Birth Story: What If I Can’t Handle Labor? How Mental Preparation & Support Can Change Your Birth

I love a good birth story, but this one has a little something extra. Taryn's not just telling you what happened, she's showing you how much the mental side of birth really matters AND what she did to prepare - which is the most valuable part!

She'd gone into her first two births thinking "I'm tough, I've got this," and learned the hard way that toughness isn't the same as being prepared. (join the club 😉)

So the third time, she did it differently. I first aired this back in 2023 and to-date is our most popular My Essential Birth Story!

Having an unmedicated birth is a huge decision and requires so much preparation physically AND mentally.

Your body will do what your brain tells it to! For your body to enter "Labor Land", it's imperative that mom feels safe and supported.

Taryn shares her birth story about how her support and mental preparation helped her achieve the birth she desired for her third baby girl.

[2:25] Meet Taryn — a mama of three girls in a tiny South Dakota town, with a birth story that was six weeks fresh when we recorded. 

[3:09] The road to her three girls — including the part of her story I think a lot of you are going to love.

[5:30] Why she finally switched providers — and the moment she realized she deserved someone who actually listened. (BIG cheer for her here!!  🎉 )

[9:32] The one thing she prepared for this time that she completely skipped the first two times. (It literally changed everything.) 

[11:09] Let's talk about "labor land" — what it actually feels like, and why Taryn says it was unlike anything she expected. 

[14:32] The weirdly simple trick she focused on during every contraction that kept her whole body relaxed. You're going to want to steal this one!!!

[17:05] What she did in those final weeks that had her walking into her induction WAY further along than ever before. 

[20:17] The blizzard, the induction, and the birth — and the moment things went from "this is going to take all day" to "she's coming out RIGHT NOW." 

[24:43] The peanut ball. The music. And the fast, intense ending nobody in the room saw coming. 

[36:12] The spiritual moment that carried her through — and the prayer that filled the room when she needed it most. I always love these parts of birth stories. 

[38:28] Her best advice for moms and partners — plus the little labor snack she swears by (trust her on this one). I actually get questions about what to bring to eat during labor all the time, so I know you'll love this!

Links Mentioned:

Dr. Marina Kimball of Begin with Family Chiropractic

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