Ask questions, and don’t just accept the answers blindly. There’s not really any such thing as a “routine” procedure, except for what’s part of your care provider’s typically-preferred routine. It’s all Optional. Recommended. Suggested. Commonly practiced. If your healthcare provider tells you to get a test or procedure done, ask what it’s for, and whether Read More
Are you committed to having a better birth? Do your own research! Don’t rely on your health care professional to tell you everything you need to know, because they won’t. Not because they’re a jerk, or anything of the sort. It’s just that they don’t have the time to spend telling you things that aren’t Read More
Why do we need empowered childbirth? How do we go about cultivating such a thing? Birth is something that every single one of us experiences–whether it’s giving birth, attending a birth, or being born ourselves. All human beings on Earth, throughout time, are connected through this most ancient rite of passage. In modern times, however, Read More
One of the ways you can personalize your labor room is by bringing a bottle of something called Labor Calm Spray with you. I used to keep a bottle of Labor Calm Spray in my doula bag when I attended hospital births. Usually, they were not okay with an essential oil diffuser being plugged in, Read More
After the birth of my first child, I felt relief–like I’d dodged a bullet, really. His birth was attended by midwives, and relatively smooth–although I’d been threatened with hospital transfer. I felt out of control and like I had very little say in what happened to me. I didn’t plan on having FOUR more babies Read More
Everybody’s talking about self-care–but let’s get real. Nobody’s saying you have to get weekly pedicures, and go out with the girls every Saturday night to feel like you’re a functioning human being. However, the flip-side of those lofty self-care ideals can be even worse. I personally can’t stand those memes that say things like, “I’m Read More
You’ve made it to week 28–oh my! You’re now in the home stretch, and these next 10-14+ weeks or so may be a whirlwind of preparation, nervous jitters, elation, discomfort–and everything in between. Here’s some of the best 3rd trimester pregnancy tips that I share with my doula clients. It’s especially important now to slow Read More
Sometimes the light is made more brilliant by the contrast of darkness. Have you had a scary or unpleasant birth experience in the past? If you’re expecting again, you might be worried about a repeat of your last birth scenario, and that past fear and anxiety can play a role in the way that your Read More
I am really fortunate at this point in my life to have a great social network of mamas. We share many values and similarities in the way we strive to live our lives – but it wasn’t always this way. I became close with most of my best friends during my fifth pregnancy, while I Read More
Is it possible to “meet” your child before he or she is born? Or even before you’re pregnant? Many people and a growing body of scientific research say YES, prebirth communication is possible, and happens all the time. For example, my husband knew he had a child waiting to be born years before he ever Read More