For years, we've known this condition as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), but our understanding has evolved. Many experts now believe the name doesn't accurately describe what's happening in the body. That's why you'll increasingly hear the term PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovary Syndrome), reflecting that this condition affects far more than just the ovaries.

In this episode, Dr. Sierra Dee, an experienced acupuncturist, joins host Ciarra Morgan to discuss why this shift in terminology matters, what PMOS really is, how it affects fertility and overall health, and the lifestyle and treatment approaches that can help women feel their best.

In this episode we discuss:

Why some experts are transitioning from PCOS to PMOS

The role of insulin resistance and metabolism

Why many women don't actually have ovarian cysts

Fertility and pregnancy considerations

Nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management

How acupuncture may support hormone balance and ovulation

Common myths surrounding PMOS

Practical first steps after diagnosis

Whether you've recently been diagnosed, have been living with PCOS for years, or simply want to better understand women's hormonal health, this episode is packed with practical, evidence-informed information.

If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation.

Dr. Dee is a board-certified Chinese herbalist, and acupuncturist. Sierra is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Texas as well as a toddler mom. Seeking a more individualized approach to healing, Sierra made the decision to move to Austin, Texas and enrolled in the Masters program at AOMA, specializing in Chinese herbal medicine. This marked a significant shift in Sierra’s career path, as their previous background was in sociology, psychology, and fitness. Sierra also completed doctoral work at Pacific College of Health and Sciences for a doctorate degree in acupuncture with Chinese medicine specialization. Sierra also holds a certificate in functional medicine to better serve patients. 

While Chinese medicine encompasses a wide range of conditions, Sierra’s focus includes prenatal, fertility, autoimmune disorders, emotional stress, and sports injuries. 

Website: http://Deeacupuncture.com

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

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The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

Postpartum recovery is about so much more than the six-week checkup.

In this episode of the Birth, Baby! Podcast, host Ciarra Morgan sits down with pelvic floor physical therapist Jensine Chavez to discuss postpartum healing, pelvic floor health, painful sex after baby, body connection, and rebuilding intimacy after childbirth.

We talk about the physical and emotional changes many women experience postpartum, why intimacy can feel different after having a baby, and how women can begin feeling strong, confident, and connected in their bodies again.

Whether you are newly postpartum or years into motherhood, this episode offers compassionate, evidence-based education about healing after birth and support for women navigating pelvic floor symptoms, body image struggles, and intimacy changes.

Dr. Jensine Chavez is the founder of Shine Through Strength Physical Therapy, a pelvic floor and orthopedic practice in Georgetown, Texas. She helps women Move With Confidence through every stage of life from pregnancy and postpartum to perimenopause and beyond.

Dr. Jensine specializes in treating pelvic floor concerns such as leakage, pain with intimacy, constipation, and pelvic heaviness, as well as orthopedic conditions including back, hip, knee, and shoulder pain. Through her signature method, The Confidence Pathway, she addresses the root cause by treating the whole body, not just symptoms, helping women build strength, restore confidence, and return to exercise, daily activities, and the things they love without pain, leakage, or fear.

Pelvic floor recovery after pregnancy and birth

Why intimacy changes postpartum

Painful sex after baby

Emotional healing and body connection

Rebuilding confidence postpartum

Supporting postpartum relationships and communication

How women can feel strong and connected in their bodies again

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

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The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

In this episode, Carly Pearson shares her deeply personal second birth story, highlighting the emotional and physical challenges she faced, from battling severe hyperemesis to navigating labor that was much longer than she anticipated. Her journey offers insight into the realities of pregnancy and birth, especially as an experienced doula and mother.

Carly discusses her pregnancy with PCOS and the unexpected severe nausea that lasted all pregnancy

The impact of political climate and insurance changes on her birth choices

Her decision to proceed with unmedicated, low-intervention birth at a hospital instead of a birth center

The emotional roller coaster of labor, including early prep, false alarms, and rapid progress

Unique challenges faced during her labor, from high blood pressure to breaking her waters

The surprise breech presentation and rotating back to head down

Postpartum recovery, mood changes, and postpartum health issues

The importance of adjusting birth expectations based on previous experiences

Carley Pearson is a DONA-certified birth doula, lifestyle photographer, and newborn care educator based in Austin, Texas. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from The University of Texas at Austin and a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health from The University of Texas' School of Public Health. Carley is passionate about educating and empowering families from preconception through postpartum while documenting the beauty, connection, and beautifully chaotic moments of early parenthood through photography. She believes every family deserves compassionate support and meaningful images that preserve this fleeting season of life.

When she's not attending births, teaching newborn care, or behind the camera, you'll likely find her chasing her two kids, laughing with her sweet husband, swimming at Deep Eddy, fueling up at Juiceland, or slowly convincing herself that renovating their North Shoal Creek fixer-upper is a reasonable pastime.

Website: www.carleyephotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carleyephotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carleyephotography/

Offer for listeners: 10% off a single photography package for listening to this episode; mention promo code BirthBaby!

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

Perimenopause can begin years before menopause, yet many women are never taught what to expect. From anxiety and sleep struggles to weight changes, brain fog, fatigue, and mood swings, hormonal shifts during this stage can impact nearly every part of daily life.

In this episode, host Ciarra Morgan sits down with Amber Frauenholtz, a functional nutritionist, to discuss perimenopause hormones, common symptoms women experience, and the functional testing options that may help uncover root causes behind feeling “off.”

We discuss hormone testing, thyroid health, cortisol and stress, nutrition support, and practical ways women can support their bodies naturally during midlife.

If you’ve been wondering whether your symptoms are “just stress” or “just aging,” this conversation is packed with helpful information and validation.

What perimenopause actually is

Early signs of hormone shifts

Functional hormone testing options

DUTCH testing and thyroid panels

Cortisol and stress in midlife women

Sleep struggles and anxiety

Weight changes and metabolism

Blood sugar balance and nutrition support

How women can advocate for their health

Website: https://amberdawnwellness.com/

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

Sharp pulling pains in the belly, groin, or hips during pregnancy can feel alarming, especially for first-time parents.

In this episode of the Birth, Baby! Podcast, host Ciarra Morgan sits down with Dr. Katherine Melot, owner of BirthCo chiropractic, to discuss round ligament pain during pregnancy, what causes it, how to relieve discomfort, and when pregnant women should seek additional medical support.

We talk about the physical changes that happen during pregnancy, why simple movements can suddenly feel painful, and practical ways women can support their changing bodies throughout pregnancy.

Whether you are newly pregnant or well into your third trimester, this episode offers reassurance, education, and supportive guidance for navigating common pregnancy discomforts.

What round ligament pain is

Common symptoms of round ligament pain

Why round ligament pain happens during pregnancy

Pregnancy body changes and posture shifts

How to relieve round ligament pain

Stretches and movement support

Chiropractic care during pregnancy

When pain may require medical evaluation

Belly bands and supportive tools

Supporting comfort during pregnancy naturally

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

In this episode, we explore gestational diabetes, its causes, testing methods, and management strategies. Our expert guest Lily Nichols shares evidence-based insights to help expectant mothers understand and navigate this common condition.

Key Topics:

What is gestational diabetes and how it differs from type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Causes and risk factors of gestational diabetes

Timing and methods of testing for gestational diabetes

Impact of blood sugar control on pregnancy and baby health

Management strategies including diet, exercise, and medication

Potential birth complications related to gestational diabetes

Postpartum considerations and long-term health

The importance of individualized care and avoiding unnecessary interventions

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based nutrition. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. She is the founder of the Institute for Prenatal NutritionⓇ, co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, and the author of three books: Real Food for Fertility (co-authored with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack), Real Food for Pregnancy, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily’s bestselling books have helped hundreds of thousands of mamas (and babies!), are used in university-level maternal nutrition and midwifery courses and have even influenced prenatal nutrition policy internationally. She writes at https://lilynicholsrdn.com. When she steps away from writing, you can find her spending time with her husband and two children — most likely outside or in the kitchen.

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

Motherhood changes everything…including the mother herself.

In this episode, host Ciarra Morgan sits down with Chelsey Scaffidi, the author of The Mother Year, to discuss matrescence, the seasons of motherhood, and the profound identity shifts women experience when becoming mothers.

As both a mother and attorney, she shares honest insight into the emotional, mental, and relational transformation that often accompanies motherhood, yet is rarely talked about openly. We discuss the invisible labor of motherhood, career identity, the emotional weight many mothers carry, and why understanding matrescence can help women feel less alone in the transition.

This conversation is validating, thoughtful, and deeply encouraging for mothers in every stage of parenting.

What matrescence means

The identity shifts of motherhood

Emotional and mental changes after becoming a mother

The different seasons of motherhood

Career identity and motherhood

The invisible mental load mothers carry

Loneliness and overwhelm in motherhood

Why mothers often feel pressure to “bounce back”

How mothers can reconnect with themselves

Chelsey Scaffidi is an author, attorney, meditation teacher, and mother of two whose work explores the transformation women experience through motherhood.

After becoming a mother herself, Chelsey found that while there was endless information about caring for a baby, there was far less conversation about the profound changes happening within the mother. This led her to explore matrescence - the developmental, emotional, and neurological transition into motherhood - and ultimately inspired her internationally bestselling book, The Mother Year.

Drawing from hundreds of interviews and conversations with mothers, as well as research in neuroscience, psychology, and human development, Chelsey's work helps women better understand the identity shifts, challenges, and growth that often accompany motherhood. Her TEDx talk, Why Motherhood May Feel Like Middle School, further brought this conversation into the mainstream.

Through her writing, speaking, and gatherings, Chelsey creates spaces where women can feel seen in the complexity of motherhood and supported in the process of becoming.

She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two little boys. 

Purchase "The Mother Year": https://amzn.to/3T3M6RP

Listen to her Ted Talk! https://youtu.be/LebnkMp4XfA?is=qLFEZyaC5quusWJZ

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

In this episode, we explore how trauma and vicarious trauma can affect birth workers, including the signs of burnout, emotional overload, and unresolved triggers. Guest expert Lacey Fisher shares practical strategies for managing difficult birth experiences, setting healthy boundaries, practicing meaningful self-care, and protecting your mental health while working in high-stress birth environments.

TETRIS article from Psychology Today mentioned in the episode: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/202502/how-tetris-might-help-prevent-ptsd?msockid=0d72630fad2a6d2f1aa3743cacf56c58

Lacey Castilleja Fisher is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician and founded Open Heart Counseling of Austin PLLC, a small group practice in Austin, Texas. Lacey became passionate about working with parents that struggle with PMAD’s, specifically PTSD, after her own experience of becoming a mother and experiencing trauma after her newborn was unexpectedly admitted to the NICU. This led to Lacey learning as much as she could about perinatal trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, NICU trauma and fertility struggles. Lacey served as the Clinical Director for The Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas, now Nurtured Tx, from 2018-2023 and loves teaching other clinicians about reproductive mental health.

Website: 

https://openheartwebinars.podia.com/perinatal-mental-health-series

http://www.openheartcounselingatx.com/lacey-reproductive-mental-health-sandtray.html

FB and IG: @‌openheartcounselingofaustin

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but what if you had personalized, judgment-free support along the way?

In this episode, I’m joined by a parent coach and founder of a training company for parent coaches to break down what parenting coaching actually is (and what it’s not). We talk about how parent coaching differs from therapy, who benefits most from this type of support, and why more families are turning to coaches for real-life, practical guidance.

We also dive into the professional side: How someone becomes a parent coach, what training can look like, and who this career path might be a good fit for (especially for those already working with families, like doulas, educators, or healthcare professionals).

Whether you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed or someone curious about stepping into this field, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and insight into a growing area of support for families.

Connect with Kerri “Nan” Nichols:

SPECIAL OFFER! $250 off the Parent Coach Certification Course using COUPON CODE: EMPOWERED250 (Payment plans are available)

Kerri “Nan” Nachlas is the founder of The Parent Coach Certification Course and a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Certified Parent Coach, Certified Co-Parenting Specialist, and trained Newborn Care Specialist. She is the owner of Solutions with Nan, a thriving coaching and consulting practice where she supports families directly while also mentoring and guiding other professionals in the pediatric sleep and parent coaching space. Kerri currently serves as a board member for the International Pediatric Sleep Association and the Child Advisory Council, and she is an active member of the National Parenting Education Network along with several other child-focused organizations.

Kerri has been a featured speaker at the NPEN Annual Conference and Nannypalooza, has led workshops for the International Nanny Association and numerous parent groups, and has been a guest on multiple podcasts where she shares her expertise on parenting, sleep, and building a meaningful business.

Over the years, Kerri has supported more than 1700 families in finding better sleep, more joy, and a sense of calm within their homes. In 2024, she launched The Parent Coach Certification Course as a way to educate, mentor, and empower others to step into this work and support parents in a meaningful and impactful way. In 2025, she launched Nan’s Village, an app and continuing education platform designed for her clients, students, and any parent seeking guidance on sleep, behavior, and the day-to-day realities of raising children with confidence and clarity.

Kerri and her husband Michael live on Table Rock Lake following his retirement from medical practice. Together, they enjoy life surrounded by their four grown children, their spouses, their fourteen grandchildren, and their golden retriever, Buddy.

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly:

One of the most nuanced skills a doula can develop is knowing when to step in during labor, and when to simply hold space.

In this episode, host Ciarra Morgan sits down with k’mae martinez, a fellow birth doula, to discuss the balance between hands-on labor support and calm presence. Inspired by a recent conversation with a midwife who shared that some doulas may not intervene enough to help support labor progression or fetal positioning, we dive into the complex skill of reading the room, supporting physiology, and understanding when action may truly help.

We discuss labor positioning, emotional support, fetal positioning, collaboration with providers, and how doulas can continue refining their instincts and confidence over time.

Whether you’re a doula, birth worker, or expecting parent, this conversation offers a thoughtful look into the art of labor support.

In The Episode We Discuss: 

What “sit on your hands” means in doula work

Why holding space matters in labor

When doulas should become more hands-on

Fetal positioning and labor progression

Comfort measures that may help labor

Reading the labor room environment

Avoiding over-supporting or under-supporting

Working collaboratively with nurses and midwives

Skills newer doulas should focus on developing

About the Guest:

Website: http://BirthMagickATX.com

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:

Samantha Kelly: