Author: rachelbaileydoula
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What to Pack for Your Hospital Birth in Birmingham: Grandview, UAB, St. Vincent’s and Brookwood
If you’re expecting a baby in Birmingham, you’ve probably seen the giant hospital bag checklists. But I hear Birmingham moms ask what they need specifically for their hospital, and whether all the items on those lists are really necessary. I’m Rachel, a birth and postpartum doula with Eleison Doula Services. I’ve supported moms at Grandview,…
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Biophysical Profile and Non Stress Test: What Are They, and Why Did My Doctor Order One?
Why So Many of My Birmingham Clients Have These Tests If you’ve been sent for a non-stress test (NST) or a biophysical profile (BPP), you are in good company. Many of my Birmingham, Alabama clients have had one of these tests over the years, and a handful of recent questions and experiences brought the topic…
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Kinlea’s Birth Story and A Doula for Young Moms in Birmingham, AL
Client Birth Story A young mom feared she wouldn’t be heard by her care team. Meet Rachel, a doula for young moms in Birmingham who helped Kinlea feel respected, supported, and strong through preterm labor and a hard postpartum season. Trusting Her Body, Respecting Her Voice at 20 When Kinlea first called me, she was…
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Christian Birth Doula Support in Birmingham, Alabama: Why Childbirth Classes and Faith in Labor Are So Much More Than a Worship Playlist
More Than a Worship Playlist: What Christian Birth Prep Often Misses What My Clients Say Birth as a Spiritual Experience Means Bringing New Life Into the World Asking God for Help in the Room Fully Experiencing What It Means to Be a Woman Remembering Mary and the Nativity Story Finding Purpose in Pain and Sacrifice…
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Where to Go with a Baby in Birmingham, Alabama
If you’re searching for where to go with a baby in Birmingham for that first outing, I put this list together for you. If I were your postpartum doula, here’s where I’d take you for your first outing with baby in Birmingham, Alabama. Overwhelmed after bringing baby home is so normal, and sleep deprivation with…
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Avoiding an Episiotomy During Her VBAC: Alondrea’s Birth Story
*Client stories* Alondrea called me late in her pregnancy with one big goal: she wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and she wasn’t sure her provider was going to be the ally she needed to get there. He’d told her she “could try.” Not exactly a resounding yes. That one phrase set the tone…
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Birth Doula Support for Partners: You Matter Too
It’s Not Just About Mom: What Birth Doula Support for Partners Really Looks Like When people picture birth doula support, they usually picture me next to the mom. And I am. But my role is just as much in providing birth doula support for partners. Fear of giving birth doesn’t only belong to the person…
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Nicole’s Birth Story: Birth Doula Support Through a Long Labor and Gestational Diabetes in Birmingham, Alabama
*Client stories* Rachel here: Nicole wrote this birth story herself, in her own words. She generously agreed to let me share her Birmingham, Alabama gestational diabetes birth story here on the blog. I love handing the mic over to my clients, because nobody tells it quite like the mama who lived it. Below, you’ll find…
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The Best Places to Give Birth in Birmingham, Alabama: Hospitals, Birth Centers & Home Birth Options
Families often ask me about the best place to give birth in Birmingham. But the truth is that the right choice depends on your values, provider, and the kind of birth experience you want. That’s why I made this guide to help you choose. Choosing Where to Give Birth Choosing where to give birth is…
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Postpartum Rage and Anger During Pregnancy: Why It Happens and What Can Help
When Pregnancy and Postpartum Rage and Anger Catch You by Surprise Most people expect new motherhood to be tender and joyful. Yet many women quietly find themselves face-to-face with postpartum rage, an intensity of anger that feels sudden, confusing, or even frightening. You might snap over something small and feel a wave of guilt afterward.You…