Pregnancy & Postnatal Entrepreneurs Collective Podcast

Orla Nealis went from pandemic mum with no support to fully booked doula in less than two years from completing her training. Here's what actually got her there.
What does it actually look like to build a birthwork business from scratch — with three children under six, no reliable childcare, and no business background?
In this episode Niamh is joined by Orla Nealis, a birth and postpartum doula, birth reflections facilitator and antenatal educator in training. Orla's story starts where so many birthworkers' stories start — with a difficult personal experience that ignited her passion for supporting other families. What makes her story even more amazing is how quickly and intentionally she has built her business since then.
Sixteen months ago Orla was grateful to book one or two clients a month. Today she's fully booked. 
This is an honest, warm and inspiring conversation about what that journey actually looked like (including the hard bits!).
In this episode Niamh and Orla cover:
— Orla's journey from becoming a mum during the pandemic to training as a breastfeeding counsellor, doula and antenatal educator — and why that experience drove everything — The moment she realised she needed to transition from volunteer to paid work — and how uncomfortable that felt — The money mindset blocks that show up when you start charging for work you've been doing for free — What she actually did that got her clients — and why she says mindset was the biggest game changer, not marketing — How she built her business while pregnant, then with a newborn, then with three children under six — Why she stopped following generic business advice from men and started learning from women who actually understood her reality — The systems she set up during quiet months that are paying off now she's fully booked — Her advice for birthworkers who are earlier in the journey and wondering when it's going to click — Why she had to "think big and be a bit delusional" — and how that drove her forward faster than anything else
Who this episode is for:
This one is for you if you're a doula, IBCLC, antenatal educator or any other birthworker who:
— Is earlier in your business journey and wondering if it's actually possible — Has been doing volunteer or low-paid work and is struggling to make the transition to charging properly — Feels like you're putting in loads of effort and not seeing results yet — Is trying to build a business around a young family and wondering how anyone actually does it — Needs to hear a real, honest story from someone who has recently been exactly where you are
About Orla:
Orla Nealis is a birth and postpartum doula, birth reflections facilitator and antenatal educator in training based in Ireland. You can find her at takesavillagedoula.ie or on Instagram @takesavillagedoula.
Want to find out what Birth Biz Stage you're at and the right next steps for you to take based on your stage? Then take The Birth Biz Quiz now! 
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Why so many brilliant birthworkers struggle to call themselves business owners — and why making that shift changes everything.
If you've ever introduced yourself by saying "I do a bit of doula work" or "I run a few classes" — this episode is for you.
In Ep 82 of the Pregnancy and Postnatal Entrepreneurs Collective podcast, Niamh Cassidy explores one of the most important and most overlooked conversations in the birthwork business world: the identity shift from birthworker who charges to business owner who does meaningful work.
This isn't about becoming a different person or losing the values that brought you into birthwork. It's about understanding why how you see yourself changes everything about how your business behaves — your pricing, your boundaries, your visibility, your income, and ultimately how long you stay in this profession.
In this episode Niamh covers:
— Why so many qualified, capable birthworkers feel uncomfortable calling themselves business owners — and where that discomfort actually comes from — The three things most of us have absorbed that make this identity hard to claim: our training, our money stories, and the word "entrepreneur" itself — The small moment in a mentoring session that shifted everything for Niamh — and what changed after it — Why being a good business owner is not in conflict with being a good birthworker — it's what allows you to keep being one — The four things Niamh consistently sees in birthworkers who have made this shift: how they talk about their work, how they price, how they protect their time, and how they invest in their growth — Why the statistic that the average working life of a doula is just two years is not inevitable — and what actually changes it — One small, practical thing to do this week that costs nothing and starts the shift immediately
Key quote from this episode:
"Your ability to earn well from this work is what keeps you available to the families who need you."
This episode follows on from Ep 81 — Why Birthworkers Quit (And What Actually Keeps Them Going) — and is the second in a series Niamh is running on what actually makes a birthwork business work. If you haven't listened to Ep 81 yet, start there first.
Who this episode is for:
This episode will resonate if you are a doula, IBCLC, lactation consultant, antenatal educator, hypnobirthing instructor, postnatal doula or any other birth or postpartum professional who:
— Finds it hard to talk about your business confidently — Undercharges or over-delivers because charging properly feels wrong — Treats your business time as the last priority — Struggles to invest in business support even though you'd happily invest in clinical training — Has ever wondered if running a business is really "for someone like you"
Want to find out what Birth Biz Stage you're at and the right next steps for you to take based on your stage? Then take The Birth Biz Quiz now! 
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The business side of birthwork is harder than it should be — and it's not your fault. Here's why, and what actually helps.
Something I hear all the time from birthworkers is that the business side of things feels so much harder than it should. And I feel that — because I've lived it.
In this episode I'm having an honest conversation about why so many passionate, qualified birthworkers end up quitting the profession — not because they stop caring, but because the business side grinds them down. Including the story that really lit a fire in me recently: a client told me she's the only one still practicing out of the 18 people she trained with. Every single one of the others quit because they couldn't get the business off the ground.
That's not a talent problem. That's a support and direction problem. And it's one we can fix.
In this episode I cover:
— Why your training prepared you brilliantly for the work — but not for running a business — The four reasons generic business advice doesn't fit birthwork (ethics, emotional labour, on-call reality, community dynamic) — Why not wanting to follow pushy advice isn't weakness — it's integrity — The three things that actually move a birthwork business forward: clarity over volume, consistency over perfection, and the support that changes everything — Why doing more is rarely the answer — and what is
This is the first in a series of episodes I'm doing on this topic over the coming weeks, so if it resonates, make sure you're following or subscribed so you don't miss what's coming.
Links mentioned:
🌸 The Birth Biz Quiz — find out what stage your business is in and get your next best steps: yourbirthbiz.com/quiz
📱 Come say hi on Instagram: @yourbirthbiz
Want to find out what Birth Biz Stage you're at and the right next steps for you to take based on your stage? Then take The Birth Biz Quiz now! 
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This is a republished episode from November 2023 - and there’s a reason it’s back.
It was the most popular guest episode I’ve ever shared on the podcast, and listening back, it’s easy to see why.
In this conversation with Annie Frisbie (IBCLC, private practice owner and educator), we dive into what it really takes to build a sustainable birth work business, one that supports your clients and your life.
Because here’s the reality…
So many birth workers are incredible at the work itself but struggle to make the business work in a way that feels manageable, profitable, and aligned with family life.
This episode is about changing that.
We talk about moving out of the “helper” mindset, setting boundaries without guilt, and creating systems that actually give you your time back so your business doesn’t end up feeling like an exhausting, expensive hobby.
If you want a business that allows you to show up fully for your clients without burning yourself out, this episode is essential listening.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
 Why coming from a volunteer or caregiving background can make business feel harder than it needs to be 
 The mindset shift from “helping” to running a professional, sustainable service
 How to set clear boundaries (without feeling like you’re letting clients down) 
 Why being constantly available can actually increase client anxiety, not reduce it 
 The real cost of undercharging — especially when it comes to your time, family and energy
 How simple systems (booking links, templates, automations) can completely change your workload 
 Why your business needs to pay you consistently, not just “what’s left over” 
 The importance of building a business that supports your life — not one that takes over it 
🔗 Links & Resources
 Annie Frisbie’s website: https://paperlesslactation.com
Want to find out what Birth Biz Stage you're at and the right next steps for you to take based on your stage? Then take The Birth Biz Quiz now! 
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If marketing your birth work business feels overwhelming, confusing, or like something you should be doing but don’t actually enjoy… this episode is going to be a bit of a reset.
In this conversation, I’m joined by Charlie Cleary, a marketing simplification strategist who helps women build businesses that actually work for their lives — not ones that leave them burnt out or glued to the algorithm.
We talk about what’s really going on when marketing feels hard, why so many women struggle with pricing and visibility, and how to create a marketing approach that feels aligned, sustainable and actually works.
Because the truth is — it’s not that you’re bad at marketing. It’s that you’ve probably been trying to do too much, in ways that don’t suit you.
In this episode, we cover:
Why marketing feels so overwhelming (especially for birth workers)
The problem with “should-based” business advice
Why doing less can actually grow your business faster
The link between pricing, confidence and visibility
How your mindset impacts your marketing (more than any strategy)
Why women often undercharge — and how to start shifting that
The importance of putting more money into the hands of women
How to choose marketing strategies that suit your energy and lifestyle
What to do if you hate social media (yes, really)
How to repurpose your content instead of constantly creating more
Why storytelling is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have
Key Takeaway:
You don’t need to be on every platform.
 You don’t need a complicated strategy.
 And you definitely don’t need to burn yourself out trying to grow your business.
You need a way of marketing that feels good, fits your life, and allows you to show up consistently — as yourself.
A Few Lines That Might Stick With You:
“You’re not bad at marketing — you’re just doing too much.”
“The safest job you can have is one you’re in control of.”
“If you don’t feel confident in your prices, you won’t sell them.”
“Tell your story — it can never be wrong.” 
Connect with Charlie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-clarey-marketing-consultant/
https://www.instagram.com/charlieclareyconsulting/
Want to find out what Birth Biz Stage you're at and the right next steps for you to take based on your stage? Then take The Birth Biz Quiz now! 
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