Episode 181: Core Doula Skills
Doulas of the Roundtable
Core doula skills shape the whole room, not your bag of tricks. You do not build strong support by collecting more tools. You build it through presence, attunement, communication, and timing, in real time, with real clients. These skills show up when things feel tense. When plans change. When your client looks at you for answers you cannot give. When the room speeds up and you feel your own nervous system kick up. They grow through experience, reflection, and repetition. You notice what you do when you feel unsure. You practice staying grounded. You say less, listen more, and choose your...
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Episode 180: Professional Identity
Doulas of the Roundtable
Professional Identity shapes how clients experience you, especially when things get hard. It shows up under pressure. In the room. In the moments you do not get to rehearse. This conversation is not about branding or personality. It is about how you practice. In this episode, we talk through: Why skill alone does not create trust How stress reveals your default way of working Four common practice anchors doulas lean into What happens when strengths over-express How unprocessed birth or postpartum medical trauma can quietly shape your work Why regulation and boundaries matter for both you and...
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Episode 179: Confidence
Doulas of the Roundtable
Confidence grows through action, not intention. Did you know that confidence as a process? You do not wake up with it. You build it by doing the work, taking a step of faith, and sometimes missing the mark. Confidence forms through experience, reflection, and repetition. It develops when you act, before you feel certain. Mistakes strengthen your judgment, and real growth happens when you keep showing up even after things do not go as planned. Waiting to feel confident keeps you stuck. Moving forward creates the confidence you are looking for. This conversation is for doulas who want to trust...
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Episode 178: Ready, Set, Go!
Doulas of the Roundtable
Readiness Is Not a Feeling In this episode, we talk about readiness and why waiting to feel confident keeps so many doulas stuck. Readiness is not a feeling. It is an action. We break down why readiness is built through experience, not certainty, and why fear does not mean you are unprepared. You’ll hear why mentorship alone does not create confidence, how real growth happens through doing, and what readiness actually looks like in birth, postpartum, education, and lactation support. If you have ever thought, “When I feel ready, I'll take the first step,” this episode is for you.
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Episode 177: Season 7 Wrap-Up
Doulas of the Roundtable
Doulas of the Roundtable wraps up season seven with a look back and a clear look ahead. In this episode, you hear our top ten most listened to episodes of all time and why these conversations continue to matter to doulas at every stage of practice. We also share an important update about the podcast. Eva will be stepping away from the show. We want to take a moment and honor Eva’s voice, insight, and role in shaping the podcast into what it is today! Moving forward, Angela will continue as the solo host of Doulas of the Roundtable. The focus remains the same. Honest conversations. Evidence...
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Episode 176: Revisited - What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Doula
Doulas of the Roundtable
Enjoy one of our most popular episodes to date. What do you wish you knew before becoming a doula? This is a question that we see frequently from those considering birth work or those who have just entered the field. Working with growing families is the part of the work that most have at least a loose idea about. But when I think about what I wish I knew it’s the practicalities that many often fail to consider. Living the on-call life. Pacing yourself when supporting families. What self-care actually looks like. These are just a few things that come immediately to mind as experienced...
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Episode175: Anticipating Client Needs
Doulas of the Roundtable
Many doulas feel pressure to bring a large bag of tools to each birth or postpartum shift. This pressure often leads to checklists and expectations. As a result, doulas may focus on doing instead of connection. This shift can weaken the attunement and emotional connection that shape strong doula support. True anticipation of client needs does not come from tools. Instead, it grows from presence and awareness. Doulas can watch body language, listen to tone, and notice small shifts in comfort. These skills help clients feel seen and supported rather than managed. Rigid expectations can also...
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Episode 174: Informed Consent with Hillary, The Pregnancy Nurse
Doulas of the Roundtable
Informed consent is one of the most essential and often misunderstood aspects of pregnancy and birth care. To help unpack this important topic, we are joined by Hillary, better known as The Pregnancy Nurse®.* Hillary brings nearly two decades of experience as a labor and delivery nurse and has been supporting families in clinical settings since 1997. She has guided thousands of birthing parents in person and reached millions more online through her evidence-based education and compassionate approach. Her mission is to help families feel informed, empowered, and confident as they prepare for...
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Episode 173: Supporting Friends & Family
Doulas of the Roundtable
Supporting family and friends as a doula can be both rewarding and complex. The personal connection you share makes it easy to overstep boundaries, give unsolicited advice, or slip out of your professional role. Maintaining the balance between being a loved one and being a doula requires awareness, restraint, and compassion. It means stepping back from the more intimate role you usually play and intentionally working within the doula’s scope of practice. In this episode, we talk about how to navigate these blurred lines while honoring the unique journey of the people closest to us. Just as...
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Episode 172: Coming Full Circle
Doulas of the Roundtable
Doula work often takes us on unexpected paths, and Eva’s journey is a perfect example of how growth and change can come full circle. Eva began her career as an independent contractor, supporting families through labor and postpartum. Over time, she became a doula trainer, sharing her knowledge and experience with others entering the profession. Eventually, she joined Angela as a business partner at Tucson Doulas, helping to grow and shape the agency into what it is today. Now, after years of leadership and teaching, Eva has stepped back from training and agency ownership to return to her...
info_outlineLow amniotic fluid, or oligohydramnios, is a topic doulas are likely to encounter in our work with clients, especially during the third trimester. Doulas and clients often question what low fluid levels mean, how they are diagnosed, and the clinical considerations involved.
It is important for doulas to understand risks associated with low amniotic fluid, potential causes, and the treatment options care providers may offer. We also discuss how this diagnosis can influence birth plans and what doulas should keep in mind when supporting clients through these decisions.
Tune in for an in-depth conversation designed to strengthen your knowledge and help you better support clients navigating this complicated situation.