Congratulations! You’re PREGNANT! It may take a while for the reality to set in after seeing that little pink plus, but once you realize what’s coming you begin to wonder “WHAT DO I NEED TO GET?!” Suddenly you find yourself gravitating towards the baby section of every department store you enter. Magically, your social media is filled with ads for baby products. Your mail becomes regularly flooded with coupons and magazines. Everywhere you look the world seems to be reminding you that babies need a lot of STUFF. So you turn to the people you trust; your friends and family. The moment you ask, you start to wish you hadn’t. You never realized until now that EVERY little thing is up for debate. Huggies versus Pampers… Mam versus Nuk…Tommee Tippee…

  ​There's a big difference between Midwifery care & Obstetrical care. I'd like to give you the same story with two very different outcomes. And though this may seem like a blanket statement or like a biased opinion, I can assure you that this example is the reality for MANY women. This isn't exaggerating or dramatic. It has become the norm in our culture and it is SAD. I can confidently share this from personal experience and the experience as a Doula & student Midwife, working in the birth world since 2015. Of course there are exceptions to everything; every experience, every pregnancy, every birth, is unique. **This isn't to encourage women not to seek out professional help or the help of pharmaceutical medications in the event there's a mood…

I've been chewing on this for 2 days now... And I am appalled by the ACOG's belief that this is a "solution."   What's wrong with it you might be thinking? "ACOG is a nonprofit organization of women's health care physicians advocating highest standards of practice, continuing member education and public awareness of women's health" ... . To me, this sounds like the keywords are: 'advocating highest standards of practice'.... SUGGESTING THAT CONDOMS ( which most people won't use, including some religious beliefs ) AND TOTAL PREGNANCY PREVENTION (which is very unrealistic) is their answer for addressing the obscene rise in maternal/infant mortality rates in the U.S. This is a "high standard of care"??! . This organization is supposed to be educating, supporting, presenting best evidence & paving the way…

  Okay, I know, no one likes to be should on. So I won't should on you. But I will share my personal experiences as a Doula in several different birth environments, of what affects a Mother or other spectator, may have on the birthing experience when they're present. **DISCLAIMER** For those of you who want/need/desire your mother(s), parents, friends, relatives, all the people, at your birth. This isn't for you. Maybe because you love feeling that extra support & YOU WANT them all there, this post won't apply. I acknowledge that this is what someone women want & that's awesome! This is for those on the fence or feel pressured. First off I want to start by saying this: If you have ever thought to yourself or aloud with…

YOGA IN PREGNANCY During pregnancy, you might not be completely motivated to keep up your regular exercise regime.  Yoga is a great way to take some time for yourself while also keeping in shape & strengthening your body to prepare for your upcoming marathon birth.  Practicing yoga can be life-changing, and even if you've never stepped on the mat before after you hear about the benefits of prenatal yoga, you may want to reconsider! Calming effects- The breathing techniques used in yoga can be very calming and grounding.  By focusing on your breath throughout your practice, you become able to control your breathing, which will be extremely helpful during labor. You're also sending more oxygen to your sweet babe, which is obviously beneficial! Not only that, but your body is actually…

It's a very special day today, it is my son's 5th birthday. It might not be a big deal to others, but as moms, we know what a big deal it is for us and for them. Because it's more than just a child's birthday, it's the day a woman gives birth and experiences a sacred and life-altering event.  On this day 5 years ago, I stepped over the threshold of womanhood to motherhood at exactly 10:47 p.m. No one warned me about what an intricate experience it would be, though maybe no one can really explain this sort of thing. Pregnancy begins like a labyrinth and you don't really understand the depths of the middle... How do you tell someone that their world is about to get flipped upside…