Epidurals are marketed as the magical "easy button" for birth, but is that the full story? In today’s episode, we’re spilling the epidural tea and breaking down what hospitals don’t tell you. If you’re planning an unmedicated birth, this episode is a must-listen because saying no now is easy, but after 12 hours of labor? That takes preparation.

Tune in to hear:
✨ Why epidurals aren’t the “easy button” you’ve been sold
✨ The cascade of interventions that can change your entire birth experience
✨ The real risks and side effects (that they conveniently downplay)
✨ How to protect yourself from epidural pressure and stay confident in your decision

Resources & Links:
💖 Grab your free ticket to ‘3 Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Unmedicated Birth’ (Live event on March 21st @ 1 PM EST!)
💖 Join The Birth Prep Lounge – My free Facebook group for live Q&As & support
💖 Check out The Birth Prep Course – Your ultimate guide to unmedicated hospital birth

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review if you loved this episode! Tag me on Instagram @thebirthprepcoach with your biggest takeaway! 🎉

From tearing fears to trusting your body to saying no to cervical checks, this episode is all about owning your birth experience. If you’ve ever worried about stitches, doubted your body’s ability to birth, or felt pressured into unnecessary procedures, this is your episode, babe. ✨

Inside, we talked all about:
🔥 The pushing mistakes that increase your risk of tearing (and what to do instead!)
💭 How to actually trust your body when birth feels unpredictable
🚪 Why cervical checks are always optional—and how to say no with confidence
✋ The sneaky ways providers push interventions (without consent!)

Next steps:
💖 Join the Birth Prep Course – Learn how to prepare, advocate, and OWN your birth. Enroll here!
🪩 Join The Birth Prep Lounge – Get support & weekly live Q&As inside my free community. Join here!
📩 Submit a Question for the HGIC Hotline! – Got a burning birth question? Send it in here!
📱 DM Me on Instagram – Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach

If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💖 And don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review—it helps more mommas take charge of their birth! 🎧

Hospitals aren’t exactly known for their cozy, low-intervention, home-birth vibes—but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring them with you! If you want to feel safe, supported, and in control of your hospital birth, this episode walks you through exactly how to make that space work for you instead of against you!

We covered:
🏠 How to own your hospital room like the HGIC you are
💡 Creating a sensory-friendly space for birth (lighting, sound, smell & more)
🚪 How to set boundaries and stop unnecessary disruptions
🔊 Why intermittent monitoring is key to moving freely

Links:

✨ Grab My Free Birth Plan Guide – Download it HERE!
✨ Enroll in The Birth Prep Course – find all the details HERE! 

Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💖

Choosing the right provider can make or break your birth experience—but what if you realize yours isn’t the right fit? In this episode, we’re talking about how to fire your provider (yes, it’s totally a thing!), set postpartum boundaries without guilt, and balance trusting God and preparing for birth.

Here's what we're tackling today:
🚨 Red flags that mean it’s time to switch providers (don’t ignore these!)
📞 How to actually fire your provider (without drama)
🚪 Setting postpartum visitor boundaries without the guilt trip
🙏 Faith vs. preparation – why they both matter for birth

Links:

📩 Listen to my podcast interview with MadeMotherly about how she switched providers "late in the game" - tune in here!

📲 DM Me on Instagram - Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach

💖 Submit your Questions for Future HGIC Hotline Episodes - https://forms.gle/p37sTqpPs4oSQupE9 

So many moms go into birth thinking they have no control, that hospital policy is law, or that an epidural is the only way to handle labor. But here’s the truth: you’ve been sold a bunch of lies that keep you feeling powerless—and we’re shutting them down today!

Inside this Episode:
🔥 Why “going with the flow” actually works against you in birth
⚖️ The truth about hospital policy vs. actual laws (yep, there’s a difference!)
💉 Why epidurals aren’t the only pain management option (and what actually helps)
📏 The big baby scare tactic—what’s real and what’s total nonsense
💔 Why “a healthy baby is all that matters” completely dismisses you

Links:

📲 DM Me on Instagram – Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach
🪩 Join The Birth Prep Lounge FB Group – Come join this exclusive community for mommas preparing for an unmedicated birth! Click HERE

Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💖

 Labor pain? We can totes handle that. Birth partners? They have a real job. Postpartum? It doesn't have to hit you like a freight train. If you’re wondering how to actually prepare for the realities of birth and beyond, this episode is for you!

We covered:
💆‍♀️ Pain management techniques that actually work (because suffering is not the vibe)
🦸‍♂️ What your birth partner should be doing (hint: it's way more than standing there)
🍼 The postpartum prep no one talks about—but absolutely should

Links:

📩 Submit your questions for the HGIC Hotline- You may be featured on a future episode! https://forms.gle/p37sTqpPs4oSQupE9

🪩 Join The Birth Prep Lounge Facebook Group - Birth Prep Power Hour is coming back! https://www.facebook.com/groups/7014898565213879/ 

💖 Join The Birth Prep Course - All the details are here! https://www.thebirthprepcoach.com/tbpc-e 

So many moms-to-be obsess over the perfect birth plan, but here’s the truth: a plan alone isn’t enough. In this episode, we’re breaking down why hospital births require more than just a plan—and what you actually need to set yourself up for success.

🪩 We covered:

Resources:
🎧 Join The Birth Prep Course – Get everything you need to prepare for your hospital birth Enroll here!

📩 Submit a Question for the HGIC Hotline! – Got a burning birth question? Send it in here, and I might answer it in an upcoming episode!

📲 DM Me on Instagram – Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach

Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💖

It’s time for another HGIC Hotline episode, where I answer your questions about birth prep! Today, we’re diving into three juicy topics that every unmedicated birth momma needs to know:

✨ How to tell if your provider is truly supportive (or just saying what you want to hear)
✨ How to train your mindset for birth (spoiler: it’s more than just repeating affirmations)
✨ What to focus on if you only have a few weeks left to prepare (fast-track birth prep, coming in hot!)

If you’re wondering whether your provider is really on board with your unmedicated birth, I’m sharing major red flags 🚩 to watch out for and green flags ✅ that signal true support. Plus, I’m giving you the ultimate test question to really see where they stand.

For my mindset girlies, I’m breaking down:
🧠 The Fear-Tension-Pain cycle and how it affects your birth experience
✍️ Why practiced positive thoughts (not just affirmations) actually work
✨ How to reframe your fears and rewrite them as truths

And if you're in the final weeks of pregnancy, I’m giving you a step-by-step plan to focus on exactly what matters most—so you can walk into that hospital room confident and ready.

Resources & Links:
📩 Submit Your Question for HGIC Hotline! – Have a question for a future episode? Send it in here!
📝 Grab My Free Birth Plan Guide – Make a birth plan that actually works for you! Download here
📖 Download the Free Birth Mindset Workbook – Get journal prompts & mindset tools to prepare for labor Get it here
🪩 Join The Birth Prep Course – Get the education, tools, and support to pull off your unmedicated birth in the hospital Enroll here
📲 DM Me on Instagram – Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach

Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💛

 Who’s really in charge of your birth? You. Not your provider, not hospital policies, not anyone else. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to be the HGIC (Head Girlie in Charge) and how to step into that role now—before labor even begins.

✨ What being the HGIC actually looks like (hint: it’s not about being combative)
✨ How to spot red flags in prenatal appointments
✨ How to confidently advocate for yourself (and say NO when needed)
✨ Why finding your “perfect-for-you provider” is non-negotiable
✨ How pregnancy is the training ground for motherhood—the decisions you make now matter!

I’m breaking down practical ways to walk into every prenatal visit with confidence, knowledge, and authority. Plus, I’ll share my top strategies for holding your boundaries, asking the right questions, and knowing when it’s time to fire your provider.

Because when you’re in labor, you don’t want to be fighting for autonomy—you want to be in the zone, doing your thing. And that starts now.

Resources & Links:
📩 Submit Your Question for HGIC Hotline! – Have a question for a future episode? Send it in here!
📝 Grab My Free Birth Plan Guide – Know your options and create a plan that works for you! Download here
🎓 Join The Birth Prep Course – Become the HGIC and get fully prepared for your unmedicated hospital birth! Enroll here
📲 DM Me on Instagram – Let’s chat! @thebirthprepcoach

Don't forget to subscribe & leave a review! If this episode was helpful, share it with a friend who needs to hear it! 💛

Welcome to the first HGIC Hotline Q&A!

Every Thursday, I answer your birth questions. Submit yours HERE!

Today, we chatted all about...

💖 Unmedicated VBAC Tips: Choose a VBAC-supportive provider, know your birthplace policies, understand the risks/benefits, build a strong birth team, and plan for pain/exhaustion.

💖 Advocating Without Partner Support: Clarify your birth plan, keep it simple, communicate with your partner effectively, hire a doula or train someone to advocate, and practice advocacy during prenatal visits.

💖 Avoiding C-Sections: Pick a low-intervention provider, research hospital rates, avoid unnecessary interventions, labor at home longer, stay active, and prepare mentally.

Resources Mentioned...

💬 Submit your birth questions here for a chance to be featured on HGIC Hotline Q&A!

📚 Join The Birth Prep Course – your step-by-step guide to achieving an unmedicated hospital birth with confidence.

🎁 Grab your FREE Birth Plan Guide to start prepping like the HGIC you are!

🎧 Subscribe to The Birth Prep Podcast so you never miss an episode!

Remember - You’re the HGIC! With the right prep, mindset, and support, your unmedicated birth is possible. See you next week!

Happy Prepping 💖