Making a Birth Plan? Here’s What You’re Probably Missing

Making a Birth Plan? Here’s What You’re Probably Missing

Author: Kelly Hof, BSN, RN: Labor Nurse & Prenatal Coach June 2, 2025 Duration: 35:16
Send us Fan Mail The birth plan has become a staple of pregnancy preparation, but most expectant parents are approaching it all wrong. What began as a revolutionary tool for restoring autonomy during the natural birth movement of the 1960s has too often devolved into a rigid checklist that sets birthing people up for disappointment and even trauma. I reframe how we think about birth plans, explaining that they were never meant to be a list of demands but rather a foundation for communication...

There’s a unique space between the raw, personal stories of birth and the clinical advice often given, and that’s exactly where you’ll find Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals. Hosted by Kelly Hof, a labor nurse and prenatal coach with a background in transformational coaching, this podcast is built on the understanding that knowledge and shared experience are the foundations of confidence. Each episode delves into real, unfiltered birth narratives that cover a vast spectrum of outcomes-from straightforward deliveries to more complex scenarios-illuminating the true realities of bringing a new life into the world. But it doesn’t stop at storytelling. Kelly uses her expertise as a BSN, RN to weave in practical education, helping to demystify the process and address the many physical and mental questions that arise. The result is a resource that fosters genuine healing and builds trust, moving beyond fear to create a sense of preparedness and transparency. Whether you’re seeking solace in another’s story or actionable insights for your own path, this podcast meets you where you are, offering a compassionate blend of evidence-based guidance and profound human connection.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Birth Journeys: Birth Stories and Birth Education for Moms & Pregnant Individuals
Podcast Episodes
Delayed Cord Clamping Explained: Timing, Benefits & What Actually Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:07
Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard “30 seconds,” “a few minutes,” or “wait until it stops pulsing”… but how long should you actually delay cord clamping? In this episode, we break down what the research shows, what current gu…
Mini-Episode: Why the Sounds You Make in Labor Can Change Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:30
Send us Fan Mail Contractions don’t just hurt—they can trigger a full-body stress response. Many moms instinctively tense up, hold their breath, or make high-pitched sounds, which can push the nervous system into fight-o…
Mini-Episode: Why Birth Prep & Birth Goals Are Not The Same Thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:11
Send us Fan Mail How do you mentally prepare for labor — not just physically, but emotionally? Many pregnant women spend months creating a birth plan and learning about labor positions, breathing, and hospital policies.…
Mini-Episode: Preparing Your Older Child for Labor and a New Baby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:43
Send us Fan Mail Preparing Your Older Child for Labor and a New Baby If you're pregnant with baby number two (or more) and wondering how to prepare your older child for labor, the hospital, and life with a new sibling —…
Hurricanes, Epidurals, And Holding On with Erin Hall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:48
Send us Fan Mail A hurricane on the horizon, contractions five minutes apart, and a quick detour through a Chick-fil-A drive-thru—Erin’s first birth story doesn’t read like any class manual. What followed was a long labo…
Mini Episode: The REAL Purpose of a Birth Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:26
Send us Fan Mail Control doesn’t create a meaningful birth experience—clarity does. We dive into the real purpose of a birth plan and show how to turn a rigid checklist into a living compass that anchors your values, gui…
Mini Episode - What Does Labor Actually Feel Like? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:37
Send us Fan Mail Most moms are scared of labor because no one ever explains what the sensations actually feel like. So today, we’re breaking it down — in real, simple, honest terms. In this video, we talk about: ✨ What e…