E30: How To Advocate For Yourself During Labor- 10 Doulas Share Their Best Advice

05/10/23 • 23 min

One of the most common things I hear when talking with women about their birth experiences is that they didn't know how to advocate for themselves going in. Whether they were overwhelmed by what they were feeling, or they were mistreated by the medical staff, they were unsure how to make themselves heard and respected.
In this episode, 10 doulas share their best piece of advice for advocating for yourself during labor. Listen, check out their websites, and follow them on social media. You'll learn a lot!
Psalms Frye- Peace and Compassion Birth Services
Anna- Dovely Doula
Tessa Maloney- Nourished With Tess
Morgan Owens- Morgan Owens Doula
Emily Baldwin- Kindred Souls Doula
Maureen- Milk Minute Podcast
Patricia- PatriciaGrenseman
Jess- Birthing Babies and Beyond

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undefined - E29 Stefanie: Trusting Your Support System During Birth- asphyxiation, potential traumatic birth, importance of strong support system

E29 Stefanie: Trusting Your Support System During Birth- asphyxiation, potential traumatic birth, importance of strong support system

Stefanie lives in Scandinavia where she raises her two boys. Throughout her journey into motherhood, she experienced the benefits of a health system where midwives are the forefront of pregnancy and birth.
Stefanie's first son asphyxiated right after being born. What could have been a traumatic event for her was not, due to her strong support system. Her birth team calmly handled the situation, while keeping her informed of what was going on. She felt heard, supported, and involved in her birth.
Stefanie also experienced the benefits of living in Scandinavia during her postpartum period. She was seen and visited multiple times, cared for, and supported during her transition into motherhood.
In this episode, Stefanie shares about the importance of trusting your birth team. If there isn't a mutual trust, there is great potential for birth trauma. She also shares about the benefits of living and giving birth in Denmark, even without family or close friends.
Stefaniefernandes.com
Raw and Real with Stefanie Fernandes

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E31 Maureen: Listening To Your Intuition- homebirth, stalled labor, breastfeeding struggles postpartum, giving birth as a midwife

Maureen Farrell is a lactation counselor, doula, herbalist, and homebirth midwife practicing in rural West Virginia. She is also the co-host of the Milk Minute podcast, which provides evidence-based and entertaining breastfeeding information.
Maureen had her first child at home before she became a midwife. Preparing for her first birth, she read a lot of books and thought that she needed to be calm and relaxed during her labor. She progressed fairly quickly and then stalled.
She felt frustrated that her relaxation techniques weren't working, and eventually gave in to her intuition. Maureen used her anger to push through the final moments of her labor and deliver her baby. She learned that there is no "right way" to manage pain during labor.
Maureen struggled postpartum with breastfeeding and feeling isolated. It was nearly impossible to see a lactation consultant where she lived, and it was hard to travel to visit friends or family. She and her partner decided to wait a few years before thinking about having another baby.
Maureen started training to become a midwife, and had just opened her own practice when she unexpectedly found out that she was pregnant again! This time she was able to draw on her previous experience and let go of what she thought was the "right way" to labor.
Listen in as Maureen gives an entertaining account of her two different labors and how she uses her experience to help her birthing clients.
Check out Maureen's podcast! Milk Minute Podcast