Doulas, Nurses, and Midwives, Oh My! The Different Paths to Doula Work and Beyond.
Your Doula BFF
Best friend, if you loved the birth scene in health class, chances are you’re a doula. Today I’m joined by 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...
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NICU Awareness Month - Our Story + Some Advice
Your Doula BFF
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...
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BFF Guide To Becoming A Doula
Your Doula BFF
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...
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When Should I Labor At Home?
Your Doula BFF
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...
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Can We Talk About Medication?
Your Doula BFF
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...
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Everything You Need To Know About Introducing Solids w/JoEllen Noble
Your Doula BFF
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. ...
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No, It's Not Normal To Pee When You Sneeze (and Other Things You Should Know About Your Pelvic Floor) w/ Stacey Hendricks
Your Doula BFF
Turns out, dribbling when you sneeze (or run or jump), uncomfortable sex, and even pelvic organ prolapse are not normal and just par for the course after baby. If your algorithm is anything like mine, you’ve seen countless TikToks about the “mom squeeze,” your mom, your aunts and your grandmothers told you about bladder leaks, and even though I’m on a personal mission to co-opt Depends for postpartum bleeding… we know why they exist in the first place. It’s no wonder we’ve all been led to believe that bladder (even fecal) incontinence is normal after having one or more babies. ...
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Should I Say Yes To Induction?
Your Doula BFF
There are tons of options when it comes to induction of labor. Choosing which method, or to induce at all, is easier with this super easy tool. Best friend, I know how overwhelming late pregnancy can be. You’re ready to meet your baby, you’re uncomfortable, and your provider is offering a way to jump the line. Induction. But how do you know if induction is right for you? Would you believe there is a super simple tool to help you answer that very question? In today’s episode, you’ll learn: What is induction of labor and why might people choose to do it? Various induction methods. ...
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How To Get Your Newborn To Sleep... Tonight (plus my favorite products for a good night's rest)
Your Doula BFF
ABCs are supposed to be easy, right? This whole sleeping babies Alone, on their Back, in their Crib sounds great in theory, but how in the heck does one get a newborn to actually do it? Well, best friend, I’m here to tell you! I know they seem intimidating, but newborns are just tiny little humans who like the same things most fully grown humans do when it comes to sleep. I’ve been helping babies learn to sleep for over a decade and I’ve yet to find one who doesn’t respond well to the things we’ll discuss in this super quick, straight-to-the-point BONUS episode. You’ll learn: ...
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How to Write a Birth Plan and Three Reasons Why You Want One
Your Doula BFF
If you’ve been pregnant in the last decade, you’ve heard about birth plans. And if you’re pregnant right now… I’m willing to bet you’re not all that excited about the prospect of drafting one. Friends, I’m here to tell y’all…birth plans have been seriously misunderstood. From the nurse I once met who refused to take my client’s birth plan because it was “bad juju,” to the student in my childbirth education class who fully intended to blow her plan up into a poster sized piece of armor… folks are missing the point. Birth plans are a super functional tool that, if used...
info_outlineWhat do I need to know before giving birth? What should I pack in the hospital bag? Should I have a homebirth? Is an epidural right for me? How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? How can I teach my baby to sleep? These are just a few of the questions veteran doula and childbirth educator, Emily Johnson, discusses on the Your Doula BFF Podcast. After more than 13 years in the birth and parenting industry, Emily is sharing everything she’s learned about trying to conceive, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum topics, and so much more. Every episode is dedicated to leaving the listener with unbiased, tried-and-true guidance and expert recommendations from OBs, midwives, lactation consultants, nurses, physical therapists, just to name a few. Discover why hundreds of families have hired Emily as their doula, and experience what it's like to have a best friend… who happens to be a doula.
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For more about Your Doula BFF, visit https://www.yourdoulabff.com
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