Could having a doula really change your birth and postpartum experience?
If you asked me this question before my conversation with today’s guest Gina Giordano, I would have been on the fence. However, after hearing Gina’s story and what being a doula means to her, I’ve become convinced that having a doula is a game changer for both birth and postpartum.
Being the oldest of five children, Gina always loved helping her mother take care of her younger siblings. This love for supporting others is what eventually led Gina to not only become a doula but to also co-found Doula Trainings International (DTI) where she trains doulas with her partner, Tara Brooke.
On today’s episode, Gina is sharing her personal motherhood journey, what it’s like to be a doula, and why she believes that unconditional support is key to having a positive experience.

Doulas, Support and Your Birth Experience with Gina Giordano

The place to come to connect, feel supported and get the latest education on your fertility, pregnancy and motherhood journey.

Kids & Family

The time has come to share a bittersweet goodbye friends.
After 4 years with Expectful I am moving on to new adventures.
And in closing this chapter I have decided to ask myself the last question I have asked all of our guest since the beginning of this podcast:
“Knowing what you know now, standing in the skin you’re in, if you could share one thing with everyone that’s listening, what would you say?”
I am grateful and honored beyond words. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

What I Know Now – A Heartfelt Goodbye with Anna Gannon

How can we make the transition back to work more supportive for new moms?
That challenge is something that today’s guest, Jackie Hodnichak, has been working to solve as a new mom and the Director of Operations and Community at Mettacool. Mettacool is a talent development program for women that addresses career stage-specific challenges through the lens of well-being. And one of the things they specialize in is coaching moms-to-be as they transition both into maternity leave and back to work.
On today’s episode Jackie shares her perspective-shifting postpartum story, talks about how her self-care routine has changed since becoming a mom, and digs into how motherhood has had a profound effect on her career path. 
 

Career, Self-Care, and Motherhood with Jackie Hodnichak

How does motherhood help us to reconnect with our inner child?
This week’s guest, Cat Seixas, invites us to explore that question as she shares her story of becoming a mother. 
On today’s episode, Cat shares a glimpse into her life on a farm in the mountains of Portugal where she and her partner have built a home for their family and where she gave birth to her daughter. 
 

Homesteading, Your Inner Child and Motherhood with Cat Seixas

How does birth change us?
This question has shaped this week’s guest, Nichole Joy’s path to becoming a doula and childbirth educator. Nichole is revolutionizing the way we do birth with her Digital Doula courses. Courses where she both supports her own clients, and trains other doulas to do the same as well.
On today’s episode, Nichole takes us through all three of her birth stories, sharing her journey from a scheduled c-section with her first child, all the way to an unplanned home birth with her third. She’ll also be speaking about the identity shift that occurs when we become mother’s, and how and why she decided to take her doula work online. 
 

Doulas, VBACs, and an Unplanned Home Birth with Nichole Joy

How can mothers overcome the depression and anxiety they feel during pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood? 
This question is something that today’s guest, Paige Bellenbaum has been exploring since her own experience with postpartum depression and anxiety when she gave birth to her child. Now, Paige is the Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center, a space in New York City which provides support and clinical treatment for new and expecting mothers experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).
On today’s episode, Paige walks us through her personal experience through postpartum depression, how she was able to get support, and how she is working to create a better system of support for mothers. And Paige is also sharing about the new meditation journey that she just cocreated with Expectful that is now live on the app – Navigating Postpartum Depression.
 

Doulas, Support and Your Birth Experience with Gina Giordano

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