Here is the first 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 hot water bottles! This old-fashioned first-aid kit item has quickly become one of my favorite items in my doula bag. Read more about what I use this for, and why it is one of my favorite things.
Read MoreIs your baby breaking their swaddle, but you're not ready to stop swaddling them for sleep? Try this mom, doula, and childbirth educator's tips to keep your baby inside their swaddle.
Read MoreSo you decided to take a childbirth education class? Great! Now which one is right for you? You may not be able to have your first choice, but a quality childbirth education will serve you well through your pregnancy, parenthood, and your life as a healthcare consumer.
Read MoreLong before I started teaching childbirth education classes myself, I have been recommending my doula clients take an independent, community-based, complete childbirth education class. Why do I recommend these specific types of classes?
Read MoreFor 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.
Read MoreSeveral years ago, I unwisely engaged in a social media discussion about the definition of “natural birth.” It was not a positive experience. Social media is fun, isn’t it? However, it was extremely interesting reading all of the different definitions from a wide range of people who were all in a “Natural Birth Support” group!
Read MoreI have supported quite a few doula clients who felt blindsided by their Group B Strep, or GBS, positive status, and the subsequent recommendation for IV antibiotics during their birth. Here is my personal experience comparing my own GBS positive and GBS negative birth experiences.
Read MoreYou want to hire a doula? Great! So how do you pay for one? I’ve listed several ideas and options for you to consider.
Read MoreI am so pleased to announce, I have provided doula support at the births of 100 babies since my doula training in 2009! Come read more, and geek out with me as I dig into my doula practice’s birth statistics!
Read MoreHow I approach doula support for Cesarean births.
Read MoreMy review of The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin, PT.
Read MoreWhat I do to recover after doula-ing a birth.
Read MoreSome of my favorite things about teaching the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class!
Read MoreMost birthing families that I encounter have a goal of a positive, satisfying birth experience. This is a great goal, but how do you achieve it? I now offer four ways to help birthing families achieve a more positive and satisfying birth.
Read MoreAs we near the end of January, I’m dreaming and planning for the year ahead. However, in order to plan where I want to go, I also need to look back at where I have come from.
Read MoreFive reasons to be glad you’re “still pregnant.”
Read MoreYou want to go with the flow for your baby’s birth, because you know you cannot plan birth? Great! But first, you need to know which “flow” you are going to be following, the physiological process of childbirth, or hospital policy?
Read MoreLast August I published my calculations of Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates for the public. I am pleased to present this year's update. Again using data provided free to the public by the Nebraska Hospital Association at NHACareCompare.com, I calculated overall hospital-level Cesarean rates for the year beginning July 2016 and ending June 2017.
Read MoreI am a different doula today than when I started.
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