Birth Plans, Postpartum Truths & Shutting Out the Noise

Описание: In this episode of Steeped in Wellness, we sit down with Caitlin Wilder, a mom, full-spectrum doula, lactation consultant, and the founder of Wilder Beginnings. With Diana out sick, Elara and Jon step in to guide a raw and real conversation about motherhood, postpartum truths, and breaking free from rigid norms around birth and parenting. Caitlin shares how her own births inspired her to become a doula and create an online space where moms feel less alone in the messy, unfiltered parts of parenthood.

We explore the pressures moms face online, where parenting content often feels extreme and leaves little room for nuance. Caitlin talks about how her own content aims to live in the middle ground — validating the many shades of motherhood that exist between joy and struggle. She opens up about how important it is to mute accounts that spark self-doubt and how vital it is to trust ourselves over influencers who claim to know what’s best for our babies.

We dig deep into the common misconceptions about doulas, especially in places like LA where some doulas push narrow birth agendas. Caitlin shares her belief that doulas should meet women where they are — whether that’s an unmedicated home birth or an epidural at the hospital. She recounts her own births, including a whirlwind second birth that nearly happened in the car, showing just how unpredictable and personal birth experiences can be.

We also hear Elara’s concerns about having a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-Section), fighting unnecessary pressure from doctors to schedule another C-section, and the importance of self-advocacy in pregnancy and postpartum care. The conversation touches on postpartum preeclampsia, the stress of recovering in the hospital on magnesium drips, and how fear and lack of information can pile onto an already vulnerable time.

Caitlin explains how her second breastfeeding journey was shaped by lessons learned from her first — this time letting go of expectations, focusing on what worked for her, and not forcing herself to make it perfect. She reminds us that mental health is reason enough to formula feed if that’s what keeps things balanced.

We end with relatable talk about the everyday realities of raising kids: screen time trade-offs, sleep arrangements with multiple kids, and giving ourselves permission to drop the guilt and do what actually works — even if that means dad sleeping in the toddler’s room while mom handles night feeds solo. Caitlin leaves us with two strong reminders: trust ourselves over the noise, and let babies be babies. They don’t need constant stimulation — sometimes they just need a safe spot to lie down and look at the world.

This episode is an honest look at how messy, funny, exhausting, and beautiful motherhood really is when we stop pretending it’s perfect.

Caitlin's website Wilder Beginnings: https://www.wilderbeginnings.com/

Caitlin's podcast- You're So Right: https://www.wilderbeginnings.com/podcast

Wilder Beginnings Instagram:   / wilderbeginnings  

Rachael’s Instagram (Hey Sleepy Baby):   / heysleepybaby  

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0:00 Welcome to Steeped in Wellness
0:17 Meet Caitlin Wilder and Wilder Beginnings
2:45 Raw Realities of Postpartum
4:00 Social Media & The Comparison Trap
6:00 Misconceptions About Doulas
8:20 Caitlin’s Unplanned Fast Birth Story
18:30 VBAC vs Scheduled C-Section
26:00 Postpartum Preeclampsia Truths
28:30 Breastfeeding: First vs Second Time
33:00 Older Siblings & Tandem Nursing
37:00 Sleep Arrangements with Multiple Kids
42:00 Letting Go of Tracking & Sleep Guilt
46:00 The “Roommate Phase” in Marriage
50:00 Final Takeaways & Parenting Advice