The Doula Dispensary
The Doula Dispensary
Siobhan Smith & Kicki Hansard
The Doula Dispensary is your monthly doula podcast, prescribing a regular dose of birthy chat, postnatal realities, real-life dilemmas, and behind-the-scenes talk from two experienced doulas.Siobhan and Kicki are back with honest conversations about life as a working doula, woman, and mother, a bit like popping round to your mates for a cuppa and a proper chat.You can follow Siobhan and Kicki on social media: @[email protected] @birthblissacademyFind a doula www.thedouladirectory.comBecome a doula www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk
Episode #2S5: In memory of Dr Michel Odent
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is your monthly doula podcast, prescribing a regular dose of birthy chat, postnatal realities, real-life dilemmas, and behind-the-scenes talk from two experienced doulas. Siobhan and Kicki are back with honest conversations about life as a working doula, woman, and mother, a bit like popping round to your mates for a cuppa and a proper chat. In this month’s episode: We share a very special conversation with the late Dr Michel Odent, recorded back in July ...
Sep 25, 2025
1 hr 7 min
Episode #1S5: When Doulas Turn on Each Other Online: Kindness, Criticism & Speaking Up
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is your monthly doula podcast, prescribing a regular dose of birthy chat, postnatal realities, real-life dilemmas, and behind-the-scenes talk from two experienced doulas. Siobhan and Kicki are back with honest conversations about life as a working doula, woman, and mother, a bit like popping round to your mates for a cuppa and a proper chat. In this month’s episode: A Doula Dilemma about what to do when a fellow doula publicly criticises something you’ve ...
Aug 21, 2025
40 min
Episode #4S4: A dilemma about client birthing outside of guidelines and the current NHS Stats
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all things doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation where a doula is with a client whose birth plan is outside of guidelines. There's a question from a listener about...
Oct 24, 2024
47 min
Episode #3S4: A dilemma about birth plan being overlooked and a tribute to Penny Simkin
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all things doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation where a doula is with a client whose birth plan is not being respected. There's a question from a listener about t...
May 9, 2024
42 min
Episode #2S4: A dilemma about volunteering and a question about backup and shared care
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all things doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation where a doula is a breastfeeding volunteer in the NHS and wants to continue their support. There's a question from...
Feb 22, 2024
52 min
Episode #1S4: A dilemma about an anxious client and a question about the doula value
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all things doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation when a birth client is getting more and more anxious the nearer the baby's due date. There's a question from a lis...
Jan 18, 2024
35 min
Episode #6S3: A dilemma about postnatal doula challenges and a dose about advocacy
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all thing’s doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation when a postnatal doula client seems to go against many of the guidelines with regards to caring for her baby. The...
Dec 21, 2023
50 min
Episode #5S3: Interview with Nathan Riley OB-GYN *Trigger Warning - baby loss*
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all thing’s doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's episode is an interview with Nathan Riley by Kicki and they talk about the challenges for women giving birth in hospitals and we talk about ways that doula...
Nov 23, 2023
37 min
Episode #4S3: A dilemma about vaginal seeding and dose about supporting caesarean births
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all thing’s doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation when the client would like to do vaginal seeding after a caesarean birth. There's a question from a listener abou...
Oct 26, 2023
36 min
Episode #3S3: A dilemma about client's partner not being 'on-board' and a dose about social media
Send us Fan Mail The Doula Dispensary is a monthly podcast, prescribing a monthly dose of all thing’s doula. Siobhan and Kicki bring you a show which is a bit like sitting down with your mates for a cup of tea... So put the kettle on, sit down and enjoy listening to familiar issues as a working doula, woman, and mother. This month's doula dilemma discusses a situation when the client's partner is not part of the preparation sessions. There's a question from a listener about how t...
Jun 22, 2023
38 min
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