As a labor and delivery nurse, there's something I really need you to understand: many complications of birth actually happen after you've already had your baby. After you've been discharged. After you're home in your sweatpants, running on no sleep, trying to figure out this whole new life.

I've been a labor and delivery nurse for a long time now. But I'm also a mom of four. And while I was pregnant, I didn't know about all of these things — and made some choices I probably wouldn't make today. So here's what you need to know so you don't make the same mistakes.

Let's start with the urgent signs.

Are you newly pregnant and already overwhelmed by the sheer number of pregnancy books out there?

Same.

Because here’s the thing—there is no one “perfect” pregnancy book. What actually matters is finding something that fits how you learn.

The internet is full of pregnancy advice… and not all of it is good.

Some of it is outdated. Some of it is just plain wrong. And some of it? It can actually be dangerous if you follow it.

So let’s clear a few things up.

Let’s be honest—postpartum recovery can hit like a truck.

You spend so much time preparing for pregnancy and birth… and then suddenly you’re home with a baby, a healing body, and a whole lot of “wait… no one told me THIS.”

So let’s talk about the things that actually make a difference.

Breastfeeding can be beautiful… but it can also be frustrating, painful, and honestly overwhelming at the start. And one of the biggest reasons people struggle or even stop early? The latch.

I’m not currently pregnant…but if I were planning a birth in 2026, there are a few things I would absolutely have on my birth plan.

Bringing your baby home is one of the best feelings in the world—but it can also come with a lot of “is this normal?” moments.

As a labor and delivery nurse, I can tell you this: newborns do some weird things. A lot of them are completely normal… and some are not.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out what you actually need for a newborn…you’re not alone. Between baby registries, TikTok, and 47 different “must-have” lists—it’s a lot. So let’s simplify it.

Induction of labor is common—but what a lot of people don’t realize is that it can be a very different experience than spontaneous labor.

Here are 5 things that might be making your labor more difficult—plus what to do instead, straight from a labor & delivery nurse.

Hospital bag checklists online are getting a little out of control. I’ve seen people show up to the hospital with full suitcases, only to realize they never touched half of what they packed.

So if you’re wondering what you should actually pack, here are five hospital bag essentials that consistently get used, plus a few things you can confidently skip.

Hey partners — you helped make the baby.

But your work isn’t done yet.

This one’s for you.

Just because you’re not the one pushing doesn’t mean you get to sit back, scroll your phone, cut the cord, and call it a day. Nope. You have a job to do.

There’s something affecting tons of families worldwide.

Let’s talk about baby blues vs. postpartum depression.

And before we go any further — can we PLEASE erase the taboo that somehow still exists around postpartum mental health?

You asked for more birth prep tips — so here are three more things I would personally do if I were preparing for labor again.

If you are Black and pregnant, you are three times more likely to die during childbirth than someone like me.

That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.
And it’s something we need to keep talking about.

As your body gets closer to labor, some pretty wild things can start happening — and for many people, they’re not what movies or TV prepared you for.

If you’re pregnant, chances are you’re already thinking about how to prepare for birth — and not just the hospital bag kind of prep. Most parents want to do everything they can to support a positive birth experience and improve their chances of having a vaginal birth, if that’s their goal.

You asked more pump questions, so here we are — Part 2 of breast pump-palooza.