Ask the Doulas Podcast

Send us Fan Mail After fourteen years of supporting families as a doula and experiencing motherhood herself, Kristin Revere has learned that some things you just can’t fully understand until you’ve been through them. In this solo episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin shares what she wishes more expecting parents knew about birth, postpartum, relationships, and those early days with a new baby. She t...

Send us Fan Mail High blood pressure during pregnancy can be concerning, particularly when it develops into gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. But what role can nutrition play in supporting maternal health? In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere talks with registered dietitian and nutrition expert Lily Nichols about nutrition, hypertension, and preeclampsia during pregnancy. The...

Send us Fan Mail What should you know when preparing for a C-section? Whether you are planning a cesarean birth or facing an unexpected C-section during labor, knowing what to expect before, during, and after surgery can help you feel more informed and prepared for birth and postpartum recovery. In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere discusses cesarean birth preparation, including what...

Send us Fan Mail How can you keep your baby or toddler safe in a shopping cart? In honor of Infant Safety Month, Kristin Revere talks with Simon Hardie, Vice President of SafeStrap, about shopping cart safety and child safety and the simple steps parents and caregivers can take to prevent shopping cart falls and injuries. In this episode of Ask the Doulas , we discuss baby shopping cart safety, to...

Send us Fan Mail How often should you bathe a newborn? What is the safest water temperature for a baby? What products are best for sensitive newborn skin? And which ingredients should parents look for when choosing baby bath and skincare products? In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere talks with Stephanie Ross Leshney, founder of Dabble & Dollop, about newborn bath safety, baby ba...

Send us Fan Mail How do you stay connected to your partner after having a baby and make your relationship a priority when life gets busy? Pregnancy, new parenthood, and other demanding seasons of life can make it easy for couples to put their relationship on the back burner. In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere talks with Janelle Langford LeConte, founder of Matrimo, about why your r...

Send us Fan Mail How do you choose the right car seat and make sure it is installed correctly? Car seat safety and proper car seat installation are essential when preparing for a new baby, but knowing which seat to choose, how to fit the harness, and when to transition to the next stage can be confusing. In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere talks with Kristin Morter, a Certified Chil...

Send us Fan Mail What do parents need to feel informed, supported, and empowered through pregnancy, birth, and the early years of parenthood? In this episode of Ask the Doulas , we’re joined by Heidi Murkoff , bestselling author of the What to Expect books, creator of the What to Expect app, and founder of the What to Expect Project . Heidi has spent decades helping parents navigate pregnancy and...

Send us Fan Mail Who has access to IVF and fertility treatment, and what factors shape the ability to use reproductive technology to build a family? As fertility technology continues to evolve, questions about equality are becoming increasingly important for people exploring their paths to parenthood.  On this episode of Ask the Doulas , we speak with Professor Leonard M. Lopoo, author of Wanting...

Send us Fan Mail What should you eat during pregnancy when you are tired, busy, dealing with food aversions, or simply trying to make it through the day? In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere sits down with Nina Spears, founder and CEO of Baby Chick®, to talk about realistic, practical nourishment during pregnancy and the postpartum recovery period. Nina shares some of the key nutrien...

Send us Fan Mail How can you build confidence as a new parent and learn to trust your parenting instincts? The newborn stage can bring anxiety, self-doubt, conflicting advice, and pressure to make every decision perfectly. In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere sits down with Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician, IBCLC, and mom, to discuss how parents can move from feeling ove...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Kristin Revere for a special solo episode celebrating 350 published episodes of Ask the Doulas ! Since launching the podcast in 2017 around a conference table at the Gold Coast Doulas office in Grand Rapids, Ask the Doulas has grown into a trusted resource for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals around the world. In this milestone episode, K...

Send us Fan Mail How much do you really know about the Vitamin K shot for newborns? What does the evidence say, why is the Vitamin K injection recommended shortly after birth, and what should parents consider when making an informed decision? In this episode of the Ask the Doulas Podcast , Kristin Revere sits down with board-certified OB-GYN, educator, and bestselling author Dr. Jennifer Lincoln t...

Send us Fan Mail How can you reduce the mental load of motherhood and feel less overwhelmed by everything you have to remember, plan, and manage? In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere sits down with Christy Shannon , Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Ollie AI , to explore the invisible mental load of motherhood and how technology can help lighten it. From managing family sched...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you're exclusively pumping, building a freezer stash, heading back to work, or simply trying to increase your milk supply, pumping can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. On this episode of Ask the Doulas , host Kristin Revere sits down with Chelsea Anderson, CLC from BabyBuddha, to discuss everything parents need to know about pumping and protecting their m...

Send us Fan Mail What keeps expecting parents from signing up for childbirth education? It isn't necessarily another class. More often, it's the feeling that there simply isn't enough time. In this episode of the Ask the Doulas Podcast, Kristin Revere sits down with Ashley Brichter, founder and CEO of Birthsmarter, to explore how modern childbirth education must evolve to meet the r...

Send us Fan Mail Most parents spend months preparing for birth, the nursery, and baby gear, but very few spend the same amount of time planning for the postpartum period. The truth is that the weeks after birth can be one of the most physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding times in a family's life. Creating a postpartum support plan before your baby arrives can make all the difference...

Send us Fan Mail Perinatal mental health affects countless families, yet stigma and lack of awareness often prevent parents from seeking the support they need. In this episode of the Ask the Doulas Podcast, Kristin Revere sits down with Katie Crenshaw, Brand and Integrated Marketing Manager at Postpartum Support International and Social Media Manager for The Blue Dot Project. Katie shares how The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere welcomes Dr. Vandana Arcot, MD, a philanthropist and global health leader who has spent more than 17 years working in maternal and reproductive healthcare across 13 countries. Through her work around the world, Dr. Arcot has seen firsthand that improving maternal and infant outcomes requires more than access to medical care alone—...

Send us Fan Mail  Packing your hospital bag can feel overwhelming, especially with so many conflicting checklists online. What do you actually need for labor, postpartum recovery, and your baby's first days? In this solo episode of Ask the Doulas , Kristin Revere breaks down the must-have hospital bag essentials for birthing parents, partners, and newborns. From comfort items that can make la...

Send us Fan Mail Measles outbreaks and vaccine protection are becoming a growing concern for parents as cases rise again across the U.S. What do families actually need to know, and what steps are recommended if exposure happens? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin sits down with Dr. Michael T. Myers Jr., a pediatrician with more than 35 years of experience in pediatrics, public health, and...

Send us Fan Mail Baby soothing techniques, newborn sleep help, and how to calm a crying baby are some of the most searched concerns for new parents in the early postpartum weeks. But what actually works when your baby is inconsolable and sleep feels impossible? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere is joined by Dr. Harvey Karp, renowned pediatrician, bestselling author of The Happiest...

Send us Fan Mail Sleep deprivation, postpartum mental health, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are often dismissed as a normal part of new parenthood, but chronic exhaustion can affect the brain and body in ways that go well beyond tiredness. In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we're joined by Mariana Yancik of Gold Coast Doulas to explore the connection between sleep deprivati...

Send us Fan Mail Postpartum recovery and fourth trimester support are often the most overwhelming parts of having a baby, especially when families are sent home from the hospital without a clear roadmap for what comes next. But what actually happens during this transition, and why do so many parents feel unprepared? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere is joined by Ciara Lyons, MSN, R...

Send us Fan Mail The cost of having a baby, from pregnancy and birth to postpartum care, adds up faster than most families expect. And even with insurance, out-of-pocket expenses can catch you off guard. In this solo episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere of Gold Coast Doulas breaks down what families should realistically budget for during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, including...