From Fear to Preparedness: What Every Mom Should Know About Birth with The Combat Midwife™
woman’s life. But along with the joy, many moms carry a quiet fear: what if something goes wrong?
This is exactly why I invited **Jessica Arno—better known as The Combat Midwife—**to join me on the A Bridge to Motherhood podcast. Jessica is not only a midwife, but also a paramedic, EMS educator, and veteran who has trained over 100,000 military medics. She has delivered babies in extreme situations—including an Afghan refugee camp in 2021—and has been published in EMS World Magazine for her expertise in obstetric emergencies and out-of-hospital birth transfers.
Her mission is simple but profound: no birth should be left to chance.
In our conversation, Jessica shared practical wisdom for new moms, powerful insights about protecting your birth space, and why learning to be “your own first responder” is an act of confidence, not fear.
In this episode, we talk about:
The role of birth preparedness in supporting positive outcomes for both moms and babies
Why managing your birth space can make a huge difference in both labor and postpartum recovery
How understanding common birth emergencies can help reduce fear and build confidence
… and a whole lot more!
WhBirth Emergencies: What Moms Really Need to Know
One of the first things Jessica emphasized is that most midwife-attended births are uneventful—because pregnancy screening and careful prenatal care prevent many complications before they ever happen. But when emergencies do occur, two of the most common are:
Postpartum hemorrhage
Shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck)
The good news? With the right provider and preparation, moms don’t have to approach labor in fear. Jessica explained that it’s not just about the medical care—it’s about the atmosphere and the team in the room. A calm, supportive environment can make all the difference in how a mother experiences her birth, even if complications arise.
The Power of Protecting Your Birth Space
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was when Jessica described her role as the “guardian of the birth space.”
She explained that birth isn’t just about medical expertise—it’s also about managing who is present and the energy they bring. Doulas and midwives play complementary roles here: while a doula supports the mother emotionally through contractions, a midwife monitors safety and steps in only when necessary.
Jessica stressed that protecting a mother’s space isn’t optional—it’s foundational. When the right people are present and the mother feels safe, she can labor more effectively. As Jessica put it, “If we can just eliminate fear, it completely changes not only her birth experience but also how her postpartum unfolds.”
Becoming Your Own First Responder
Jessica also shared about her Combat Midwife Workshop, a hands-on course she developed after military medics asked how they could be prepared for emergencies involving mothers and babies.
The course covers everything from understanding the menstrual cycle to recognizing complications in the first year postpartum. Her goal is to equip parents, providers, and even mission workers with the tools to respond in situations where professional help isn’t immediately available.
Out of that training came her Emergency Birth Kit—a compact, water-resistant ammo can filled with the essentials to handle an unplanned birth or postpartum emergency. Unlike a standard home birth supply list, this kit is designed for situations where resources are limited: sudden precipitous births, rural areas, or even disaster scenarios.
As Jessica explained, “This isn’t about replacing your provider. It’s about not leaving birth to chance when circumstances change.”
Balancing Preparedness with Peace
Of course, talking about emergencies can stir up anxiety. Jessica and I both know that fear can work against labor and postpartum recovery. So how do moms prepare without getting overwhelmed?
Jessica encourages women to:
Cut the noise: step away from endless online chatter and spend time in nature.
Choose your circle wisely: invite only supportive people into your birth space.
Anchor yourself: use affirmations, scripture, or visual reminders to create an environment of peace.
She shared how her sister covered her home with Bible verses and affirmations during pregnancy—walking through labor touching each one and declaring them out loud. That environment of peace shaped her entire experience.
As Jessica beautifully put it, “Birth itself isn’t traumatic. It’s what happens to you in that space that creates trauma—or healing.”
Final Thoughts
Our conversation reminded me that confidence in birth doesn’t come from pretending emergencies don’t exist. It comes from knowing that if something unexpected happens, you are supported, prepared, and not alone.
Jessica’s calm strength, combined with her wealth of experience, is a gift to parents everywhere. If you’d like to connect with her, learn about her workshops, or check out her Emergency Birth Kit, visit CombatMidwife.com
and follow her on Instagram @combatmidwife.
And just for A Bridge to Motherhood listeners, Jessica is offering a special discount code BRIDGE for her workshops.
Because every mom deserves to feel confident, supported, and at peace—not just in labor, but throughout the journey of motherhood.
Ready for more tools to support your journey?
Download my free Postpartum Mental Health Toolkit: A Resource Guide for New Moms. It’s filled with simple, practical ways to care for your mind and heart in motherhood.
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Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most powerful moments in a woman’s life. But along with the joy, many moms carry a quiet fear: what if something goes wrong?
This is exactly why I invited Jessica Arno—better known as The Combat Midwife—to join me on the A Bridge to Motherhood podcast. Jessica is not only a midwife, but also a paramedic, EMS educator, and veteran who has trained over 100,000 military medics. She has delivered babies in extreme situations—including an Afghan refugee camp in 2021—and has been published in EMS World Magazine for her expertise in obstetric emergencies and out-of-hospital birth transfers.
Her mission is simple but profound: no birth should be left to chance.