on the podcast

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah and Justine dive into the complex world of adult friendships. From building meaningful connections to navigating the challenges of maintaining them amidst busy schedules, they share personal stories, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way. Whether you’re looking to deepen your adult friendships or simply understand why they feel different in adulthood, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to nurture the relationships that matter most.

In this episode, Sarah welcomes Heather Bradford, a certified nurse-midwife, assistant professor, and researcher, to discuss the critical issue of weight bias in healthcare. Heather shares her journey from clinical practice to academia. Her experiences and observations inspired her groundbreaking research into how weight bias impacts patient care and outcomes, particularly in obstetrics.

Together, they unpack the subtle and explicit ways weight bias manifests in healthcare settings. They explore its far-reaching consequences on patient health and trust. And, they also challenge providers to reflect on their own biases. Heather highlights the need for systemic changes and shares insights from her research. She gives practical steps providers and nurses can take to provide more equitable, compassionate, and effective care.

This thought-provoking conversation invites all healthcare professionals to reexamine their approach, up-level their practice, and contribute to better outcomes for patients in larger bodies. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion that’s as empowering as it is essential.

On this podcast episode, Happy with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah is joined with Bundle Birth educators, Jen Atkisson and Heidi Nielsen, and National Certification Corporation (NCC) item writer and subject matter expert, Whitney Wells for a conversation about the RNC-OB exam development process. As experts on the Registered Nurse Certified (RNC) Obstetric exam, they discuss the process and strategies for preparing for the exam. This includes the importance of studying the provided resources rather than just relying on clinical experience.

They also talk about how the NCC selects a diverse team of bedside nurses to write and review exam questions, ensuring the content reflects current best practices across different regions. They also cover the continuing competency assessment, which evaluates nurses’ ongoing knowledge and identifies areas for further education. Overall, the conversation aims to demystify the RNC certification process, make it super accessible and encourage you that this is the next step in your career! The Power of Physiologic birth: Improving Outcomes with Sarah Lavonne on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

In this heartfelt episode, Sarah sits down with Justine to debrief her birth experience and reflect on the whirlwind of the past six weeks. Justine shares her decision to opt for a repeat C-section and the emotional and physical journey leading up to, during, and after delivery. From navigating the intricacies of maternal-assisted C-sections to the unexpected challenges of the postpartum period, Justine opens up about the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned.

Together, they discuss the importance of support during postpartum recovery, the role of compassionate care from medical staff, and the enhanced recovery protocols (ERAS) that helped Justine get back on her feet. Whether you’re a nurse, a parent, or simply someone curious about the realities of birth and recovery, this episode offers a raw and intimate glimpse into the beauty and complexity of welcoming a new life.

Don’t forget to check out the full birth video linked on Instagram and join the conversation as Sarah and Justine celebrate this special journey. You can listen podcast episode #73 Amy the Good Nurse on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

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.