Between Contractions

Amsy is joined by Dr. Kristen Kleponis, a pelvic floor physical therapist, co-owner of Wonderfully Made PT, and co-founder of Swann Collaborative. If you caught Dr. Arielle's episode a few weeks back, you already know this practice — and this conversation is the perfect companion to that one.  Here's the thing about pelvic floor PT: most people either don't know it exists, think it&#39...

In this episode, Amsy talks with Stephanie about a service that's often overlooked until it's too late: the prenatal lactation assessment. The core idea is simple but powerful — it's so much easier to build a plan for feeding success before a baby is in your arms than to troubleshoot it in the fog of those first days postpartum.  Why do this before birth?  A prenatal assessment gives y...

In this episode, Amsy and Stephanie introduce a concept they think every parent needs in their toolkit: psychological capital. This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine — it's about building the real, practiced emotional resources to keep going, ask for help, adapt when plans change, and recover when things don't go the way you expected. The good news? These ar...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Stephanie, Amsy and Dr. Ariel pick back up where they left off, moving from the birth story into the emotional terrain of NICU life, discharge, and what came after. They talk about the guilt so many NICU parents feel for stepping outside the hospital — even briefly — and why that time in the sunlight actually matters for being able to walk back in and show up fully...

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Dr. Ariel Evans — pelvic floor physical therapist, co- owner of Wonderfully Made PT, co-founder of Swann Collaborative, and one of the funniest humans you'll ever meet — to talk about something no amount of clinical training can fully prepare you for: becoming a NICU mom.  At 26 weeks pregnant, a car accident set off a chain of events that would land A...

Amsy and Stephanie are back with Part 2 of their pet peeves episode, and they've still got plenty to say. From old wives' tales to outdated hospital practices, here's what made the list this time around.  Pet peeves covered in Part 2:  Baby must fully empty one breast before switching to the other — This is one of those rules that gets repeated constantly but isn't a one-size-fits-...

Amsy and Stephanie had so many pet peeves to get through that this episode turned into a two-parter. In Part 1, they dig into some of the most common misconceptions, misleading narratives, and outdated practices in birth and postpartum care that they wish people would stop accepting at face value.  Pet peeves covered in Part 1:  "The cord was around the neck!" — Nuchal cord is extremely...

In this episode, Amsy and Stephanie tackle one of the most common — and least talked about — realities of new parenthood: bed sharing. Studies suggest around 65% of families in the U.S. bed share at some point, and yet most people won't admit it, often because they planned not to and ended up doing it out of desperation. The hosts want to change that conversation — not by encouraging everyone...

In this episode, Amsy and Stephanie walk through the Five S's — a classic framework for soothing a fussy baby — plus a handful of bonus techniques that go beyond just feeding. Whether you're a partner trying to help, an exhausted mom, or a family member wanting to support, this episode gives you a practical toolkit for calming a crying baby that doesn't start and end with the breast. ...

In this episode, Amsy and Stephanie dig into a headline-making story: the University of Chicago Medical Center announced it will staff around-the-clock doulas for patients with qualifying insurance, at no cost. The response online has been deeply divided — and the hosts get into why, approaching the topic with the nuance it deserves.  Rather than a simple thumbs up or down, they walk through both...

In this episode, Amsy and Stephanie have a candid rundown of the most common "booby traps" — well-meaning but potentially harmful mistakes that can unknowingly undermine breastfeeding and milk supply. From flange sizing to clogged duct advice, they cover the things they wish more people knew before their feeding journey began.  Topics covered:  Flange fit — One of the most overlooked fac...

In this episode, Amsy walks us through the medical pain relief options available during labor, from the lowest-intervention techniques all the way to the epidural. Whether you're planning an unmedicated birth, keeping your options open, or already know you want an epidural, this episode helps you understand what's actually available — and what to expect from each option.  Options covered,...

 In this episode Between Contractions, Stephanie breaks down the concept of "magic number" — a key but often overlooked factor in understanding and maintaining your milk supply.  The conversation unpacks how breast storage capacity varies from person to person (and has nothing to do with breast size), and how knowing your magic number — the minimum number of times per day your breasts ne...

In this episode of Between Contractions, Amsy walks listeners through what they need to know about labor inductions — specifically how to avoid one that may not be medically necessary.  The conversation covers the limits of cervical exams as a predictive tool, why dilation numbers don't tell the whole story, and how a seemingly "unfavorable" cervix check can unnecessarily deflate a l...

In this episode of Between Contractions, Amsy and Stephanie respond to a viral article ( see link below ) suggesting that partners should give bottles in order to bond with their newborn and share in feeding responsibilities. While we appreciate the good intentions behind the idea, they push back on the notion that bottle feeding is the primary — or best — way for a non-breastfeeding partner to be...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , Amsy talks with Amy Beascoechea from the Healthy Start Coalition about a free, statewide program supporting families from pregnancy through early childhood. Healthy Start connects parents to resources, education, and support—regardless of income or insurance—with the goal of helping every baby have a healthy beginning.  They highlight key services like ho...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , we continue our conversation about de-influencing your baby registry, taking a closer look at which products are truly helpful for new parents and which ones may be more hype than necessity. Building on the previous episode, we share honest feedback based on real-life experiences working with families in the early postpartum season.  We will discuss sever...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , we have some fun “de-influencing your baby registry” by breaking down popular baby products and whether they’re actually helpful—or just clever marketing. Drawing from real client experiences and professional insight, we talk honestly about which items are worth considering and which ones might not live up to the hype.   Out conversation covers a range of...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , we focus on one of the most important early moments after birth: the first latch. Stephanie, a board certified IBCLC unpacks why those first hours matter, how early feeding can shape the breastfeeding journey, and what families can do to set themselves up for success.  The conversation covers what a good latch looks and feels like, common challenges in th...

 In this episode of  Between Contractions , we introduce the TEAM method—a practical framework designed to help families navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum decisions with clarity and confidence.  T standing for Touch, E for Environment, A for Accessories and M for Movement.  Find Amsy Dees Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠amsydeesdoula.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@amsydees.doula⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Stephanie Dawson Website: ⁠...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , we discuss how to make informed decisions during labor using the BRAIN acronym—a simple tool to help parents slow down, ask questions, and feel confident when choices arise in birth.  We will walk through each step of BRAIN: Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, and Nothing (what happens if we wait?), explaining how this framework can reduce fear, imp...

This episode of  Between Contractions  focuses on creating a birth plan and why it matters. We explain that a birth plan isn’t about controlling every detail of labor, but about clarifying preferences, preparing mentally, and helping partners and care providers advocate effectively. We will discuss how birth plans build confidence, align the support team, and encourage communication with medical s...

In this episode of Between Contractions we sit down with chiropractor Dr. Katie Peeples to unpack the facts, myths, and gray areas surrounding tongue ties (also known as tethered oral tissues). Tongue ties are everywhere on the internet—but what do they actually mean, and when do they really matter? Together, they explain what a tongue tie really is, how it affects feeding, and why function matter...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , we wrap up our birth team series by focusing on the postpartum season—often the most overlooked phase of support. They discuss why planning for postpartum matters just as much as preparing for birth and how the right support can ease the transition into life with a new baby.  The conversation explores different types of postpartum support, including partn...

In this episode of  Between Contractions , the conversation breaks down the roles of the birth-day team, including medical providers like midwives or OBs, nurses, birth assistants, and doulas. They explain how medical providers focus on clinical safety, while doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support—filling a gap that often exists during labor.  This episode helps l...