Episode 20: Dads and Doulas and Birth with Keturah Pawlik

In episode 20 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Keturah Pawlik. Keturah is a doula and Mother of six. Originally from New York, she now lives in West Palm Beach with her family. Keturah believes in the power of storytelling and in sharing our wisdoms with others, offering a new perspective or lending our strength when it’s needed most.

In this episode, Keturah and Lindsay dive deep into the crucial support systems for both Mothers and Fathers during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, highlighting the often-neglected emotional needs and hormonal changes experienced by Fathers. Keturah shares her six birthing experiences, emphasizing the importance of Mothers feeling supported by their partners and how we can help Fathers to do so. She makes the point that many marital/relationship issues that come up years after birth can usually be traced back to a baby's birth.

The episode concludes with actionable advice and resources. Both Lindsay and Keturah have created resources and workshops tailored for dads, such as Lindsay's Dad Doula class, to equip them better for becoming a Father and foster a healthy family dynamic. Keturah offers a workshop for dads in Florida, promoting a collaborative and supportive approach to preparing for a new baby.

Key Points:

1. Fathers carry birth trauma too, and are often not asked to talk about it. 
2. A healthy Father bodes a healthy Mother. 
3. A societal shift is needed to support men entering Fatherhood.
4. The environment where birth takes places directly affects birth. 

Notable Quotes:

• “While pregnancy and the postpartum period should really be the safest time in a woman’s life, for many women here, it could be the most dangerous time they’ll ever go through if they don't have a partner who is on board, and who is whole.” - Keturah
• “Men need a doula just as much as women do.” - Keturah
• “A peaceful calm birth, you get a peaceful individual and it completely rewires how you approach your whole life.” - Keturah
• “Hospital birth is like going to McDonald’s and trying to have a fine dining experience.” - Keturah
• “The more tools you give dads, the more confident they are.” - Lindsay

Where to find Keturah:
Winging it with Ket
Instagram
Email: [e-mail]

SHOW MENTIONS:
Lindsay on Keturah's Podcast Episode

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Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.

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Music Credit:

Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9

Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Edited by: Stefanie Wenninge