Stages of Labor Explained: What Contractions Really Feel Like, Prodromal Labor & Why You Don't Have to Give Birth on Your Back

Nobody taught us this in school. You got a sex ed class but zero information about what actually happens when a baby comes out of your body. Taylor — certified childbirth and lactation educator — is fixing that right now.In this episode, Natasha and Taylor break down everything you actually need to know about labor and birth: the stages, what they feel like, when to go to the hospital, and what the movies have been lying to you about for decades.They cover why your water probably won't break dramatically in a parking lot (that's only 10% of births), what contractions actually feel like ("period cramps on crack"), what prodromal labor is and why it sent Taylor to the hospital multiple times for three weeks, and the 5-1-1 rule for knowing when to head in. They also get into why staying home as long as possible in early labor isn't just comfortable — it's backed by science (oxytocin vs. catecholamines, look it up).Then there's the birth position conversation. Why do women give birth on their backs? Turns out the answer traces back to King Louis XIV of France, his 22 children, and a very disturbing personal fascination. No, really. And it might make you want to ask your provider about alternatives.Plus: what doulas actually do (and how Taylor got certified), intuitive pushing vs. being told to push, the ring of fire, birthing the placenta, and the fact that Taylor still has hers in the freezer. Her son is almost two.Knowledge is power. You don't have to be crunchy to understand how your own body works.Topics covered: stages of labor, what contractions feel like, prodromal labor, active labor, transition phase, pushing phase, birthing the placenta, birth positions, why women give birth on their backs, doulas, DONA certification, birth education, Lamaze, epidural vs. unmedicated birth, 5-1-1 rule, oxytocin, advocating for yourself in laborXX, Natasha & Taylor