Ask the Doulas Podcast

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...

Send us Fan Mail Newborn sleep is unpredictable, frequent wake-ups are normal, and exhaustion in those early weeks is common. The key is understanding what newborn sleep actually looks like, and how to work with it rather than against it. In this episode of Ask the Doulas podcast, we’re joined by certified sleep consultant Mariana Yancik of Gold Coast Doulas to explore what newborn sleep really lo...

Send us Fan Mail Daycare sleep problems are one of the most common challenges parents face, especially when baby and toddler naps suddenly become inconsistent outside the home. But what’s actually driving these changes, and how can parents approach it? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we’re joined by certified pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, founder of Sleep and Wellness Coach, who has supp...

Send us Fan Mail Birth center access, midwifery care in the US, and finding birth center options are becoming increasingly important for families trying to navigate maternity care. But why is access still so limited, and what is being done to change it? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we’re joined by Lauren McCullough, labor and delivery nurse turned birth center strategist and founder behind n...

Send us Fan Mail Bringing a dog and newborn home together, preparing your dog for a baby, and managing pet behaviour after birth are some of the biggest concerns for expecting parents. But how do you actually make that transition safe, calm, and predictable when emotions, routines, and attention all change at once? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we’re joined by Dominika Knossalla-Pado, certifi...

Send us Fan Mail Sleep struggles are one of the most common challenges new parents face, especially when navigating conflicting advice about gentle methods versus the cry it out approach. So how do you find what's right for your baby and your family? In this episode of Ask the Doulas, sleep consultant Mariana Yancik of Gold Coast Doulas breaks down the differences between popular sleep traini...

Send us Fan Mail Is “pregnancy brain” real—or is there more going on beneath the surface? In this episode, we’re joined by Becky Gleed of the Perinatal & Reproductive Wellness Group to unpack the very real experience of brain fog during pregnancy and postpartum. From forgetfulness and mental fatigue to the emotional load of motherhood, Becky shares what’s normal, what’s not, and when to seek a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we’re talking all about social media and doulas with Doula Darcy. Social media has become one of the most powerful ways for families to discover support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but it can also feel overwhelming to navigate. Darcy shares practical tips for parents on how to find the right doula through platforms like Instagram and...

Send us Fan Mail Sensitive skin and newborns often go hand in hand, leaving parents overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of what products are truly safe and effective. In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Faulkner Williams, co-founder of Tubby Todd Bath Co., to talk about navigating dryness, eczema, and reactive skin in babies. We dive into why newborn skin is so delicate, common triggers for ir...

Send us Fan Mail Mom groups have been making headlines lately, and not always in a positive way. While stories about mom group drama and social tension can get attention, they don’t reflect what supportive communities are truly about. The right mom group can be a lifeline during pregnancy and postpartum, offering connection, encouragement, and practical support when families need it most. In this...

Send us Fan Mail Choosing a baby formula can feel overwhelming, especially in a world full of strong opinions and fear-based messaging. In this episode, I’m joined by Mallory Whitmore, known as The Formula Mom, to have an honest, judgment-free conversation about formula feeding. We break down the different types of baby formula, how to read ingredient lists without getting caught up in fear around...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask the Doulas , host Kristin Revere is joined by Alyssa Veneklase , pediatric sleep consultant and co-host of the podcast, to talk all about Newborn Survival and why a baby prep class can be one of the most valuable tools for expecting parents. We break down what families actually need to know before bringing a newborn home, from sleep and feeding basics to soo...

Send us Fan Mail When families prepare for birth, so much focus is placed on supporting the birthing parent and partner. But what about older siblings? In this solo episode with Kristin Revere, co-host of Ask the Doulas and founder of Gold Coast Doulas, we explore the role of a sibling doula and why this often overlooked form of support can make a meaningful difference for the entire family. A sib...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask the Doulas , we sit down with Alyssa Veneklase , pediatric sleep consultant and co-host of Ask the Doulas, to break down the difference between taking an infant or toddler sleep class and working one-on-one with a sleep consultant. We explore what families can expect from each option, who benefits most from a class versus personalized consulting, and how age...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask the Doulas , host Kristin Revere sits down with Dr. Katie Wood, Doctor of Pharmacy and CEO of Happy Nourished Motherhood, to discuss advanced maternal age and egg quality. Dr. Wood shares what truly impacts egg health as we age, common myths around fertility after 35, and how nutrition, lifestyle, and mindset can support reproductive wellness. This conversat...