This is it—the ninth and final installment of the Labor Map series, a comprehensive guide designed to empower and prepare you for the stages of labor. In this episode, we’re covering the monumental moments that follow full dilation, leading to the birth of your baby, and beyond. Whether you’re preparing for a hospital birth, birthing center, or home delivery, this episode provides practical insights and grounding reassurance to guide you through the last leg of this transformative journey.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

•The Pushing Phase: What full dilation feels like, effective pushing techniques (with or without an epidural), and the key role of positioning.

•Crowning: Navigating the intensity of this stage with mindfulness and trust in your body, plus strategies for minimizing tearing.

•After the Baby is Born: From delayed cord clamping to delivering the placenta, we’ll discuss how to approach these moments with confidence.

•Immediate Post-Birth Care: The golden hour of bonding, that first trip to the bathroom, and preparing for your stay in the postpartum unit.

•Heading Home: Reflect on the transition to the postpartum phase, with practical tips to ease into recovery and resources to help you along the way.

This episode brings the Labor Map series full circle, offering you clarity, empowerment, and encouragement as you prepare for one of the most transformative experiences of your life. Whether you’ve followed the series from the start or are diving in for the first time, this final chapter is a powerful resource for understanding what to expect and how to advocate for yourself every step of the way.

CRAVING MORE? To dive deeper into the Back from the Borderline universe, explore my recommendations and access premium content, visit backfromtheborderline.com.

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional, OB, or expert—just a fellow human being sharing my personal journey and experiences. What I share here isn’t intended as medical advice. Always trust your instincts and consult with trusted professionals as you navigate your own path.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part eight of our multi-episode Labor Map series, and today, we’re talking logistics. You’ve already learned how to recognize when labor is starting and how to tune into your emotional and physical signposts. Now, it’s time to figure out how to get to the hospital and what to expect when you walk through those doors.

In this episode, we’re getting practical:

• When it’s time to head to the hospital (and how to prepare for the drive).

• What to do if labor progresses faster than expected—and your baby decides to make an entrance in the car.

• Why calling ahead can make your check-in process smoother (including how to request specific support, like a nurse who’s unmedicated-birth friendly).

• The ultimate hack: pre-registering at the hospital. It’s a game-changer you didn’t know you needed.

Plus, we’ll walk you through exactly what happens when you arrive—how the staff will assess you, what it means if you’re sent home, and how your support partner can step in to handle logistics so you can focus on your labor.

CRAVING MORE? To dive deeper into the Back from the Borderline universe, explore my recommendations and access premium content, visit backfromtheborderline.com.

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional, OB, or expert—just a fellow human being sharing my personal journey and experiences. What I share here isn’t intended as medical advice. Always trust your instincts and consult with trusted professionals as you navigate your own path.

This episode is packed with everything you need to feel prepared and empowered when it’s time to head to the hospital. And if you’re planning a home or birthing center birth? Don’t skip this one—it’s just as important to know what to expect in case of a transfer. Get ready to take control of this part of the process and walk into your hospital experience with confidence.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to how labor starts, Hollywood has done a hell of a job setting us all up for confusion. We’re taught to expect a dramatic gush of water, frantic dashes to the hospital, and chaos unfolding in real-time. But for most of us, labor doesn’t look—or feel—anything like that.

This is part seven of our multi-episode Labor Map series, where we’re breaking down the twists, turns, and unpredictable paths of labor.

In this episode, we’re pulling apart the myths and zooming in on reality. Labor can begin in ways so subtle you might miss them—a slow trickle of amniotic fluid, the release of a mucus plug you weren’t even looking for, or maybe just a relentless, unshakable ache in your back. Sometimes it starts quietly, other times it comes in roaring—but one thing’s for sure: there’s no single, right way for this to unfold.

We’ll dig into how different scenarios play out, what they might mean, and how to trust your body through the uncertainty. Because at the end of the day, labor doesn’t follow a script, and it doesn’t owe us a dramatic “movie moment.” It just starts—messy, unpredictable, and uniquely yours.

CRAVING MORE? To dive deeper into the Back from the Borderline universe, explore my recommendations and access premium content, visit backfromtheborderline.com.

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional, OB, or expert—just a fellow human being sharing my personal journey and experiences. What I share here isn’t intended as medical advice. Always trust your instincts and consult with trusted professionals as you navigate your own path.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.