Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

I sat down with Sydney, better known online as Nurse Sydney, a labor and delivery nurse with six years of hands-on experience. We had such a fun, practical conversation about all the different pain management tools and comfort measures available during labor - from TENS units and birth combs to sterile water injections, IV pain meds, nitrous oxide, and of course the epidural. We even ranked them like we’ve been seeing trending online, and we get real about what actually helps, what’s underrated, and how so many of these tools work best when you combine them together.We also touched on something really important toward the end of the episode (check timestamps) - Sydney opened up about her history with an eating disorder and how she’s thoughtfully preparing for pregnancy and postpartum, making sure she has the right support in place. It was such an honest and compassionate conversation about how body image, food relationships, and the rapid changes of pregnancy can feel complicated, and why it’s so valuable to talk openly with your care team and surround yourself with positivity. Whether you’re planning a birth, supporting someone through it, or just love birth education, this episode is packed with real-talk tools and heartfelt reminders that you deserve compassionate care no matter what.More from Nurse Sydney:Visit www.nursesydney.comFollow her on Instagram, FaceBook, TikTok, or YouTube: @nursesydneyHelpful Timestamps:00:00 Comfort Tools During Labor02:29 Meet Nurse Sydney10:28 Ranking Birth Pain Tools15:02 Hydrotherapy and Environment17:43 TENS Unit Breakdown21:48 Birth Combs and Spiky Balls24:32 Sterile Water Injections28:56 IV Pain Meds Explained33:51 Nitrous How It Works38:33 The Epidural43:17 Pudendal Block Option47:09 Eating Disorder Pregnancy Prep52:36 Building Support Care PlansAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

In this episode, I walk you through what OB triage is, and what actually happens when you show up to OB triage near term for a labor check, leaking fluid concerns, or just that gut feeling something's shifting. Basically, triage is like the hospital's holding space before they decide whether to officially admit you or send you home to keep laboring. You might change into a gown (or not - totally your call), pee in a cup, get your vitals taken, and answer a bunch of questions about contractions, baby's movements, any bleeding, headaches, or vision changes. Then comes at least 20 minutes (sometimes more) of fetal monitoring - an NST - to check how baby's heart rate looks with your contractions and make sure everything's reassuring.The big question they're answering is, “Is it okay for this baby to be born today, and is this real labor that's moving things along?” Trust your intuition - there's zero shame in going in, even if they send you home. It's just a checkpoint in the process, not an emergency, and it's there for exactly these moments. If you're prepping for that third-trimester uncertainty, definitely loop back to the episodes on emotional signposts of labor, the types of contractions, and when to actually go to the hospital (linked below_ - they all build on each other to help you feel more confident about what's happening in your body. You've got this!More from this episode:Listen to Episode 10: The Emotional Signposts of Labor (an Episode for Every Birth Partner to Hear)Listen to Episode 37: Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal LaborListen to Episode 38: You're Contracting! When Do You Go to the Hospital?Helpful Timestamps:00:00 What to Expect in OB Triage05:23 What Is OB Triage?06:49 Common Reasons to Go09:20 Full Term Focus11:00 First Steps in Triage14:04 Monitoring and NST17:41 Emotional Signposts20:34 Cervical Exams Explained27:19 Will They Send Me Home?30:42 Wrap Up and ResourcesAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Courtney as she opened up about her two birth stories and postpartum experiences. She walked us through the early miscarriage that started their journey, the intense pelvic pain and anatomy challenges that led to a planned C-section with her first (even though she wanted to give her body a chance at vaginal birth), and that raw postpartum spiral of anxiety, supply issues, and the guilt that came when breastfeeding didn’t go the way she’d hoped. Then she took us into her second pregnancy, where she was hoping for a redemptive VBAC, and still ended up with a C-section - but this time she fought for a clear drape so she could watch her baby come into the world.What I loved most about Courtney’s story is how beautifully she holds the “both-and” of it all: the quiet regret of not getting the labor she dreamed of, the breastfeeding rollercoaster that went from eight days to eight months the second time around, and the deep peace she’s found in focusing on what she did get - two healthy boys who are thriving and absolutely obsessed with each other. It’s such a powerful reminder that our birth and feeding stories don’t have to look perfect to be beautiful, and that sometimes the greatest gift is learning to love the version we actually lived. I’m so proud of her for sharing it all so vulnerably - this one’s for every mama who’s ever wondered “what if” and still chose to celebrate what is.More from Courtney:Connect with her on Instagram: @clove_42Helpful Timestamps:00:00 Courtney’s Birth Stories04:33 Early Loss And Hope07:41 Pelvic Pain And Doubts10:12 Choosing A C-Section15:17 Breastfeeding & Postpartum Anxiety23:16 Second Pregnancy Challenges28:54 Anatomy Not Baby Size30:38 Planning A Gentler C-Section37:40 Supply Drop And Triple Feeding40:08 Back To Work Sleep Deprivation43:49 Making Peace With Her Story46:55 Resources And Where To ConnectAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

I’m super excited to share my chat with Jess Urlichs - she's an incredible poet and author from New Zealand, mom of three, and her words have had me and so many other mamas out there feel seen and understood. We've "known" each other through the online world for years, and getting to dive deep with her felt like catching up with an old friend. We talked about the wild ride of motherhood - the loneliness that can creep in after the newborn haze, those hard moments like struggling with breastfeeding or deciding to grow your family, and the seasons we go through as our kiddos grow.Jess shared how writing became her therapy, turning those highs and lows into poetry that just hits you right in the feels, reminding us it's okay to not have it all together amid the chaos. Jess opened up about setting boundaries with sharing her kids' stories online, and how her books (seriously, she's got like 17, including the new "They Bloom Because of You" that's all about those evolving mom seasons) help us feel seen and less alone. It was such a vulnerable, heartwarming convo that left me teary-eyed and inspired - if you're a mom navigating the mess and magic, this one's for you!More from Jess Urlichs:Visit JessUrlichs.com for her books and more!Follow her on Instagram: @jessurlichsHelpful Timestamps:00:00 Welcome Jess Urlichs04:19 Finding a Village Online09:03 Hold the Mother Too13:31 Jess’ Feeding Journey16:05 The Myth of ‘Perfect Motherhood’18:58 Deciding on a Third Baby21:46 Postpartum Seasons Shift26:17 Kids Growing Independence32:25 Content Creation Pressure34:08 New Book and Wrap UpAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

I sat down with Kara the Baby Nurse and it felt like the real postpartum prep chat every new mom needs. We talked about what her real 12-hour mother-baby shifts actually look like - all the assessments, the nonstop education, how she and her team fight to protect your sleep with those do-not-disturb signs and clustering care - because rest really is medicine for your body and your brain. We got into breastfeeding support, what surprises people the most in those fresh postpartum hours, and how clustering care lets you actually get some rest instead of constant interruptions.Kara also opens up about her own postpartum - she was so prepped for labor and delivery, but had zero prep for what came after, and it was rough. Engorgement, going back to work at six weeks, feeling totally blindsided… it’s why she pours so much into her content now. Her biggest key takeaway: prepare for postpartum like you prepare for birth, advocate for your rest, and know that your mother-baby nurse is in your corner more than you realize. This episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and so much heart - I hope it leaves you feeling seen and way more ready.More from Kara the Baby Nurse:Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @karathebabynurseCheckout Afterglow: A Postpartum Recovery & Wellness ClassHelpful timestamps:00:00 Postpartum Prep Matters01:36 Meet Kara Baby Nurse04:44 Her Nursing Path07:52 Postpartum Story Goes Viral14:39 What Mom Baby Nurses Do20:39 Breastfeeding Support Team28:36 What Clustering Care Means33:16 Postpartum Care Surprises36:38 Bring All The Things39:48 Home With Baby Reality40:13 Prepare For Postpartum45:59 Where To Find KaraAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:TBB 20% off ad link

Today I’m sharing my third birth story! It's one that's super close to my heart, especially with my son's birthday rolling around. I get right into the messiness of where I was at emotionally after losing my mom right after my first baby, and navigating that grief through my second pregnancy. I was dealing with brokenness, putting myself back together while raising my girls, and finally feeling ready for a third amid the chaos of COVID hitting just as we decided to try. I share how I was hopeful for a "textbook" experience like my first two, but reminded myself every birth is its own thing, prepping for all possibilities while chasing a redemptive birth and postpartum I was hoping for - filled with more joy than grief.Tune in for my third, redemptive birth story, and check out these other episodes mentioned throughout: Labor Nurse's First Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Midwives | Episode 01The Emotional Signposts of Labor (an Episode for Every Birth Partner to Hear) | Episode 10Labor Nurses's Second, Unmedicated, Fast Birth with D-MER and PPA During Postpartum | Episode 13Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal Labor | Episode 37You're Contracting! When Do You Go to the Hospital? | Episode 38Helpful Timestamps:00:00 My Third Birth Story01:48 Why This Birth Story Matters (and where to hear the first two)02:42 Getting Ready for Baby #3 during COVID06:16 Pregnancy Expectations vs Reality14:41 39 Weeks, a Blizzard Forecast, and Early Labor Whispers21:29 Timing Contractions vs. Trusting Your Gut (When to Go In)25:33 Arriving at the Hospital31:28 Water Breaks, Move to the Bed, and Pushing Positions33:14 Birth Moment: Kel Catches Baby + Surprise Sex Reveal35:48 Postpartum in COVID37:21 Redemptive Postpartum: Mental Health, Breastfeeding, Placenta CapsAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%Today I'm welcoming Sarah, aka Labor Junkie RN, an incredible RN with 16 years under her belt, mostly in high-risk labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum - talk about a queen in the birth space! As a mom of three little ones, she somehow juggles it all while dishing out the most honest, evidence-based education on social media. We dove into her personal unmedicated birth stories, how she prepped with simple, yet intentional things like prenatal yoga and deep breathing walks, and why labor prep is all about aligning with your own goals.We unpacked some eye-opening misconceptions, like how inductions can take forever if you're not prepped, or how postpartum and breastfeeding often catch families off guard with the wild spectrum of highs and lows. We got real about balancing the "scary" truths with empowering information, stressing advocacy, communication with your team, and trusting your gut. Sarah's all about giving you the tools to own your experience, whether it's low-intervention or whatever feels right for you - it's so inspiring to chat with someone who's been there as both a nurse and a mom, helping families feel seen and ready.More from Sarah, Labor Junkie, RN:Follow Sarah on Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, & YouTube: @labor_junkie_rnHelpful Timestamps:00:00 Welcome Sarah, Labor Junkie RN02:27 Sarah's Journey and Social Media Presence06:05 Unmedicated Birth: Personal Experiences and Preferences15:56 Preparing for an Unmedicated Birth28:10 Challenges and Misconceptions in Birth and Postpartum33:26 The Spectrum of Postpartum Experiences36:23 Balancing Scary and Necessary Information41:18 Respecting and Trusting Your Audience47:38 Advocacy and Communication in Birth54:54 The Joys and Challenges of ParentingAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%If you’ve ever stared at the clock in early labor thinking “when do I actually go to the hospital?” - this episode is for you. It’s the question I get asked more than almost anything else, and I totally get the anxiety. So today I’m laying out everything I wish someone had told me before my first birth: how to time contractions properly, what the 4-1-1 or 5-1-1 rule actually means, and why those numbers are only the beginning of the story.We talk through all the real-life factors that matter way more than a simple rule - how far you live from the hospital, how your labors have gone in the past, changes in pressure, bloody show, nausea, emotional signposts, GBS status, and the fact that second, third, and fourth babies love to show up faster than you expect. I also share the exact moment in my first birth when a sudden shift in pressure told me it was time to go. Bottom line: you’re allowed to get this decision “wrong,” triage exists for a reason, and you’re way more prepared than you think you are. If you haven’t listened to episode 37 on the different types of contractions yet, go do that first - these two episodes are meant to be a pair. Come back when you’re ready and let’s take the guesswork out of this together!More from this episode:Listen to episode 37: Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal LaborListen to episode 10: The Emotional Signposts of Labor (an Episode for Every Birth Partner to Hear)Listen to episode 01: Labor Nurse’s First Unmedicated Hospital Birth with MidwivesAbout 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 | FACEBOOKDisclaimerOpinions 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 ServicesMentioned in this episode:YBYB 20% off ad link