The LC & Doula Diaries Sally Wood and Melissa Schultz

This week we are discussing something near and dear to co-host Melissa’s heart: what doula support through the age of covid looks like. The past year has brought about many shifts for birthing mothers and doulas alike. Many hospitals shut out doulas for a time, more people considered home or birth center births, partners couldn’t attend appointments, doulas found ways to support clients virtually, and the list goes on.

The good news is that you CAN have doula support throughout these crazy times and, not only that, you NEED doula support now more than ever! Stress levels are at an all-time high, hospital policies are changing frequently, mothers feel more isolated than ever...and that’s on top of the typical stressors people may experience as they approach birth.

Join us as Melissa discusses:


How you can benefit from a doula

What virtual doula support can look like

How to keep your voice in the process and advocate

Options to consider in this unique time


Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com or find us on social media! As always, reviews are appreciated!

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru

Breastfeeding is the same with every baby, right? ...Until it’s not! Join us as IBCLC Sally Wood unpacks why breastfeeding experiences can vary greatly between babies and shares tips for navigating those differences. It’s often very encouraging for mothers who had a difficult BF journey with the first baby to discover that it’s much easier with the second baby! However,  road blocks can pop up with a subsequent baby that you just didn’t experience with the first, etc.

One fact Sally wants all parents to know: ALL BABIES ARE DIFFERENT :)

Drop any shame/guilt from feeling like you “should” know better, “should” have done something differently, etc. Just do what you can with what you know in the moment and never be afraid to ask for help!

“Should” is the enemy of motherhood! -Melissa

Enjoying the show? Be sure to leave us a review!

Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com or book a consultation with Sally at www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru

In Part 2, Lauren Perkins piles on the wisdom and pumping hacks that she learned along the way as she exclusively pumped for her son for nineteen months. To Lauren, exclusive pumping IS breastfeeding and she refers to her journey as a love story. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is a treasure trove for any pumping mom.

In Part 2 of Lauren's story, she talks about:


her favorite pumping hack
using different pumps to meet different needs and situations
pumping on the go
cleaning pump parts
replacing pump parts
having a stocked pumping bag ready to go 
what to do with spilt milk - don't throw it away!
dealing with postpartum anxiety and stress
apps for ONLY exclusive pumping - the one she used was Pump Log

Lauren's two favorite resources:

Website:  https://exclusivepumping.com

Instagram account: @exclusive_pumping



Enjoying the show? Be sure to leave us a review!

Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com 

To book a consultation with Sally (in-person or virtual): www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru

Lauren Perkins exclusively pumped for her son for nineteen months. This was not her original goal, but her determination to provide breastmilk for her baby was a driving force and is, undoubtedly, what made her so successful. To Lauren, exclusive pumping IS breastfeeding and refers to her journey as a love story. She shares her struggles with infertility, IVF, an unexpected, and terrifying, delivery and a 2-month NICU stay for her newborn son. Her wealth of knowledge, experience and simple pumping hacks is a treasure trove for any pumping mom.

In Part 1 of Lauren's story, she talks about:


bridging the gap between breastfeeding and pumping
establishing her milk supply
balancing spending time in the NICU and frequent pumping
how her body accommodated her son's needs, even though he was not physically at her breast
her pumping routines and how they changed over time
nursing/pumping bras and which one was her favorite
dealing with clogged milk ducts
power pumping

Lauren's two favorite resources:

Website:  https://exclusivepumping.com

Instagram account: @exclusive_pumping



Enjoying the show? Be sure to leave us a review!

Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com or book a consultation with Sally at www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru

We are opening this season with Dr. Robyn Hawkins, a chiropractor in Augusta, GA. We discuss the benefits of chiropractic care for pregnant and postpartum mamas, as well as babies. Whether you need assistance with pregnancy aches and pains, flipping a breech baby, realigning your body after birth or more...there’s just so much that good chiropractic care can do for you.

Wondering how to find a good chiropractor trained specifically to work with pregnant women and babies? Dr. Hawkins recommends checking out https://icpa4kids.com/ to see who’s available in your region.

About our guest:

Dr. Robyn Hawkins is a chiropractor in Augusta, GA who offers specific and gentle chiropractic care for the entire family - from newborns to senior citizens.

Her true passion is caring for moms and their families. She offers perinatal chiropractic care and is certified in the Webster technique, which is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment created with pregnant women in mind. Her ultimate goal is to provide care for families as well as educating them on natural, proactive methods of health and healing.

Enjoying the show? Be sure to leave us a review!

Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com or book a consultation with Sally at www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru

Tia Ketant is our guest on this week’s episode, bringing us her experience and wisdom related to the landscape women of color birthing in America face. Women of color die at a rate 3x higher than that of white women and 12x higher in NYC, specifically, where Tia is located.  Tia is an advocate and a certified doula, fighting for safe care for women of color and educating women about the best choices available to them. (See below for Tia’s full bio.)

In this episode, we discuss the care options available for pregnancy and birth, especially for those of lower income, as well as the ways families can best prepare for their birth experience and advocate for themselves. Tia emphasizes how important it is for clients to feel free to report their negative experiences at hospitals – the hospitals need to know and other people need to know what happened! Shop around for your provider and have plenty of questions ready for a hospital tour, if birthing in a hospital.

Tia has first-hand experience with serving clients facing a difficult birthing landscape, as well as mentoring the next generation of doulas through community agencies and organizations such as By My Side, Healthy Women Healthy Futures, and Carriage House.

Episode quotes:

“Doulas provide support, but we also save lives.”

“Trust your ability to birth your baby the way you need to. If you’re scared, then I didn’t do my job because you didn’t have enough info.”

“Childbirth education is like the multiple choice portion of the test. A doula is the essay portion of the test.”

“The system is broken and it won’t be fixed by the time you give birth.”

“All birth is natural - you give birth to a baby, not a banana.”

Tia's life has centered around the service industry for 20+ years.  She has served domestic violence victims, the developmentally disabled, the homeless and even disadvantaged youth. However she has come to find that doula work is the home she has been searching for. Becoming a DONA and Carriage House Birth-Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula has been a humbling accomplishment. Her passion to see you through pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period is unwavering.

She is the proud mom of a 6 year-old son who was a miracle after 7 years of dealing with infertility.  Inclusive of her desire to support you during your birth, she is excited to work with moms during the postpartum period helping create a strong bond between themselves and their babies. Because she has been all of the clients that she serves, Metoodoula services is all encompassing of each individual woman's needs.

Tia and her doula-sister, Shannon Serrano, have just started a podcast called Doula Sense to address birth, fertility, and all things self-care.

You can find Tia in the following places:

www.metoodoula.com

www.facebook.com/metoodoula

Instagram: @metoodoula

All Birth is Natural T-shirts:

www.bonfire.com/store/me-too-doula/

Questions about anything discussed on today’s show? You can email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com or book a consultation with Sally at www.thebreastfeedingguru.com

As always, you can find us on social media in the following places!

Instagram:

@lcdouladiaries

@strongbirthjourneys

@breastfeedingguru

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries

www.facebook.com/strongbirthjourneys

www.facebook.com/breastfeedingguru