In this final episode of Season 5 of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah and Justine take a heartfelt and candid look back at the past year of Bundle Birth's journey. This year for Sarah professionally and personally, she describes as the hardest time of her life, and how resilience, community, and determination have fueled her and Bundle Birth’s growth. Together, they chat about navigating the highs and lows of business growth reflect on triumphs, and lessons learned.

You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about building a passionate team, launching innovative projects like the Motion app, and expanding educational offerings, including the new RNC-OB and upcoming C-EFM class.

But ultimately, this episode is a celebration of you—our listeners and Bundle Birth community—whose support makes it all possible. Join us as we reminisce, laugh, and honor the incredible journey that has brought us to this point. Here's to seven years of Bundle Birth and the exciting future ahead!

Helpful Links!

• Use the promo code: Happy7years for 25% off one order excluding MOVE and Bundle Birth Rental.
• The Art of Gathering book
• Physiologic Coping Class
• Join the Mentorship waitlist
• Free Guide to Getting Your Education Paid For
• Let us email your manager
• 2026 MOVE Learning Retreat

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah and Justine dive into the complex world of adult friendships. From building meaningful connections to navigating the challenges of maintaining them amidst busy schedules, they share personal stories, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way. Whether you're looking to deepen your friendships or simply understand why they feel different in adulthood, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to nurture the relationships that matter most.

Helpful Links:

Let Them Theory book by Mel Robbins 

Podcast - Let Them Episode - Mel Robbins 

Louis Howes interview with Mel Robbins

Move Learning Retreat 2026 

Adventures in Odyssey 

In this episode, Sarah welcomes Heather Bradford, a certified nurse-midwife, assistant professor, and researcher, to discuss the critical issue of weight bias in healthcare. Heather shares her journey from clinical practice to academia, where her experiences and observations inspired her groundbreaking research into how weight bias impacts patient care and outcomes, particularly in obstetrics.

Together, they unpack the subtle and explicit ways weight bias manifests in healthcare settings, explore its far-reaching consequences on patient health and trust, and challenge providers to reflect on their own biases. Heather also highlights the need for systemic changes and shares insights from her research, including practical steps providers and nurses can take to provide more equitable, compassionate, and effective care.

This thought-provoking conversation invites all healthcare professionals to reexamine their approach, up-level their practice, and contribute to better outcomes for patients in larger bodies. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion that’s as empowering as it is essential.

Helpful Links:

- Take our Physiologic Birth Class! 
- Bill Mahr Attack on James Cordon’s Fat Shaming
- Haes Framework
- Implicit Association Test - Used to Measure Implicit Bias
- Rebecca Puhl - Leading International and National Expert on Weight Bias
- The UCONN RUDD Center for Food Policy and Health

On this podcast episode, Happy with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah is joined with Bundle Birth educators, Jen Atkisson and Heidi Nielsen, and National Certification Corporation (NCC) item writer and subject matter expert, Whitney Wells for a conversation about the RNC-OB exam development process. As experts on the Registered Nurse Certified (RNC) Obstetric exam, they discuss the process and strategies for preparing for the exam. This includes the importance of studying the provided resources rather than just relying on clinical experience. They talk about how the NCC selects a diverse team of bedside nurses to write and review exam questions, ensuring the content reflects current best practices across different regions. They also cover the continuing competency assessment, which evaluates nurses' ongoing knowledge and identifies areas for further education. Overall, the conversation aims to demystify the RNC certification process, make it super accessible and encourage you that this is the next step in your career!

Helpful Links:

• Take our RNC-OB Exam Prep Class!
• AWHONN Perinatal Nursing Book
• Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies: Normal and Problem Pregnancies - 8th Edition
• Not quite there yet? Take our Mentorship Program?
• Sign up to our newsletter for monthly FREE education

In this heartfelt episode, Sarah sits down with Justine to debrief her birth experience and reflect on the whirlwind of the past six weeks. Justine shares her decision to opt for a repeat C-section and the emotional and physical journey leading up to, during, and after delivery. From navigating the intricacies of maternal-assisted C-sections to the unexpected challenges of the postpartum period, Justine opens up about the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned.

Together, they discuss the importance of support during postpartum recovery, the role of compassionate care from medical staff, and the enhanced recovery protocols (ERAS) that helped Justine get back on her feet. Whether you're a nurse, a parent, or simply someone curious about the realities of birth and recovery, this episode offers a raw and intimate glimpse into the beauty and complexity of welcoming a new life.

Don’t forget to check out the full birth video linked on Instagram and join the conversation as Sarah and Justine celebrate this special journey.

Helpful Links:

ERAS Website Protocol
Justine's Birth Video
Breastfeeding Class
Preventing Birth Trauma Bundle 

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah and Heidi dive into the transformative power of skin-to-skin contact in the operating room. From improved thermoregulation and breastfeeding success to reduced postpartum depression and enhanced bonding, the benefits of skin-to-skin are undeniable. But why does it matter so much, and how can nurses protect this essential time for families? Join us as we break down the science, share personal stories, and explore the practicalities of implementing skin-to-skin in cesarean birth settings. Whether you’re a number nerd or a passionate advocate for physiologic care, this episode will leave you inspired to support the golden hour in all birth scenarios.

Helpful Links: 

• Join Bundle Birth Mentorship Program
• Watch our on-demand Leading Change Class
• Watch our Breastfeeding Class for L&D Nurses

In this gripping episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne sits down with Amy the Good Nurse (Amy Loughren), the nurse whose incredible bravery take down America’s most prolific serial killer. Amy shares her deeply personal story of uncovering the shocking truth about her best friend and colleague, a trusted ICU nurse who was secretly murdering patients.

From the moment detectives approached Amy to the harrowing experience of working undercover, she navigated the emotional fallout of betrayal. This episode dives into the moral and ethical dilemmas she faced. Amy’s courage not only exposed the crimes but also revealed the complicit role of hospitals that prioritized reputation over lives. She recounts the challenges of being a whistleblower, the toll it took on her mental health, and the long path to healing and self-forgiveness.

Together, Sarah and Amy explore broader themes of moral courage in nursing, the realities of working within a flawed healthcare system. She also talks about the strength it takes to advocate for what’s right, even when the stakes are unimaginably high. Whether you’re an OB nurse, a healthcare professional, or someone inspired by stories of resilience and integrity, this episode is a powerful reminder of the impact nurses can have—not only on their patients but on the entire profession.

You can listen podcast episode #73 Amy the Good Nurse on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

Helpful Links:
Leading Change On-Demand Class
About Amy the Good Nurse
The Good Nurse Movie on Netflix
Capturing the Killer Nurse Documentary

In another solo episode, Sarah teaches you about how to use a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) as a non-pharmacological pain management option for labor. TENS provides low-voltage electrical stimulation to the skin, which activates the "gate control theory" by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. Sarah dives deep into what the research suggests, how it can be effective, and how it can delay the use of other pain medications. Sarah also explains the benefits to patients when using a TENS machine and how it can be a useful addition to your labor pain management toolkit. 

Helpful Links:

• Elle TENS Machine
• Coping with Labor Class for Families
• Coping with Labor Class for Nurses
• Magnetic Spikey Balls
• Download a FREE Elle Tens Policy
• Physiologic Coping Class
• Join Newsletter

This episode on Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne is joined with Bundle Birth educator, Heidi Nielsen in this enlightening episode as they dive into the critical world of cord gas analysis. Understanding cord gas results is essential in guiding newborn care, particularly for identifying infants at risk of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who may need therapeutic cooling.

Sarah and Heidi break down the basics of interpreting arterial and venous cord gases, explaining why parameters like pH, PCO2, and base deficit matter so much. They discuss the signs of respiratory and metabolic acidosis, how each can impact a newborn’s health, and why proper sample collection is so important—especially in settings without immediate NICU access.

In this episode, you’ll learn how these essential numbers reveal vital clues about a newborn’s condition, empowering nurses to support and advocate for newborns from the very start.

EDIT at 12:59: ACOG says 7.0 for pH, AWHONN says 7.1, 
What the research shows is that injury occurs at 7.18, and injury becomes more likely as you continue to move towards 7.0. Normal pH is actually considered to be 7.2.

Helpful Links: 

• Follow on Instagram and stay tuned Wednesday for Test Your Knowledge day.
• Join our Mentorship Program!
• RNC-OB Exam Prep Class

This week on Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah has a candid conversation with Dr. Nathan Riley an OB-GYN, home birth doctor and holistic gynecologist about challenging hospital births versus home birth. Dr. Riley was initially trained in the standard medical model but became disillusioned with the overly interventionist approach to childbirth. So, he started attending home births to provide a more patient-centered, hands-off approach. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and rapport with patients, rather than rushing through routine procedures. He challenges the common assumption that hospital births are always safer, and argues that the trauma from disrespectful treatment can be more harmful than the medical risks. Dr. Riley shares stories on a more holistic, patient-empowered approach to maternity care, where nurses and providers prioritize the human connection and emotional needs of birthing people.

Helpful Links:

How to Reach Dr. Riley
Dr. Nathan Riley Instagram
Born Free Method
Sue Carter - Authority on Oxytocin
Steven Porgis - Developed Poly Vagal Theory
Luminous Life - James l Oschman
Physiologic Birth Class