The Ordinary Doula Podcast
Welcome to The Ordinary Doula Podcast with Angie Rosier, hosted by Birth Learning. We help folks prepare for labor and birth with expertise coming from 20 years of experience in a busy doula practice, helping thousands of people prepare for labor, providing essential knowledge and tools for positive and empowering birth experiences.
Episodes
Nineteen cousins, all born without medication, and not a single birth story was copy-pasted. Angie opens up about how a simple desire for unmedicated labor grew into a family pattern shaped by childbirth education, midwifery care, and steady partner support. What started as a personal preference became a repeatable approach: learn the physiology, choose a team aligned with your goals, and keep the plan flexible enough...
What if birth is a rite of passage, not a procedure? Angie sits down with Swedish mentor and former midwife Anna Lundqvist to explore how intuition, preparation, and grounded advocacy can transform pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Anna traces her path from Australia’s home birth culture in Byron Bay—where physiological birth and birth centers were the norm—to the painful decision to leave hospital practice after witn...
The calendar looks like dropped spaghetti, but every twist tells a story. We walk you through two real weeks of on-call life as a doula and lactation consultant—spontaneous labors that stall and surge, VBAC momentum at 3 a.m., and the quiet, steady work of helping a four-day-old learn to feed. It’s part logistics, part heart, and fully devoted to helping families feel informed, supported, and seen.
We start w...
A hundred episodes felt like the right moment to gather around the kitchen table and pull back the curtain on what it’s like to grow up with a doula mom. Angie sits down with her four daughters for an honest, funny, and moving conversation about family culture, witnessing a home water birth, and how open dialogue turned birth from something to fear into something to understand. If you’ve ever wondered how advocacy act...
Birth rarely reads the script we write for it—and that can be a source of strength rather than stress. We dig into the wabi-sabi mindset, a Japanese aesthetic that celebrates imperfection and impermanence, and translate it into a practical philosophy for labor, delivery, and the tender days that follow. With two decades of doula experience, we share grounded stories and simple tools that help you hold your plan with c...
Building a baby is the most intense construction project your body will ever take on, and it runs twenty-four seven. Angie shares a practical, judgment-free roadmap for fueling that work with simple foods, steady hydration, and small habits that add up—so you feel better now, support efficient labor, and heal faster afterward.
We break down realistic protein goals and easy ways to reach them without relying o...
Birth rarely follows a script, but patterns emerge when you’ve walked alongside thousands of families. Angie marks her 23rd year as a doula by distilling 23 honest lessons about labor, from the mental game that steadies you through transition to the quiet power of movement, nutrition, and a supportive team. This isn’t glossy advice—it’s grounded insight on what actually helps in the room: how partners can turn knowled...
We reset the cultural script on early postpartum, naming the gap between glossy images and real recovery and offering practical ways to rest, plan, and get help. Joy and struggle can sit side by side, and that truth makes room for healing, teamwork, and steady confidence.
• normalizing messy, exhausting early postpartum
• myth of the perfect new mother and why it hurts
• when birth plans change and gr...
We explore burnout and boundaries in birth work with candor and care, from compassion fatigue to practical systems that protect energy and improve outcomes. We share tools for communication, caseload limits, backup plans, debriefing, rest, and reconnecting with joy.
• symptoms of burnout in doulas and caregivers
• compassion fatigue and emotional load
• on-call life, identity and fear of letting clien...
We share how non‑doula support—partners, friends, and family—can steady the room, shorten labor, and raise confidence through simple, human tools. Presence beats perfection as we lay out physical comfort, emotional grounding, and clean advocacy in plain language.
• why continuous support changes labor outcomes
• roles any trusted person can play at birth
• physical tools such as counterpressure, knee ...
Preeclampsia can appear without warning and reshape a birth plan overnight. We explain the signs, risks, and care decisions with real stories from the hospital and straightforward steps to lower risk and catch problems early.
• what preeclampsia is and why it matters
• common and less obvious warning signs
• who is at higher risk and why risk shifts
• how diagnosis works in real prenatal care
...
We dive deep into the often-misunderstood role of obstetricians during labor and birth, revealing why they're typically not present throughout the entire process despite their crucial medical expertise. Understanding the true role of each birth team member helps set realistic expectations and creates space for better collaboration.
• OBs are medical doctors with extensive training who specialize in pregn...
Twenty years ago, having a baby at home in Utah could land your midwife in jail with felony charges. Today, Utah boasts the most flexible midwifery laws in the nation. What happened in between is a remarkable story of determination, political savvy, and grassroots organizing that forever changed how families experience birth in the state.
Holly Richardson, now known for her political commentary and radio show...
Shoulder dystocia is a rare but significant birth complication where the baby's head is delivered but a shoulder gets stuck behind the mother's pubic bone, similar to moving furniture through a doorway.
• Occurs in only 0.5-1% of births
• Risk factors include large babies, maternal diabetes, prior shoulder dystocia, and short maternal stature
• Providers look for the "turtle sign"...
Angie Rosier shares insights on doula guidelines at hospitals, exploring the delicate balance between supporting clients and collaborating with medical staff.
• Hospitals will sometimes provide doula guidelines that outline appropriate roles and boundaries
• Doulas are welcome additions who provide emotional support, comfort measures, and improved communication
• Doulas should not perform clinical tas...
Media portrayals of childbirth shape our cultural beliefs and personal expectations, often presenting inaccurate, dramatic versions that instill fear rather than confidence. Our perceptions about birth are influenced by family, education, and especially the entertainment industry which frequently misrepresents what labor and delivery truly entail.
• Common birth myths in media include the dramatic water-break...
A well-fitted breast pump flange is crucial for comfort, breast tissue protection, and maximum milk supply. The flange—the part of the pump that covers the areola and nipple—should be sized to match your exact nipple diameter measurement, not 2-4mm larger as previously recommended.
• Pumps don't actually pump milk; they create suction that pulls milk from the nipple
• Most pumps come with standard 24...
Making personal connections with new parents is vital, especially in the clinical healthcare environment where postpartum families often feel lost in the system.
• Phone calls to postpartum patients create essential connection points during a vulnerable time
• Initial skepticism from parents receiving hospital calls quickly transforms to appreciation
• These calls serve as a lifeline for those struggl...
Birth work involves witnessing both beautiful and difficult moments, creating an emotional weight that doulas carry alongside their clients. After 23 years as a birth doula, I've learned that acknowledging the challenging aspects of birth is essential for processing and growth.
• Difficult births create emotional weight even when outcomes are positive
• Recent challenging experiences include a four-h...
Breast pumps have evolved dramatically from ancient ceramic vessels to modern wearable technology, with significant changes in accessibility since the 2008 Affordable Care Act required insurance coverage for one pump per pregnancy. This episode explores the history, types, and considerations for choosing the right breast pump for your unique situation.
• Breast pumps date back to the Roman Empire when ceramic...
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