Postpartum University® Podcast

Beyond Baby Prep: How Providers Can Build the Perfect Postpartum Support Team | Kristin Revere EP 192

• Maranda Bower, Postpartum Nutrition Specialist

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Ever feel like the postpartum care we’re offering falls short of what new moms really need? Maranda chats with Kristin Revere, founder of Gold Coast Doulas, to explore a whole new standard for postpartum support—one that goes beyond baby prep and hospital bags. They’re here to talk about what it means to provide genuinely holistic, personalized care that truly meets each mother’s unique needs and helps her thrive.

If you're a provider looking to build a “postpartum dream team” approach for your clients, Maranda and Kristin break down the essential roles—from doulas and lactation consultants to sleep coaches and meal planners—and why every aspect of support matters. This isn’t just about basic care; it’s about creating a deeply nurturing plan that supports real mental health, physical recovery, and emotional resilience for mothers. 

Check out the episode on the blog: https://postpartumu.com/beyond-baby-prep-how-providers-can-build-the-perfect-postpartum-support-team-kristin-revere-ep-192/


KEY TIME STAMPS:

1:30 — How birth professionals view postpartum preparation vs. what most parents plan for.
3:17 — The individualized approach Kristin takes with clients in childbirth classes and postpartum care.
7:55 — The essential role of doulas in providing education, resources, and emotional support.
11:11 — How to build your “dream team” of postpartum professionals.
13:28 — Assessing provider compatibility and ensuring you’re supported at every step.
18:29 — The importance of a well-rounded dream team including nutrition, mental health, and physical recovery support.
22:09 — Realities and gaps in traditional meal trains; the value of nutrient-dense postpartum meal planning.
24:37 — Kristin’s approach to holistic postpartum recovery, addressing overlooked areas like mental health and pelvic floor health.

Connect with Kristin:

Kristin Revere is the founder and CEO of Gold Coast Doulas. She is an elite certified birth doula, newborn care specialist. elite certified postpartum doula and a certified baby registry consultant. Kristin is the co-host of the Ask the Doulas podcast and co-author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband and  children. 

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Speaker 1:

Depression, anxiety and autoimmune symptoms after birth is not how it's supposed to be. There is a much better way and I'm here to show you how to do just that. Hey, my friend, I'm Miranda Bauer, a mother to four kids and a biology student turned scientist obsessed with changing the world through postpartum care. Join us as we talk to mothers and the providers who serve them and getting evidence-based information that actually supports the mind, body and soul in the years after birth. Hello everyone, welcome to the podcast. Miranda Bauer here, of course, and I have Kirsten Revere here. She is the founder and CEO of Gold Coast Doulas. You probably have heard of her because she's also the co-host of Ask the Doulas podcast and she co-authored the book Supported your Guide to Birth and Baby, and we absolutely love everything she does. She is an elite certified birth doula, newborn care specialist, elite certified postpartum doula and a certified baby registry consultant, which is such a mouthful but so, so beautiful, and I'm so excited to have her on the show with us today for birth and postpartum, and not just for moms, but also for providers, because I will tell you and and Kristen, you can, you can share more about this.

Speaker 1:

I feel like the term preparing for birth and postpartum. I think that language means something different for moms than it does for for providers Like, for. Oftentimes they see moms say this and they're like preparing for, you know, packing their hospital bag or making sure they have the car seat installed, and washing and folding all the baby clothes, which is super important, like those are. Those are great things to get done. But for providers and professionals like doulas, when we say preparing for birth and postpartum, we kind of mean something different entirely. Can you tell us a little bit more about what that means to us?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely and I 100% agree with you and admire the work you're doing, miranda. So, as far as birth and baby professionals, we view it much different than you know the pregnancy magazines and Facebook groups, and you know even expecting individuals when they're so focused on nesting and the baby shower, and you know, certainly it reminds me of wedding planning you think of your wedding shower and the wedding day but there's so much more that goes into pregnancy prep, the birth prep and the postnatal planning than just having the Pinterest perfect nursery. So for me it's all as a birth doula, especially walking with families early on with the childbirth education classes I teach and supporting clients throughout pregnancy. I talk about what their goals are because everyone is unique. We're all individuals.

Speaker 2:

No plan is going to work for the same client and so, based on that, I give recommendations, like your book and different programs you have for postnatal planning. If that is a focus or, you know, if they really want to understand their body, then I talk about taking a comprehensive childbirth class like hypnobirthing or Lamaze, rather than a very condensed hospital class. But again, everyone is different, so my recommendations vary and if a postpartum client has a lot of family support, their partner has a longer family leave, then their needs might be much different than a family who the partner has to go back to work immediately after the birth. They are new to the area, have no family support and really value sleep. So then I talk about overnight postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists as part of the plan and the budget, and then, certainly later on, sleep consultants.

Speaker 1:

I love this because you're bringing in like this holistic, you know, whole body kind of care that is addressing those individual needs which you know, oftentimes we don't see in this space.

Speaker 1:

I was actually just chatting with a provider in my local area and she was talking about how, you know, oftentimes you start off in the business, you know, really geared toward helping moms, and then all of a sudden you know your practice booms and then it's like back-to-back client and then you know, trying to learn a new thing you know, or new, new research that's come out or take a new class or a course or a certification or whatever, and then you come in and you don't know how to apply it and you don't have time to apply it because you're so busy taking care of all the clients that you can't provide that individualized care that you came into the business to do in the first place.

Speaker 1:

And she was talking about how just having to step back and like really assess and look at what we're doing and how we're doing it, and I think that's such a good reminder for us who are providers who are working, and I mean that's such a good reminder for us who are providers who are in, you know working and I mean, I remember being a doula too and like having back to back clients right and not offering your your own space of healing and rest and nourishment, let alone making sure that you know, um, that you're also meeting the needs of the diversity of the clients that you may take on, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

Miranda, and as professionals, especially as doulas, our role is to understand all of the resources and the communities that we serve and be able to refer appropriately whether it's a program, a book like your own, a podcast certainly local experts. So for athletes, we're always talking about physical therapy in pregnancy and certainly pelvic floor physical therapy If their goal is to return to their sport to prevent leakage. We're all about awareness and having our clients understand their options, everything from car seat safety technicians to certainly cord blood banking and the difference between donation and banking. So those are all of the things, as experts in the birth and baby space, that we all need to know. So my book is focused primarily on the expecting individual or preconception family, but the secondary audience is anyone who works in the pregnancy and early parenting space, because we all need to know the options and the trusted resources and evidence-based information.

Speaker 1:

It's so true.

Speaker 1:

You're just like piggybacking on what you you've said, like I think there's this whole making sure that your clients are getting this individualized care and also helping them realize, like these are the core components, too, that you're going to have to address, whether you want to or not, like sometimes we're, you know, for your health and for your safety and for your wellbeing, that are always going to come into play.

Speaker 1:

You know, talking about things like postpartum, you know depression and anxiety and the rates of perinatal mental health challenges, and like making sure that they're aware of those things. You know I've had clients that had come to me saying I only want you to teach me about happy birth experiences as a childbirth educator, and like I only want you to teach me this and it's like well in order. You know there's there's so many other things that could happen that you need to be aware of. And if that doesn't, you know, if your birth doesn't go as planned which is a hundred percent guaranteed, even if it means, like having the most beautiful birth, you can still have the most beautiful birth and and have a beautiful. You know everything that you've ever wanted and I guarantee you there's going to be something that comes up that you did not expect or plan for Right.

Speaker 2:

Right Even at a home birth.

Speaker 2:

I mean yeah, and it's up to not only our own bodies but also baby and so many other factors. So with birth plans, I like to call them preferences, so you're not locked in and clients don't feel like they're failing if they don't meet that perfect list that they've created in their head. And I agree with you, miranda, about fully understanding all of the options so clients can make informed decisions, versus thinking that birth or early parenting is just happening to them and they're feeling bolt over. Just happening to them and they're feeling both over. So it is not all. You know the, the rainbows and you know butterflies, but it's important to know the realities and the warning signs of you know health issues that may arise not only in pregnancy but certainly in the postnatal phase. And I know you're so focused on education with nutrition, mental health, so many things in that postnatal phase, which I feel is equally as important as that pregnancy prep and often not a focus in the early planning.

Speaker 1:

It's so, true, right, like going back to you know what I was chatting about earlier and providers needing to make sure that they're communicating all of these pieces too, and I think there's such a blend, a healthy blend, a healthy in-between state where it's not all. This is what I want and this is how it's gonna go, and I'm gonna support my client in this 110% versus exactly what you said of like I'm just gonna go with the flow and see what happens. And then you also have those providers who are like, well, you need to know that XYZ is probably not gonna happen or whatever, and I think there's a healthy balance of trying to both educate and and share expectations. You know, I see, oftentimes moms say I don't want you to touch me, I don't want anything to happen. I'm going to go have this hospital, birth and this hospital environment and I don't want any intervention whatsoever. Well, the likelihood of that, based on where you're giving birth, is pretty slim, and so you need to understand that.

Speaker 1:

But also expecting, you know, it's kind of like expecting an epidural at home, right, like there's certain things that do happen and don't happen, but the important thing is is to make sure that you talk about this a lot and I want to get your, your thoughts on this, the dream team, because we can talk about.

Speaker 1:

You know, I want all of these, like a mom coming in saying this is what my want, my birth preferences to be, or my birth, you know what I, what I outline it to be, or my postpartum to be. And then, oftentimes, you have providers that will say, yeah, sure, I'll support you, and their stats don't support that whatsoever Exactly. Or they they'll say, no way, I, I'm not going to do this. Um, where, where do you find the balance? How do you, how do you find this dream team that's going to give you what it is that you need to hear and what it is that you need to know, but also that's going to give you what it is that you need to hear and what it is that you need to know, but also who's going to respect you and your wishes at the same time.

Speaker 2:

So again, it boils down to your individual goals and matching that up. For our birth clients who are seeking a vaginal birth after cesarean, a VBAC, then not only finding a provider that is tolerant of VBACs but is, you know, very informed and educated and supportive of that plan, and also making sure that the hospital is, you know, statistically a good place to attempt a VBAC, for example. Or, as you mentioned earlier, for people who feel safe for delivering in the hospital, or maybe their partner is the one who feels safer for that first birth but want a home-like experience, what options do they have? Are there peanut balls and birthing stools? Can you walk the halls? Are there certified nurse midwives or OBs that are very natural, birth focused and affirming, and can you wait and labor at home for a bit? Or what is your provider's, you know, impression of when you should arrive at the hospital?

Speaker 2:

And so we are consumers and if your provider isn't a good fit, my dual agency, we're not trying to sway our clients to a particular practice or provider. We support their choices. But if they're asking us for resources and options, we'll certainly, you know, give that to them, but we will, you know, follow them wherever they choose to deliver and, with you know, whichever provider they are most comfortable with. But sometimes there is a disconnect, and it may be found early in pregnancy or later in pregnancy, and so they have the ability to switch offices or hospitals to, you know, get closer to their ideal birth preferences.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, with my first I had five different providers. Wow, because I had two with my first. Yeah, I, because I thought I would find the one. And then they would say, you know, over the phone or whatever it was like, oh yeah, we'll support you and your decision for a natural birth. And then I'd get into their office and they'd be like you know, you're not going to get a badge for that, or like some snarky, rude comment and then I'd have to be on the search for somebody else. You know, and it was constant.

Speaker 1:

Or you know, at one point there was a male provider and I was getting my ultrasound done and he walked in on me as I was changing and he was like whatever, it's nothing I haven't seen before and I was like the level of disrespect, right. And then the last provider that I should I changed was at 37 weeks pregnant. So for anybody who's listening in saying, well, I can't cause I'm too late or I can't cause I already changed providers Once, I tell you took me five times and I changed providers. The last one was at 37 weeks and she was a midwife and was the best midwife. I ended up giving birth at home and it was, it was the most amazing experience.

Speaker 1:

So for those, of you who are listening in, wondering like can I do that? Yes, you can.

Speaker 2:

Yes, you can. Absolutely it's worth the effort. Absolutely it's worth the effort. And again, you can research all you want, avoid having to switch last minute, especially if it needs to be in a completely different hospital system.

Speaker 1:

And I would also recommend making sure that you grab those stats, because there's so many providers that I see will say, oh yeah, I'll support that, but then their stats for it are dismal. Right, you don't find that out until later. You know that 37, 38 week and they're like well, your baby hasn't come and I want to induce you, but you said I didn't have to do that. Well, you know what I did say that, but this is what my thoughts are. You know what I mean. And so you, you, a lot of times, toward the end of that birth, you know that pregnancy, you start recognizing some of these things that are coming up. And, of course, you know finding the right team. I will tell you this too, and I know that you can speak on this because you have so much experience the dream team is not just some woo, some like off the chart thing. It actually exists. Yes, it does exist. There is the perfect dream team for you out there waiting for you. You just have to find it.

Speaker 2:

Right yeah. And before I became a doula for me with my first not having the education that I did the second time around my dream team was switching from an OB to a nurse midwife and taking Lamaze, taking a breastfeeding class, having lactation consultants walk me through early postpartum and knowing all of the different resources, including Webster certified chiropractors. And with my second, my dream team, I then knew about doulas. So of course, I hired doulas the minute I found out I was pregnant, essentially, and took childbirth classes all over again and worked with lactation consultants both times and chiropractors. And then also worked with a functional medicine doctor was part of my dream team because I had preeclampsia the first time and a NICU baby, and so I worked with a naturopath functional medicine doctor. My dream team expanded with the more information I had trying to avoid like. Focus on my nutrition and fitness was a part of both of my pregnancies. So whether it was swimming water, aerobics, prenatal yoga, all of the things I worked on the mental aspect of my pregnancy as well as the physical aspect.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I love it and I think this is just. It's such a beautiful blend of like all of the different things that like the things that were important to you and the things that are important to me, like again going back to like they're so different but at the same time, there's this core and I I would love for you to speak on this and your experience and I know you have so much just doing. You know all the work that you've done with newborn care and registry, consulting and doula work. What are some of the most overlooked areas of planning for pregnancy, postpartum, that can make a significant difference for a new family's experience?

Speaker 2:

for a new family's experience. So, again, looking at your goals and values in the postnatal phase and nutrition being a big part of it, and avoiding depletion, trying to stay on top of, you know, potential perinatal mood disorders, with focusing on sleep and support systems in place, and so you know, I think, that people assume that they have this family and friends support and meals delivered to them like it's all going to work out. But actually planning and budgeting for it during pregnancy is so key, and a postpartum doula can help with recovery and sibling care during the day and light meal preparation, making sure that our clients are drinking water and snacking and they are resting when baby rests, and then overnight whether it's a newborn care specialist or if a postpartum doula specializes in overnight, you know focusing on getting the entire family sleep and, of course, supporting feeding. So, looking at all of the different ways that you can budget for your dream team.

Speaker 2:

In the book we talk about health savings, some of the employer-funded insurance plans that cover birth doulas and cover lactation, mental health and so on, but carrot fertility is the biggest one that we're seeing as doulas, and there's progeny MAVEN, there's TRICARE, military benefits and now, for birth doulas, certain states, including Michigan.

Speaker 2:

You know Medicaid will cover birth doulas, for the doulas that have gone through that process. So there are so many more ways to you know, look at what your goals are and then what's important to you and utilize insurance if it covers, again, mental health or chiropractic care, physical therapy certainly pelvic floor physical therapy and what might you want to use your health savings and flex spending? And does your partners or your own personal maternity plan cover some of the things that you value? And then we're looking at not only those meal trains but proper nutrition, as you talk about very often. So making sure that the meals that are delivered to you are packed with the nutrients that you need to recover from birth. And, to you know, care for yourself, those healing foods and warming foods, and so not just a lasagna or a casserole, for example.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I have to ask you because I know you see this so often when it comes to meal trains are those casseroles like the number one thing that moms typically get? And two, how reliable are those meal trains? Is mom getting everything that she needs in terms of a food let's just not even add in, like nourishing food, just like? Do they generally fall through? Are they usually having gaps between that meal train? I'd love to see what your perspective is, having worked so many births and being in this field.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so now there are meal delivery services and so many more options. When I had my own kids my youngest is almost 12. And so we didn't have the Uber Eats or the pre-made nutrient-dense meal options. So I do see my clients getting gift cards for some of those custom-made meal plans. We have a few services locally that will deliver or you can pick up pre-made meals. So that's nice. But certainly with baby one there are a lot more of those.

Speaker 2:

You know double meals made and with great intentions. You know double meals made and with great intentions, and it's usually delivered within the first week or two and then tapers off. But families need support for at least eight weeks. So as a friend, I tend to give meals or gift cards later on when things start to taper off. Cards later on when things start to taper off, but yeah, and then with baby two or baby five those tend to fade away. You might get a few from family members or church groups, but there isn't as much attention paid to seasoned parents who actually have other children to feed and need those meals even more.

Speaker 1:

So true, isn't that weird? Yeah, it's like oh, your first baby, I'm going to give you all the things, and maybe a little bit with your second, and if you have four, you got it figured out, we don't need to help you. And it's like no, you need it more than ever.

Speaker 2:

It's like, no, you need it more than ever, even if that lasagna is just for the other kids. I'm kidding.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, for sure, I love this conversation. Thank you so much for being here. Can you share with people where they can find you and maybe share a little bit more about your book as well and where people can find?

Speaker 2:

your book, sure Miranda. So I can be found at goldcoastdoulascom is the website, and we're on social media everything from TikTok to Pinterest to YouTube, facebook, instagram all the channels at Gold Coast Doulas. The podcast that you mentioned earlier is Ask the Doulas. We're on all the podcast players and I interview experts in the birth and baby space weekly and the website for that is askthedoulascom. And then the book Supported your Guide to Birth and Baby can be found in select bookstores and Amazon. It's available in Kindle as well as hardcover paperback, and we recorded our own book on Audible, so at a local studio. So that was a lot of fun. So the website for the book is supportedbookcom.

Speaker 2:

And our book evolved from our online course that we created during the early stages of the pandemic called Becoming a Mother, and that is the becomingcoursecom. And we did create a community for our clients who felt isolated. Everything turned virtual and have 30 expert videos from different providers car seat safety technicians, mental health therapists and wanted to have a space and a community for students in the course and they have lifetime access. So we update it, but it's walking through everything in the book and the book again evolved from the course and we wanted it to be accessible to more people than our course, of course, would be.

Speaker 1:

Ah, this is beautiful, beautiful. Thank you so much for being here and of course, we're going to have all those links for you in the show notes. Kristen, thank you so much for being here.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, miranda. I just again I'm a huge fan of your work and I'm honored to be on your show. Thank you.

Speaker 1:

I am so grateful you turned into the Postpartum University podcast. We've hoped you enjoyed this episode enough to leave us a quick review. And, more importantly, I hope more than ever that you take what you've learned here, applied it to your own life and consider joining us in the Postpartum University membership. It's a private space where mothers and providers learn the real truth and the real tools needed to heal in the years postpartum. You can learn more at wwwpostpartumucom. We'll see you next week. You.

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Maranda Bower

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