Podcast Episode #60: A Naturopath’s Perspective on Pregnancy and Depression
Doctor Janna Hibler, ND talks to Alyssa and Kristin about how a naturopathic doctor treats pregnant and postpartum women, body and mind. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes and SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello, welcome to Ask the Doulas podcast. I am Alyssa Veneklase, co-owner of Gold Coast Doulas, and I am here […]
Podcast Episode #59: Healthy Living For Preconception, Pregnancy, and Beyond
Laura from Real Food Wellness talks with us today about how she helps women through preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum with healthy living, mind and body. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Kristin: Welcome to Ask the Doulas with Gold Coast Doulas. I’m Kristin, and today, we have […]
Podcast Episode #46: Plant-Based Diet
Today we talk to Dr. Kristi Artz, the medical director for Lifestyle Medicine at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. She is also the lead physician of the culinary medicine program and talks to us today about what a plant-based diet is and how it can work for your family. You can listen to this complete […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Podcast Episode #31: Rise Wellness Chiropractic
Dr. Annie and Dr. Rachel of Rise Wellness Chiropractic in Grand Rapids talk about their approach to helping mothers and babies, as well as how and why they decided to start their own practice. You can listen to the podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud. Hello, and welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas. […]
Podcast Episode #30: Amber the Coziness Consultant
How do you make a space cozy when you have children and babies taking over your house? Amber, The Coziness Consultant, gives us some easy tips for maintaining your sanity during this season of life. You can listen to this podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello. Welcome to another episode of Ask the […]
Podcast Episode #24: Natural Deodorant
On this episode of Ask the Doulas, Alyssa and Cindy talk about the benefits of using an all-natural deodorant. You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Alyssa: Hello, welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas. I am Alyssa Veneklase, co-owner and postpartum doula, and today we’re talking with […]
What Does Self-Care Look Like For You?
Today Kristin talks about what self-care looks like for her and gives some easy ideas for how to incorporate self-care into your routine. I was camping at a music festival last fall and walked up to two friends, both teachers, who were talking about how they nurture themselves. It is so easy to feel depleted […]
What does non-judgmental support mean?
Author: Alyssa Veneklase, CD I was recently asked if, since I’m a doula, I tell clients not to vaccinate and make them feel guilty if they don’t breastfeed. What??! If you had a doula that made you feel this way, I apologize on behalf of them. That is the opposite of what a doula […]
Birth and Pregnancy Affirmations
I love affirmations! I utilized them daily during my second pregnancy as I had signs of getting pre-eclampsia again. I needed my thoughts to remain positive. In the end, I avoided getting pre-e and had a perfect pregnancy and beautiful birth. The Sacred Pregnancy book taught me about mantras and affirmations. I would hold my […]
5 Quick Makeup Tips for New Mothers
Gold Coast Doulas is thrilled to present a guest blog from Christina Parrilla of Beauty by Christina. She is a self taught makeup artist and hair stylist. She started her business with the hope of creating incredible experiences for women of all ages, colors, and sizes. She feels that beauty is so much more than […]
Getting To Know Your Pelvic Floor
We are pleased to present a guest blog by Melissa VanKampen, PTA. Melissa has been working in the field of physical therapy for 18 years with the last 8 focusing on pelvic health in particular. She works for Northern Physical Therapy in Coopersville, MI. though Northern has six locations with several of them offering pelvic […]