Casually Crunchy

Hospital Birth Can Be Empowering: Doula Support, Advocacy & Birth Education (ft. Elizabeth Clark, Founder of Looma Birth)

Here's what nobody tells you: you can have a hospital birth AND feel empowered. You can use medical intervention AND walk out feeling like a badass. Those things aren't mutually exclusive. In this episode, Dr. Danielle sits down with Elizabeth Clark, founder of Looma Birth, two-time VBAC mama, and the woman who supported her home birth with Rhya. Elizabeth has been doing birth work for over a decade, and she has so much wisdom about what it actually takes to feel empowered and supported during a hospital birth. This conversation is honest, practical, and full of the kind of wisdom you wish someone had told you before your first baby. In this episode, we cover: * What birth doulas and postpartum doulas actually do * Elizabeth's journey from traumatic hospital C-section to empowered VBAC * Why she "gave birth to her VBAC baby and her business" * How doulas support partners (not replace them) * Dr. Danielle's unfiltered hospital birth story with Rusty * Why she switched from OB to midwife at 34 weeks pregnant * The moment her doula saved her from an unwanted epidural * How to feel empowered even when birth doesn't go as planned * What to look for in a birth provider (and when to fire them) * Why every pregnancy needs birth education (even the fourth one) * How the hospital is a system you need to learn to hack * Supporting second-time moms emotionally (not just logistically) * Doula support at home births and birth centers * Building a doula business around your family life * Elizabeth's five must-have resources for pregnant moms * Red light yoga and breath work for postpartum moms * Why Diet Coke is her guilty pleasure (no shame) Key Takeaways: ✨ Birth doulas are like trail guides (they can't do the work for you, but they'll guide you) ✨ You can switch providers at ANY point in pregnancy ✨ The hospital is a business with a system (learn to hack it) ✨ Partners are emotionally involved (doulas keep one foot grounded in logic) ✨ Empowerment comes from making YOUR choices, not following a birth plan ✨ Every pregnancy needs birth education (including your second, third, fourth) ✨ You can't hide from yourself in birth (it amplifies who you are) ✨ Postpartum planning matters MORE than birth planning ✨ Being a birth doula doesn't have to be full-time (start small) ✨ Regulated nervous system is the crunchiest thing you can do Elizabeth breaks down how to navigate the hospital system, advocate for yourself, and walk out feeling empowered even when birth goes sideways. Dr. Danielle gets vulnerable about switching providers late in pregnancy, laboring on Pitocin without an epidural, and why her doula made all the difference. Mentioned in this episode: * Looma Birth (Elizabeth's doula matchmaking service) * Mission Hospital midwife program (reopened!) * Birth education classes (in-person and online) * Postpartum planning (9 pages of it) * Birth balls from Target * Hair ties and mints (the MVP birth supplies) * Red light yoga for postpartum regulation * Sourdough and homemade kombucha * Prenatal yoga and breath work If you're planning a hospital birth and want to feel empowered, if you're considering becoming a doula, or if you just want to understand what doula support actually looks like, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH CLARK: Instagram: @loomabirth Website: loomabirth.com Location: Serving all of LA and Orange County Services: Doula matchmaking, birth education, postpartum education, lactation education Studio: Long Beach, CA

What is a Fertility Doula? Navigating Infertility, Loss & IVF with Support (ft. Jess Timms)

We talk about birth doulas. We talk about postpartum doulas. But what about a fertility doula? If you're trying to conceive, navigating secondary infertility, processing miscarriage, or in the middle of IVF, you need to hear this conversation. In this episode, Dr. Danielle sits down with Jess Timms, certified fertility doula, Reiki master, founder of Her Fertility Support, host of Her Fertility Podcast, and peer advisor with Resolve. Jess is deeply passionate about helping women feel empowered during a season that often feels incredibly powerless. This conversation is honest, hopeful, and incredibly validating for anybody walking through this season. Because here's the truth: you don't have to carry this alone. In this episode, we cover: * What a fertility doula actually does (and why you need one) * How fertility doulas support you emotionally and practically * Jess's journey through unexplained infertility and six assisted cycles * The Her Fertility Method: hormones, heart, and mind * Why your fertility is your vitality (and what that means) * How the nervous system impacts your ability to conceive * Dr. Danielle's unfiltered IVF journey and pregnancy loss * Why taking action with IVF was the most empowering choice * Navigating the guilt of not doing everything "perfectly" * How to question the beliefs that don't serve you * The identity and victim mindset that comes with infertility * Manifesting your future family (and why it matters) * Secondary infertility and the unique pressure it brings * The energetic component of fertility nobody talks about * Supporting your body through pregnancy loss * How fear shows up after loss (and how to be bigger than it) * What to say (and what NOT to say) to someone navigating fertility challenges * The three needle-moving crunchy things for fertility support * Why doing things that bring you joy is essential for conception Key Takeaways: ✨ Fertility doulas are trained non-medical support for your TTC journey ✨ Your nervous system governs your reproductive system (regulation matters) ✨ You can be crunchy AND use Western medicine (they complement each other) ✨ Your fertility is your vitality (the reproductive system shuts down first under stress) ✨ Unexplained infertility is often about matters of the soul ✨ Manifesting isn't woo, it's training your mind to see what's possible ✨ Secondary infertility is often about prioritizing yourself again as a mom ✨ Pregnancy loss is a lived-in-the-body experience (not just emotional) ✨ Fear after loss is protective, you have to meet it every day ✨ Ask questions instead of saying the "right" thing to someone navigating fertility ✨ Clean up what you put in your body, listen to your body, do what brings you joy Jess breaks down the holistic approach to fertility that considers your hormones, your heart, and your mind. Dr. Danielle gets vulnerable about her IVF journey, pregnancy loss, and why choosing medical intervention was the most empowering decision she made. Mentioned in this episode: * Her Fertility Support (Jess's practice) * Her Fertility Podcast * Free monthly online fertility support circle * The Her Fertility Method (hormones, heart, mind) * Resolve (infertility advocacy organization) * Clomid and medicated cycles * IUI and IVF * Sub-chorionic hematomas * Reiki and energy work * Nervous system regulation for fertility If you're navigating fertility challenges, feeling powerless, or carrying this journey alone, this episode will remind you that you don't have to do it by yourself.

Your Body Isn't Broken: Home Birth, Postpartum Recovery & Trusting Your Design (ft. Jessie Rockwell, Licensed Midwife)

Here's the thing no one tells you about birth or motherhood: you don't have to do it perfectly and your body isn't broken. We've been conditioned to second-guess our instincts, to Google every sensation, and to assume that somebody else knows our bodies better than we do. But women were literally designed for this: birth, healing, adapting, mothering. In this episode, Dr. Danielle sits down with Jessie Rockwell, a licensed home birth midwife, wellness coach, and mom of four who helps women reclaim confidence in their bodies and trust the physiological process of birth. This conversation is the opposite of fear-based motherhood. It's physiology. It's nervous system support. It's strength. It's the casually crunchy version of wellness that actually fits real life. In this episode, we cover: * Jessie's journey from doula to home birth midwife to fitness coach * How she balances midwifery, homeschooling four kids, and personal wellness * Why the gym is Jessie's non-negotiable (and the therapeutic release of pushing past limits) * The power of structure and rhythm for busy moms * Jessie's crunchy flexes: raw dairy, milling her own grain, chickens, and red light therapy * The silky side: Coke Zero, gel manicures, Sculptra, and finding balance * Why home birth isn't just for "super crunchy" people * The safety of home birth with licensed midwives in California * Misconceptions about home birth and who it's actually for * How to know if you can birth (spoiler: your body already knows) * Why birth education is about surrender, not strength or pain tolerance * The difference between midwifery care and traditional OB care * What prenatal visits with a midwife actually look like * Dr. Danielle's home birth experience (the real, unfiltered version) * The importance of trust and relationship in birth outcomes * Tactical tools for pregnancy: mind, body, and spirit practices * The 555 rule for postpartum recovery (and why it's non-negotiable) * Why asking for help postpartum is just as important as rest Key Takeaways: ✨ Your body was designed to birth, it's not something you need to figure out ✨ Home birth is safe for low-risk pregnancies with licensed midwives ✨ Midwifery care is family-centered, relationship-based, and holistic ✨ Birth is a physiological event, rarely does it need to be medicalized ✨ Resistance creates tension, tension creates pain ✨ The best parents are the ones without kids yet (lower your expectations) ✨ Surrender and flexibility are your first lessons in parenthood ✨ Postpartum recovery requires the 555 rule: 5 days in bed, 5 days on bed, 5 days around bed ✨ Don't rush postpartum healing (bounce back culture can fuck off) ✨ Structure and rhythm create freedom for busy families Jessie breaks down the physiology of birth, why women have been taught to fear their own bodies, and how reclaiming trust in your body's design changes everything. She gets real about balancing all the things, finding your crunchy-ish sweet spot, and why asking for help is a postpartum non-negotiable. Mentioned in this episode: * Gold Soul Midwifery (Jessie's practice) * The 555 postpartum recovery rule * Raw dairy and Amish co-ops * Red light therapy for circadian rhythm support * Non-flicker light bulbs * Born in the USA (book about medicalization of birth) * Postpartum doulas * Chiropractic care during pregnancy * Acupuncture for pregnancy support * Gestational diabetes screening options If you've been told your body needs to be managed, if you're second-guessing your instincts, or if you're curious about home birth but think it's not for you, this episode will shift everything. CONNECT WITH JESSIE ROCKWELL: Instagram: @goldsoul.midwifery (midwifery practice) Instagram: @jessie.rhoads.rockwell (personal & wellness coaching) Location: Southern California (serving LA and Orange County) Specialties: Licensed home birth midwife, postpartum wellness coach, fitness training

What Postpartum Really Feels Like: Mom Guilt, Screen Time & Finding Your Village (ft. Marisa Burdi, New Mom School)

No one tells you this part of motherhood: postpartum isn't just about the baby. It's about you, your identity, your nervous system, your healing, your support system, your confidence. In this episode, Dr. Danielle sits down with Marisa Burdi, founder of New Mom School in Yorba Linda, for one of the most honest conversations about what postpartum actually feels like. Marisa is a postpartum educator and community builder who helps new moms feel supported, informed, and confident instead of overwhelmed and isolated. This isn't the Pinterest perfect version of motherhood. This is real talk about lowering your expectations, giving yourself grace, and finding community when everything feels out of control. In this episode, we cover: * How Marisa and Dr. Danielle met (spoiler: Kyle knew her in third grade) * What New Mom School actually does and why postpartum support is so needed * Why society expects moms to do it all (but that's not how it used to be) * The gap in postpartum care that nobody talks about * Mom guilt over formula feeding, going back to work, and screen time * Why wanting two things at once is completely normal in motherhood * The difference between week one and week eight of new motherhood * Birth plans vs. birth reality (and why empowerment matters more than the plan) * Breastfeeding guilt and why your mental health matters more * The best parents are the ones who don't have kids yet (lowering expectations) * iPads, Pop Tarts, and Happy Meals (finding your crunchy-ish balance) * Why proximity matters when building your mom community * Second time mom struggles (the guilt is real) * How to support moms making "unpopular" decisions Key Takeaways: ✨ Postpartum is for survival, nourishment, bonding, and recovering (not productivity) ✨ Babies haven't changed, but our society and expectations have ✨ Lower your expectations significantly (seriously, a lot) ✨ Wanting two things at once is completely normal ✨ Your baby's birthday determines their developmental stage, not comparison ✨ Community and vulnerability are more powerful than perfection ✨ Fed is best, and your mental health matters ✨ You're allowed to be excited to go back to work ✨ Screen time so you can connect with your partner? That's okay too Marisa breaks down the real patterns she sees in new moms, from deer in headlights in week one to confidently grabbing drinks from the fridge by week eight. She gets honest about Pop Tarts, Botox, Big Macs, and why she prioritizes her marriage even when it means putting the kids in front of an iPad.   Mentioned in this episode: * New Mom School (37 locations nationwide and growing) * Bumps and Bagels prenatal events * Free breastfeeding support classes * The Venn diagram of mom friendships (kids same age + parents get along + proximity) * Kendamil organic formula * HiPP formula from Europe * Fridge snacks as the only after-bath option * Baby Mama (the Tina Fey movie about birthing classes) If you've ever felt like you don't recognize yourself postpartum, or like you're mourning the birth or feeding journey you didn't get, or like you're the only one struggling (or the only one NOT struggling), this episode is for you.   CONNECT WITH MARISA BURDI: Instagram: @newmomschool_yorbalinda Email: yorbalinda@newmomschool.com [yorbalinda@newmomschool.com] Location: Yorba Linda, CA (serving Orange, Placentia, Anaheim Hills, Corona & surrounding areas) Pre-register while pregnant for classes starting at 3-8 weeks postpartum

The Truth About Tongue Ties, Feeding Struggles & Mom Guilt (ft. Brittany, Pediatric OT)

Your baby won't latch. Your pediatrician says everything's fine. You're crying, your baby's crying, and you're starting to wonder if you're doing something wrong. Spoiler: You're not. In this episode, Dr. Danielle sits down with Brittany Cheng, pediatric occupational therapist and feeding specialist at Wayz to Play, for a raw, real conversation about infant feeding struggles, tongue ties, developmental milestones, and the mom guilt that comes with all of it. Brittany gets brutally honest about starting her business during a pandemic, navigating her own kids' feeding challenges (yes, even as a feeding therapist), and why perfection in parenthood is a myth we need to stop chasing. This is the episode for every mom who's been told "it's normal" when everything feels wrong, and for every parent drowning in conflicting advice about what's "best" for their baby. In this episode, we cover: * How Brittany started her business during COVID while juggling a newborn * Why feeding is a whole-body experience (not just about the mouth) * The real signs your baby might have tongue tie or tethered oral tissues * When a tongue tie release makes sense (and when it doesn't) * Why addressing nervous system tension BEFORE a release matters * The developmental impact of skipping milestones like crawling * How birth interventions affect babies' feeding and development * Why "normal" and "common" are NOT the same thing * The judgment Brittany faced from another provider about bottle feeding * How to know if you need a release, OT, chiropractic, or all three * Mom guilt, imposter syndrome, and feeling like a "failure" when your baby struggles * The bucket theory: managing stress and toxins without perfection * Screen time, SpaghettiOs, and finding your crunchy-ish balance Key Takeaways: ✨ Trust your mom gut, always (if something feels off, seek help) ✨ A tongue tie release isn't a magic fix, it's one piece of a complex puzzle ✨ Feeding struggles are NOT your fault, even if you're a feeding expert ✨ Babies need their nervous systems regulated before bodywork interventions ✨ There's no "one right way" to parent, feed, or raise your kids ✨ It's never too late to intervene and support your baby's development ✨ If a provider makes you feel judged, RUN Brittany breaks down when tongue tie releases are necessary, what pre and post-op care should look like, and why collaboration between providers (OT, chiropractor, lactation consultant) gives the best outcomes. Mentioned in this episode: * Wayz to Play (Brittany's practice) * Daisy Co collective space in Orange County * Oral motor exercises for babies * Cranial facial development and palate fusion * The importance of crawling for neurological development * Why "pump and dump" is about supply, not detoxing milk * Hot Cheetos and SpaghettiOs (guilty pleasures, no shame) If you've ever felt like you're failing as a parent because feeding is hard, or if you're navigating tongue tie decisions and feeling overwhelmed, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH BRITTANY: Wayz to Play Location: Daisy Co, Orange County, California Specialties: Pediatric OT, feeding therapy, tongue tie support, infant development Website: https://www.wayztoplay.com/ [https://www.wayztoplay.com/] IG: @wayztoplay