Episodes

Send us Fan Mail Preparing your hospital bag for labor and delivery can feel overwhelming, especially when Pinterest lists make it seem like you need to pack your entire house. In this episode of The Birth Journeys Podcast®, labor and delivery nurse Kelly Hof breaks down what you actually need in your hospital bag, what the hospital already provides, and how to avoid overpacking during pregnancy. If you’re a first-time mom wondering: What should I pack in my hospital bag? Wha...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard “30 seconds,” “a few minutes,” or “wait until it stops pulsing”… but how long should you actually delay cord clamping? In this episode, we break down what the research shows, what current guidelines from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend, and why more time isn’t always more beneficial. You’ll learn: ✔️ Why at least 60 seconds is the evidence-based baseline ✔️ How placental transfusion work...

Send us Fan Mail Contractions don’t just hurt—they can trigger a full-body stress response. Many moms instinctively tense up, hold their breath, or make high-pitched sounds, which can push the nervous system into fight-or-flight and make labor feel more intense and harder to manage. In this episode, we break down the science of labor breathing techniques and vocalization in childbirth, and how small shifts in your breath and voice can help you stay calm, grounded, and more in control during c...

Send us Fan Mail Postpartum isn’t just physical recovery after birth, it’s the beginning of becoming a mother. In this episode, we talk about what postpartum really feels like and why so many women feel overwhelmed, anxious, or unlike themselves after having a baby. If you felt prepared for birth but unprepared for postpartum, you are not alone. Many new moms experience intense changes, including hormone shifts, sleep deprivation, and pressure to feel confident. This can lead to thoughts like...

Send a text How do you mentally prepare for labor — not just physically, but emotionally? Many pregnant women spend months creating a birth plan and learning about labor positions, breathing, and hospital policies. But one of the most important parts of childbirth preparation is often missing: how you show up for the experience of labor itself. In this episode of The Birth Journeys Podcast, labor and delivery nurse Kelly Hof, BSN, RNC-EFM, shares a powerful conversation with mentor Neri Life ...

Send a text Preparing Your Older Child for Labor and a New Baby If you're pregnant with baby number two (or more) and wondering how to prepare your older child for labor, the hospital, and life with a new sibling — this episode is for you. What happens to your toddler when labor starts? What if childcare falls through? Should your older child come to the hospital? How do you prevent sibling jealousy after baby arrives? As a labor and delivery nurse and mom of two, I walk you...

Send us a text The first days of feeding a newborn can feel like a test you didn’t study for: alarms go off every two hours, pumps take over your counter, and every ounce feels like a verdict. We open up about low milk supply, the pull to “keep trying,” and the quiet relief that comes from choosing what actually works for your baby and your life. No shaming, no perfect-parent script—just honest stories and practical paths forward. We dig into the real costs of chasing a plan that doesn’t fit...

Send us a text A healthy baby and a healthy mom can still leave a complicated story behind. We open the door to a birth that didn’t follow the plan: an epidural that didn’t work, Pitocin contractions that crashed like waves, and a mind trying to keep pace with a body doing the unimaginable. What sounded like chaos turns out to be wisdom—instinctive movement that helped a baby rotate and descend, progress made in spite of pain, and a partner steadying the room when words ran out. Together we ...

Send us a text A hurricane on the horizon, contractions five minutes apart, and a quick detour through a Chick-fil-A drive-thru—Erin’s first birth story doesn’t read like any class manual. What followed was a long labor, Pitocin without pain relief when an epidural failed, and a body contorting into whatever position brought a sliver of relief. When the anesthesiologist finally got it right and her waters were broken, everything shifted—one push and Kylie arrived. Together we unpack why that ...

Send us a text Control doesn’t create a meaningful birth experience—clarity does. We dive into the real purpose of a birth plan and show how to turn a rigid checklist into a living compass that anchors your values, guides decisions, and strengthens partnership with your care team. Instead of chasing a “perfect” script, we focus on agency, communication, and the skills that keep you grounded when labor takes an unexpected turn. We trace the history of birth plans from the natural birth moveme...

Send us a text Most moms are scared of labor because no one ever explains what the sensations actually feel like. So today, we’re breaking it down — in real, simple, honest terms. In this video, we talk about: ✨ What early labor really feels like ✨ How contractions change as your body opens ✨ Why pelvic pressure feels so intense (and why it’s GOOD) ✨ The emotional “crisis moments” that happen right before progress ✨ How to reframe sensations so you feel confident...

Send us a text Birth often feels like a test you can fail, even when you and your baby are healthy. We tackle the missing support layer that changes that feeling: prenatal coaching that builds a grounded mindset, clear communication, and a flexible plan you can trust when things get real. We start by naming the gap most parents feel between medical safety and emotional steadiness. I walk through how prenatal coaching complements your OB, midwife, nurses, and doula by focusing on beliefs, bou...

Send us a text Your prenatal care should feel calm, respectful, and evidence-based—yet many of us hit a point where advice from a provider doesn’t match what we’ve learned or what our gut is telling us. That moment is disorienting. We break down why it feels so heavy, how to get grounded fast, and the practical steps to find alignment without burning bridges. We start by naming the emotional waves that follow a shaken trust: fear that you’re missing something, grief for the relationship you ...

Send us a text Birth feels different when the room feels safe. We dig into how to choose a doula by focusing on connection, clarity, and calm rather than running a rigid checklist. Instead of quizzing someone for the “right” answers, we map the questions that actually reveal fit: their vibe during intensity, their range across home and hospital births, and how they help you stay informed without pushing an agenda. If your goal is a steadier nervous system and a smoother decision path, this co...

Send us a text The holidays ask a lot from anyone, and even more from someone navigating pregnancy or early postpartum. Between loud rooms, strong smells, and a conveyor belt of opinions about your body and your baby, your nervous system can hit overload fast. We dive into why this happens, how to spot it sooner, and the exact words you can use to step away without guilt or drama. You’ll hear our favorite “golden ticket” exit lines that protect your peace while sounding perfectly reasonable ...

Send us a text When contractions hit and the baby feels low, the last thing any parent needs is a clipboard. We walk through the legal protections that guarantee timely care under EMTALA and translate them into practical steps you can use the moment you arrive at the hospital in labor. From spotting red flags of imminent birth to understanding exactly what “medical screening exam” and “stabilizing care” should look like, we break complex policy into clear, actionable moves that keep you and y...

Send us a text Birth can be both clinical and deeply human, and few moments capture that better than a planned C-section. I wanted to remove the mystery and the fear, so I walk you step by step through what it actually feels like—from walking into a bright, cold OR to hearing that first cry and settling into recovery with your baby. This is not theory; it’s a grounded, nurse-led guide to sensations, timelines, and choices that help you feel safe and in control. I start with the spinal: what ...

Send us a text Making informed decisions for your newborn can feel like navigating a tidal wave of contradictory advice, especially when it comes to routine procedures like the vitamin K shot. As both a labor nurse who's cared for countless babies and a mom who's stood in your shoes, I created this episode to cut through the noise with evidence, empathy, and respect for your values. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and all newborns—regardless of how healthy the pregnancy was—are bo...

Send us a text When Alex Wachelka predicted her third baby would arrive on December 15th—despite professionals insisting otherwise—her intuition was right. But the path to that moment wasn’t easy. After two very different births—one at a birth center and one rapid home birth—Alex expected another fast delivery. Instead, she faced twelve hours of annoying, spaced-out contractions that woke her up every 10 minutes. It wasn’t until she voiced her frustration to her husband that everything shifte...

Send us a text Navigating the search for your perfect birth doula can feel overwhelming. How do you find someone who aligns with your vision, fits your budget, and helps you feel secure during one of life’s most vulnerable moments? Drawing from over a decade of obstetric nursing experience, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about finding the right doula for YOU. This isn’t about trends or checking boxes—it’s about building a support system that honors your unique journey. We’ll st...

Send us a text The birth plan has become a staple of pregnancy preparation, but most expectant parents are approaching it all wrong. What began as a revolutionary tool for restoring autonomy during the natural birth movement of the 1960s has too often devolved into a rigid checklist that sets birthing people up for disappointment and even trauma. I reframe how we think about birth plans, explaining that they were never meant to be a list of demands but rather a foundation for communication, ...

Send us a text One Way or a Mother is a new narrative podcast from Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC, host of The Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Each season is an intimate story of one woman, one pregnancy, and all of the preparations, emotions, and personal history leading up to the birth. Episodes feature the expectant mother along with her family, doctors, and birth work team. In season one of OWAM, we meet Arianna who is pregnant with her second baby after a traumatic first birth experience. Follow alon...

Send us a text "Congratulations, you're both alive." This shockingly low bar for maternal healthcare success reveals everything wrong with how America treats new mothers. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Venice Haynes, Senior Director of Research and Community Engagement at United States of Care, shares the urgent mission behind the groundbreaking 100 Weeks Project - an initiative transforming postpartum care by acknowledging that maternal health needs extend far beyond delivery. ...

Send us a text From personal birth trauma to revolutionary solutions for laboring mothers—this conversation with Marya Eddaifi reveals how innovative manual techniques are changing birth outcomes worldwide. Marya's journey begins with her own disappointing cesarean birth in 1995, a catalyst that eventually led her to become a labor and delivery nurse determined to find better ways to support women through childbirth. After nearly 24 years in the US Air Force and experience across four countries,...