Diary Of a Doula

Diary Of a Doula

From Skirts Up! by Samantha Mandell and Melissa Matthews

March 19, 2026 · 1h 1m · Season 4 · Episode 24

About this episode

Samantha and Melissa discuss the role of doulas in birth and postpartum care with guest Suzzie Vehrs, sharing personal stories and cultural insights.

Samantha and Melissa open by choosing pure positivity over discussing “fails,” linking their improved mood after recording to laughter releasing endorphins, as mentioned in their prior episode with Kathy. They introduce doula Suzzie Vehrs, who supports families through birth planning, labor, advocacy, and postpartum care that includes rest, emotional processing, chores, and meals, and she explains how American culture often discourages asking for help compared with other cultures. Samantha shares her birth history, including a 28-hour labor complicated by shoulder dystocia, fever/infection concerns, placenta issues, and postpartum PTSD, while Suzzie explains how fever can escalate risks and defines retained placenta in a way Samantha can understand for the first in 10 years. She continues on explaining the difference between doulas versus midwives/OBs. Suzzie shares her own story of going from medicalized birth of her own to a home birth, her doula work, her certification, and why she addresses taboo postpartum topics like pain, libido changes, and returning to intimacy through referrals (therapy, pelvic floor PT). Not only is Suzzie here to talk about the importance of assisting…

People in this episode

Hosts: Samantha Mandell, Melissa Matthews

Guest: Suzzie Vehrs

Topics covered

  • doula support
  • birth planning
  • postpartum care
  • cultural differences
  • personal birth stories

Keywords

  • doula
  • birth
  • postpartum
  • support
  • cultural differences

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SheBirthsBravely

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