The Birth Geeks' podcast
Being a childbirth professional can make everyday conversations awkward and your life can be really hard for people to understand. Twice a month, Robin Elise Weiss and Hillary Melchiors geek out with each other and some brilliant guests about all things childbirth related. If you are a childbirth professional trying to make change while keeping your business afloat and hopefully thriving, you’ve found your people!
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Pricing Your Doula Services: Tips for Longevity and Financial Stability
09/30/2024
Pricing Your Doula Services: Tips for Longevity and Financial Stability
Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Birth Geeks, where we delve into practical and essential topics for doulas. In this episode, TBG 56, join hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss as they navigate the complex world of setting and raising doula fees. Discover why it’s crucial to understand your value and charge sustainably, how cost of living impacts your rates, and the importance of balancing personal financial goals to avoid burnout. We'll also discuss how to respond to client pushback about fees, strategies for offering discounts without undervaluing your services, and recognizing when it’s time to increase your fees. With insights into tailoring service packages, maintaining transparent communication, and advocating for proper compensation, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you thrive in your doula career. Stay tuned as we empower you to confidently set and adjust your rates, ensuring both your well-being and that of your clients. Overview Discussion on doulas raising fees for sustainable income. Importance of charging a livable wage and recognizing when to adjust rates. Factors for increasing rates include: Experience from multiple births. Rising living costs. Preventing burnout and ensuring job satisfaction. Full calendar indicating high demand. Timing for rate increases should focus on future bookings. Awareness of local market rates and community positioning is essential. New skills or certifications can justify fee hikes. Comparison of fee structures across regions, e.g., California. Personal financial goals are crucial to avoid burnout. Use "doula-of-fee algebra" for pricing strategy. Consider yearly expenses in financial planning. Strategies for discussing rate increases with returning clients. Clearly explain value and handle objections confidently. Mistakes are part of business growth. Confidently state fees without justification to unsuitable clients. Advocate for fair compensation for doula work. Consider tiered packages or early signing incentives. Maintain prenatal visits for effective support. Regularly review rates based on experience and feedback. Communicate rate changes transparently and in advance. Prepare for pushback on fees with strategies. Prioritize financial security for mental health and sustainability. Utilize resources like doula fee calculators and cost of living data. Engage clients in discussions about fee adjustments. Links Mentioned in this Episode
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Back in Action: Catch Up with The Birth Geeks
09/30/2024
Back in Action: Catch Up with The Birth Geeks
Welcome back to The Birth Geeks podcast! In today's episode, hosts Hillary Melchiors and Robin Elise Weiss catch up after a long break and dive into a range of exciting updates and developments in the birth and doula community. They talk about Hillary's upcoming trip to France for the European Doula Network conference and reflect on their busy year, including Hillary's rebrand of her doula agency. From discussing the challenges of balancing doula work with personal life to sharing insights from recent conferences and legislative advocacy efforts, this episode is packed with valuable information and heartfelt moments. Stay tuned as they also hint at upcoming topics and interviews that will enrich the birth and doula community. Let's get started! Links mentioned in this show: Overview Hosts Hillary and Robin reconnect after a long break. They discuss a road trip from Louisville to Minneapolis. Hillary prepares for the in France. They reflect on their busy lives and roles in . Robin organized the for business management support. They share challenges doulas face in balancing passion and business. Hillary is involved in academic activities related to doulas. Both discuss personal challenges, including Hillary's house fire. They reflect on parenting and the transition to becoming empty nesters. A recent vacation sparked a desire for more travel and reading. The speaker advocates for doulas and perinatal mental health screening. They highlight legislative progress for doulas and maternal care improvement. The agency's rebranding and certification efforts are mentioned. Emphasis on community outreach and agency operations amid challenges. Upcoming plans include discussions on rebranding and financial sustainability. Excitement about interviews and research on perinatal mental health. The speaker shares a personal experience attending a memorial for Penny Simkin. Light-hearted discussion on fame preferences and humorous birth community anecdotes.
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Post Work Rituals
03/22/2023
Post Work Rituals
How do you stay awake on the drive home at 3am after leaving a long birth or postpartum shift? In this 47th episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast we talk about scream therapy, streaking through your house, our go-to meals and self-care routines. After helping our clients, a post-shift ritual is so important to shift your mind out of work mode and actually contributes to helping stave off burnout. Our tips and a few fun references are included in this episode!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/26188998
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Confidence
03/15/2023
Confidence
How do you define confidence for yourself? You may have a supercomputer in your pocket, but that still doesn’t mean that you have to know all the things or that all the things you can know are in there. In this episode we talk about “doula dysmorphia” and mastery development. There’s always something more to learn as a birth geek, but there are more important confidence boosting ways to learn than taking all the trainings and reading all the books. What bursts your confidence bubble and how does your sense of humor play into your work confidence, earned or otherwise.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/26188854
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Money Matters
03/09/2023
Money Matters
This episode is all about MONEY! We talk about all different ways that childbirth educators and doulas feel about money. What is your money mindset? Do you have an abundance mindset too? We talk about shortcuts to keeping good records and a few key moments that you need to recognize that you should ask for help from people who’ve been there. We also delve into multiple revenue streams and passive income as a childbirth professional. If you’re a birth professional entrepreneur, this episode is especially for you!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/26182047
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Pandemic Normal?
12/06/2022
Pandemic Normal?
In 2020, birth professionals were all navigating all kinds of shifting policies and ideas about how to keep safe while continuing to serve families as a novel virus and resulting pandemic emerged. As we close in on the 3rd year of learning and pivoting through it all, we’re seeing some things go “back to normal” and others remaining changed. In this episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast, Robin & Hillary talk about COVID changes that we’ve seen come and go. What is the science behind these changes and what is the new normal looking like where you are? We dive into our observations and frustrations with it all, while keeping in mind the structural, social, & policy perspectives that are shaping the way that birth workers approach their jobs now.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/25242213
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Pandemic Normal?
12/06/2022
Pandemic Normal?
In 2020, birth professionals were all navigating all kinds of shifting policies and ideas about how to keep safe while continuing to serve families as a novel virus and resulting pandemic emerged. As we close in on the 3rd year of learning and pivoting through it all, we’re seeing some things go “back to normal” and others remaining changed. In this episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast, Robin & Hillary talk about COVID changes that we’ve seen come and go. What is the science behind these changes and what is the new normal looking like where you are? We dive into our observations and frustrations with it all, while keeping in mind the structural, social, & policy perspectives that are shaping the way that birth workers approach their jobs now.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/25242207
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Infant Sleep with Ann Grauer
08/16/2022
Infant Sleep with Ann Grauer
New recommendations, old complaints, products, & all the evidence based resources our doula hearts could muster are packed into this episode with special guest Ann Grauer. We're so excited to be back to podcasting & thankful to Ann for being our first guest to return. It's time to get back to upgrading the conversation & renewing your birth professional moxie!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/24074193
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Infant Sleep with Ann Grauer
08/16/2022
Infant Sleep with Ann Grauer
New recommendations, old complaints, products, & all the evidence based resources our doula hearts could muster are packed into this episode with special guest Ann Grauer. We're so excited to be back to podcasting & thankful to Ann for being our first guest to return. It's time to get back to upgrading the conversation & renewing your birth professional moxie!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/24074190
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Creative Tech in Online Education
05/27/2021
Creative Tech in Online Education
Mallory Emerson and Sharon Muza from Creative & Confident join us today to talk about tech in online educational spaces and making the most of it to spice up your online offerings from childbirth classes to doula trainings, conference presentations to zoom meetings - don't get caught with dull CE again.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/19261805
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Episode 41: Pivot
12/15/2020
Episode 41: Pivot
2020 has pushed all childbirth professionals to pivot so much of what we have done before to adapt to the circumstances that most of us weren't really expecting. This whole year I have marveled at Robin's ability to pivot to teaching online, and this episode is full of resources for you to do the same and laughs at the trial and error that we have all been challenged to do this year. Bonus: lots of reading recommendations for your cozy winter at home!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/17205722
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Tia & Shannon from Doula Sense
11/13/2020
Tia & Shannon from Doula Sense
Robin interviews Tia & Shannon two east coast doulas with a new podcast: Doula Sense. They both have an enormous amount of experience and expertise when it comes to childbirth education, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding, and don't shy away from the hard topics and laughs.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/16799993
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Episode 39: Mandy Irby The Birth Nurse
10/23/2020
Episode 39: Mandy Irby The Birth Nurse
Nurses and doulas working together for culture change is a dream team, and we're breaking down what needs to change about hospital birth in this episode as well as career pivots, online teaching, and so much more in the birth world.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/16522349
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Episode 38: Elizabeth M. Johnson, MA
10/16/2020
Episode 38: Elizabeth M. Johnson, MA
Elizabeth M. Johnson talks to Dr. Hillary Melchiors about trauma informed care, empathy vs. kindness, and shifting her When Survivors Give Birth course online in this 38th episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/16435160
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Kelli Brien Talks About Being a Doula and.a Midwife
10/04/2020
Kelli Brien Talks About Being a Doula and.a Midwife
Kelli Brien talks about the many aspects that drew her to birth work and how she's moved within the system to help make it a just an equitable place for all birthing people.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/16264262
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Dr. Amy Brown Talks Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding
08/04/2020
Dr. Amy Brown Talks Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding
Dr. Amy Brown discusses working with families around choices for infant feeding, breastfeeding grief, and more!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/15478994
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Episode 35: Doula Dreams of Change
07/24/2020
Episode 35: Doula Dreams of Change
Ever dreamed of what you would say if someone asked you how to change things to improve maternity care? In this episode, we talk about being asked that exact question as doulas and scholars, and how we approach those answers. Hint: it doesn't just involve changing the pictures hanging on the walls.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/15339809
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The Doula Darcy Talks About Marketing Your Birth Business
07/09/2020
The Doula Darcy Talks About Marketing Your Birth Business
Darcy Sauers is the founder of The Postpartum Doula Academy and has been a DONA certified postpartum doula since 2010. She talks to The Birth Geeks today to emphasize that we need to band together as birth workers – it’s about collaboration NOT competition. And Hillary and Darcy lament about how we spend a lot of time trying to explain what doulas do before we can ever get to the “hire me” phase!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/15144872
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Episode 33: Barbara Hotelling
07/01/2020
Episode 33: Barbara Hotelling
Training nursing students to be doulas helps them no matter where they end up working according to Barbara Hotelling. She talks all about the Duke-la program she helped start, creative ways to test for anemia in resource constrained places around the world, and so much more. You'll love this conversation between her and Robin on this 33rd episode of our podcast.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/15045362
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Conversation with Doula Denise Bolds
06/17/2020
Conversation with Doula Denise Bolds
We talk to Denise Bolds of Bold Doula in New York City. They talk about Denise’s journey to becoming a doula and being a Black doula and what that makes hospital staff think when she’s working with her clients. Denise explains how we’re always evolving and shares her outlook going forward. Enjoy our conversation with the amazing Denise Bolds.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/14863100
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Geeking Out With The VBAC Link
06/10/2020
Geeking Out With The VBAC Link
Meagen & Julie from The VBAC Link join us to talk about VBAC in a pandemic, special VBAC doula considerations, and how shifting landscapes make it even more important for processing traumatic past events so you can let go in the moment.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/14769932
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Episode 30: Virtual Experience
05/20/2020
Episode 30: Virtual Experience
Hillary & Robin chat from the comfort of their beds at home about their recent experiences working virtually: Hillary as a birth doula and Robin teaching new doulas and childbirth education. How is it easier? What makes it harder? What are we reading to help our mental health right now? Geeking out together from home definitely has its perks!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/14500049
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Episode 29: Erin Underwood Movement for Childbirth Professionals
05/06/2020
Episode 29: Erin Underwood Movement for Childbirth Professionals
Intentional movement can help childbirth professionals build strength, release stress, and increase their professional longevity, and Erin Underwood is passionate about helping us do all those things! Self-care doesn't have to stop when you are working with clients either, and she gives some great tips and tricks for things to avoid and to pay attention to especially when working long hours.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/14297780
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Taking Care of Yourself & Birth Business During COVID-19
04/23/2020
Taking Care of Yourself & Birth Business During COVID-19
How are you holding up and holding space for yourself as a childbirth professional during this pandemic? Are you pivoting quickly or finding yourself struggling to meet all kinds of new demands? Join us as we talk about what's going on with our businesses and learning as well as our favorite pandemic impulse purchases that are helping us with self-care. Hint: It is NOT toilet paper!
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/14108540
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Virtual Doula Business Planning with Nichole Joy
04/08/2020
Virtual Doula Business Planning with Nichole Joy
Shifting your doula services to offer virtual support requires some planning, and Nichole Joy is here to talk specifics! In this special bonus episode we discuss marketing, pricing, and more for your virtual doula services.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/13902989
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Episode 27 Debra Pascali-Bonaro
04/01/2020
Episode 27 Debra Pascali-Bonaro
Who knew orgasm was such a divisive word? Debra Pascali-Bonaro joins us for our 27th episode all about her work to bring pleasure back into the birthing and postpartum space. She discusses her newest book that is being released on April 9th too: The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Baby. This is a fantastic episode all about re-framing our thinking and approach to birth, and we just know you're gonna love listening.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/13805201
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Virtual Postpartum Doulas with Ann Grauer
03/30/2020
Virtual Postpartum Doulas with Ann Grauer
As we talk about the needs of a new family and how dealing with social distancing and various hospital policies make this period harder for families, we also need to address how a postpartum doula can be effective at helping new families when they may not be with them physically.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/13770458
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Being a Virtual Doula
03/28/2020
Being a Virtual Doula
Connie Sultana has been a doula for over 900 families and was the Director of Certification for DONA International for many years. Here she shares her thoughts, tips, and tricks on making the act of a virtual doula work for families in your care both during the pandemic and beyond.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/13742540
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Did My Water Break & Teaching Childbirth Classes Online
03/18/2020
Did My Water Break & Teaching Childbirth Classes Online
Join us as Sharon Muza talks about taking your childbirth classes online in the age of COVID-19, Robin and Hillary share their take on answering the "Did my water break?" question and share their handout for you to use with your clients. There's also links to updated information on maternity care in pandemics.
/episode/index/show/thebirthgeeks/id/13605659
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Augustine Colebrook Talks Midwifery & Social Justice
03/04/2020
Augustine Colebrook Talks Midwifery & Social Justice
Certified Professional Midwife Augustine Colebrook talks to Hillary about sustainable midwifery practice, traveling the world, social justice in the birth world, and so much more. She has such an important perspective to share about not just how we can do better in the US, but also about training, adversity, and why exporting the obstetrical model of care around the world is not a good idea even though it is happening. Robin also discusses what childbirth professionals need to know about the corona virus!
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