The 3 Biggest Sleep Mistakes New Parents Make
Dear Doula
In this episode, I dive into the three biggest mistakes new parents make around sleep, how to avoid them. With over two decades of experience as a doula, I've seen it all when it comes to sleep struggles during the early days of parenting. I break down the misconceptions about newborn sleep, why nutrition is essential for building strong sleep foundations, and how expectations impact your rest as a family I also share practical tips on fostering your baby’s ability to self-soothe, setting gentle routines, and why tracking feedings and sleep habits can be a game-changer. You’ll hear...
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The Truth About Hiring Childcare in the U.S.: Rates, Roles, and What No One Tells You
Dear Doula
In this episode of Dear Doula, I break down the realities of finding quality postpartum and childcare in the US, including what you can expect to pay and what industry standards look like. I guide you through the differences between postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, and nannies. I share my insights from years in the industry, offering tips on how to find caregivers that truly fit your family's needs. I also talk about the evolving landscape of domestic work, including compensation ranges, work agreements, retainers, and new trends like rotational positions. You will learn why...
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Prepping for Pregnancy: Unlocking Hormonal Health with Dr. Shivani Amin
Dear Doula
In this episode of Dear Doula, Ι sit down with Dr. Shivani Amin, a functional medicine and women’s health specialist, to explore the root causes of hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and the vital role of minerals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium in women’s health. We discuss how simple shifts in habits, like proper breathwork, staying hydrated with quality water, and getting sunlight, can significantly improve wellbeing for women through every stage, from pre-pregnancy to postpartum. Dr. Amin shares her holistic approach, focusing on getting to the heart of health issues instead of...
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What Postpartum Recovery Really Looks Like (That No One Warns You About)
Dear Doula
In this episode, I sit down with birth doula and postpartum trainer Kaitlyn Wozniak to talk about postpartum recovery in a whole new way. Together, we unpack common myths and outdated expectations, like the “snap back” culture, and explore why postpartum should be treated as essential rehab, not just traditional exercise. We talk about shifting the focus from looks to real healing and functional strength. We cover everything from breathing techniques and pelvic floor health to the value of individualized care over one-size-fits-all advice. The conversation also dives into the emotional...
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Regression or Growth Spurt? How to Tell What’s Actually Going On With Your Baby’s Sleep
Dear Doula
In this episode of Dear Doula, I’m talking about something many parents experience but often struggle to understand. The sudden changes in their baby’s sleep. Is it a sleep regression, a growth spurt, or something else entirely? As a doula and sleep consultant who has supported families for many years, I see this confusion all the time. Babies suddenly waking more often at night, feeding differently, or becoming fussier than usual. These changes are often connected to developmental leaps, shifts in feeding needs, or the way a baby’s sleep cycles are maturing. In this episode, I break...
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What You ACTUALLY Need in the First 30 Days With Baby
Dear Doula
In this episode of Dear Doula, I’m sharing what I actually recommend parents have ready for the first days home with a newborn. As a postpartum doula and lactation consultant who has supported families for nearly two decades, I know how overwhelming those early days can feel. There are endless product lists, conflicting advice, and so much pressure to get everything right. The truth is that you do not need as much as you think. What you need most is support, rest, and a few thoughtfully chosen essentials. We talk about feeding, diapering, sleep, postpartum recovery, and the small...
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The Biggest Sleep Myths Parents Are Still Being Sold (and What Actually Helps)
Dear Doula
As a doula and newborn care specialist for over 20 years, I can tell you this with certainty : Parents are drowning in misinformation about sleep. From “sleep regressions” to teething, dream feeds, early rising, and even sleep supplements - there are so many myths circulating that it’s no wonder parents feel confused and exhausted. In this episode, I’m breaking down the most common newborn sleep myths and giving you something far more powerful than trendy advice: Clarity. Because newborn sleep varies widely, and while every baby is different, sleep is not random.It can absolutely...
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Raising Children in 2026: The Emotional Load of Parenting, Intentional Living, and Putting Yourself Back on the List
Dear Doula
Welcome to Season 4 of Dear Doula. After an intentional break, I’m back to talk about the emotional load of parenting and how the way we frame it shapes our experience. Modern parenting is often painted as exhausting and miserable, and I think it’s worth questioning what that mindset does to us and our families. In this episode, I share why 2025 felt overwhelming for me and what I’m choosing to do differently in 2026—being more intentional, putting myself back on my own list, and focusing on connection over survival. Resources: • Follow me on Instagram: • Follow the podcast:...
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Intimacy After Childbirth: How to Get Your Groove Back with Kiana Reeves
Dear Doula
TW: This episode contains adult content of a sexual nature As a doula, I've had countless conversations with new parents navigating the complexities of intimacy after childbirth. Whether it’s regaining libido, feeling physically or emotionally more comfortable having sex, or adjusting to the significant hormonal shifts postpartum, there's a lot tied into it. This week, I’m joined by one of the best people in the business to help me unpack these issues: somatic sex educator Kiana Reeves. Our conversation highlights the importance of patience, understanding, and open...
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An Attorney’s Guide to Safer Childbirth with Gina Mundy
Dear Doula
TW: If you have lost a child, had birth complications, or know someone who has, please be aware that some of those themes will be discussed in this week's show. Many of us dream of the day that you finally get to meet your baby. Labor and delivery is one of the most powerful, life-changing events not only for you, but for your family too. And so getting ready for that moment to make sure that you deliver a healthy baby, and that nothing happens to your baby during childbirth is so incredibly important. Gina Mundy is a childbirth attorney and mother of three. After spending...
info_outlineTrans people’s lives are an almost constant part of our media narrative, yet the decontextualization of trans issues can often distort our view of the trans experience. While we’re seeing an increasing desire for people to be inclusive, not enough action is being taken to support marginalized families.
I invited Nat Vikitsreth, a trans rights activist and founder of Come back to Care, a company which helps parents to incorporate social justice in their daily parenting, while reparenting their inner child. Nat gives us a saddening insight into the erasure that trans families feel when trans-affirming care is lacking. In a society which consistently feels the need to put people in boxes, we are creating anxieties for trans people around being misgendered or questioned about the validity of their humanity.
It is only through normalizing conversations around gender spectrum that we will enable our children to feel secure in living out who they want to be. In this episode, we explore how we can begin to incorporate social justice into our parenting, so that our children know that the full expression of who they are is available to them and is supported.
Connect with Nat:
Visit her website: comebacktocare.com
Check out The Come Back to Care Podcast
You can follow Brandi and her work @deardouapodcast on IG, @brandi_jordan_official IG, and send questions, comments and platitudes to brandi@deardoulapodcast.com. Have a question you want Brandi to answer? Shoot her an email or a DM and she might include it on her next podcast episode!
If you are looking for support with your children, you can reach out to us at The Cradle Company for more information on hiring a parenting or baby specialist.
If you appreciate Dear Doula, please take a minute to subscribe, rate and review!
Time Stamps
01:13 - Brandi introduces her special guest Nat Vikitsreth, who tells us more about the work she does and her company Come Back to Care
04:22 - We hear Nat’s opinion on people who believe trans-inclusive language is “erasing women”.
05:57 - Brandi gives an analogy to help us understand why some people struggle to properly address their usage of pronouns.
07:14 - We find out what trans families are experiencing when they receive services from people who aren't being culturally sensitive or doing the work to understand how to support their clients.
09:00 - Brandi and Nat discuss the tendency for people to center their own comfort ahead of the dignity and humanity of the person in front of you.
11:10 - Nat tells us how she talks to her clients about having the conversation around gender with children.
12:53 - Nat talks about how accepted the trans community is in Thai culture.
14:15 - Brandi asks about the concern that parents have about somehow influencing the child’s choice by having the conversation about gender at such a young age.
16:47 - Nat shares why you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable in having this conversation.
21:44 - Brandi and Nat discuss the importance of community in doing the work around gender.
26:48 - We learn how to respond if we feel like we don’t have the answers.