Episode 9

full
Published on:

26th Aug 2025

Unexpected Twins + Early Labor | Madeline’s Birth Story

This week on The Labor Line, I’m joined by my friend Madeline, whose twin pregnancy was as surprising as it was thrilling! From working with a midwife at a birth center to mitigate fearmongering common with a twin pregnancy, to being lifeflighted (!!) to an unfamiliar hospital, only to be discharged a few days later, and ultimately having a C-section at 32 weeks, Madeline’s story is a wonderful example of staying strong in your convictions through the twists and turns of pregnancy. 

In this episode: 

  • A subchorionic hematoma at 5 weeks 
  • Faulty genetic tests with a false positive for the Trisomy 18 marker
  • Early labor sparked on by a symptomless UTI
  • C-Section prompted by a misread of the size of her babies 
  • 3-week and 6-week NICU stays
  • Difficulty feeling bonded to both babies amidst postpartum depression
  • Advocating for yourself and your baby no matter what! 

Madeline’s story is a beautiful reminder that birth rarely goes according to plan, but your voice and your resilience matter every step of the way. If you need encouragement to trust yourself through the unpredictable journey of pregnancy and postpartum, this is the episode for you. 

Full episode transcript available at thelaborline.com/episodes

Chapters:

00:00 - Meet Madeline

06:29 - Pregnancy: Subchronic Hematoma, Inaccurate Genetic Tests, & Rejecting Fearmongering

32:52 - Labor: Unnecessary Lifeflight, Size Discrepancy Worries, & a C-Section Delivery 

56:41 - Postpartum: NICU Stays, Newborn Bubble, Postpartum Depression, & Learning to Bond

1:16:32 - To My Pre-Mom Self…

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About the Podcast

The Labor Line
A mom-to-be's authentic look into the birth experiences of her mom-friends.
The Labor Line is a real, unfiltered birth story podcast hosted by mom-to-be Emily, who was obsessed with birth long before her own was imminent.

Every Tuesday, Emily sits down with her mom friends to hear honest, hilarious, and deeply human stories about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. Whether it’s an emotional conversation about breastfeeding struggles, an epic one-push delivery, or a hilarious “wait, did that nurse just call my baby ugly?” moment, no detail is too raw, real, or ridiculous.

This isn’t a clinical breakdown or crunchy birth corner. It’s more like eavesdropping on a late-night call between best friends, complete with laughter, tears, jaw-dropping moments, and sincere conversations about what it actually feels like to be a mom.

Perfect for moms, birth nerds, doulas, expecting parents, or anyone curious about the real side of bringing little people into the world. The Labor Line delivers weekly episodes full of heart, humor, and total honesty.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday
🩷 Follow on Instagram: @thelaborline

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Keywords: birth stories podcast, real labor stories, pregnancy podcast, postpartum stories, c-section podcast, funny birth podcast, honest motherhood, podcast for moms, women's health podcast, birth podcast hosted by moms

About your host

Profile picture for Emily Lau

Emily Lau

Hey y'all, I'm your host, Emily. I live in South Austin with my amazing husband, Nate, and our perfect pup, Magnolia.

I’ve been fascinated by birth for as long as I can remember — while most kids were up early on Saturday mornings watching cartoons, I was sneaking downstairs to watch birthing shows on TLC 😅.

Studying women’s health in college and training as a doula reminded me just how powerful (and fun) it is to hear birth stories firsthand.

I created the Labor Line to celebrate and elevate these incredible experiences in a chill, accessible way.