Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies and the Battle for Sleep

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Whether you're knee-deep in diapers or wondering if your toddler will ever nap again, one thing’s for sure: you’ve probably put yourself dead last on the priority list. In this episode, I’m sharing real-talk strategies to help you make space for self-care that actually works, even in the chaos of new parenthood.
This isn’t about bubble baths or “just go take a nap” advice. It’s about giving yourself permission to be human, asking for help before you're drowning, and finding micro-moments of calm in the middle of the mess.
From emotional regulation to partner dynamics, to why eating your toddler’s leftover string cheese absolutely counts as a meal—we’re covering it all.
We’ll talk about:
Why self-care is non-negotiable (and not selfish)
Small, doable rituals that help you feel like you again
What emotional self-care actually looks like in real life
How to share the load with your partner (without resentment)
Why support in the first year of parenting can change everything
Resources & Support Mentioned in This Episode:
🧠 Free Postpartum Mental Health Handouts –  Get my downloadable guide to help you recognize the signs of postpartum anxiety, depression, and emotional overload—and most importantly, what to do about it. 👉 Download Here
🍼 The First Year Support Program – Support for you, not just the baby. Weekly or monthly check-ins, sleep guidance, emotional support, and a whole lot of “you’re not alone.” 👉 Explore the Program
💤 Doula Deb’s Free Sleep Resources – If your baby is sleep-averse and you are touched out and running on fumes, I’ve got you. 👉 Grab Free Sleep Tips
📱 Follow me on Instagram – For snack-fueled real talk and behind-the-scenes support: @doula.deb
Let’s keep parenting honest, supported, and just the right amount of scrappy.
 If you need a reminder that you matter too, this episode is it.
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Thank you for listening! Tune in next time for more insights and support on your parenting journey.

Contact Information:
Doula Deb: www.DoulaDeb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.deb/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debdoula
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doula.deb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doula_deb

Disclaimer:
The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.

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In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, Deb sits down with public health researcher Dr. Amanda Reiman to explore a topic that many parents are already navigating quietly, but rarely feel safe talking about openly.
Cannabis.
For families moving through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early parenthood, the messaging has often been clear and rigid: just say no. But behind the scenes, many parents are dealing with sleep deprivation, anxiety, pain, and nervous system overwhelm and are left trying to piece together information on their own without clear, supportive guidance.
This conversation gently opens the door.
Dr. Reiman brings over 20 years of research and experience to the table, offering a thoughtful, harm-reduction approach that helps listeners better understand how cannabis interacts with the body, especially for women. Together, Deb and Amanda walk through what’s actually happening beneath the surface, from the role of the endocannabinoid system to the differences between THC, CBD, and CBN, and how these compounds may affect sleep, mood, inflammation, and pain.
What makes this episode especially powerful is how it holds both sides of the conversation.
There is space for caution, especially around pregnancy and breastfeeding, where the research is still evolving and individualized care is essential. And there is also space to acknowledge the reality that many parents are already making decisions in the gray areas, often without the support or information they deserve.
Rather than offering quick answers or blanket recommendations, this episode invites a deeper understanding. It helps listeners move away from fear-based thinking and toward informed, thoughtful decision-making that honors both their body and their family.
For parents who have ever felt unsure, hesitant, or even a little alone in navigating this topic, this conversation offers something different.
Clarity. Context. And a reminder that you deserve access to information that helps you feel steady and supported in your choices.
If you’re curious about how cannabis fits into conversations around postpartum recovery, sleep, or women’s health, or if you’ve simply been wanting a more grounded, research-based perspective, this is an episode worth listening to all the way through.
Resources:
Hello Again - Vaginal Suppositories
Charlotte's Web - Gummies, topicals, oils
Support the show
Thank you for listening! Tune in next time for more insights and support on your parenting journey.

Contact Information:
Doula Deb: www.DoulaDeb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.deb/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debdoula
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doula.deb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doula_deb

Disclaimer:
The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.

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If feeding feels harder than it should right now, this episode offers a grounded, practical shift in perspective.
Deb, a birth, postpartum, and sleep doula, explains why most feeding advice isn’t wrong, it’s just often given out of order. Tools like schedules, wake windows, and spacing feeds can help, but only when a family’s system is ready for that level of structure. Otherwise, they tend to add pressure instead of relief .
In this episode, Deb walks through what actually helps when feeding feels hard, including reducing decision fatigue, building gentle rhythms, and focusing on regulation before optimization. She also highlights the common patterns that quietly make feeding more stressful, even when families are trying their best.
This episode is especially helpful for parents who feel stuck despite trying all the “right” things and are ready for support that meets them where they are.
Sleep Foundations consults, feeding and regulation check-ins, and ongoing postpartum support are available for families who want more personalized guidance.
Support the show
Thank you for listening! Tune in next time for more insights and support on your parenting journey.

Contact Information:
Doula Deb: www.DoulaDeb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.deb/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debdoula
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doula.deb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doula_deb

Disclaimer:
The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.

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If feeding your baby feels stressful, emotional, or overwhelming, this episode is for you.
Many parents are told that feeding struggles mean something is wrong with the bottle, the formula, the schedule, or their technique. But in practice, feeding challenges rarely exist in isolation.
In this episode, Deb gently reframes feeding stress as a whole-system issue, not a personal failure. Drawing on over 15 years of experience supporting families in the first year, she explains why reflux, bottle refusal, and fussy evenings so often show up together and what they are really communicating.
This conversation is about nervous system load, depletion, and why feeding stress is often one of the earliest signals that a family needs more support, not more advice.
In this episode, we cover:
Why feeding struggles are rarely “just about the bottle”
The common cluster of reflux, bottle battles, and evening fussiness
Anxiety vs intuition when feeding feels charged
How parental depletion and burnout show up through feeding
Why mental health is healthcare in the postpartum period
What actually helps when feeding feels hard
How to reframe feeding as information, not a problem to fix
If feeding feels heavy right now, you are not doing it wrong. You are responding to a system under load.
Support is allowed. And it matters.
🎧 Next episode: What Actually Helps When Feeding Is Hard (And What Quietly Makes It Worse)

Resources + Support
One-time feeding, sleep, and regulation consults
Ongoing in-home or virtual postpartum support
Medicaid-covered postpartum care for eligible families
Support the show
Thank you for listening! Tune in next time for more insights and support on your parenting journey.

Contact Information:
Doula Deb: www.DoulaDeb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.deb/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debdoula
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doula.deb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doula_deb

Disclaimer:
The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.

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What if nothing is wrong… but everything still feels hard?
In this episode of Doula Talk, Deb gently explores the often-overlooked reality of the fourth trimester. Those first three months after birth can be beautiful, but also exhausting, disorienting, and full of questions no one quite prepares you for.

This episode helps shift families out of panic and into understanding, covering:
Why frequent night waking, cluster feeding, and contact naps are normal
How gentle rhythms (not rigid schedules) support sleep and recovery
The connection between newborn behavior, parental healing, and nervous system regulation
When to trust the process… and when to seek extra support
Deb also shares why postpartum support is essential, not optional, and how having the right guidance can make this transition feel steadier and more manageable.
Looking for more support? Deb offers prenatal consults, virtual support, and her First Year Support Program, along with helpful resources at douladeb.com.
If you’re expecting or in the thick of those early months, this episode will help you feel less alone and more grounded in what actually matters.
Because when understanding replaces fear, everything starts to feel just a little bit steadier.
Support the show
Thank you for listening! Tune in next time for more insights and support on your parenting journey.

Contact Information:
Doula Deb: www.DoulaDeb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula.deb/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debdoula
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doula.deb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doula_deb

Disclaimer:
The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.