Your worst labor & delivery fear...

Hey Mama!

How’s your day going?

I just got home from a lovely middle-of-the-afternoon birth and I’m writing this newsletter from my 🛀 right now. I looove the routine of soaking in the bath after a birth. Sometimes I’m a little messy, sore, or tired and a bubble bath gives me time to rejuvenate, recenter and move onto whatever’s next.

Here’s my current view:

And this (ignore my toenail polish):

I wanna write about something that comes up literally all the freaking time in my work as a home birth midwife. 💩The mamas I attend are always apologizing to me in the middle of labor for pooping.

My response: You go girl! That just means the baby is coming soon!

These women are literally pushing their babies out of their bodies and they are worried about pooping.

It’s time to set this s**t straight.

Here’s what to expect on this week’s edition of The Sauce!

TL;DR:

Subject: Pooping during labor

Ask a midwife: How can I get over my fear of pooping during labor?

Unplug: My newfound love for all things sourdough 😍

Currently watching: One Day on Netflix

Expert tip: Let that s**t go!

Subject: Pooping in labor

Let’s face it. Birth is beautiful, but it can get pretty messy. There’s blood, amniotic fluid, mucus, bloody show (this is my husband’s least favorite phrase of all time 😂), vomit, poop… You get the idea. Birth is a bold and beautiful mess and that’s just how it is.

Ask a Midwife: How can I get over my fear of pooping during labor?

Ever heard the saying, "Everybody poops"? Well, spoiler alert: that includes during labor. And before you gasp in horror or start giggling like a schoolgirl let's get real about why this is not only normal but expected. Welcome to one of the most liberating, real-talk convos you'll have this pregnancy.

Read the rest on the blog👇

Unplug: My newfound love for all things sourdough

Have you heard about the new tradwide (traditional wife) trend happening over on Tik Tok? If not, make sure you check it out. Tradwives are basically women trying to live like they are 1950s housewives. They obey their husbands, don’t work outside the home, and homeschool their kids. They even dress the part!

While I have zero interest in actually becoming a tradwife, I am getting pretty into sourdough!

A midwifery patient recently gifted me a sourdough starter and I love the ritual of feeding my sourdough in the mornings and evenings. It makes me feel so homey and present in the moment. So far I’ve made pancakes (easy!) and bagels (surprisingly doable!) and I love unplugging from the world to make something from scratch with my own hands.

How are you unplugging this week?

Currently watching: One Day on Netflix

So I just watched One Day one Netflix. Then I watched it again, but stopped watching right before THAT episode. Then I watched just the Paris episode again. Someone please stop me.

I’m obsessed and the actors are so so good and why did I not realize how hot Leo Woodall is when I watched White Lotus? I know I’m married he’s too young for me (he’s 27 and I’m 37 in case you were wondering) but he is so cute when he cries and gets all emotional that you just can’t help falling in love with him.

I need to see him on the big screen ASAP.

Speaking of too young…have you seen The Idea of You starring Anne Hathaway on Amazon? Watch it and then let me know if you wanna book a mom’s trip to Coachella together in 2025! 

Expert tip: Let that s**t go!

This expert tip is for the birth partners out there so feel free to forward appropriately.

There is no need to tell a woman in labor that she is pooping! There’s also no need to include details of how she pooped in her birth story. Just skip over that part if at all possible.

She probably knows what’s going on, but nurses are excellent at discreetly cleaning up a little poo. So save her the embarrassment and just don’t tell her unless she asks, ok?

Happy Mother’s Day and see ya next time,

Marielle

P.S. Our Mother’s Day sale is happening now! Use code MOTHER15 for 15% off your purchase sitewide.

P.P.S. This reel is going viral over on our Instagram right now. If you’re a boy mom you’ve gotta check it out.