There are many reasons why a woman will choose to forgo the usual physician and hospital approach and have her baby outside of the hospital. Regardless of the reason, out-of-hospital birth with a licensed midwife is a safe alternative for maternity care and birth.
Read moreWays for Dads to Bond with Baby
Most of the time, it’s easy for mom to be able to bond with her baby. She’s been feeling her little one inside her for nine months, gave birth and then is feeding the baby frequently (or for what feels like all day!). But what about dad? Where does he fit in when it comes to caring for and bonding with his child? It’s not uncommon for fathers to feel left out once baby arrives, but here are some things dad can do to bond with his child from early on:
Read moreNutrition During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
When you’re preparing to become a mother, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what is best for you and your baby. What foods should your eat, what vitamins to take, and if there is anything you need to avoid. I’ve tried to break down the multitude of information out there and put it together in a way that would be easy to read and reference...
Read moreYour Placenta....It's What's Good for You!!
“You ate your what?!?!”
“Ewwww….that’s gross!! We’re not animals!”
“What are the benefits of doing that?”
“How do you eat it?”
“Do you have to have a home birth to do that?”
“How do I find someone to help me with it and what does it cost?”
These are the questions/statements I hear most often when people find out that not only do I encapsulate placentas, but that I ate my own! When people hear about placenta encapsulation, they usually react in one of several ways: 1) Curiosity, 2) Disgust, or 3) Fascination. I’m going to answer the questions that many people ask when they want to learn more, and then you can decide for yourself if placenta encapsulation is right for you!
Read moreChildbirth Education Classes....Why do I Need Them?
Statistically, people do more research when buying a car than they do when having a baby...isn't that shocking?! I think childbirth education (CBE) classes are the equivalent to taking Driver’s Ed when you’re a teenager: 1) You take them because you want to and should know what’s going on within the “vehicle”, 2) So that you learn how to take action to make appropriate decisions, and 3) So that you don’t have regrets after the fact if things don’t go your way. But what type of CBE class should you take? Where should you take them? When should you start? What will the classes discuss? Do you need to take them if you already took CBE classes with a previous pregnancy or if this is your 2nd, 3rd, 10th child? What happens if you don’t take them? Keep reading if you want to find out…
Read moreKnowing Your Options & Creating a Birth Plan
Did you know that the average couple spends more time researching what car to lease or what house to buy than they do preparing for the birth of their child? Don’t be a statistic! Learn about your options so that you can make the best decisions possible regarding your pregnancy, birth and the start of your baby’s life. In doing so, you can use these options and the ones that are important to you, to create a birth plan to share with your care provider and your doula to make sure you all are on the same page (and if you’re not, it’s time to think about finding someone who is). Here are some choices you have that you may have never thought about or known were choices before…
Read moreParty vs. Privacy: Who Should You Invite to Your Birth?
The conversation usually starts with a client asking, “Who can I have at my birth?”, but the answer to that question isn’t really what they’re looking for since my response is, “Anyone you want!”. I then help them to rephrase their question so they can ask what they’re really wanting to know…..“Who should I have at my birth?” And that’s a great question, but not one that I can answer for them…
Read moreInterview Questions to Ask Your Care Provider
When you are interviewing your care provider (midwife, nurse-midwife, or doctor) before signing on for care (and you definitely should!), it’s difficult to know what questions to ask. Some people worry that by asking questions, they will inadvertently offend the provider, or that they will “ask a stupid question” and be looked down upon. I’ll tell you this right now….if your care provider is offended or treats you poorly for asking a legitimate question, they’re not the provider for you! So how do you know what questions to ask and how to go about interviewing a care provider? I’ll walk you through it…
Read moreWhat does a home birth look like?
I get asked this question frequently by first time moms or moms who have only ever had hospital births before, but this question doesn’t have a quick answer. How do you describe the most incredible experience a mother will ever have? How do you put into words the sense of astonishment and pride she will feel in herself when she reaches down to pull that sweet baby onto her chest for the first time? Or the joy of a father at being able to catch his own baby? Or the emotional, physical and spiritual connection that develops between those persons present to witness another of God’s miracles? I’ll never be able to fully put into words what a home birth looks like, but for those who’ve never experienced one, I’ll try…..
Read moreHow I got started.....
Growing up, I changed my mind about what I wanted to be about every day, and sometimes twice. Some days I wanted to be a ballerina, a professional horseback rider, a veterinarian, a teacher, a therapist, or even a kitten cuddle specialist (yes, to my 8 year old self, that would have been an awesome job creation just for me). I had many professions that I felt I would be good at, or that I would enjoy doing, but I couldn’t seem to find my “calling”.
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