Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Courtney as she opened up about her two birth stories and postpartum experiences. She walked us through the early miscarriage that started their journey, the intense pelvic pain and anatomy challenges that led to a planned C-section with her first (even though she wanted to give her body a chance at vaginal birth), and that raw postpartum spiral of anxiety, supply issues, and the guilt that came when breastfeeding didn’t go the way she’d hoped. Then she took us into her second pregnancy, where she was hoping for a redemptive VBAC, and still ended up with a C-section - but this time she fought for a clear drape so she could watch her baby come into the world.
What I loved most about Courtney’s story is how beautifully she holds the “both-and” of it all: the quiet regret of not getting the labor she dreamed of, the breastfeeding rollercoaster that went from eight days to eight months the second time around, and the deep peace she’s found in focusing on what she did get - two healthy boys who are thriving and absolutely obsessed with each other. It’s such a powerful reminder that our birth and feeding stories don’t have to look perfect to be beautiful, and that sometimes the greatest gift is learning to love the version we actually lived. I’m so proud of her for sharing it all so vulnerably - this one’s for every mama who’s ever wondered “what if” and still chose to celebrate what is.
More from Courtney:
Connect with her on Instagram: @clove_42
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Courtney’s Birth Stories
04:33 Early Loss And Hope
07:41 Pelvic Pain And Doubts
10:12 Choosing A C-Section
15:17 Breastfeeding & Postpartum Anxiety
23:16 Second Pregnancy Challenges
28:54 Anatomy Not Baby Size
30:38 Planning A Gentler C-Section
37:40 Supply Drop And Triple Feeding
40:08 Back To Work Sleep Deprivation
43:49 Making Peace With Her Story
46:55 Resources And Where To Connect

About your host:
🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK
Disclaimer
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services
Mentioned in this episode:
YBYB 20% off ad link

I’m super excited to share my chat with Jess Urlichs - she's an incredible poet and author from New Zealand, mom of three, and her words have had me and so many other mamas out there feel seen and understood. We've "known" each other through the online world for years, and getting to dive deep with her felt like catching up with an old friend. We talked about the wild ride of motherhood - the loneliness that can creep in after the newborn haze, those hard moments like struggling with breastfeeding or deciding to grow your family, and the seasons we go through as our kiddos grow.
Jess shared how writing became her therapy, turning those highs and lows into poetry that just hits you right in the feels, reminding us it's okay to not have it all together amid the chaos. Jess opened up about setting boundaries with sharing her kids' stories online, and how her books (seriously, she's got like 17, including the new "They Bloom Because of You" that's all about those evolving mom seasons) help us feel seen and less alone. It was such a vulnerable, heartwarming convo that left me teary-eyed and inspired - if you're a mom navigating the mess and magic, this one's for you!
More from Jess Urlichs:
Visit JessUrlichs.com for her books and more!
Follow her on Instagram: @jessurlichs
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Jess Urlichs
04:19 Finding a Village Online
09:03 Hold the Mother Too
13:31 Jess’ Feeding Journey
16:05 The Myth of ‘Perfect Motherhood’
18:58 Deciding on a Third Baby
21:46 Postpartum Seasons Shift
26:17 Kids Growing Independence
32:25 Content Creation Pressure
34:08 New Book and Wrap Up

About your host:
🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK
Disclaimer
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services
Mentioned in this episode:
YBYB 20% off ad link

I sat down with Kara the Baby Nurse and it felt like the real postpartum prep chat every new mom needs. We talked about what her real 12-hour mother-baby shifts actually look like - all the assessments, the nonstop education, how she and her team fight to protect your sleep with those do-not-disturb signs and clustering care - because rest really is medicine for your body and your brain. We got into breastfeeding support, what surprises people the most in those fresh postpartum hours, and how clustering care lets you actually get some rest instead of constant interruptions.
Kara also opens up about her own postpartum - she was so prepped for labor and delivery, but had zero prep for what came after, and it was rough. Engorgement, going back to work at six weeks, feeling totally blindsided… it’s why she pours so much into her content now. Her biggest key takeaway: prepare for postpartum like you prepare for birth, advocate for your rest, and know that your mother-baby nurse is in your corner more than you realize. This episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and so much heart - I hope it leaves you feeling seen and way more ready.
More from Kara the Baby Nurse:
Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @karathebabynurse
Checkout Afterglow: A Postpartum Recovery & Wellness Class
Helpful timestamps:
00:00 Postpartum Prep Matters
01:36 Meet Kara Baby Nurse
04:44 Her Nursing Path
07:52 Postpartum Story Goes Viral
14:39 What Mom Baby Nurses Do
20:39 Breastfeeding Support Team
28:36 What Clustering Care Means
33:16 Postpartum Care Surprises
36:38 Bring All The Things
39:48 Home With Baby Reality
40:13 Prepare For Postpartum
45:59 Where To Find Kara

About your host:
🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK
Disclaimer
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services
Mentioned in this episode:
TBB 20% off ad link

Today I’m sharing my third birth story! It's one that's super close to my heart, especially with my son's birthday rolling around. I get right into the messiness of where I was at emotionally after losing my mom right after my first baby, and navigating that grief through my second pregnancy. I was dealing with brokenness, putting myself back together while raising my girls, and finally feeling ready for a third amid the chaos of COVID hitting just as we decided to try. I share how I was hopeful for a "textbook" experience like my first two, but reminded myself every birth is its own thing, prepping for all possibilities while chasing a redemptive birth and postpartum I was hoping for - filled with more joy than grief.
Tune in for my third, redemptive birth story, and check out these other episodes mentioned throughout:
Labor Nurse's First Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Midwives | Episode 01
The Emotional Signposts of Labor (an Episode for Every Birth Partner to Hear) | Episode 10
Labor Nurses's Second, Unmedicated, Fast Birth with D-MER and PPA During Postpartum | Episode 13
Is it Real Labor: Braxton Hicks Contractions, False Labor & Prodromal Labor | Episode 37
You're Contracting! When Do You Go to the Hospital? | Episode 38
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 My Third Birth Story
01:48 Why This Birth Story Matters (and where to hear the first two)
02:42 Getting Ready for Baby #3 during COVID
06:16 Pregnancy Expectations vs Reality
14:41 39 Weeks, a Blizzard Forecast, and Early Labor Whispers
21:29 Timing Contractions vs. Trusting Your Gut (When to Go In)
25:33 Arriving at the Hospital
31:28 Water Breaks, Move to the Bed, and Pushing Positions
33:14 Birth Moment: Kel Catches Baby + Surprise Sex Reveal
35:48 Postpartum in COVID
37:21 Redemptive Postpartum: Mental Health, Breastfeeding, Placenta Caps

About your host:
🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK
Disclaimer
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services
Mentioned in this episode:
YBYB 20% off ad link

Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth & use the code PODCAST to save 20%
Today I'm welcoming Sarah, aka Labor Junkie RN, an incredible RN with 16 years under her belt, mostly in high-risk labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum - talk about a queen in the birth space! As a mom of three little ones, she somehow juggles it all while dishing out the most honest, evidence-based education on social media. We dove into her personal unmedicated birth stories, how she prepped with simple, yet intentional things like prenatal yoga and deep breathing walks, and why labor prep is all about aligning with your own goals.
We unpacked some eye-opening misconceptions, like how inductions can take forever if you're not prepped, or how postpartum and breastfeeding often catch families off guard with the wild spectrum of highs and lows. We got real about balancing the "scary" truths with empowering information, stressing advocacy, communication with your team, and trusting your gut. Sarah's all about giving you the tools to own your experience, whether it's low-intervention or whatever feels right for you - it's so inspiring to chat with someone who's been there as both a nurse and a mom, helping families feel seen and ready.
More from Sarah, Labor Junkie, RN:
Follow Sarah on Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, & YouTube: @labor_junkie_rn
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Sarah, Labor Junkie RN
02:27 Sarah's Journey and Social Media Presence
06:05 Unmedicated Birth: Personal Experiences and Preferences
15:56 Preparing for an Unmedicated Birth
28:10 Challenges and Misconceptions in Birth and Postpartum
33:26 The Spectrum of Postpartum Experiences
36:23 Balancing Scary and Necessary Information
41:18 Respecting and Trusting Your Audience
47:38 Advocacy and Communication in Birth
54:54 The Joys and Challenges of Parenting

About your host:
🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.
For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.
For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!
👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️
Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK
Disclaimer
Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.
Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love.
Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services
Mentioned in this episode:
YBYB 20% off ad link