Your Birth, Your Worth Podcast

Pregnant people, new moms, birth workers, birth nerds and birth geeks will all love this conversation with The Doula Darcy and Hillary A. Melchiors Ph.D., MPH, LCCE, CD(DONA). In addition to having all those letters after her name, Hillary is the down-to-earth co-host of The Birth Geeks Podcast. She's also an anthropologist, birth doula, and childbirth educator who lives in Newburgh, IN. She holds a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology and a Master’s in Public Health from Case Western Reserve University and has been working as a doula and childbirth educator since 2014. Darcy and Hillary chat about the science (in an easy-to-understand-way) behind "mom brain" and why the postpartum period is a time of neuro-plasticity in our brains. They also cover: neuro-plasticity, the brain and feelings of worth how the pandemic is giving us all "mom-brain" and why why Hillary loves postpartum doulas Doula Urban Legends the doula's role in being cognizant of a person's neuro-plasticity during birth & postpartum what all bi

Pregnant in a Pandemic: Tips and Silver Linings It’s an intense time to be giving birth right now due to COVID-19.  If you are pregnant or home with a newborn, you will definitely want to listen in to this episode. Taylor and Darcy share some ways to feel more empowered and in control during your pregnancy, labor and the first weeks home with your baby.  Taylor shares tips for pregnancy and birth that are especially helpful right now.  Darcy talks about things you can do while pregnant to prepare for your maternity leave while social distancing.  And, the doulas also share some silver linings!  There are many things that they are seeing in their work with families right now that are very positive. Sign up for the free online Navigating Childbirth & Early Postpartum during COVID-19 they mentioned here: https://mailchi.mp/45548ba35f4d/free-virtual-childbirth-education-series   Online Yoga for Birth workshop for couples with Darcy: https://doverdoula.com/prenatal-yoga   Here are links to the guided meditatio

Today, Darcy is chatting with long time friend and fellow postpartum doula, Krista Maltais.  Krista has been a doula for 14 years, and is now also a DONA Postpartum Doula Trainer as well.  Darcy and Krista bond over their love of their work supporting new mothers.  They also share their history of working together to build awareness of postpartum doulas in their community.  In this episode, they discuss the importance of finding other doulas for support and focusing on collaboration over competition. If you’ve ever considered being a doula, then this episode is for YOU!   Listen in as these two mothers and doulas chat all things from motherhood to having their dream jobs of supporting mothers and building a successful and fulfilling doula business.     Episode Breakdown:   How they met What made Krista become a postpartum doula The interesting journey of becoming a postpartum doula before motherhood and how that changed after motherhood. Postpartum hormones and the power of speaking in short sentences.  The

Darcy is on the podcast today having a discussion with Dr. Kat about the mental health issues surrounding pregnancy and post partum. Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D. PMH-C, is a psychologist certified in perinatal mental health and the creator and host of the Mom & Mind Podcast. She was drawn to this specialty after going through Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum OCD with her first child.  Dr. Kat supports mothers and families in her private practice in Southern California. She is a trainer and board member for Postpartum Support International. Dr. Kat offers training and education and advocacy in perinatal mental health to her to local community and worldwide.  Dr. Kat is available for perinatal psychotherapy clients throughout California through online sessions. www.drkaeni.com   In today’s episode, Darcy and Dr. Kat discuss how social media is making moms feel inadequate and that they’re parenting wrong, the impact of women’s hormones during pregnancy as it relates to mental health, the la

Today, Darcy is solocasting about the lack of community surrounding breastfeeding. Women in our country are struggling with beastfeeding because they haven’t been taught how to beastfeed by the women in their communities, i.e. their mothers, grandmas, cousins, aunts etc.. This causes a lot of guilt and shame in new moms. In this episode Darcy sets out to destigmatize breastfeeding for new moms and provides some resources and tips to ease your breastfeeding journey.   Key Takeaway: We need to build stronger communities to support new moms in their breastfeeding journey.   Highlights:   It’s ok to not know how to do everything as a new mom The lack of community surrounding breastfeeding The Myth that breastfeeding is simple DONA – Doulas Of North America   Your Birth Your Worth Podcast   Website: https://www.yourbirthyourworthpodcast.com/   Darcy Sauers   Website: http://www.thedouladarcy.com Third Trimester Thrive: https://www.thirdtrimesterthrive.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedouladarcy/   h

In today’s episode, Taylor offers her 5 steps to overcoming and managing your VBAC fears. After seeing the popularity of the previous VBAC episodes, Taylor decided to devote an entire episode to make sure you all felt prepared when planning your next VBAC. We seem to forget that it is absolutely normal to get scared sometimes. It’s necessary for our evolution and personal development to experience fear and anxiety after/before stressful situations. That being said, we do have a responsibility to process this pain it in order to manage it and eventually grow from it. Giving yourself permission to take the time to face these fears is no simple feat though. It takes time, love, and patience to step into those thoughts. But, by following Taylor’s steps, you can begin your journey to start working on those fears, eventually breaking them down, and reclaiming the joy associated with giving birth.   In this episode, Taylor will focus on how to process your VBAC fears, how to manage them, and how to create your own “

Today, Darcy welcomes Kimberly Johnson to the show. Kimberly is the author of the book “The Fourth Trimester”. The book is a holistic guide that offers practical advice to support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels—and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months to a few years. In this conversation and her work, Kimberly draws from her vast professional experience as a doula, postpartum consultant, yoga teacher, body worker, and women’s health care advocate, and from the healing traditions of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbalism. In this episode you will hear about the importance of healing and calming the nervous system during the postpartum period, what Somatics is and how we can heal our bodies during postpartum.   Key Takeaway: During the postpartum period, it’s essential to be surrounded by “wise women” to support you   Highlights: Why new moms today are living in a state of hy

In today’s episode, Darcy spoke with Lindsey Mathews, the founder and CEO of BirthFit. Lindsey is also a Doctor of Chiropractic, Birth Doula, Strength and Conditioning Coach, NLP Practitioner and a Yoga Instructor. BirthFit is a revolutionary company that supports and educates women throughout their transition into motherhood. With an array of online and in-person programs, experiences, and workshops, BirthFit strives to give women access to free information so they can make informed decisions regarding their pregnancy. Lindsey was inspired to create BirthFit when she realized that the medical community wasn’t giving parents necessary information and emotional support throughout their pregnancy.   Key Takeaway: Pregnancy is not a time to sit back and rely solely on the medical establishment. It’s a time to get to know more holistic and healing practices and learn to listen to your body’s innate wisdom.   Highlights: Birthfit is a company that seeks to educate and empower people with both online and in-person

Taylor and Darcy are back together today, discussing breastfeeding. They both share some personal stories about their breastfeeding journeys. They discuss the benefits of breastfeeding, pumping, the guilt and shame surrounding the choice to either breastfeed or not. They share tips for breastfeeding as well. It’s important to remember that your personal journey through breastfeeding is uniquely your own and the choices you make surrounding your baby and breastfeeding don’t make you a good or bad parent.   Key Takeaway: Your worth isn’t determined by the details of your breastfeeding journey.   Highlights: Struggling getting the baby to latch on Getting your partner on board with breastfeeding Breastfeeding is natural, but it has to be learned Pumping The guilt and shame surrounding breastfeeding or choosing not to The benefits of breastfeeding for the baby The benefits of breastfeeding for mom Breastfeeding and pain The magic hour Supply and demand, the more the baby is on the breast, the more milk you will

In today’s episode, Darcy welcomes Kasey Mathews who gave birth to a baby girl at only 25 weeks in 2010 to the show. Kasey is also a book writing coach, transformational life coach, and author. In her book “Preemie: Lessons in Love, Life and Motherhood” Kasey talks candidly about how her seemingly perfect life was disrupted when she went into labor four months early, delivering her one-pound, eleven-ounce daughter, Andie. In this riveting, honest, and often humorous memoir, Preemie chronicles the journey of one tiny baby’s tenacious struggle to hold on to life and the mother who ultimately grew with her.   In this episode you’ll hear Darcy and Kasey discuss the journey of having a premature baby, how Kasey navigated the stress of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during Andie’s time there, and how we can all settle into the love to overcome fear.   Key Takeaway: The stress that comes along with having a preemie is intense and long-lasting. This stress can often translate into delayed bonding with our preemie i

In today’s episode, Darcy welcomes Sheila Kamara Hay to show. As the founder of Ecstatic Birth, Sheila empowers women around the globe to understand and honor their feminine flow and locate their fierce feminine power while they birth their babies. Sheila trains birth practitioners and expectant moms around the globe to integrate the most holistic birthing tool, pleasure, in birth preparation and support. Whether you are birthing a baby or your soul’s work, birth is a journey to be thoroughly enjoyed, rather than endured. Sheila is passionate about reclaiming and honoring birth as a sacred rite of passage. Today you will hear Shelia talk about what exactly an Ecstatic Birth is, how you can achieve one, and why rejecting fear and channeling pleasure instead might just change your life forever.   Key Takeaway: When women connect to their bodies and allow themselves to feel deep, spiritual pleasure, they can unlock an incredibly powerful channel of self-love, gratitude, and empowerment. Honoring your feminine po

How deeply does the patriarchy affect parents, the birthing process, and postpartum? In this episode, Taylor and Darcy sit down and discuss how patriarchal mindsets are ingrained within society and how it is harming pregnant women. This topic recently came to light as the media has become increasingly critical over Meghan Markle’s pregnancy, the choices surrounding her birth, outfit choices, nail polish colors, and more. This critical view of pregnancy is also reflected in how the medical industry looks down upon doulas, midwives, and birthing parents who choose to have home births. These attitudes and aggressions show how women are distrusted and questioned throughout the birthing process. Unfortunately, pregnant parents are often seen only as vessels and their wellbeing isn’t taken into account. One reason why these mindsets have become so ingrained may be due to the patriarchy trying to seize power that women naturally have to bring forth and nurture children. Key Takeaway: We live in a patriarchal society

In today’s episode, Darcy and Taylor talk about how you can manage sleep deprivation as a new parent. All babies have different sleep preferences and habits and it takes a while to understand them. During postpartum, most parents find it hard to catch up on missed sleep. Sleep deprivation can be debilitating and create another layer of challenges during the postpartum time period. Fortunately, with the help of postpartum planning, asking for help from friends and family, and learning more about the ins-and-outs of sleep, we can all reclaim our rest and better serve our babies and our bodies.   Taylor and Darcy talk about how important sleep is for parents and baby, share tips on maximizing sleep time, and offer ideas for encouraging baby to sleep.     Key Takeaway: Sleep is the restorative time that new parents need to heal and reenergize after giving birth. Planning for postpartum and understanding baby sleep patterns can help maximize sleep time during these early days.   Highlights:   Baby sleep is in 2/3

On today’s episode, Taylor welcomes Te-Ana Souffrant to the show. As a full spectrum birth and postpartum doula, she is also the founder of The Arch App, an app which connects birthing families to birth professionals and local resources in their communities. Te-Ana created the app to bridge access to resources around labor, birth, postpartum and maternal health to those who both want and need it. By sharing classes, workshops, and doulas in countless cities, Arch App is the go-to resource for anyone seeking quality, personalized care! In this episode Taylor and Te-Ana discuss the importance of birthing people having power over their decisions, experiences, and bodies. They talk about why black women are suffering at the hands of the healthcare system, being allies to marginalized communities, and how everyone deserves accessible, affordable care from providers they trust.   Key Takeaway: It’s time to put the power back into hands if people who need it! When we open our eyes to the unjust treatment and system

Should you or should you not create a birth plan? This seems to be a somewhat divisive topic among parents-to-be. Today, Darcy and Taylor explain the value in creating a birth plan and share tips and ideas for putting one together. They also emphasize the importance of creating a postpartum plan so that you can truly focus on resting, healing, and bonding with your baby in your postpartum days. Taylor and Darcy share a bit about the free birth and postpartum planning templates they’ve created for you to grab on the Your Birth, Your Birth Website. Key Takeaway: Knowledge is power and you can make more informed decisions when you’ve learned about your options. Creating birth and postpartum plans helps you gather information, think about your preferences, and communicate them with your team. Learning about your options and preferences will make for a less stressful and more enjoyable birth and postpartum experience. Highlights: How we have been conditioned to hand over our power Determining your birth preferenc

As a fierce advocate for accessible information about VBACs, Jen has built a platform that “neutralizes the misinformation and confusion about VBAC so respectful, evidence-based care is the foundation from which families grow.” In today’s episode, Taylor and Jen talk about Jen’s 2 births and the path they started her on towards the work she does now. Jen Kamel is a nationally recognized Consumer Advocate who founded VBAC Facts in November 2007 after learning how many women were coerced into repeat cesareans violating medical ethics and their human rights. Her mission is to increase access to VBAC so that every pregnant person knows in their bones that they have complete control over what happens to their body. She created the VBAC Facts Professional Membership where she supports perinatal professionals around the world who want to confidently guide their clients through the evidence so they can make truly informed decisions. She also offers online educational courses for parents. She is a national speaker and

In today’s episode, Darcy welcomes Kate Northrup to the show. As an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and mother, Kate’s mission is to support ambitious, motivated and successful women to light up the world without burning themselves out in the process. In her new book Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Busy Moms, Kate provides a practical and spiritual guide for working moms to learn how to have more by doing less. Full of strategies and concrete tools, Do Less is a book for working women and mothers who want to shake off the culturally inherited belief that their worth is equal to their productivity, and instead build a personal and professional life that's based on presence, meaning, and joy. In this episode you will hear Kate and Darcy discuss the benefits of embracing the female cycle, Kate’s unique birth experiences, and how our birth experiences affect so much of our lives. Key Takeaway: Tapping into our feminine cycles and managing our energy instead of our time makes

In today’s episode we welcome Ginger Breedlove, PhD, to talk about the Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States. Ginger has been a Midwife and OB Nurse 40 years. Her decades of experience shine light on the worsening crises in supporting and caring for new moms and babies in the U.S. As past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Founder and President of March for Moms, Founder of Grow Midwives Consulting, LLC and widely known speaker on improving maternity care, her current focus is encouraging consumers to find voice and engage in decision-making to save lives and improve their health. Ginger also recently edited the book “Nobody Told Me About That: The First 6 Weeks”. This book covers many critical issues confronting the first few weeks of parenting. Nobody receives a comprehensive education on how to be a new parent. The authors are experienced professionals from a variety of disciplines dedicated to helping families of newborns. In this episode, Ginger and Darcy discuss the reasons wh

In honor of World Doula Week, Darcy shares her experience at the March for Moms in Washington D.C in 2018. Darcy describes her last-minute decision to hop onboard an RV dedicated to breastfeeding (pumpspotting’s Breast Express) for the all-night ride to Washington DC. She talks about the excitement and energy at the March, as well as the heaviness related to the United States’ increasing maternal mortality rate. Darcy and Taylor talk about the need to raise awareness about this major problem, institutional racism in maternity care, and the importance of prenatal and postpartum support for mothers and families. Key Takeaway: The United States is currently experiencing a crisis in maternity care. There is major change and overhaul that needs to happen within the system. While not the sole answer to this problem, doula care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is an essential piece of the puzzle in providing expert care, attention, education and information to new mothers and families. Highlights: Darcy’s jo

In today’s episode, Darcy welcomes Amber Lilyestrom, a transformational branding strategist, business coach, author, and speaker to share her shocking near-death experience giving birth and how it ignited a new life path towards spiritual wellness, realizing her life’s mission, and breaking free of a limiting mindset. After the birth of her daughter, Amber quit her demanding career in collegiate athletics and started her own coaching business which she quickly grew to $1.5 million in sales. Amber is the creator of the Ignite Your Soul Summit annual live event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and is the host of The Amber Lilyestrom Show podcast. Amber's mission is to empower women to position themselves as sought-after experts and thought leaders through the creation of an online brand presence and to actively seek a life full of abundance and gratitude. Amber has been featured by Entrepreneur, Mentorbox and Working Mother Magazine and is the author of the book “Master Your Money Mind.” Key Takeaway: Amber’s near-