Labor Lessons

Carly Verdi

Many women find that their first-time birth experience wasn't exactly what they wanted or hoped for. If you'd like more knowledge about how to better prepare for labor and delivery, or want to know that you're not alone on your birthing journey, this podcast is for you. Every episode shares a real-life lesson learned from a real-life labor and delivery experience. Every episode offers the chance to connect with other women, to increase our knowledge of the birthing world, and to advocate for a better birth next time.

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Top 10 Labor Lessons Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Labor Lessons episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Labor Lessons for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Labor Lessons episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

E2 My Position vs. Baby's Position During Labor- posterior baby, birthing on your back, movement during labor

Labor Lessons

07/13/22 • 17 min

Baby being malpositioned is one of the leading causes of unplanned c-sections. In this episode I share how my first daughter's positioning led to my c-section. I also discuss the changes I made with my second daughter to keep the same thing from happening again.

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E28 Jenna: A Few Things Learned Through Three Different Experiences- severe UTI caused by catheter, induction by breaking water, fentanyl for pain relief

Labor Lessons

03/22/23 • 36 min

Jenna was induced with her first son at 41 weeks. She went into labor without having taken a birth class, and without doing any research because she believed that knowing too much about giving birth might hinder her ability to do it.
Her body didn't respond to the Pitocin, which was continually increased. When her provider broke her water, labor kicked in very fast. However, due to the increase of Pitocin, there was no gradual build up and she didn't have time to adjust. Jenna opted for an epidural to help relieve her pain.
The epidural left Jenna feeling out of control in her body, and she couldn't feel anything. She tore severely and a few days postpartum developed a very high fever. She had a severe UTI and kidney infection from the catheter.
Due to her first birth experience, Jenna wanted a different experience the second time around. She decided to go natural, and chose to be induced with her second just by having her waters broken. It was a much better experience and Jenna learned that she could have small doses of fentanyl to help with pain relief.
Her third birth, Jenna also chose to be induced by having her waters broken, no Pitocin. Her son was sunny-side up and she had painful back labor, but she felt in control of her situation and heard by her support team.
In this episode, Jenna shares a few things she learned from her three labors, how she learned to advocate for herself, and how she worked to have a better birth after her first experience.
PurposeIntended.com

E20 Krista: Hold the Vision of What You Want and Trust Yourself to Let It Happen- difficulty finding a provider, short labor, accidental homebirth,

Labor Lessons

11/30/22 • 47 min

During Krista's fourth pregnancy, she had difficulty finding a provider and the care that she needed. She wanted to birth with a midwife, but there wasn't one accessible in her area. She ended up planning to deliver at a hospital that was pretty far from her house. She had recently moved and didn't have family nearby, and worried about what to do with her other children when she went into labor.
Throughout her pregnancy, Krista had this vision of having her daughter on her bedroom floor. It wasn't something she was planning, but she could see it happening very clearly. She had a history of short labors, and the hospital was not right around the corner.
Krista prepared to have her daughter at the hospital, but consulted a few midwives who helped her in the event that she gave birth at home.
Krista went into labor in the middle of the night. Her labor was quick, and her husband barely had time to shower and get the car ready before she had her baby at home, on the floor of her bedroom, just as she had envisioned.
In this episode, Krista talks about the difficulty of finding the right care for her, and feeling supported while giving birth. She also shares how empowered she felt after the birth of her daughter, and how it felt right to just trust her body and go with the vision she saw.
Krista's website: Motherhood Simplified

E33 Allison: The Need For Better Education On Mood Disorders- prenatal anxiety, postpartum depression, mental health during pregnancy and postpartum

Labor Lessons

11/08/23 • 41 min

Allison is an intuitive medium and owner of Souls of a Feather where she offers readings online. In this episode, she shares her experience with both prenatal and postpartum mood disorders.
Allison suffered from PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), and tried for two years to get pregnant. She finally decided to take a break from trying to focus on her health. She asked her doctor for birth control and in the time it took to fill the prescription, she got pregnant.
Allison suffered from severe hyperemesis gravidarum which landed her in the hospital for a week. She had gestational diabetes which turned into hypoglycemia. Instead of being excited about her pregnancy, she felt anxious and paranoid.
Postpartum only seemed to be worse for Allison. After a traumatic birth, she felt anxious and couldn't sleep. She was in the hospital multiple times for severely high blood pressure, and it was brushed off as anxiety. She still couldn't sleep. She was shuffled back and forth between her OB and her primary care physician, even though she was asking for help. Allison finally ended up in the hospital and spent several weeks recovering at her mother's house, away from her baby.
Allison's story is a reminder of just how important it is to support mothers while pregnant and after giving birth. She says there aren't enough resources or education on mental health issues. How can we take care of the babies if we can't take care of the mothers?
Postpartum Support International- 1-800-944-4773

E15 Dr. Stephanie Rimka: Copper Toxicity and Postpartum Depression- importance of copper during pregnancy, depression and anxiety, postpartum depression and psychosis

Labor Lessons

10/19/22 • 57 min

Dr. Stephanie Rimka is a holistic brain optimization specialist. She built Brain and Body Solutions in Atlanta, Georgia, where she focuses on neurotherapies to identify and address the root causes of mental illness, chronic illness, and learning disorders.
In this episode, Dr. Rimka shares how copper toxicity can cause postpartum depression. During pregnancy, our need for copper rises. It helps create new blood vessels for both mom and baby. After giving birth, however, it is important for our bodies to clear out excess copper quickly. If it hangs around, it can cause serious problems. Postpartum depression is one of those.
This is not a cause of PPD that your OB will know about. However, it is something that could easily be tested for before leaving the hospital. Listen in as Dr. Rimka shares about copper's role in the body, the importance during pregnancy, and how it contributes to PPD when your body can't get rid of it.
Dr. Rimka's websiteResources mentioned in this episode:
Walsh InstituteNutrient Power- by William Walsh
Mensa Medical PPD Help Resources:
Postpartum ProgressPostpartum Support International National Child and Maternal Health Education Program *National Maternal Mental Health Hotline- 1-833-943-5746

E34 Natalie: Postpartum Rage, Prenatal Anxiety and Depression, Mood Disorders

Labor Lessons

01/17/24 • 52 min

Natalie is a second-time mom and co-host of The Golden Hour podcast. Last year, I spoke with Liz, the other co-host of The Golden Hour podcast, about her postpartum anxiety. In this episode, Natalie shares her battles with prenatal and postpartum mood disorders.
After Natalie's son was born, she had postpartum anxiety. That anxiety was never fully resolved before she got pregnant with her daughter, and it carried over into her pregnancy. Natalie struggled with prenatal anxiety and depression, calling her doctor's office often, asking them to check her daughter's heartbeat. She found herself crying often and overthinking everything. For someone who is usually very optimistic, this was out of character for her.
After her daughter was born, Natalie began to have bouts of rage. It started with her daughter waking up in the middle of the night and not going back to sleep. The struggle continued when her daughter got frequent ear infections, and couldn't tolerate breastfeeding due to a dairy allergy. Natalie would find herself yelling and punching pillows, and needing to walk away from the situation to calm down. She describes it as an "out of body" experience.
Listen as Natalie shares about her struggles with prenatal and postpartum mood disorders, what has worked for her, and the advice she would give to anyone dealing with the same thing.

E32 Natalia: Using Grief To Grow- Infant Asphyxiation and Loss, Grief, Strength and Resilience

Labor Lessons

06/28/23 • 38 min

One year ago today, Natalia's son Xavian was born. Just 12 hours later, he passed away.
Natalia is originally from Russia, and currently lives in Brazil. She and her husband love to travel. While in Egypt, she found out she was pregnant. They looked for a place to settle down and have their baby, and at six months pregnant decided on Brazil. She found a Russian midwife there and was excited to start a new chapter of her life in a new place.
Natalia said she had a beautiful labor and birth at home; however, her son was not breathing when he was born. After transferring to the hospital, she and her husband learned that their son had passed.
After a few weeks, Natalia realized that she wasn't dealing with the death of her son, and that she needed to focus on herself and her grief and healing. She decided to put herself and her comfort first, and began learning what that meant.
In this episode, Natalia shares the story of how she began to cope with the loss of her son, what healing looks like for her, and how personal growth can come out of the grief that we experience.

E31 Maureen: Listening To Your Intuition- homebirth, stalled labor, breastfeeding struggles postpartum, giving birth as a midwife

Labor Lessons

05/25/23 • 38 min

Maureen Farrell is a lactation counselor, doula, herbalist, and homebirth midwife practicing in rural West Virginia. She is also the co-host of the Milk Minute podcast, which provides evidence-based and entertaining breastfeeding information.
Maureen had her first child at home before she became a midwife. Preparing for her first birth, she read a lot of books and thought that she needed to be calm and relaxed during her labor. She progressed fairly quickly and then stalled.
She felt frustrated that her relaxation techniques weren't working, and eventually gave in to her intuition. Maureen used her anger to push through the final moments of her labor and deliver her baby. She learned that there is no "right way" to manage pain during labor.
Maureen struggled postpartum with breastfeeding and feeling isolated. It was nearly impossible to see a lactation consultant where she lived, and it was hard to travel to visit friends or family. She and her partner decided to wait a few years before thinking about having another baby.
Maureen started training to become a midwife, and had just opened her own practice when she unexpectedly found out that she was pregnant again! This time she was able to draw on her previous experience and let go of what she thought was the "right way" to labor.
Listen in as Maureen gives an entertaining account of her two different labors and how she uses her experience to help her birthing clients.
Check out Maureen's podcast! Milk Minute Podcast

E30: How To Advocate For Yourself During Labor- 10 Doulas Share Their Best Advice

Labor Lessons

05/10/23 • 23 min

One of the most common things I hear when talking with women about their birth experiences is that they didn't know how to advocate for themselves going in. Whether they were overwhelmed by what they were feeling, or they were mistreated by the medical staff, they were unsure how to make themselves heard and respected.
In this episode, 10 doulas share their best piece of advice for advocating for yourself during labor. Listen, check out their websites, and follow them on social media. You'll learn a lot!
Psalms Frye- Peace and Compassion Birth Services
Anna- Dovely Doula
Tessa Maloney- Nourished With Tess
Morgan Owens- Morgan Owens Doula
Emily Baldwin- Kindred Souls Doula
Maureen- Milk Minute Podcast
Patricia- PatriciaGrenseman
Jess- Birthing Babies and Beyond

Quick Tips 1: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Labor Lessons

08/12/22 • 7 min

One of the most commonly asked questions when preparing for labor is: what should I pack in my hospital bag?
Today's episode is a quick tip of something you definitely should bring that you might not think of. Pack this in your hospital bag, and you'll be glad you did!

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FAQ

How many episodes does Labor Lessons have?

Labor Lessons currently has 54 episodes available.

What topics does Labor Lessons cover?

The podcast is about Breastfeeding, Parenting, Kids & Family, Baby, Pregnancy, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education, Recovery and Birth.

What is the most popular episode on Labor Lessons?

The episode title 'E33 Allison: The Need For Better Education On Mood Disorders- prenatal anxiety, postpartum depression, mental health during pregnancy and postpartum' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Labor Lessons?

The average episode length on Labor Lessons is 24 minutes.

How often are episodes of Labor Lessons released?

Episodes of Labor Lessons are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Labor Lessons?

The first episode of Labor Lessons was released on Jul 2, 2022.

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Labor Lessons

Carly Verdi

Top 10 Labor Lessons Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Labor Lessons have?

What topics does Labor Lessons cover?

What is the most popular episode on Labor Lessons?

What is the average episode length on Labor Lessons?

How often are episodes of Labor Lessons released?

When was the first episode of Labor Lessons?

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