This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we’re chatting about labor signs – but not the obvious ones like contractions or water breaking. We’re talking about the weird , lesser-known signs that your body might be getting ready for labor 👀 Because if you’ve ever found yourself googling, “Is ___ a sign of labor?”...you’re so not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing: The most common (but surprising!) symptoms I see before labor begins Why it’s totally normal to feel hyper-aware of every body cha...
Jul 23, 2025•26 min
IV Narcotics, Nitrous Oxide, and More One of the most common questions I get during hospital shifts? “What other pain meds can I get if I don’t want (or can’t have) an epidural?” While epidurals are the go-to for many, they’re definitely not the only option! In this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I’m diving into: IV narcotics: what they are, how they work, and what to expect Nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas!): how it’s used for labor pain relief Pros and cons of each option Plus a few ...
Jul 16, 2025•27 min
This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I’m joined by my friend and fellow podcaster Dr. Mona Amin to chat about those quirky, confusing, and totally normal things newborns do in the early days. Dr. Mona is a board-certified pediatrician and parenting expert who’s all about helping new parents feel calm, confident, and informed. Inside this episode, we’re unpacking: Why your baby’s hiccups are nothing to worry about What’s going on with day/night confusion How much (or little!) your baby rea...
Jul 09, 2025•46 min
Welcome back to The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast! Today we’re talking about one of the most powerful tools you can use to monitor your baby’s well-being in the third trimester: kick counting. I’m joined by Kimberly Isburg from Count the Kicks, an incredible organization that’s helping parents all over the country improve birth outcomes and reduce stillbirth through awareness and education. Kimberly is a mama of two and a passionate advocate for maternal health – and I’m so excited for you to hear h...
Jul 02, 2025•24 min
When it comes to birth, epidurals are a big part of the conversation – whether you’re planning on getting one or just want to be informed. Most people know that an epidural can take away labor pain…but beyond that? There’s still a lot of mystery around how it all actually works! In this episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I’m diving into: How an epidural is placed (step-by-step!) Whether it hurts to get one What the needle looks like (spoiler: not as scary as you think) Common epidural sid...
Jun 25, 2025•38 min
This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, we’re talking all about what to pack (and not pack!) in your hospital bag for birth – plus we’re covering snacks and eating during labor too 🍿 Let me tell you, for my first birth? Total slacker. I didn’t get serious about packing my bag until wayyy late in the game – and it could’ve backfired big time. For baby #2? Totally prepared! In this episode, I’m breaking it all down: What to pack in four separate bags: labor, recovery, partner, and baby What t...
Jun 18, 2025•35 min
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on the podcast, I had my sister Jenna come on the show for a fun and light hearted episode that I’m really excited to share with you guys. Jen...
Dec 18, 2024•42 min•Ep. 260
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week I am back to answer your most embarrassing birth questions, part 2! I had so much fun with last week’s episode, I just had to come back and an...
Dec 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 259
Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** Happy New Year podcast fam! If you are listening to this in real time, then you know that this is the very first episode of 2023, and we’re kicking off t...
Dec 04, 2024•26 min•Ep. 258
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I’m excited to be answering some questions submitted by listeners from the podcast hotline! First, we have a...
Nov 27, 2024•28 min•Ep. 257
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I’m joined by my sister and MLN team member, Jenna, for a fun get-to-know-me style episode. Usually, I’m the ...
Nov 20, 2024•34 min•Ep. 256
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this podcast, I’m going to go over the ins and outs of tearing, all the different ways you can tear, how to prevent tearing if there is such a thing,...
Nov 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 255
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I am sharing a twin birth story, but not the kind of twin birth story you are thinking of…no this mom, or sho...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 254
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast I’m on solo for you guys! In this episode, I’m answering LOTS of third trimester FAQs. I remember what it was...
Oct 30, 2024•35 min•Ep. 253
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast, I had the opportunity to chat with the lovely Dr. Natalie Crawford all about infertility and more specifical...
Oct 23, 2024•48 min•Ep. 252
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** Caitlin Karl, a fellow mom who’s actually currently pregnant, came on to share all about her journey to adopting her son AJ. Caitlin shares that she and...
Oct 16, 2024•44 min•Ep. 251
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** Labor induction – this is a topic that comes up a LOT in my DMs over on Instagram and in the MLN community in general! So, today on The Mommy Labor Nurs...
Oct 09, 2024•27 min•Ep. 250
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this episode, Malori shares her hotel birth story with us via c-section, and talks about her fertility struggles. Malori’s Bio: Malori Mayor is a reg...
Oct 02, 2024•50 min•Ep. 249
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this episode, my friend Marley talks all about how maternity care differs in the UK! Marley’s Bio: Marley is registered midwife from Surrey, UK and i...
Sep 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 248
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this episode, my friend Cierra shares her traumatic birth experience with her first, and her amazing, empowered birth experience with her second afte...
Sep 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 247
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this episode, my friend Mallory shares her experience with postpartum depression and later I do a Q&A answering your questions about it. Here are...
Sep 11, 2024•47 min•Ep. 246
*Hi guys! Liesel here. I wanted to let you know that the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast as you know it is currently getting a HUGE facelift! In the meantime, please enjoy this re-air of a fan favorite episode!! And stay tuned to my instagram for updates on when the new and improved Mommy Labor Nurse podcast will be back with all new episodes!* ****** In this episode, we dive into all things mental health! I sat down with Dr. Ashurina Ream, a licensed clinical psychologist with advanced training in pe...
Sep 04, 2024•43 min•Ep. 245
This week I had Robin Hilmantel on the podcast! Robin is the senior director of editorial strategy and growth at BabyCenter , an online parenting resource and pregnancy app . She has more than a decade of experience in health and lifestyle reporting, writing and editing. Robin works closely with the research team at BabyCenter to conduct studies with moms that produce impactful reports on important topics like maternal health, child care, family finances, and much more. She currently resides in ...
Aug 28, 2024•37 min•Ep. 244
It's Week 12 of 12 of the 12 weeks of BIRTH! In this episode, I dive into my full birth story! (You can READ my blog post that I’ve written of my birth story HERE , if you prefer to read!) Have an even better birth! CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver. And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pre...
Aug 21, 2024•51 min•Ep. 243
It's Week 11 of 12 of the 12 weeks of BIRTH! In this episode, my mom and sister joins the podcast and we talk all about our two vastly different birth stories! Have an even better birth! CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver. And be sure to follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over half a million for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 242
It's Week 10 of 12 of the 12 weeks of BIRTH! In this week’s episode of The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast , we talked ALL about preparing for labor….and specifically 10 things you shouldn’t forget! Because for most mamas, birth feels like the great unknown amiright? You’re going to your prenatal visits, checking things off your third-trimester to-do list, maybe your hospital bag is even packed. Yet as your due date draws closer, feelings of anxiety, what-ifs, and maybe even some fear are filling your...
Aug 07, 2024•28 min•Ep. 241
It's Week 9 of 12 of the 12 weeks of BIRTH! This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we’re going to be talking all about your mindset! You guys should know by now that I’m ALL about getting you in the right headspace when it comes to birth. Your mind is not only your most powerful tool during birth, but it can also be your worst enemy. It takes a lot of self-control, and practice, to be able to talk back to your brain during birth – and that’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today...
Aug 01, 2024•29 min•Ep. 240
It's Week 8 of 12 of the 12 weeks of BIRTH! This week on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast we’re going to talk all about birthing without an epidural, and answer a question I get all the time - “How do I have a natural birth?” And while there is no secret formula…I definitely have some insight into what you can do to set yourself up for success. Have an even better birth! CLICK HERE to learn more about our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliv...
Jul 17, 2024•33 min•Ep. 239
It's week 7 of The 12 Weeks of Birth! In this re-air, I interview my friend Jeanice all about pelvic floor sexual health!! Here are the questions we go over! What exactly happens during pregnancy (and during delivery) to disrupt sexual health? How long should I wait to have sex postpartum? Should sex hurt at all? What should I do if it does? Give me your best tips for having a pain-free experience. When should I seek help from a pelvic floor specialist? How do I even find one? What should I expe...
Jul 09, 2024•42 min•Ep. 238
It's week 6 of The 12 Weeks of Birth! We're halfway through :) This week I chose to air an episode all about birth fears. I talk about pooping, contraction pain, tearing, c-sections, and more! ** CLICK HERE to read the tearing article I reference in the episode! Overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy info out there? CLICK HERE to get helpful and supportive tips, info, and resources from an L&D nurse sent straight to your inbox every week, and never sort through search results again! Have an ...
Jun 24, 2024•28 min•Ep. 237
