138. The Missing Piece of Birth Preparation: Nervous System Regulation for Labor and Delivery with Erica Paulson

In this powerful conversation, Brooke sits down with birth educator, doula trainer, clinical hypnotherapist, and founder of Nurture, Erica Paulson, to discuss the often-overlooked connection between your nervous system and your birth experience. Together, they explore why birth is not just a physical event, but a whole-body experience that involves your emotions, past experiences, beliefs, stress levels, support system, and sense of safety. Erica shares how her own birth experiences transformed her understanding of labor and ultimately led her to help thousands of women prepare for birth from a more holistic perspective. You'll learn why emotional safety matters just as much as physical safety, how fear and stress can influence labor progression and pain perception, why oxytocin is one of the most important hormones in birth, and how choosing the right care team can dramatically impact your experience. Whether you're preparing for your first baby or hoping for a different experience this time around, this episode will help you rethink birth preparation through the lens of nervous system regulation, self-advocacy, and trust in your body's design.   Click HERE to access the show notes for this episode and learn more about Erica Paulson, and where you can find all things Nurture