Welcome back to another episode of Chatty Doulas! In today’s episode, we sit down with Sam Chapman, a birth and postpartum doula, placenta encapsulator, and the founder of Baby Lotus Doulas LLC.

Sam brings an incredibly unique, well-rounded perspective to the birth world. Having worked for years as a medical assistant in a major Denver OBGYN hospital department, she understands the inner workings of the clinical system—but she also knows exactly where the gaps lie when it comes to emotional and mental parental support.

In this raw and deeply vulnerable conversation, we dive into:

The Clinical vs. Holistic Perspective: How Sam uses her medical assistant background to act as an "interpreter" for families navigating complex medical terminology and hospital systems.

Deconstructing the C-Section Shame Cycle: Sam shares her personal experiences navigating both a "picture-perfect" teen vaginal birth and an emergency cesarean 11 years later. We have an honest, necessary conversation about whether the birth community unintentionally contributes to a stigma around cesareans, and how to normalize pivots during labor.

Trauma-Informed Care: Practical strategies for supporting clients carrying past birth or sexual trauma, including mental preparation, handling disassociation, and setting boundaries on "game day."

The Postpartum Reality Check: A transparent look at postpartum depression, identity shifts (from a teen mom to a stay-at-home mom of three during COVID), and the critical importance of setting up operational support like meal trains and partner communication before you are "100 feet under."

Whether you are an expecting parent, a fellow birth worker, or just looking for real, unfiltered stories about the strength of the birthing body and mind, this episode is packed with invaluable insight.

Website: www.babylotusdoulas.com

Instagram/Socials: @samchapman2019

In this incredibly special episode, our host Soly opens up about their personal journey into motherhood by sharing her raw, beautiful, and unfiltered birth story. Joining us is a very special guest—Soly's doula, Whitney.

Together, Soly and Whitney recap the physical and emotional highs and lows of labor, offering a unique dual perspective on the experience. They discuss the vital role of continuous labor support, how they navigated unexpected pivots during delivery, and the profound bond formed between a birthing parent and their care team. Whether you are expecting, a parent yourself, or simply love an inspiring birth journey, this episode offers an intimate look at the power of informed support and the strength of the birthing body.

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Cameron (they/them), a non-binary Baby and Me yoga teacher based in Denver, for a deep, vulnerable, and beautifully nuanced conversation about the queer pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.

Katie opens up about the realities of navigating a heavily gendered birth culture as a non-binary person, the power of letting go in the birth space, and the complex internal landscape of severe postpartum anxiety and matrescence. We also dive into actionable advice for birth workers looking to elevate their care from a standard "assembly line" to truly individualized, gender-affirming support.

Key Topics Discussed:

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Connect with Katie:

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Katrina Carrera, a perinatal psychologist and founder of Lotus Perinatal.

Inspired by her own mother's unacknowledged postpartum depression, Dr. Katrina filled the maternal mental health gaps in her clinical training to focus on "cycle breakers." We dive into what it really looks like to navigate the profound identity shifts of becoming a parent while intentionally healing generational trauma.

Real-World Cycle Breaking: The intense, beautiful work of re-parenting yourself while practicing radical self-compassion.

The Dual Nature of Identity Shifts: Embracing the unique postpartum experience where immense joy coexists with real grief for your past self.

Patrescence (Fatherhood) Matters: Spotting the actual biological and hormonal shifts fathers experience as they transition into parenthood.

How Partners Can Truly Hold Space: Shifting away from the pressure to fix problems and learning how to just sit together inside the emotional discomfort.

Connect with Dr. Katrina:

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Haley McNabb, a seasoned birth doula, doula trainer, and mom of two.

As birth workers, we are exposed to the ultimate highs of birth, but we are also front-row witnesses to secondary trauma and profound loss. Haley dives deep into what it truly means to hold these massive emotional waves without letting them swallow you whole.

In this episode, we chat about:

The Energetic Toll of Birth: Balancing the oxytocin-filled highs with the heavy somatic baggage of unreleased secondary trauma.

Micro-Rituals for the 3:00 AM Reset: Simple, intentional ways to shed a birth experience and return your nervous system to homeostasis before walking through your own front door.

Holding Space in Discomfort: How to anchor yourself in moments of crisis, eliminate empty reassurance, and "doula yourself" when the room turns sideways.

Connect with Haley:

Instagram: Follow her journey and training opportunities at @soulbabybirthing.

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Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Liz Foster of Love in Motion—a Denver-based doula, placenta encapsulator, and childbirth educator.

Liz opens up about her journey from a traumatic emergency C-section under general anesthesia to a triumphant, unmedicated VBAC. Now, she uses her experience to help other families debunk fears, navigate the medical system, and claim their own redemptive birth stories.

Debunking the VBAC Myth: Looking at the actual data behind uterine rupture (less than 1%) and why "once a C-section, always a C-section" is outdated.

Friendly vs. Tolerant Providers: How to spot the red flags in a provider's policy and why you have the absolute right to switch care teams at any point.

Redefining a "Good" Birth: Why even a repeat C-section can feel redemptive if it's a calm, respected choice with time to process, rather than a rushed emergency.

Connect with Liz: Find her VBAC handouts and natural induction tips at loveinmotion.net or on Instagram @lizfosterdoula.

Resources Mentioned: The VBAC Link, Evidence Based Birth, and ICAN.

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In this episode, Emily and Kristin—who is tuning in all the way from her travels in Chile!—sit down with Mitzi Kincade, a Denver-based postpartum doula, psychedelic breathwork facilitator, and practitioner of traditional Mexican postpartum healing.

Mitzi shares her raw, personal journey navigating severe postpartum depression, anxiety, and a multi-year loss of identity following a high-risk pregnancy and C-section. From hitting rock bottom to finding profound healing in community circles, Mitzi’s story is a beautiful testament to the fact that losing yourself once doesn't mean you're gone forever.

Quick Takeaways:

Connect with Mitzi:

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Welcome back to Chatty Doulas for Season Two! While Soly is away soaking up newborn snuggles, Emily and Kristin are kicking off the season with Alexi Neal—a holistic postpartum doula and trauma-informed somatic healer.

In this episode, we dive into how birth fundamentally changes us and why learning to listen to our bodies is the ultimate nervous system care. Alexi breaks down how to move away from transactional relationships with our physical selves, navigate the survival biology behind intrusive thoughts, and reject the isolation of modern "bounce-back" culture.

Quick Takeaways:

Connect with Alexi: Grab her free Somatic Reset Menu and Postpartum Planning Guide at soulfullsomatics.com, or find her on Facebook (Alexi Neal) for updates on her upcoming workshops for birth workers.

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In this episode, we’re talking about pushing. What this stage of labor looks like and what it can feel like. We unpack the myths, the pressure, the coaching, and how pushing can be powerful instead of rushed. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ll know what to do in that moment, this conversation is for you.

Active labor can feel powerful and overwhelming all at once. In this episode, we talk about coping strategies, partner support, and how to trust your body when the waves get stronger.