Unmedicated Birth, Reality vs. Expectations & Informed Prep for Labor & Postpartum with Labor Junkie RN | Episode 39

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_rn

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:00 Welcome Sarah, Labor Junkie RN
2. 02:27 Sarah's Journey and Social Media Presence
3. 06:05 Unmedicated Birth: Personal Experiences and Preferences
4. 15:56 Preparing for an Unmedicated Birth
5. 28:10 Challenges and Misconceptions in Birth and Postpartum
6. 33:26 The Spectrum of Postpartum Experiences
7. 36:23 Balancing Scary and Necessary Information
8. 41:18 Respecting and Trusting Your Audience
9. 47:38 Advocacy and Communication in Birth
10. 54:54 The Joys and Challenges of Parenting

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