Beyond Birth Prep: The Emotional Work of Becoming a Parent, with Nina Spears

You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention when we think about becoming parents.
We spend so much time preparing for the baby—reading the books, building the registry, thinking about birth—but not nearly as much time preparing for what it actually feels like to become a parent.
In this episode, I’m joined by Nina Spears, and we’re digging into what it really looks like to prepare for pregnancy, birth, and those early postpartum days in a way that goes beyond information and into real-life support.
We talk about why so many of us go into parenthood expecting to be in control—and what happens when we realize we’re not, how pregnancy can actually be a time to build the skills we’ll rely on later, and why things like nervous system awareness, communication, and flexibility matter more than any perfect plan.
We also get into the pressure parents carry to “get it right,” how to shift out of that, and what it looks like to advocate for yourself so you can show up for your family in a way that feels grounded and sustainable.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll figure it out when the baby gets here,” or you’re in the thick of early parenthood wondering why it feels harder than expected, this one’s for you.
Alright folks, let’s dive in.

Connect with Nina:

Instagram: @thebabychick

Website: baby-chick.com

Order the book:The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy

Podcast: Chick Chat

Connect with us:

Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew 

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Website: seedandsew.org

Credits:

Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell

Co-host: Rachel Lounder

Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh

Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig

Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound