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Episode 16: Maternal Mental Health Awareness
May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. This month we direct awareness and recognition to those affected by perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. When discussing maternal health, the conversation tends to focus on postpartum depression. However, mood disorders can happen well before the post-birth period. For some, depression and anxiety may begin during pregnancy. Those with a history of depression and anxiety before pregnancy are at an increased risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Approximately 20% of those who have given birth recently, or 1.3 million individuals each year, will suffer from a postpartum mood disorder, according to Postpartum Progress. In fact, postpartum anxiety may be more common than…
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Episode 12: Postpartum Planning
As you prepare for the birth of your baby, a lot of your focus is on creating a plan for labor and delivery. What is often overlooked is developing a plan for your recovery and transition into life with your new baby. Postpartum planning is the process of assessing your needs and resources during the days and weeks after birth. This process goes far beyond who will be responsible for doing the dishes or walking the dogs. This in-depth process can help growing families turn a time of exhaustion and confusion into a time of nurturing, bonding, and intentional recovery. From meal planning and housekeeping. Prepping your home to facilitate…
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Episode 10: Placenta Encapsulation – Location Matters
When it comes to placenta encapsulation, who you choose to process your placenta matters. The placenta is an organ. An organ that carries all of the biohazardous risks that any other organ or meat carries. How it is processed, and the location in which it happens is foundational to a safe process. When considering the encapsulation, you may picture a stainless steel location, like a commercial kitchen. But the reality is most individuals who perform encapsulation are doing so in their own homes. Typically their own kitchen or garage. While this can seem harmless on the surface, many factors can impact the quality of the process and the finished capsules.…
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Episode 9: Recovering from Traumatic Birth
TW: Discussions of trauma surrounding childbirth and neonatal loss. Trauma surrounding childbirth can come in many forms. Physical and emotional trauma is the most common, but the perception of a threat to oneself or the baby can also result in trauma. Childbirth is one of the great unknowns. How the birth of your baby may unfold is unpredictable for most pregnant individuals. Especially for those who desire a vaginal birth. Individuals who have experienced previous trauma are at an increased risk for trauma surrounding childbirth. Along with those who have existing anxiety or panic disorder. Trauma can result when labor doesn’t go to plan or expectations surrounding how labor and…
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Episode 7: Five Common Doula Myths
Ask 10 people about doulas, and you’ll likely hear at least one of the common doula myths among the responses. Doulas are like midwives. They are only for those who plan to have an unmedicated birth. Doulas hate hospitals and doctors. The possibilities are endless. While some of the myths may apply to some doulas because they had to start somewhere, right? There are far more doulas today that do not fit these common myths and stereotypes. In this episode, we address five of the most common doula myths: I have a supportive partner; I don’t need a doula. Doulas are the same as midwives. Doulas can’t support those who…
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Episode 4: When Parents and Grandparents Collide
Having a grandchild is often one of those peak moments in a grandparent’s life. There is typically a lot of excitement surrounding welcoming a new baby into the family. Some grandparents are anxious to jump in and get their hands dirty, and others prefer to give their support from afar. When grandparents are present and participate in the lives of their grandbabies, there are often points at which the grandparents and their own children will disagree on how a baby should be raised. This is a power dynamic that many growing families may not have experienced before. So how do you handle those disagreements or differences of opinions with your…
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Episode 2: Infant Feeding
As doulas and lactation professionals, we support client choice. The decision surrounding infant feeding is as individual and unique as you are. When choosing how to feed your baby, there are countless options. Breastfeeding, formula feeding, combination feeding, the list goes on and on. The decision that you will make will depend on many factors. Do you need to return to work? How much time off will you have before returning to work? Will you be a stay-at-home parent? No matter your choice when it comes to feeding your baby, there is often judgment and criticism. Yet as birth professionals, we recognize that the decision for how you will feed…
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Episode 1: Why Hire A Doula?
One of the most frequent questions we are asked is, “Why should I hire a doula?” Usually, our response is, “Do you want the short answer or the long one?” As labor and postpartum doulas, our goal is support. Supporting our clients through pregnancy, birth, and into the world of parenting your new baby. Some clients come to us seeking emotional support. Others want to know all the information and all the options that exist. Then we have clients looking for a warm and friendly person to help guide them through the process. A person focused on the emotional impact these transformative events bring. When choosing a doula, you’ll know…
