Houston Moms in the Making

Wondering if a doula is worth it … especially if you already know you want an epidural?

In this episode of Houston Moms in the Making, host Meagan Clanahan sits down with Angie Graumenz, a labor doula and childbirth educator from The Motherhood Center. They talk about emotional support in the delivery room, what a labor doula actually does, and how first-time moms can choose the right doula for their birth.

Angie, a mom of four {including triplets!}, breaks down the physical, educational, and emotional support a doula offers, from counterpressure and position changes to helping you weigh the risks and benefits of interventions. She explains how the relationship builds through texts and calls during pregnancy and how she stays with you from labor until you’re settled after delivery. She also explains why many of her clients are planning epidurals or IV pain medication. Then she covers what to look for when hiring a doula {fit, no agenda, respect for hospital staff, and backup}, how a doula helps your birth partner support you, and how to create a birth plan with The Motherhood Center’s free interactive birth plan builder. Meagan, a twin mom, looks back on her own birth plan: a handwritten hospital printout that mostly said “a lot of drugs.”

The heart of it? Labor is full of unknowns, and it helps to have someone beside you saying “this is normal, you’re safe, and it’s okay to take your time.” And your mama gut gets a vote, too.

Build your free birth plan: https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/free-custom-birth-planner

In this episode:

0:00 Meet Angie Graumenz, labor doula and mom of four

2:53 What does a labor doula do? Physical, emotional, and educational support

3:45 How a doula supports you from pregnancy through delivery

4:39 Do you need a doula if you’re getting an epidural?

5:45 How to choose a doula: fit, goals, and backup

7:51 How doulas work with your doctor and hospital staff

8:50 How to make a birth plan with your doula

10:12 The Motherhood Center’s free interactive birth plan builder

11:08 How a doula helps your partner support you during labor

12:30 Why hearing “this is normal” matters during labor

13:18 Trusting your mom instincts during birth

Houston Moms in the Making is presented by our partners at The Motherhood Center, serving expecting and new moms across the greater Houston area.

The Motherhood Center: https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/More episodes: https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-in-the-making/

Houston Moms in the Making is an independent Houston Moms podcast and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Moms in the Making or momsinthemaking.com.

#HoustonMoms #Doula #BirthPlan #LaborAndDelivery #PregnancyTips #FirstTimeMom #HoustonTexas

@MotherhoodCenter

https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-in-the-making/

Nobody warns you that making friends as a grown-up is hard ... and then you add a newborn, an identity shift, and 2 a.m. feedings on top of it. In this episode of Houston Moms in the Making, host Meagan Clanahan sits down with Sonia Jimenez from The Motherhood Center to talk about why community matters more than all the parenting advice in the world.Sonia, executive assistant to Motherhood Center founder Gabriela and a seven-year veteran of the center, shares how she found her own mom community after her son was born including the brave Facebook post that led to neighborhood walking buddies. Meagan looks back on her twin mom days and the Chick-fil-A playdates that turned bump-group moms into lifelong friends. Together they get real about the "Windexed window" problem of only seeing other parents from a distance, why in-person connection beats scrolling for answers at 2 a.m., and the golden rule of parenting advice: take what works, leave what doesn't, and tweak as you go.Plus: everything The Motherhood Center offers Houston moms, from motherhood meetup groups to a free lactation room with AC and a baby scale — open seven days a week near West Alabama and Buffalo Speedway.In this episode:◉ Why community matters more than parenting advice◉ How to make mom friends as an adult◉ Finding mom groups in Houston {and beyond}◉ Bump groups, meetups, and postpartum support◉ The identity shift of becoming a mom◉ Handling unsolicited parenting advice: take what works, leave the rest◉ Motherhood Center resources for new and expecting Houston momsHouston Moms in the Making is presented by our partners at The Motherhood Center, serving expecting and new moms across the greater Houston area.#HoustonMoms #MomFriends #MomCommunity #NewMomLife #Motherhood #ParentingSupport #HoustonTexas

Why is asking for help one of the hardest parts of new motherhood? In this episode of Houston Moms in the Making, host Meagan Clanahan sits down with Sonia Jimenez from The Motherhood Center to talk about mom guilt, delegating, and how to build your postpartum support team ... before you're running on no sleep and sheer willpower.

Sonia, a postpartum doula, shares practical ways to start asking for help during pregnancy {yes, before baby arrives}, so accepting support feels natural instead of awkward. From lining up someone to walk the dogs those first two weeks, to letting a friend drop off dinner without writing a thank-you note, this conversation is full of real-world tips for new and expecting moms. Meagan also opens up about her own NICU journey with her twins ... and the moment her mom told her, "You didn't make it easy for us to help you."

The heart of it? The people who love you WANT to be part of your baby's story. Letting them in is a gift to them, too. And as Sonia reminds us: the dishes and the laundry will get done eventually ... you're in the midst of the story now, so soak it in.

In this episode:

◉ How to ask for help as a new mom without feeling guilty

◉ Building your postpartum support team during pregnancy

◉ Mom guilt and learning to delegate after baby

◉ Why accepting help is a gift to your friends and family

◉ NICU mom experience and letting go of control

◉ Postpartum support resources for Houston moms

◉ Newborn survival mode: what to let go of in the first weeks

Houston Moms in the Making is presented by our partners at The Motherhood Center, serving expecting and new moms across the greater Houston area.

#HoustonMoms #NewMomTips #MomGuilt #PostpartumSupport #AskingForHelp #NewbornLife #HoustonTexas

So much has changed in the world of new mom support and if it's been a minute since you had a baby {or you're expecting your first}, you might not even know what's out there. In this episode of Houston Moms in the Making, we sit down with Sonia Jimenez from The Motherhood Center in Houston to talk about the resources every expecting and new mom should know about.

Sonia is a postpartum doula and executive assistant to the founder of The Motherhood Center, and she's breaking down what postpartum doulas actually do: from overnight newborn care and breastfeeding support to helping with baby's first bath at home {and yes, even those tiny, terrifying baby nails}. We also get real about the breastfeeding journey: why it's a skill for both mom AND baby, what to do when breastfeeding isn't an option, and other beautiful ways to bond with your newborn, like babywearing and skin-to-skin contact.

Whether you're pregnant, planning to be, or deep in the newborn trenches, this conversation is full of practical postpartum planning tips ... including how to build your support list BEFORE baby arrives.

In this episode:

◉ Postpartum support resources for new moms in Houston

◉ What is a postpartum doula and what do they do?

◉ Breastfeeding support and lactation help

◉ Bonding with baby when breastfeeding isn't an option

◉ Skin-to-skin, babywearing, and newborn connection

◉ How to plan for postpartum before you give birth

◉ Prenatal massage, motherhood meetups, and postpartum therapy

The Motherhood Center serves families across the greater Houston area, from Conroe to Galveston. Learn more: https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/

Houston Moms in the Making is presented by our partners at The Motherhood Center, a podcast for Houston-area women who are expecting or thinking about growing their family.

🎧 Follow Houston Moms: https://houstonmom.com/

#HoustonMoms #PostpartumSupport #NewMom #PostpartumDoula #BreastfeedingSupport #PregnancyTips #NewbornCare #HoustonTexas

In our very first episode, host Meagan Clanahan sits down with Gabriela Gerhart, founder and CEO of the Motherhood Center, for a warm, honest conversation about what it really means to build your village in motherhood.

This podcast is for the mamas-to-be, the brand-new moms, the ones still dreaming about that first positive test and everyone in between. Each episode, we'll bring you trusted, expert-backed guidance to help cut through the noise of TikTok, Instagram, and the endless "what to expect" rabbit holes.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🤰🏼 The story behind The Motherhood Center — from one phone call to 26 years of serving Houston families {and now their grown babies!}

👶🏽 What exactly happens at The Motherhood Center {spoiler: pretty much everything except delivering the baby}

🧘🏻‍♀️ How prenatal yoga, massage, classes, and community come together under one roof

✨ Why we're leaning into the JOY of motherhood, not just the survival mode

🗺️ A sneak peek at the topics we'll be covering in upcoming episodes

Whether you're planning, expecting, or knee-deep in newborn life, consider this your invitation to pull up a chair. We're so glad you're here.

Houston Moms in the Making is produced by Houston Moms and presented by our friends at the Motherhood Center of Houston.

🎙️ We’ll drop new episodes every month, so subscribe so you don't miss one!

🔗 Learn more about the Motherhood Center: https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/

📲 Follow @MotherhoodCenter on Instagram

🔗 Visit us at HoustonMom.com 

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