The Ordinary Doula Podcast

Angie Rosier
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Education
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to The Ordinary Doula Podcast with Angie Rosier, hosted by Birth Learning. We help folks prepare for labor and birth with expertise coming from 20 years of experience in a busy doula practice, helping thousands of people prepare for labor, providing essential knowledge and tools for positive and empowering birth experiences.

  1. 6d ago

    E138: What Happens In Immediate Postpartum Recovery?

    Send us Fan Mail Labor gets all the prep, but the first hours after birth can be the biggest shock. We’re talking about that immediate postpartum stretch, the minutes and early recovery window when you’re holding your baby and everyone around you suddenly starts doing a whole new set of tasks. If you’ve ever thought, “Wait, I thought I was done,” you’re not alone. We break down what’s actually happening in the room: delivering the placenta, monitoring postpartum bleeding and estimated blood loss, checking vitals, and making sure your uterus is contracting and involuting the way it should. We also name the stuff that can feel intense or even scary if nobody warned you, like postpartum shaking, strong after-birth cramps during breastfeeding, fundal massage every 15 minutes, and tissue repair and stitching. We talk through pain support options and how to reuse the same coping tools you practiced for labor, including breathing, focus, and asking clear questions. We also get real about the emotional and social side of postpartum recovery: why bonding can feel instant or delayed, why newborns can look bruised, swollen, or cone-headed and still be normal, and how visitors and nonstop texts can turn your postpartum room into a stage. You’ll hear practical boundary ideas, including how to say no, how to protect quiet time, and how to use your nurse as backup. And we make space for partners too, because their relief, fear, awe, and exhaustion are part of this moment. If you’re preparing for birth, add immediate postpartum to your plan and give yourself permission to need help. Subscribe for more real-world birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum support, then share this with a friend and leave a review so more families can find it. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  2. Sep 18

    E137: C-Section Feelings

    Send us Fan Mail A C-section can save lives and still break your heart a little and pretending that’s a contradiction is where so many parents get stuck. I’m Angie Rosier, and today I’m getting honest about the feelings we carry around cesarean birth: the fear, the disappointment, the relief, the gratitude, and the grief that can all show up at once. If you’ve ever wondered why one person says “Let’s do this” and another feels devastated by the exact same outcome, we unpack what’s underneath that gap. We talk through what makes a cesarean section different from other births, including the reality that it’s major abdominal surgery with real risks and a different postpartum recovery curve. We also name the emotional whiplash that can happen when expectations flip fast: bright operating room lights, unfamiliar masked staff, numbness, pressure and tugging, and the feeling that things are happening to you instead of with you. For urgent or emergency C-sections, we discuss why the experience can tip into birth trauma, what symptoms can look like, and why getting support from a therapist trained in perinatal mental health can be so effective. Then we move into what helps. I share concrete ways to make cesareans more supportive and more family-centered when it’s clinically appropriate: a prepared partner, a doula in the OR, clear and respectful communication, gentler language, skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping when possible, a clear drape, photos, music, and early breastfeeding support. We end with the questions I want every parent to have access to: Was I informed? Was I respected? Was I supported? Did I feel heard? Subscribe for more real-world birth support, share this with a friend who’s preparing for delivery, and leave a review wherever you listen so more families can find it. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  3. Sep 11

    E136: The 50-Mile Birth Mindset

    Send us Fan Mail Fifty miles on foot sounds like a birthday stunt until you’re deep in the dark hours, doing the mental math, managing fatigue, and realizing the hardest part is simply continuing. That’s why I’m sharing a personal story that surprised me: training for and attempting a 50-mile walk instantly brought me back to what my clients experience in labor, especially when they’re preparing for an unmedicated birth and trying to hold onto confidence when conditions are not ideal.  We talk about what “preparation” really means, and why perfection is a trap. Pregnancy gives you time to train your mind and body, but you can’t fully replicate the intensity of the real thing. I break down the parallels between packing the right tools (hydration, snacks, backups) and building your labor toolkit, plus why your plan has to be rooted in autonomy. If avoiding or delaying an epidural is your goal, it needs to be your choice, not something anyone else hands you.  The heart of the episode is continuous labor support. A friend joined me for the first stretch of the walk, and it changed everything: safety, momentum, problem-solving, and the feeling of not being alone. That’s the same power a steady birth team brings during long labors, overnight labors, and transition. We also get honest about the moment you pivot, whether that’s stopping a walk to protect a knee or choosing an epidural to rest and keep the experience positive. Recovery matters too, and postpartum healing deserves as much respect as the birth itself.  If you’re pregnant, supporting someone who is, or you just want a smarter way to think about endurance, pain, and decision-making, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a birth, and leave a review so more families can find practical, grounded doula support. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  4. Sep 4

    E135: Pumping At Work

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re heading back to work and trying to keep breastfeeding going, you already know the truth nobody puts on the checklist: pumping can feel like a whole second shift. We sit down and get specific about how to make pumping at work doable, including what to plan before your first day back, how to protect your milk supply during long separations, and how to handle the emotional mix of relief, grief, excitement, and guilt that can all show up at once. We walk through what the law actually supports for many nursing parents, including protections tied to the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Pump Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act). We talk about what a real lactation space should include (and why being told to pump in a bathroom is not okay), plus how to communicate early with a supervisor or HR so you’re not quietly suffering while your supply takes the hit. Then we get practical: building a pumping schedule that matches your shift, using wearable pumps when breaks are hard to come by, and troubleshooting low output without obsessing over ounces. We cover milk storage with a fridge or a cooler, labeling, cleaning pump parts with limited time, and the kind of backup plan that saves your day when a part goes missing or a pump quits. If you want a sustainable system that fits your job, your baby, and your goals (even if those goals change), hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s returning to work, and leave a review so more parents can find this support. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  5. Aug 28

    E134: You Can Be Scared and Still Be Ready

    Send us Fan Mail You don’t wake up one morning and casually run a marathon, so why do we expect ourselves to “just figure out” labor when it starts? Today I’m sharing a simple comparison that’s helped countless families in my doula practice: childbirth is a big physical event, and the way you prepare for it looks a lot like training for an endurance challenge. The goal isn’t to control every detail. The goal is to walk into birth feeling supported, informed, and steady, even when you’re nervous.  We talk about the built-in training season that pregnancy gives you and what that preparation can include beyond a basic birth plan: childbirth education, practicing coping tools, learning how your body responds to stress, and doing the emotional work that helps you stay present when things get intense. I also reflect on real births from this week, including cesarean, epidural, and unmedicated experiences, and why even prepared parents can still feel caught off guard once labor truly gets going.  To make it even more practical, I share how I’m preparing to walk 50 miles and why that planning mindset maps so well to labor. Think route, timing, food and hydration, comfort items, and contingency plans when things don’t go as expected. Most of all, we come back to the core truth: your most powerful tool is inside you, and the right support team helps you access it.  If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend who’s expecting, and leave a rating or review so more parents can find the show. What’s one thing you’re doing to prepare for your own big hard thing? Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  6. Aug 21

    E133: Birthplace Choices

    Send us Fan Mail The loudest voices online will tell you there’s only one “right” way to give birth and that anything else is unsafe, uninformed, or unempowered. We don’t buy that. We want to slow the whole debate down and talk about what actually matters when you’re choosing a birthplace: safety, trust, support, and the kind of information that fits your real life.  We walk through the full range of options in plain language, including free birth (unassisted birth), birth center birth, planned home birth with a midwife and transfer plan, and planned hospital birth with OB or midwife care. Then we dig into why people make these choices, from past trauma and fear of medical settings to a strong need for autonomy and a belief in birth as a normal physiologic process. We also name the social media problem head-on: algorithms reward outrage and idealized birth stories, which can blur risk, erase nuance, and make you doubt your own instincts.  From there, we get practical about informed consent and informed choice: not blind trust, not TikTok-driven fear, but asking the right questions about benefits, risks, and alternatives. We talk about what doulas actually do, how “natural birth” means different things to different families, and how empowerment can show up in many forms, including making decisions in the moment. If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone through birth, you’ll leave with a clearer framework for building a plan that protects both autonomy and safety.  If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s sorting through birth choices, and please leave a review wherever you listen. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  7. Aug 14

    E132: How To Use Insurance For Lactation Support

    Send us Fan Mail You can do everything “right” and still end up dreading the next feed. Breastfeeding challenges like a painful latch, nipple damage, low supply worries, slow weight gain, engorgement, mastitis, pumping overwhelm, and bottle refusal can show up fast and knock your confidence sideways. We want you to know something simple and powerful: lactation help is often closer and more affordable than you think, because many insurance plans cover professional lactation services. We walk through what lactation support can look like across the whole feeding journey, from prenatal lactation consultations to postpartum home visits, clinic appointments, and telehealth that works well for rural families. We also explain the different roles you might hear about, including peer counselors, CLCs, and IBCLCs, and why the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant credential is often the one insurance recognizes. If you’ve had breast surgery, diabetes, PCOS, twins, a preterm baby, or prior breastfeeding struggles, we talk about why early support matters even more. Then we get practical: what to ask your insurance company or HR, how many visits might be covered, whether you need an in-network provider or referral, and what to do if you’re out of network and need reimbursement. We also cover a huge, commonly missed benefit: insurance typically covers a breast pump per baby, and sometimes pump parts, storage supplies, or hospital-grade rentals when medically necessary. We share where to search for help, including The Lactation Network, Wildflower Health, Lactation Loop, WIC, community clinics, and hospital outpatient programs, while reminding you that coverage can change over time. If you know someone who’s pregnant, postpartum, pumping at work, or quietly struggling at 2 a.m., share this with them. Subscribe, leave a rating and review, and help more families find covered lactation support when it matters most. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

  8. Aug 7

    E131: How to Get Doula Services Covered By Insurance

    Send us Fan Mail Most people assume a doula is automatically an out-of-pocket expense, and that assumption quietly blocks a lot of families from getting the support they want during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. We dig into what is finally changing, why it is changing, and how you can find out whether you already have doula insurance coverage through your employer, a private plan, or Medicaid. We walk through the real reasons insurance companies and employers are paying attention to doula care: research-backed improvements like lower cesarean rates, fewer costly interventions, and higher satisfaction with the birth experience, plus ripple effects into postpartum recovery and breastfeeding support. From there, we get practical about the messy middle, because coverage is never one-size-fits-all. We share the exact questions to ask your insurance company and HR about prior authorization, in-network requirements, documentation, reimbursement limits, and whether out-of-network doulas can qualify. You will also hear a concrete example of coverage in action through the Motive Health doula benefit administered via Azova Healthcare’s maternal care program, along with other common ways families piece together affordability using HSA/FSA funds, superbills, sliding scale fees, scholarships, and community programs. We also name the honest downside: some doulas opt out of insurance because reimbursement can be lower than private pay, even when the mission of access matters. If you are pregnant now or planning ahead, press play, take notes, and then make the call to your insurer or HR. Subscribe, share this with a friend who is expecting, and leave a rating or review so more families can find the support they deserve. Visit our website, here: https://hatchednlatched.com/ Follow us on Facebook at Hatched & Latched Follow us on Instagram at @hatchenlatched Show Credits Host: Angie Rosier  Music: Michael Hicks  Photographer: Toni Walker Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood  Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton Voiceover: Ryan Parker

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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Ordinary Doula Podcast with Angie Rosier, hosted by Birth Learning. We help folks prepare for labor and birth with expertise coming from 20 years of experience in a busy doula practice, helping thousands of people prepare for labor, providing essential knowledge and tools for positive and empowering birth experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Angie Rosier
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    141
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Ordinary Doula Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Ordinary Doula Podcast