#50 You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone: A Postpartum Doula’s Perspective

Welcome to the Parenting Well podcast with Parent Engagement Network!  I am Dr. Shelly Mahon, your host and today’s well source is Marie Nowacki Ford. Marie is a postpartum doula, new parent educator, and certified Child Passenger Safety Technician based in Boulder, Colorado. She supports families through the emotional and practical transition into parenthood, with a focus on reducing stress, building confidence, and creating sustainable support systems during the postpartum period. Marie’s work centers on helping parents navigate anxiety, overwhelm, identity shifts, and the often-unspoken challenges of early parenting. Through overnight support, newborn education, and holistic care, she empowers families to feel more grounded, capable, and connected during one of life’s biggest transitions. Marie is also a featured speaker at the Stress and Anxiety Conference on Feb. 28th, where she brings insight into the unique mental load carried by new parents and the importance of community-based postpartum care. Register Here In this podcast, we talk about: What it means to be a postpartum doula Stressors that show up for new parents with their own parents and grandparents How to set and hold healthy boundaries with parents, grandparents, or even strangers How postpartum doulas support the family holistically Myths about being a new parent The network that is available through a postpartum doula  How to recognize postpartum depression Resources Website Meet your Doula Instagram Bornbir