Tend and Befriend

Deborah Herritt Koumoutsidis
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Tend & Befriend – The Podcast for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond Hosted by Deborah the Doula, a birth professional with over 20 years of experience, Tend & Befriend is your go-to source for evidence-based insights, real birth stories, and expert advice. After two decades in the birth world, I’ve learned a thing or two—and I want to make sure you have access to that knowledge. Join me as we dive into the topics that matter most during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Whether you're preparing for labor, navigating new motherhood, or reflecting on your own birth journey, you'll find support, wisdom, and connection in every episode. Let’s learn, laugh, and grow—together. 💛 Listen now!

  1. NOV 21

    Myths, Mastitis, And Milk: We’re Unclogging More Than Ducts

    Send us a text Ever wish someone would tell you the truth about breastfeeding without the guilt or the gadgets? We bring on Samantha, a seasoned NICU nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, to cut through the noise and give you a clear path forward—whether you’re nursing, pumping, combo feeding, or bottle feeding from day one. We start with the realities most classes skip: colostrum is enough for many newborns, full milk often takes five to seven days, and supply typically regulates around six to eight weeks. Samantha shares what successful latch actually looks like, why positioning changes everything, and how to listen for swallows so you know milk is moving. She explains how inconsistent pumping, poorly fitted flanges, or relying on wearables without proper setup can invite clogs and mastitis—and how to avoid those traps with simple, consistent routines. Funding cuts and mixed hospital advice make support feel out of reach, so we break down practical, affordable ways to get help. You’ll hear why a single, trusted guide can beat a dozen conflicting opinions, why prenatal education is the highest ROI investment you can make, and how to advocate for your plan when policies or timelines get in the way. We also tackle the hot topics: oversupply isn’t the goal, pumping is breastfeeding, nipple confusion is often overstated, and having donor milk or a small formula backup can protect both intake and your mental health. Hydration, nutrition, and rest matter more than your app’s timer—and any amount of your milk is a win. Leave with five grounded basics that move the needle: get support early, prioritise positioning, master an effective latch, follow baby-led cues over rigid timing, and simplify your tools. If you’re ready to trade stress for support and perfectionism for progress, this conversation will help you build a feeding plan that fits your life. If this episode helps you breathe a little easier, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more parents can find real, judgement-free support. Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    1h 6m

  2. OCT 3

    Rooted in Birth: Kelly’s Journey from Paramedic to Doula

    Send us a text What if the first, fiercest lesson in personal power began in the birth room? We sit with Kelly—licensed paramedic, yoga teacher, Reiki master, and now a doula in our agency—to trace how frontline medicine led her to a calling rooted in consent, breath, and presence. From the shift that happens when someone teaches you to ask for what you want, to the quiet courage of doing less and holding more, this conversation maps a humane way through complex systems. Kelly shares the pivotal moments that shaped her practice: staying seven hours beyond a hospital shift to support a labouring patient, discovering that breathwork is the most reliable tool in a chaotic room, and learning that real advocacy means keeping the birthing person in charge even when plans change. We unpack informed consent as a living process, not a form; radical self-responsibility as a compass; and how a doula collective expands support, creates safety nets, and brings better referrals to families who need them. The stories are grounded and specific—home birth in Ecuador, partners who become surprising anchors, debriefs that turn hard nights into wisdom. If you’re feeling nervous, unsure, or lost in the system, this one aims to bring you back to centre. You’ll hear how to set boundaries without burning bridges, use breath to regulate pain and panic, and build a plan flexible enough to meet real life. We also talk honestly about doula self-care—eating, writing, moving, and leaning on a team—so we can show up steady for you. Want to connect with Kelly or our agency for birth or postpartum support? Tap the links in the show notes, find Kelly at the Voyage Collective on Instagram, or reach us at Deborah the Doula. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with someone expecting, and leave a review to help others find the support they deserve. Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    36 min

  3. SEP 19

    Your Baby, Your Body, Your Birth: Doula Work with Natalie Evans

    Send us a text Contact Natalie Evans through Instagram @pure.essence.doulacare  Check out the linktree!!  Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    42 min

  4. AUG 29

    From Push to Placenta: Your Post-Birth Reality Guide

    Send us a text We spend so much time preparing for labor, but what about the moments that come right after your baby is born? In this episode of Tend and Befriend, I’m walking you through what really happens after the final push. From skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping, to delivering the placenta, the fundal massage (you've probably heard of it), and the quiet start to postpartum recovery. Whether this is your first baby or you're preparing for another, understanding what to expect in those first few hours can help you feel calm, confident, and prepared. Inside this episode:  ✨ What pushing is really like for first-time parents  ✨ How and when the placenta is delivered  ✨ What the golden hour looks like and why it matters  ✨ The truth about fundal massage and your right to say no  ✨ What happens in the birthing room before you’re moved to postpartum care You deserve to feel supported through the entire experience, not just during labor. When you know what’s coming, it’s easier to speak up, advocate for yourself, and move into postpartum feeling grounded. Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    8 min

  5. AUG 22

    Pelvic floor health with corey ireland

    Send us a text Pelvic health physiotherapist Corey Ireland shares her expertise on the myths, misconceptions, and transformative potential of pelvic floor therapy for women, men, and children of all ages. Through her compassionate approach of meeting people where they are and "nudging" rather than pushing, Corey explains how pelvic health impacts everything from pregnancy comfort to postpartum recovery and even cardiovascular wellness. • Pelvic floor physiotherapy doesn't always require internal examination—treatment plans are individual and based on comfort levels • Pregnancy should not be painful—discomfort signals imbalance that can often be addressed with proper support • Leaking after childbirth or with aging is not normal and should be addressed, not accepted • Pessaries aren't just for older women but can be used like "knee braces" for activities and to help with tissue remodeling • Men's morning erections serve as vital signs for cardiovascular health, with changes appearing approximately nine months before other cardiovascular changes • Lactating mothers experience "genitourinary syndrome of lactation" similar to menopausal symptoms due to reduced estrogen • Being proactive with physical activity before pregnancy creates a foundation for better pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences • Booking a pelvic health assessment before your six-week postpartum checkup can help identify issues to discuss with your OB/GYN Contact Ireland Physiotherapy in Kingsville at 519-733-1010 or visit www.irelandmpt.com for more information about their services. Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    50 min

  6. AUG 8

    Why every pregnant momma needs a "get shit done" nesting party instead of a baby shower

    Send us a text Forget the diaper raffles and puff-painted bibs. This isn’t your traditional baby shower. In this episode of Tend and Befriend, Deborah dives into the heart of nesting parties: intimate gatherings that blend community, preparation, and emotional support for expecting parents. You’ll learn: What a nesting party is and why it mattersHow to create a calm, supportive environment (and who to invite)Practical tips for meal prep, baby gear setup, and hospital bag packingWhy this kind of care can make the postpartum transition smoother and more supportedWhether you’re pregnant and craving real help, or you’re a doula looking for meaningful ways to show up for your clients, this episode will leave you inspired to bring the “village” back to birth. Links & Resources: Free Hospital Bag Checklist:  https://www.pelviclove.com/checklist Connect with Deborah on Instagram: @deborah.thedoulaSupport the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    11 min

  7. AUG 8

    Your Baby's First Coat: How Vernix Protects Newborns and Empowers Parents

    Send us a text You’ve seen it in birth photos, maybe even on your own baby...that creamy white coating on newborn skin. It’s called vernix caseosa, and in this episode of Tend and Befriend, we’re exploring what it is, why it matters, and what it represents in today’s birth spaces. Deborah breaks down: The science of vernix: what it’s made of and why it formsIts powerful role in immune support, temperature regulation, and bondingWhy more families are choosing to delay their baby’s first bathWhat the World Health Organization recommendsHow this seemingly small decision connects to a larger conversation around informed consent and autonomy in birthThis episode isn’t just about vernix. It’s about voice. About choice. About being heard in one of the most sacred transitions of your life. Whether you choose to leave it on or wash it off, what matters most is that the decision is yours. Instagram: @deborah.thedoula Website: www.pelviclove.ca  Join Doula Deborah On Demand for biweekly conversations on birth, postpartum, advocacy, and evidence-based care. Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    7 min

  8. AUG 1

    The #1 Mistake First-Time Moms Make in Early Labor - Trying to Make Labor Happen.

    Send us a text 🎙️ Episode Title: The #1 Mistake First-Time Moms Make in Early Labor (And What to Do Instead) Podcast: Tend and Befriend Host: Deborah the Doula Episode Summary: If you're in the last weeks of pregnancy and wondering “How will I know if it’s really labor?” — this episode is for you. Today on Tend and Befriend, I’m talking about the most common mistake I see first-time moms make in early labor — and how doing the opposite can shift your entire birth experience. (Hint: it’s not about timing contractions.) We’ll unpack:  🌿 What early labor actually looks and feels like  🌿 Why the 4-1-1 and 5-1-1 rules are often misleading  🌿 How to tune into your body, not just the clock 🌿 The real signs that labor is picking up 🌿 Why rest and nourishment matter more than “progress” early on You don’t have to earn your labor. You don’t have to make it happen. Let it unfold. Mentioned in this episode: ✨ Follow me on Instagram: @deborathedoula ✨ Book a birth consultation: www.pelviclove.com If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend who's getting ready for birth — and remember, you've got this. ❤️ Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it! 🔗 Find all links here: Our website I hope to talk to you soon!!

    6 min
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About

Tend & Befriend – The Podcast for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond Hosted by Deborah the Doula, a birth professional with over 20 years of experience, Tend & Befriend is your go-to source for evidence-based insights, real birth stories, and expert advice. After two decades in the birth world, I’ve learned a thing or two—and I want to make sure you have access to that knowledge. Join me as we dive into the topics that matter most during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Whether you're preparing for labor, navigating new motherhood, or reflecting on your own birth journey, you'll find support, wisdom, and connection in every episode. Let’s learn, laugh, and grow—together. 💛 Listen now!

Information

  • Creator
    Deborah Herritt Koumoutsidis
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Tend and Befriend
  • Show Website
    Tend and Befriend