Unmedicated, Fast, 1st Hospital Birth with Confusing Early Labor and Postpartum and Breastfeeding Struggles with Caroline Campbell | Episode 11

Today, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with one of my students Caroline, a first-time mom from just outside Dallas, Texas, who opened her heart to share her incredible birth story and postpartum journey. She gets real about navigating her fears of tearing, her desire for an unmedicated birth, and the whirlwind of emotions that came with a fast labor. Caroline’s honesty about the highs and lows of new motherhood and the wisdom she’s gained will leave you feeling inspired and seen. Join us for a conversation filled with vulnerability, strength, and the beauty of embracing your unique journey.

What’s Inside this Episode:

• Caroline’s pregnancy journey with PCOS.
• Early, confusing labor signs - not knowing if it’s real labor or not.
• How swift labor approached after a 39-week membrane sweep.
• Caroline’s unmedicated, fast, 1st hospital birth story - delivering her sweet baby in just hours!
• Her postpartum experience, where she faced challenges with breastfeeding and infections.
• The importance of evidence-based childbirth education.

More from this episode:

• Visit www.thelabormama.com/birth and use code MAMA25 at checkout for 25% off!
• Expecting Better by Emily Oster
• EvidenceBasedBirth.com 
• Your Body, Your Birth Course

Helpful Timestamps:

• 02:22 Caroline's Background and Pregnancy Journey
• 03:16 Birth Plan and Labor Preparations
• 08:42 Early Labor Signs and Contractions
• 15:52 Hospital Arrival and Active Labor
• 24:58 Unexpected Labor and Delivery
• 25:33 Processing a Fast Labor
• 26:24 Postpartum Reflections
• 28:36 Breastfeeding Challenges
• 33:27 Navigating Postpartum Health Issues
• 38:56 Gaining Wisdom for Future Pregnancies
• 41:27 Resources and Recommendations
• 44:25 Connecting with the Community
• 45:28 Finding Joy in Motherhood

More from Caroline Campbell:

• Instagram: @mrs_cowdoc

About your host:

Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama.

For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her

website and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum/newborns. You can also follow @thelabormama and @loandbehold_thepodcast on Instagram and join her email list here.

For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen!

A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️

Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK 

Disclaimer

Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here.

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Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services