Ep. 403: Speaking Up for Yourself & Your Goals: Scripts for Advocacy in labor
In this special re-air of our milestone 200th episode, we hear when HeHe celebrated ten years of supporting over 2,000 families through all kinds of birth scenarios from serene vaginal births to unexpected twists while sharing how ancestral wisdom has shaped her approach to childbirth. With warmth, humor, and that signature bold honesty, she dives into the art of trusting your body, making confident choices, and saying “no thank you” to unnecessary interventions.
This episode covers everything from declining cervical checks and IVs, navigating late pregnancy ultrasounds, intermittent fetal monitoring, and pushing positions, to handling unwanted inductions, all while keeping your birth experience empowered and trauma-free. HeHe also highlights the Birth Lounge App, your go-to for evidence-based education, bite-sized guidance, and a supportive community to help you rock your pregnancy and labor with confidence.
Whether this is your first listen or a welcome refresher during maternity leave, tune in and let HeHe help you claim your power in birth, because your choices, your voice, and your baby deserve it.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote
06:17 The Birth Lounge App: Empowering Birth Experiences
09:06 Re-Air Announcement and Podcast Highlights
10:46 Celebrating 200 Episodes and The Birth Lounge
14:32 Navigating Conversations with Your Provider
15:45 Declining Cervical Exams: Your Rights and Options
22:25 Pushing Positions: Advocating for Your Comfort
25:38 Pushing Effectively in Labor: The Secret Sauce to Pushing
25:55 The Baby Soap Debacle: A Better Alternative Use code HEHE at coconu.com
28:03 The Importance of Organic Products During Pregnancy
29:01 Understanding Big Babies and Late Pregnancy Ultrasounds
31:18 Alternatives to Ultrasounds for Fetal Monitoring
35:51 Setting Boundaries with Healthcare Providers
38:11 Electronic Fetal Monitoring: What You Need to Know
44:17 Declining an IV During Labor
47:54 Navigating Unwanted Inductions
53:58 Empowering Your Birth Experience
SOCIAL MEDIA:
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BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience — all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/
Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app-download-page
And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin
Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection
Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy
The Secret Sauce to Pushing course gives you step-by-step guidance on how to push effectively — whether you have an epidural or not — so you can reduce tearing, labor faster, and feel in control from start to finish. HeHe teaches which muscles to engage, how to position your body, and the techniques that actually work, giving you the confidence and tools to achieve your best birth possible.
Learn more: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/SSP
Say goodbye to hospital “baby soap” and hello to safe, nourishing lubrication!
CocoNu is one of HeHe’s favorite all-organic lubes, made with coconut oil, coconut water, shea butter, cocoa butter, and other natural ingredients that keep your pH balanced and your downstairs happy. Perfect for your birth bag, pregnancy, or just better, safer intimacy, CocoNu comes in oil-based and water-based options, plus convenient single-use packets for labor or on-the-go. Because what you put in and on your body — especially down there — truly matters.
Use code HEHE for a discount at CocoNu.com
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