Your Doula BFF Emily Johnson

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!
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts “Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.
 

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.
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts “Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.
 
Research mentioned in this episode:
Benefits of Skin to Skin in the NICU

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!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.
 
Research mentioned in this episode:
Sheila Kitzinger’s Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth
Penny Simkin's Labor Progress Handbook
Musings of a Black Doula Podcast
Facebook Group - So You Think You Can Doula
Facebook Group - The Business of Being A Doula
ProDoula
DONA
CAPPA
ICEA

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.
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts “Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.
 
Research mentioned in this episode:
Reduced use of epidurals, oxytocin, and increased maternal satisfaction
Reduced risk of cesarean delivery
Epidural’s impact on length of labor
Average length of labor

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.
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts “Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Maggie’s Story
Galia Collaborative

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
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts “Emily is super helpful; I’m so glad she’s my doula BFF!” please consider rating and reviewing my podcast. Doing so helps me show up in the feeds of other folks who might feel the exact same way! Simply click here, scroll the bottom, 5 stars, and “write a review.” I want to know your favorite part of each episode and what else you’d like hear from me!
And, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to follow me, as well. You’ll have each episode loaded and ready every Monday morning, and you’ll have access to any bonus recordings you might otherwise miss! Follow here.