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The Pragmatic Doulas

The Pragmatic Doulas

By The Pragmatic Doulas

A common sense discussion on birth, postpartum, being a parent and life! Kim, Suzanne and Stephanie love to talk and with humour and a little cursing they navigate their lives as Doulas, Mums and Friends.
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8 Interviews, Prenatals & VBAC Homebirth

The Pragmatic DoulasMar 04, 2019

00:00
01:22:16
Ep 182 - Roe Vs Wade & A Big Announcement

Ep 182 - Roe Vs Wade & A Big Announcement

On this weeks podcast The Doulas discuss Roe Vs Wade and we have a big announcement for you too. 

Jul 04, 202201:24:52
Ep 181 - All About Kim

Ep 181 - All About Kim

This week we explore Hypnobirthing and we dig into all things Kim.

Jun 27, 202201:37:39
Ep 180 - All About Suzanne

Ep 180 - All About Suzanne

This week The Doulas delve into what's going on with Suzanne these days.  

Jun 20, 202201:08:09
Ep 179 - All About Stephanie

Ep 179 - All About Stephanie

This week Kim and Suzanne interview Stephanie and find out some new things about her and what she's up to these days! 

Jun 13, 202201:22:04
Ep 178 - Doulaing In The Summer

Ep 178 - Doulaing In The Summer

This week The Doulas talk about how they manage doula work and summer time with their families and managing our mental health during this time. 

Jun 06, 202201:15:03
Ep 177 - Encore Presentation Of Watch Your Language

Ep 177 - Encore Presentation Of Watch Your Language

Due to many situations working against us, we could not record an episode this week. So we hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Ep 82 from August 2020 - Watch Your Language. 

"This week The Doulas discuss the use of language in social media, your contracts or on your website and when interacting with potential clients.  You have to remember that what you say can value or devalue someones experience or who they are.  So Watch Your Language!

May 30, 202201:12:11
Ep 176 - Suzanne & Kim Shoot The Shit About Politics

Ep 176 - Suzanne & Kim Shoot The Shit About Politics

After a rough couple of weeks The Doulas sit back and talk about the politics that are occurring in their province. Everything in life is political. 

May 23, 202201:05:27
Ep 175 - Special Guests Cranial Sacral Therapists Meaghan Beames & Carissa Marks Thomson
May 16, 202201:02:32
Ep 174 - Doula Burn Out - Recognizing & Dealing With It

Ep 174 - Doula Burn Out - Recognizing & Dealing With It

This week The Doulas tackle burn out as a doula.  Would you recognize it if you were experiencing it? Have you had burn out and what did that look like and how did you manage it? As seasoned doulas we have seen our fair share of it.  

Let us know about your experiences.  Email us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

May 09, 202201:31:59
Ep 173 - Special Guest Candace Cain - The New Doula Experience
May 02, 202201:15:17
Ep 172 - Special Guest - Business Coach Nichole Joy
Apr 25, 202201:35:31
Ep 171 - Kim & Steph Shoot The Shit

Ep 171 - Kim & Steph Shoot The Shit

This week Kim and Steph hold down the fort and just have a good old fashioned chin wag!
Apr 19, 202201:00:00
Ep 170 - How To Support The End Of Body Feeding

Ep 170 - How To Support The End Of Body Feeding

Have you ever found your client struggling with the decision to continue feeding baby from their body? What did you do? How did you advice them on this decision.  Did you try to talk them out of it or did you support their decision to stop? 

Apr 11, 202201:01:42
Ep 169 - Shit, Damnit! - Receiving Negative Feedback

Ep 169 - Shit, Damnit! - Receiving Negative Feedback

Have your clients given you negative feed about your support? Was it constructive or did you feel attacked and get angry? 

This week, Stephanie, Suzanne and Kim discuss why even if the feedback is negative it can still be a learning experience and why open discussion and clarity are key in our work as doulas and childbirth educators. 

Apr 04, 202201:24:03
Ep 168 - Story Time! What Your Clients Never Knew

Ep 168 - Story Time! What Your Clients Never Knew

This week Stephanie and Kim discuss things that have happened to them during a birth that their clients never knew.  Creating that aura of calm and confidence can sometimes an Oscar worthy performance. 


Mar 28, 202201:19:03
Ep 167 - Social Media Yeah or Nay?

Ep 167 - Social Media Yeah or Nay?

This week, and a major upset on Instagram, The Doulas discuss the benefits of using Instagram for your business.  Does it help? Is it a waste of time or incredibly beneficial? 

Mar 21, 202201:30:59
Ep 166 - A Week In The Life Of A Birth Worker

Ep 166 - A Week In The Life Of A Birth Worker

This week Suzanne and Kim hold down the fort while Steph supports a birthing parent.  We talk about what our daily and weekly lives look like as birth worker.  Spoiler alert, its not your typical 9-5.  And that's the way we like it! 

Mar 14, 202259:47
Ep 165 - Clarity Is Key

Ep 165 - Clarity Is Key

This week we respond to a topic request from a listener.  We talk about Virtual Support and how to make it best for you and your clients. 

Mar 07, 202257:14
Ep 164 - Answering Your Questions

Ep 164 - Answering Your Questions

You've got questions, and we've got answers.  We've collected a few questions over the past couple of weeks and are sitting down and answering them in the most pragmatic way we know how. 

If you have a question let us know, you can email us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com or hit us up on Instagram.

Feb 28, 202201:21:46
Ep 163 - Surrogacy & Doulas - Special Guest Julia Ross
Feb 21, 202201:15:23
Ep 162 - The Many Faces Of Postpartum Work

Ep 162 - The Many Faces Of Postpartum Work

This week Kim and Stephanie discuss the many facets of work as a postpartum doula.  How your support can change from one client to the next and from one day to the next. 

Feb 14, 202201:09:32
Ep 161 - The 2022 Doula Bag!

Ep 161 - The 2022 Doula Bag!

This week Suz and Steph discuss what's in your doula bag.  We discussed this about 4 years ago so we thought we would update the list for 2022. 

Feb 07, 202201:17:07
Ep 160 - What New Doulas Will Never Have To Deal With

Ep 160 - What New Doulas Will Never Have To Deal With

This week, The Doulas share the many things they have had to deal with as new doulas, 15-20years ago that new doulas today won't have to deal with.  From their own brains and the help of several seasoned doulas from social media we have quite a list and a big trip down memory lane.

Also mentioned in the podcast, if you are looking to spend any charitable dollars, Suzanne talks about the great work being done locally through Call Auntie.  You can connect with Suzanne at Suzanne@BPdoulas.com to donate.


Jan 31, 202201:21:50
Ep 159 - Special Guest Sondra Marcon of Doula Canada
Jan 24, 202201:15:37
Ep 158 - Start With Not Being An Asshole

Ep 158 - Start With Not Being An Asshole

This week Kim, Steph and Suzanne address comments made on Facebook and how to preserve your mental sanity by clearing out that negativity and walking away from it. 

Jan 17, 202201:19:04
Ep 157 Birth Planning - Throwing That Shit Into The Universe

Ep 157 Birth Planning - Throwing That Shit Into The Universe

This week, Kim and Steph hold down the fort and discuss the benefits of birth planning and helping clients educate themselves on all their birth options. 

Jan 10, 202201:20:57
Ep 156 - Goals For 2022 And Money Talk

Ep 156 - Goals For 2022 And Money Talk

This week Kim, Suzanne and Stephanie discuss 2022 and the goals they have.  They then creep into the often scary discussion of money.  

Jan 03, 202201:22:49
Ep 155 - The Changing Landscape Of Support In A Pandemic

Ep 155 - The Changing Landscape Of Support In A Pandemic

This week Stephanie, Suzanne and Kim discuss how to manage your contract during this period of rising covid numbers and ever changing hospital protocols. 

Dec 27, 202101:16:59
Ep 154 - Baby's First Christmas - Be Fucking Merry

Ep 154 - Baby's First Christmas - Be Fucking Merry

This week The Doulas discuss their baby's first Christmas' and they managed during those early weeks and months close to the holidays. 

How did you manage your first holiday season after the birth of your baby? 

Dec 20, 202101:12:45
Ep 153 - Special Guest Sarah Thompson & Functional Maternity
Dec 13, 202101:13:28
Ep 152 - Stop Planting Seeds Of Doubt, Language Care Providers Use

Ep 152 - Stop Planting Seeds Of Doubt, Language Care Providers Use

This week, The Doulas discuss the continued use of negative, value laden language used by care providers, that contributes to the physical and emotional outcomes their patients births. 

Dec 06, 202101:25:50
Ep 151 - The Spectrum Of Pain

Ep 151 - The Spectrum Of Pain

Why do some people barely feel contractions and some are in debilitating pain right from the beginning?  In this weeks episode we chat about the spectrum of pain people experience in labour.  What was your birth experience like for your contractions and what you experienced? Let us know at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

Nov 29, 202101:25:57
Ep 150 - Special Guest Sabrina Chunara - L&D Nurse

Ep 150 - Special Guest Sabrina Chunara - L&D Nurse

This week the doulas speak with L&D Nurse Sabrina Chunara, about what its like working in labour and delivery during a pandemic, working with doulas and how everyone can work together to create a perfect team for birthing parents. 

Nov 22, 202101:21:27
Ep 149 - Supporting VBAC, Think Before You Speak

Ep 149 - Supporting VBAC, Think Before You Speak

This week Stephanie and Suzanne discuss how doulas support VBACs. 

Nov 15, 202101:07:48
Ep 148 - Special Guests Suyin And Teresa
Nov 08, 202101:08:45
Ep 147 - When Celebrities Give Birth

Ep 147 - When Celebrities Give Birth

Does a celebrity giving birth at home, or in water change how these are perceived in the general public? Did the Kardashians encapsulating their placenta spike a rise in this service? We discuss the impact celebrity birth has on our own work and if it helps or if it is a hinderance. 

Nov 01, 202101:21:02
Ep 146 - Decentering Yourself In Client Prenatals

Ep 146 - Decentering Yourself In Client Prenatals

This week The Doulas talk about how client prenatals have changed over the years and how they are being managed now in this virtual world.  The Doulas then dig deep into making prenatals about your clients birth wishes and not what you would wish for your clients birth. 

Oct 25, 202101:06:60
Ep 145 - Cesareans In Brazil, What's Up With That?

Ep 145 - Cesareans In Brazil, What's Up With That?

This week The Doulas delve into birth in Brazil and the high cesarean birth rate.  

If you are in a Latin American country and would like to weigh in on this topic please share your story with us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com


Oct 18, 202101:20:25
Ep 144 - Special Guests And The OBDS

Ep 144 - Special Guests And The OBDS

This week Suzanne and Stephanie have the pleasure of reuniting on the podcast with our beloved friends Tanicia and Debbie.  They are here to chat about the Ontario Black Doulas Society.  This is one not to miss!!!

Oct 11, 202101:19:48
Ep 143 - How Doulas Are Portrayed In The Media

Ep 143 - How Doulas Are Portrayed In The Media

Have you seen doulas described as weird hippies that will make you birth with dolphins or was Hollywood actually portraying us as professionals that help and support and can make birth and postpartum better.  We discuss!!

What have you heard about Doulas in the media? Let us know by emailing us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

Oct 04, 202158:43
Ep 142 - Placenta Encapsulation, It Smells Like Liver

Ep 142 - Placenta Encapsulation, It Smells Like Liver

This week, Stephanie takes us on a journey of discovery surrounding placenta encapsulation.  How it's done, why people do it, the research and the legal and safety issues surrounding it.  So join us as we tour the placenta, and all its glory. 

Sep 27, 202101:14:54
Ep 141 - Know Your Limit, Work Within It

Ep 141 - Know Your Limit, Work Within It

This week we are back to full strength and we chat about how many clients one can comfortably take without burning out or disappointing your clients. 

Are you a doula who would like to be promoted on our podcast? Then shoot us an email and tell us how great you are and we'll highlight you at the end of our episode.  The PragmaticDoulas@Gmail.com

Sep 20, 202101:10:09
Ep 140 - We're Back With Our Big Business Fails

Ep 140 - We're Back With Our Big Business Fails

Did you miss us? We missed you.  But we are back now with a new flow, awesome new topics, and great guests for the end of 2021. 

This week we will be chatting about our big business fails.  What didn't work for us and hopefully you will learn from our mistakes.  

Remember to rate us and we'd love to hear what business tips and tricks have worked for you.  Especially ones that may be out of the box. 

Sep 13, 202156:40
Ep 139 - Encore Presentation - The Possibilities Are Endless

Ep 139 - Encore Presentation - The Possibilities Are Endless

This week we have one last encore presentation for you.  An episode we did back in May 2019 with our dear friends and supporters Tanicia Reedon and Debbie Alleyne-Elie.  We will be back next week with all brand new episodes and new topics.  We can't wait for you to see the new and improved Pragmatic Doulas. 

Sep 06, 202101:26:20
Ep 138 - Encore Presentation With Sam Leeson

Ep 138 - Encore Presentation With Sam Leeson

This week The Doulas are taking some time to relax and have a good long look at the podcast and make some changes and do some revamping to keep it fresh and fun.  So in the meantime, enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 28 - "As I Creek My Way To The Car" an episode we did back in July 2019 with the incomparable Sam Leeson of BabyREADY.  You can catch her on TikTok as well for lots of great info on birth and pregnancy!!

As always you can reach us at ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

Aug 30, 202101:30:29
Ep 137 - Special Guest - Cheyenne Scarlett
Aug 23, 202101:00:27
Ep 136 - What Does Your Harmony Look Like?

Ep 136 - What Does Your Harmony Look Like?

This week, The Doulas discuss work life balance and how it is impossible to achieve, especially as a doula or a new parent.  Instead we strive for harmony in our life.  How about you? Are you shooting for balance? How's that going for you? 

Aug 16, 202101:10:32
Ep 135 - Babies In The NICU

Ep 135 - Babies In The NICU

This week we answer an email from one of our amazing listeners.  Missing Doula Steph, Kim and Suzanne dive into babies in the NICU and babies on schedules and how a doula is to navigate the differences between philosophies.  

Aug 09, 202101:10:50
Ep 134 - Book Club Expecting Better

Ep 134 - Book Club Expecting Better

This week The Doulas along with Carissa Marks Thomson review the book Expecting Better by Emily Oster.

See what how they feel about this extremely popular birth related book.

Aug 02, 202101:18:43
Ep 133 - Medical Consent And Business Programs

Ep 133 - Medical Consent And Business Programs

This week The Doulas dive into medical consent in the check in and discuss what classes/workshops they have been taking to assist in their birthing business. 

Have a topic you want to hear about it? Email it to ThePragmaticDoulas@gmail.com

Jul 26, 202101:35:21