Healthy Prenatal Strategies for Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, the best health strategies are often those that can be incorporated into one’s everyday life. As a woman’s size increases and her mobility decreases, the ability to engage in physical activity gradually diminishes, which places a greater emphasis on other health habits that can help her maintain a healthy pregnancy weight and engage […]
Podcast Episode #45: Babywearing
What are the best baby carriers and wraps? Can you wear twins? Today we talk to babywearing expert Marissa Berghorst, owner of EcoBuns Baby + Co in Holland, Michigan. You can catch this complete podcast episode on iTunes and SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello again! Welcome back to Ask the Doulas. I am Alyssa Veneklase, co-owner and […]
Gold Coast Doulas Give Back
The final numbers are in for the Gold Coast Doulas LLC diaper drive for Nestlings | Diaper Bank of West Michigan. We collected 18,963 disposable diapers and 142 wipes. These diapers are packed in groups of ten to impact 1,896 families in need. We are thankful to all of our clients and community members who donated from September […]
Podcast Episode #44: Kids and Sex
Today we talk about sex. How do you discuss it with your kids? What’s age appropriate? How much is too much information? Cindy, a former PA, gives us some good advice on how and where to start the conversation with your kids. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Alyssa: […]
Podcast Episode #43: Empathy in Healthcare
What should empathy in health care look like? Why do parents so often have negative experiences with their health care providers? Today we talk to Martelle of Mothership about empathy training and what her website provides for new parents. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello and welcome […]
Podcast Episode #42: Building Your Birth Team
What should your birth team look like? What kinds of questions do you need to ask and who should you be talking to when you find out you’re pregnant? We answer these questions and more on today’s podcast with Rise Wellness Chiropractic. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. […]
Meet our newest birth doula, Katie!
Say hello to Katie, our newest doula. As always, we asked her some questions so you can get to know her a little better. She met her husband in 3rd grade at a spelling bee, how adorable is that?! 1) What did you do before you became a doula? I have the joy and privilege […]
Podcast Episode #41: Nutrition and Kids
Today we talk to David Fisher again. He is a dietician and helps plan nutritious meals for LifeFuel in Grand Rapids. We asked him to give us some pointers specifically related to children and getting them to eat healthily. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello. Welcome […]
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Breastfeeding
Today’s guest blog is written by Natalie Michele of Maternity At Home. As soon as you start to breastfeed, most of the women you meet on a daily basis, including your mom, friends, and even acquaintances, will have one or two things to tell you about what to do when nursing a baby. Some will […]
Podcast Episode #40: Pilates for your Pelvic Floor
Today we talk with Iona Ruiter of Pilates in East. She specializes in pelvic floor health, prenatal and postnatal pilates, and diastasis recti. She gives us an in-depth look at the health of your pelvic floor and what exercises actually work. You can listen to this podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Be sure to […]
Newborn Sleep Tips
As a sleep consultant, I get asked often how early you can sleep train a baby. My answer is this – Most babies are ready around 12 weeks, but it’s never too early to start introducing heathy habits to make the sleep training go smoothy when baby is ready. Why 12 weeks? Most babies are […]
Podcast Episode #39: Newborn Skin Issues
Alyssa and Cindy from Cindy’s Suds talk today about common newborn skin issues. Ever heard of cradle cap? How do you prevent diaper rash? Do babies really get pimples? You can listen to this complete podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello! Welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas. I am Alyssa Veneklase, […]
Podcast Episode #38: Amber’s HypnoBirthing Story
We love hearing birth stories, especially from our clients. Listen as Amber tells us her birth story and how HypnoBirthing helped both her and her husband through 23 hours of labor. You can listen to this complete podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud. You can sign up for our HypnoBirthing classes here! Alyssa: Hello! Welcome […]
Gold Coast Doulas 3rd Annual Diaper Drive!
Gold Coast Doulas is holding our 3rd annual Diaper Drive from September 1st to October 1st, 2018. Diaper need is something that goes almost completely unrecognized, but 1 in 3 babies suffer in dirty diapers and no government programs provide them. Food, shelter, and utilities are the only items covered by assistance. Diapers are expensive […]
Podcast Episode #37: Meal Advice from a Dietician
What is a micro and macro nutrient? What does processed really mean? Today we talk to David Fisher, a licensed dietician and consultant for Life Fuel in Grand Rapids. He is a wealth of knowledge and you won’t want to miss what he has to say about our eating habits! You can listen to this […]
5 Research-Backed Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of Preeclampsia
If you’ve done any reading on preeclampsia, we’re probably in agreement that it’s a diagnosis that no woman wants to get. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that affects up to 10% of expecting mamas. It involves high protein levels in the urine and swelling (edema) in addition to high blood pressure. Ultimately, these symptoms can […]
Lessons from Tahlequah
Thank you, Ashley, for writing this lovely article about loss and bereavement. Many of us have seen the article circulating by now about Tahlequah, the mother orca that carried around the body of her calf for upwards of two weeks. This documented, circulating story has struck a chord in many, and for many different reasons. Most […]
Nursing & The Entrepreneur
Today’s guest blog is from our dear friend, Kristina Bird. She is a partner with The People Picture Company, a photography studio located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids committed to producing magazine quality photography for all of life’s milestones. Sitting in my car, the beating hum of my pump out of sync with […]
Podcast Episode #36: Minimizing Products
Today Alyssa and Cindy of Cindy’s Suds talk about ways to minimize your bath products. Can we get by with just one lotion? Can we use soap as shaving gel? Find out on today’s episode! Listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello! Welcome to another episode of Ask the […]
Podcast Episode #35: 4D Moments Ultrasound
Ever wondered what the difference is between a 3D and 4D ultrasound? Are they safe? Today we talk to Jessica from 4D Moments to answer all these questions! You can listen to this complete podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello! Welcome to Ask the Doulas podcast. I am your host, Alyssa Veneklase. I […]
Podcast Episode #34: Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Today we talk to Dr. Annie of Rise Wellness about what chiropractic care looks like during pregnancy. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or Soundcloud. Alyssa: Hi, welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas. I am Alyssa, co-owner and postpartum doula at Gold Coast. Today, we have Dr. Annie […]
Podcast Episode #33: Summertime Safety
Today Cindy and Alyssa talk about some summer safety tips including water safety at the beach and pool and tips for avoiding a sunburn. You can listen to the complete podcast episode on iTunes or Soundcloud. Alyssa: Hello. Welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas. I’m so excited to be here with my […]
Mothership Certified Health Service Providers
Many of our doulas are Mothership Certified Health Service Providers. Sounds cool, but what does that mean? Here’s a simplified breakdown of what we learned in our training and why it’s so important. The training involved learning the difference between empathy and sympathy. We understand that empathy never starts with, “At least…”. Here’s a great […]
My role as a postpartum doula.
Our very own Jamie Platt, BSN, RN, CLC, CPST shares her personal insights on what it’s like to be a postpartum doula. What is the role of a postpartum doula? What does it look like, and how might a doula support the breastfeeding relationship between mom and baby? A postpartum doula can take care of […]