Tend and Befriend
Tend & Befriend – The Podcast for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond Hosted by Deborah the Doula, a birth professional with over 20 years of experience, Tend & Befriend is your go-to source for evidence-based insights, real birth stories, and expert advice. After two decades in the birth world, I’ve learned a thing or two—and I want to make sure you have access to that knowledge. Join me as we dive into the topics that matter most during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Whether you're preparing for labor, navigating new motherhood, or reflecting on your own birth journey, you'll find support, wisdom, and connection in every episode. Let’s learn, laugh, and grow—together. 💛 Listen now!
Episodes
Ever wish someone would tell you the truth about breastfeeding without the guilt or the gadgets? We bring on Samantha, a seasoned NICU nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, to cut through the noise and give you a clear path forward—whether you’re nursing, pumping, combo feeding, or bottle feeding from day one.
We start with the realities most classes skip: colostrum is enough for many new...
What if the first, fiercest lesson in personal power began in the birth room? We sit with Kelly—licensed paramedic, yoga teacher, Reiki master, and now a doula in our agency—to trace how frontline medicine led her to a calling rooted in consent, breath, and presence. From the shift that happens when someone teaches you to ask for what you want, to the quiet courage of doing less and holding more, this conversation maps a...
Contact Natalie Evans through Instagram @pure.essence.doulacare
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🎙 Thanks for Tuning into Tend & Befriend!
🌿 Learn More & Work With Me:
💻 Visit Website for my birth course, resources, and to book a session with me.
📲 Stay Connected:
📷 Instagram: @deborahthedoula
📘 Facebook: @deborahthedoula
💡 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and sh...
We spend so much time preparing for labor, but what about the moments that come right after your baby is born?
In this episode of Tend and Befriend, I’m walking you through what really happens after the final push. From skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping, to delivering the placenta, the fundal massage (you've probably heard of it), and the quiet start to postpartum recovery.
Whether this is your first baby or you&...
Pelvic health physiotherapist Corey Ireland shares her expertise on the myths, misconceptions, and transformative potential of pelvic floor therapy for women, men, and children of all ages. Through her compassionate approach of meeting people where they are and "nudging" rather than pushing, Corey explains how pelvic health impacts everything from pregnancy comfort to postpartum recovery and even cardiovascular...
You’ve seen it in birth photos, maybe even on your own baby...that creamy white coating on newborn skin. It’s called vernix caseosa, and in this episode of Tend and Befriend, we’re exploring what it is, why it matters, and what it represents in today’s birth spaces.
Deborah breaks down:
- The science of vernix: what it’s made of and why it forms
- Its powerful role in immune support, temperature regulation, and bonding
- Why m...
Forget the diaper raffles and puff-painted bibs. This isn’t your traditional baby shower. In this episode of Tend and Befriend, Deborah dives into the heart of nesting parties: intimate gatherings that blend community, preparation, and emotional support for expecting parents.
You’ll learn:
- What a nesting party is and why it matters
- How to create a calm, supportive environment (and who to invite)
- Practical tips for meal p...
🎙️ Episode Title: The #1 Mistake First-Time Moms Make in Early Labor (And What to Do Instead)
Podcast: Tend and Befriend
Host: Deborah the Doula
Episode Summary:
If you're in the last weeks of pregnancy and wondering “How will I know if it’s really labor?” — this episode is for you. Today on Tend and Befriend, I’m talking about the most common mistake I see first-time moms make in early labor — and ho...
Episode Summary:
Thinking about choosing a midwife but unsure what they actually do? Heard that midwives only attend home births or that you can’t get an epidural with one? It’s time to clear up the myths and get real about what midwifery care looks like in Ontario — especially in Windsor-Essex.
In this episode, I’m joined by Corey, a registered midwife with Midwives of Windsor, and we’re unpacking the most common mi...
A powerful home birth story highlighting the incredible strength of women and the sacred honor of supporting birthing families. Doula Debra shares her evolving approach to home birth support and the beautiful outcome of a recent birth where connection, trust and protecting oxytocin flow created magic.
• Creating deeper connections with birthing families before labor begins
• Understanding the importance of p...
There's a life-changing moment when a woman transforms into a mother – regardless of whether she always knew motherhood was her path. This raw, honest conversation with art therapist Ainsley Winter reveals her journey from uncertainty about motherhood to an empowered hospital birth experience.
Ainsley's story dismantles the false dichotomy between medicated and unmedicated births. Using the powerful &q...
We explore epidurals in childbirth, examining what they are, their risks, and why unmedicated birth options deserve equal consideration in your birth plan.
• Epidurals are regional anesthesia using local anesthetics and opioids to block pain signals from the waist down
• Research shows epidurals can slow labor progression, especially during the pushing phase by up to 90 minutes
• Associated with hig...
Postpartum bleeding, or lochia, is your body's natural healing process as your uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size. We explore the science behind this important recovery phase and what every new mother should know about supporting her body during this time.
• Uterus shrinks from watermelon to pear size in about six weeks after delivery
• Lochia progresses through three distinct phases: rubra (days ...
Episode Title: How to Boost Milk Supply Naturally
Welcome back to Tend and Befriend! I’m your host Deborah—mom, doula, health professional, and your biggest cheerleader on this journey through pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about a topic I hear all the time from breastfeeding moms: how to naturally boost your milk supply. Whether you’re just starting out or navigating a supply dip,...
Let's talk about the one childbirth fear that keeps many expectant mothers up at night – pooping during labor. As a doula, massage therapist, and mother of two, I've witnessed firsthand how this perfectly natural bodily function creates unnecessary anxiety for birthing people everywhere.
The science is straightforward: when you're pushing your baby out, you're using the exact same muscle grou...
We dive deep into the evidence behind aspirin use during pregnancy, examining why fertility clinics recommend it and how to weigh the risks and benefits of this common intervention. The podcast explores low-dose aspirin's role in improving blood flow to the placenta, potentially preventing complications for mothers with specific risk factors.
• Low-dose aspirin (81mg) works by preventing tiny blood clots an...
Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, but for the 80% of expectant mothers who experience morning sickness, it can feel like an endless battle against nausea and discomfort. What if small, strategic changes to your daily routine could make those symptoms more manageable?
Drawing on evidence from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, I break down exactly why your body rebels agai...
We dive deep into common breastfeeding misconceptions that leave mothers feeling confused and inadequate, providing evidence-based facts to empower new parents on their feeding journey. The episode tackles seven persistent myths about breastfeeding and offers practical guidance for navigating challenges with confidence.
• Breastfeeding is a learned skill, not an instinct – 92% of moms face challenges in the firs...
Ever wondered if "pregnancy brain" is real science or just a convenient excuse for misplaced keys and forgotten appointments? The fascinating truth lies somewhere in between, and it's more remarkable than you might think.
Pregnancy triggers measurable changes in your brain's structure, particularly in areas related to social cognition and emotional regulation. Far from being a deficit, these ...
Today, we're tackling a big topic: Why do medical professionals often refer to Pitocin as oxytocin? What are the risks and benefits? And why is Pitocin being overused in so many hospital births? Let’s break it all down.
🌿 In this episode, we cover:
✔️ The role of natural oxytocin in labor, bonding, and breastfeeding
✔️ How Pitocin is different & why it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier
✔️ The ris...
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