April 24, 2025
No Do-Overs: What Reality TV and Childbirth Have in Common
“You don’t get a do-over on reality TV.”
That line has been looping in my head since The Blox, Season 16.
I went in thinking I was ready after all, I’ve pitched. I’ve presented. I’ve lived and breathed entrepreneurship for over a decade. I’m used to being put on the spot and thinking up creative solutions under pressure. I even had media training years ago. I knew better.
And still, I gave the soundbite that closed Episode 3 and opened Episode 4:
“I wasn’t prepared.”
Was that how I wanted to be known? Not really. But it was honest. And the truth is, The Blox was intense.
Being mic’d up 24/7. Competing on camera against fellow founders and processing feedback in real time, without any breaks or buffers. There’s no pause button. No second take. No script to follow. It was uncomfortable, and at times, overwhelming. But it was also powerful.
And that pressure? It reminded me a lot of birth.
No Rehearsals. No Retakes. Just Real Life.
No matter how much reading you’ve done, no matter how many classes you’ve taken or how detailed your birth plan is, when the moment arrives, it’s real. It’s raw. And it rarely goes exactly as expected.
And just like The Blox, birth doesn’t come with do-overs. They’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and they deserve real support. The kind that helps you feel as prepared as possible, even when things shift. The kind that reminds you that you’re not meant to do this alone.
That’s what doulas do.
The Moment That Hit Me Hard
There was a day during filming that hit me hard, physically and emotionally. I was in the middle of the competition, lights blazing, cameras rolling, and suddenly I felt the onset of an ocular migraine. My vision was blurred, my head was pounding, and lights were flashing everywhere. I felt dizzy. It would have been a valid reason to pause, to ask for help, to advocate for myself.
But I didn’t.
I pushed through, silently, hoping no one noticed. I didn’t want to seem weak. I didn’t want to disrupt production. I didn’t want to be a burden. And in that moment, I realized just how ingrained those instincts are—for me, and so many others, especially mothers.
That’s exactly what doulas see in birth and postpartum all the time. Women pushing through pain, exhaustion, and confusion, without speaking up. Without asking for help. Because they feel like they should be able to handle it. They think asking for support means they’re failing somehow.
But it doesn’t.
There is strength in speaking up. And even more strength in being supported.
Why Doulas Matter
Hiring a doula is one of the most powerful ways to prepare for birth and postpartum. Not because we can control every outcome, but because we guide you through the unexpected. We offer practical knowledge, emotional support, advocacy, and presence when everything feels uncertain.
A doula doesn’t replace your partner, OB, or midwife. We complement them. We hold space. We educate. We listen. We don’t just show up in the delivery room—we’re there before and after, helping you navigate the full arc of the journey.
And the research backs it up:
- 39% lower risk of cesarean
- Shorter labor
- Decreased need for pain medication
- Greater satisfaction with the birth experience
But honestly? The most powerful feedback we get is from second-time parents-
“I didn’t know I could ask for that.”
“I didn’t know doulas did that.”
“I wish I’d had this support the first time.”
Why I started Gold Coast Doulas
This is why I started Gold Coast Doulas—because I didn’t want anyone else to feel as alone or unprepared as I did during my first pregnancy. I built the full-service agency I wish I had. And now, we get to walk alongside families during some of the most life-altering, vulnerable, beautiful moments of their lives.
Letting Go of Perfect
Being on The Blox forced me to let go of perfection. There was no time to rehearse or revise. Every moment was caught on camera and edited down into a narrative I didn’t get to control. And that was tough.
But it also taught me something deeper: that imperfection is not a weakness—it’s the birthplace of growth. I learned to trust myself, even when I stumbled. I learned that showing up matters more than getting it all “right.” And I saw how powerful it is to own your voice, even in discomfort.
It mirrored everything we teach new parents. There’s no perfect way to give birth. There’s no one right way to parent. But there is power in being informed, supported, and surrounded by people who believe in you.
Show Up. Ask for Help. You’re Not Alone.
Even with a migraine. Even with doubts. Even when I gave a quote I wish I could take back. I still showed up. And that’s what new parents do every day. They show up for their babies, for their partners, for themselves—often while silently struggling with things no one else can see.
And that’s why doulas keep showing up, too. Not to fix everything. Not to make it all easy. But to remind you that you don’t have to do this alone, and you are allowed to ask for help.
No Do-Overs, But Plenty of Support
There are no second takes in birth or reality TV. These moments are raw and real, and they shape us in ways we never expect. These experiences are unfiltered, unforgettable, and often more intense than you ever imagined.
But you can surround yourself with people who will help you feel prepared, grounded, and empowered every step of the way.
That’s what we do at Gold Coast Doulas.
And if I’ve learned anything from this wild ride—from labor to late nights, from newborn cries to the Blox experience, it’s this:
The moments that challenge us the most are often the ones that shape us the most.
We don’t have to face them alone.
About the Author
Kristin Revere is the co-founder of Gold Coast Doulas, host of the Ask the Doulas podcast, and an award-winning author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby. She’s passionate about educating families, elevating doula care, and making sure no parent ever feels unprepared again.
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