to get excited about the parts of your birth you’re hoping for.

Mentioned in this episode:

Course Name:https://afesupport.org/clinician/courses/AFE: A Practical Approach Course

Thehttps://afesupport.org/contact/AFE Foundation Contact hotline is 1-307-363-2337 (or 1-307-END-AFES)

More from Kaleigh Summers, LCSW, PMH-C:

Visit http://thebirthtraumamama.com

Follow her on Instagram & TikTok: @thebirthtrauma_mama

Listen to her podcast: The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Meet Kayleigh Summers
• 05:15 AFE and Emergency C-Section
• 11:41 Why She Started Sharing
• 16:45 Privilege and Access to Care
• 19:08 Catastrophic Birth Planning
• 29:14 Partner Decision Burden
• 33:20 Questions for Your OB
• 39:14 Preparedness Without Doomscrolling
• 41:10 Provider Resources and Hotline

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

YBYB 20% off ad link

Friends, it's finally here: my fourth (and final) birth story. I'm sharing how Kelvin and I went from "we'll have three" to parenting our way into a fourth baby, and what it was like to get pregnant and receive maternity care as an expat in the Netherlands. As someone who loves this work, I got to see that midwifery model up close, and I'll be honest about the hard parts too, like language barriers and a fragmented system that left me biking home twice after a midwife couldn't find a heartbeat. Then we moved back to the U.S. halfway through the pregnancy and I felt amazing, but I was wrestling with a due date that landed right around my mom's heaven day, and with the question of when we grieve and when we celebrate.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

Then we get to the birth itself: a sneaky Sunday morning, a very precipitous labor, and just 19 minutes in the hospital. I talk about laboring on hands and knees, experiencing the fetal ejection reflex for the first time, the baby girl who came out screaming, and why I was so sure I'd torn when I hadn't at all. I also talk about what it's like to process a birth this fast, when your brain needs time to catch up to what your body just did, and the gift Kelvin was as a birth partner who owned that room. This birth felt redemptive and normal in the best way, and it was bittersweet to close the book on this chapter. Grab a snack, because this one is full of joy and gratitude.

Listen to my other birth stories:

• Labor Nurse's First Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Midwives | Episode 01
• Labor Nurses's Second, Unmedicated, Fast Birth with D-MER and PPA During PostpartumEpisode 13
• Labor Nurse's 3rd Fast, Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Midwives | Episode 40

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 My Fourth Birth Story
• 07:33 Pregnant in the Netherlands
• 15:05 Due Date and Grief Milestones
• 16:25 Early Labor Signs Overnight
• 22:55 Active Labor Car Ride
• 30:49 Water Breaks On Floor
• 34:13 Afterbirth And No Tear
• 36:21 Processing The Fetal Ejection Reflex
• 37:26 Redemptive Final Birth

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

YBYB 20% off ad link

I sat down with Stephanie Lauri, registered dietitian, also known as the Pregnancy Nutritionist, to talk about something almost all of us experience in some form: nausea, food aversions, and that first-trimester question of whether we'll ever feel like ourselves again. Stephanie started this work while pregnant with her second daughter, after realizing just how little nutrition guidance actually gets offered during prenatal care, and she's since helped thousands of moms-to-be manage their symptoms, feel more confident in their food choices, and head into delivery and postpartum recovery feeling supported. We talked through what's actually "normal" across that first trimester spectrum, why symptoms don't magically disappear at 12 weeks for most people, and how blood sugar balance, timing, and small additions (not restrictions) can make a real difference even when you can't control the hormones driving it all.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

We also got into what to eat when nothing sounds good, how to build a more balanced version of the carby, bland foods you're already craving, the role of electrolytes and hydration, and when medication might genuinely be the right and non-guilty answer. Stephanie's whole philosophy is about addition over restriction: instead of a list of what to avoid, focusing on what you can add to support yourself and your baby, wherever you're starting from. If you've ever felt like "just survive it" was the only advice on offer for how you're feeling, this conversation is the permission slip to expect more and try a little more, too.

More from Stephanie Lauri, RD:

Follow her on Instagram @pregnancy_nutritionist

Check out her meal plans:

• Pregnancy Symptom Management Meal Plan
• 2nd & 3rd Trimester Meal Plan
• Postpartum Meal Plan

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Meet Stephanie, RD
• 06:19 Dietitian Vs Nutritionist
• 11:42 Common First Trimester Struggles
• 16:41 Blood Sugar & Nausea Fixes
• 22:49 Meal Ideas That Work
• 26:55 Meds, Ginger, Electrolytes
• 35:26 Bad Advice To Ignore
• 41:42 Where To Find Stephanie

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

YBYB 20% off ad link

Nine years ago, when I had my first baby, infant physical therapy wasn't even on my radar - it just wasn't something being talked about, especially not the way it is now. So I sat down with Dr. Brita DeStefano, founder of Progress Through Play in Denver, a mom of two and an infant physical therapist who's spent the last seven years specializing exclusively in that first year of life, to change that for you. We get into what infant PT actually is (spoiler: it's so much more than "my baby isn't rolling yet"), and Brita breaks down how womb positioning, delivery, and even reflux can all show up in your baby's body as tension - impacting everything from feeding to tummy time to sleep. We talk about torticollis, head flattening, and her favorite at-home "boomerang test" that can help you catch tightness before your pediatrician might even notice it.

Join The Breastfeeding Blueprint:www.thelabormama.com/breastfeeding & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

What I loved most about this conversation is how Brita reframes the whole thing - it's not about parents needing to be on high alert, it's about approaching your baby's body with curiosity instead of worry. We also get real about the accessibility side of things, because I don't think we talk enough about how frustrating it is that this kind of proactive, whole-body care isn't always covered by insurance or easy to access. If you've ever wondered why your lactation consultant is asking questions your pediatrician isn't, or you've just felt like something's a little off with how your baby is feeding or sleeping and couldn't put your finger on it, this episode is going to hand you the language - and the confidence - to advocate for your baby.

More from Dr. Brita DeStefano:

Visit http://ptpdever.com

Follow her on Instagram @progressthroughplay

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Meet Dr. Brita, Infant PT
• 05:47 Why Infant PT Matters
• 09:33 Feeding Referrals and Early Support
• 15:29 Curiosity Over Anxiety
• 20:44 Womb Position and Birth Tension
• 26:37 Torticollis Signs and Screening
• 29:49 Flat Head Prevention Tips
• 33:35 Reflux Digestion and Movement
• 40:50 Resources

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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This is part two of our Pitocin deep dive (if you haven't listened to episode 68 yet, hit pause and go do that first - it lays the foundation for everything we talk about here). In this episode we're tackling the question I get asked about more than almost anything else on social media: are Pitocin contractions more painful than spontaneous ones? I walk you through the real differences between Pitocin and oxytocin - how they act on your uterus in similar ways but flow through your body completely differently, why Pitocin tends to be more rhythmic and relentless compared to the natural ebb and flow of spontaneous labor, and why the fact that Pitocin doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier (so you miss out on some of that natural endorphin flood) matters so much for how contractions feel.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

But here's the thing - I'm not going to give you a flat yes or no on this one, and I explain exactly why. I share two totally opposite experiences with Pitocin to show you just how much nuance is actually at play here, and then I walk you through the questions I think you should actually be asking yourself before you're ever in an induction situation - things like your environment, your care team, your relationship with your nurse, and your own mindset going in. My hope is that you leave this episode not with a scary verdict about Pitocin, but with a roadmap: real understanding, real questions to ask, and genuine empowerment for whatever your induction story ends up looking like.

More from this episode:

Listen to episode 68: Yes or No to Pitocin? 8 Things You Need to Know Before Your Birth

Listen to episode 60: Induction Part 2: Induction Methods - Foley Bulbs, Pitocin, AROM, & More

Listen to episode 59: Induction Part 1: What You Need to Know Before We Talk About How it's Done

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Pitocin Changes Things
• 01:41 The Big Question
• 03:16 Pitocin vs Oxytocin
• 05:41 How Labor Flows
• 10:55 Real Stories and Nuance
• 12:54 Questions to Ask
• 15:24 Hopeful Takeaways

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

YBYB 20% off ad link

Pitocin is one of those topics that comes up in almost every birth conversation, and it can feel so spicy - like you have to pick a side before you even understand what it is. So in this episode, I'm pulling the spice out of it and just giving you the practical, foundational stuff: what Pitocin actually is (hint: it's synthetic oxytocin, not the real thing, even though the bag says otherwise), how it's different from the oxytocin your body naturally makes, and why the fact that it doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier actually matters for how your labor might feel. I'm walking you through eight things I think every person giving birth should know - from how it's dosed and titrated, to what your nurse is actually watching for on that monitor, to the difference between Pitocin during labor versus that standard dose you get afterward to help prevent hemorrhage.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

My goal here was never to tell you whether to say yes or no to Pitocin - that's not my job, and it never will be. What I want is for you to walk away understanding it well enough that when it comes up in your own labor, you feel educated instead of overwhelmed, and you know exactly what questions to ask. Because at the end of the day, you don't have to be pro-Pitocin or anti-Pitocin. You just deserve to understand what it is so you can be part of that conversation when the time comes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to episode 60: Induction Part 2: Induction Methods - Foley Bulbs, Pitocin, AROM, & More

Listen to episode 59: Induction Part 1: What You Need to Know Before We Talk About How it's Done

Listen to episode 20: Active Management or Hands Off? Your Third Stage of Labor Options with Miri Halliday, BS, CPM, LM

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Pitocin
• 04:05 What Pitocin Is
• 06:15 Risks And Tradeoffs
• 09:08 Pitocin Vs Oxytocin
• 11:24 Blood Brain Barrier
• 13:18 Dosing And Bishop Score
• 18:25 Nurse Monitoring And Titration
• 22:12 Contraction Goals And IUPC
• 23:49 Third Stage Pitocin Choice

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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There's something so special about hearing a labor nurse tell her own birth story, and today's guest, Lauren, delivers exactly that. Lauren's been a labor and delivery nurse for over 10 years, mom to a three year old, is an IBCLC, and runs Labor Lauren - a faith-based birth education platform. She brings us into her journey from years of trying to conceive, through a peaceful unmedicated labor at home with her midwife, all the way to a hospital birth that went about as smoothly as she could have hoped. But what happened after birth is the part of this story that changes everything - a rare, fast-escalating complication that neither Lauren nor her coworkers saw coming, even with all of her clinical experience in the room.

I loved getting to sit with Lauren in this one, not just because her story is wild (it truly is), but because of how honestly she talks about being both the nurse and the patient - and what it taught her about advocacy, humility, and trusting her care team even when things don't go according to plan. We talk about hypnobirthing, placenta painting, the messy reality of "the plan" versus what labor actually gives you, and how her faith carried her through the scariest hours of her postpartum recovery.

More from Labor Lauren:

Follow her on Instagram @labor.lauren

Grab her Free Third Trimester Prayer Journal

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Labor Lauren's Birth Story
• 07:24 Infertility and Miscarriage
• 11:49 Post-Due Date Spiral
• 14:03 Balloon Catheter & Early Labor
• 21:54 Nurse Mode at the Hospital
• 26:51 Epidural
• 28:28 Water Break To Pushing
• 30:08 Birth Moment And Joy
• 31:13 Placenta Painting
• 33:38 Hematoma Emergency
• 37:42 Breast Pumping While Unconscious
• 43:07 Humility For Care Teams

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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Today I’m welcoming Nina Spears - founder and CEO of Baby Chick, author of The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy, and honestly, a bit of a unicorn in this space. She's a certified baby planner, birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, newborn care educator, infant massage instructor, and perinatal nutrition expert. Over the past 15 years she's supported more than 800 families in person and thousands more online. We get into it all - the mental load that sneaks up on you the second you see that positive test, why bringing your partner into the decision-making early (not after you're both exhausted) changes everything, and the very practical ways partners can actually show up during pregnancy instead of just feeling helpless on the sidelines.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

We also talked about something I think about constantly: how to take in information without drowning in it, and why finding a few trusted voices matters so much more than trying to listen to everyone. Nina got real about the stuff nobody prepares you for - how birth is so much more mental than physical, how much you lean on your people (yes, even your nurse) more than you expect, and how lonely postpartum can feel even when you're surrounded by support. If you've ever felt like you're supposed to have it all figured out before baby even arrives, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, ask for help, and trust your own intuition along the way.

More from Nina Spears:

http://baby-chick.com

The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy

Checkout her podcast: Chick Chat

Follow her on Instagram @thebabychick

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Simple Birth Prep with Nina Spears
• 07:05 The Pregnancy Mental Load
• 12:47 Partner Tips That Help
• 23:49 Avoiding Information Overload
• 29:53 Mental Side of Labor
• 33:43 How to Prep Mentally
• 45:43 Postpartum Support Plan

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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Hey friends! Today I wanted to sit down and talk about something I know so many of you are wrestling with - the connection between fear and your labor. If you've ever seen those posts online that say things like "labor isn't painful, you're just scared," I want to meet you in that confusion, because I've felt it too, even with everything I know. I'm breaking down the actual physiology behind the fear-tension-pain cycle - what's really happening in your body when anxiety creeps in before or during labor, and why it's not as simple as those posts make it sound.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

But this isn't just the science - I wanted this episode to feel really practical. I'm walking you through exactly what to do with the fears you already have: how to turn them into a plan instead of letting them grow in the dark, why separating "possible" from "probable" is such a game-changer for your mindset, and how trusting your body's design (and your own breath!) can completely shift how you move through birth. My hope is you walk away from this one not trying to eliminate every fear before labor starts, but knowing exactly what to do with the ones you've got.

More from this episode:

Listen to episode 07: Is Pain Free Birth Real, Should You Want it, and Can You Do It?

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Understanding Birth Fears
• 05:25 Fear Tension Pain Cycle
• 08:41 How Fear Affects Labor
• 10:30 Turn Fears Into Plans
• 13:49 Possible Versus Probable
• 16:52 Your Body Can Do This
• 18:32 Practical Tools
• 20:30 Reframes And Breathing

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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You guys, I have been dying to share this one with you. Sara - our gestational diabetes nurse from episode 16 - is back, and this time she's telling me her third birth story, which might be one of the wildest I've ever heard. This mama had two calm, controlled, epidural-at-the-right-moment hospital births under her belt, and she was so sure baby number three would follow the same script that she scheduled a wax, a mani-pedi, and acupuncture on what turned out to be the day she went into labor. Less than two hours after her water broke, she was pushing in the back of an ambulance, surrounded by four volunteer EMTs, delivering completely unmedicated - something she never planned for.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

What gets me about this story isn't just the chaos - it's what it says about how unpredictable birth really is, even for someone who lives and breathes labor and delivery for a living. Sara spent the whole ambulance ride in denial, convinced she couldn't possibly be that far along. This episode is such a beautiful reminder that no amount of professional expertise or birth-plan certainty can fully prepare you for what your body decides to do, and that having an educated, attentive support system isn't optional - it's everything.

More from Sara Alayev, MSN, RN:

• Find Sara on Instagram:@gestational.diabetes.nurse
• Checkout the GDM Nurse Membership

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Sara’s Birth Story
• 05:07 Births One and Two
• 09:30 Planning Baby Three
• 12:44 Labor Begins
• 22:38 EMTs Arrive Fast
• 25:25 Crowning in Ambulance
• 28:40 Baby Out and Warming
• 33:34 Hospital Arrival
• 41:07 Epidural Takeaways
• 43:21 Processing Fast Birth
• 45:58 Education and Coping Tools
• 49:12 Where to Find Sara

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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This week I'm joined by Dr. Sujay Kansagra - you probably know him as That Sleep Doc, where he's built a following of 700K+ across social media. He's a professor at Duke and director of their Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, he's authored five books (including My Child Won't Sleep), and he even invented a smart crib mattress along the way. His expertise spans sleep disorders across every age, from infants through adults, and he brought all of that knowledge into this conversation with total ease and zero judgment.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

Here's what we got into:

• How to spot credible sleep info online- what to look for (and watch out for) in a space with no real regulation
• Late-pregnancy sleep struggles- what's actually going on (iron, sleep apnea, caffeine metabolism) and when to loop in your OBGYN
• The 0–6 week newborn phase- why it's normal for this stretch to feel like chaos, and the small routines that can help
• Safe sleep, realistically- what to do when your baby won't sleep anywhere but on you, and the safest way to handle those exhausted middle-of-the-night moments
• Sleep myths, rapid-fire- "sleep begets sleep," "never wake a sleeping baby," "wake windows," "nursing to sleep is a crutch," and what the actual sleep science says about each
• What "sleeping through the night" really means- (hint: there's no official definition, and the number you're picturing is made up)

If you've ever felt like everyone else has figured out sleep and you're just surviving - this one's your permission slip to relax the rules a little.

More from Dr. Sujay Kansagra:

Check out the Lullabee Smart Crib Mattress

Grab his book: My Child Won’t Sleep

Follow @ThatSleep Doc on Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, & YouTube

Checkout Dr. Jade Wu

More from this episode:

Listen to episode 54: What I Wish I Knew About Baby Sleep Before they Were Born (from a mom of 4)

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Baby Sleep with That Sleep Doc
• 09:49 Pregnancy Sleep Troubleshooting
• 13:40 Zero to Six Weeks Normal
• 15:11 Early Routines and Tools
• 19:39 Safe Sleep Versus Reality
• 27:20 Sleep Begets Sleep
• 29:37 Wake a Sleeping Baby
• 31:40 Sleep Drive and Caffeine
• 33:19 Wake Windows and Cues
• 42:51 Define Sleeping Through the Night

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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Okay, if you're hoping for an unmedicated hospital birth, this one's for you. I'm pulling back the curtain and giving you my 11 insider tips - the real, practical stuff I've learned both as a labor nurse and from having four unmedicated hospital births myself. We're talking about everything from how to build the right care team before you even go into labor, to why knowledge really is power when it comes to navigating a system that isn't always designed with unmedicated birth in mind, to the mental game that I think matters more than almost anything else. I get into physical prep, staying home as long as you safely can, having someone who can speak up for you when you can't speak for yourself, and so much more. These tips are about giving you the confidence, the knowledge, and the team you need to go after the birth you're hoping for.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

Mentioned in this episode:

• Listen to episode 10: The Emotional Signposts of Labor (an Episode for Every Birth Partner to Hear)
• Listen to my birth story’s:Episode 01,Episode 13, &Episode 40
• Listen to episode 37: Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal Labor
• Listen to episode 38: You're Contracting! When Do You Go to the Hospital?
• Listen to episode 50: Birth Plans vs. Birth Vibes: Real-Life Tips for Hospital Birth That Feels Good with Jen Hamilton

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 11 Tips for an Unmedicated Birth
• 07:24 Tip 1 Choosing Your Care Team
• 10:46 Tip 2 Know All the Paths
• 12:50 Tip 3 Get Physical
• 15:31 Tip 4 Mental Strength
• 17:59 Tip 5 Stay Home Longer
• 21:17 Tip 6 Choose Your Advocate
• 23:12 Tip 7 Expect Interruptions
• 26:00 Tip 8 Understand Labor Stages
• 28:04 Tip 9 Comfort Toolbox
• 30:50 Tip 10 Keep Moving
• 32:57 Tip 11 Know How to Chill

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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I sat down with Tamari Jacob, Certified Lactation Counselor, mom of 4, and founder of One With the Pump. After going through her own difficult, exclusive pumping journey - twice - Tamari realized just how massive the gap was in resources, education, and support for moms who need to pump, so she set out to fill it herself. We get into what a real "feeding plan" should actually look like in those first crucial hours and days - not just "I want to breastfeed," but what that actually means in practice: emptying every two to three hours, when to try hand expression versus pumping, and why triple feeding should never be a long-term plan. We also get into pump education 101 - the difference between a primary and secondary pump, why "hospital-grade" on a wearable pump ad is basically a marketing myth, and why flange sizing matters way more than most moms realize.

Join The Breastfeeding Blueprint:www.thelabormama.com/breastfeeding & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

What I loved most about this one is how Tamari balances hard data with so much grace for moms. We talked about the pressure of social media - how a stranger's 90-ounce freezer stash isn't the benchmark, and how making 25-30 ounces a day is genuinely something to be proud of. Whether you're exclusively pumping, combo feeding, or just trying to figure out what pump to register for, Tamari's whole philosophy comes down to one thing: your goal is her goal, and there's no one "right" way to feed your baby.

More from Tamari Jacob, CLC:

• JoinThe Ultimate Pumping Course™and use code ‘BEHOLD’ for 15% off!
• Follow Tamari onInstagram,TikTok, andYouTube: @onewiththepump
• http://onewiththepump.com
• Watch her YouTube video:Understanding Your Breast Pump Parts - What You Need to Know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Episode 57: Which Breast Pump Should You Get? Let's Break Them All Down

Episode 53: The Truth About Low Milk Supply: What Everyone Needs to Know Before Baby is Born

Episode 28: Oversupply, Exclusive Pumping & Neurodivergent Lactation with The Oversupply Mama

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Exclusive Pumping
• 03:52 Tamari’s Journey to Exclusive Pumping
• 11:19 Building a Feeding Plan
• 17:40 Options When Nursing Isn't Working
• 21:44 Pumping Myths
• 28:43 Primary vs Wearable Pumps
• 33:41 Social Media Supply Myths
• 38:29 Supplements and Freezer Stash
• 42:40 Triple Feeding Reality
• 44:13 Pumping Resources

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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In part two of our induction series, I'm walking you through the entire toolbox - because induction is so much more than "just Pitocin." We start with the more natural methods like membrane sweeps, nipple stimulation, and AROM (breaking your bag of waters), then move into mechanical cervical dilators like the Foley bulb, Cook catheter, and the lesser-used Laminaria and Dilapan rods. From there we get into cervical ripening medications - Cytotec and Cervidil - and finally Pitocin itself, including how it differs from your body's natural oxytocin and what that titration process actually looks like in the hospital. My goal here is for you to understand what each tool is actually doing: is it ripening your cervix, or is it creating contractions? Once you know that, you can ask way better questions in your own birth.

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%

The biggest takeaway I want you to walk away with is that induction is almost never just one step - it's usually a sequence, tools layered together based on how your body responds. There's no single "right" combination, and every pathway looks a little different depending on where you're starting from. What matters most is that you understand each tool being offered, know that informed consent is ongoing (you can always ask questions or say no), and that you feel confident walking into your own induction or augmentation conversation. If you want the full deep dive - including all the evidence behind these tools - that lives inside the induction module of Your Body Your Birth.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Listen to episode 59:Induction Part 1: What You Need to Know Before We Talk About How it's Done
• Listen to episode 47:Should You Say Yes to a Membrane Sweep: Pros, Cons, and Things to Know
• Listen to episode 46:Induction Myths & Truths and Why He Chose to Be an OBGYN with Dr. Ahan Hunter
• JoinYour Body Your Birthcourse & use the code PODCAST to save 20%!

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Induction Tools and Methods
• 05:12 Natural Induction Methods
• 07:51 Membrane Sweeps Basics
• 09:32 Nipple Stimulation
• 10:27 Breaking the Water - AROM
• 12:53 Foley Bulb and Cook Catheter
• 17:29 Laminaria and Dilapan
• 20:23 Cytotec and Cervidil
• 25:39 Pitocin Explained
• 32:37 Putting It All Together

About your host:

🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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Induction might be one of the most misunderstood - and most talked about - topics in the birth world, so I wanted to slow down and give it the space it deserves. In this episode, I'm laying the foundation before we ever get into specific methods (that's coming in part two!). I break down the real difference between induction and augmentation - induction is when labor hasn't started yet and we're trying to kickstart it, while augmentation is about moving things along once labor is already underway. I also get into the different reasons induction might come up for you, whether it's medically necessary, elective, or somewhere in that gray area in between, and why understanding this matters even if you're someone who says you'd never choose to be induced. With roughly half of births in the US involving a Pitocin conversation in some form, this is information almost all of us need.

I also want you walking away from this episode knowing about your Bishop score, because it's a huge piece of how these decisions get made. I explain the five components that make up this score - dilation, effacement, station, cervical position, and cervical consistency - and what it means for your cervix to be favorable versus unfavorable for induction. My goal here isn't to tell you whether you should be induced; that's a deeply personal conversation between you and your provider. Instead, I want you to leave this episode feeling smart and prepared, with the language and framework you need to ask good questions, understand what's being suggested to you, and advocate for yourself, whether that's during an induction or if augmentation comes up mid-labor. Once you've got this groundwork down, come back for part two, where we'll dive into the actual induction methods themselves.

More from this episode:

Listen to episode 21: What's the Big Deal About Cervical Exams & Should You Say Yes or No?

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Why Induction Matters
• 04:32 Induction vs Augmentation
• 12:48 Bishop Score Explained
• 14:16 Cervix Ripeness Basics
• 17:35 Bishop Score Ranges
• 20:52 Questions to Ask Next
• 21:45 Part Two Preview
• 22:22 Closing and Disclaimer

About your host:

🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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I'm so excited to welcome back Lily Nichols - registered dietician, certified diabetes educator, and honestly one of my favorite people to talk about nutrition with. We're diving deep into postpartum recovery, and specifically the things I don't think we talk about enough like the fact that your protein needs after baby are actually higher than a female athlete's, that a standard "extra 500 calories a day" while breastfeeding is probably not cutting it, and which supplements are actually worth your time versus what is just really smart marketing targeted at exhausted moms scrolling Amazon at 2am.

We also get into the postpartum hair loss conversation that I have been wanting to have for a while now - because I found Lily's blog on this topic years ago and thought, this is the education everyone needs. We break down why it happens, why it's actually normal and expected, when you should and shouldn't be concerned, and why that hair growth supplement you're eyeing probably isn't doing what you think it is. If you're in the thick of postpartum recovery, or preparing for it, or even just a year or two out and still trying to feel like yourself again - this one is for you.

More from Lily Nichols, RDN:

• Listen to episode 19: Why Choline Matters in Your Pregnancy and Postpartum (and how to get enough) with Lily Nichols, RDN
• Visithttp://lilynicholsrdn.com
• Check out her books:https://lilynicholsrdn.com/books/
• Follow her on Instagram:@lilynicholsrdn

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Postpartum Recovery
• 01:49 Meet Lily Nichols
• 04:20 Which Book To Read
• 09:56 Higher Nutritional Needs After Birth
• 13:24 Warming Foods Tradition
• 17:17 Prenatals And Add Ons
• 20:57 Testing And Repletion
• 26:42 Postpartum Hair Loss
• 35:27 Marketing Myths And Supplements
• 38:25 HTMA Testing Explained
• 46:34 Postpartum Resources

About your host:

🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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I'm breaking down breast pumps in the most practical, no-fluff way I can, because I think this is one of the most confusing topics in the whole postpartum conversation, and you deserve to actually feel informed. We're talking about the two big categories of pumps - manual and electric - and then we're going deep on all the different types of electric pumps, from your classic double electric to hospital-grade pumps, portables, and wearables.

Whether you're a first-time mom who doesn't even know where to start, someone heading back to work who needs to pump multiple times a day, or you're planning to exclusively pump - I want this episode to be the foundation that makes every other pumping conversation make sense. We also get into how to actually choose the right pump for your situation, what your insurance likely covers, when a wearable might not be your best friend, and what to do with your pump before baby even arrives. Because I promise you - the most expensive pump is not always the best pump, and what worked for your best friend might not be what works for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Listen to episode #28: Oversupply, Exclusive Pumping & Neurodivergent Lactation with The Oversupply Mama
• Listen to episode #53: The Truth About Low Milk Supply: What Everyone Needs to Know Before Baby is Born

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Which Pump Should You Get?
• 04:14 Manual Pumps Explained
• 06:33 Electric Pumps Basics
• 08:17 Single vs Double Electric Pumps
• 10:49 Hospital-Grade Pumps
• 13:58 Portable vs Wearable Pumps
• 17:06 Wearable Tradeoffs
• 20:27 Choosing Your Pump
• 24:07 Prep and Flange Fit
• 26:36 Reuse and Replace Parts

About your host:

🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Mentioned in this episode:

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