Keeping Your Power® with Traci Doula

EPISODE 4: When the OB Becomes the Patient — Dr. Janelle De Jesus on Autonomy, Fear, and Trust

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Janelle De Jesus, a practicing OB who opened up about what changed for her when she became the patient.

We talked about:

Janelle shared what it was like to realize that even as a doctor, she didn’t always feel heard. That’s when her perspective changed—from checking boxes to slowing down, listening better, and building care that prioritizes the person, not just the protocol.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered why OB care feels rushed, why some providers resist questions, or what real collaborative care could look like. It’s not always easy to hold space for both sides, but this episode gets real about why it matters.

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EPISODE 3: Loss, Intuition, and Advocacy — Cora’s Story

In this episode, I sat down with Cora, a courageous mother who opened up about losing her son at 37 weeks pregnant. Her story is heartbreaking, but also deeply important, and I’m grateful she chose to share it with us.

We talked about:

The silence around third trimester loss

Why “kick counts” matter and how education is lacking

Losing trust in the system, and how to reclaim your voice

What true advocacy and support look like after trauma

Cora shared how her loss shaped her next birth experience and how she rebuilt trust by learning to ask questions, listen to her intuition, and find care that truly respected her.

This episode isn’t just about loss, it’s about resilience, healing, and using hard experiences to help others feel less alone. If you take one thing away from this: always trust your gut, always ask questions, and always get checked out.

Resources mentioned:

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EPISODE 2: When Birth Plans Break and Power is Rebuilt, India & Dallas’ Story

In this episode, I sat down with India and Dallas, two incredible parents who’ve walked through the fire when it comes to birth, loss, and resilience. Their story includes multiple miscarriages, a traumatic hospital birth, and eventually, a powerful home birth where everything shifted.

We talked about:

Losing your voice in the hospital system

Making hard pivots when plans fall apart

How midwifery isn’t always enough without the right support

What real birth advocacy looks like, for moms and partners

Why their home birth became a turning point in reclaiming autonomy

They opened up about the fear, the grief, the faith, and what it means to find safety in the birth space after trauma. Through every hard chapter, they kept digging for answers—and didn’t stop until they found the care they deserved.

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a friend.

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EPISODE 1: What It Really Means to Keep Your Power

Hey y’all, I’m so glad you’re here. In this very first episode, I’m sitting down to share what Keeping Your Power® really means to me, and why I felt called to start this podcast.

After 26 years in birth work, parenting four kids, becoming a Mimi, and walking through some of the hardest seasons of my life, divorce, estrangement, caring for aging parents, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about being strong all the time. It’s about knowing who you are, choosing your values, and showing up even when it’s messy.

In this episode, I’m getting real about:

What I lost (and found) in my own story

How self-awareness changed everything

Why power has nothing to do with control

What it looks like to build your voice from the inside out

If you’ve ever felt like you were just surviving, or trying to fake strength while falling apart, I see you. This space is for you. Let’s walk this road together.

If something in this episode hit home, share it with a friend. And if you're ready to go deeper, book a session with me at tracidoula.com

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