Ep. 26: Why Speaking Up During Pregnancy Can Feel So Hard - Especially for Millennial Moms W/ Immigrant Parents featuring Hehe Stewart, Evidence Based Doula, Childbirth Educator, Advocate
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The Pregnancy Advice Every Mom Needs to Hear From a Doula
What happens when you’re pregnant, but the way you were raised taught you to trust authority, listen to the doctor, and not ask too many questions? Or you simply aren't sure how to navigate the health system in this way?
For adults with immigrant parents, navigating pregnancy and the healthcare system can bring up so much more than just questions about birth.
It can bring up questions on how to manage fear, guilt, language barriers, cultural expectations and dynamics. And also just in general, how to do the “right” thing.
I’m joined by HeHe Stewart, childbirth educator, doula, advocate, and founder of The Birth Lounge, to talk about what it can actually look like to feel empowered during pregnancy and birth, especially when advocating for yourself doesn’t always come naturally, or wasn’t always welcomed.
We talk about the things you may not realize you’re allowed to ask for, how to navigate a healthcare system, what to do when you’re getting pushback, and how your partner, family, or support system can actually help you feel more confident instead of more overwhelmed.
We also talk about something I think applies far beyond pregnancy:
What happens when fear makes you look outside of yourself for the “right” answer?
Because sometimes, you don’t need more confidence first. You need more information.
And once you have that information, you may find that you’re much more capable of making decisions, asking questions, and trusting yourself than you thought.
If you’re pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or simply someone who has struggled with speaking up, or asking for more from people you see as authority figures (or people in general!), there’s so much in this conversation for you.
Listen to the full episode and let me know what resonates with you.
Featured Guest:
Hehe Stewart, M.S | Evidence Based Doula, Childbirth Educator, Advocate
Website: thebirthlounge.com
Email: [email protected]
All platforms: @tranquilitybyhehe
Podcast: The Birth Lounge Podcast by Hehe Stewart
More about Hehe Stewart:
HeHe Stewart is a childbirth educator, doula, and fierce advocate for informed, autonomous birth. As the founder of Tranquility by HeHe and creator of The Birth Lounge, she has spent over a decade helping families prepare for birth and postpartum with evidence-based education and real-world advocacy tools. Known for her no-nonsense, empowering approach, HeHe teaches parents how to confidently navigate the maternity system, reduce unnecessary interventions, and stay in control of their experience. She’s also the host of The Birth Lounge Podcast, where she brings honest conversations and expert insights to support more confident, supported families.
More From Allison Ly - Free Resources:
3 Free Easy-to-Use Scripts to Stop Saying 'Yes' Without Spiraling in Guilt
https://heyallisonly.myflodesk.com/script
Stop Spiraling in Guilt Cheatsheet For Setting Boundaries: https://heyallisonly.myflodesk.com/cheatsheet
Get my weekly emails for actionable tips, tools, relatable stories for Adults with Immigrant Parents: https://heyallisonly.com/email
Episode Timeline:
1:42 - Explaining Your Job to Your Parents
2:10 - Why I Joined The Birth Lounge
6:48 - How Hehe Became a Doula
10:38 - Public knowledge vs Hospital Policy
14:33 - Why Our Medical System is Broken
23:00 - The Support System Pregnant Women Actually Need
30:26 - Advice for Male Partners
40:26 - Every Pregnant Woman Should Know This
45:06 - Hehe’s Favorite Tip Around Fear
Show notes and more at: https://heyallisonly.com/podcast/26
