Mommy Labor Nurse Liesel Teen

In today's episode, I will dive into the critical topic of improving maternal health outcomes for black women and the promising programs that are making a difference.
Black women often face discrimination and stress during their pregnancies, birth and postpartum, leading to the highest rates of maternal mortality and health complications in the US. 
However, there is hope on the horizon and Dr. Venice Hayes and Natalie Davis are joining me today to discuss the positive changes that are happening around this topic!
Denise is the Senior Director of Research and community engagement at United States of Care and brings over 14 years of public health experience. And Natalie is the CEO and co-founder of United States of care with nearly two decades of shaping American health care policies. 
I'm so thrilled to share this interview in honor of black maternal health week as a means to help raise awareness and support wider adoptions of these crucial programs and practices. And if you want to keep listening to learn more about the realities of black maternal health, I encourage you to listen to Episode 73 after this one.
 
Save $20 on your Birth Class today (limited time only) ! Have an even better birth with our online birth classes that will help you feel prepared and in control - no matter how you deliver.
For every class sold, we are going to give away a free class to a mom that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take part!

CLICK HERE and SAVE $20 by entering the code GIVE on checkout (limited time only)


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!
 
Resources and Related Episodes "Bright Spots" Report from United States of Care
Nurse Family Partnerships - Provides resources and support for first-time moms.
Black Mom of Glowing - Peer support group for maternal mental health.
Family Solutions - Provides resources and support for parents and children in rural communities in South Carolina
Maven Clinic - Provides reproductive and family healthcare for members.
Ocean Family Center - Has a program that gives free virtual psychotherapy appointments for mothers.
Shades of Blue Project - Offers a postpartum support group through journaling in Houston, Texas.
Spinning Babies - Provide resources on a physiological approach to preparing for and caring for birth.
EP73: The Realities of Black Maternal Health

In this week's episode, I’m talking to Katie who shares her powerful twin birth story with a surprise gender reveal in the end! 
She struggled to find relatable experiences during her own pregnancy, so she decided to share her birth story with us today! Katie talks about her surprising discovery that she was carrying identical twins, the medical complications she faced and a long labor that ended in a vaginal twin delivery.

Katie even shares postpartum challenges and hopes her story helps other twin moms feel less alone. Tune in for this intimate look into one mother's twin birth journey.
 
Want to feel confident before your epidural birth? Get the FREE Epidural Birth Prep Pack to gain a sense of control before the big day!
 
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!

Today we're talking all about SEX during pregnancy. It's one of those things that feels a little taboo to talk about, but it shouldn’t be!
The benefits of having sex during pregnancy are huge (which we’ll talk about in the episode!) and doctors all over the world are recommending pregnant women to continue their usual sexual activities.
But there is a lot of confusing and contradicting information out there – so I took the top pregnancy sex questions asked among pregnant mamas and compiled them here for you today!
After this episode, I recommend listening to my interview with The Down There Doctors in Episode 211 - we did a pelvic floor deep dive that totally complements everything you're going to learn in this 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 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!
 
Related Episodes
EP211: A Pelvic Floor Deep Dive with the Down There Doctors

Today we're talking about a topic every expecting mom needs to know about - Prenatal Appointments!

I'm so excited, because I am going to give you 10 helpful ways to rock these visits. Of course we are going to cover all the basics to give you a good baseline and answer all the most common questions about this topic.

Plus I’ll be sharing some really helpful tips to make the best of your prenatal appointments!
 
Prenatal care feeling tricky to navigate? My FREE 45 Minute Workshop will teach you what to expect, educate you about important tests and procedures, and ensure you’re making the most of your prenatal care!
 
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!

Today, we'll be diving into a topic that's near and dear to every mom's heart: the often overwhelming expectations of motherhood and the importance of reclaiming joy and fulfillment amidst the chaos.
Joining us is Erica Djossa, a maternal mental health specialist and the founder of the Momwell community. Throughout our conversation, we'll explore Erica's journey into the maternal mental health space, the inspiration behind her book, and some key takeaways that moms everywhere can implement in their own lives.
To hear more from Erica, I encourage you to listen to my two other interviews with her! She came on the show in Episode 79 to talk about the invisible load of motherhood, and in Episode 187 we unpacked postpartum psychosis.
 
Not sure how to care for yourself down there after birth?
Access our FREE Postpartum Essentials Checklist to know you’ve got what you need to feel clean and comfortable while you’re healing from birth.
 
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!
 
Related Episodes and Resources
EP79: The Invisible Load of Motherhood
EP187: Understanding Postpartum Psychosis with Erica Djossa
Momwell Workshops & Courses
Momwell Community
Erica Djossa’s New Book: "Releasing the Mother Load"

Did you know that over 80% of pregnant women across the US hope to give birth without an epidural?? Can you take a guess on how many women end up getting an epidural - 71%! So what's with this big discrepancy?!

The truth is, many women go into their labor and delivery experience completely unprepared for what an unmedicated birth involves. So today, let's talk about tips and strategies for the mamas that do want to try to birth without an epidural. Because I believe in you and know you can do it!

And even if you are 100% set on getting an epidural, this is a good listen because you just never know how it's going to go down on the big day!
Want to birth without an epidural?
Get our FREE Natural Birth Prep Pack to gain the confidence you need - because simply wanting it might not be enough!
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!
Related Episodes and Resources EP126: Natural Labor Birth Story After a Traumatic Birth EP135: A Positive Natural Birth Story The Leapfrog Group Ina May's Guide to Childbirth