You Wanted an Unmedicated Birth. Now They’re Saying You Need an Induction. Can You Still Do Both? | 261

You Wanted an Unmedicated Birth. Now They’re Saying You Need an Induction. Can You Still Do Both? | 261

Author: Trish Ware, RN June 19, 2026 Duration: 14:02

You spent months preparing for an unmedicated birth - the classes, the breathing, the mindset. And then your provider says induction, and your stomach drops. You know it's medically the right call, but it feels like everything you planned just went out the window.

Here's what I need you to hear: induction and unmedicated birth are not mutually exclusive. I've done it three times myself, and I've helped countless students do it too.

In this episode, we're breaking down exactly what induction actually means, what your real options are, and how to stay in the driver's seat - even when the plan shifts.

Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cms

Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

💡 What We Cover:

  • Why induction doesn't have to mean the end of your unmedicated birth map
  • What cervical ripening and Bishop score actually mean - and why your cervix being "favorable" matters so much before anything else starts
  • Why Trish recommends against breaking your water unless you're in active labor (6+ cm and contracting regularly)
  • How Pitocin can be run low and slow - and even stopped once your body takes over
  • The story of Ashley: a first-time mom with gestational diabetes and hypertension who got the induction and the unmedicated birth she wanted
  • The questions to ask your provider before you ever say yes or no to an induction

More from this episode:


Helpful Timestamps:

  • 00:00 Inductions & Unmedicated Birth
  • 02:22 Why Inductions Are Rising
  • 03:56 A Student Induction Birth Story
  • 04:57 Induction Methods Explained
  • 06:53 Commitment And Pitocin Strategy
  • 08:40 Mindset And Labor Pain
  • 10:17 Questions To Ask Your Provider
  • 11:07 Stack The Deck In Labor
  • 12:43 You Can Still Have a Birth You Love

Join The Calm Labor Birth Bundle - everything you need from bump to baby! Use code POD50 for $50 off!

Over 15k mamas have used our classes to prepare for a birth that they love 🤍

⭐ Download immediately ⭐App available ⭐Life-time access⭐

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless forums late at night, wondering about the real, unfiltered details of childbirth that no one seems to talk about plainly? The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama is here to change that. Hosted by Trish Ware, RN, this podcast draws directly from her years in the delivery room, where she’s helped bring thousands of newborns into the world. She knows the questions that keep you up at night, from the logistical-like how to effectively push or what Pitocin actually does-to the vulnerable fears about epidurals, VBACs, or those embarrassing but totally normal moments. Trish moves beyond clinical jargon to offer honest, compassionate, and evidence-based insights that feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who’s seen it all. Each episode tackles a specific aspect of pregnancy, labor, and early parenting, like navigating breastfeeding challenges or figuring out newborn care, with the goal of replacing anxiety with practical knowledge. Tuning into this podcast means getting a seasoned labor nurse’s perspective delivered with warmth and a deep understanding of what you’re going through, helping you feel more prepared and empowered for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama
Podcast Episodes
What I Tell Moms Who Are Terrified of Labor | 251 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:40
If the thought of labor makes your stomach drop and your heart race… this episode is for you, mama.Hey girl, I see you. The midnight Google spirals, the dramatic birth stories that left you spiraling, and that voice in y…
From 3cm to 10cm in One Hour: Our Student Gabi’s Birth Story | 250 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:06
Hey mamas! I am SO excited to share this episode with you. Today I’m chatting with Gabi, one of my Calm Labor Confident Birth students who also activated her Labor Bat Signal. She’s here to tell the raw, real story of br…
Baby Reflux Is Not Normal: What Every New Mom Needs to Know | 248 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
I got to sit down with Áine, the Baby Reflux Lady - a leading holistic expert in infant reflux, colic, and digestive discomfort. Drawing from her background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutrition, and her own journey…
Epidural or Unmedicated? How to Decide Without Regret | 245 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:03
Hey Mama! Ever caught yourself making a birth choice out of straight-up fear? Yeah, me too - with my first baby, needles had me running unmedicated without a clue. But here's the real talk: it's not about the pain or the…
VBAC Student Birth Story: Cassie Gilliam | 243 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
Join me, as I talk with one of my VBAC Lab Students and Calm Mama Society Members, Cassie.She's going to be sharing her birth story and how the techniques we've been working on in class, have helped her to move through h…