Tag: labor
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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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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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Do Doulas Take Insurance? Here’s What You Need to Know
A Common Question: Do Doulas Take Insurance? One of the most common questions I get is: “Do doulas take insurance?” It’s a great question. Some insurance companies and state agencies are beginning to recognize value of doula care (yay for progress!). So I’ve been digging into this issue more deeply. I recently completed a continuing…
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Partner Support During Labor: 5 Tips for a Loving Birth
Back in the day, fathers were usually banned from the labor room until there was a clean and bundled baby ready to show. “A History of Dads in Delivery Rooms” offers a glimpse into this history. Birth was considered “women’s business,” and men had no place. Not so today—fathers and partners are invited, even expected,…
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First-Time Home Birth: Ella’s Peaceful Journey into Motherhood
Client stories mini-series, Part 3 A rural, spiritually grounded first-time home birth story supported by doula and midwife care Considering a First-Time Home Birth I met Ella after church when she asked to discuss her interest in a first-time home birth. Living in a rural area, she preferred not to use the nearby hospital and…
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Do I Have to Say Yes? How to Make Informed Choices About Birth
With so many different procedures available, it can be hard to know how to make informed choices about birth interventions. A lot of times, people wonder if they even have a choice, when their provider recommends a certain intervention. For example, these are some scenarios that have occurred in my interactions with clients and other…
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Top 5 Unusual Things to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Birth
Knowing What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag Packing your hospital bag for birth is almost a rite of passage. How do you know what to pack? There are lots of lists out there of what to pack in your hospital bag for birth. If you’re planning a hospital birth, chances are your hospital has…
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How do I help my loved one in labor? 5 tips for partners
Back in the day, fathers were usually banned from the labor room until there was a clean and bundled baby ready to show. Birth was women’s business, and men had no place. Not so today – fathers are invited, maybe even expected, to be present for the birth of their children. This can lead to…