Doula Tips and Tits with Kaely Harrod

Some birth classes are virtual, some are in person, some are self-paced, but there are also some that are hybrid. There are a few variations of hybrid classes. This episode covers two types: 1. A class that’s virtual and in person but taught live. 2. A class that’s a mixture of self-paced pre-recorded information and virtual, but live classes . What these classes cover varies from one class to the...

The next type of childbirth class we’re diving into is a Natural Childbirth Class. That is a class often geared specifically for pregnant people who have the goal of an unmedicated labor. This type of class emphasizes comfort measures and non-medication coping skills in labor.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Natural Childbirth Class is geared towards unmedicated labor, so it is a good fit for someone who’s plannin...

Childbirth Express or Weekend Birth Classes are common types of Childbirth Education. This episode dives into what those classes usually cover, how they work and how to decide if that’s a good fit for you.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Childbirth Express Classes are meant to be the basics of  birth If you’re planning a hospital birth with an epidural it’s usually a good fit These quick classes don’t always conta...

Childbirth Education or a Birth Class is an important step in your preparation for labor and birth. Because of that we are kicking off Season 2 with a whole series on different types of Childbirth Education and are starting off with Virtual Self-Paced Options. Specifically The Birth Prep Blueprint is being highlighted today!  KEY TAKEAWAYS Keys reasons The Birth Prep Blueprint is unique: Is broken...

Get ready for a brand new season of Kaely Daily: Doula Tips and Tits. I'm excited to start dropping episodes next Wednesday, Sept 7th. Keep an eye out!  Support the show

Childbirth Education or a Birth Class is an important step in your preparation for labor and birth. It not only helps a pregnant person understand what’s happening during labor in their body, but also helps them decide what things are important to them or what factors matter for them in the birth and postpartum period.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Types of Birthing Classes: Hypnosis-based classes Longer Series...

Birth is hard; that is a well known fact. So what are some factors that can make it easier? This list is just a start of course, but it is a few things that I believe makes birth easier to mentally, emotionally and physically experience. KEY TAKEAWAYS Factors that make birth easier: A Birth Doula Good personal support team A team of providers that you trust Explore what is actually comforting to y...

What Happens With My Hormones after Giving Birth? How will I feel during the postpartum time? I remember asking these questions during pregnancy. These are common questions to have because of the talk about Postpartum Depression and then Postpartum Anxiety.  There is a lot happening with your hormones in the postpartum days and weeks and that is one more reason why rest and patience is so importan...

Nourishment is a vital part of the postpartum time. There are many specific traditions throughout the world on the best ways to nourish a postpartum person. The guest we have today is an expert in Ayurveda and will give us insight into how that medicinal tradition recommends nourishment to look after a birth.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The key components of Ayurveda are the five elements that all living thing...

The timeline of healing after a birth is slightly different for everyone. How quickly you heal from a birth depends somewhat on what kind of birth you had. There is a variety of parts of postpartum that impact healing after a birth.  KEY TAKEAWAYS If you have had a cesarean it takes longer to heal because there’s major surgery involved If you’ve had a tear during vaginal delivery that makes healin...

If a person tears during vaginal delivery then the next question is usually how can I heal? Healing vaginal tears is a spectrum, just like anything in birth and postpartum. This episode dives into some tips about how to help that process proceed.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Ice can be really helpful for the first 24 hrs but should not be used on the vulva and perineum after 48 hrs After ice warmth is helpful f...

Tearing during birth is one of the things most of us worry about! I know I did! I also hear many people saying they are trying not to tear without fully understanding how common tearing is and how it happens (in some small way) every time a person gives birth. Today’s question is How Common is a Tear During Vaginal Birth! KEY TAKEAWAYS 9 out of 10 pregnant people tear when they’re giving birth for...

The question of when you might lose your mucous plug is a popular one. In part because it often gets associated with the start of labor, but that’s not always the case. While losing your mucous plug (or bits of it!) means your cervix is preparing for labor it does not mean that anything is imminent. This episode dives into when you may lose it.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Mucous Plug plays a role in keeping ge...

If an epidural is part of your birth plan you may be wondering when it’s the right time to get one. Now, as in the case of many of the questions I answer, there is more than one answer to this! It depends one what your plan is and how your labor progresses. KEY TAKEAWAYS Being in labor is the first goal when getting an epidural - listen to hear what I mean! Aiming for active labor (5-6 cm or so) i...

Hospital Bags, Birth Center Bags, and Go Bags for a home birth…all are important and all need preparation ahead of time! This episode dives into when the “go bag” should be packed and what to do about things you need to add later! KEY TAKEAWAYS Have your emergency hospital bag ready by around 35/36 weeks Even a home birth needs a go bag in the case of a transfer Pack what you can now and create a...

Choosing the right time to take a Childbirth Class can be a stressful thing! But that’s not necessary. Choose the kind of class you’d like to take and then from there factor in having it completed by the first part of your 3rd trimester. Listen to hear more information about timing!  KEY TAKEAWAYS Second Trimester is a great time to take a Childbirth Class It depends a bit on what type of class yo...

Placenta encapsulation is gaining popularity and press so this episode is entirely about myths that come along with the ingestion of placentas. There are many benefits that people find from placenta ingestion. I am not a placenta expert, so today we will hear from Jade Hillery about all the things placenta ingestion.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Placenta ingestion has been shown to have many benefits for postpa...

There are two main ways placentas are routinely delivered during a vaginal delivery. Active Management and Expectant Waiting. This episode goes into the what, how, when and why of those two forms of management and gives you context for them both. KEY TAKEAWAYS Active Management is often used in hospital birth settings Expectant Waiting is more common in out of hospital birth settings (home and bir...

Placentas happen where the egg implants in the uterus. That can occur anywhere, but occasionally when the placenta is on or near the cervix and oftentime someone says “it may move”. The problem is that the placenta is not like a walking tree that climbs its way up the uterus. This episode dives into placenta placement and if/when it relocated and what that means since it can’t walk!  KEY TAKEAWAYS...

Why do we grow a placenta and What is it used for? The Placenta is the only temporary organ and it’s grown during pregnancy (a new one for every pregnancy!). It is a wonderful organ and this episode goes into some more details about what it is and what it does.  KEY TAKEAWAYS You grow a placenta to nourish your little one!  Each pregnancy has a new placenta (sometimes two if you have twins!) The p...

Do I or do I not need to do kegels a million times a day? That is the question! While you don’t need to do them a million times a day, they are beneficial for some people, but not everyone. There is nuance! Which is true for so many things in life. This episode features Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Katie Bayer to answer this question for us! KEY TAKEAWAYS Yes, kegels benefit many, but not every...

How can I know for sure if I'm going to poop when I push my baby out? Some people say everyone does, others say don't worry about it, but I am worried about it! If this sounds like you, don't worry. First of all, yes, some people poop in labor, but not everyone. Learn more about this in today's episode all about pushing and pooping (or pushing and NOT pooping!) KEY TAKEAWAYS No...

1, 2, 3 PUSH!!!! While sometimes the movies show us that type of pushing during childbirth, that’s not what pushing has to be. Many people say “push like you’re pooping” but that’s not entirely correct either. Ideally you’re not pushing while you poop! And while the pressure of baby’s head can feel like a massive poo, it doesn’t have to be forcibly pushed out. KEY TAKEAWAYS Here are some things to...

Babies so frequently come in the early hours of the morning. Night time is a favorite labor time for bodies in part because the oxytocin is high and people are relaxed and cozy. Because we know this we can apply it to labor during all hours of the day and night! But the cozy level is best if it’s personal to the person in labor, so it takes some extra advanced planning. KEY TAKEAWAYS Here are some...

Is this labor? What about now?? Will I know when I’m in labor? How are labor contractions different than Braxton Hicks Contractions? You may have asked one of these questions….or maybe all of these questions! This episode really breaks down the difference between Braxton Hicks or Pre-labor contractions and contractions that get that baby out!  KEY TAKEAWAYS There are some key differences between B...