I know—that title might make you laugh. 😅 But hear me out.

When we think about building our birth team, we usually think about our OB or midwife, a doula, maybe a pelvic floor therapist or lactation consultant. But what about our mental health?

In this final episode of the Build Your Birth Team series, we're talking all about why therapy deserves a seat at the table. From preparing for postpartum before your baby arrives, to navigating identity shifts, relationship changes, birth trauma, and finding a therapist who actually feels like the right fit, this is an honest conversation about why asking for support is one of the strongest things you can do.

And yes... I share some of my own postpartum experience, too.

If you've ever thought, "I'm fine—I don't need therapy," this episode is for you.

• Why therapy isn't just for people in crisis
• Preparing for the emotional side of postpartum
• Identity shifts after becoming a parent
• Changes in your relationship after having a baby
• Birth trauma and processing difficult birth experiences
• How to find a therapist
• Why it's okay if the first therapist isn't the right fit
• Why building your support system doesn't end after birth

This wraps up the Build Your Birth Team series! Whether you've listened to every episode or this is your first one, I hope this series has helped you feel more confident, informed, and supported as you prepare for birth and parenthood.

Connect with me:
Instagram: @allythedoula
Website: www.allyravendoula.com
My Birth Partner Bootcamp gives you and your birth partner the tools, confidence, and practical skills to prepare for labor, birth, and those first moments postpartum. Learn more at www.allyravendoula.com.

Keywords: pregnancy podcast, birth podcast, postpartum mental health, therapy during pregnancy, postpartum therapy, perinatal mental health, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, therapist for moms, pregnancy support, birth team, doula, childbirth education, new parents, motherhood, parenthood, mental health after baby, pregnancy, postpartum, Ally the Doula

Part 2 with Courtney at The Better Boob!

Welcome back to Part 2 of my conversation with Courtney, founder of The Better Boob and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)!

As we continue my Build Your Birth Team series, we're diving into what it's actually like to work with a lactation consultant after your baby arrives and how to choose the right one for your family.

From home visits and weighted feeds to pumping, returning to work, and breastfeeding myths, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you feel more confident throughout your feeding journey.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ What a lactation appointment actually looks like
✨ Home visits vs. office visits
✨ What a weighted feed is and why it's so helpful
✨ Pumping support, flange fitting, and returning to work
✨ Your legal rights as a pumping parent in the workplace
✨ How to choose the right lactation consultant
✨ Why it's okay to get a second (or even third!) opinion
✨ Common breastfeeding myths and milk supply concerns
✨ Why having someone who truly understands your feeding journey can make all the difference

Whether you're breastfeeding, pumping, combo feeding, or simply preparing for postpartum, I hope this conversation helps you feel informed, supported, and empowered.

💛 Connect with Courtney & The Better Boob
Instagram: @thebetterboob
Website: www.betterboob.com

The Better Boob is located in downtown Cary, NC and offers home visits throughout the Triangle, office visits, virtual consultations, pumping support, prenatal lactation visits, weighted feeds, return-to-work planning, and more. You can also text the number listed on their website to get in touch or request an appointment directly through their website.

💛 Connect with Ally
Instagram: @allythedoula
Website: www.allyravendoula.com

🎓 Birth Partner Bootcamp

Want your partner to feel confident and prepared for labor?

My self-paced Birth Partner Bootcamp teaches practical comfort measures, labor support techniques, communication strategies, advocacy skills, and what to expect during labor and birth so your birth partner can show up feeling informed, confident, and ready to support you.

Learn more at:
www.allyravendoula.com

Keywords: Build Your Birth Team, lactation consultant, IBCLC, breastfeeding support, weighted feeds, pumping, flange fitting, return to work, breastfeeding myths, milk supply, postpartum support, newborn feeding, breastfeeding podcast, Raleigh doula, Cary NC, Triangle moms, pregnancy podcast, birth education, fourth trimester, The Better Boob, Ally the Doula

Nobody Told Me Breastfeeding Would Be This Hard | The Better Boob (Part 1)

Welcome back to my Build Your Birth Team series, where we're talking about the providers who can support you throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.

When most people think about building their birth team, they think about their OB, midwife, or doula. But one of the most valuable members of your support team may be someone you don't think about until you're sitting on the couch at 2 a.m., exhausted, emotional, and wondering if your baby is getting enough milk.

In this episode, I'm joined by Courtney, founder of The Better Boob and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), to talk about why lactation support deserves a place on your birth team.

Courtney shares her own breastfeeding struggles, despite being a labor and delivery nurse at the time, and explains why even lactation consultants sometimes need lactation consultants.

We also dive into what an IBCLC actually does, why breastfeeding isn't always intuitive, common pumping mistakes, flange fitting, tongue ties, and why getting support before baby arrives can make a huge difference in your feeding journey.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ What an IBCLC is and how they're different from other feeding support professionals
✨ Why breastfeeding can be challenging, even for experienced parents
✨ The story behind The Better Boob
✨ Tongue ties, oral function, and feeding challenges
✨ Why lactation consultants assess both parent and baby together
✨ Pumping, flange sizing, and choosing the right pump
✨ Why even lactation consultants sometimes need lactation consultants
✨ The benefits of prenatal lactation consultations
✨ How lactation support fits into your birth and postpartum support team
✨ Setting yourself up for feeding success before baby arrives

And a quick heads up: both Courtney and I had our babies with us during this recording, so if you hear some baby noises in the background, consider them our tiny guest stars for today's episode. 💛

🎙️ Coming in Part 2: We'll continue our Build Your Birth Team conversation by talking about what it actually looks like to work with a lactation consultant after baby arrives, common feeding challenges, how to choose the right lactation consultant for your family, and what to look for when building your feeding support team.

💛 Connect with Courtney & The Better Boob
Instagram: @thebetterboob
Website: www.betterboob.com

💛 Connect with Ally
Instagram: @allythedoula
Website: www.allyravendoula.com

🎓 Birth Partner Bootcamp

Want your partner to feel confident and prepared for labor?

My Birth Partner Bootcamp teaches partners practical comfort measures, labor support techniques, advocacy skills, communication strategies, and what to expect during labor and birth so they can show up feeling informed, empowered, and confident.

Learn more at:
www.allyravendoula.com

Keywords: build your birth team, lactation consultant, IBCLC, breastfeeding support, breastfeeding podcast, pumping, flange fitting, tongue tie, lip tie, prenatal breastfeeding education, lactation support during pregnancy, postpartum support, newborn feeding, breastfeeding help, Raleigh doula, North Carolina pregnancy podcast, Triangle moms, first-time mom, postpartum recovery, birth team, feeding support, The Better Boob, Ally the Doula