The Tea on Birth Podcast | Doula Diaries When people imagine hiring a doula, they often picture someone they've known throughout pregnancy. But sometimes birth has different plans. This birth story began with a phone call telling me I'd be serving as the backup doula for a family I had never met before. I'll be honest—I was nervous. Walking into a birth room where you've never met the parents and instantly becoming part of one of the most intimate moments of their lives is bo

The Tea on Birth Podcast If you've ever heard another mom say, "All of my contractions were in my back," she was probably talking about back labor. Back labor can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of childbirth. Instead of feeling contractions mostly in the front of your abdomen, you may experience intense pain or pressure in your lower back throughout labor. The good news? While back labor isn't always preventable, there are things you can do during pregnancy and labor

The Tea on Birth Podcast When many people hear the word doula, they imagine someone standing beside a laboring mother, rubbing her back and offering encouragement. While that's certainly part of the role, the truth is that doulas do so much more. As a doula, I don't replace your partner, your nurse, or your doctor. Instead, I become another member of your birth team—someone focused entirely on supporting you physically, emotionally, and mentally throughout labor. One of the b

The Tea on Birth Podcast If you're nearing your due date, chances are you've started wondering whether every cramp, backache, or trip to the bathroom means labor is about to begin. The truth is, every pregnancy is different, and no two women experience labor exactly the same way. While there isn't one perfect sign that tells you labor has started, your body often gives you clues that it's preparing for birth. In this article, we'll explore five common signs that labor may be

The Tea on Birth Podcast | Episode 1 Have you ever noticed that in almost every movie, a pregnant woman's water suddenly breaks, everyone starts panicking, and somehow a baby is born an hour later? While it makes for great entertainment, that's not how labor unfolds for most families. As a licensed midwife, one of the most common questions I hear is, "What should I do if my water breaks?" The good news is that, in many cases, you have time to stay calm, gather some important