Tend and Befriend

Send us Fan Mail Ever wish someone would tell you the truth about breastfeeding without the guilt or the gadgets? We bring on Samantha, a seasoned NICU nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, to cut through the noise and give you a clear path forward—whether you’re nursing, pumping, combo feeding, or bottle feeding from day one. We start with the realities most classes skip:...

Send us Fan Mail What if the first, fiercest lesson in personal power began in the birth room? We sit with Kelly—licensed paramedic, yoga teacher, Reiki master, and now a doula in our agency—to trace how frontline medicine led her to a calling rooted in consent, breath, and presence. From the shift that happens when someone teaches you to ask for what you want, to the quiet courage of doing less a...

Send us Fan Mail Contact Natalie Evans through Instagram @pure.essence.doulacare  Check out the linktree!!  Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend ! 🌿 Learn More & Work With Me: 💻 Visit Website for my birth course , resources, and to book a session with me. 📲 Stay Connected: 📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula 📘 Facebook: @ deborahthedoula 💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe...

Send us Fan Mail We spend so much time preparing for labor, but what about the moments that come right after your baby is born? In this episode of Tend and Befriend , I’m walking you through what really happens after the final push. From skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping, to delivering the placenta, the fundal massage (you've probably heard of it), and the quiet start to postpartum recov...

Send us Fan Mail Pelvic health physiotherapist Corey Ireland shares her expertise on the myths, misconceptions, and transformative potential of pelvic floor therapy for women, men, and children of all ages. Through her compassionate approach of meeting people where they are and "nudging" rather than pushing, Corey explains how pelvic health impacts everything from pregnancy comfort to po...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve seen it in birth photos, maybe even on your own baby...that creamy white coating on newborn skin. It’s called vernix caseosa , and in this episode of Tend and Befriend , we’re exploring what it is, why it matters, and what it represents in today’s birth spaces. Deborah breaks down: The science of vernix: what it’s made of and why it forms Its powerful role in immune support...

Send us Fan Mail Forget the diaper raffles and puff-painted bibs. This isn’t your traditional baby shower. In this episode of Tend and Befriend , Deborah dives into the heart of nesting parties: intimate gatherings that blend community, preparation, and emotional support for expecting parents. You’ll learn: What a nesting party is and why it matters How to create a calm, supportive environment (an...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Episode Title: The #1 Mistake First-Time Moms Make in Early Labor (And What to Do Instead) Podcast: Tend and Befriend Host: Deborah the Doula Episode Summary: If you're in the last weeks of pregnancy and wondering “How will I know if it’s really labor?” — this episode is for you. Today on Tend and Befriend , I’m talking about the most common mistake I see first-time moms m...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: Thinking about choosing a midwife but unsure what they actually do? Heard that midwives only attend home births or that you can’t get an epidural with one? It’s time to clear up the myths and get real about what midwifery care looks like in Ontario — especially in Windsor-Essex. In this episode, I’m joined by Corey, a registered midwife with Midwives of Windsor, a...

Send us Fan Mail A powerful home birth story highlighting the incredible strength of women and the sacred honor of supporting birthing families. Doula Debra shares her evolving approach to home birth support and the beautiful outcome of a recent birth where connection, trust and protecting oxytocin flow created magic. • Creating deeper connections with birthing families before labor begins • Under...

Send us Fan Mail There's a life-changing moment when a woman transforms into a mother – regardless of whether she always knew motherhood was her path. This raw, honest conversation with art therapist Ainsley Winter reveals her journey from uncertainty about motherhood to an empowered hospital birth experience. Ainsley's story dismantles the false dichotomy between medicated and unmedicat...

Send us Fan Mail We explore epidurals in childbirth, examining what they are, their risks, and why unmedicated birth options deserve equal consideration in your birth plan. • Epidurals are regional anesthesia using local anesthetics and opioids to block pain signals from the waist down • Research shows epidurals can slow labor progression, especially during the pushing phase by up to 90 minutes •...

Send us Fan Mail Postpartum bleeding, or lochia, is your body's natural healing process as your uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size. We explore the science behind this important recovery phase and what every new mother should know about supporting her body during this time. • Uterus shrinks from watermelon to pear size in about six weeks after delivery • Lochia progresses through three d...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Title: How to Boost Milk Supply Naturally Welcome back to Tend and Befriend ! I’m your host Deborah—mom, doula, health professional, and your biggest cheerleader on this journey through pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. In today’s episode, we’re talking about a topic I hear all the time from breastfeeding moms: how to naturally boost your milk supply. Whether you’re j...

Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about the one childbirth fear that keeps many expectant mothers up at night – pooping during labor. As a doula, massage therapist, and mother of two, I've witnessed firsthand how this perfectly natural bodily function creates unnecessary anxiety for birthing people everywhere. The science is straightforward: when you're pushing your baby out, you're...

Send us Fan Mail We dive deep into the evidence behind aspirin use during pregnancy, examining why fertility clinics recommend it and how to weigh the risks and benefits of this common intervention. The podcast explores low-dose aspirin's role in improving blood flow to the placenta, potentially preventing complications for mothers with specific risk factors. • Low-dose aspirin (81mg) works b...

Send us Fan Mail Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, but for the 80% of expectant mothers who experience morning sickness, it can feel like an endless battle against nausea and discomfort. What if small, strategic changes to your daily routine could make those symptoms more manageable? Drawing on evidence from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, I break down e...

Send us Fan Mail We dive deep into common breastfeeding misconceptions that leave mothers feeling confused and inadequate, providing evidence-based facts to empower new parents on their feeding journey. The episode tackles seven persistent myths about breastfeeding and offers practical guidance for navigating challenges with confidence. • Breastfeeding is a learned skill, not an instinct – 92% of...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if "pregnancy brain" is real science or just a convenient excuse for misplaced keys and forgotten appointments? The fascinating truth lies somewhere in between, and it's more remarkable than you might think. Pregnancy triggers measurable changes in your brain's structure, particularly in areas related to social cognition and emotional regulation....

Send us Fan Mail Today, we're tackling a big topic: Why do medical professionals often refer to Pitocin as oxytocin? What are the risks and benefits ? And why is Pitocin being overused in so many hospital births? Let’s break it all down. 🌿 In this episode, we cover: ✔️ The role of natural oxytocin in labor, bonding, and breastfeeding ✔️ How Pitocin is different & why it doesn’t cross the...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the world of childbirth realities with Tend and Befriend as we unpack the truthful nuances surrounding the event of water breaking. Many of us can recall memorable moments from beloved television shows where a woman's water dramatically breaks in a public setting, igniting chaos and urgency. However, this depiction is often far from the truth. In our latest episode,...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this special episode as I walk you through Jacobsons Relaxation.  This technique can help anyone manage stress, and alleviate discomfort, especially mothers in the delivery room.  1:49 - Introduction & Disclaimer 4:07 - Jacobsons Relaxation  23:52 - Closing Blog Labor & Birth Course Support the show 🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend ! 🌿 Learn More &a...

Send us Fan Mail Today we are answering questions that you asked us through our social media accounts!! Join me today as we discuss a couple of these topics:  Red Raspberry Leaf Tea,  Options for flipping a breech baby,  When to start tracking fetal Kick,  Massage do's & donts.   What is a mucus plug and what should I watch for? Two very painful symptoms in pregnancy that has to do with c...

Send us Fan Mail I peed on the stick and Its positive,  I am pregnant!   What are my first steps to take?  How does this all work? Do I call the OB? Do I call the Family Doctor? Do I scream it from the mountain tops? I am not sure I am ready for this.. I dont know what my options are.. There are so many feelings and emotions attached to finding out you are pregnant and just because the test is pos...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how some women manage not to worry about finances during their maternity leave?  I know how they did it.... they hired Alynn Godfroy from Godfroy financial.    How did she enjoy her maternity leave without financial burden, the same way she is now enjoying her life, raising her baby boy Austin and making time for herself, her husband and her family life while owning he...