Pregnancy and birth get the glowing, slow-motion highlight reel treatment — but anyone who’s been through it knows there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. In this episode, hosts Pauline Walfisch and Megan Nelson sit down with Chana Topek Diamond seasoned doula, therapist, and compassionate truth-teller — to talk about the parts of childbirth we don’t usually put in the baby book.

Chana doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff: the weird body changes, the tough decisions, the body fluids, the emotional whiplash, and the raw vulnerability that can catch parents off guard. She speaks candidly about how birth can be beautiful and different than expected.
Chana likens a doula to a tour guide for the wild ride of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. They offer steady emotional and physical support while families find their footing in brand-new territory. “I hold their hand while they make really hard choices,” she says — part compass, part calm-in-the-chaos, and sometimes just the person reminding you that yes, you can absolutely do this.

https://www.doulachana.com/