In this World Doula Week 2025 episode of the Breath and Birth co podcast, Vanessa welcomes Kelli Blinn, an experienced birth doula and childbirth educator from Columbus, Ohio. Kelli shares her journey into birth work, inspired by her childhood fascination with the pregnant body and childbirth. They discuss the differences between home births and hospital births, emphasizing the importance of advocacy, education, and personalized care in the childbirth process. Kelli highlights the significance of mental health support, the role of partners, and introduces her new self-paced online childbirth education course. The episode underscores the value of being informed and prepared, advocating for oneself, and the profound transformation that childbirth entails for both the birthing person and their partners. Tune in for a rich discussion aimed at empowering and supporting expectant families through their unique birth journeys.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Breath and Birth Co Podcast
• 00:52 Meet Kelli Blin: Experienced Doula and Educator
• 01:15 Kelli's Journey into Birth Work
• 05:00 Home Birth vs. Hospital Birth: A Doula's Perspective
• 09:39 Misconceptions About Pregnancy and Postpartum
• 18:03 The Role of Advocacy in the Perinatal Process
• 29:26 Private Educators vs. Hospital Childbirth Education
• 29:54 The Importance of Childbirth Education
• 31:19 Birth Trauma and the Role of Education
• 32:06 Empowering Birth Experiences
• 35:14 Introducing Your Birth, Your Options, Kelli Blinn’s Online Self-Paced Childbirth Education Course (available now!)
• 39:56 Practical Tips for an Empowered Birth
• 42:55 Support for Partners During Birth
• 47:12 The Role of a Doula and Partner Involvement
• 52:30 Staying Passionate and Motivated in Birth Work
• 55:50 Closing Remarks and Encouragement

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As a reminder, the content discussed on this show is not medical advice. For more information, please see Disclaimer here.