Listen now (40 mins) | This episode is very special as I interview my mentor, Julie Freitas. Julie was a childbirth educator and doula for over forty years. She taught in hospitals, clinics and in her home in Los Angeles. Her intimate style of teaching was coveted by the hundreds of families she taught from all different cultural backgrounds. In this episode, Julie describes the way in which women give birth has changed over time and she shares the story of her first son's birth. We also discuss postpartum depression, breastfeeding, sleep training, and the early days of parenthood.
I’m sure she doesn’t remember me, but do at least remind her that Jeff and I were both actors at the time appearing in quite a few commercials and TV shows. (For instance, I was the Wendys girl and had the contract for a year on all the billboards and commercials before I got pregnant. And right about the time of our classes, Jeff got a contract on a soap opera called Capitol.)
Oh, thank you so much! I really should give her more information/kudos/loads of gratefulness because I believe she’s the one who helped me find Dr. Martin and Dr. Fleiss who helped me through my four daughters! Maybe you can pass that along too. All four were completely natural births, and each one pretty much got easier than the last. Julie really helped me have amazing childbirth experiences simply through that initial set of classes. And I realized they were in 1981 not 1980. I’m not sure where. All of my daughters have kids now and most were successful homebirths. One was on a patio in the mountains of a yurt in Santa Cruz nestled in the redwoods In a big Tub of water. So it’s a huge legacy that Julie is a part of in my family alone!
Julie was my teacher in 1980. Fond memories! So fun to hear her on this podcast. Thank you!
I called her today to share your comment with her. She was beyond touched. Thank you for listening!
I’m sure she doesn’t remember me, but do at least remind her that Jeff and I were both actors at the time appearing in quite a few commercials and TV shows. (For instance, I was the Wendys girl and had the contract for a year on all the billboards and commercials before I got pregnant. And right about the time of our classes, Jeff got a contract on a soap opera called Capitol.)
Oh, thank you so much! I really should give her more information/kudos/loads of gratefulness because I believe she’s the one who helped me find Dr. Martin and Dr. Fleiss who helped me through my four daughters! Maybe you can pass that along too. All four were completely natural births, and each one pretty much got easier than the last. Julie really helped me have amazing childbirth experiences simply through that initial set of classes. And I realized they were in 1981 not 1980. I’m not sure where. All of my daughters have kids now and most were successful homebirths. One was on a patio in the mountains of a yurt in Santa Cruz nestled in the redwoods In a big Tub of water. So it’s a huge legacy that Julie is a part of in my family alone!
Thanks again for passing it all on! ❤️