The Birth Geeks' Podcast

In this episode, Hillary Melchiors and Robin Elise Weiss unpack the real contents of a doula's birth bag. From the practical to the quirky, you'll hear how the items doulas carry have shifted over the course of their careers, what actually gets used during long hours at births, and why less is often more. They share favorite finds, ways to keep things clean and organized, and surprising tools that have stood the test of time, or failed spectacularly. Whether you're a birth or postpartum doula, or just curious about what actually helps in those high-pressure hours, this is an honest, experience-driven look inside the infamous doula bag.

The pressure to perform is so very real as a doula, and sometimes the fear is holding us back from being even better for our clients. In this episode we're getting real about why it feels so scary and how you can get over this hurdle as a doula. 

Setting yourself up for a sustainable doula career is essential if you want to keep doing this work over the long term. Whether you are a birth or postpartum doula, planning ahead  for more than just self-care bubble baths, can help you keep serving more clients. Listen in as we discuss what's help us stay in this work for the long haul. 

In 2020, birth professionals were all navigating all kinds of shifting policies and ideas about how to keep safe while continuing to serve families as a novel virus and resulting pandemic emerged. As we close in on the 3rd year of learning and pivoting through it all, we're seeing some things go "back to normal" and others remaining changed. In this episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast, Robin & Hillary talk about COVID changes that we've seen come and go. What is the science behind these changes and what is the new normal looking like where you are? We dive into our observations and frustrations with it all, while keeping in mind the structural, social, & policy perspectives that are shaping the way that birth workers approach their jobs now.

New recommendations, old complaints, products, & all the evidence based resources our doula hearts could muster are packed into this episode with special guest Ann Grauer. We're so excited to be back to podcasting & thankful to Ann for being our first guest to return. It's time to get back to upgrading the conversation & renewing your birth professional moxie!