This week, I am joined by my sister-friend, Jorden, who is my incredible sister-in-law, who is due just 2 days after I am! She has had 3 previous birth experiences that included 3 pitocin inductions, adjusting to breastfeeding, and the exhilarating experience of pushing one of her babies out in 2 pushes!

In this episode:

• Positive pregnancy experiences
• The anticipation of a scheduled induction
• A small meconium scare
• The impact of a great support team
• Utilizing a different doctor with each birth

Jorden is on my personal Mount Rushmore of amazing mothers, so I am so excited for y’all to be empowered and inspired by her stories!

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Building your extra supply with a Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Jorden

11:57 - 1st Pregnancy: Long Distance 1st Trimester, Light Nausea, & Finding a Doctor with Medicaid

25:27 - 1st Labor: Going Over Due Date, Internal Fetal Monitoring, & Drop in Blood Pressure

47:06 - 1st Postpartum: Exhausting Introduction Into Motherhood & Adjusting to Breastfeeding

1:07:49 - 2nd Pregnancy: Staying Active & Feeling Less Nausea

1:14:29 - 2nd Labor: Strong Pitocin Induction, 2 Pushes, & No Tearing

1:21:18 - 2nd Postpartum: Quick Recovery & Amazing Community Support

1:29:22 - 3rd Pregnancy: Surprise Gender & Switching Doctors in 3rd Trimester

1:35:10 - 3rd Delivery: Strong Birth Support Team & Scheduled Induction

1:41:20 - 4th Pregnancy: Surprise Baby, Positive 1st Trimester, Second Round of Cousin Twins

1:48:13 - To My Pre-Mom Self…

You read that right! I’m having a baby!! Today, I give you all the deets from before we even knew we were pregnant to our recent struggle to find out the gender of our baby and everything in between! It is such a joy and a privilege to share the beginnings of my motherhood story with y’all. And fair warning, you may need a tissue or two today, I know I did. 🩷

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

On the 10th episode of The Labor Line, I’m joined by my friend Valeria, who had only ever held one baby before she had her own! From finding the right circle of friends that helped her feel confident enough to become a mom to utilizing all the tools offered to her from a local pregnancy help center, Valeria went from being a newborn novice to a birthing boss!

In this episode:

• Positive labor with an epidural at 42 weeks
• Navigating the complex US healthcare & insurance system as a Peruvian immigrant
• Big baby and a subsequent 2nd degree tear
• Learning to stand up to negative nurses
• The emotional strain of exclusively pumping for 10 months

Valeria’s story is full of laughs and heart and is a great reminder that surrounding yourself with the right people can empower you to do things you never thought possible before.

I also end the episode by sharing 10 things that I’ve learn from 10 episodes of The Labor Line, so be sure to stick around to the end!

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Valeria

08:06 - Pregnancy: Nausea, Birthing Classes, & Community Support

24:44 - Labor: Positive Delivery of a Big Baby With an Epidural at 42 Weeks

27:40 - Postpartum: Cranky Nurses, Negotiating Medical Bills, & Exclusively Pumping

42:26 - To My Pre-Mom Self…

45:58 - 10 Lessons From 10 Episodes

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my friend Madeline, whose twin pregnancy was as surprising as it was thrilling! From working with a midwife at a birth center to mitigate fearmongering common with a twin pregnancy, to being lifeflighted (!!) to an unfamiliar hospital, only to be discharged a few days later, and ultimately having a C-section at 32 weeks, Madeline’s story is a wonderful example of staying strong in your convictions through the twists and turns of pregnancy.

In this episode:

• A subchorionic hematoma at 5 weeks
• Faulty genetic tests with a false positive for the Trisomy 18 marker
• Early labor sparked on by a symptomless UTI
• C-Section prompted by a misread of the size of her babies
• 3-week and 6-week NICU stays
• Difficulty feeling bonded to both babies amidst postpartum depression
• Advocating for yourself and your baby no matter what!

Madeline’s story is a beautiful reminder that birth rarely goes according to plan, but your voice and your resilience matter every step of the way. If you need encouragement to trust yourself through the unpredictable journey of pregnancy and postpartum, this is the episode for you.

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Madeline

06:29 - Pregnancy: Subchronic Hematoma, Inaccurate Genetic Tests, & Rejecting Fearmongering

32:52 - Labor: Unnecessary Lifeflight, Size Discrepancy Worries, & a C-Section Delivery

56:41 - Postpartum: NICU Stays, Newborn Bubble, Postpartum Depression, & Learning to Bond

1:16:32 - To My Pre-Mom Self…

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my lifelong friend Lauren, who had 3 unique birth experiences that all informed one another. From a positive introduction into motherhood with her first, to a mentally difficult postpartum experience with her second, followed by a diagnosis of ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy) with her third, Lauren’s story reminds us that no two births are alike– even in the same family!

In this episode:

• Two failed epidurals
• Utilizing RhoGAM shots
• Real talk about postpartum anxiety + intrusive thoughts
• Beyond just the itchiness of ICP
• A one-push unmedicated delivery
• The power of preventative meds + uplifting community

Lauren has a way of telling it like it is without leaving you feeling heavy or overwhelmed (I mean, she is a rock-star of a therapist after all). Her candid discussion of the various curveballs that come with each new pregnancy reminds us to always ALWAYS check in on our friends, even the ones we think have it all together.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday

📱 Follow along on Instagram @thelaborline

Trigger Warning: Discussion of suicidal ideation (40:16 to 40:30 & 1:06:06)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

More information on the RhoGAM shot

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Lauren

09:05 - 1st Pregnancy: Positive Introduction Into Motherhood

18:38 - 1st Labor: Failed Epidural -- Didn't Feel Contractions, But Felt Everything While Pushing

23:02 - 1st Postpartum: Sweet Bonding Time + Supportive Community

25:58 - 2nd Pregnancy: Utilizing Clomid for Fertility + RhoGAM shot

35:20 - 2nd Labor: Induction + Another Failed Epidural

38:01 - 2nd Postpartum: Anxiety, OCD Tendencies, & Breastfeeding Challenges

44:09 - 3rd Pregnancy: Itchiness with ICP (Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy)

52:27 - 3rd Labor: Quick, One-Push Unmedicated Birth

01:01:42 - 3rd Postpartum: The Power of Preventative Meds + Uplifting Community

01:12:30 -To My Pre-Mom Self...

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my friend Mariah, who brings her wisdom as an emotional processing yoga coach to the world of birth. From dreaming of a quiet, at-home birth to some late pregnancy hurdles that led to an unexpected, but peaceful C-section, Mariah’s journey is a crash course in the power of surrendering.

In this episode:

• The nuances of pursuing a home birth in a medically motivated state
• Staying grounded as a mom with OCD
• Cholestasis + pre-eclampsia
• Trusting your body and your baby amid uncertainty
• Breech baby + empathetic hospital staff
• The untold difficulties of overproduction in breastfeeding + D-MER

Mariah’s story is a testament to the importance of staying true to your inner voice as you enter the unpredictable world of motherhood. Her insights have forever changed how I view birth and the beautiful balance between a mother and her baby.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday

📱 Follow along on Instagram @thelaborline

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mariah’s Honey, Be Yoga Instagram

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Mariah

06:54 - Pregnancy: Instant Connection to Baby, Switching Doctors, & Late Term Hurdles

28:49 - Delivery: Pre-eclampsia, Breech Baby, Empowering Hospital Staff, & Positive C-Section

56:21 - Postpartum: Overproduction in Breastfeeding, Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, & Emotional Struggles

1:13:33 - To My Pre-Mom Self...

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my friend Maddie, whose birth stories are as powerful as they are different. From a long, exhausting hospital induction with polyhydramnios to a fast, redemptive unmedicated birth at a birth center—plus the emotional experience of miscarriage in between—Maddie shares it all with honesty, insight, and so much heart.

In this episode:

• 3 DAYS of hospital labor (48+ hours unmedicated!)
• Moving across the country with a newborn
• Coping with a miscarriage
• The shock of a subchorionic hemorrhage
• Healing, unmedicated birth center experience
• A birth prep must = Disney Jeopardy!

Maddie’s story is one of strength, surrender, and showing up with love. I know y’all will be just as moved by it as I was.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday

📱 Follow along on Instagram @thelaborline

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols

New Sibling Course Pack by LoveEvery

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Maddie

08:13 - Deciding to Have Kids

11:39 - 1st Pregnancy: Exhaustion + Polyhydramnios

17:55 - 1st Labor: Induction, 3 DAYS of Labor, & Epidural

25:33 - 1st Postpartum: No Sleep + Cross-Country Move

30:18 - Miscarriage: Grief + Emotional Support

45:08 - 2nd Pregnancy: Physical Prep + Subchorionic Hemorrhage

56:25 - 2nd Labor: Birth Center + Redemptive Water Birth

1:29:00 - 2nd Postpartum: Quick Healing + Adjusting to 2 Children

1:35:00 -To My Pre-Mom Self..

This week, I’m joined by my friend from home, Annika, who is such a kind and resilient person.

After wrestling with several chronic health issues in her early twenties, Annika shares her winding road to mom-hood, including her IUI journey, her positive pregnancy experience, an induction, an epidural, 30 HOURS of labor, and the emotional decision to pivot to a C-section. She also talks about utilizing accelerated resolution therapy (or ART) to process her birth experience.

In this episode:

• Unanticipated infertility + IUI success
• Enjoying pregnancy after infertility
• Elective induction + inability to dilate
• Mental and emotional coping during a C-section
• Reflecting on the vulnerability required in motherhood

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday

📱 Follow along on Instagram @thelaborline

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Annika’s 30-Minute Nutrition Podcast

Annika’s Digital Diet Tech Page

Roku Stick to add to your hospital bag