Episode #44: All things doula care with Bronwyn Addico

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Rhonda has the pleasure of chatting with her friend and colleague, Bronwyn Addico all about doula care.Bronwyn Addico (she/her) is the owner of Balancing Birth to Baby, a support company for expecting and new parents that offers prenatal education and Doula support in Southern Ontario, Canada. She has been a Childbirth & Early Parenting Educator since 2015 and a Birth & Postpartum Doula since 2016.After a difficult birth experience in 2013, she embarked on a journey to become a Birthing From Within childbirth mentor, and spent time in California in the Spring of 2016 to further her in-depth training. She has supported more than 100 families during their births and early parenting journey. Bronwyn is also a single mother to two wonderful kids.We’re so grateful to Bronwyn for sharing her story and passion with us!===============================If you liked this episode of Pelvic Health and Fitness, share it with a friend, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe anywhere you listen to your podcasts!LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE:🔹 Check out Rhonda’s Strong at Home Membership🔹 Spinning Babies Program🔹 Insight Timer🔹 Balancing from Birth to Baby Website🔹 Follow Bronwyn on IGSHOW NOTES:(0:49) - Episode intro(03:27) - What lead Bronwyn down the path to becoming a doula(05:23) - She shares about her home birth experience with her first child(07:51) - How her decision to become a doula was cemented after her 2nd birth(11:45) - How Bronwyn prepared for her births(12:40) - What is a doula and how do they support clients in their pre/postnatal experience?(15:46) - The difference between a midwife and a doula(17:33) - Doula support options in the postpartum period(20:26) - How doulas fit into the support team with midwives/OBs(21:44) - How her path to starting her doula business Balancing Birth to Baby started(25:01) - What gave Bronwyn the confidence to start her own business(25:49) - How she struggled to adjust to business ownership in the early days(27:13) - The moment she knew she needed to hire help in her business(29:09) - How her business has grown in the last several years(30:47) - What discussions Bronwyn has with clients during pregnancy(32:40) - Bronwyn’s top birth prep advice(41:50) - Birth is not just a transformation, it’s a transmutation(43:48) - Bronwyn and Rhonda chat about the identity shift in the postpartum phase(49:32) - Discussions Bronwyn has with clients in the postpartum phase(53:30) - Do her clients struggle to ask for and accept health from a doula?(1:01:30) - Last tidbits of advice(1:06:45) - How people can find Bronwyn