Explore every episode of the podcast toRaise Questions Doula Podcast

Thérèse spends time talking to Valerie Drews who is a birth doula in the Chicago area (http://www.sacred-pregnancy.com/ ),about her experience being a doula for her sister's births. Is it hard to stay in the role as doula when you are also a family member? Her sister/client, Nichole Oakapal joins the conversation to give her perspective.

Dana Jarmon shares her birth story with Thérèse. Dana a birth doula herself, discusses the impact of having a doula present at her birth and also how it may have informed her own doula practice. www.kindredspiritsdoula.com.

Thérèse has a conversation with Heather Self, a birth doula who had an extremely traumatic birth and the impact it has had on her practice as a doula.

It's been a long time since our last podcast and Thérèse takes a few moments to say hello again and talk about some of the lessons learned on her journey this past summer.

Thérèse has a conversation with Emily Bruno, a Certified Birth Doula and one of the owners of My Birth in Richmond VA about how to best support a client who is planning to have a VBAC.

Thérèse has a conversation with Karry Wolf Anderson, a doula in the Chicago area. They discuss Karry's life as a mother, wife, doula and massage therapist and how she balances it all throughout these years of being active in birth work.

Thérèse continues her conversation with Cary York, a lactation consultant about how we can support a person who is having latch issues as well as, the different postions that can be used while breastfeeding.

Thérèse talks with Cary York, a lactation consultant about undisturbed breastfeeding, what it looks like and how it can be protected in that first hour and the days after birth

Thérèse talks with Cheyenne Varner cheyennevarner.com about an article she recently wrote entitled, "8 Things to Know About Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice".

Thérèse talks with Emily Landry, www.emilylandrydoula.com, from Tulsa Ok about a service she offers to new doulas, doula mentorship.

Thérèse talks with Jocelyn Alt, a certified professional birth doula in Seattle how has helped to start a successful hospital doula program where the doulas get paid a living wage and and the clients and staff reap the benefits as well.

Thérèse and Melanie spend time together talking about the toLabor doula workshops, how they help to emulate the spirit, the intention necessary in birth work and how they may help to transform our own personal lives.

Thérèse talks with Jen Kamel the creator and director of VBACFacts.com about the true risks of a VBAC, what does the evidence show, what are the practices in place, why are these practices in place and so much more.

Thérèse talks with the Debby Prudhomme & Melissa Gutierrez Nelson from the non-profit organization Everyday Miracles. This Minneapolis MN based organization provide free birth doula services and classes to any pregnant woman on medicad.

Thérèse and Melanie have a conversation wth Kate, a doula from Pennsylvania who faced an unexpected and difficult situation with their clients in the midst of their labor

Thérèse continue her dialogue with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginning, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women.

Thérèse speaks with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginngs, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women.

Thérèse and Melanie speak with Sarah Howell a NICU nurse at a large city hopstal and gives insights on how a doula can help negoitate that time with and for their clients.

Thérèse speaks with guest, Alice Wheeler who is a doula in a federally qualified community health center in Lancaster, PA

Thérèse continues her conversation with Anne about a labor and it's unexpected turn of events.

Thérèse talks with Anne about her life as a doula while balancing other jobs at the same time. Anne shares an experience she had in a labor and it's unexpected turn.

Thérèse continues her conversation with Dr Jodi Brown an obstetrician in Vermont who began her birth work as a birth doula.

Thérèse has a conversation with Dr Jodi Brown an obstetrician in Vermont who began her birth work as a birth doula.

This week we bring you a repeat of Episode #10 Being a doula is rewarding but can be incredibly draining. Too many of us fail to take care of ourselves as we work so hard to take care of others. Thérèse and Sarah discuss setting appropriate boundaries and standards of self-care for doulas to protect both the birth experience and their own work-life harmony.

Thérèse has a conversation with Stacie Scott, a labor and delivery nurse in Richmond VA. Stacie speaks to what it is like to be a nurse, insghts about the system and how doulas and nurses can best work together

Thérèse and Melanie discuss the importance of every doula having a contract beginnng with the first birth they attend and some important clauses that they want to make sure are included and communicated wth their clients. Contractions are for everyone's protection and a necessary aspect of professionalism.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Thérèse offers listeners a moment of reflection through a loving-kindness meditation, we all need compassion.

Thérèse continues her conversation with Carol Wade from Earth Island Herbs. Carol is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and a nutritional counselor with over 20 years of experience.

Thérèse has a conversation with Carol Wade from Earth Island Herbs. Carol is a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and a nutritional counselor with over 20 years of experience.

Thérèse and Melanie have an update from a listener's question and they answer a few more questions.

Thérèse and Melanie speak with guest, Lisa Chin about the fourth trimester, why she is so passionate about it, what she learned through her own expeirences and what she has created to help others who have options and choices for their time after birth.

This week we bring you a repeat of Episode 52. Thérèse and Melanie discuss the important topic of how a doula negotiates the conversation with their client about their care provider's reputation both statistically and anecdotally as well as the facility that they plan to birth in. Is it your role? What is your responsibility?

Thérèse and Melanie discuss the topic of birth shame. Many who give birth differently then what they have envisioned, feel a sense of shame after their expereince. What causes this feeling? What as a doula, can you do to support clients better to avoid this feeling if possible? What as a culture can we do to reduce this risk of shaming continuance?

Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question about the use of the foley bulb as a method of induction. They also address when is the "right" time to enter a client's labor that has begun with an induction and how long do you stay after a cesarean birth.

Thérèse and Melanie talk with Elizabeth Theriault, a woman who envisioned a beautiful breastfeeding experience with her new baby that became an emotional and physical roller coaster ride due to low milk supply. Elizabeth talks openly about her journey to understanding that sometimes a woman is not able to solely breastfeed and the whys may not be entirely known. A very important listen.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Karla Helbert, LPC about perinatal loss and how best to support clients who have a pregnancy year loss.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Sue Ellen about a home birth to hospital birth transfer she recently attended.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Rachel who shares her birth story and her experience having a doula for support.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Nicole Link-Troen a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist about the history of the ingestion of placentas, the whys, the hows and how to approach this topic with your clients.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Emma O'Brien, a toLabor trained doula and herbalist about how doulas can best serve and support the LGBT client.

Joy Outland Brock, LCSW, a toLabor trained doula join Thérèse and Melanie once again to talk about how to support clients with perinatal mood disorders.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Joy Outland Brock, LCSW, a toLabor trained doula about perinatal mood disorders, the different categories and how to identify them.

Thérèse and Melanie talk with Rachel a doula from Arizona about a recent birth she attended.

Thérèse and Melanie talk with Cristin Pascucci about ACOG's debate at their annual meeting in regard to induction for all women at 39 weeks.

Thérèse interviews 3 doulas who began in solo practice but who have now expanded their business to include other doulas and other services.

Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question on how to support a client who has intervetions.

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Melissa Yeager, a toLabor Certified Professional Birth Doula about circumcision and boundary lines.

Former podcast moderator Sarah Allen-Short join Therese and Melanie to discuss input from listeners in regard to Episode 71, The Spirit of Beig a Doula

Sarah Allen-Short joins Melanie to have a talk about Thérèse and what she is facing currently.

Thérèse turns the interview table on Melanie. They discusses how Melanie came itno birth work and how it has evolved into a full time career.