This is a beautiful birth story. Carolyn welcomes back RN and doula Jennifer from the previous episode and her client Ashley to tell the story of the birth of Ashley’s son, Colton. She talks about the benefits she experienced from practicing hypnobirthing techniques and remaining calm throughout the process.

How is being a nurse different from being a doula? Carolyn and her guest Jennifer discuss their transitions from being a Registered Nurse during labor and delivery to serving as a doula. Jennifer also explains what she calls the “sales pitch” to women in labor.

Did you know you may have a glass of wine and not have to “pump and dump?” Learn why breastfeeding is so important as Carolyn talks once again with lactation consultant and childbirth educator Linda Smith as they examine evidence-based breastfeeding practices and also debunk some breastfeeding myths.

As the amount of technology and interventions used in pregnancy and birth have increased, at the same time, breastfeeding rates have decreased. Carolyn welcomes back lactation consultant and childbirth educator Linda Smith to discuss the science of breastfeeding and human lactation.

In this episode, Carolyn speaks with educator, writer, doula, and mom of 5, Bethany Dykman, about home birth. (Yes, she had all 5 of her children at home!) They answer questions surrounding the home birth experience and compare and contrast the hospital-based biomedical model of childbirth and home birth.

After delivery, immediate and sustained skin-to-skin is important!  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, “Delay weighing, measuring, bathing, needle-sticks and eye prophylaxis until after the first feeding is completed.” Carolyn speaks again with childbirth educator and pregnancy consultant Linda Smith to review all the benefits of skin to skin contact, not only for the mother and baby, but for the father/partner and baby, too.

How will you know when to go to birthing center? Do you need to time your contractions? In this episode Carolyn talks again to April Kline, founder of Birth With Spirit Doulas, about trusting your body to experience the amazing journey of labor and embracing each unique stage with its own lessons and rewards.