167: Setting Up for the Birth You Want

Gina (perinatal fitness trainer and doula) and Roxanne (certified nurse midwife) define “unmedicated birth” for this episode as giving birth without an epidural, and explain why some people choose it. They cover potential benefits like easier position changes, fewer issues if an epidural doesn’t work as expected, and physiologic/hormonal effects. They address concerns about epidural medications (including fentanyl use in some hospitals) and emphasize there’s no morality in epidural vs. no epidural. Practical tips include choosing a supportive birth setting/team, touring hospitals, asking about monitoring options, tubs/showers, nitrous, and using comfort tools and mental skills—especially in transition—while remembering it’s always okay to change your mind!Our video on hypnobirthing: https://youtu.be/QuCa5xRQCX0Our Relaxation sequence:  https://youtube.com/shorts/gDOt2rkmmds?feature=share00:00 Welcome and Episode Focus01:08 Defining Unmedicated Birth02:09 Why Skip the Epidural02:53 Personal Birth Stories09:31 Movement and Comfort Benefits14:54 Hormones and Baby Transition18:01 Epidural Medication Concerns20:33 Setting Up for Success21:36 Choosing Place and Provider24:09 Transition or Truly Done32:58 When Coping Breaks Down36:51 Resetting Environment and Support37:57 Toilet And Transition38:33 Comfort Tools Practice41:31 Hospital Support Clues45:33 Tours And Staff Culture49:46 Doulas And Backup Plans53:05 Environment Shapes Pain57:59 Mental Skills For Labor01:02:25 Labor Cave Setup01:07:09 Epidural Without Shame01:09:37 Wrap Up And Resources————🎉 Grab Your Copy of Training for Two → https://amzn.to/3VOTdwHYour go-to guide for prenatal fitness, birth prep, and postpartum recovery.👇 Start Preparing for Birth Today📥 Download our free Birth Prep Circuit Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-birth-circuit📥 Grab our free Pelvic Floor Prep Guide → https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-your-pelvic-floor-for-labor/Learn how to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor to support a smoother labor and pushing phase.💻 Explore Our Online Programs:Whether you're pregnant or postpartum—we’ve got you covered with expert-led fitness and education:🏋🏻‍♀️ Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness Programs🎓 Childbirth + Postpartum Education Courses→ https://mamastefit.com🤱 Just Had a Baby?📥 Grab our free Postpartum Core Workouts → https://mamastefit.kit.com/coreStart reconnecting with your core and feeling strong again—safely and confidently.———📲 Follow Us on Instagram for Daily Tips + BTShttps://instagram.com/mamastefit———✨ Shop Our Favorites:⚡️ Electrolytes we love → https://drinklmnt.com/mamaste🌿 Supplements we trust – 20% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://thisisneeded.com/ginaandroxanne👖 Maternity clothing we actually wear – 10% off with code MAMASTEFIT → https://rstr.co/lovesteady/3500——