In this season-six finale of the podcast, Sarah Lavonne and Justine look back on a whirlwind year at Bundle Birth, with new classes, a reboot on YouTube, and new hospital trainings. Sarah shares an “epic fail” at her first Advanced Physiologic Birth training, then explains how the mishap led her to redesign the class and refocus on meeting you where you’re at, giving you the positioning training you want while also being authentic. The pair riff on systemic problems in maternity care, the power ...
Jul 28, 2025•54 min•Season 6Ep. 91
On this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Heidi joins Sarah Lavonne and Justine to explore the fetal monitoring strip from the baby’s perspective and physiology! They reveal how fetal hemoglobin, baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, autonomic tug-of-war, and stress hormones power a baby’s built-in defense system during labor. They talk about why low O2 saturations are normal, what truly triggers variables and lates, and tips to prep for C-EFM certification. Thanks for listening and su...
Jul 21, 2025•49 min•Season 6Ep. 90
In this powerful episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah Lavonne and Justine sit down with AFE survivor and trauma therapist Kayleigh Summers, whom you may recognize as @thebirthtraumamama on IG. Kayleigh shares the shocking details of her near-death birth story, the moment everything changed, and the life-saving interventions that brought her back. Now a fierce advocate for trauma-informed care, Kaylee is using her voice to raise awareness about AFE and support survivors. This co...
Jul 14, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 89
In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , we dive into the real, raw truths of travel nursing and the challenges of nursing in general. Our guest, Lluvia Cordero shares about her 12-year experience being a travel nurse. She shares about witnessing and supporting challenging situations, the red flags to watch for, and the power of trusting your instincts. We talk about the freedom of travel nursing, the adventure to the unpredictability, financial highs and lows, and the heavy mome...
Jul 07, 2025•49 min•Season 6Ep. 88
In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah and Justine unpack the fetal oxygen pathway, from maternal lungs to the fetus and why it’s foundational to everything we see on our fetal monitors. If you’ve ever wondered how oxygenation impacts heart rate patterns, variability, decelerations, or why tachysystole matters, this conversation connects the pathophysiology to your practice. Justine and Sarah drop clinical gems and challenge the normalization of tachysystole. Let us know ...
Jun 30, 2025•26 min•Season 6Ep. 86
It’s finally here! Birthed into the world our new OB Emergency Pocket Guide titled, Confidence in Crisis: A Nurse's Pocketbook Guide to Master OB Emergencies. Join Sarah Lavonne as she has a celebratory and educational conversation with Bre Clinger. The guide was created by Bre Clinger, a Bundle Birth Nurse Mentor, to provide nurses with quick-reference information on 17 major obstetric emergencies. In this episode, you’ll get a behind the scenes look at what it took to create the guide, includi...
Jun 23, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 86
In this soul-stirring episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah Lavonne and Justine Arechiga dive deep into the powerful shift from content to context—a mindset that invites you to slow down, be present, and choose intentionality in both your personal life and your nursing practice. Together, they explore what it means to stop "should-ing" yourself to death, reclaim your presence at work and at home, and actively participate in your life instead of simply going through the motions. ...
Jun 16, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 85
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah Lavonne sits down with the brilliant and unapologetically real Dr. Monica McLemore for a conversation that will shift the way you think about nursing, reproductive health, and your role in this work. From their first meeting to this moment of connection, Sarah and Monica reflect on humility, curiosity, and the humanity at the core of nursing. Dr. McLemore shares her journey—starting as born a preemie to becomin...
Jun 09, 2025•49 min•Season 6Ep. 84
In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah and Justine are joined by Bundle Birth Educator and expert witness Jen Atkisson for a practical conversation about how nurses can confidently read, interpret, and apply research in clinical practice. They explore common biases in studies, the difference between statistical and clinical significance, and how research can be both empowering and misused at the bedside. Jen breaks down a recent meta-analysis on discontinuing Pitocin in a...
Jun 02, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 83
Think you know birth? In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah Lavonne and Justine Arechiga dive into why every nurse should take a childbirth class—no matter where you are in your career. From surprising lessons learned to the gaps in patient and traditional nurse education, they unpack why patients should take a childbirth class and what nurses can learn from childbirth education and how it can strengthen your patient care. Whether you’re a student, new grad, or seasoned ...
May 26, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 82
In this podcast episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Justine opens up about a difficult situation she faced at work in her leadership position that tested her values, her role as a nurse, and her connection to her unit. She and Sarah talk candidly about navigating mistakes, managing shame, and the complicated reality of being a nurse leader in a challenging environment. From management decisions to union dynamics, Justine shares her side of the story—what she learned, how she’s growin...
May 19, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 81
Welcome back to Season 7 of the podcast Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses with Sarah Lavonne and Justine Arechiga. In this episode as we kick off the new season, we are celebrating Nurses Week! As we celebrate you all year long, we wanted to do an extra special episode highlighting the incredible nurses that were nominated for Starfish Awards. Sarah and Justine share what the Starfish Awards mean, how we all represent the award, and share heartfelt stories directly from the nominees. They also...
May 12, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 80
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...
Jan 20, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 79
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 th...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 78
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, explor...
Jan 06, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 77
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 ...
Dec 30, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 76
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 impor...
Dec 23, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 75
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...
Dec 16, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 74
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 f...
Dec 09, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 73
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 patient...
Dec 02, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 72
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 par...
Nov 25, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 71
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 r...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 70
In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses , Sarah Lavonne dives into the journey behind the creation of the Physiologic Birth Class . From working in a highly medicalized L&D unit to later experiencing a contrasting approach in a more affluent hospital, Sarah's nursing career shaped her vision for promoting physiologic birth. Driven by a desire to empower nurses, she designed this class to equip them with the knowledge and hands-on skills essential for supporting physiologic lab...
Nov 11, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 69
Season 5 premiere of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses is here! In this special bts episode, Justine and Sarah Lavonne dive into Justine's upcoming birth plan. Justine shares her preferences in deciding between a scheduled c-section or a VBAC through prioritizing her well-being and reflecting on her first birth experience. Justine and Sarah discuss the logistics, from selecting her birth team to Sarah’s involvement as her birth coach. They also tease exciting topics for this new, fifth season,...
Nov 04, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 68
In this last podcast of the season, Justine and Sarah Lavonne discuss the importance of lifelong learning and how it can benefit nurses in their practice and life. They share personal examples of things they have learned recently, as well as some new OB insights. They encourage you to find your passion and pursue learning in it! Thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe! We will see you next season!! In the meantime, join us in a class or get updates by signing up for our newsletter bel...
Jul 15, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 67
In this episode of "Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses," Sarah Lavonne chats with Dr. Rebecca Dekker, the founder of Evidence Based Birth. They discuss the benefits of non-lithotomy birthing positions and the misconceptions surrounding them. Dekker shares research findings that show upright positions can lead to shorter pushing phases, lower rates of severe perineal trauma, and decreased use of forceps and vacuum. She also emphasizes the importance of educating patients and healthcare providers...
Jul 07, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 66
In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Justine and Sarah Lavonne discuss the importance of nurses getting involved in committees and making a positive impact in their workplace. They are joined by Carly Dahl, a labor and delivery nurse and Bundle Birth mentor, who shares her experience of being part of a committee and the value it brings. Carly emphasizes the importance of following your passion and taking the initiative to make a change. She also highlights the benefits of inte...
Jul 01, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 65
In this episode, Justine and Sarah Lavonne respond to the MOST appalling things that nurses have heard at the bedside. They dive into a candid conversation about language and communication in healthcare, particularly focusing on cervical exams. They share personal experiences, insights, and practical tips for improving patient care and comfort. They discuss the impact of language on patient care and offer alternative phrases and strategies to ensure respectful and compassionate communication. Th...
Jun 24, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 64
In this podcast episode, Justine and Sarah Lavonne meet with guest, Heidi Nielsen, a Bundle Birth educator and who is an expert in fetal monitoring. They discuss the fear and issues that many nurses have with Category II tracings and the importance of recognizing and accurately charting them. They also discuss the need for nurses to advocate for themselves and their patients, and the importance of ongoing education and knowledge in the field of fetal monitoring. Get tips for communicating with d...
Jun 17, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 63
In this podcast, Justine and Sarah Lavonne introduce the Bundle Birth Nurse Mentors to discuss the value of mentorship and community in nursing. The mentors share their own experiences and the transformations they have seen in nurses who participate in our Mentorship Program . They emphasize the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment where nurses can learn, grow, and make positive changes in their practice at any stage of their career. You are invited to join us all through our...
Jun 10, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 62
