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Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally challenging, especially for those who experience hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. But what happens after birth, and how can you prepare for a future pregnancy after an HG experience?

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere is joined by Rebekah Yager of A Fertile Life to discuss postpartum recovery after HG and considerations for those thinking about becoming pregnant again. They explore the importance of recovery, navigating the physical and emotional effects of a difficult pregnancy, and preparing for a future pregnancy with greater support and resources.

Whether you have experienced HG yourself, are recovering from a challenging pregnancy, or are considering expanding your family, this conversation offers insight into the importance of preparation, individualized support, and caring for yourself through every stage of the reproductive journey.

About Our Guest

Rebekah Yager of A Fertile Life shares her perspective on postpartum recovery and preparing for pregnancy after hyperemesis gravidarum, helping listeners better understand the support and planning that may be needed along the way.

This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Use the code GOLDCOAST to receive a discount of up to 20 percent off.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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After fourteen years of supporting families as a doula and experiencing motherhood herself, Kristin Revere has learned that some things you just can’t fully understand until you’ve been through them.

In this solo episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin shares what she wishes more expecting parents knew about birth, postpartum, relationships, and those early days with a new baby. She talks about why you can prepare for birth without being able to control the outcome, why having an involved partner makes such a difference, and why accepting help is not a sign of failure.

Kristin also shares her thoughts on setting boundaries with family, navigating the overwhelming amount of advice available online, and giving yourself time to recover and adjust to life with a baby. These conversations are at the heart of her work with families and her book, Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby, co-authored with Alyssa Veneklase.

You don’t have to love every minute, and you don’t have to do it all on your own. There is no prize for doing postpartum alone, and your well-being matters just as much as your baby’s.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Expecting a baby or preparing to welcome another little one? Tune in to this episode of Ask the Doulas for an honest conversation about what to expect, what you can let go of, and how to give yourself more grace during the transition to parenthood. Kristin’s years of experience supporting families offer a reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out, and you deserve support, too. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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High blood pressure during pregnancy can be concerning, particularly when it develops into gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. But what role can nutrition play in supporting maternal health?

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere talks with registered dietitian and nutrition expert Lily Nichols about nutrition, hypertension, and preeclampsia during pregnancy. They discuss the connection between nutrition and blood pressure, important nutrients during pregnancy, blood sugar regulation, hydration, and practical ways to build balanced meals.

Lily also shares an evidence-informed perspective on what nutrition can and cannot do when blood pressure becomes a concern, and why understanding the difference between supporting your health through nutrition and treating a medical condition is so important.

Whether you are preparing for pregnancy, currently pregnant, or have questions about gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, this conversation offers practical information to help you feel more informed about nutrition and maternal health.

High blood pressure and symptoms of preeclampsia during pregnancy should always be discussed with your healthcare provider. Nutrition is one part of comprehensive prenatal care and does not replace medical evaluation, monitoring, or treatment.

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. She is the founder of the Institute for Prenatal Nutrition® and the author of three books: Real Food for Fertility (co-authored with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack), Real Food for Pregnancy, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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What should you know when preparing for a C-section? Whether you are planning a cesarean birth or facing an unexpected C-section during labor, knowing what to expect before, during, and after surgery can help you feel more informed and prepared for birth and postpartum recovery.

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere discusses cesarean birth preparation, including what happens in the operating room, how to create a gentle or family-centered cesarean plan, skin-to-skin after a C-section, and ways partners and doulas can support families during birth.

We also talk about C-section recovery, including the physical and emotional aspects of postpartum healing, what support can be helpful during the early weeks, and why recovery after a cesarean can look different from recovery after a vaginal birth.

Kristin also explains VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, and some of the questions families may want to discuss with their healthcare provider when considering a VBAC or repeat cesarean.

Gold Coast Doulas has completed Operating Room Trainings at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Trinity Health Muskegon, and Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. This training helps the team understand hospital operating room procedures and how doulas can support families during both planned and unplanned cesarean births.

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, you’ll learn:

• Preparing for a planned or unplanned C-section
• Gentle and family-centered cesarean options
• Skin-to-skin after a C-section
• Partner and doula support during cesarean birth
• What to expect during C-section recovery
• VBAC and repeat cesarean considerations

Whether you are preparing for a C-section, considering a VBAC, creating a gentle cesarean birth plan, or looking for information about cesarean recovery, this episode offers practical information to help you understand your options and plan for the experience.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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Shopping Cart Safety: How to Keep Babies and Toddlers Safe While Shopping with Simon Hardie of SafeStrap

How safe is your baby or toddler when riding in a shopping cart? In honor of Infant Safety Month, Kristin Revere talks with Simon Hardie, Vice President of SafeStrap, about shopping cart safety and child safety and the simple steps parents and caregivers can take to prevent shopping cart falls and injuries.

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, we discuss baby shopping cart safety, toddler safety, shopping cart accidents, safety restraints, and common mistakes parents make when putting young children in shopping carts. Simon shares practical, real-world guidance on using shopping carts safely and explains why proper restraints and supervision are so important.

We also talk about how retailers can help create safer shopping environments for families and what parents should know before their next trip to the grocery store, Target, or other retailers.

If you have a baby or toddler, this conversation is packed with practical infant and child safety tips you can put into practice right away.

In this episode, we cover:

• Shopping cart safety for babies and toddlers
• How shopping cart falls and injuries happen
• Proper use of shopping cart safety restraints
• Common shopping cart safety mistakes
• Infant and toddler supervision while shopping
• How retailers can improve child safety
• Practical baby safety tips for everyday life
• Why shopping cart safety deserves more attention during Infant Safety Month

This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Use the code GOLDCOAST to receive a discount of up to 20 percent off.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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Bath-Time Safety and Caring for Newborn Skin with Stephanie Leshney of Dabble & Dollop

How often should you bathe a newborn? What is the safest water temperature for a baby? What products are best for sensitive newborn skin? And which ingredients should parents look for when choosing baby bath and skincare products?

In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere talks with Stephanie Ross Leshney, founder of Dabble & Dollop, about newborn bath safety, baby bath products, newborn skin care, and creating a safe and enjoyable bath routine.

Stephanie shares practical tips for bathing a newborn, including water temperature, bath frequency, preventing slips and falls, caring for delicate baby skin, and choosing gentle personal care products. They also discuss common ingredients found in baby bath products and what parents should know when reading ingredient labels.

Stephanie dreamed up Dabble & Dollop as a way to capture the magic, experimentation, and imagination of childhood. Founded in 2019, Dabble & Dollop creates play-inspired bath products made with minimalistic, worry-free natural ingredients. The products are now available at Target and Walmart.

Stephanie brings decades of cosmetics and personal care ingredient expertise to the conversation. She is a two-time E&Y Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, wife, and mom to three children.

Whether you are pregnant, preparing for your baby's arrival, or navigating the first few months of newborn life, this episode offers helpful newborn care and baby bath safety tips to make bath time safer, simpler, and more enjoyable.

This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Use the code GOLDCOAST to receive a discount of up to 20 percent off.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere talks with Janelle Langford LeConte, founder of Matrimo, about why your relationship deserves to be a priority, especially during the busy and often overwhelming seasons of life.

Janelle shares practical ways to strengthen your relationship, reconnect before you reach a crisis point, and build habits that support a healthy partnership. We talk about the importance of relationship wellness pillars, how to stay connected when life gets demanding, and why waiting until something feels broken can make reconnecting much harder.

Whether you are preparing for a baby, navigating new parenthood, or simply want to be more intentional in your relationship, this conversation offers meaningful reminders and actionable strategies for making your partnership a priority.

Listen in for an honest conversation about connection, communication, relationship wellness, and creating a stronger foundation together.

This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Use the code GOLDCOAST to receive a discount of up to 20 percent off.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategies.

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Car seat safety is one of the most important parts of preparing for a new baby, but choosing the right car seat and installing it correctly can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Ask the Doulas, Kristin Revere talks with Kristin Morter, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) with Gold Coast Doulas, about everything parents need to know about car seat safety and proper car seat installation.

From choosing a newborn car seat to understanding rear-facing and forward-facing recommendations, Kristin shares practical guidance to help parents feel more confident about keeping their babies and children safe in the car.

They discuss how to choose a car seat that works for your child and vehicle, proper installation, harness fit, common car seat mistakes, car seat expiration dates, and when children are ready to transition to the next stage. They also talk about car seat safety for grandparents, caregivers, and anyone else who regularly transports your child.

Whether you're pregnant and preparing for your baby's first ride home from the hospital, a new parent installing an infant car seat for the first time, or a parent wondering if your child's current car seat is still the right fit, this episode offers practical, judgment-free car seat safety information.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Car seat safety for newborns, infants, and young children
• How to choose the right car seat for your child and vehicle
• Proper car seat installation
• Harness fit and positioning
• Rear-facing and forward-facing car seat safety
• Common car seat installation mistakes
• When to transition to a new car seat or booster seat
• Car seat safety tips for grandparents and caregivers
• The benefits of working with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST)

Gold Coast Doulas offers car seat safety services in Grand Rapids and West Michigan, including personalized education and guidance to help families feel confident using their car seats correctly. Learn more about car seat safety services with Kristin Morter at https://www.goldcoastdoulas.com/car-seat-safety/.

Sponsored by Savvy Rest: Create a more natural and comfortable sleep environment for your family with Savvy Rest natural mattresses and bedding. Save 20% with code GOLDCOAST.

Subscribe to our newsletter, check out our birth and baby book, and see more about our doula services & online courses below:

https://linktr.ee/goldcoastdoulas

Ask the Doulas is a pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting podcast for expecting families, new parents, and birth and baby professionals. Hosted by Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase of Gold Coast Doulas, the podcast features conversations with doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, sleep consultants, newborn care specialists, fertility experts, and perinatal mental health professionals. Ask the Doulas is designed for both parents and professionals looking for trusted guidance, continuing education, and real-world strategie