If you're expecting your first baby, you're probably swimming in a sea of advice, information, and maybe even a little anxiety.

It’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed—that’s where this guide (and your support team) come in! In this blog post, we’re breaking down the basics of childbirth so that you can approach your big day with more confidence and less stress. And for an even deeper dive, make sure you check out the latest episode of the Oh Baybee! podcast, where we chat all things labor, delivery, and beyond!

1. Labor Doesn’t Always Look Like the Movies

Let’s start by debunking one of the biggest myths about childbirth: It doesn’t always happen in one dramatic push! Labor can be slow, steady, or sometimes a bit unpredictable. Early labor might feel like mild cramping, and it can last hours (or even days). Knowing what to expect helps you feel more prepared and less anxious when things don’t match the Hollywood version.

Tip: It’s common for first-time moms to hav...

Understanding that becoming a mom is more than an Instagram highlight reel is a must! 

It requires a very involved transition that's worth every challenge to be the best mom for your baby. 

You're pregnant, so I'm sure you know the importance of what it takes to give birth. But, are you aware of the common things that happen during postpartum?

 I'll be honest – when I gave birth, I really struggled with my transition into motherhood. I didn't know about baby blues, postpartum depression or self-care... and I made a lot of mistakes in those early days. But it doesn't have to be the same for you! 

Today, you're in the best hands to learn what really happens in the immediate postpartum - after you've given birth but before you're back to feelin' like your old yourself. In today's episode I talk about what the transition of becoming a mommy is actually like.

I'll outline the seven (less talked about but insightful) challenges for new moms. That's right, I cover everything from sl...

The Do's and Don'ts of umbilical cord care.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret — less is more...especially when we're talking about how to care for your sweet baby's umbilical cord.

Shortly after you give birth, your baby's umbilical cord is snipped, leaving behind a small stump that will fall off within a few weeks.

Before you're ready to leave the hospital with your newborn, it's important to know how to care for the umbilical cord stump. Your doctor or nurse will likely briefly go over basic tips, but you may feel so overwhelmed with information that you find yourself unclear on how to deal with the belly button area once you get home.

And that’s why I wanted to record this episode for you. In it, I share The DO's and DON'TS for umbilical cord care. 

This is a quick listen so press play and enjoy!

As always, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode.

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“I love the Oh Baybee! Podcast” <– If that sounds like you, pleas...

Am I Pregnant, Or Not?

Warning, this episode is juicy.

And when I say juicy, I mean jam-packed with early pregnancy symptoms that you may experience shortly after becoming pregnant. 

In fact, these are the most common pregnancy symptoms noted by modern professionals, so let me tell you, they're spot-on!

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I like to deconstruct the myths related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding - this conversation does not disappoint. 

In this episode, you’re going to get all the details on the early pregnancy symptoms  – down to the why and the how.

You’ll also learn exactly the best time of day to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate results.

What you’re about to hear will help you to know if you should spend your hard-earned moolah on a pregnancy test – Scout’s honor!

As always, thank you for tuning in to this episode and...

Happy Birthing!

Steph XOXO

P.S. You’re definitely going to want to take notes on this one. So, op...

After giving birth and coaching lots of pregnant women through their birth preparation, here’s what I learned.

To call giving birth for the first time a whirlwind would be an understatement. 

My water broke at 5pm on Friday but my son wasn't born until 8:03pm on Saturday (yes, you read that right!).

It was both rewarding and exhausting…and I won’t lie, I had to "lock in" with my focus a few times throughout labor to keep my eyes on the prize - because although the contractions were heavy hitting – hearing my baby's first cry was literally a dream come true for me.

Now if you’ve been with me for a while, you probably know that there's a lot to learn about the entire experience of birth preparation, childbirth and breastfeeding.  

In true Stephanie Poole fashion, I wasn't prepared as much as I could have been, simply because it was my first pregnancy, and I didn't know - what I didn't know!

I’m happy to report that my sweet baby was born happy and healthy – but of course, ther...

4 Things New Moms Should NOT Feel Guilty About

Let's jump right in!

As I go through this episode, I'll be answering the questions laid out at the beginning: what is mom-guilt? Is it a thing? Do all mommies have it? Does it go away?

the best way to understand it is to know that it's rooted in unrealistic expectations of yourself.

Some of the thoughts that can trigger feelings of guilt are:

thinking that everything should be perfect.

-feeling like I needed to be spot on for everything.

-not wanting to say no.

-not being okay with imperfections.

All that is unnecessary weight to bare.

Trust me as a new mom you'll have plenty of things to carry.

Mom-guilt shouldn't be it.

In This Episode you'll learn 4 key things new moms should NOT feel guilty about AND I'll also share a powerful technique that I teach my clients to make a quick pivot to purposeful positive thoughts to do motherhood joyfully!

As always, thank you so much for tuning in to my channel.

FREE MASTERCLASS ...

After teaching lots of pregnant women how to breastfeed, here’s what I learned,

Breastfeeding is simple...NOT easy.

What do I mean by that? I'm so glad you asked.

The process of breastfeeding has been around for thousands of years...since the beginning of time!

Why is it now that women struggle so much with effectively learning how to breastfeed?

In a world of convenience, the knowledge and simplicity of breastfeeding almost seems to be a lost art.

I’m happy to report that after the shortage of baby formula, there has been a renewed surge of interest in breastfeeding and I'm here to debunk the scary myths that can be overwhelming for new moms

In this episode, you’ll hear the 3 biggest myths, DEBUNKED!, I can guarantee this episode will not disappoint if you are pregnant and want to breastfeed your sweet baby. And what’s great is you can apply the insight I share right from moment of birth. I have two words for you - Miracle Hour.

So, pop in your ear pods, cozy on up and tu...

The step-by-step birth prep system behind my proven program, Bump To Bundle Blueprint®

If you had told me years ago that one day, I would have created a program to help moms prepare for birth, I probably would've called your bluff. 

Creating a program — especially one that I know is going to help lots of women prepare for birth while transitioning into motherhood – is honest-to-goodness a dream come true. 

 There are so many things that I’ve learned about childbirth and what it takes to have a positive birth experience that I could probably write a book about it. 

And I just might do that — but for now, tune in to this episode to get my 4-phase process I use with my clients to get them ready for birth.

You’ll hear about the difference between a birth plan and a birth blueprint, the specific areas I focus on when preparing my clients, and about all of the little birthing nuances that other childbirth educators tend to skip over.

So, if you want to start preparing for birth, o...

The natural process of breastfeeding: How to increase your milk supply.

If you know me, then you know that I absolutely love teaching new moms about breastfeeding.

 Part of my passion comes from reflecting on my own struggle with breastfeeding as a first-time mom.

...if I only knew then what I know now.

...if I only knew someone that could've helped me through the breastfeeding process.

Lucky for you, you have me!

In this episode, I'm going to give you 3 smokin' hot tips to help you increase your milk supply.

Tune in to hear all about the process of breastfeeding and 3 tried and true tips to kickstart your breastfeeding journey.

Happy Birthing!

As always, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode.

FREE MASTERCLASS
3 Mistakes Pregnant Moms Make When Preparing for Their First Birth (+ what to do instead) https://www.birthprepacademy.com/masterclass
Prepare for your first hospital birth with a stress-free birth blueprint in 6 weeks!

COMPLIMENTARY GUIDE
How To Skyroc...

REVEALED: Here's the tea on what contractions REALLY feels like.

Warning: This episode is juicy. 

And when I say juicy, I mean jam-packed with labor strategies that you can use to boost your labor comfort when dealing with contractions in a really big way. 

In fact, this is the exact information and strategies that I wish I would've had - not to mention it's exactly what I teach my beloved clients...and let me tell you, this episode is legit fire.

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I like to talk about childbirth in a way that is practical and easy to understand.

In this episode, you’re going to get all the strategic details on contractions – down to the why, the how, and what comfort measures to use that'll help ease labor pains for birthing success.

What you’re about to hear will inform you to have a wildly successful childbirth experience – Scout’s Honor!

P.S. You’re definitely going to want to take notes on this one. So, open up that Google Doc and get re...