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The journey to becoming a parent is transformative, with every expecting family deserving compassionate, continuous support through pregnancy, birth and beyond. This intimate conversation with Gail Tupin, a certified birth and postpartum doula, unveils how professional birth support dramatically improves outcomes and experiences for new families.

When a doula is present at birth, intervention rates including C-sections measurably decrease – not because doulas provide medical care, but because they create a crucial buffer in the birthing environment. As Gail explains, doulas offer that essential "pause moment" between medical recommendations and parental decisions, allowing families to make choices from a place of confidence rather than fear. Unlike your medical team or even your closest loved ones, doulas bring an unbiased perspective and extensive experience with birth, creating space for parents to fully process their options.

The misconception that doulas only support unmedicated births prevents many families from accessing this valuable resource. Contrary to popular belief, doulas support all birth plans – including epidurals and cesarean births – by adapting their role to each family's unique needs and preferences. The support continues into the critical fourth trimester, where postpartum doulas help new mothers process their birth experiences while creating what Gail beautifully describes as a "sanctuary space" for recovery.

Though insurance coverage remains limited, some Medicaid programs now include doula services, and creative solutions like adding doula support to baby registries can make this care more accessible. Whether you're expecting your first baby or adding to your family, connecting with a doula whose personality and approach resonate with you could transform your birth experience. Reach out to Gail for a free consultation if you're in the Metro Detroit area, and discover how professional birth support might be the missing piece in your journey to parenthood.

Check out Gail's website: www.rooted-doula.com or follow her on IG & FB for helpful birth and postpartum content @rooted_doula

You can also find Gail providing pregnant and new mom support at Livingston County's premiere holistic

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Spilling the Milk: Breastfeeding Chats is a production of Whole Mama Michigan, LLC. If you're looking for evidence-based information and support around fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum, head to www.wholemamamichigan.com and join the email list to receive information on classes and services. And if you're local to Metro Detroit/Livingston County, come visit us at our first brick-and-mortar holistic perinatal wellness center opening spring 2025!!

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If you'd like to be a guest and come Spill the Milk with Emily, please send an email to emily@empoweredbumpsandboobs.com. We'd love to have you :)

Podcast artwork for Seasons 1 & 2 by Staci Oswald aka my favorite designer EVER + mom of 2 bundles of boy energy. Music is Sprouting Leaves by Epidemic Sound found on Canva.