62. Beyond Birth: The Power of Postpartum Care, Doula Advocacy + Baby Sleep with Sara Skiles

We’re honored to welcome Sara Skiles to the podcast today!Sara Skiles, CD, CPSC is the owner and Family Care Coordinator at Wichita Doula, and also a certified doula, pediatric sleep consultant, and childbirth educator. Sara is the mother of two teen sons and has extensive training, skills and personal experience in breastfeeding, birth options, comfort techniques, and all facets of infant care and sleep. She holds current certifications in doula work, pediatric sleep, advanced newborn care, childbirth education, and other related skills.Sara is proud of her past work in overcoming perinatal anxiety/OCD and depression. One of her biggest passions is helping other new parents get the education, practical help, & the resources they need to have positive postpartum experiences.In today’s conversation, Sara shares how her own supported birth experience with a doula and midwife changed the trajectory of her life. This ultimately led her into doula work, and eventually, postpartum and sleep support. As she honestly shares “there’s no epidural for the six weeks after birth!” We also dive into what a doula actually does, what postpartum care looks like, the sleep support Sara provides her clients as a pediatric sleep consultant, how babies can learn to put themselves to sleep in a respectful & holistic way, and more.If you’re preparing for birth, navigating postpartum, or simply wondering if better sleep is possible, this episode with Sara will leave you feeling informed, supported, AND encouraged!In today’s episode, we’re covering:Sara’s journey into doula work + why her own birth experience changed everythingThe real role of a doula + how they support labor at every stageWhy having a consistent advocate in the delivery room mattersWhat personalized postpartum care actually looks likeHow doulas collaborate with medical teams to keep communication clear & mom’s voice heardWhy early postpartum support can drastically impact a mom’s mental health & overall family wellbeingSara’s holistic, customized approach to pediatric sleep supportWhat’s really happening during the 4-month sleep regressionPractical sleep foundations you can implement from day oneRealistic timelines for sleep progress + why improving baby sleep benefits the entire family**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. These conversations are for educational purposes only. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.Links/Resources:Follow Sara on Instagram @wichitadoula and @thebabyisasleep Check out Sara's website for doula support Check out Sara's website for sleep supportConnect with Sara on FacebookFollow on Instagram @the.pelvis.projectFollow Megan on Instagram @kansaspelvichealthFollow Roxi on Instagram @goodlifepelvichealthCheck out Megan's websiteCheck out Roxi's website