The Labor Mama

The Labor Mama Online birth courses and insight from an L + D and Postpartum RN and mama of 3. Join me on IG too!
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02/15/2026

Birth photo breakdown!! - beautiful image by .expert.doula

TENS Unit
Hands and Knees Pushing
OA Baby Positioning
Shoulder Umbilical Cord x 2

Also - you can comment UNMEDGUIDE to take a peek at my best selling guide for an unmedicated hospital birth (that might look something like this).

Any questions this makes you want to ask? Tell me!

02/14/2026

Love you too, over there ♥️

Words by me!

02/12/2026

➡️ Epidural Set Up

Remember, from the time you ask for an epidural to the time you actually get the epidural and get comfortable really can be anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, or longer depending on what’s going on in your unit!

If you think that you may want an epidural at some point in your labor, it’s always a good idea to tell the nurse that, so they can be as prepared as possible, so when you ask for it or you are ready for it, they can ideally get it to you ASAP.

02/11/2026

➡️ The Ring of Fire During Birth

(vid inspo from )

Crazy fact—some people don’t feel the ring of fire at all, even without an epidural, because the nerves go numb, like your body’s own natural anesthetic. 🤯

For others, it’s an INTENSE burning or stinging as baby’s head stretches the perineum and vaginal opening—and yeah, it can be rough.

(I’ve not felt it twice and felt it twice!)

I can’t promise you won’t feel it, but I can help you get through it.

What to do? Stop pushing (I know, it’s SO hard). Slow down, relax, and let baby stretch you gently—this can help reduce perineal tearing too (yes please).

How to slow down?
💨 pretending like you’re Blowing out a candle across the room—short, quick breaths/pants help.
💨 Deep breathing works too.
💨 Listen to your provider—they’ll usually try to slow you down too.

Good news? It’s usually short!

Want more birth and baby prep? Comment and I’ll send you my best tools! If you’re not following, I can’t DM you.

Did you feel the ring of fire—with or without an epidural? 🔥⭕️👇

02/11/2026

➡️ Puking and Nausea During Labor

Been there? It’s the worst.

Through labor, especially transition (about 8-10 cm dilation) and when pushing it is def common. And normal - though it sucks.

I once had a patient puking the entire time she was pushing, between contractions, and I felt so bad for her.

There are medications that can go in your IV, just FYI. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don’t.

But these are some go-to, fast, other tricks too.

🍋 Lemon (or anything sour) can help tamp down on that nausea.

👃 Alcohol wipes (the nurse can always snag these ASAP) can also help by just sniffing them!

I hope this isn’t you, okay?! But you can do it - and you’re a champ too.

Who was a puker during their labor?

02/10/2026

He looks like he did great, right? Congrats ♥️ also, the shirt 👍🏼

👉🏼 Birth Partner Tip for Labor

One of the best things that birth partner can do?

Know their limits. I have seen quite a few dads faint and hit the floor, and it’s really not a great time for that to happen, right?

So what’s the advice?

Know your boundaries. You hate blood? That’s okay. Stay up the head of the bed.

Feeling shaky? Don’t “power through.” Sit down, drink some water, tell the RN and ask for some juice.

Don’t want to catch baby or cut the cord because you’re feeling shaky and overwhelmed? Don’t! This moment is too important to miss, so participate in a way that you feel comfortable with (and means you’re not fainting away). 

You don’t always know how seeing birth will impact you, but you’ve GOT to be willing to accept what you are comfortable with or able to do AND be willing to say “hey, this part is too much for me and I could use some help.” 

I promise, your RN would always rather bring you a juice or pull up a stool as opposed to you passing out during birth!

02/10/2026

👉🏽 The Time Out Before Your C-Section Starts

Do you remember them doing yours??

02/09/2026

When do you actually go to the hospital in labor?

Comment E38 for this episode of

This is one of the most common questions you’re asking — and for good reason. Going in too early can mean unnecessary interventions. Waiting too long can feel stressful and scary. And it can be hard to figure out if your contractions are real!

Want to know the different types of contractions? Tune into Episode 37: Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal Labor first. That’s part 1, this is part 2.

The truth is, there’s no single “right” time — but there are clear signs and patterns you can understand ahead of time.

In this podcast episode, I break down how to know when it’s time to go to the hospital during labor, how to time contractions, what early labor really looks like, and other things that can help factor into the decision.

02/07/2026

👉🏼 Want an Epidural but Hoping Not to Get it Right Away?

Commet UNMEDGUIDE (just one word!) and I’ll send you the link for my most pop guide that details ALL of this and every other part of birth before/without an epidural! This is how I had my 4 kids - and looooooved it. Seriously.

You’ve got options - so many - and you should know them no matter what your hopes are.

- What if you feel like it’s too soon to get the epidural?
- What if labor hits hard and fast and you don’t have the time to get an epidural?
- What if you’re in the car and still 48 minutes away from the hospital?
- What if you want to wait until you’re in active labor before getting the epidural?
- What if you still feel pressure with that epidural (or it doesn’t work great 🫠) and you need some other tools to get through?

I love the epidural for you. I do!

AND you need to know your other pain tools and comfort measures so you can use them when, if, and as you need to.

(A note: It IS possible you will run into a provider who doesn’t want you to get your epidural until a certain centimeters dilation - even when you want it earlier. I’d chat this through with them prenatally, but I want you to have some other things to fall back on if that happens to you too).

➡️ What’d you use? Anything you loved/hate/did nothing?

02/05/2026

Hope this helps a little!!

Refusal is always you’re right - but I’d encourage you to know what they’re for, why they matter, and ask questions before refusing.

You CAN always ask about a fundal check vs the massaging and know what’s going on with your body! Always.

02/04/2026

Personal update on the breast health high risk story 💕

All the updates are in the “💕” highlight if you’re curious or want to catch up or are wondering why I’m sharing.

02/04/2026

👉🏼 Can you have an Epidural at 1 cm?

(And will your provider “let” you?)

thank you for sharing this side of it too!

Some will (obviously) and some won’t. Some want you in active labor, some want you 4 cm, some want you 6, some have preferences everywhere in between, and some don’t care at all.

Is there a point where you CAN’T get one? Shouldn’t be. I’ve seen most get them at 10 cm and after pushing for 2 hours. If you can sit still and baby isn’t crowning, it can be done.

The question for most is really, if I get an epidural now, what will it do to my labor process? Slow it down? Speed it up? Give me some rest? Epidurals can do all of this, but you can’t guarantee WHAT it will do.

Typically, the advice is to wait until you’re farther along - and that means you’ll keep moving (which is great for labor progress) and ideally into more active labor (and then maybe there is less chance of the epi slowing things down).

BUT, you could have a history of fast labor, the anesthesiologist may be in back to back c-sections so you need it now…there are lots of possibles here.

So can you get an epidural at 1 cm? There is no definite answer - and it should be about you and what you’re wanting, what your goals are, what’s going on in your labor, and (I think) what your provider is thinking too (and why).

No one should tell you what to do. Someone should always talk through pros and cons.

⁉️Did you want one early? Was the team cool with that or asked you to wait?

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