Doula Talk Blog & Podcast
Welcome. This is a space for thoughtful guidance, honest conversations, and practical insight for the postpartum period and first year.
Here you’ll find blog posts and podcast episodes that help you make sense of sleep, feeding, recovery, and the emotional load of early parenthood. My goal is not to give you more rules to follow, but to help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface so you can respond with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re navigating sleep disruptions, feeding challenges, or simply trying to feel more steady in your role as a parent, these resources offer evidence-informed perspective, real-world context, and support you can return to whenever you need it.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Search the Blog:
Have a question or topic you’d like me to cover on my blog or podcast?
The Taboo Conversation: Cannabis, Women’s Health, and Making Informed Choices (Guest: Dr. Amanda Reiman, Founder Personal Plants)
If you’ve used cannabis before pregnancy, you’re not alone. This is especially common in states where it's legally available.
For many people, cannabis is already part of their life before pregnancy, whether that’s for sleep, anxiety, chronic pain, or simply as a way to unwind at the end of the day.
And then pregnancy happens.
Or postpartum hits.
And suddenly, something that once felt normal or supportive becomes confusing, stigmatized, or even scary to talk about.
The messaging tends to shift quickly into black-and-white: Just stop. Don’t use anything. Don’t ask questions.
But real life is rarely that simple.
So instead of shutting the conversation down, what if we approached it differently?
What if we looked at cannabis use during the perinatal period through a harm reduction lens, one that prioritizes safety, informed decision-making, and honest conversations?
When Feeding Feels Hard: What Actually Helps (and What Quietly Makes It Worse)
Feeding a baby is often described as something that should feel natural and instinctive. But for many families, feeding can quickly become one of the most stressful parts of the day.
Maybe your baby feeds constantly but still seems unsettled.
Maybe every feed feels like a guessing game.
Maybe you’ve tried adjusting wake windows, spacing feeds, or following a schedule, and nothing seems to make things easier.
If feeding feels harder than you expected, you’re not alone. Many families reach a point where they realize they’re trying everything they’ve been told to do, yet the system still feels tense, exhausting, or confusing.
The good news is that feeding challenges are often less about doing the wrong things and more about doing things before the system is ready.
Understanding how feeding rhythms actually develop can take a huge amount of pressure off both parents and babies.
When Feeding Feels Hard: Why It’s Not Just About the Bottle
If feeding your baby feels harder than you expected, you are not alone.
For many parents, feeding starts as something neutral or even grounding. Then suddenly it feels charged. Every feed comes with tension. You find yourself bracing your shoulders, holding your breath, watching the clock, or panicking when your baby cries, arches, or refuses again.
And almost inevitably, the questions start.
Is it reflux?
Is it the bottle?
Is it the formula?
Is it my fault?
Here is what I want you to hear clearly.
When feeding feels hard, it is rarely just about the bottle.
Why You Can’t Relax After Birth (and What Your Nervous System Has to Do With It)
If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum and already wondering, “Why can’t I just calm down?”, you’re not alone.
So many new moms tell me that even when the baby finally sleeps, their bodies stay tense, their hearts race, and their minds won’t stop spinning. You’re exhausted, but you can’t rest. You’re grateful, but you feel on edge. Sound familiar?