It's Here!

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah and Heidi dive into the transformative power of skin-to-skin in the OR (operating room). From improved thermoregulation and breastfeeding success to reduced postpartum depression and enhanced bonding. The benefits of skin-to-skin are undeniable. But why does it matter so much? And, how can nurses protect this essential time for families? Join us as we break down the science, share personal stories, and explore the practicalities of implementing skin-to-skin in cesarean birth settings. Whether you’re a number nerd or a passionate advocate for physiologic care, this episode will leave you inspired to support the golden hour in all birth scenarios.

In this gripping episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne sits down with Amy the Good Nurse (Amy Loughren), the nurse whose incredible bravery take down America’s most prolific serial killer. Amy shares her deeply personal story of uncovering the shocking truth about her best friend and colleague, a trusted ICU nurse who was secretly murdering patients.

From the moment detectives approached Amy to the harrowing experience of working undercover, she navigated the emotional fallout of betrayal. This episode dives into the moral and ethical dilemmas she faced. Amy’s courage not only exposed the crimes but also revealed the complicit role of hospitals that prioritized reputation over lives. She recounts the challenges of being a whistleblower, the toll it took on her mental health, and the long path to healing and self-forgiveness.

Together, Sarah and Amy explore broader themes of moral courage in nursing, the realities of working within a flawed healthcare system. She also talks about the strength it takes to advocate for what’s right, even when the stakes are unimaginably high. Whether you’re an OB nurse, a healthcare professional, or someone inspired by stories of resilience and integrity, this episode is a powerful reminder of the impact nurses can have—not only on their patients but on the entire profession.

You can listen podcast episode #73 Amy the Good Nurse on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

In another solo episode, Sarah teaches you about how to use a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) as a non-pharmacological pain management option for labor. TENS provides low-voltage electrical stimulation to the skin, which activates the “gate control theory” by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. Sarah dives deep into what the research suggests, how it can be effective, and how it can delay the use of other pain medications. Sarah also explains the benefits to patients when using a TENS machine and how it can be a useful addition to your labor pain management toolkit.

You can listen podcast episode #72 Labor Pain & TENS: When to Use It and What to Know on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

This episode on Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne is joined with Bundle Birth educator, Heidi Nielsen in this enlightening episode as they dive into the critical world of cord gas analysis. Understanding cord gas results is essential in guiding newborn care, particularly for identifying infants at risk of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who may need therapeutic cooling.

Sarah and Heidi break down the basics of interpreting arterial and venous cord gases, explaining why parameters like pH, PCO2, and base deficit matter so much. They discuss the signs of respiratory and metabolic acidosis, how each can impact a newborn’s health, and why proper sample collection is so important—especially in settings without immediate NICU access.

In this episode, you’ll learn how these essential numbers reveal vital clues about a newborn’s condition, empowering nurses to support and advocate for newborns from the very start. Lastly, you can listen podcast episode #71 Cord Gas Essentials: What L&D Nurses Need to Know on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

EDIT at 12:59: ACOG says 7.0 for pH, AWHONN says 7.1,
What the research shows is that injury occurs at 7.18, and injury becomes more likely as you continue to move towards 7.0. Normal pH is actually considered to be 7.2.

This week on Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah has a candid conversation with Dr. Nathan Riley an OB-GYN, home birth doctor and holistic gynecologist about challenging the hospital birth versus a home birth. Dr. Riley was initially trained in the standard medical model but became disillusioned with the overly interventionist approach to childbirth. So, he started attending home births to provide a more patient-centered, hands-off approach. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and rapport with patients, rather than rushing through routine procedures. He challenges the common assumption that hospital births are always safer, and argues that the trauma from disrespectful treatment can be more harmful than the medical risks.

Dr. Riley shares stories on a more holistic, patient-empowered approach to maternity care, where nurses and providers prioritize the human connection and emotional needs of birthing people. You can listen to the podcast episode #70 Is Hospital Birth Really the Safest Option? with Dr. Riley on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne dives into the journey behind the creation of the Physiologic Birth Class. From working in a highly medicalized L&D unit, later, she experienced a contrasting approach in a more affluent hospital. Sarah’s nursing career helped shape her vision for promoting physiologic birth. Driven by a desire to empower nurses, she then designed this class. Her goal is to equip nurses with knowledge and hands-on skills essential for supporting physiologic labor and birth. Thousands of nurses have since been trained. They have finally seen the impact on their practice. From enhancing birth outcomes, decreasing cesarean rates to reducing trauma, nurses are reshaping the culture of obstetric care.

Sarah underscores the power of a nurse’s deep understanding of birth physiology to provide truly patient-centered care. Furthermore, you can listen podcast episode #69 The Power of Physiologic birth: Improving Outcomes with Sarah Lavonne on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

Season 5 Premiere Podcast of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses is here! In this special bts episode, Justine and Sarah Lavonne dive into Justine’s upcoming birth plan. Justine shares her preferences in deciding between a scheduled c-section or a VBAC through prioritizing her well-being and reflecting on her first birth experience. Then, Justine and Sarah discuss the logistics- from selecting her birth team to Sarah’s involvement as her birth coach. Also, they tease exciting topics for this new, fifth season, including home births, cord gases, and a review of the RNC-OB course. Tune in for a thoughtful and honest conversation. You can finally listen to the season 5 premiere podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

In this last podcast of the season, Justine and Sarah Lavonne discuss the importance of lifelong learning and how it can benefit nurses in their practice and life. They share personal examples of things they have learned recently, as well as some new OB insights. They encourage you to find your passion and pursue learning in it! Thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe! We will see you next season!! In the meantime, join us in a class or get updates by signing up for our newsletter below!

In this episode of “Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses,” Sarah Lavonne chats with Dr. Rebecca Dekker, the founder of Evidence Based Birth. They discuss the benefits of non-lithotomy birthing positions and the misconceptions surrounding them. Dekker shares research findings that show upright positions can lead to shorter pushing phases, lower rates of severe perineal trauma, and decreased use of forceps and vacuum. She also emphasizes the importance of educating patients and healthcare providers about the benefits of alternative positions and suggests strategies for nurses to advocate for their patients’ preferences. Sarah and Dekker also discuss the need for continued education and training for healthcare workers to increase their comfort and confidence in supporting upright birthing positions. Want a next step? Take our Physiologic Birth class, linked below! Thanks for watching and subscribing!

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Justine and Sarah Lavonne discuss the importance of nurses getting involved in committees and making a positive impact in their workplace. They are joined by Carly Dahl, a labor and delivery nurse and Bundle Birth mentor, who shares her experience of being part of a committee and the value it brings. Carly emphasizes the importance of following your passion and taking the initiative to make a change. She also highlights the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration and open communication within the committee. Carly encourages nurses to start small and focus on areas they care about, as even small changes can have a significant impact. The episode concludes with a reminder to nurses to take care of themselves and find fulfillment in their work. Thanks for listening and subscribing!