The BeHerVillage Podcast

Demystifying Doulas: What is a doula? And why everybody needs one

Send us a textIn the first episode of our Stony Brook Doula Partnership series, we sit down with experienced doula Ebonie Tudor to answer the question every expectant parent should ask: What exactly does a doula do?Ebonie shares how doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We talk about:💛 How doulas help keep both birthing parents and partners calm and confident💛 What it’s like to have a doula join you in your home before birth💛 The difference between midwives and doulas💛 How doulas stay by your side for your entire labo💛 The ways doulas open up communication with your medical team💛 How continuous support can help you have a more positive birth experienceWhether you’re expecting your first baby or adding to your family, this conversation will help you understand the unique role doulas play—and why Stony Brook is making this support available to more families than ever before.Find a doula: Stony Brook Doula PartnershipFREE Maternity Leave GuideStart your BeHerVillage RegistryFollow us on Instagram

Want your village to show up for you? You need to do these 2 things first

Send us a textA meditation on how to cultivate community, why we should, and how to do it. Both showing up for others but also recognizing that we can be wonderful, capable parents and also need support for ourselves. Kaitlin shares her experience evolving into a parent who both shows up for others but also lets herself be supported by other women.FREE Maternity Leave GuideStart your BeHerVillage RegistryFollow us on Instagram

Returning to work after baby: It's a process, not an event.

Send us a textWhat does it really look like to go back to work after maternity leave?In this episode of the BeHerVillage Podcast, Kaitlin and parental leave expert Jackie Cook dive into the messy, emotional, and very real transition from the “motherhood fog” back into the professional world.They talk about: 💛 Why returning to work is a process, not a single event 💛 The rollercoaster of emotions—excitement, grief, exhaustion, or all of the above 💛 The importance of childcare planning and workplace flexibility 💛 Why small accommodations at work make a big difference in retention 💛 Practical tips like easing in with a Thursday return, choosing clothes that fit your new body and pumping needs, and creating a framework for communication with your boss and teamJackie also shares how she works with companies through Popins to make maternity leave and return-to-work smoother for both employees and employers.Whether you’re preparing to return to work, in the middle of it, or supporting someone through it, this episode is filled with validation, insight, and strategies to make the transition a little easier.FREE Maternity Leave GuideStart your BeHerVillage RegistryFollow us on InstagramGet in touch with Jackie

Maternity Leave Without the Burnout: How to Set Boundaries and Protect Your Recovery

Send us a textIn this episode of the BeHerVillage Podcast, Kaitlin talks with parental leave expert Jackie Cook about how to design a maternity leave that actually lets you rest, recover, and bond with your baby—without setting yourself up for chaos when you return to work.They discuss: 💛 Why working on leave can leave you coming back with an “empty cup” 💛 How to define your comfort level with work during leave 💛 Simple steps to prepare your role and responsibilities before baby arrives 💛 Why it’s essential to decide who can contact you during leave—and when 💛 How to plan a smooth ramp back into work (even in roles like teaching and nursing)Whether you plan to go completely off-grid or check in occasionally, this episode will help you set boundaries, lower your stress, and return to work feeling recharged—not depleted.FREE Maternity Leave GuideStart your BeHerVillage RegistryFollow us on InstagramGet in touch with Jackie

Why Are We Working Through Maternity Leave? A Conversation About Comfort, Identity, and Pressure with Jackie Cook

Send us a textFREE Maternity Leave GuideStart your BeHerVillage RegistryFollow us on InstagramGet in touch with JackieIn this episode of the BeHerVillage podcast, Kaitlin McGreyes sits down with Jackie Cook, founder of Popins—a company that helps parents and employers prepare for and protect maternity leave. Together, they dig into one big question: How did we end up in a world where new parents are answering emails while caring for a newborn?Jackie explains why so many parents—especially mothers—feel the pull to work during maternity leave. From the familiarity and comfort of work to the disorienting nature of early parenthood, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate take on why stepping fully into leave is so difficult—and why it’s so necessary.Whether you’re preparing for leave, returning to work, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers powerful insights and a refreshing dose of realism about what working parents are really up against.