What to Expect After Your Birth Doula Workshop

Attending your birth doula workshop is an exciting first step, one that often leaves you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to support families. But you might be wondering: What happens after the workshop ends?

Joyce DykemaAugust 27, 2025

Signs You Should be a Birth Doula

Have you been wondering if birth work is calling you? Here are a few signs that you’re ready to step into the role of a birth doula!

Joyce DykemaAugust 20, 2025

Are You Called to be a Doula?

Do you feel called to be a birth doula?

Sometimes the call to birthwork comes quietly, grows gradually. Maybe you’ve realized recently with a jolt that you want to make a difference in childbirth.

If your heart says yes, now’s the time to answer. 💛

📅 Birth Doula Workshop, September 25–28, 2025
📍 In-Person, Lincoln, NE
⏳ Registration closes September 18th
✅ DONA-approved + hands-on

Your presence could change someone’s birth story forever.
Reserve your spot: https://doulajoyce.com/birth-doula-training or link in bio.

Why We Need Birth Centers

Why do we need birth centers in Nebraska?

For Parents, For Professionals, NebraskaJoyce DykemaJuly 31, 2024birth centers

Nebraska Maternity Care Statistics - 2024 Update (2022 Data)

Every summer, I compile the latest statistics on childbirth in Nebraska. Here is my latest update, using 2022 data.

For Parents, For Professionals, NebraskaJoyce DykemaJuly 17, 2024birth, cesarean, Doula Joyce, hospital, statistics

Preparing for Birth in Lincoln, NE

With over 15 years of birth support experience in the Lincoln area, I am asked quite often for my recommendations on how to prepare for childbirth in our community! Here are my recommendations.

Reflections from Conference

Last week, I was in Minneapolis, MN for the 2023 DONA Summit. Here are some of my takeaways.

What I Would (and Would Not) Do Differently

A client recently asked me what I would have done differently if I could go back and prepare for my first baby’s birth again. Here are the three things I would do differently, and five things that I would not change if I could go back.

Staying Sane Past Your Due Date

As a birth doula and childbirth educator, I frequently offer support to families who are excited, anxious, and nervous as they approach their due dates, and pass them. Here are some tips to help you and/or your birthing clients prepare for your upcoming birth:

For ParentsJoyce DykemaApril 18, 2023pregnancy, parents, prenatal

Hospital Data - Bad News Nebraska

Every summer, I compile the latest statistics on childbirth in Nebraska. Unfortunately, this year, I have bad news to report.

For Parents, For Professionals, NebraskaJoyce DykemaSeptember 6, 2022birth, cesarean, Doula Joyce, hospital, statistics

Information overload

There is a massive amount of information about childbirth on the internet, you can truly learn everything you need to know to be prepared for birth online! The problem is, how do you know whether or not you're getting quality, relevant, and balanced information?

Lochia

Lochia is the postpartum bleeding and discharge. What can you expect for the normal amount, color, and timeline of postpartum lochia?

The Secret to Having an Unmedicated Childbirth

What is the secret to achieving an unmedicated childbirth?

For ParentsJoyce DykemaOctober 29, 2021natural, unmedicated, birth, childbirth

2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates

Since 2017, I have been compiling all of Nebraska’s maternity care statistics from public sources, and here are the most recent, publicly available data on Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates, from 2019.

Induction and Cesarean in the US

I recently created some videos for my Tiktok account on rates of Induction of Labor and Cesarean birth in the United States in recent years. Currently, the Tiktok app only allows me up to 60 second long videos, and both video descriptions and comments are limited to just a couple sentences, so I can’t really get into the nuance of topics in that platform to my satisfaction. Since I’m not a YouTuber kind of doula/childbirth educator, I have decided to expand on the topics I share about on social media with longer blog posts! Check out this summary, super flattering screenshots of yours truly, and watch for more on my social media accounts, in my email newsletter, and here on my blog!

Joyce DykemaMay 7, 2021

You're Invited! Live

Life as a Doula, My StoryJoyce DykemaMarch 1, 2021interview, livestream

2018-2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates

For the last two years, I have been compiling all of Nebraska’s maternity care statistics from public sources, and here are the most recent, publicly available data on Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates, from October 2017-September 2018.

Trust birth?

“Trust birth” has truth behind it. But it’s not the whole story. If your pregnancy and birth are smooth, it’s easy to trust birth. However, when your pregnancy and birth are full of complications, is your body and birth still trustworthy? Here are my thoughts.

My favorite things: Golf balls

Here is my latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about golf balls! Golf balls and other massage tools help to provide firmer pressure and can help the support team to use their energy more efficiently, so they can provide the massage and counterpressure for longer periods of time.

My favorite things: The Birth Partner

Here is my latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin! This excellent book has been one of my favorite items since my own first pregnancy.