Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies and the Battle for Sleep

Send us Fan Mail Why does early parenthood suddenly make even tiny decisions feel impossible? In this episode of Doula Talk , Deb dives into the neuroscience behind postpartum brain fog, decision fatigue, mental overload, and why so many parents feel emotionally exhausted, overstimulated, and stuck second-guessing themselves. From sleep deprivation and the invisible mental load of parenting to the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk , Deb sits down with Dr. Estelle Giraud, founder and CEO of Trellis , to talk about the massive gaps in postpartum healthcare and why so many women are left feeling exhausted, dismissed, and unsupported after birth. Together, they unpack what is actually happening in the body during postpartum recovery, including hormone shifts, nutrient depletion, ne...

Send us Fan Mail Postpartum is full of decisions that can feel impossibly heavy. Breastfeeding or formula? Tongue tie release or wait? Go back to work or stay home longer? Sleep support now or later? In this episode, Deb talks about why decision-making in early parenthood can feel so overwhelming and how to reconnect with your intuition without ignoring research, support, or real-life challenges....

Send us Fan Mail The first year after having a baby can put pressure on even the healthiest relationships, not because families are failing, but because postpartum recovery, sleep deprivation, work stress, hormones, and nonstop caregiving are a lot for human nervous systems. In this honest and practical episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Doula Deb shares 10 reali...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you're knee-deep in diapers or wondering if your toddler will ever nap again, one thing’s for sure: you’ve probably put yourself dead last on the priority list. In this episode, I’m sharing real-talk strategies to help you make space for self-care that actually works, even in the chaos of new parenthood. This isn’t about bubble baths or “just go take a nap” advice. It...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb sits down with public health researcher Dr. Amanda Reiman to explore a topic that many parents are already navigating quietly, but rarely feel safe talking about openly. Cannabis. For families moving through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early parenthood, the messaging has often been clear and...

Send us Fan Mail If feeding feels harder than it should right now, this episode offers a grounded, practical shift in perspective. Deb, a birth, postpartum, and sleep doula, explains why most feeding advice isn’t wrong, it’s just often given out of order. Tools like schedules, wake windows, and spacing feeds can help, but only when a family’s system is ready for that level of structure. Otherwise,...

Send us Fan Mail If feeding your baby feels stressful, emotional, or overwhelming, this episode is for you. Many parents are told that feeding struggles mean something is wrong with the bottle, the formula, the schedule, or their technique. But in practice, feeding challenges rarely exist in isolation. In this episode, Deb gently reframes feeding stress as a whole-system issue , not a personal fai...

Send us Fan Mail What if nothing is wrong… but everything still feels hard? In this episode of Doula Talk , Deb gently explores the often-overlooked reality of the fourth trimester. Those first three months after birth can be beautiful, but also exhausting, disorienting, and full of questions no one quite prepares you for. This episode helps shift families out of panic and into understanding, cove...

Send us Fan Mail Many families reach a moment in early postpartum when things finally start to feel familiar, and then suddenly shift again. Sleep looks different. Feeding feels harder. The rhythm they were beginning to understand feels less clear. In this episode, Deb, a birth, postpartum, and sleep doula, explains why these shifts are not setbacks, but a normal part of newborn development. She e...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Deb discusses the complexities of the newborn phase, emphasizing the unpredictability of sleep and feeding patterns. She encourages parents to focus on understanding their baby's rhythms rather than adhering to strict schedules. By recognizing sleepy cues and the dynamic nature of newborn development, parents can reduce stress and foster a more responsiv...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered whether a tongue tie release is really the fix everyone says it is — or why some babies seem to struggle even after the procedure? In this week’s episode of Doula Talk , Deb is joined by Carissa Guiley , a speech-language pathologist and IBCLC, to unpack the truth about therapeutic readiness and why slowing down before a frenectomy can make all the difference. Togeth...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and insightful episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb speaks directly to exhausted, overwhelmed parents caught in the cycle of sleep deprivation. With warmth, honesty, and just the right dose of real talk, Deb breaks down what’s really happening when your baby sleeps—and why quality rest is non-negotiable for their growth, devel...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if your baby’s weird noises, twitchy movements, or late-night fussing are totally normal—or something to panic about? In this week’s episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, Deb is joined by Dr. Kailey Buller , a double board-certified physician in family and emergency medicine (and mom of two), to demystify what’s normal, what’s not, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply soulful and eye-opening episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb sits down with former midwife and The Natural Birth Podcast host Anna Lundqvist to explore one of the most profound transformations a woman can experience: the sacred and often-overlooked transition from maiden to mother . Together, Deb and Anna dive into the emotional,...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep! In this Season 2 opener, Deb invites you into a calmer, more compassionate approach to postpartum life. Instead of chasing perfect sleep, perfect feeding, or perfect routines, this season is all about building steadier ground for you and your baby. Because parents aren’t struggling due to lack of effort. The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, Deb sits down with holistic family chiropractor and author Dr. Avery Champagne to uncover what’s really happening in a mother’s body when she feels anxious, wired, or unable to rest after birth. Dr. Champagne explains how postpartum anxiety and exhaustion stem from a dysregulated nervous system, not just...

Send us Fan Mail If you are planning a road trip, flying to see family, or even braving a day-long outing, this episode gives you the exact tools to prepare well, keep your baby regulated, and protect your peace. Hit play, pack with confidence, and travel like a pro. Freebie: Travel With Baby Essentials Checklist — a one-page, no-fluff checklist to pack exactly what you need and nothing you don’t...

Send us Fan Mail In this validating and heart-centered episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , postpartum and sleep doula Deb dives into one of the most emotionally loaded topics for new families: how to survive the holidays without sacrificing your sanity, sleep, or boundaries. If this is your baby's first holiday and you're feeling pulled in a dozen direct...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, Deb sits down with returning guest Brittany Hageman , a myofunctional speech therapist specializing in oral facial development, infant feeding, and airway health. Most parents hear about tongue ties when breastfeeding isn’t going well — but the impact goes far beyond latch. Brittany and Deb unpack how ton...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb brings back two powerhouse guests, Dr. Angie Maxwell, pelvic floor physical therapist, and Laura Meader, licensed social worker and therapist specializing in perinatal mental health, dig into a topic most parents don’t talk about out loud: postpartum anxiety and OCD. Too often, new parents are told t...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb peels back the curtain on one of the most under-prepared-for moments of early parenthood: going back to work after maternity leave . Spoiler alert—it’s not just about logistics, it’s an identity shift. Deb opens with her own (very real) story: trying to jump back into overnight doula work wh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb sits down with licensed midwife and IBCLC, Emily Ager, for the kind of raw, no-guilt, reality-check conversation every parent needs about feeding their baby. Emily shares her journey from EMT to midwife to lactation consultant, and how her mission became crystal clear: supporting families with feedin...

Send us Fan Mail In this no-nonsense episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep , Deb pulls back the curtain on what birthing parents really need for postpartum recovery—and spoiler alert: it’s not another swaddle. Too often, new parents are sent home with scratchy mesh underwear and a peri bottle that sprays like a rogue firehose, leaving them to figure out the rest. Deb’...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever stared at your crying newborn and thought, “I’ve tried everything… why are they still upset?” —this episode is your permission slip to exhale and regroup. In this heartfelt and practical episode, Doula Deb—a seasoned birth, postpartum, and sleep doula—walks you through her no-shame, intuition-first approach to understanding and soothing a crying baby. With her signa...