In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe sits down with Sally Hayes, founder of Matrikas, to talk about what it really takes to build a solid, supportive village for new parents. Together, they unpack the importance of continuity of care, how to create a trustworthy referral list, and the reality of navigating a maternal healthcare system that often feels broken and fragmented.
Sally brings her wisdom on radical acceptance, the role of virtual care in expanding access, and why maternal health education has to start earlier than most people think. HeHe and Sally also dive into how to properly vet practitioners and what to do if client feedback uncovers red flags in your referral network.
If you’ve ever wondered how collaboration between providers (and communities!) can change outcomes for families, this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how to build the kind of village that supports birthing people and their care teams.
00:00 Introduction and Purpose-Driven Care
01:03 Client Testimonial and Birth Lounge App
05:04 Healthcare System Challenges
06:33 Interview with Sally Hayes: Continuity of Care
08:00 Building a Referral Network
25:45 Virtual Care and Overcoming Healthcare Deserts
36:26 Personal Experiences and Advice for New Doulas
40:03 Building Connections and Championing Others
41:05 Embracing Authenticity in Your Work
41:54 Finding Your Perfect Client
42:33 Creating Unique Services and Standing Out
43:02 Building a Referral Network
45:40 Aligning Values with Referral Partners
51:59 Handling Mismatched Referrals
01:05:42 The Importance of Preemptive Education
01:11:31 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Guest Bio:
Before founding Matrikas, Sally spent 20+ years as a prenatal and postpartum massage therapist, working intimately with thousands of clients through some of the most transformative chapters of their lives. Her hands-on work illuminated a critical gap in the maternal health landscape: while there are countless talented practitioners, many work alone, disconnected from one another and often unsupported. Matrikas was born out of this need for a more connected, collaborative, and community driven model of care. Through Matrikas, Sally champions relationship based referrals, cross discipline education, and building a shared village that supports birthing people and the providers who care for them.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
BIRTH EDUCATION:
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