• birth,  home birth,  hospital birth,  labor

    Birth – The design is not broken

    This has been on my heart a good bit lately.  I hope it will that not only encourage, but also empower the belief that indeed your body was designed not only to grow a baby but to birth a baby.  The design is not broken.   For the mothers who birthed through c-section: your body works.  You birthed, recovered, and cared for newborn while recovering from surgery.  You are so strong. Dear Mama and Supporters of Mamas, About birth – The design is not broken. Medicalized birth can give a very subtle, covert message to women that the design of birth is broken.  It is much more powerful than many women preparing…

  • birth

    Doula Gift Certificate – A Perfect Gift

    A Doula Gift Certificate for every expectant family. Adding a new baby to a family is a wonderful time yet a time full of exhaustion.  Would you like to give a gift of support to an expectant family for their transition with new baby?  We offer gift certificates that may be customized just for their needs. Postpartum: Every new family needs support after birth.  No exception.  More studies are coming out showing that postpartum recovery takes much longer than most realize: 1 to 2 years! Sibling Doula:  Other families worry about who will care for their other children when they are at the hospital or during labor. Birth Doula:  Birth…

  • birth

    Choosing Your Birth Place

    Today, many expectant mothers are able to choose their birth place between hospital, home, or birth center.  Being informed about these options will help you have the birth experience you desire. Hospital Setting:  A hospital is the most common birth option. You have access to doctors who specialize in obstetrics.  They are most experienced with high risk pregnancy and birth situations.  If you wish to schedule routine tests to reach your comfort level, an obstetric care provider can furnish you with a variety during your pregnancy.  You will also have access to epidural anesthesia and sedatives on demand during your labor. Some hospital settings may also provide you with CNMs…

  • birth,  birth stories,  Postpartum care

    Postpartum Recovery: It’s serious business.

    Postpartum Recovery: Healing through Rest *My sweet friend and doula sister, Lauren Tate, shared this post on facebook.  Because of the importance and seriousness of postpartum recovery, she has graciously given us permission to share it with you.  We invite you to gather a warm cup of coffee or your favorite tea and be still. “A mother and doula on Postpartum healing not so much from an educational side but from an experienced side – With my first and second child, I was so eager to get life after being pregnant going, that I forgot to take care of myself. 4 days after having Ellie, I went to the mall…

  • birth

    Mother Friendly Initiative, pt. 2

    Houston, we have a problem. While many countries around the world are seeing a decrease in maternal mortality, we are seeing an alarming increase in the United States. The Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative seeks to improve the  health of mothers and babies holistically. Baby Friendly and Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiatives can be confusing, and this causes the terms to be misused interchangeably.  Here is a very simple explanation: Baby Friendly Policies that support breastfeeding and mother/baby bond (link here) Mother Friendly  Policies that support the normalcy of birth, the empowerment of women during pregnancy and birth, a woman’s autonomy, doing no harm, and responsibility in each sphere of care. Mother…

  • birth,  doula

    The Power of the Continuous Presence

    The loss of continuous presence It goes without saying a huge part of the role of a doula is her ability to patiently abide in the presence of a laboring mom. The doula’s sympathetic presence alone unlocks a treasure chest of comfort and strength for a mother experiencing childbirth. But why is this so? What is the psychology behind the phenomenon of a continuous presence? Let’s look at history. From the beginning of time we see from art depictions and historical texts women attended by other women during birth – often a midwife along with female attendants –  most likely the birthing woman’s friends. When birth moved into the hospitals…

  • birth,  breastfeeding,  hospital birth,  Newborn Care,  Pregnancy

    Baby Friendly – Mother Friendly

    Baby Friendly?  Mother Friendly? Have you heard of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative?   Are these terms confusing?  What do these terms actually mean for mothers and babies?  What are their differences? Baby Friendly The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) desires to promote breastfeeding and the health of babies through evidence based practices for successful breastfeeding, and mother/baby bonding.   It is an international program initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991.  The program is voluntary and if a hospital pursues the designation, they can be awarded the coveted Baby Friendly Hospital status. Mother Friendly The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative…

  • doula,  family

    Relationship with an Expectant Mom- The Doula’s Role

    WHO Recommendations: A Doula’s Role Birth is so much more than a change of address for baby.  It affects mothers holistically and mothers deserve holistic care.   The World Health Organization recently recognized this need through their Safe Childbirth Checklist.  A doula’s role for every woman giving birth is part of their healthy practice recommendations. The research for doulas  has concluded that continuous support provided during labor significantly improves birth outcomes for both mother and baby. The benefits of having a doula present include: an increased apgar score for baby a decreased chance of the mother undergoing a c-section a decrease in the mother’s request for pain-relieving medication  an increase…

  • birth

    Dear Millennials, I see you.

     *This post, prompted by events last weekend, has been brewing for a long time. Dear Millennials, I work with you as you build your families, doing the hardest work a woman could ever do – giving birth to a baby. I see you. I see you as you make decisions that are best for your baby. Mama, I see you.  I see you learning all you can to give your baby holistic health. I see you during the morning sickness, the aches, the heavy days, and watch you give your baby what it needs before birth.  I see you as you struggle to nourish your baby breastfeeding.  I see you…

  • c-section

    Healing C-Section Adhesions – GuaSha Massage

    We are very excited  to have a special guest writing the post today on the topic healing c-section adhesions. Dr. Joe Linza is a Chiropractic Physician and a Fellow of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. I met Dr. Linza, his lovely wife, and some members of his staff at an event on Ft. Campbell.  We were sharing the same table.  We began discussing his services, and I asked about massage to break -up adhesions from c-section.  After supporting a client with severe adhesions from previous c-sections, I had embarked on a mission to learn about ways to help with this problem before labor begins. Through research, I learned of…