Why Google Isn’t Preparing You for Birth (And What Actually Will)

EP: 104

Feeling overwhelmed even though you’ve done all the research? You’re not alone — and this episode is here to clear things up. Stephanie Poole (doula, lactation consultant, and birth prep expert) breaks down the real reason you still feel unprepared for birth — and what you actually need to feel calm, confident, and ready for labor.

In this no-fluff, straight-talking episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “just trust your body” isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
• The truth about the “research spiral”
• Why memorizing stages of labor won’t help in the moment
• What embodied preparation looks like — and why it’s a game-changer
• A sneak peek into real birth prep that actually works

Whether you're giving birth in a hospital, at home, or in a birthing center, this episode will help you shift from anxious to empowered — no more spiraling at 1AM.

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Transcript

0:05

Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founder and CEO of Birth Prep Academy. I'm on a mission to help pregnant moms prepare for their first hospital birth. I'm sharing revealing conversations about what it really takes to successfully transition into motherhood. So join me. Here to discover things like what to expect in childbirth, how to prepare for your birth. We'll also talk about breastfeeding and so much more. I'm so grateful to share it all with you right here on Oh Baby, the podcast created for pregnant moms preparing for their first hospital birth. Let's get started. if you've been binging TikTok. Reading every blog, downloading checklist, and still feel totally unprepared for birth, then you are not alone. Today we are going to talk about why doing all the research isn't actually helping you to feel ready and what you can do instead to finally feel calm, confident, and in control of labor for delivery and beyond. And trust me, I'm not here to add more to your plate. I'm simply here to make it make sense. Now, let's be real. You are probably in what I call the research spiral. That's when you go from Googling what to expect in labor. To 47 open tabs. Mm-hmm. I know I do it too, to TikTok videos with conflicting advice to anxiety, to crying in your bed at 1:00 AM because why does none of this make sense? Well, let me normalize this for you. Just because you've read all the things, that doesn't mean you are actually prepared. And here's why. Because information doesn't equal transformation. Let me say that again. Information doesn't equal transformation. And what do I mean by that? Well, reading about contractions, that isn't the same as knowing what to do when they hit it 3:00 AM. Another reason why you're probably not feeling prepared is because knowledge doesn't equal confidence. I mean, you can memorize the stages of labor and still panic when your water breaks. It's not your fault you've been taught to prepare with your brain, but birth. Birth asks you to prepare with your body, your mind, and your support system, not just a checklist. So now let's talk about the well-meaning advice that you're probably drowning in. How about this advice? Just trust your body. Okay, cool. But how do I do that? Or what about this advice? You'll know what to do in the moment. Um, ma'am. I don't even know what to eat for lunch. I help me out a little bit. Come on. How about this advice? Every birth is different. Okay, that's nice, but can I get some kind of a plan? Listen, here's the problem. Most advice is either way too vague or way too medical. But neither one prepares you for the actual experience of giving birth, especially for the first time. What you need is what I like to call applied knowledge, AKA, what to do with the information once you're in the moment. So then you may be asking yourself, well, what's really missing? And there's something called embodied preparation. And what that simply means is knowing what labor feels like in your body and how to cope. Knowing how your partner or doula can help you in real time and knowing how to advocate for yourself at the hospital without freezing up. So let me give you example of what I mean by that. Let's use reading about contractions as the example. so when you read about contractions, what you read is early labor contractions are usually mild and spaced out. That's fair, right? But real prep. Real prep is here's how you breathe through one, how to time them, what positions can help and when to call your provider. Okay, so now you see the difference. you don't need more info. You need the right kind of preparation. Now I think it's important for you to see a sneak peek of what real prep would look like for you. It means that you feel confident because you've practiced coping techniques and not just read about them. It means that you know how to breathe, move, and manage contractions because you've walked through them. Even if just in class or simulation. and you are not worried about breastfeeding because you've already seen how latch works and how to set it up in the first hour after birth. And that's exactly what I help moms do inside a bump to bundle blueprint. But even if you never join, just knowing that this kind of prep exists is. The first step to stepping out of the overwhelm. so if you've been thinking, I've done all the research, why do I still feel lost? It's because you haven't been shown the full picture. You've been given pieces of the puzzle just enough to make you anxious, but not enough to make you prepared. but now you know the truth, my friend. You need more than Google. You need guided, embodied, and practical support and mama. From me to you. You deserve that. Now if you're ready to go a little bit deeper and learn how to prepare for your birth the right way, then I want you to watch this next video. I'll expose the exact myths that are keeping you confused, anxious, and second guessing your instincts and how to break free from them so that you can birth with confidence and clarity. Alright. It is time to take your power back, mama. Go ahead and watch that video. I'll see you there.