Doulas, birth plans, and anxiety: How to feel more confident and less overwhelmed in pregnancy and postpartum with Sarah Ludwig

I'm joined by doula, childbirth educator, and founder of Baby To Go, Sarah Ludwig, to talk about what it actually means to prepare for birth and why so many parents feel overwhelmed, anxious, or like they have to "get it right."

Together, we explore:

• What a doula actually does and how they support families during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
• Why pregnancy can increase anxiety, and how to work with it instead of against it.
• The difference between what you can control and what you can't during birth.
• How to think about birth plans as flexible "preferences" rather than fixed outcomes.
• Why trying to control every detail can sometimes make anxiety worse.
• How to build confidence in your ability to cope, even when things don't go as planned.
• The role of postpartum planning and why it's often overlooked.
• How to recognize when anxiety is within a normal range and when it might need more support.

Instead of focusing on creating the perfect plan, this conversation is about building your ability to cope with uncertainty and feel more confident in the process.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗https://www.baby-to-go.com/

🔗Hudson Valley Birth Network

📱IG: @baby_to_go FB: Baby To Go

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:

🔗 https://drsarahbren.com/

📱@drsarahbren

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

👉 Click HERE to sign up for my FREE workshop, Confident Parenting from the Start, to get tools and strategies that you can put into practice right away to challenge self-doubt, put an end to your panic-Googling, and finally find the ease and enjoyment in early parenthood!

👉 Click HERE to download my free interactive workbook, My Mental Health Postpartum Checklist, that will help you create a personalized mental health support system for yourself allowing you to feel more confident and relaxed, knowing you have a plan for whatever your unique postpartum experience may be.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to create a plan with your OB/GYN that supports resilience and reduces anxiety during and after pregnancy with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about processing birth trauma with Dr. Sterling

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to read your child's cues, build routines, and trust your instincts with pediatrician Dr. Golly