Today we're talking about some of the most POPULAR myths from the labor room.

Today's guest is Mandy Irby -- The Birth Nurse, is a trauma-informed parent and nurse educator passionate about a more parent-centered and respectful birth culture. In her decade at the bedside, she noticed that parents and nurses are frustrated and confused by the current assembly line process of birth in hospitals. She's now on a mission to change birth culture to be parent-centered, trauma-informed, and safe for all by educating and advocating for voice, choice, and physiology.

Mandy's also a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer, Spinning Babies Parent Educator, Owner of the Birth Nurse Academy and the Trauma Informed Birth Nurse program, and loves empowering nurses and parents in-person, online, and on her popular YouTube channel @MandyIrby. You can find her on social media or on the road traveling and teaching at L&D units across the country. Find her at MandyIrby.com

This episode was inspired by my post on labor room myths.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- if you want all these myths busted before you come to the hospital, it is the class for you!

How much time your doctor will spent with you at delivery

If your doctor will deliver your baby?

The rules in labor.

If you have to deliver on your back

Breaking water

If you'll be hungry in labor.

Saying No in Labor with Mandy

Movement in Labor

How to go into labor

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about how I take care of my curly hair. After 45 years of living with curly hair, I might have some insight for you. :)

Today's Guest is McKenzie Guymon. She is a cosmetologist who's a mom of 2 curly haired girls and a little boy on the way. I'm passionate about teaching people to love their hair, love their home, and feel confident about who they are. You can find her at Girl Loves Glam. She has a great Hairapy course to make you hair healthier and happier!

Big thanks to our sponsor The Organized Home -- if you're looking to untangle the stuff in your life -- it is the course for you!

Why you don't wash curly hair

Hairitage Conditioning Wash

She also recommends the Shea Moisture and Aussie Brands for hair products

I use the Costco Kirkland conditioner

I use a silky curl cap when I'm laying on my curls

Salt water spray for curly hair

Best tip for curly hair

Producer: Drew Erickson

Kick counts are one of the FUNDAMENTAL things to your pregnancy. Today we're going to talk about why you do them, and how to do them. So helpful!

Today's guest is Emily Price who oversees the national expansion of the evidence-based Count the Kicks public health campaign that educates and empowers expectant parents to track their babies' movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. The proven stillbirth prevention campaign helped lower Iowa's stillbirth rate by nearly 32 percent in the past decade, and within that, helped lower the stillbirth rate among African American women in Iowa by a promising 39% in the first five years. This major reduction happened while the rest of the country remained relatively stagnant. Price leads the vision of the campaign --- with an overall goal of realizing a 32% stillbirth rate reduction in all 50 states, which would save 7,500 babies every year in the U.S. She left a career in television journalism to pursue her current role after a story she reported on saved the life of her son Hayden.

This episode was inspired by my kick counts post.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- let's get you prepared from bump to bassinette. Tons of good information (including info on kick counts). Birth doesn't have to be scary, this class helps!

Why you should do kick counts

What benefits they give you and your baby, including bonding

Kick counts have shown to have a 32% reduction in stillbirths when practitioners and providers do them!

77% reduction in anxiety

My other episode on kick counts.

Disneyland while pregnant

When will I go into labor quiz?

Producer: Drew Erickson

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction can cause SO many problems for pregnant women and anyone who's ever had a baby). Today we're learing what it is and what we can do help it!

Today's guest is Ashlie Crewe Campitella. She attended Gannon University where she received her Bachelor's in Psychology and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees. She then began her specialized training in pelvic health physical therapy. While treating patients and training in pelvic floor therapy, she also attended courses regarding pain neuroscience, finding her passion in combining the knowledge from her pelvic health courses with the neuroscience of persistent pain conditions. She has developed pelvic floor programs in several of her company's clinics and currently treats patients of all genders with pelvic health concerns, while providing mentorship to other pelvic floor therapists in her company, and educating her community about pelvic health rehab. She achieved her Board Certification as a Women's Health Specialist in 2017 and is also a member of the International Pelvic Pain Society as well as the Global Pelvic Health Alliance. Additionally she has served as a teaching assistant in various Herman and Wallace classes, and serves as adjunct faculty for Lebanon Valley College. She is developing curriculum for her company to make inclusive and affirming pelvic health education accessible to clinicians within the large orthopedic physical therapy company she works for. Primarily, she treats in central Pennsylvania, traveling to several clinics in the area to mentor therapists and consult with patients. She is experienced in treating pelvic pain conditions, urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, post-operative gender-affirmation conditions, constipation, pediatric pelvic floor conditions, and prenatal and postpartum conditions. She is passionate about the multidisciplinary care of persistent pain conditions, and eager to work with experts in all fields of study to better help her patients have painfree and fulfilling lives.

This episode was inspired by my post on Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- if you're looking to get prepared for all aspects of pregnancy, labor and your postpartum life IT Is the course for YOU!

What Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction looks like -- symptoms and issues.

When to talk to your provider about it

Bladder Leakage episode with Ashlie Crewe

Movement in Labor Episode

Producer: Drew Erickson

How do you add other foods to baby while still breastfeeding for baby as well. Let's talk about how to do that safely with Samantha Radford.

Today's guest is Samantha Radford. She has a PhD in Chemistry from Emory University (Atlanta, GA). She is an exposure scientist who focuses on maternal-child health. Samantha has years of research into learning about how chemical exposures affect both unborn babies and children, as well as how toxicants and medications are passed through breastmilk.

Samantha also studies the effect of exposure to hormones induced by personal experiences, for example, cortisol in babies who are stressed or oxytocin in mothers bonding to their infants.

Through the years, Samantha has expanded her academic and personal studies to how exposures to different parenting styles affect the mental and physical health of children as they grow to adulthood.

Most importantly, Samantha is a busy mother of four kids 7 and under. She loves to empower other moms through combining science and wellness.

Samantha has been trying to bring back the banana clip since 1998, and is the mommy behind Evidence-Based Mommy. She has a whole course on safe chemical usage for families. I love that she has the science to tell us what's safest for our families.

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines -- if you're looking for household life to feel easier, it's the course for you!

How to know your baby is ready for solid foods.

What to feed your baby early on.

How Samantha's Course can help you feed your baby.

Sunscreen safety

Eating Safely on a Budget

Producer: Drew Erickson

Understanding your emotions and feelings after a baby can be hard. It's so normal to have high highs, and very low low's, but how do you know when it's getting to be problematic?

Today's guest is Stephanie Straub. I saw her first on Tiktok as @mamatherapy. She practices in New York. You find her website CNY Therapy.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. When my hospital asked me to treat their postpartum section of the prenatal class I just laughed. It was similar to my own class where they just acted like it would be sunshine and rainbows after baby was born. But, I wanted to really prepare you for the life you'd step into as a new mom. Can't wait to get you prepared from bump to bassinette inside.

What to watch for after baby.

How/When to get help when it's too much.

How online therapy works.

Mentioned by Stephanie for resources: Postpartum.net or Postpartumstress.com

Getting four hours of rest and how it can help.

Organizing your bathroom can be FULL of guilt, and today we're talking about letting it GO of the guilt we might feel when we go to organize and likely throw away a lot of things we didn't use, or didn't work like we hoped it would.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Organized Home. In there we go over ALL the reasons why organizing can be HARD and what can STOP you from organizing -- and then getting OVER it and moving on. It's SO helpful!

Why organizing the bathroom can be filled with guilt.

McKenzie's episode about throwing out beauty products.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today's guest has an adorable 3 week old and is sharing what she did to get her confident birth.

Today's guest is Toni -- Just your crazy, nerdy biker chick, with a love for all things powered by an engine, gaming, and of course a mama to a lovely 19 year old and now a 1 month old.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- Toni took the deluxe class, but there are 3 levels that you can choose between and you can start the minute you're ready!

You too can find me on Tiktok

What Toni did to prepare:

1. Take a childbirth class {with your partner}
2. See all the providers in your practices
3. Engage with your providers in the hospital

Producer: Drew Erickson

Being creative as a mom can be a huge outlet for you, and it can also be huge for your family. Today we talk with Jen Crookston and Paula Iniguez about how they find creative among lots of kids and jobs as moms.

Today's guests are two sisters who grew up in Eugene, Oregon and have since transplanted to Utah. Between us we have 13 children ages 22 down to 3. We started our blogging adventure in 2011 as the Real Housewives of Riverton as a joke because we don't think there is much REAL about the Real housewives shows. In October 2011 we had a post go viral on Pinterest (when that was still a real thing) and a million page views later we thought we should take it more seriously. Since then we have been sharing everything from favorite recipes and craft projects to home remodels and the in and outs of day to day life with children big and small. These days we are focusing on anything that might make the day to day of women easier. That might mean a healthy meal that even the pickiest eater will enjoy or a way to get that stubborn stain out of your carpet. We're willing to give almost anything a try and hope that you always leave our site uplifted and feeling like you can do anything you set your mind to. You can find them at Creative Housewives and Cricut Inspiration

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines -- if you feel like you can't find the time to be creative -- finding some routine can give you the breathing room to find yourself, and how you can creatively add to your household.

We talk about HOW you can find areas of creativity in your home.

Using creativity in parenting, housewife, and creative projects you can enjoy!

Cricut takes Kids Back to School

Things I love about my Cricut Maker

Summer Program for Teens

Producer: Drew Erickson

What is it LIKE to get an epidural. What will you feel and what will they ask you to do as it is placed. Then, how will it feel as you labor with an epidural? Today we have an experienced nurse on who has also had 2 epidurals of her own.

Today's guest is my friend Stephanie who I've worked with for years. She's been an L&D RN for almost 18 years and has two children of her own. She currently works in Florida.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- we have a whole chapter on pain management. If you're looking for more information on that side of things, be sure to get started in there!

Discussing the epidural process

How having an epidural was different than we thought it would be.

How much you feel as the baby is coming out

Some epidural myths

• Best time to get an epidural in labor
• My Encyclopedia on Epidurals
• Pain Management Options in Labor

Producer: Drew Erickson