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Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth
The delivery room decoded—by the internet’s favorite labor nurse.
Childbirth is one of life’s most powerful experiences—but it can also be overwhelming. The internet is full of conflicting advice, scary stories, and rigid expectations. Too often, expecting parents are told to create a perfect “birth plan,” only to feel defeated or afraid when things don’t go exactly as envisioned. That’s where Jen Hamilton comes in.
A labor and delivery nurse, ER veteran, and unexpected mom herself, Jen has been a steady presence at thousands of births—and on millions of screens. In Birth Vibes, she shares her own stories, all while guiding readers through what to expect in labor and delivery with humor and heart. Jen busts harmful myths, breaks down what really happens in the delivery room, and gives readers the tools to advocate for the care they want. Instead of rigid plans, she encourages parents to focus on their birth vibes—the feeling and environment they want to create—and provides helpful scripts and insider advice to help get there.
Birth Vibes is the ultimate companion for anyone preparing to give birth—or support someone who is. Warm, funny, and deeply grounded in real-life experience, this is the guide every parent deserves.
Childbirth is one of life’s most powerful experiences—but it can also be overwhelming. The internet is full of conflicting advice, scary stories, and rigid expectations. Too often, expecting parents are told to create a perfect “birth plan,” only to feel defeated or afraid when things don’t go exactly as envisioned. That’s where Jen Hamilton comes in.
A labor and delivery nurse, ER veteran, and unexpected mom herself, Jen has been a steady presence at thousands of births—and on millions of screens. In Birth Vibes, she shares her own stories, all while guiding readers through what to expect in labor and delivery with humor and heart. Jen busts harmful myths, breaks down what really happens in the delivery room, and gives readers the tools to advocate for the care they want. Instead of rigid plans, she encourages parents to focus on their birth vibes—the feeling and environment they want to create—and provides helpful scripts and insider advice to help get there.
Birth Vibes is the ultimate companion for anyone preparing to give birth—or support someone who is. Warm, funny, and deeply grounded in real-life experience, this is the guide every parent deserves.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
933 people are currently reading
6131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
January 26, 2026
Jen is truly an angel. She gave me early access to her book ahead of my induction next week due to a cancer diagnosis, and I’m incredibly grateful.
This book left me feeling prepared, empowered, and confident to make the best decisions for me and my baby. Jen’s trauma-informed, evidence-based approach makes birth feel straightforward and digestible, especially for first-time parents who don’t know what they don’t know.
This book left me feeling prepared, empowered, and confident to make the best decisions for me and my baby. Jen’s trauma-informed, evidence-based approach makes birth feel straightforward and digestible, especially for first-time parents who don’t know what they don’t know.
January 19, 2026
Jen Hamilton is a MASTERCLASS in patient centred care and empathy. My eyes were watering at the end. All of her patients are so lucky to have her🥹
May 9, 2026
This book made me cry multiple times and I do feel a lot more prepared than I did before. I do think that these types of books can be challenging to write because everyone’s experience is so unique but I think Jen really takes that into account and gives a wide range of stories, advice, and comfort to a first time mom who is lowkey freaking out lol. Highly recommend.
April 10, 2026
An extremely practical guide for giving birth peppered with humor and stories along the way. If you’re not familiar with Jen’s excellent short-form video storytelling, you might be a little bemused by some of her Jen-isms (such as “coming through the sunroof” as a reference to being born by c-section), but this is largely for her fans. (Even though I hope it gets a larger audience than that!)
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. Good timing so I could prepare mentally before Baby Girl shows up.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. Good timing so I could prepare mentally before Baby Girl shows up.
May 1, 2026
Love Jen Hamilton and her book was fantastic! I just had my daughter a few days ago, I was reluctant to read any birthing books before hand, but when I saw she had wrote one and could get early access I figured that’s the one to read. 10/10 recommend if you want to read a book on birth, this is the one!
May 5, 2026
Only read about half of it before I ended up getting induced but I love her approach in this book, and I’m just a huge Jen Hamilton fan. Definitely recommend for anyone wanting to find a healthy approach to labor without stressing too much about having a step by step plan and instead just focusing on the vibes you want :)
March 7, 2026
I’ve seen Jen come across my FYP a couple times in the last few years. The first time I saw her, she was swaddling a chicken, so I instantly fell in love with whatever weird energy she was putting out in to the world. But the more she came across my FYP, the more I realized she does so much more than swaddle chickens (or dogs… or professors…). Her kindness radiates through all of her videos and she’s funny to boot!
So when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her book in the countdown to my second delivery, I jumped at the opportunity.
Her experience as an L&D nurse means this book is geared towards folks who expect to give birth in a hospital setting. But even if you aren’t, she goes over many of the choices you may face in any birthing situation and advocates for you to make the empowered choice for your own delivery. Your body, your choice.
This book contains many more mentions of birth and pregnancy complications than the other books I’ve read (which focus on home or birthing centre births), but that’s the reality of being in a hospital setting. You’re just not going to have a cesarean at home. So, knowing if I end up at the hospital, like I did with my first, I feel more prepared for the what-ifs. And having an experienced L&D nurse explain a situation much like my own first experience, it gives me more confidence to ask questions before having things done to me rather than for me.
She also brings humour in to her writing, much like in her TikTok videos. And now I can’t wait for my “indoor cat” to become an “outdoor cat” 😆
So when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her book in the countdown to my second delivery, I jumped at the opportunity.
Her experience as an L&D nurse means this book is geared towards folks who expect to give birth in a hospital setting. But even if you aren’t, she goes over many of the choices you may face in any birthing situation and advocates for you to make the empowered choice for your own delivery. Your body, your choice.
This book contains many more mentions of birth and pregnancy complications than the other books I’ve read (which focus on home or birthing centre births), but that’s the reality of being in a hospital setting. You’re just not going to have a cesarean at home. So, knowing if I end up at the hospital, like I did with my first, I feel more prepared for the what-ifs. And having an experienced L&D nurse explain a situation much like my own first experience, it gives me more confidence to ask questions before having things done to me rather than for me.
She also brings humour in to her writing, much like in her TikTok videos. And now I can’t wait for my “indoor cat” to become an “outdoor cat” 😆
April 2, 2026
Review of advanced copy by netgalley
Was excited to receive this before my due date. A lot of info was not new to me as a nicu nurse, but still informative not only as a first time mom to be and continued education as a nurse. A lot of helpful tidbits and reminders I’ll take with me into labor! Thanks Jen
Was excited to receive this before my due date. A lot of info was not new to me as a nicu nurse, but still informative not only as a first time mom to be and continued education as a nurse. A lot of helpful tidbits and reminders I’ll take with me into labor! Thanks Jen
March 19, 2026
I’m grateful that the author and publisher allowed for a set amount of early releases for this book! Reading this felt like a bestie sitting you down and giving you all the tea about what to expect (good and bad) in labor. The data cited throughout the book is up to date and has allowed for me to research certain topics even further if I wanted more data points.
March 17, 2026
So thankful I got early access to this book! Extremely informative and left me with lots to think about and process. There were moments I was crying and lots of moment filled with laughter as Jen told stories of loss, healing, and strength.
Read
February 18, 2026Grateful for my advanced copy so that I could read this before my due date. I loved the stories that were shared and the important take aways from each one. This book covered so much but never felt overwhelming.
February 15, 2026
Really enjoyed this. For the most part it was light hearted and funny while still providing unbiased, thoughtful information.
April 15, 2026
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
This book felt like a gentle conversation with a great friend. I absolutely love seeing Jen Hamilton’s videos pop up on my feed on social media. When I saw she wrote a book, I knew I had to read it. I found myself envious of people who get to have her as their labor and delivery nurse when it’s time for their baby to be born, or even encounter her in any capacity when they are pregnant. I enjoyed reading the birth stories she shared, and I truly appreciated her tone throughout the whole book. It’s not often that a book can make me laugh out loud and cry while reading and I genuinely did both multiple times while reading this book. I’m so appreciative of her dedication to taking care of people and helping them through what they’re going through. “I knew immediately upon meeting them that they were the kind of nurses I could only dream of emulating one day- strong, smart, quick witted, and deeply caring.” Never having met her, but reading this book, I’d say Jen encompasses all of these qualities.
This book is a must read if you’re expecting, planning on being pregnant, or already have kids. 10/10
This book felt like a gentle conversation with a great friend. I absolutely love seeing Jen Hamilton’s videos pop up on my feed on social media. When I saw she wrote a book, I knew I had to read it. I found myself envious of people who get to have her as their labor and delivery nurse when it’s time for their baby to be born, or even encounter her in any capacity when they are pregnant. I enjoyed reading the birth stories she shared, and I truly appreciated her tone throughout the whole book. It’s not often that a book can make me laugh out loud and cry while reading and I genuinely did both multiple times while reading this book. I’m so appreciative of her dedication to taking care of people and helping them through what they’re going through. “I knew immediately upon meeting them that they were the kind of nurses I could only dream of emulating one day- strong, smart, quick witted, and deeply caring.” Never having met her, but reading this book, I’d say Jen encompasses all of these qualities.
This book is a must read if you’re expecting, planning on being pregnant, or already have kids. 10/10
May 10, 2026
Jen Hamilton is a wealth of knowledge and care who uses humour and heart to bring you into the world of labour and delivery in a hospital setting. If you have given birth, plan to give birth, or know anyone who has experienced birth, there is something for you in this book! The stories and suggestions can help you to process your own pregnancy/labour/birth, prepare for the kind of birth experience you hope to have, and have empathy for those you know who have gone through something similar. The book contains birth stories that focus on different "vibes" that you may want to consider as you prepare for your own birth experience, as well as a helpful breakdown of various scenarios and procedures that you may encounter during labour. Jen is hilarious and honest and kind, and I love the way that she honours all kinds of pregnancy and birth stories.
"Grief is just love without a place to go and sometimes pouring that love into helping others going through the same thing can elicit healing."
-Jen Hamilton, Birth Vibes (epilogue)
I cannot recommend this book enough; as a bonus, Jen's audio book narration is fantastic. Go read it!
"Grief is just love without a place to go and sometimes pouring that love into helping others going through the same thing can elicit healing."
-Jen Hamilton, Birth Vibes (epilogue)
I cannot recommend this book enough; as a bonus, Jen's audio book narration is fantastic. Go read it!
April 5, 2026
This book was fantastic. It was informative, had humor, included a lot of raw emotions, situations that can happen, and overall calming. I would recommend this book to anyone who is even curious about what happens or what CAN happen during birth. I am such a visual person, this was really helpful for me to understand what may or may not happen during my upcoming birth. Not to mention I could visualize Jen telling me all these things as if I was watching one of her tiktoks :). If you asked me a year ago if I was ready to give birth I’d say hellll no; but now I’m so ready to get it over with-this book confirmed a lot of feelings I was having & also helped me see how others might view their birthing experience. It’s a lot of information but it is broken down so well & easy to understand it has made me feel more confident and even more ready for my baby’s arrival. 10/10 for anyone who wants easy, but informative information on how birth in hospitals can go. Once my physical copy comes in & u wanna borrow it lmk :)
April 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“It’s okay to be scared, because I’m not.”
This book felt like chatting with a big sister. Jen manages to always find the correct balance between information and humor. As a second time mom, there were some things I was familiar with, but also plenty that I was able to learn as well.
I used Jen’s birth vibes to think about what I want my labor to look like this time around and feel empowered to make informed decisions should things change. I also appreciate that Jen does not shy away from the hard things - from systemic racism to stillbirth, she treats every topic with grace and her patient in mind.
I honestly think that every expecting mama (and their support person) should read this book. Thanks, Jen, for imparting your expertise!
“It’s okay to be scared, because I’m not.”
This book felt like chatting with a big sister. Jen manages to always find the correct balance between information and humor. As a second time mom, there were some things I was familiar with, but also plenty that I was able to learn as well.
I used Jen’s birth vibes to think about what I want my labor to look like this time around and feel empowered to make informed decisions should things change. I also appreciate that Jen does not shy away from the hard things - from systemic racism to stillbirth, she treats every topic with grace and her patient in mind.
I honestly think that every expecting mama (and their support person) should read this book. Thanks, Jen, for imparting your expertise!
April 19, 2026
finishing this book off after giving birth as things progressed quicker than intended for reading purposes but that does not change the impact of this read.
jen hamilton is so brilliant and compassionate and is a true gold standard for labor and delivery nurses. I was so lucky to have my team of nurses had the same ethos and passion that jen does and it was life changing for such a scary experience.
speaking of scary experience, jen does a wonderful job of being able to walk you through and help you prepare for every possible scenario during labor and after, walking you through patient stories and how to implement what you just read about into your birth experience.
11/10 recommend this book and will be buying it for ever future first time mom that I know
jen hamilton is so brilliant and compassionate and is a true gold standard for labor and delivery nurses. I was so lucky to have my team of nurses had the same ethos and passion that jen does and it was life changing for such a scary experience.
speaking of scary experience, jen does a wonderful job of being able to walk you through and help you prepare for every possible scenario during labor and after, walking you through patient stories and how to implement what you just read about into your birth experience.
11/10 recommend this book and will be buying it for ever future first time mom that I know
March 16, 2026
This book was the perfect mix of lightheartedness and honesty about pregnancy and birthing. Jen Hamilton lays out facts on many topics without pushing readers one way or another. I love all the information she provides (with sources) without bias. Found this super helpful and informative as a ftm preparing to give birth!
April 20, 2026
Fortunate enough to get early access to this since it comes out officially after my due date. Jen’s words made me feel so much more informed, empowered, and ready for labor and delivery of our first child.
Read
May 8, 2026This was great. I’d recommend for anyone who is curious about birth or is pregnant. Most of this was not new information, but I ended this book thinking that Jen Hamilton is a GEM and I’d love to be friends with her
May 10, 2026
Hilarious and so relatable
Hilarious and relatable, loved it so much I bought another copy for my future daughter-in-law 🫶 every woman deserves an empowered birth with an L&D team that loves their work the way this author does
Hilarious and relatable, loved it so much I bought another copy for my future daughter-in-law 🫶 every woman deserves an empowered birth with an L&D team that loves their work the way this author does
May 10, 2026
Jen Hamilton is such a light. Helped me not only gain some preparation for my own self, but have better understanding and empathy for all those dear to me who experience the highs and lows of pregnancy and the path to motherhood
April 9, 2026
I gave birth in early April and was grateful to be part of the early release crew!! The book really put me at ease as a first time Mom. I went into my labor knowing trucks to advocate for myself and to also have fun. My favorite line that came to mind while I was pushing was “I also intimately know that moment in labor when things get so real that you’d let the entire kitchen staff of your local Chili’s have a front row seat to your business like it’s the Super Bowl halftime show.” I was ready for babies arrival!! 😂
Throughout reading the book I heard Jen’s voice in my head reading it. She did a fantastic job of proving trigger warnings and letting you digest the information in an easy way. Thank you for this amazing resource!!
Throughout reading the book I heard Jen’s voice in my head reading it. She did a fantastic job of proving trigger warnings and letting you digest the information in an easy way. Thank you for this amazing resource!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Jen for this incredible book! I was able to get an advanced copy and I’m so glad since I ended up induced at 37 weeks and would not have made it to my due date. This was my second pregnancy and birth and I felt so much more informed going in this time.
This book still encapsulates the witticism and comedy that is Jen to a T. It felt like she was telling these stories to my face. It was very informative without feeling like a textbook or another pregnancy website.
I felt empowered to ask questions during the induction that I didn’t my first time. I understood so much more of what was going on when there were some minor complications and when I almost ended up getting a c section. I was able to discuss the interventions they were thinking about and having my opinion be heard. I was so comfortable with my nurse and the rapport we ended up with it really felt like a team effort. She listened to my concerns from my last induction and we were able to come up with a plan I was comfortable with and this book really helped empower me to make those choices and communicate with my care team in the best way.
I would recommend this book to anyone expecting and even their partners or support people!
This book still encapsulates the witticism and comedy that is Jen to a T. It felt like she was telling these stories to my face. It was very informative without feeling like a textbook or another pregnancy website.
I felt empowered to ask questions during the induction that I didn’t my first time. I understood so much more of what was going on when there were some minor complications and when I almost ended up getting a c section. I was able to discuss the interventions they were thinking about and having my opinion be heard. I was so comfortable with my nurse and the rapport we ended up with it really felt like a team effort. She listened to my concerns from my last induction and we were able to come up with a plan I was comfortable with and this book really helped empower me to make those choices and communicate with my care team in the best way.
I would recommend this book to anyone expecting and even their partners or support people!
May 9, 2026
Practical, at times laugh out loud funny, and patient-centered. Worth the read for anyone expecting or healthcare workers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Let me preface this by saying I am no longer the target audience for this book. I am 3 weeks postpartum with my (🤞) last baby. So when this book was offered as an ARC for currently pregnant people, I was just slightly outside of that window (sorry Jen! 🫣).
That being said, I think having JUST gone through birth in a hospital with complications (and delivery by my RN to boot!), I am in a special place to review this book, since everything is so fresh on my mind.
The information contained here is very thorough. Jen presents it all in a fun way that is easy to read and understand. She discusses how to own your birth story, how to communicate your wishes with medical staff, and goes over what you can expect to happen from routine vaginal births to emergency c-sections. She also discusses possible complications so that you can be more prepared for anything.
I really enjoyed the birth stories she shared. Her bubbly and caring personality certainly shone through the page.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who will be delivering, especially for hospital births. As someone who is "semi-crunchy" (birthed in hospital but declined epidural/pain management), I think the information here would have been very helpful for me prior to birth, especially as a first time mom.
Thanks so much for allowing me to read this early copy!
That being said, I think having JUST gone through birth in a hospital with complications (and delivery by my RN to boot!), I am in a special place to review this book, since everything is so fresh on my mind.
The information contained here is very thorough. Jen presents it all in a fun way that is easy to read and understand. She discusses how to own your birth story, how to communicate your wishes with medical staff, and goes over what you can expect to happen from routine vaginal births to emergency c-sections. She also discusses possible complications so that you can be more prepared for anything.
I really enjoyed the birth stories she shared. Her bubbly and caring personality certainly shone through the page.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who will be delivering, especially for hospital births. As someone who is "semi-crunchy" (birthed in hospital but declined epidural/pain management), I think the information here would have been very helpful for me prior to birth, especially as a first time mom.
Thanks so much for allowing me to read this early copy!
May 6, 2026
I would have loved to have read this before having any of my babies. I have learned much over the years and I can thank many mamas for helping me really grow into myself- but not everyone has that village and reading this book feels like becoming a part of a very knowledgeable village 💕
April 23, 2026
This is going to help so many people ❤️❤️❤️
March 6, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Jen’s book since I’m due before her official release date. A HUGE thank you to her publishers for allowing us to read her book in advance 🥹
I so very wish I had the information in this book as a first time mom - having a birth that didn’t go at all how I imagined, I would have understood some of the interventions offered to me better and most importantly WHY they were.
I feel so much more prepared this time around for a birth experience that I hope will be much smoother and more how I envisioned the first to go.
I so very wish I had the information in this book as a first time mom - having a birth that didn’t go at all how I imagined, I would have understood some of the interventions offered to me better and most importantly WHY they were.
I feel so much more prepared this time around for a birth experience that I hope will be much smoother and more how I envisioned the first to go.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review from an advanced copy received from NetGalley.
I am incredibly honored that I was able to read this book before my beautiful baby arrives. Ironically, my due date is when this book is set to publish. THANK YOU to Jen and her publishers for helping her pregnant besties out with advanced copies!!
This book is filled with stories and expertise that helped calm the anxiety I've felt about birth. It's such a great resource for what to reasonably expect with sprinkles of what can happen if things get dicey. I hope this book helps others as it's helped me.
I laughed, cried, sent many WAIT WTF THIS HAPPENS texts to my mom / friends, and overall just enjoyed the ride that is this book.
I am incredibly honored that I was able to read this book before my beautiful baby arrives. Ironically, my due date is when this book is set to publish. THANK YOU to Jen and her publishers for helping her pregnant besties out with advanced copies!!
This book is filled with stories and expertise that helped calm the anxiety I've felt about birth. It's such a great resource for what to reasonably expect with sprinkles of what can happen if things get dicey. I hope this book helps others as it's helped me.
I laughed, cried, sent many WAIT WTF THIS HAPPENS texts to my mom / friends, and overall just enjoyed the ride that is this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews