My Doula's Podcast

Join us for a more laid back episode wrapping up the first year of My Doula's podcast! We discuss some of the professionals we have interviewed, some embarassing moments, and some exciting things to come! We have loved this first year of the podcast and are looking forward to another great year of birth stories, expert interviews, and doula discussions. Thank you to all of you who have shared your stories and expertise with us!

It's taken me long enough, but I've finally shared my own birth story. Join us as we discuss my experience being induced and having a fast and furious 4 hour labor.

Join us as we speak with David Arrell, Author of Welcome to Fatherhood: The Modern Man's Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood.

We spoke with David about the Dad/Partner experience during the birth journey. David took his own experiences, reflected on those, and wrote the book that he needed during that time. David shares practical tips and tricks for connection and specific ways you can be a helpful and supportive partner during pregnancy, postpartum, and everything in-between.

Website: www.welcometofatherhood.com

A few days before Maddie's due date, her doula let her know that she was ill. She made sure she was set up with a backup doula and they crossed their fingers that labor wouldn't start until she was better. Maddie started having contractions on Sunday afternoon, the day before her estimated due date. They headed into the hospital that evening to avoid driving in snowy conditions later on. In triage, Maddie's blood pressure was elevated and they inserted a catheter to get a urine sample. She consented to a cervical check, however she did not want to know the dilation of her cervix. Maddie was admitted and labored through the night and the following day. She labored in the tub, changing positions, walked the halls of the hospital, and tried anything possible to relieve her back labor.

On Monday afternoon Maddie decided to get an epidural and tried to rest. She continued changing positions to help her baby change positions. Once she was ready to push, Maddie tried several different positions to see what worked best. Her midwife let Maddie know that she was starting to tear a bit and suggested an episiotomy. Maddie agreed to the episiotomy and early Tuesday morning, Maddie gave birth to a baby girl! Maddie's baby was posterior, forehead presenting, and had a double nuchal cord! Baby Norah had quite the large bump on her forehead, but that quickly resolved and she is doing wonderfully at 4 weeks old.

Joy is a Doula, Childbirth Educator, Pregnancy Health coach, Lactation counselor, a student midwife and a mother to 5! Join us as Joy shares the story of her 4th birth and fist homebirth experience. Joy also shares her experience of having her water break at 31 weeks, while she was supporting a laboring client.

Tune in as we discuss mental blocks in labor, the differences in laboring in a place of comfort, and Joy talks Emily through a mental block of her own!

Show Notes:
Joy Dean
Email: [email protected]
TikTok: @birthaddictdoula

Today on the podcast, we discuss the process of finding the right doula for yourself. We touch on some helpful questions to ask, things to keep in mind, and interviewing multiple doulas!

MomsBloom offers in-home practical and emotional support for families with newborns in Kent and Ottawa counties.

Join us as we chat with Carrie Kolehouse from MomsBloom. We discuss the postpartum period and how MomsBloom volunteers are helping families through the challenges of this time. We also discuss how to request a volunteer and how to become a volunteer yourself!

Show Notes:

MomsBloom.org

Pine Rest Mother-Baby Program: https://www.pinerest.org/services/mother-baby-program-postpartum-depression-treatment/

Spectrum Health Postpartum Support group: https://www.spectrumhealth.org/patient-care/womens-health/obstetrics/postpartum-depression-support

Maternal Welness program
https://maternalwellnessprogram.org/groups

Lindsey was 38 weeks pregnant with her second baby when her husband moved from Texas to Michigan. She stayed behind so she could stay with her midwife and give birth at the birth center. Listen in to hear about transferring to the hospital and the rest of her birth story!

Alicia went into her first birth experience without much preparation. She had a difficult labor involving a shoulder dystocia, an episiotomy, forceps and a vacuum. When she became pregnant with her second baby, Alicia decided she wanted to do more preparation this time. She worked with a birth educator to get her body and mind ready for another birth. Listen in to hear the story of Alicia's second baby being born 6 minutes after arriving at the hospital!

We also chat with Alicia about her attachment based sleep consulting business.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Jennifer Holshoe, CPM. Jennifer is a midwife in West Michigan. We sat down with Jenn to discuss homebirth midwifery and some of the common misconceptions surrounding homebirth. We touch on topics such as, how midwifery care differs from standard OB care, what the process of giving birth at home looks like, and what happens in the rare case that you need/want to transfer to the hospital.

Show Notes:
https://www.westmichiganmidwifery.com/

Books:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man's Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood. By  David Arrell