The LC & Doula Diaries

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

Everybody who chooses to breastfeed wants to get off to the best start possible, but did you know there are several ways to derail breastfeeding quickly? In this episode, Sally shares the five most common obstacles to breastfeeding a typical, healthy baby that she sees in her practice as an IBCLC. We discuss the importance of knowing what's normal in breastfeeding so you know what questions to ask of your care providers. The top 5 obstacles we discuss in more detail are: 1. Assuming the baby won't latch 2. Supplementing without a good medical reason 3. Bottle feeding before breastfeeding is established 4. Pumping too early (know issues of low supply vs oversupply) 5. Not pumping enough if baby goes to NICU 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

When a baby is born, the dynamics of the family changes. Parents assume new responsibilities and roles, and their mothers become ….. GRANDmothers. We've all heard the stories of the overbearing grandmother who wants to tell mom and dad how to care for their new baby. Then, there are the grandmothers who keep a distance and only help when asked. In this episode, Sally's long-time best friend, Kim, joins us to talk about ALL the grandmother things! She has 10 grandchildren, so she has a lot to say! Points we discuss in this episode: · The challenge of spending quality time with each grandchild. · Simple activities are the best activities! · The value of spending one-on-one time. · The importance of communication with the parents and respecting their parenting styles. · Lifting-up and encouraging parents – parenting is tough! · Kim's Facebook group for grandparents! https://www.facebook.com/kim.gardner.pippin As always, we love to hear from you! Please rate and review our show. If you'd like to suggest future topics, find us online and let us know! Here's where you can find us: https://www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries https://www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries/ Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com IG - @thebreastfeedingguru Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com IG - @strongbirthjourneys

We often hear stories about birth being harder than someone expected, but what about when it's BETTER than what they expected? In this episode, Sally and Melissa interview one of Melissa's former doula clients, Rachelle Hoehn, about her experience as a first-time mom giving birth. Rachelle shares how she encountered more positivity from doula support than she expected and the importance of discussing positive stories with others. An avid CrossFitter, she discusses how that translated into her ability to focus through labor. Tune in for more specific tips that helped her navigate her labor more easily, leading to a medication-free birth. As always, we love to hear from you! Please rate and review our show. If you'd like to suggest future topics, find us online and let us know! Here's where you can find us: www.facebook.com/lcdouladiaries www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com IG - @thebreastfeedingguru Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com IG - @strongbirthjourneys

One of the most common hesitations to hiring a doula is the concern that she will replace dad's role in the birth of his child. Will he be relegated to sitting in the corner, while the doula supports his wife through birth? The answer is a resounding NO! In this episode, Sally and Melissa interview Brian Weaver about his experience in working with a doula in the birth of his second child. Brian and his wife, Rebecca, didn't have a doula for their first child, so he pinpoints specific ways the experiences differed. Listen to this episode to find out why Brian thinks doulas help dads put their focus where it's needed and be more present in the moment. Book mentioned: The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads to Be https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-expectant-father-armin-a-brott/1129439655 Enjoy this episode? Please rate the podcast and leave a review! We'd love to connect with you online! Here's where you can find us: www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com IG - @thebreastfeedingguru Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com IG - @strongbirthjourneys

To celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week, we welcome Semone Williams as a guest lactation expert. Semone is currently preparing to take her IBCLC exam and has significant experience helping hundreds of families in their breastfeeding journeys. She is a Peer Counselor through WIC and a Lactation Counselor at Augusta University Hospital, as well as currently holding the position of chairperson of The CSRA Breastfeeding Coalition in Augusta, GA. Semone shares her own breastfeeding journey and how that led her to pursue becoming an IBCLC herself. She discusses the needs she sees in our own community in Georgia, as well as larger issues facing black mothers throughout the country. Points we discuss in this episode include: ● When black moms feel encouraged in their BF journey, it makes a big difference in how they keep going. ● We need more black moms supporting black moms. ● ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere) is an incredible resource for black breastfeeding women: www.breastfeedingrose.org ROSE FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/BreastfeedingRose/ ● It's so important to win grandma over in supporting breastfeeding, because the matriarchal structure is huge in the black community: women want to make their mothers proud. ● Utilize all the help available to you, from BF support groups, to lactation counselors, to friends and family, and more. WIC has phenomenal Peer Counselor BF support services that are often under utilized. ● The infant mortality rate for black babies is 2.3 times that of white babies and black babies are 3.8 times more likely to die from low-birthweight complications than white babies. HIgher BF rates could literally help save lives. What should we all be doing? ● Support black IBCLCs! We need to see them working in more places and also fulfilling prominent leadership roles. ● Don't count yourself out. You have the ability to breastfeed and even help other women breastfeed! ● ALWAYS look at another race with the same compassion as you would your own. See the need and meet it. Be gracious and encourage mom.

As professionals who frequently work with new moms, Sally and Melissa have observed that reactions to postpartum life range from “nobody ever told me about ______________” to “it sounds so awful - I've been dreading it.” While postpartum life certainly has its challenges, it doesn't have to be sheer misery. In this episode, Sally and Melissa discuss ways to help ease the transition into life with a newborn and find the community and professional support that you need. Highlight reel of our best tips: ● Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb”. You have your hands full with a new baby and the last thing you need is a well-meaning friend or relative calling/texting you frequently to see how you're doing. Plus, we can guarantee it WILL ring when you're trying to nap! ● Home expectations: discuss this very clearly with your partner. How soon are you okay with family members or friends visiting, and how long may they stay? How will you handle any difficult family dynamics during this time? What will household chores look like during this time? In other words, what can be left undone, how can your partner pick up extra duties while you recover, and is it in the budget to hire a cleaning service, etc? ● Ask for, and accept, help. Pride doesn't serve anybody well in this season of life. Let others be a blessing to you by providing practical help! ● Find a pelvic floor physical therapist in your area and book an appointment with them ASAP. Even a textbook smooth birth still has effects on the body that could benefit from a pelvic floor PT. ● ….and more! Tune in for the rest of our tips! Postpartum Depression Hotline:1-800-944-4773 Our FAVE postpartum books: The Fourth Trimester Pregnancy, ChildBirth, and the Newborn The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Happiest Baby On the Block The No-Cry Sleep Solution Social media Links: www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com Email us at melissaandsallypodcast@gmail.com

Sally and Melissa go through the most important elements you need to consider in preparing for your birth and (spoiler alert): it's not just about going to a childbirth class! We do highly recommend you go to a GOOD class, but getting ready for birth is so much more than that! Infant care, nutrition, community support and more - listen to the show for the tip you won't find in any books or doctors' offices! After listening, you may be wondering how to find a truly well-rounded childbirth education class - here's what to look for: https://www.thebump.com/a/childbirth-classes Doulas can be a great support for you in your birth goals. Here's where to start looking for doulas: www.doulamatch.com https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/find-a-doula/ https://cappa.net/ Local community support is crucial - make sure to check out mommy groups/boards or ask your doula what types of resources are available to parents in your specific area. Finding, and talking to, lactation consultant before is important. This is an excellent, and international, resource: https://portal.ilca.org/i4a/memberDirectory/index.cfm?directory_id=18&pageID=4349 Preparation is key - it may seem overwhelming at first, but you will be glad you took the time to consider these areas before your baby arrives. You've got this! Social media Links: www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com

The benefits of breastfeeding are well-known …. Or are they? What's so special about breast milk? Does breastfeeding have to be all or nothing? There are lots of cool, weird and little-known facts in this episode! Tune in as Sally, a lactation consultant, shares all the gems she's found along the way. Have you ever wondered what the REAL benefits of breastfeeding are or if it's just hype? In our first episode of the LC & Doula Diaries, lactation consultant, Sally, and doula, Melissa, unpack it ALL for you. We've all heard that “breast is best”, as well as “fed is best”. Both of these statements are true. It's important to understand as much as you can about breastfeeding and breast milk. Whether a mother is determined to breastfeed, unsure about how she wants to feed her baby or decides to breast and formula feed, this information is a must for making the best choice for her and her baby. Highlights from our discussion: The well-known benefits of breastfeeding Lesser known benefits and facts about breastfeeding How breastfeeding is good for mom's health (not just for baby) Even with formula supplementation, breast milk is still beneficial Research about dental health and breastfeeding How auto-immune diseases may be affected by breastfeeding How breastmilk changes to fit the needs of baby No matter what you decide for your family, knowledge is power and having all the facts enables you to make an informed decision, which is what we want for every mama! Keep up the good work! Social media Links: www.facebook.com/babiesbumpsboobs www.instagram.com/lcdouladiaries Sally's homepage: www.thebreastfeedingguru.com Melissa's homepage: www.strongbirthjourneys.com