Why Google Isn’t Preparing You for Birth (And What Actually Will)

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EP: 104

Feeling overwhelmed even though you’ve done all the research? You’re not alone — and this episode is here to clear things up. Stephanie Poole (doula, lactation consultant, and birth prep expert) breaks down the real reason you still feel unprepared for birth — and what you actually need to feel calm, confident, and ready for labor.

In this no-fluff, straight-talking episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “just trust your body” isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
• The truth about the “research spiral”
• Why memorizing stages of labor won’t help in the moment
• What embodied preparation looks like — and why it’s a game-changer
• A sneak peek into real birth prep that actually works

Whether you're giving birth in a hospital, at home, or in a birthing center, this episode will help you shift from anxious to empowered — no more spiraling at 1AM.

🎁 Want to take the next step?
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Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
Here to discover things likewhat to expect in childbirth,

(00:27):
how to prepare for your birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.
if you've been binging TikTok.

(00:48):
Reading every blog, downloadingchecklist, and still feel
totally unprepared for birth,then you are not alone.
Today we are going to talk aboutwhy doing all the research isn't
actually helping you to feelready and what you can do
instead to finally feel calm,confident, and in control of

(01:11):
labor for delivery and beyond.
And trust me, I'm not here toadd more to your plate.
I'm simply here to make it makesense.
Now, let's be real.
You are probably in what I callthe research spiral.
That's when you go from Googlingwhat to expect in labor.

(01:32):
To 47 open tabs.
Mm-hmm.
I know I do it too, to TikTokvideos with conflicting advice
to anxiety, to crying in yourbed at 1:00 AM because why does
none of this make sense?
Well, let me normalize this foryou.
Just because you've read all thethings, that doesn't mean you

(01:55):
are actually prepared.
And here's why.
Because information doesn'tequal transformation.
Let me say that again.
Information doesn't equaltransformation.
And what do I mean by that?
Well, reading aboutcontractions, that isn't the
same as knowing what to do whenthey hit it 3:00 AM.

(02:17):
Another reason why you'reprobably not feeling prepared is
because knowledge doesn't equalconfidence.
I mean, you can memorize thestages of labor and still panic
when your water breaks.
It's not your fault you've beentaught to prepare with your
brain, but birth.
Birth asks you to prepare withyour body, your mind, and your

(02:40):
support system, not just achecklist.
So now let's talk about thewell-meaning advice that you're
probably drowning in.
How about this advice?
Just trust your body.
Okay, cool.
But how do I do that?
Or what about this advice?
You'll know what to do in themoment.

(03:00):
Um, ma'am.
I don't even know what to eatfor lunch.
I help me out a little bit.
Come on.
How about this advice?
Every birth is different.
Okay, that's nice, but can I getsome kind of a plan?
Listen, here's the problem.

(03:21):
Most advice is either way toovague or way too medical.
But neither one prepares you forthe actual experience of giving
birth, especially for the firsttime.
What you need is what I like tocall applied knowledge, AKA,
what to do with the informationonce you're in the moment.

(03:43):
So then you may be askingyourself, well, what's really
missing?
And there's something calledembodied preparation.
And what that simply means isknowing what labor feels like in
your body and how to cope.
Knowing how your partner ordoula can help you in real time
and knowing how to advocate foryourself at the hospital without

(04:05):
freezing up.
So let me give you example ofwhat I mean by that.
Let's use reading aboutcontractions as the example.
so when you read aboutcontractions, what you read is
early labor contractions areusually mild and spaced out.
That's fair, right?

(04:27):
But real prep.
Real prep is here's how youbreathe through one, how to time
them, what positions can helpand when to call your provider.
Okay, so now you see thedifference.
you don't need more info.
You need the right kind ofpreparation.

(04:47):
Now I think it's important foryou to see a sneak peek of what
real prep would look like foryou.
It means that you feel confidentbecause you've practiced coping
techniques and not just readabout them.
It means that you know how tobreathe, move, and manage
contractions because you'vewalked through them.
Even if just in class orsimulation.

(05:10):
and you are not worried aboutbreastfeeding because you've
already seen how latch works andhow to set it up in the first
hour after birth.
And that's exactly what I helpmoms do inside a bump to bundle
blueprint.
But even if you never join, justknowing that this kind of prep
exists is.
The first step to stepping outof the overwhelm.

(05:33):
so if you've been thinking, I'vedone all the research, why do I
still feel lost?
It's because you haven't beenshown the full picture.
You've been given pieces of thepuzzle just enough to make you
anxious, but not enough to makeyou prepared.
but now you know the truth, myfriend.

(05:53):
You need more than Google.
You need guided, embodied, andpractical support and mama.
From me to you.
You deserve that.
Now if you're ready to go alittle bit deeper and learn how
to prepare for your birth theright way, then I want you to
watch this next video.

(06:14):
I'll expose the exact myths thatare keeping you confused,
anxious, and second guessingyour instincts and how to break
free from them so that you canbirth with confidence and
clarity.
Alright.
It is time to take your powerback, mama.
Go ahead and watch that video.
I'll see you there.