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Birth often feels like a test you can fail, even when you and your baby are healthy. We tackle the missing support layer that changes that feeling: prenatal coaching that builds a grounded mindset, clear communication, and a flexible plan you can trust when things get real.

We start by naming the gap most parents feel between medical safety and emotional steadiness. I walk through how prenatal coaching complements your OB, midwife, nurses, and doula by focusing on beliefs, boundaries, and language. Together, we surface the quiet stories—like “natural is the only good birth” or “if I plan hard enough, I can control everything”—and gently replace them with thoughts that match your values. You’ll hear how to craft a birth vision that guides decisions without boxing you in when clinical realities change.

From there, we practice power-sharing with providers so consent becomes a conversation. I share simple, high-impact questions that help you pause, understand risks and benefits, and consider options without escalating conflict. We dig into what reduces emotional birth trauma: asking for explanations when safe, naming your preferences, and learning grounding tools that work in triage or transition. I also clarify what a prenatal coach does and doesn’t do—I’m not diagnosing or changing meds; I’m your thinking partner before birth and a steady guide in the debrief after.

If you’ve felt anxious at appointments, stuck between induction and waiting, wondering about epidurals or VBAC, or carrying a hard first birth into a new pregnancy, this conversation offers a way forward. You’ll leave with language to advocate, a mindset that lowers shame, and a vision that helps you feel like the leader of your birth story. If you want the detailed notes with questions to ask, common beliefs to revisit, and prompts to start your birth vision, comment “notes” and I’ll send them your way. Like what you heard? Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Coaching offer

Kelly Hof: Labor Nurse + Birth Coach
Basically, I'm your birth bestie! With me as your coach, you will tell fear to take a hike!

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Medical Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended as a safe space for women to share their birth experiences. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Each woman’s medical course of action is individual and may not appropriately transfer to another similar situation. Please speak to your medical provider before making any medical decisions. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that evidence based practice evolves as our knowledge of science improves. To the best of my ability I will attempt to present the most current ACOG and AWHONN recommendations at the time the podcast is recorded, but that may not necessarily reflect the best practices at the time the podcast is heard. Additionally, guests sharing their stories have the right to autonomy in their medical decisions, and may share their choice to go against current practice recommendations. I intend to hold space for people to share their decisions. I will attempt to share the current recommendations so that my audience is informed, but it is up to each individual to choose what is best for them.