Everything you need to know: Epidurals

Soly and Emily dive into the essential, ever-evolving role of boundaries in doula work. They explore how personal capacity, relationship dynamics with clients, and handling special occasions or birth overlaps impact a birth worker's journey. From setting realistic client loads and taking time off to managing late-night texts and pumping during labor, this episode offers practical insights for both families and doulas looking to build a resilient, long-lasting career.

Kristin, Emily, and Soly unpack what happens during doula prenatal visits. From practicing advocacy questions and mock birth positions to setting birth environment expectations and discussing partner roles. Whether you're a birthing parent wondering what to expect from your visits, or a new doula looking for a clear, practical roadmap to structure your client meetings with confidence, this episode is packed with tips, conversation starters, and actionable ideas.

No guests, no agenda—just Soly, Emily, and Kristin hanging out and letting the conversation go wherever it wants. From wild pregnancy dreams to birth stories and unscripted laughs, we’re just sitting down for a good old-fashioned chit-chat. Grab a coffee (or a cold chocolate milk) and ride along with us!

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, we sit down with Brittani Edds, IBCLC and owner of The Milk Academy Co, to unpack the realities of lactation and infant feeding. Brittani shares how to set realistic expectations for the early weeks, how birth interventions like Pitocin impact milk release, and why prenatal lactation consults are so valuable. The conversation covers managing engorgement, understanding low supply, introducing bottles smoothly, selecting the right flange sizes, colic, and navigating potential food intolerances without unnecessarily restricting your diet. Connect with Brittani on Instagram @milkacademyco or visit themilkacademy.com. Have questions or topics you want us to cover? Reach out on Instagram @chattydoulas. Our DMs are always open! Please rate, review, and subscribe to support the show.

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, we sit down with Raia Davis, a doula and movement specialist, to discuss exercise during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Raia explains how strength training, mobility, and alignment improve labor endurance, open up pelvic space, and support recovery after baby arrives. We talk about core movement patterns, finding the balance between challenging your body and overexerting, and practical positions to optimize space in early labor, including techniques for pelvic floor relaxation. Raia also shares details about her online prenatal and postpartum movement membership launching October 3rd. Connect with Raia on Instagram @raiadavis or visit bodyandsoldoula.com. Have questions or topics you want us to cover in a future episode? Reach out on Instagram @chattydoulas. Our DMs are always open! Please rate, review, and subscribe to support the show.

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, we dive deep into the internet's wild world of pregnancy and birth trends. From viral social media dances and sea moss to "belly-only" pregnancy myths, we separate helpful, grounded practices from pure clickbait. Have questions about a birth trend you saw online or want us to cover a specific topic in an upcoming episode? Reach out to us via Instagram @chattydoulas—our DMs are open! If you enjoyed this conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to help support the show.

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, we break down everything you need to know about getting an epidural. Whether it is your Plan A or a game-time decision for much-needed rest, we unpack how to use an epidural as an effective tool rather than viewing it as a complete "off switch." From understanding sensory expectations to navigating hospital culture, this conversation gives expectant parents an empowering, honest guide to advocating for their birthing preferences. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to Chatty Doulas wherever you listen to podcasts—it helps other expectant parents find us! Thanks so much for your support!

What is it really like to carry a baby for another family? In this episode of Chatty Doulas we sit down with Dacia Celis—a Denver-based doula, childbirth educator, and placenta encapsulator with Intuitive Birth—to unpack the complex, heartwarming, and eye-opening reality of gestational surrogacy. Dacia shares her personal story of stepping into surrogacy: from initial psychological evaluations and agency matching to navigating legal contracts and intense hormone cycles. Together, they discuss: The screening process, background checks, and criteria required for surrogates. The matching process and what it’s like to build a relationship with intended parents. The emotional and physical dynamics of postpartum recovery, milk pumping, and scar healing without taking a baby home. How a 26-hour labor and unexpected C-section ultimately inspired Dacia to step into birth work herself. Practical advice for anyone considering becoming a surrogate or supporting clients through a surrogacy journey. Whether you are curious about gestational surrogacy, exploring family-building options, or interested in the unique postpartum needs of surrogate mothers, this episode offers an honest, heartfelt look at the power of helping create a family.

The secret is out! On this episode of Chatty Doulas, we are celebrating a very special announcement—our very own Emily is pregnant and navigating her first trimester! Join the doulas for a real, unfiltered conversation on how to actually survive those early weeks of pregnancy. We dive deep into: The Sharing Dilemma: Deciding when, how, and who to tell about your pregnancy (and why telling complete strangers at Walmart is totally valid). Early Signs & Symptoms: Managing extreme fatigue, electrical-feeling cramps, midnight snacks for morning sickness, and 40-second middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. Building Your Care Team: Navigating the 8-to-12-week wait for your first OB/midwife appointment, alternative options, and using doulas, pelvic floor PTs, and community groups early on. First Trimester Realities: Practicing self-compassion, letting go of fitness expectations, dealing with food/smell aversions, and myth-busting coffee, sushi, and prenatal vitamins. Whether you're peeing on a dollar-store stick, trying to tame first-trimester anxiety, or just here to celebrate with us, grab a cup of NORA tea and tune in!

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, Taylor shares her journey through a sudden, last-minute induction after developing gestational hypertension. Originally planning a water birth, she walks us through her rapid unmedicated labor, an unexpected emergency D&C due to a retained placenta, and her ongoing postpartum recovery with pelvic organ prolapse. It’s a deeply honest conversation on the value of processing intrusive thoughts, and finding true empowerment when birth doesn't go according to plan.