What happens when nurses and doulas stop viewing each other as “opponents” and start working as a true team? In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne meets with legendary doula and childbirth educator Ana Paula Markel to unpack the nurse–doula relationship, the difference between advocacy and activism, and why collaboration is one of the most evidence-backed ways to improve birth outcomes. We talk about conflict points (like medical advice, bias, and power dynamics), and discuss practical ways to build trust in the room and protect the physiology of labor. If you want fewer battles, better teamwork, and more patient-centered care, this conversation is your playbook.

Helpful Links!

• Come to MOVE Learning Retreat in Mexico!
• Take our Physiologic Birth training.
• Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for free education!
• DONA International
• Bini Birth taught by Ana Paula Markel
• Ina May Gaskin documentary
• The Business of Being Born

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In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne continues part 2 of the conversation for nurses who are new to labor and delivery or new to the specialty altogether. She shares practical, experience-based advice on facing imposter syndrome, asking questions, and accelerating your growth without burning yourself out. This episode dives into the emotional realities of L&D nursing, including how to process hard days, hold space for yourself, and build recovery routines that support long-term sustainability. Sarah responds to listener questions about work-life balance, leaving work at work, and navigating burnout in today’s healthcare climate. Whether you’re a new grad, transitioning specialties, or mentoring newer nurses, this episode is a grounded reminder that you’re not alone.

Helpful Links!

• Part 1 Podcast episode: Tips for Being New, Ruptured Vasa Previa & Building Rapport with Providers
• Burnout podcast episode
• Subscribe for free monthly education for L&D Nurses!
• Learn More about our Mentorship Program
• Come to our MOVE Learning Retreat!
• Healing Trauma in the Birth Professional On-Demand Class
• Sign Up for our Physiologic Birth Class
• Sign Up for our Basic Fetal Monitoring Class

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In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne answers your questions especially those new to labor & delivery or transitioning into the specialty. From managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome to letting go of constant emergency anticipation, Sarah shares the lessons she wishes she’d known earlier in her career. She dives into the realities of L&D acuity, the importance of owning your education, and how mastering “normal vs. abnormal” transforms both confidence and patient care. Through personal stories, including a powerful emergency case that changed everything for a relationship with a doctor, Sarah explains how trust, intuition, and collaboration can quite literally save lives. Whether you’re brand new, newly transferring, or years into practice, this conversation is a grounding reminder that you’re not alone and that confidence is built one patient, one shift, and one relationship at a time.

Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Helpful Links!

• Basic Fetal Monitoring Class
• Subscribe to the Buzz for free monthly education!
• If you're a hospital interested in bringing our classes to your hospital, email us at hospital@bundlebirth.com We’d love to work with you.
• Wanna leave us a message? Send us a voicemail I can answer on the pod!

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne talks with licensed therapist Krysta Dancy, MA, MFT, CBD to explore what trauma-informed care really looks like in labor and delivery. Together, they unpack how nervous system regulation, presence, and connection shape the labor and delivery experience for both patients and nurses. This conversation goes beyond checklists and protocols to address burnout, compassion fatigue, and why trauma-informed care is as much a way of being as it is a set of skills. Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast!

Helpful Links!

• Krysta Dancy - Dancy Perintal
• MOVE Learning Retreat
• MOVE Objectives
• Synova
• Mentorship Program
• Healing Trauma in the Birth Professional
• Preventing Birth Trauma Level 1
• Preventing Birth Trauma Level 2
• Preventing Birth Trauma Bundle - Level 1 & 2
• Grounding Techniques
• #teamunderwear pin
• #teamunderwear sticker
• Podcast on Do Labor Nurses Have Trauma with Krysta Dancy, MA MFT, CD
• Podcast on Down Regulate your Nervous System with Krysta Dancy, MA, MFT, CD
• Podcast on Pause at the Door
• Podcast on Content vs Context: A Shift That Changed Everything

In this episode of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne takes a deep dive into labor positions for why they matter, how they work, and why they’re so much more than just “turning patients.” This episode is really just the tip of the iceberg when it come to understanding physiologic birth. But, it is a mini crash course on anatomy, physiology, and evidence-based positioning. I talk about how environment, mobility, gravity, pelvic mechanics, and nursing judgment all intersect to support labor progress and reduce unnecessary Cesareans. If you’re looking for more and want a solid breakdown of positioning and physiologic birth, take our foundational Physiologic Birth Class. Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Helpful Links!

• Sign up for our live online Physiologic Birth Class
• Live online Pushing Class
• Live online Speedy Inductions Class
• Download the Motion - Labor Tracker & Birth Algorithm App
• Motion is lotion sticker
• Bundle Birth Position guide
• Are you a hospital manager/decision/maker? Reach out to discuss bulk pricing. hospitals@bundlebirth.com

What started as a simple “This or That” poll on a Bundle Birth Nurses Instagram, 7,000 of you responded, and those results stopped me in my tracks. It sparked a deep dive into the reality so many of you are living. Burnout isn’t just a buzzword; it’s something thousands of you across our community are quietly carrying. In this episode, we’re digging into what burnout really looks like for labor and delivery nurses today.

I brought this to our incredible Bundle Birth Nurses Mentors to discuss what can we do about this. Throughout this episode, they pop in to share their lived experience, wisdom, and honest insights about how burnout shows up, why it’s happening, and what it means for the work we do.

This is a unique, conversational episode where we unpack burnout, moral injury, the unseen emotional load of being a nurse, and the responsibility we carry to “stand in the gap” for patients and each other. We don’t have an easy solution, but we hope this conversation helps you feel seen, supported, and a little less alone. Let’s explore burnout and learn what it might look like to rebuild our sense of purpose together. As always, thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast!

Helpful Links:

Follow us on IG

Helpful Links!

• Follow Bundle Birth Nurses on Instagram!
• Join Mentorship Program, open NOW till Jan 2, 2026
• Join our free Community call about Burnout on Jan.
• Join us our MOVE Learning Retreat!
• Shatterproof Book
• Miracle Morning Book
• Trends and Innovations in Nurse Manager Retention - American Organization for Nursing Leadership & Laudio - article

In this heartfelt Season 7 kickoff of Happy Hour with Bundle Birth Nurses, Sarah Lavonne is joined by longtime co-host and friend Justine for a reflective conversation on change, burnout, detachment, and new beginnings. Together, they reminisce on their years building Bundle Birth Nurses, honor Justine’s transition away from the team, and explore what it looks like to choose a slower, more intentional life. The episode weaves together themes of nursing identity, social media fatigue, personal growth, and the freedom that comes from setting boundaries. From Mentorship and MOVE retreats to goats, homesteading, and redefining success, this episode captures the beauty of evolving seasons. It’s an honest look at what it means to care deeply without losing yourself in the process. Whether you’re feeling burned out, curious about what’s next, or simply craving connection, this episode invites you to reflect, detach, and move forward with intention. Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Helpful Links!

• Sign up to come to our Burnout Call
• Enroll in Mentorship Program
• Come the MOVE Learning Retreat 2026!

In this season-six finale of the podcast, Sarah Lavonne and Justine look back on a whirlwind year at Bundle Birth, with new classes, a reboot on YouTube, and new hospital trainings. Sarah shares an “epic fail” at her first Advanced Physiologic Birth training, then explains how the mishap led her to redesign the class and refocus on meeting you where you’re at, giving you the positioning training you want while also being authentic. The pair riff on systemic problems in maternity care, the power of empathy, and balancing big-picture change in the healthcare industry.

*Disclaimer: To any of the nurses that were at this training or the leadership team that experienced this class, the rant at the end is not about you. It is about the system as a whole, you are amazing, and I am so impressed that you have invested in your nurse's growth like you have. ❤️ Sarah

Send in your question to be featured in Season 7 of the Pod! (90 sec total)

https://www.speakpipe.com/HappyHourwithBundleBirthNurses

Helpful Links!

• Physiologic Birth Training
• C-EFM Exam Prep Class
• OB Emergency Pocket Guide
• RNC-OB Exam Prep Class
• The One Where Justine Messes Up podcast