Wed, 20 December 2017
Thérèse spends time talking to Valerie Drews who is a birth doula in the Chicago area (http://www.sacred-pregnancy.com/ ),about her experience being a doula for her sister's births. Is it hard to stay in the role as doula when you are also a family member? Her sister/client, Nichole Oakapal joins the conversation to give her perspective. |
Wed, 13 December 2017
Dana Jarmon shares her birth story with Thérèse. Dana a birth doula herself, discusses the impact of having a doula present at her birth and also how it may have informed her own doula practice. www.kindredspiritsdoula.com. |
Wed, 29 November 2017
Thérèse has a conversation with Heather Self, a birth doula who had an extremely traumatic birth and the impact it has had on her practice as a doula. |
Tue, 21 November 2017
It's been a long time since our last podcast and Thérèse takes a few moments to say hello again and talk about some of the lessons learned on her journey this past summer. |
Wed, 6 September 2017
Thérèse has a conversation with Emily Bruno, a Certified Birth Doula and one of the owners of My Birth in Richmond VA about how to best support a client who is planning to have a VBAC. |
Thu, 3 August 2017
Thérèse has a conversation with Karry Wolf Anderson, a doula in the Chicago area. They discuss Karry's life as a mother, wife, doula and massage therapist and how she balances it all throughout these years of being active in birth work. |
Thu, 27 July 2017
Thérèse continues her conversation with Cary York, a lactation consultant about how we can support a person who is having latch issues as well as, the different postions that can be used while breastfeeding. |
Wed, 12 July 2017
Thérèse talks with Cary York, a lactation consultant about undisturbed breastfeeding, what it looks like and how it can be protected in that first hour and the days after birth |
Wed, 5 July 2017
Thérèse talks with Cheyenne Varner cheyennevarner.com about an article she recently wrote entitled, "8 Things to Know About Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice". |
Thu, 8 June 2017
Thérèse talks with Emily Landry, www.emilylandrydoula.com, from Tulsa Ok about a service she offers to new doulas, doula mentorship. |
Wed, 24 May 2017
Thérèse talks with Jocelyn Alt, a certified professional birth doula in Seattle how has helped to start a successful hospital doula program where the doulas get paid a living wage and and the clients and staff reap the benefits as well. |
Thu, 18 May 2017
Thérèse and Melanie spend time together talking about the toLabor doula workshops, how they help to emulate the spirit, the intention necessary in birth work and how they may help to transform our own personal lives. |
Thu, 27 April 2017
Thérèse talks with Jen Kamel the creator and director of VBACFacts.com about the true risks of a VBAC, what does the evidence show, what are the practices in place, why are these practices in place and so much more. |
Wed, 19 April 2017
Thérèse talks with the Debby Prudhomme & Melissa Gutierrez Nelson from the non-profit organization Everyday Miracles. This Minneapolis MN based organization provide free birth doula services and classes to any pregnant woman on medicad. |
Thu, 13 April 2017
Thérèse and Melanie have a conversation wth Kate, a doula from Pennsylvania who faced an unexpected and difficult situation with their clients in the midst of their labor |
Thu, 23 March 2017
Thérèse continue her dialogue with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginning, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women. |
Wed, 15 March 2017
Thérèse speaks with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginngs, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women. |
Thu, 2 March 2017
Thérèse and Melanie speak with Sarah Howell a NICU nurse at a large city hopstal and gives insights on how a doula can help negoitate that time with and for their clients. |
Wed, 22 February 2017
Thérèse speaks with guest, Alice Wheeler who is a doula in a federally qualified community health center in Lancaster, PA |
Thu, 16 February 2017
Thérèse continues her conversation with Anne about a labor and it's unexpected turn of events. |
Thu, 9 February 2017
Thérèse talks with Anne about her life as a doula while balancing other jobs at the same time. Anne shares an experience she had in a labor and it's unexpected turn. |
Thu, 2 February 2017
Thérèse continues her conversation with Dr Jodi Brown an obstetrician in Vermont who began her birth work as a birth doula. |
Wed, 25 January 2017
Thérèse has a conversation with Dr Jodi Brown an obstetrician in Vermont who began her birth work as a birth doula. |
Thu, 22 December 2016
This week we bring you a repeat of Episode #10 Being a doula is rewarding but can be incredibly draining. Too many of us fail to take care of ourselves as we work so hard to take care of others. Thérèse and Sarah discuss setting appropriate boundaries and standards of self-care for doulas to protect both the birth experience and their own work-life harmony. |
Wed, 14 December 2016
Thérèse has a conversation with Stacie Scott, a labor and delivery nurse in Richmond VA. Stacie speaks to what it is like to be a nurse, insghts about the system and how doulas and nurses can best work together |
Thu, 8 December 2016
Thérèse and Melanie discuss the importance of every doula having a contract beginnng with the first birth they attend and some important clauses that they want to make sure are included and communicated wth their clients. Contractions are for everyone's protection and a necessary aspect of professionalism. |
Wed, 23 November 2016
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Thérèse offers listeners a moment of reflection through a loving-kindness meditation, we all need compassion. |
Wed, 16 November 2016
Thérèse continues her conversation with Carol Wade from Earth Island Herbs. Carol is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and a nutritional counselor with over 20 years of experience. |
Thu, 10 November 2016
Thérèse has a conversation with Carol Wade from Earth Island Herbs. Carol is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and a nutritional counselor with over 20 years of experience. |
Thu, 27 October 2016
Thérèse and Melanie have an update from a listener's question and they answer a few more questions. |
Thu, 20 October 2016
Thérèse and Melanie speak with guest, Lisa Chin about the fourth trimester, why she is so passionate about it, what she learned through her own expeirences and what she has created to help others who have options and choices for their time after birth. |
Fri, 7 October 2016
ToRaise Classic: How Does a Doula Prepare Their Client for the Realities of Their Birth Setting and Their Care Provider
This week we bring you a repeat of Episode 52. Thérèse and Melanie discuss the important topic of how a doula negotiates the conversation with their client about their care provider's reputation both statistically and anecdotally as well as the facility that they plan to birth in. Is it your role? What is your responsibility? |
Wed, 28 September 2016
Thérèse and Melanie discuss the topic of birth shame. Many who give birth differently then what they have envisioned, feel a sense of shame after their expereince. What causes this feeling? What as a doula, can you do to support clients better to avoid this feeling if possible? What as a culture can we do to reduce this risk of shaming continuance? |
Thu, 22 September 2016
Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question about the use of the foley bulb as a method of induction. They also address when is the "right" time to enter a client's labor that has begun with an induction and how long do you stay after a cesarean birth. |
Thu, 15 September 2016
Thérèse and Melanie talk with Elizabeth Theriault, a woman who envisioned a beautiful breastfeeding experience with her new baby that became an emotional and physical roller coaster ride due to low milk supply. Elizabeth talks openly about her journey to understanding that sometimes a woman is not able to solely breastfeed and the whys may not be entirely known. A very important listen. |
Wed, 7 September 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Karla Helbert, LPC about perinatal loss and how best to support clients who have a pregnancy year loss. |
Wed, 31 August 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Sue Ellen about a home birth to hospital birth transfer she recently attended. |
Tue, 23 August 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Rachel who shares her birth story and her experience having a doula for support. |
Tue, 16 August 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Nicole Link-Troen a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist about the history of the ingestion of placentas, the whys, the hows and how to approach this topic with your clients. |
Wed, 3 August 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Emma O'Brien, a toLabor trained doula and herbalist about how doulas can best serve and support the LGBT client. |
Thu, 28 July 2016
Joy Outland Brock, LCSW, a toLabor trained doula join Thérèse and Melanie once again to talk about how to support clients with perinatal mood disorders. |
Wed, 20 July 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Joy Outland Brock, LCSW, a toLabor trained doula about perinatal mood disorders, the different categories and how to identify them. |
Wed, 13 July 2016
Thérèse and Melanie talk with Rachel a doula from Arizona about a recent birth she attended. |
Wed, 6 July 2016
Epsiode 79 - A Conversation with Cristin Pascucci from Birth Monolopy & Expsoing the Silence Project
Thérèse and Melanie talk with Cristin Pascucci about ACOG's debate at their annual meeting in regard to induction for all women at 39 weeks. |
Wed, 29 June 2016
Thérèse interviews 3 doulas who began in solo practice but who have now expanded their business to include other doulas and other services. |
Wed, 22 June 2016
Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question on how to support a client who has intervetions. |
Wed, 15 June 2016
Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Melissa Yeager, a toLabor Certified Professional Birth Doula about circumcision and boundary lines. |
Wed, 8 June 2016
Former podcast moderator Sarah Allen-Short join Therese and Melanie to discuss input from listeners in regard to Episode 71, The Spirit of Beig a Doula |
Wed, 1 June 2016
Sarah Allen-Short joins Melanie to have a talk about Thérèse and what she is facing currently. |
Wed, 25 May 2016
Thérèse turns the interview table on Melanie. They discusses how Melanie came itno birth work and how it has evolved into a full time career. |
Wed, 18 May 2016
Case Study:Marie from Florida talk with Thérèse and Melanie about a situation she had with a client that raised a lot of questions for her in regard to defining her role and her boundary lines. |
Wed, 11 May 2016
Thérèse and Melanie have a conversation about the spirit of being a doula and maintaining your integrity. |
Tue, 23 February 2016
Thérèse and Melanie share stories while discussing birth work and what it has unexpectedly brought into their lives. |
Tue, 9 February 2016
Thérèse and Melanie record live at the RVA Birth Event 2016. Listen to their conversation with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein and numerous guests who stop by to chat. |
Wed, 20 January 2016
Sarah and Therese discuss with Marcia a labor and birth that she attended 2 years ago that emotionally took its toll on her related to her client's reaction to her in the postpartum period. |
Wed, 13 January 2016
Thérèse and Melanie discuss a listener's dilemma who cannot figure out how to cover all of the important topics during her prenatal visits with her clients. |
Wed, 30 December 2015
Happy New Year! The ladies are on a much-deserved break but didn't want you all to go without. Here's a ToRaise Flashback in which Sarah and Thérèse talk about the challenges and joys of a doula's on-call existence. Enjoy! |
Thu, 10 December 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss one of the most common challenges of a doula, when do you go be with your client in labor? Is it ok to come and then go? How do you know? Is there a formula for this ongoing circumstance? By discussing 2 births that Melaine recently attended, examples are shown as to how you can perhaps have more clarity on this somewhat mysterious predicament. |
Wed, 2 December 2015
Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question in regard to episiotomies vs tears, is it better to be cut by a PCP or to allow the body to tear on its own? Which heals better? |
Wed, 11 November 2015
Thérèse and Melanie welcome Jennie Jospeh, LM, CPM of Commonsense Childbirth based in Orlando FL to discuss racial dispartities in maternal healthcare. Jennie has been working tirelessly to provide access to care to pregnant women, with a focus on the African American population, in hopes of reducing the infant mortality rate by reducing premature births and the number of low birth wieight babies being born. She shares with the listeners her understanding of the situation and her ideas and solutions to help change this life and death situation of so many babies and mothers. www.commonsensechildbirth.org |
Tue, 3 November 2015
Episode 63 - How to Talk to Your Clients Prenatally About Their Construct of Birth Based on Familial & Cultural Stories
Thérèse and Melanie talk about the importance of speaking with your client, both the pregnant woman and her partner about what they have been told about their birth, what their perspectives and beliefs are.and how the culture at large can impact these constructs. |
Thu, 22 October 2015
Thérèse and Melanie welcome Sarah from Texas to discuss a client who has had 2 cesareans after two labors, a planned cesarean and now is attempting a VBAC. |
Tue, 13 October 2015
Thérèse and Melanie talk about how to discuss and help sort out who, if anyone their client wants to invite to their birth. If someone is invited, what conversations can take place to help make this is a good experience for all. What if someone assumes they are invited, how is this negotiated. |
Thu, 8 October 2015
Episode 60 - Talking to Your Clients About Their Plans in Regard to Their Children Attending the Birth
Thérèse and Melanie discuss whether it is appropiate for children to attend a birth. If a parent wants a child to participate, how do they best prepare that child so the birth will be the best experience for all. |
Tue, 29 September 2015
Thérèse and Melanie invite two partners/husbands into the studio to discuss the role of supporting an active doula. What does it take? What are the downsides of this role? What have they learned along the way? What have they found works and doesn't work. An excelelnt and honest look of the impact of this work on personal relationships |
Tue, 22 September 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss a whether having a child is a prequisite to being a doula? What if you become pregnant , should you continue offering services while pregnant and if so, when do you take a pause? When do you return? Can you take your baby with you to a birth? |
Tue, 15 September 2015
Episode 57 - Pelvic Floor Health, A Conversation with Lynn Shulte-Leech, Physical Therapist and Energetic Bodyworker
Thérèse and Melanie talk to physical therapist Lynn Shulte-Leech about how to help women understand the importance of knowing the state of their pelvic floor muscles in order for them to have the possibility of a smoother labor, birth and postpartum. Visit www.intuitivehandpt.com to learn more. |
Tue, 8 September 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss a listener's question who is working with a client where there is no partner involved. Her mother will be there for the delivery and in the interview the client shared that they have a pretty tense relationship. |
Tue, 1 September 2015
Thérèse and Sarah talk to artist and author Susan Singer about her book, Birth Affirmations and what a powerful and useful tool affirmations and visualizations can have on a person's pregnancy, birth and into the postpartum. Susan's book is available at www.BirthAffirmationsBook.com, receive a 10% discount by entering toLabor when checking out. |
Wed, 26 August 2015
Sarah Juliusson from www.thewebsitedoula.com joins Thérèse and Sarah in discussing how important the homepage of your website is for your birth businesses and the e-book she has created to help you know all that you need to know. |
Tue, 18 August 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss what a doula would do if she meets a client for the first time in labor (volunteer program, on call doula or L&D nurse/doula). What are the best questions/discussions to have if you meet them early on in labor or in an induction? What about if they are in transition? |
Wed, 12 August 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss the important topic of how a doula negotiates the conversation with their client about their care provider's reputation both statistically and anecdotally as well as, the facility that they plan to birth in. Is it your role? What is your responsibility? |
Tue, 4 August 2015
Thérèse and Melanie talk with a listener from Idaho, Heather, who is looking for examples of how to help a mom when she is floundering in the intensity of transition. How do you have a "take charge" attitide in order to calm her, give her support, and help her move forward? |
Wed, 8 July 2015
Thérèse and Melanie talk with two toLabor Certified Professional Doulas about boundary lines with clients, how they support one another for births as well as being one another's doula for emotional support. |
Wed, 1 July 2015
Thérèse and Melanie answer a question from a listener in Isarel who wonders about the importance of having a mulititude of skils to offer your client or is emotional support the most important? What percent of doula work is emotional and psychological support? What percent is based on |
Wed, 1 July 2015
Thérèse and Melanie answer a question from a listener in Isarel who wonders about the importance of having a mulititude of skils to offer your client or is emotional support the most important? What percent of doula work is emotional and psychological support? What percent is based on
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Wed, 24 June 2015
Thérèse and Melanie discuss what the role of a doula is from the time from the birth of the baby until the baby's first latch. |
Tue, 16 June 2015
Thérèse and Melanie focus on the important role a doula plays in helping to create a more realsitic and smoother pathway for their client's breastfeeding experience in the prenatal period. |
Wed, 10 June 2015
Thérèse and Melanie talk about what to do when you are excited to begin the work of being a doula but you areun sure where to find clients and how. They also discuss their thoughts on how to conduct your interview appointment---where, who, what to bring, how long, etc. Good listen for experienced doulas as well. |
Wed, 3 June 2015
Thérèse and Melanie talk to women's childbirth advocate Cristen Pascucci (Improving Birth and Birth Monopoly) and professional photographer/doula Lindsay Askins (Spot of Serendipity) are driving from San Francisco to Philadelphia, stopping along the way to meet and photograph the women of America who have experienced and witnessed traumatic birth and obstetric violence. |
Wed, 27 May 2015
Thérèse and Sarah welcome Melanie Headley, the new co-host of the podcast, and the three women talk about doula burnout, how to re-energize, and how to know when it's time to walk away. |
Wed, 20 May 2015
Violet, an experienced birth attendant calls to talk to Therese and Sarah about a client who has trouble relaxing into labor and how best to support her. |
Wed, 13 May 2015
Thérèse talks to Sarah about her view of birth as a human right and a civil right, and the role of birth workers in supporting those rights. |
Tue, 28 April 2015
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Tue, 14 April 2015
Therese takes a question about setting up a virtual doula practice, and Sarah and Therese talk about working with hospitalists. |
Thu, 26 March 2015
Therese and Sarah talk to Anne from Baltimore, who is still working to process a difficult birth from several months ago that involved a number of interventions and a very long pushing stage. Anne talks to Therese about her role in what was a fairly traumatic experience for her client. |
Fri, 20 March 2015
Sarah and Therese talk about how water can be used effectively in a labor for pain relief and even labor augmentation. |
Wed, 11 March 2015
Therese and Sarah go over some of the items and tools that might be useful to take to a birth at a home or a birthing center and prioritize those items that are most useful. |
Fri, 13 February 2015
Sarah and Therese talk about helping clients face the potential for loss in birth. |
Thu, 29 January 2015
Therese and Sarah talk about working with a backup, financial arrangements with other doulas, and situations you may face that would necessitate a backup. |
Wed, 7 January 2015
Jenny from Michigan joins Therese and Sarah to talk about supporting type A moms who have a hard time letting go and surrendering to labor. |
Wed, 10 December 2014
Being on call is one of the hardest aspects of doula life. As we head into the busiest holiday season in the US, Therese and Sarah talk about how to deal with being on call, practically, spiritually, and emotionally, an issue that affects us all year round but that can feel especially present during the winter. |
Wed, 3 December 2014
Therese and Sarah talk to Terri, a doula in San Diego who has a client who wants to try to VBAC with a breech baby and a bicornate, or heart-shaped uterus. Therese helps Terri sort out the options and choices she can give her client. |
Tue, 25 November 2014
Most doulas will eventually have a client who is angry at them, whether fairly or unfairly. Therese and Sarah talk about how to handle being blamed for something you feel is not your fault and also how to grapple with the realization that you did make mistakes and that a client has legitimate complaints. |
Wed, 12 November 2014
How to talk to and support clients after a birth that didn't go as they planned and how to balance your vision of how the client's birth went with theirs. |
Fri, 7 November 2014
Sarah and Therese talk to Erica, an experienced postpartum doula about the role of the postpartum doula in supporting families. |
Wed, 29 October 2014
Sarah and Therese discuss the realities of competitive attitudes in birth work especially among doulas and midwifes. |
Wed, 22 October 2014
Sarah and Therese discuss the importance of the postpartum visit. |
Fri, 17 October 2014
Sarah and Therese discuss ways for doulas to work constructively within the hospital setting to make sure their clients' voices are heard. |
Fri, 3 October 2014
Sarah and Therese discuss prenatal visits. |