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Show Notes:

[1:29]  This episode is going to be all about how you know that labor is coming, which of course we cannot know unless there is some contractions happening or your back of waters has broken. Something like following a pattern where things are getting longer, stronger, closer together, and that is how we know that labor is on its way. 

[2:26] Signs of labor:

• Preparing your nest - all of a sudden you start like scrubbing your house or you're noticing that things are out of place; you just start like organizing and building your little nest, building your home, getting ready for this little baby to come home
• Loose bowel movements - you can have this almost like flu-like feeling where you think you're getting sick or feel off; loose bowels or diarrhea, can be really common in the beginning and it's just your body's way of clearing out
• Lower back pain -  it can start with like the cramping feeling in the lower back
• Hungry? Tired? Thirsty? 
• Losing your mucus plug -  this
...

Show Notes:

[2:12] Our Reviewer of the Week is CoraTheFloralPreserver, and she says: “I love love love this podcast so much. My husband and I are not trying yet (hopefully soon!), but I stumbled upon this podcast trying to stay awake on a drive one night and I was immediately hooked! Stephanie (& Courtney for those older episodes) does such a good job of giving all sides to any scenario, decision, or piece of advice & truly makes learning about my body & birth so fun & exciting! I know I will end up listening to all the episodes twice— once now & again when we are pregnant!”

Please follow along! Even if you are not pregnant yet, this is the best place or one of my favorite places that you can come and listen and learn and be prepared for even getting ready to be pregnant. So thank you for leaving that review. 💜

I polled you guys a few weeks ago about what topics you want to hear about, and prodromal labor came up several times. Let’s get into it!

[3:24] What is Prodromal Labor? ...

Show Notes:

When it comes to labor, we can feel overwhelmed and unsure about what our bodies are doing to prepare for bringing our baby earth-side. I’m going to answer the most common questions about contractions, fluids, and when it’s time to head to your birth place. 

[1:12] It’s been a WHIRLWIND, y’all! 🤯 We have moved across the country from Utah to Florida this past week! 🌴 We’re excited for our new home and the potential that this new place holds for us! 

[2:45] This week’s episode was prompted by a question that we received in the private My Essential Birth Facebook group! (🎬 Commercial Break: You can get access to this group by joining the My Essential Birth course!)

[3:05] Our reviewer of the week is Sarah Travaille, and she said, “I started listening to this podcast when I was 8 weeks pregnant (I am now 34 weeks), and it has been my saving grace. The knowledge I have gained from listening has been invaluable. I feel beyond ready for birth even though it’s our first bab...

Show Notes:

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week, Lexi Nuttman, says, “First time mom . . . feeling EMPOWERED! Hello there, I am a first time mom and about halfway through my pregnancy. Since listening to this podcast (more like binging the podcast), I have learned SO much about what type of birth I want. I am feeling so confident and empowered to start this journey. I loved the podcasts so much I decided to join the birth class . . . loving it so far. Thanks so much for this information and pros and cons of everything!

Update: second time around and STILLLLLL learning new information and binging this podcast! :)

We love that you guys are here to stay and continually doing the work! This is why I do what I do! 💜

[2:13] I hope this week’s topic really resonates with you guys. I’ve said it before, I think the most exciting part of pregnancy (other than finding out you’re pregnant!) is figuring out that you’re in labor! 🥳

Most births are not like the movies. They don’t typically start ...

Show Notes:

[1:16] Our reviewer of the week is JumelleT, and she says: “This is the best pregnancy and birth podcast ever! I am just about 25 weeks pregnant and have been SO enjoying your podcast. Every day I try to listen to a new podcast from the past. I've found your content so educational, fun and motivational. Because of listening to you and learning so much, I've been working hard on my birth plan. We are a military family and relocating from California to North Carolina when I will be 30 weeks. Ugh! After a ton of searching, I finally found a provider that I'm excited about - a midwifery in Wilmington, NC. I'm also doing pelvic floor PT as well. To those other mamas who may be moving or considering switching providers in your second trimester or later, this podcast has a ton of related birth stories and tips to help. Just wanted to say thank you for your content - I've been deeply enjoying it and will continue to!”

I love the action of creating a birth plan! We just moved f...

Show Notes:

When it comes to labor, we can feel overwhelmed and unsure about what our bodies are doing to prepare for bringing our baby earth-side. I’m going to answer the most common questions about contractions, fluids, and when it’s time to head to your birth place. 

[1:12] It’s been a WHIRLWIND, y’all! 🤯 We have moved across the country from Utah to Florida this past week! 🌴 We’re excited for our new home and the potential that this new place holds for us! 

[2:45] This week’s episode was prompted by a question that we received in the private My Essential Birth Facebook group! (🎬 Commercial Break: You can get access to this group by joining the My Essential Birth course!)

[3:05] Our reviewer of the week is Sarah Travaille, and she said, “I started listening to this podcast when I was 8 weeks pregnant (I am now 34 weeks), and it has been my saving grace. The knowledge I have gained from listening has been invaluable. I feel beyond ready for birth even though it’s our first bab...

Imagine training for a job but walking in on your first day and having no idea of what you were going to be asked to do! "Have you ever wondered what males really know about pregnancy and birth?"

The My Essential Birth Podcast began an intimate conversation between two childbirth educators and doulas. Since that first recording in an office after hours, things at My Essential Birth have grown. I now record in a studio with my incredible podcasting team Corbin, Trent, Dallon, and Savannah. With the exception of Savannah, my team is primarily male.

As you can imagine, they knew very little about pregnancy, the birthing process, and how women's bodies function! In this interview, my Rockstar editors will share the episodes that made them redefine the pregnancy journey, what it means to advocate for expectant moms, and the episodes that made them say -- "Wait, is THAT what happens during pregnancy?"

Sit back and prepare to laugh while gaining insight into how movies and media impact ...

Do you know what to look for to know it’s labor time?! This week on the podcast, I talk about what those things are but also give you some detail on how they can show up for moms because, let’s be honest, some moms may see certain signs and still wait a week or two before hitting active labor. Tune in and enjoy!

Show Notes

5:11 - Nesting can show up as you get closer to your due date. This is a common sign that labor is approaching across the animal species too! Mom's thought process during this time may causes her to go into organizing mode. There are also some great exercises to help put you in a calm mental state as you get closer to your birth-date.

12:25 - Wondering what a mucous plug is and what it does?! You can find all that info here. I also explain the various looks a mucus plug can have, what to look for and what might be considered not normal and cause for you to see your provider.

21:06 - Your water broke! Hooray! You’re definitely having a baby soon. Not all women ...

On this weeks podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting with one of the members of the My Essential Birth Course, and talking about her most recent birth experience. Erica is a mother of three, and due to previous births that were less than she had hoped for, she decided to explore a different option for her third pregnancy. She talks about her provider experience - what needed to change for this birth, course experience - what worked well, and her partner's experience - how he was not only able to step up and support her but also how he was so proud of her afterwards. We also talked about many other important aspects of pregnancy and birth. You're in for a treat with this beautiful birth story!

Show Notes

3:18 - Erica introduces herself. She gives us a bit of background about who she is, where she’s from, and her family dynamics. She further talks about how she discovered MEB and her not-so-favorite experiences prior to joining the course.

8:58 Erica talks about the signs of pregna...

Perhaps you've heard of stages before, and maybe you haven't, but once you understand what they are and how to tell when you've reached each stage, it will make a huge impact on how you and your partner work through the process of labor. This episode helps us break down the information into what's happening in each stage as well as what you will feel or notice as you reach and move through them.