Best friend, if you loved the birth scene in health class, chances are you’re a doula.

Today I’m joined by Doulas of Cincinnati doula, RN and midwifery student, Rachele Cafazo, as we share a candid conversation about our paths to doula work. While I’ve been working as a doula for nearly 15 years (with no plans to stop), Rachele began as a nursing student turned doula, turned L&D nurse, and now midwifery student. In today’s episode, Rachele and I discuss:

• Our individual journeys to doula work,

• Being a childless doula,

• Working for a doula agency,

• How being a doula informed Rachele’s nursing career,

• Being surprised by a love of postpartum doula work.

This episode is for you if you if you’re interested in the doula profession, and how it might serve you as your career or as a stepping stone on the way to a related field. Click Here To Listen!

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

September is NICU Awareness Month!

I’m so thankful that modern medicine is able to protect and care for the most fragile among us in ways that our mothers and grandmothers could have never imagined… but best friends, I would never wish a NICU stay on anyone. In today’s episode, I’m sharing:

• A little about my time in the NICU with our fourth baby, Crosby,

• Off the cuff: my best advice for surviving an unexpected NICU stay,

• Ways friends and family can help if their loved one has a baby in the NICU.

This episode is for you if you or someone you know and love has a baby in the NICU, or if you’re just interested in hearing more about Crosby’s time there after he was born. Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [1:55] What is the NICU?

• [3:12] My personal NICU story.

• [20:45] Normalizing staying in the NICU with your baby, if you’re able, even if discharged.

• [23:00] Benefits of skin to skin and how to do it in the NICU.

• [25:09] Advocating for your NICU baby.

• [33:00] Communicating goal for discharge and questions to ask during rounds.

• [33:43] Surviving the NICU — my best advice.

• [34:45] Protecting your mental health after a NICU stay.

• [38:00] How to help your friend or family member whose baby is in the NICU.

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

Even though I’ve been out of the training game for over a year now, I still get asked about becoming a doula all the time.

Best friends, I can't tell you how many folks I've seen dream of being a doula, finally register for and take a training, even complete the certification process and still haven't attended a birth. Don't be that doula! In today’s episode, I’m discussing:

• How to become a doula,

• Things to consider when choosing a training organization,

• Some common myths about who should and shouldn't be a doula,

• And even assigning your first bit of homework.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever considered becoming a doula! Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [2:15] Practical demands of being a birth doula.

• [3:24] Do THIS first.

• [3:40] How to choose a training organization.

• [8:38] Getting your first clients.

• [10:00] Common doula myths dispelled.

• [18:02] Homework: Ask yourself this.

“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

I get asked about laboring at home all the time. Today we’re discussing why you might want to, and when you absolutely should not.

Best friend, I may be biased (y’all know I had two on-purpose home births with my girls, June and Maggie), but going to the hospital in labor is low-key probably the worst part of having a baby. Not the hospital itself… but the logistics of getting there…The drive, going through triage, getting settled in your room… timing all of this just right is… hard. Especially when being sent home if you’re not far enough along is an option. In today’s episode, I’m discussing:

• The benefits of laboring at home throughout active labor

• Reasons why you should absolutely not labor at home

• Things to consider plus dos and don’ts for laboring at home

• When to head to the hospital if you want an epidural, and if you don’t (you’ll want to stay home longer if you’re planning to skip the epidural)

This episode is for you if you’re pregnant and working on your birth vision… how would you like your birthing day to unfold, in an ideal world? Does it include laboring at home? Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [4:22] Average length of labor for first time parents.

• [5:10] What does “laboring at home” mean?

• [6:35] When not to labor at home.

• [11:50] Benefits of laboring at home.

• [15:25] When to head to the hospital.

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

Did you know I am a survivor of severe postpartum depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder?

Best friend, I know what it feels like to feel “off” while pregnant or after baby comes. What I didn’t know was how good I would feel after finally choosing to start medication…. seven years later. In today’s episode, I’m getting real about:

• What led me to fill my first prescription.

• What side effects I personally experienced.

• If I would do it again, and

• Who to call if you are not feeling like yourself.

This episode is for you if you’re pregnant or postpartum and feel like something isn’t quite right, or if you’d just like to hear the experience one person (me) had with medication for postpartum mood disorders.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [2:40] My experiences with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

• [4:05] How I described postpartum depression when I was sick.

• [6:45] Postpartum rage

• [7:14] The day I decided to start medication.

• [8:30] How I feel now.

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

Is your baby ready for solids?

Depends on who you ask! From friends and family who want to share what worked for them, to a pediatrician who casually notes you can “start with cereal now,” and various social media posts from everyone else… it’s hard to know when is the right time for your baby. Best friend, I’ve got the answer. :) In this interview, I’m talking with JoEllen Noble, IBCLC and certified doula extraordinaire. JoEllen is a wealth of knowledge and she’s sharing it all with us today… Specifically,

• Sings your baby is ready for solids.

• What foods to start with.

• Baby led weaning or purees?

• Protecting the breastfeeding relationship.

• Tips for navigating other older nursling hurdles like teething/biting and distracted nursing.

   

This episode is for you if your baby is nearing 3 months or older, and you’re eager to start playing with solids. If this is you, or describes someone you know…send this episode their way!

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [6:15] What is an IBCLC?

• [9:00] Signs baby is ready for solids

• [10:55] Why rice cereal?

• [12:05] Do solids help with baby’s sleep?

• [14:03] Iron in breastmilk

• [16:40] What is Baby Led Weaning (BLW)?

• [23:00] What kind of nutrition from solids?

• [24:30] Solids + bonding

• [27:00] Protecting the breastfeeding relationship

• [29:10] Teething at the breast

• [31:25] Distracted nursing

Links mentioned in this episode:

Southern Ohio Birth Services Doulas of Cincinnati Little Spoon - $20 off your first order OLCA Find an IBCLC

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

Turns out, dribbling when you sneeze (or run or jump), uncomfortable sex, and even pelvic organ prolapse are not normal and just par for the course after baby.

If your algorithm is anything like mine, you’ve seen countless TikToks about the “mom squeeze,” your mom, your aunts and your grandmothers told you about bladder leaks, and even though I’m on a personal mission to co-opt Depends for postpartum bleeding… we know why they exist in the first place. It’s no wonder we’ve all been led to believe that bladder (even fecal) incontinence is normal after having one or more babies. Best friend, common does not mean normal. In this interview, I’m talking with Stacey Hendricks, PT, DPT, WCS. ← All those letters mean 1) she’s earned a doctorate degree — yes, y’all, she’s a Doctor*, and 2) she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to women’s health, particularly with regards to pregnancy, postpartum, and female pelvic health. Today, she’s enlightening us on:

• Who would benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.

• Why do so many of us pee when we sneeze?

• What is Diastasis Recti?

• What exercises are best post-baby (crunches or kegels)?

• What does pelvic floor physical therapy look like in practice?

   

This episode is for you have female anatomy (seriously… the pelvic floor weakens over time, with or without pelvic floor injury or extreme athletic activity), particularly if you’re trying to conceive, already pregnant, or postpartum… especially if you’re suffering from:

• hip, joint, or pelvic pain (pelvic girdle pain or symphysis pubic dysfunction)

• diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles) or abdominal weakness

• bladder leakage or prolapse

• difficulty emptying the bladder

• fecal incontinence

• painful penetration

If this is you, or describes someone you know…send this episode their way!

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [4:50] Common symptoms that necessitate pelvic floor PT

• [11:30] Why pelvic floor PT?

• [13:15] Vaginal birth or cesarean… does it make a difference?

• [16:20] All about diastasis recti

• [19:44] Most important thing to do post-baby

• [28:52] When should you start PT?

• [32:29] What to expect at your first consultation… from start to finish. Click Here To Listen!

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

There are tons of options when it comes to induction of labor. Choosing which method, or to induce at all, is easier with this super easy tool.

Best friend, I know how overwhelming late pregnancy can be. You’re ready to meet your baby, you’re uncomfortable, and your provider is offering a way to jump the line. Induction. But how do you know if induction is right for you? Would you believe there is a super simple tool to help you answer that very question? In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• What is induction of labor and why might people choose to do it?

• Various induction methods.

• What is a Bishop Score and what does it mean for induction success?

• Four ways the cervix changes in late pregnancy, giving us an indication of when labor might begin.

This episode is for you if you’re pregnant (especially if you’re in your third trimester), and would also be helpful for fellow birth workers who would like to share a valuable resource with your clients. Have a friend or family member mulling over the decision to induce? Send this episode their way!

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [3:45] Reasons for induction.

• [5:13] What is the Bishop Score?

• [5:30] Cervical changes (not just dilation!)

• [13:30] Most common induction method. Click Here To Listen!

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“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

ABCs are supposed to be easy, right? This whole sleeping babies Alone, on their Back, in their Crib sounds great in theory, but how in the heck does one get a newborn to actually do it?

Well, best friend, I’m here to tell you! I know they seem intimidating, but newborns are just tiny little humans who like the same things most fully grown humans do when it comes to sleep. I’ve been helping babies learn to sleep for over a decade and I’ve yet to find one who doesn’t respond well to the things we’ll discuss in this super quick, straight-to-the-point BONUS episode. You’ll learn:

• How to create a sleep environment your baby will love. 😴

• Step-by-step instructions how to put a baby down for sleep (and actually walk away!).

• My favorite products/tools for encouraging restful sleep for baby (and you!).

This BONUS episode was recorded with exhausted parents of brand new babies in mind, but it’ll serve you well if you’re pregnant (seriously, take notes) or the parents of an older baby, too (just have to remove the swaddle). Have a friend or family member struggling with sleep? Send this episode their way, or hop in the car and listen on your way over to lend them a helping hand.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [2:27] Adjusted expectations about newborn sleep.

• [7:00] Which swaddle to buy?

• [10:39] Do this every sleep session (even daytime).

• [10:53] Most common mistake new parents make with newborn sleep.

• [12:15] How to put a sleepy baby down (so they’ll stay down). Click Here To Listen!

“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”

If you’ve been pregnant in the last decade, you’ve heard about birth plans. And if you’re pregnant right now… I’m willing to bet you’re not all that excited about the prospect of drafting one.

Friends, I’m here to tell y’all…birth plans have been seriously misunderstood. From the nurse I once met who refused to take my client’s birth plan because it was “bad juju,” to the student in my childbirth education class who fully intended to blow her plan up into a poster sized piece of armor… folks are missing the point.

Birth plans are a super functional tool that, if used properly, can help you discover your specific goals for birth, open the door for conversations with your partner and care team, and adjust the focus to what’s really important on your birthing day. AND they can actually be fun to write!

In this episode, I’m sharing all the details about how to draft a birth plan that effectively communicates your wishes, without alienating your partner or care team. You’ll learn:

• Why the planning process is so helpful, even if you have no intention of bringing it with you to your birthing location at all.

• How to approach the conversation with your care provider, and red flags that might pop up.

• The step-by-step approach I’ve used to draft hundreds of plans for my clients over the years (Snag your FREE Planning Guide here).

This is a great listen for anyone who is currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and especially for fellow birth workers guiding their clients as they discover their wishes for birth.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [9:42] How to approach introducing the plan at your prenatal appointments.

• [10:33] Red flags that might pop up during the provider-plan conversation.

• [18:50] Number one most important consideration when drafting a birth plan.

• [25:45] Considering and acknowledging your care team when writing your plan.

• [29:15] Naming your top priority and your ideal birth “feeling.”

“Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!”