Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

About Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

What if your best motherhood choices aren’t my best motherhood choices? Each week on Lo & Behold, we’re leaning into that real, messy, necessary question as we navigate all the choices you’ll find yourself making in pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and modern motherhood. Hosted by Lo Mansfield — former labor and postpartum nurse, certified lactation counselor, mom and RN behind The Labor Mama, and real life mama of four — this show is your judgment-free space to explore all the options in front of you. Whether you’re navigating a birth plan, wondering about labor induction methods, worried about breastfeeding challenges, or figuring out how to advocate for yourself or your littles, you’re not alone here. On Lo & Behold, we’re cutting through the noise of the motherhood space and ditching the black-and-white takes. Each episode, Lo brings her years of experience in maternity care, lactation support, and real-life motherhood straight to your earbuds — through candid insights from her own successes and mistakes, expert interviews, and other real mom and dad story shares you’ll actually relate to. Each week, you’ll find relatable, honest stories and reflections that help you make intuition-led, evidence-informed decisions in your own birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and motherhood stories — with zero shame and zero slant. Because your best story is the one that feels right to you — and no one else gets to tell you what that is. If you’re craving confidence, clarity, friendship, and a space that says “you get to choose” and “I trust you,” this podcast is for you. Whether you’re pregnant with your first baby, planning a hospital birth, or knee-deep in the chaos of raising toddlers and raising babies, grab your coffee, your electrolytes, or your raspberry leaf tea, hit play, and let’s chase down your best story — together.

Publisher

Lo Mansfield RN, CLC

Category

education · health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 May 2025

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

76 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   Low Fluid, Surprise Induction, Two Push Birth & the NICU: Beth Gaskill’s Birth Story | Episode 75

   Beth Gaskill, aka Miss Beth from Big City Readers, is back on the podcast, and this time she’s holding her baby girl! I’ve been so excited to hear this one. A routine 36-week appointment, after a seven-mile walk in 100-degree heat with no shower, turned into “you’re having a baby today” when Beth’s ultrasound showed low amniotic fluid. We talk through her induction from start to finish: a Cytotec and Foley balloon start, a rough night of cervical checks that went sideways, a partner who stepped up as her advocate, and a midwife who showed what real consent during an exam looks like. Then her body took over, with Pitocin, an epidural that needed a few adjustments, and a baby born in just two pushes. I also share my nurse perspective on why I don’t want us treating “risk” as “reality,” and why a first-degree tear is not a failure. Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth) & use the code PODCAST to save 20% But Beth’s story didn’t end in the delivery room. After a perfect first night, her daughter was admitted to the NICU for breathing support and stayed 12 days. Beth opens up about how disorienting that was: being separated from her baby, fighting to protect breastfeeding, and how much the right nurses changed everything. We also talk about what providers, and the people who love you, can do better, like simply acknowledging that it feels unfair instead of jumping straight to “we just want baby to be safe.” If you’ve ever had a birth plan take a sharp turn, or a NICU stay you didn’t see coming, I think you’ll feel so seen in this one. More from Beth Gaskill: Follow her on Instagram @bigcityreaders (https://www.instagram.com/bigcityreaders/) bigcityreaders.com (http://bigcityreaders.com) Make Reading Click, our first free learning to read workshop: https://my.demio.com/ref/NdBsEKF5wWoY4Tbs (https://my.demio.com/ref/NdBsEKF5wWoY4Tbs) Listen to the Play On Words Podcast (https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcast) & her episode with Lo: Third Trimester: What's Worth Doing... and What's Just Internet Noise with Lo Mansfield @TheLaborMama (https://zencastr.com/z/VCQpJfv3) Mentioned in this episode: Listen to episode 25: School Readiness and Kids Who Love to Read with Beth Gaskill of Big City Readers (https://thelabormama.com/captivate-podcast/school-readiness-with-big-city-readers/) Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Beth Gaskill’s Birth Story 06:18 Trying For Baby 13:07 Low Fluid Surprise 24:26 Induction Begins 26:22 Painful Cervix Checks 30:05 Confronting Mistreatment 32:24 Midwife + Consent Done Right 34:44 Balloon Induction Pain 36:30 Pitocin and Epidural Hiccups 40:06 Lightning Fast Delivery 44:23 NICU Admission Shock 51:40 Making NICU More Humane About your host: Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama. For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website (https://thelabormama.com/) and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth (https://thelabormama.com/your-body-your-birth-course), breastfeeding (https://thelabormama.com/breastfeeding-course), and postpartum/newborns (https://thelabormama.com/postpartum-and-newborn-care-course). You can also follow @thelabormama (https://www.instagram.com/thelabormama/) and @loandbehold_thepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/loandbehold_thepodcast/) on Instagram and join her email list here. (http://thelabormama.com/general-list-sign-up) For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen! A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️ Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/) | TIK TOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@thelabormama) | PINTEREST (https://www.pinterest.com/thelabormama/) | FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/thelabormama) Disclaimer Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here. (https://thelabormama.com/disclaimer) Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love. Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services (https://vadenpodcastservices.com/) Mentioned in this episode: YBYB 20% off ad link (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth)

2. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Transformed by Birth: How Becoming a Parent Changes Everything with Britta Bushnell, PhD | 74

   I was so excited to speak with our guest today, Britta Bushnell, PhD. Britta is the author of Transformed by Birth, host of the Transformed by Birth podcast, a mother and grandmother, a mythologist, and a childbirth educator who has spent the last 25 years walking families through one of life’s biggest thresholds: birth and new parenthood. We talked about why birth is truly a rite of passage, and why that transformation doesn’t stop when your baby is born. Your identity shifts, your marriage shifts, even what you mean by “my family” shifts. And it happens again with every single baby. Britta also shares her “turning of the family wheel,” which is so helpful for anyone working through new dynamics with in-laws (or, like her, learning how to step into the grandparent chair!). Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth) & use the code PODCAST to save 20% We also got real about control. As a type-A mom of four, I felt this one. Britta tells an unforgettable story about trekking the Himalayas that shows the difference between what we can prepare for and what we simply have to respond to in the moment. We talked about how to learn about birth without overstuffing ourselves with an overload of information, what to do if a doula isn’t in the budget, and how to take the next step even when you don’t feel confident. We ended on one of my favorite parts: how to speak to yourself with kindness through these transformations instead of judging the version of you who didn’t know then what you know now. You’re going to walk away with stories that stick, I promise. More from Dr. Britta Bushnell: BrittaBushnell.com (http://brittabushnell.com) Grab her book: Transformed by Birth (https://brittabushnell.com/book/) Listen to her podcast: Transformed by Birth Podcast (https://brittabushnell.com/transformed-by-birth-podcast/) Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brittabushnellphd/) & FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/BrittaBushnellPhD/) @brittabushnellphd (https://www.instagram.com/brittabushnellphd/) Mentioned in this episode: Listen to episode 24: Boundaries, Babies, You & Your Mother-in-Law with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish (https://thelabormama.com/captivate-podcast/boundaries-babies-you-and-your-mother-in-law-with-dr-tracy/) Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Dr. Britta Bushnell 08:15 Redefining Family After Baby 17:05 Parenting Keeps Evolving 24:04 Each Baby Rocks the System 31:15 Do You Need a Doula? 43:21 Self Compassion After Birth About your host: Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama. For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website (https://thelabormama.com/) and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth (https://thelabormama.com/your-body-your-birth-course), breastfeeding (https://thelabormama.com/breastfeeding-course), and postpartum/newborns (https://thelabormama.com/postpartum-and-newborn-care-course). You can also follow @thelabormama (https://www.instagram.com/thelabormama/) and @loandbehold_thepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/loandbehold_thepodcast/) on Instagram and join her email list here. (http://thelabormama.com/general-list-sign-up) For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen! A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️ Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/) | TIK TOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@thelabormama) | PINTEREST (https://www.pinterest.com/thelabormama/) | FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/thelabormama) Disclaimer Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here. (https://thelabormama.com/disclaimer) Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love. Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services (https://vadenpodcastservices.com/) Mentioned in this episode: YBYB 20% off ad link (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth)

3. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Catastrophic Birth Plan & Centering Hope with Kayleigh Summers, The Birth Trauma Mama | Episode 73

   Today’s conversation is a heavier one, and I want to say that up front: if you’re not in a place to take it in, it’s okay to skip this one and come back when you’re ready. I’m joined by Kayleigh Summers, a licensed clinical social worker, perinatal trauma specialist, amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) survivor, and the voice behind The Birth Trauma Mama. She shares how her own experience shaped the work she does now, and we talk about what it looks like to prepare for birth with hope at the center while still making room for the “what ifs.” We get into what Kayleigh calls catastrophic birth planning: not as a way to plan for the worst, but as a way to have a say in situations where you might not be able to speak for yourself. We also talk about why that preparation matters for partners, who may end up making the big decisions, and we cover the gift of putting your wishes in a notes app and sharing it with someone you trust. Join YBYB: www.thelabormama.com/birth (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth) & use the code PODCAST to save 20% I also wanted this to be real and practical. AFE is incredibly rare, about 1 in 40,000 births, and Kayleigh and I both agree that “it won’t happen to you” isn’t a helpful thing to hear. We talk about: How to ask your provider what protocols and training they have in place How to respond when a question gets brushed off Why you don’t have to deliver at any particular type of hospital to be doing this “right” Keeping your awareness on the shelf instead of letting it take over your feed The reminder that surviving something hard doesn’t mean you owe the world anything If you’re a provider, Kayleigh shares a free course through the AFE Foundation, and I’ll link it, along with her website, podcast, and social handles, in the show notes. Wherever you are in your own prep, I hope you walk away feeling a little more informed, a little less alone, and still free to get excited about the parts of your birth you’re hoping for. Mentioned in this episode: Course Name: (https://afesupport.org/clinician/courses/)AFE: A Practical Approach Course (https://afesupport.org/clinician/courses/) The (https://afesupport.org/contact/)AFE Foundation Contact (https://afesupport.org/contact/) hotline is 1-307-363-2337 (or 1-307-END-AFES) More from Kaleigh Summers, LCSW, PMH-C: Visit thebirthtraumamama.com (http://thebirthtraumamama.com) Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thebirthtrauma_mama/) & TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthtrauma_mama): @thebirthtrauma_mama (https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirthtrauma_mama) Listen to her podcast: The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast (https://www.thebirthtraumamama.com/podcast) Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Kayleigh Summers 05:15 AFE and Emergency C-Section 11:41 Why She Started Sharing 16:45 Privilege and Access to Care 19:08 Catastrophic Birth Planning 29:14 Partner Decision Burden 33:20 Questions for Your OB 39:14 Preparedness Without Doomscrolling 41:10 Provider Resources and Hotline About your host: 🩺🤰🏻Lo Mansfield, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC is a registered nurse, mama of 4, and a birth, baby, and motherhood enthusiast. She is both the host of the Lo & Behold podcast and the founder of The Labor Mama. For more education, support and “me too” from Lo, please visit her website (https://thelabormama.com/) and check out her online courses and digital guides for birth (https://thelabormama.com/your-body-your-birth-course), breastfeeding (https://thelabormama.com/breastfeeding-course), and postpartum/newborns (https://thelabormama.com/postpartum-and-newborn-care-course). You can also follow @thelabormama (https://www.instagram.com/thelabormama/) and @loandbehold_thepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/loandbehold_thepodcast/) on Instagram and join her email list here. (http://thelabormama.com/general-list-sign-up) For more pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood conversation each week, be sure to subscribe to The Lo & Behold podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen! 👉🏼 A request: If this episode meant something to you, would you consider a 5 star rating and leaving us a review? Yes, we read them, and yes, they help keep L & B going! ♥️ Connect with Lo more on: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/) | TIK TOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@thelabormama) | PINTEREST (https://www.pinterest.com/thelabormama/) | FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/thelabormama) Disclaimer Opinions shared by guests of this show are their own, and do not always reflect those of The Labor Mama platform. Additionally, the information you hear on this podcast or that you receive via any linked resources should not be considered medical advice. Please see our full disclaimer here. (https://thelabormama.com/disclaimer) Additionally, we may make a small commission from some of the links shared with you. Please know, this comes at no additional cost to you, supports our small biz, and is a way for us to share brands and products with you that we genuinely love. Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services (https://vadenpodcastservices.com/) Mentioned in this episode: YBYB 20% off ad link (https://lo-behold-pregnancy-birth-motherhood.captivate.fm/birth)

Who has been a guest on Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ahan Hunter
• Sarah
• Amber Ginn
• Kaylaa Anderson
• Dr Sara Reardon

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

18 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

98

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Lo & Behold | Pregnancy, Birth, Motherhood