Chatty Doulas

In this episode of Chatty Doulas, we sit down with Elisha Hanshue of Sagebrush Doula in Denver for a deep dive into all things placenta. Whether you’re curious about placenta encapsulation or wondering what actually happens to your organ after birth, Elisha breaks down the science, spirituality, and practical benefits of honoring the placenta. What We Cover in This Episode: Placenta 101: How the placenta develops, how it functions as a protective filter. Encapsulation Explained: The differences between the Traditional Chinese Method (steamed with lemon and ginger) and the Raw method for energy, hormone regulation, and postpartum mental health. Tinctures, Art, and Keepsakes: How placenta tinctures offer lifelong shelf-life benefits (even into perimenopause!) and creative ways to honor your organ through detailed prints, umbilical cord keepsakes, and amniotic sac art. Hospital Protocols & Advocacy: Navigating hospital pushbacks, pathology hand-offs, and understanding true contraindications like chorio or infection versus Group B strep or meconium. Connect with Elisha: Business: Sagebrush Doula (Denver, CO) https://www.sagebrushdenverdoula.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagebrush.doula Services: Birth & Postpartum Doula Care, Placenta Encapsulation, Placenta Art & Keepsakes

Soly and Emily sit down for a candid chat about what it really takes to uproot your life and rebuild an established doula business in a brand-new city. Drawing from Emily's recent move from Denver to Florida, they share practical advice on researching local hospital cultures, networking in a new town, diversifying your services, and utilizing backup doulas to ease the transition. Whether you are planning a move soon or just looking to get your birth business out of a rut, this episode is a quick blueprint for finding your footing and cultivating a supportive local community from scratch.

Welcome back to another episode of Chatty Doulas! In today’s episode, we sit down with Sam Chapman, a birth and postpartum doula, placenta encapsulator, and the founder of Baby Lotus Doulas LLC. Sam brings an incredibly unique, well-rounded perspective to the birth world. Having worked for years as a medical assistant in a major Denver OBGYN hospital department, she understands the inner workings of the clinical system—but she also knows exactly where the gaps lie when it comes to emotional and mental parental support. In this raw and deeply vulnerable conversation, we dive into: The Clinical vs. Holistic Perspective: How Sam uses her medical assistant background to act as an "interpreter" for families navigating complex medical terminology and hospital systems. Deconstructing the C-Section Shame Cycle: Sam shares her personal experiences navigating both a "picture-perfect" teen vaginal birth and an emergency cesarean 11 years later. We have an honest, necessary conversation about whether the birth community unintentionally contributes to a stigma around cesareans, and how to normalize pivots during labor. Trauma-Informed Care: Practical strategies for supporting clients carrying past birth or sexual trauma, including mental preparation, handling disassociation, and setting boundaries on "game day." The Postpartum Reality Check: A transparent look at postpartum depression, identity shifts (from a teen mom to a stay-at-home mom of three during COVID), and the critical importance of setting up operational support like meal trains and partner communication before you are "100 feet under." Whether you are an expecting parent, a fellow birth worker, or just looking for real, unfiltered stories about the strength of the birthing body and mind, this episode is packed with invaluable insight. Connect with Sam: Website: www.babylotusdoulas.com Instagram/Socials: @samchapman2019

In this incredibly special episode, our host Soly opens up about their personal journey into motherhood by sharing her raw, beautiful, and unfiltered birth story. Joining us is a very special guest—Soly's doula, Whitney. Together, Soly and Whitney recap the physical and emotional highs and lows of labor, offering a unique dual perspective on the experience. They discuss the vital role of continuous labor support, how they navigated unexpected pivots during delivery, and the profound bond formed between a birthing parent and their care team. Whether you are expecting, a parent yourself, or simply love an inspiring birth journey, this episode offers an intimate look at the power of informed support and the strength of the birthing body.

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Cameron (they/them), a non-binary Baby and Me yoga teacher based in Denver, for a deep, vulnerable, and beautifully nuanced conversation about the queer pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Katie opens up about the realities of navigating a heavily gendered birth culture as a non-binary person, the power of letting go in the birth space, and the complex internal landscape of severe postpartum anxiety and matrescence. We also dive into actionable advice for birth workers looking to elevate their care from a standard "assembly line" to truly individualized, gender-affirming support. Key Topics Discussed: Navigating the Birth Space: Katie’s journey interviewing 15+ doulas and the reality of dealing with misgendering during labor. The Power of Language: Moving away from default terms like "Mama" and exploring how inclusive phrases like birthing person, nursing, and chest feeding expand the space for everyone without taking away from anyone. Postpartum & Matrescence: Navigating severe postpartum anxiety/rage, and processing the profound identity shift of becoming a parent. Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: How both Soli and Katie approach gender expression, curiosity, and pronoun usage with their toddlers. Scope of Practice for Birth Workers: Why it is okay (and respectful) to decline a client if you lack the proper training, and how to actively seek out queer-centered support education. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga (Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training) Moss the Doula (Gender-affirming care training for birth workers) Birth Advocacy Doula Trainings (BADT) (Inclusive doula and childbirth education) Connect with Katie: Instagram: @yogawithkatiecam Website: katiecameronyoga.com (Check out their Somatic Expression classes!)

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Katrina Carrera, a perinatal psychologist and founder of Lotus Perinatal. Inspired by her own mother's unacknowledged postpartum depression, Dr. Katrina filled the maternal mental health gaps in her clinical training to focus on "cycle breakers." We dive into what it really looks like to navigate the profound identity shifts of becoming a parent while intentionally healing generational trauma. In this episode, we chat about: Real-World Cycle Breaking: The intense, beautiful work of re-parenting yourself while practicing radical self-compassion. The Dual Nature of Identity Shifts: Embracing the unique postpartum experience where immense joy coexists with real grief for your past self. Patrescence (Fatherhood) Matters: Spotting the actual biological and hormonal shifts fathers experience as they transition into parenthood. How Partners Can Truly Hold Space: Shifting away from the pressure to fix problems and learning how to just sit together inside the emotional discomfort. Connect with Dr. Katrina: Website: Find virtual support, classes, and her curated list of books and podcasts at lotusperinatal.com. Reach Dr. Katrina directly at https://lotusperinatal.clientsecure.me  Social Media: Connect with her directly on Instagram @Dr.KatrinaCarrera. Or on Facebook Resources Mentioned: Postpartum Support International (PSI) and the Gottman Institute’s Bringing Baby Home program. Don't forget to rate, review, and hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode with us!

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Haley McNabb, a seasoned birth doula, doula trainer, and mom of two.   As birth workers, we are exposed to the ultimate highs of birth, but we are also front-row witnesses to secondary trauma and profound loss. Haley dives deep into what it truly means to hold these massive emotional waves without letting them swallow you whole.   In this episode, we chat about: The Energetic Toll of Birth: Balancing the oxytocin-filled highs with the heavy somatic baggage of unreleased secondary trauma.   Micro-Rituals for the 3:00 AM Reset: Simple, intentional ways to shed a birth experience and return your nervous system to homeostasis before walking through your own front door.   Holding Space in Discomfort: How to anchor yourself in moments of crisis, eliminate empty reassurance, and "doula yourself" when the room turns sideways.   Connect with Haley: Instagram: Follow her journey and training opportunities at @soulbabybirthing. Don't forget to rate, review, and hit Subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas! In this episode, we sit down with Liz Foster of Love in Motion—a Denver-based doula, placenta encapsulator, and childbirth educator. Liz opens up about her journey from a traumatic emergency C-section under general anesthesia to a triumphant, unmedicated VBAC. Now, she uses her experience to help other families debunk fears, navigate the medical system, and claim their own redemptive birth stories. Quick Takeaways: Debunking the VBAC Myth: Looking at the actual data behind uterine rupture (less than 1%) and why "once a C-section, always a C-section" is outdated. Friendly vs. Tolerant Providers: How to spot the red flags in a provider's policy and why you have the absolute right to switch care teams at any point. Redefining a "Good" Birth: Why even a repeat C-section can feel redemptive if it's a calm, respected choice with time to process, rather than a rushed emergency. Connect with Liz: Find her VBAC handouts and natural induction tips at loveinmotion.net or on Instagram @lizfosterdoula. Resources Mentioned: The VBAC Link, Evidence Based Birth, and ICAN. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, Emily and Kristin—who is tuning in all the way from her travels in Chile!—sit down with Mitzi Kincade, a Denver-based postpartum doula, psychedelic breathwork facilitator, and practitioner of traditional Mexican postpartum healing. Mitzi shares her raw, personal journey navigating severe postpartum depression, anxiety, and a multi-year loss of identity following a high-risk pregnancy and C-section. From hitting rock bottom to finding profound healing in community circles, Mitzi’s story is a beautiful testament to the fact that losing yourself once doesn't mean you're gone forever. Quick Takeaways: The Power of La Cuarentena & Warmth: Mitzi explains the traditional Mexican practice of the first 40 days of postpartum—focusing on absolute stillness, head-to-toe care, and reintroducing warmth to a healing body through herbs, teas, and ventosa (fire cupping). The Closing of the Bones: Discover the profound, full-body wrapping ceremony used to symbolically close a major life chapter and step into a new version of yourself, even years after giving birth. Intention over Expectation: Why shifting your mindset away from rigid expectations prevents disappointment and opens the door to true healing. Cathartic Release Through Breath: How sober, diaphragmatic breathwork can unlock stored trauma in the body, break down boundaries, and give women literal permission to scream and take up space. Connect with Mitzi: Business: Connect with Mitzi locally in the South Denver metro area or virtually across the globe via her website at  https://www.soulfulnessbreath.com/ or instagram at soulfulness_breath Don't forget to subscribe for more honest conversations on the reproductive journey!

Welcome back to Chatty Doulas for Season Two! While Soly is away soaking up newborn snuggles, Emily and Kristin are kicking off the season with Alexi Neal—a holistic postpartum doula and trauma-informed somatic healer. In this episode, we dive into how birth fundamentally changes us and why learning to listen to our bodies is the ultimate nervous system care. Alexi breaks down how to move away from transactional relationships with our physical selves, navigate the survival biology behind intrusive thoughts, and reject the isolation of modern "bounce-back" culture. Quick Takeaways: Acceptance vs. Resistance: Why "radical acceptance" triggers the parasympathetic "rest and digest" state your body needs to heal. The Myth of Isolation: Why our mammalian brains actually crave a safe, chosen community rather than an isolated "honeymoon bubble." 60-Second Micro-Tools: Practical somatic exercises (like horse-lip breaths and targeted self-touch) you can do in under a minute while holding a baby. Connect with Alexi: Grab her free Somatic Reset Menu and Postpartum Planning Guide at soulfullsomatics.com, or find her on Facebook (Alexi Neal) for updates on her upcoming workshops for birth workers. Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode this season!

In this episode, we’re talking about pushing. What this stage of labor looks like and what it can feel like. We unpack the myths, the pressure, the coaching, and how pushing can be powerful instead of rushed. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ll know what to do in that moment, this conversation is for you.

Active labor can feel powerful and overwhelming all at once. In this episode, we talk about coping strategies, partner support, and how to trust your body when the waves get stronger.

The final weeks before birth can feel tender, intense, and uncertain. In this episode, we explore how to prepare your body, mind, and support system while making space for rest and trust.

Menstruation and fertility are often talked about in fragments or not at all. In this episode, we bring the conversation together, exploring how cycles work, how fertility shows up differently across seasons of life, and why body literacy matters.

In this episode, we explore cannabis use during pregnancy, lactation, and the postpartum period through a harm-reduction and evidence-informed lens. This conversation is not about judgment or fear, but about supporting informed decision-making, reducing stigma, and creating space for honest, nuanced conversations around cannabis and parenthood. We are all cannabis-informed doulas, and Kristin is a cannabis educator and the founder of the Mary Jane Doula Collective.   Mary Jane Doulas: https://www.maryjanedoulas.com   Cannabis and Lactation Blog: https://www.maryjanedoulas.com/blog/cannabis-and-lactation-separating-fact-from-fear    State Laws: https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/maternity-drug-policies-by-state https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Substance-Use-During-Pregnancy-and-Child-Abuse-50-State-Summary.pdf      

n this episode, we explore prenatal bonding and the relationship that begins long before a baby is born. We talk about what bonding in pregnancy can look like, why it matters, and how connection doesn’t have to be perfect or constant to be meaningful. Whether bonding feels natural, complicated, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and gentle ways to build connection with your baby in utero.   https://birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Z3sC25KO-1.pdf

Think of this as your starter bookshelf for pregnancy, birth, loss, parenting, and taking care of yourself. Honest conversations about the books that matter and why they stuck with us.

We’re taking you inside our doula journeys with some of our favorite birth stories from both our careers and our own lives. The raw moments, the sweet ones, and everything in between.

A quick, practical rundown of newborn basics, including feeding, sleep, diapering, and umbilical cord care.

An honest look at postpartum mood disorders and the importance of compassion, awareness, and community in recovery.

We’re getting real about the postpartum season because it’s so much more than baby snuggles and sleepless nights. In this episode, we talk about what really happens after birth: bleeding, lactation, healing, nutrition, and how relationships shift in those early weeks. Whether you’re preparing for postpartum or reflecting on your own journey, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we talk about how your mindset can shape your birth experience. From the stories we carry to the thoughts we repeat, the way we think has a direct impact on how our bodies respond in labor. We share why mindset matters, how it can support you, and some simple tools to help you prepare mentally and emotionally for birth.

In this episode, we dive into the fear–tension–pain cycle, a powerful pattern that can shape the way our bodies experience labor. We talk about what it is, how it affects both mind and body, and simple ways to ease it so birth can feel more manageable and supported.

In this episode we break down early labor, what it feels like, how long it might last, and simple comfort and distraction techniques to help you through those first hours.

In this episode we talk about the big question of who to bring into your birthing space. From moms and in-laws to besties and even pets, we share ways to decide who belongs. Your space is sacred, and protecting it is imperative for birth to unfold.

This episode is all about what doula training didn’t prepare us for and the surprises you only discover on the job. We share our own learning curves and offer insights that are just as useful for birthworkers as they are for parents.

Our first episode is short and sweet, just three doulas chatting about who we are, why we’re here, and probably oversharing a little already. Think of it as a coffee date intro before we dive into the real talk.