Did you know? The state of Tennessee welcomes approximately 80,000 babies each year. Families who give birth in a hospital often see their nurse more than their doctor. For long labor, this can often mean multiple nurses through shift changes.
Trish Ware is a local high-risk Labor & Delivery RN. She has seven children of her own and was lucky enough to have the same incredible nurse by her side for the birth of her first three babies. After her third delivery, Trish knew she wanted to be a Labor & Delivery nurse like Laura Berry. She admired her kind and loving spirit and appreciated how Laura advocated for her, even encouraging her to switch to a more like-minded provider. Trish walks to a more natural birthing beat and has a good appreciation for an emergency now with the skills to handle one.
After completing nursing school, Trish began her career in the Southeast and found a very different work environment from what she expected, stating, “I saw things that were mind-boggling.’ Shortly after, she took a month-long travel nursing assignment in San Francisco. Trish recognized right away that the birth culture was the opposite on the West Coast. The difference? Trish says, “these women educated themselves!”
Trish returned home with a passion for helping to educate and empower moms for a more positive birth experience. In 2019, she recognized a harsh reality. “When someone’s in labor, it’s too late for education.” That’s when she left the hospital and started Labor Nurse Mama.
Through her platform on Instagram, Trish connects with pregnant mamas all over the world. While birth is undoubtedly a physiological process, she believes it’s 90% mental. She coaches them on having a positive mindset and communicating with their providers positively and healthy. When asked what she wishes everyone knew going into birth, Trish says, “you can't just wing birth. I recommend getting educated and having a plan.”
Trish believes the birth culture in the South is slowly changing to be more mama-baby friendly. “I think there’s more accountability for providers, and women are making informed decisions.” Even some of Trish’s former colleagues now follow her to gain valuable insight.
Does Nurse Trish have plans to get back to bedside care? She says she would love to, but what she’s doing now is more important. Her comprehensive birth coaching course opens only a few times a year. Not only does it include online training materials, but Trish also connects with her students directly through weekly coaching calls. The next Loving Your Labor Academy opens on August 11th.
Trish enjoys equipping mamas with the knowledge of how powerful and capable their bodies are and combining it with an understanding of their medical rights. She shares, “I’m very passionate about them being educated and empowered all at once.” She helps mamas visualize their best-case scenario and then guides them through the tools they need to get there. She also reminds her students to have a backup plan because “sometimes epidurals don’t work and you need additional coping skills.” Her course covers everything from choosing a provider, positions for each stage of labor, pain management, interventions, postpartum recovery, newborn care, and more!
With over 124K followers on Instagram, Trish Ware doesn’t consider herself an influencer. “I’m an online educator. It’s what I do. I educate, educate, educate.” For more birth-related info and tips, follow Trish on Instagram at @labor.nurse.mama and be sure to check out her free Mindset Challenge Course.