“Just give me the drugs!” We’ve all seen the scene: laboring woman, gripping the bed, yelling at everyone in sight. It’s played for laughs, but the reality is, labor is one of the most intense forms of pain the human body can experience. And for most of history, the options were… limited.  Up until the 1900s, labor pain management involved chloroform and even alcohol. 

Epidurals changed everything. Introduced in the early 20th century, they made it possible to relieve pain without putting a woman fully under. Today, about 70-75% of women in the U.S. opt for one. It works by delivering medication near the spinal cord, dulling pain while still allowing the mother to stay awake and aware. Within about 20 minutes, it can take the edge off one of life’s most physically demanding experiences.

And while the drugs are strong, they are of little risk to mother or baby, as very little is absorbed into the mother’s bloodstream. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks, particularly for high-risk pregnancies, premature births, and women with pre-existing conditions. Not to mention, epidurals are more than pain relief, they’re a critical health tool. They can also lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress during labor. They can lower the risks of complications by 35%; and for premature births, reduce the risk of severe maternal morbidity by 47%. They’ve become a life-saving tool, and this is particularly important for the U.S., which has the worst maternal and infant mortality rates of any high‑income nation. 

And yet, it still gets a bad rap. Some of it is cultural, like the idea that birth should be “natural” or endured without intervention. Others feel pressured by their doctor or hospital staff. Some of it is misinformation. But historically, childbirth hasn’t always looked the way it does in a hospital bed today. For centuries, women labored upright, walking, squatting, and supported by other women. Lying flat on your back? That became standard much later, largely because it was more convenient for doctors, not because it was better for women.

The irony is that we now know movement actually helps. Being upright during labor can shorten delivery time, reduce the need for interventions, and improve overall outcomes. Which brings us to what’s happening now.

In February of this year, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles introduced the country's first walking epidural, allowing women to actively participate in their labor. They can remain upright and mobile, rather than be confined to bed. While not a new technique (it’s been around since the ’90s), it has evolved. Similar to the classic epidural, it uses a lower dose of medication. It provides pain relief while preserving sensation and movement in the legs. Women can sit, stand, use the bathroom, and yes, even walk during childbirth on their own. It has been welcomed with open arms by many mothers, giving them agency and autonomy. 

While women won’t exactly be cruising the hallways, they can sit up and walk after a member of the medical staff has assessed the patient and ensured that she is capable of walking. After that, she is able to walk with assistance from her partner. This can greatly affect her labor. Research from the Cleveland Clinic suggests that it can help shorten delivery time and improve the overall experience. A Cochrane review also found that upright positions during labor can reduce the first stage by more than an hour and may lower the likelihood of medical interventions like a C-section or the usage of forceps or vacuum extraction. It also gives women greater dignity and control.

This isn’t cutting-edge everywhere. In countries like France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and many others, walking epidurals are already part of standard care. But in the U.S., even if they are given a lower dose epidural, women are rarely allowed to get up and walk to minimize the hospital’s legal liability from a fall. 

While this isn’t a medical breakthrough, it is a mindset shift. We’re moving away from a one-size-fits-all model of childbirth and toward something more personalized, more flexible, and more grounded in how women experience labor. The progress is in rethinking who gets to decide how birth happens.

Amina Hussein stands on business as a sports content strategist and Emmy-award-winning producer. Initially hoping to work in broadcasting, she discovered that working behind the scenes felt more rewarding. Over the course of her career, she has managed high-profile cast and production teams. When Amazon held exclusive rights to NFL games, she created Thursday Night Football from scratch, recruiting and securing talent. Prior to Amazon, she worked at ESPN for two decades as a senior coordinating producer on shows including NFL Live, Sunday NFL Countdown, and NBA Countdown.

What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?

“Never leave a stable job.” Sometimes you have to let go and bet on yourself in order to welcome new and impactful opportunities into your life. Timing is everything.

What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?

Insecurities are loud, confidence is quiet. That has always stayed with me.

What was a heartbeat moment for you in your career?

I have been a part of many incredible experiences at Amazon, including launching Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video, coverage around the National Women’s Soccer League, National Hockey League Monday in Canada, NASCAR, and now our first global sports property, the NBA. 

It has been one of my favorite projects building out our talent roster and helping shape the identity of Prime Video’s NBA coverage. Stepping into the role of Executive Producer of NBA on Prime was a “pinch me” moment. The feedback from our viewers has been overwhelmingly positive, and I couldn’t be prouder. Years ago, I left what I thought was my dream job, but I found an even more fulfilling opportunity that has proved to be increasingly rewarding.

Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey? What advice or lesson did you learn from them?

I want to shout out someone who has not only played an impactful part in my career, but who will continue to have a huge impact on sports journalism. We hired Taylor Rooks in 2022 as a feature reporter for Prime Video’s coverage of Thursday Night Football. 

Later, when we made the investment in the NBA, I knew she was the best person to host our studio show that is launching this fall, The NBA on Prime. Taylor is extremely hardworking, thoughtful, and curious. The sky’s the limit for her. I want to give her the flowers she deserves for taking on this challenge. It’s not easy, and she does it with the best energy. I do this work so that I can see more women who look like me represented in sports broadcasting, so whenever I’m able to shed light on their talent, I feel like I’ve succeeded.

Where have you caused some good trouble in your career?

The core values that anchor me are authenticity and increasing opportunities for diverse voices to grow across the sports ecosystem. I’d like to say I’m always causing a little bit of good trouble. 

I made the decision to hire NFL Legend Marshawn Lynch to host his own segment for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football. He didn’t come from traditional broadcasting and definitely didn’t fit the typical analyst mold, but that was exactly the point. We took the risk anyway. What we got back was something you can’t script. N’ Yo City became a viral hit, reaching millions every week. Marshawn brought a level of authenticity, curiosity, and cultural relevance that set us apart, and audiences showed up for it. He’s been with Thursday Night Football since day one, and he’s played a huge role in our growth year over year.

Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.

Vanessa Buenger of The Female Quotient weighs in:

Noticing a change in their behavior says everything about the kind of leader you are. The best leaders see their people as whole humans and not just executors of tasks. 

If something feels off, like a missed deadline or less engagement, check in. Schedule a quick 1:1 and come from a place of care, not assumption. Don’t create a story in your head about what’s going on. Ask open-ended questions and really listen.

If they share that they’re struggling, work on a solution together. Maybe that means adjusting workload, offering flexibility, or pointing them to resources like an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If they say they’re fine, respect that, but if performance continues to dip, follow up. Be clear that you’re there to support, not judge. Tell them that they do not have to disclose anything personal, but you are looking for insight into these changes in productivity and want to work together to address them. 

But the bigger insight is this: build a strong relationship with your team members so that if and when something happens, you have a good rapport. A few ways to do that:

Empathy is one of the greatest strengths a leader can have. You may never know what’s happening with your employees outside of work, but you can continue to cultivate a kind and understanding work environment.

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

Ah, lunch. Remember her? For a lot of people, she’s been replaced by “just one more email” and a sad desk salad. Over 40% of employees are eating while working, which means lunch isn’t a break, it’s just… multitasking with a fork. Somewhere along the way, stepping away started to feel like falling behind.

Then there’s the 30% who actually schedule lunch. These people aren’t just organized, they’re onto something. Protecting that time isn’t about the sandwich, it’s about boundaries. It’s a signal that rest and taking a break is part of the job.

When people stop taking breaks, it usually means something bigger is off: too much work, too many pings, or a culture that confuses “busy” with “effective.” The irony is that skipping lunch doesn’t make you more productive, it just makes you more tired, more distracted, and more likely to hit a wall by 3pm.

Research shows that stepping away, especially with other people, boosts creativity, improves focus, and yes, makes you better at your job. Your brain works better when it’s not chained to your inbox. So take the lunch, sit outside, and be a lady who lunches. Just maybe keep the martini for after hours. 🍸

Now walk it out, now walk it out 🎶

Xo,

The FQ

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