This One Hack = No More Labor Fear + Anxiety

EP 107:

Feeling overwhelmed about birth, breastfeeding, or whether your body will "do what it’s supposed to"? You're not the only one. In this episode, Stephanie Poole shares the one simple breathing technique that helps first-time moms shift from anxiety to calm confidence—before, during, and after birth.

You’ll learn:

• Why fear in pregnancy is normal (and why staying stuck in it is optional)
• The exact breathing tool to instantly regulate your nervous system
• How it helped one first-time mom go from terrified to totally in control during labor
• Why breathwork is your most underrated, most powerful labor tool

 Bonus: Stephanie leads you through the technique right inside the episode—so you can feel the shift for yourself!

• 👉 Ready to take this calm feeling and turn it into real birth prep? Watch the next episode for your action plan.

Resources Mentioned:

• Watch the next video: Turn Calm Into Your Birth Plan
• Stephanie’s Bump to Bundle Blueprint® – Your full plan for labor, birth & postpartum

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 lying in bed at night thinking, what if I can't handle labor? Or what if breastfeeding doesn't really work for me? How about this one? What if my body doesn't do what it's supposed to do? Well, first of all, you're not alone. And second. I want to share the one hack that's helped my moms go from full panic mode to actually feeling ready. It's simple, it's free, and you can start using it right now today, even if you're still months away from giving birth. So if your brain has been on a nonstop anxiety loop, this is gonna feel like a deep exhale. Alright. Now, here's something I wish more people would say out loud. Fear in pregnancy is normal. Let me say that again. Fear in pregnancy is normal, but staying stuck in it. Well, that's optional. in fact, you've probably already done the research. You might be prepping like crazy. But every time you picture the moment of labor or that first latch, your heart starts racing. Well, here's why your brain doesn't calm down. Just because you know something, it calms down when it feels safe. And that's where this simple but powerful tool comes in. The tool that has helped my moms shift from fear to grounded calm, even when they had no idea what to expect. Okay, you ready for the magic? It's called five five Breathing. Let me say it again. It's called five. Five. Five. Breathing. You inhale for five seconds. Hold for five seconds and exhale for five seconds. It sounds simple because it is, but it works incredibly well, and here's what it does. It slows your heart rate. It signals safety to your nervous system. It brings oxygen to your brain and it helps you to shift from fight or flight. Into rest and digest mode. Now, you might be asking why does this matter for labor and breastfeeding? Because fear and tension increases your level of pain, but calm and oxygen actually helps to reduce it. In fact, in birth, your breath is your most powerful comfort tool. It's free. It's available 24 7, and it travels with you to the hospital or wherever you're gonna birth. So let me tell you about Jasmine, a first time mom who joined my course. When Jasmine first came to me, she told me I'm absolutely terrified of birth. I don't know what to expect, and I'm scared. I'll freak out and forget everything that I've learned. Totally normal. We walked through the birth blueprint together, but the first thing I had her practice daily was the 5 5, 5 breathing. Just one minute. That's it. Fast forward to her labor. She says, I felt the contraction start and I automatically went into my breath. I didn't panic, I didn't freeze. I actually felt in control. And when it came time to latch my baby afterward, I used the same breath to calm my nerves. It helped me stay grounded even when I was trying to figure things out. It's wow how one tiny shift. One tiny, tiny shift can have such a big ripple effect. Breath work might not sound fancy, but it's powerful, especially when it comes to birth. Let's do it together right now. Sit up tall, close your eyes if it feels good, and I want you to inhale for five. Hold for five. And exhale for five. Now I want you to do it two more times and then open your eyes. Feel that that drop in tension, that slow, steady energy. That's what I want you to tap into when you're feeling panicked about the unknown. When you're early in labor, and when you're crying in the middle of the night during postpartum, this is your reset button, and once you learn to use it consistently, it changes everything. Look, most first time moms try to prepare with information only. But real transformation happens when you connect your mind and body. This one hack your breath. It's the gateway. It grounds you, it regulates your emotions, and it gives you space to respond instead of react. It helps you birth like a boss. It helps you feed your baby with calm and confidence, and it reminds you you've got this. now feeling calm is just the start. Imagine what would happen if you went all in, all in with a real plan for birth and breastfeeding and postpartum for that matter, a plan that actually makes sense. Well, that's exactly what we're talking about in the next video. In it. I'm gonna show you exactly how to take this calm, this calm feeling, the grounded feeling that you're feeling right now, and turn it into action steps that'll actually change your entire birth experience. All right, go ahead and click to watch Now. You don't wanna miss this one.