Ep. 439: SOLO: Classes We Took to Prepare for Birth SoloCast with HeHe Stewart

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe walks you through the birth prep she and her husband actually did for their home birth… and what actually mattered once they were on the other side of it. They took The Birth Lounge childbirth education course together to understand labor, get aligned on preferences, and make sure her husband felt confident and steady through a three-day labor. He also went through Dad Days to learn real, practical support skills from other dads. HeHe also shares how the Secret Sauce to Pushing course played a huge role in her pushing experience, supporting her pelvic floor, minimizing tearing, and setting her up for a smoother recovery, even with hours of pushing and a long crowning phase. They prepared for the “what ifs” too, taking a newborn resuscitation class and a breech birth course, and she brought in an IBCLC prenatally for breastfeeding support so she wasn’t figuring it out for the first time postpartum. This episode is a real look at what prep can actually do for your birth and recovery, and how to focus your energy on what truly makes a difference.   00:00 Postpartum Perspective 01:10 Episode Overview 01:49 Birth Lounge Prep 03:52 Water Break Moment 05:26 Dad Daze Course 08:37 Secret Sauce Pushing 13:53 Newborn Resuscitation 17:13 Breech Birth Training 19:23 Lactation Support Plan 23:12 What We Could Skip 25:18 Wrap Up and Resources SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/  BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy And if you haven’t grabbed it yet… Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app-download-page LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.breechwithoutborders.org/courses/