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Lactation Consultant Angie Rosier shares insights about baby weight gain and how to know if your baby is getting enough milk. Many parents prepare extensively for labor but overlook preparing for breastfeeding, which generally lasts much longer than the birth experience.

• Newborn stomachs are tiny—marble-sized on day one, growing to walnut-sized by day three
• Weight loss up to 10% is normal for newborns in the first days
• Babies consume approximately 24 ounces daily for the first 16 weeks
• Healthy weight gain is typically one ounce per day during the first four months
• At 16 weeks, babies' metabolism changes and weight gain slows to about half an ounce daily
• Three ways to know baby is getting enough: weight gain, diaper output, and arm relaxation
• Feeding patterns evolve from many small feedings to fewer larger feedings
• Seek support and education to prepare for your breastfeeding journey

Thank you for listening to The Ordinary Doula Podcast. Make a human connection today—digitally or in person—through a touch, eye contact, a smile, or a message, and make a difference in someone else's life.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
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Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

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The deep latch is the cornerstone of successful breastfeeding, affecting everything from milk transfer to nipple comfort and baby's weight gain. Angie Rosier shares expertise from her dual role as a doula and lactation consultant, offering practical techniques to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

• Visual signs of a deep latch include pulsating movement by the baby's temple, full jaw movement, and a wide mouth opening of about 140 degrees
• Proper latch should not cause prolonged pain or nipple damage - these are signs adjustment is needed
• Keeping baby remarkably close to the breast helps maintain a deep latch
• Using a rolled blanket under mother's wrist provides support to maintain positioning
• "Threading" technique helps deepen latch by pushing more breast tissue into baby's mouth
• The "chin pull" technique can widen baby's gape while they remain latched
• Most latch problems can be improved without constant relatching, which frustrates babies
• When basic techniques don't solve issues, deeper assessment of oral anatomy may be needed
• Support is available through hospital lactation consultants and private practice consultants
• Make a connection with someone you love today - you never know what difference it will make

Please make a connection with someone you love today. You never know what that will bring.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

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Kimberlee Williams shares her emotional journey from planning a home birth after three easy deliveries to facing a life-threatening medical emergency and a 6-week NICU stay with her premature son Houston.

• Mother of four who moved to Utah shortly before unexpectedly becoming pregnant with her fourth child
• Planned a home birth with a midwife after three previous uncomplicated hospital births
• Experienced a severe migraine at six months pregnant that she suspected was preeclampsia
• Midwife dismissed her high blood pressure, attributing symptoms to food she had eaten
• 20-week ultrasound showed baby was measuring two weeks behind with an empty stomach
• Noticed significantly decreased fetal movement and followed her instinct to get it checked
• Ultrasound technician found baby wasn't moving or swallowing properly
• Hospital discovered her blood pressure was dangerously high, in the 200s
• Emergency C-section at 33 weeks resulted in baby born at only 2 pounds 10 ounces
• Community rallied around the family while baby spent six weeks in NICU
• Discovered toxic heavy metals in prescribed formula were causing developmental delays
• Switching formulas led to immediate improvements in baby's development and weight gain
• Learning to trust maternal instincts and advocate for yourself and your baby

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

Send us a text

Healthcare disparities don't discriminate based on education or wealth—Black and brown women face mortality rates three to five times higher than their white counterparts during childbirth. This stark reality forms the foundation of our deep dive into obstetrical racism, a systemic issue embedded within our healthcare institutions that demands our urgent attention.

Cultural competency sits at the heart of addressing this crisis. Beyond simply acknowledging differences, true competency means creating environments where patients feel safe from bias, are taken seriously when reporting pain or complications, and receive equitable treatment. When care teams include representatives who share or understand patients' cultural backgrounds, trust builds naturally. This representation, coupled with strong advocacy—whether from family members or professional doulas—ensures patients maintain autonomy throughout their birthing journey.

The groundbreaking work of Dr. Davis and Dr. Scott illuminates seven observations characterizing obstetrical racism: diagnostic lapses, neglect, dismissiveness, failure to treat pain, coercion instead of consent, ceremonies of degradation, medical abuse, and racial profiling. Their SACRED Birth Theory offers a practical framework to combat these issues through Safety, Accountability, Communication, Racism acknowledgment, Empathy, and Dignity. These cost-effective principles can transform maternal care for BIPOC individuals when implemented with intention and consistency. Doulas emerge as powerful allies in this transformation, bridging communication gaps and ensuring dignified treatment while honoring the feminine wisdom that threads through all cultures' birthing traditions.

Take this information and make a change—even a small one—in your thinking and actions. Reach out to someone different from yourself and build a human connection. Through these connections, we can collectively work toward a healthcare system that truly serves all birthing people with dignity and respect.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

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The humble washcloth is a powerful, versatile tool that can significantly enhance comfort during labor. With 20 years of doula experience, Angie shares how this simple item becomes an essential element in her birth support toolkit.

• The "wondrous washcloth" is available in all birth settings - hospitals, birth centers, and homes
• Cold washcloths provide cooling relief when laboring bodies heat up
• Creating a basin of ice water allows for rotating frigid washcloths during labor
• Waving damp washcloths creates a fan effect for additional cooling
• Warm washcloths on the perineum during pushing help prepare tissues and minimize tearing
• Washcloths provide excellent texture and traction during back massage and counter-pressure
• Keep multiple washcloths accessible during labor as they tend to get misplaced
• Having wet and dry washcloths ready helps during moments of nausea or vomiting

Please reach out to someone today, make a human connection, whether by touch, eye contact, or electronic means. Make an important human contact today.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

Send us a text

We explore the contrasting needs and expectations of first-time parents versus experienced parents during the birth process, highlighting how support needs evolve with each birth experience.

• First-time parents have unique needs including education, emotional support, agency, and validation
• First-time parents often feel overwhelmed and need clear, compassionate explanations about the birth process
• Medical settings can make it difficult for first-time parents to advocate for themselves
• Experienced parents (multiparous) want their previous birth experiences acknowledged and respected
• Multiparous parents often have more decisive preferences based on past experiences
• Childcare logistics become a major consideration for parents having second or subsequent babies
• Statistics show 52% of Birth Learning doula clients are first-time parents, with numbers decreasing with each subsequent birth
• By third or fourth births, many parents have developed skills to advocate for themselves
• Experienced parents may face fear of known complications rather than fear of the unknown
• Continuous compassionate support benefits all birthing people regardless of how many births they've had

Please seek out a great doula in your area. It's a great team member to have on your side for a positive and empowering birth experience, whether it's your first or eleventh baby.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

Send us a text

The emotional journey of those who have experienced fertility challenges requires special care and understanding during pregnancy and birth, with many carrying deep anxiety, fear, and complex emotions throughout their experience.

• Growing number of people facing fertility challenges in our society
• Emotional sensitivity acknowledging the difficult journey to pregnancy
• Validating fears that come from past losses and struggles
• Creating space for both celebration and grief simultaneously
• Importance of continuity of care and building trust with providers
• Heightened anxiety and potential PTSD from past experiences
• Feelings of guilt for not experiencing pure joy
• Need for compassionate support extending into the postpartum period
• Importance of community support from those with similar experiences
• Approaching each situation gently without assuming we know everything

Please make a human connection, go out and make a difference in someone's day, be a positive impact for someone nearby or far away, so that we can all connect a little better as humans on this planet that we share together.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker

Send us a text

Birth is influenced by three major stakeholders with different objectives: the birthing people, the birth place, and the policies governing care. Understanding the "Three P's" helps expectant parents navigate their birth journey and identify where their interests align with the larger healthcare system.

• Birthing people want safety, support, a voice in their care, and a positive, meaningful experience
• Hospitals focus on clinical safety while balancing risk management, efficiency, standardization, and resource allocation
• Insurance companies prioritize cost management but share interests with families in reducing unnecessary interventions
• Birth centers often have more alignment with birthing people's objectives than hospitals do
• Doulas create value by improving outcomes in ways that benefit both families and insurance companies
• Even within large healthcare systems, families can make requests that personalize their care
• Human connection and compassionate care significantly impact the birth experience

Please reach out today and make a human connection. Do something kind for someone nearby – whether a stranger or someone you know – and you won't regret it.

Visit our website, here: https://birthlearning.com/
Follow us on Facebook at Birth Learning
Follow us on Instagram at @birthlearning

Show Credits

Host: Angie Rosier
Music: Michael Hicks
Photographer: Toni Walker
Episode Artwork: Nick Greenwood
Producer: Gillian Rosier Frampton
Voiceover: Ryan Parker