A lack of support during her postpartum transition inspired today’s guest, Kate Turza, to become a certified postpartum doula. Feelings of frustration and loneliness crept over her after the birth of her third child. Her searches for support in her rural Long Island community came up empty. She decided to offer women the support she wished she’d had by becoming a doula and by joining the board of a non-profit that facilitates a monthly birth circle.
During our conversation, Kate shares the problems she encountered during breastfeeding due to a retained placenta and lack of hormones, how doula training brought balance back into her life, and the struggles mothers and partners face finding community and support today’s individualized culture.
We talk about why postpartum support is absolutely negotiable, why you might want a postpartum Doula, and how to get the support you need even if there aren’t a lot of resources in your community.
In This Episode:
What a postpartum doula does
What a postpartum doula does not do
How mothers put pressure on themselves by setting unrealistic goals
How she dealt with increased anxiety during her postpartum transition
The struggles of breastfeeding and sleep deprivation for many new mothers
How a retained placenta affects a new mothers ability to nurse
How societal changes are affecting the fourth trimester
Considering a partner’s emotional needs during the birth cycle
Creating a support community for mothers and partners
Where to find support in the U.S. and internationally
How to build your maternity wardrobe with style and ease
Show Notes:
La Leche League — U.S. Branch
DONA — International Doula Training
CAPPA — International Doula Certification
Trust Your Body Again — Motherbirth Course
Stitch Fix — Create a Style Profile and Have Clothes Delivered Right to Your Front Door