Ever wonder what birth was really like in the 80s? Spoiler: it wasn’t like the movies. From routine episiotomies to the first IBCLCs, we’re unpacking the myths, the milestones, and why your support team still matters.

This week your mom friends are swapping highs and lows (because let’s be real—motherhood always delivers both!) before rewinding to the 1980s version of birth. Think “clean babies” on TV vs. the messy reality, the rise of fetal monitoring, and a culture that often sent babies to the nursery instead of rooming-in.

Amey dives into the history with the 1985 launch of the IBCLC credential—finally giving breastfeeding support a leg to stand on after all the “breast is best” messaging.

It’s nostalgic, a little shocking, and full of the real talk you only get from your mom friends. Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s go there together.

Who This Episode Is For Expecting parents curious about birth history; moms navigating grief milestones; anyone wanting a clear, friendly primer on EFM, VBAC, breastfeeding support, episiotomy, nursery vs. rooming-in, and the cascade of interventions—told by a nurse, an IBCLC, and a bodyworker. Resources Mentioned:The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk)The Myth of Normal (Gabor Maté)The Business of Being Born (documentary; teaser for the 90s ep)

✨ Fridays are for Call Waiting — our weekly mom-friend call-in segment where real moms share raw, hilarious, and relatable stories you won’t hear in the school pickup line.

🎧 Got a story? Leave us a voicemail. We might just play it on the show. Leave us a voicemail: 90 seconds on Speak Pipe

Find us on Instagram: @call.your.mom.friends.podcast

And connect with us individually:

Charity Spears | Cocoon to Bloom → @cocoon_to_bloom | cocoontobloom.com Lauren Murdock | Faith > Fear Birth™ → @labor.lauren | laborlauren.com Amey Fields | AZ Breastfed Babies → @az.breastfedbabies | azbreastfedbabies.com