What if preparing for birth isn’t just about creating the perfect birth plan—but knowing how to advocate for yourself when the plan changes?
In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with Mama Nurse Tina, labor and delivery nurse, mom of four, certified breastfeeding specialist, and the hilarious, unfiltered voice behind a community of more than 1.5 million people.
After beginning her nursing career in emergency medicine, Tina found her calling in labor and delivery. Now, she uses her experience inside the delivery room to help parents feel informed, empowered, and a little less terrified about birth and postpartum life.
Tina explains why birth trauma isn’t always connected to a major medical emergency. Sometimes, it comes from feeling left out of decisions, unheard, or like birth happened to you instead of with you.
Samantha and Tina also dig into the misinformation expecting parents encounter online—from vitamin K to gestational diabetes testing—and why your social media feed shouldn’t replace conversations with a trusted healthcare provider.
Then there’s postpartum.
Tina believes parents should prepare for postpartum just as much—if not more—than they prepare for birth. They talk honestly about breastfeeding struggles, accepting help, mesh underwear, peri bottles, sore nipples, hospital bags, sleepless nights, and why motherhood rarely looks like the curated version we see online.
And because this is The Running Wine Mom, there are plenty of laughs along the way.
In This Episode:
- Why Tina left emergency nursing for labor and delivery
- How humor can help during stressful medical experiences
- Why rigid birth plans can sometimes contribute to disappointment or trauma
- The connection between communication and birth trauma
- How to advocate for yourself during labor and delivery
- Why your birth support person matters
- Pregnancy misinformation on social media
- Vitamin K and gestational diabetes testing misinformation
- The realities of an overwhelmed maternity healthcare system
- Why postpartum deserves as much preparation as childbirth
- How to actually help a new mom
- Why breastfeeding being “natural” doesn’t mean it’s easy
- The breastfeeding expectations that leave new moms feeling defeated
- Why we need to talk about the messy physical realities of postpartum recovery
- Tina’s must-have hospital bag item
- What your perineum deserves after childbirth
- The one book Tina recommends to expecting parents
- And yes… what really happens to your body during labor
One of the Biggest Takeaways
You don’t need to control every detail of your birth to feel empowered by it.
Information matters. Communication matters. Having people around you who understand your wishes matters.
And when postpartum arrives? Let people help you.
If someone asks what coffee you want, give them the order. If they offer to hold the baby while you sleep, hand over the baby. You were never supposed to do all of this alone.
Connect With Mama Nurse Tina
Find Tina and her pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum resources at Bump to Latch.
Follow her on social media: @mama_nurse_tina
Connect With The Running Wine Mom
Follow The Running Wine Mom on Instagram: @therunningwinemom_
Subscribe to The Running Wine Mom wherever you listen to podcasts and share this episode with an expecting parent, new mom, or anyone who needs a reminder that the messy parts of motherhood deserve to be talked about, too.
Medical note: This episode is for education and conversation and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about questions related to your pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, or your baby’s care.
