Knowing your rights as a birthing person

While understanding your rights as a birthing person is vital anytime, in the era of COVID-19, I found this topic especially apropos. I have heard horrible stories from doulas and moms alike about their birth preferences being completely thrown out of the window due to COVID-19, and new hospital regulations that seem to change daily. …

Six holiday hangups that impact milk supply for breastfeeding moms

Breastfeeding can be difficult enough for many moms, but some aspects of the holiday season can make things even more so if she isn't prepared for them - such as her body's ability to produce breastmilk. Here are several things to keep a keen eye out for (while you're watching for Kris Kringle of course), …

Can I drink alcohol and breastfeed?

As the holidays fill our homes and our lives, many new breastfeeding moms everywhere are probably asking – can I drink and breastfeed my baby? Alcohol and breastfeeding have often been seen as oil and water – the two just do not mix. Women for years have been told to “pump and dump” any breastmilk …

Bariatric surgery and birth outcomes

In the US, 41.1% of women of childbearing age (over the age of 20) are obese. Women who are overweight or obese want the best for themselves and their children as much as any woman; and a good many women of childbearing age are considering bariatric surgery to help. Statistics report that of the amount …

7 things to know about your newborn’s first breastfeeding

The first breastfeeding of a newborn is often a magical, yet confusing experience for a new mom. If you are considering breastfeeding your baby, I love that you have stumbled across this blog post. As a doula and breastfeeding counselor, I want to share some of these little understood facts about newborns and their first …

Top 3 benefits of a childless doula

Okay, I'm going to address the elephant in the room: Hi, I'm Lindsey, I am a doula and breastfeeding counselor and I have not given birth. I am not a mother. I am childless. *Awaits the anticipated collective gasp* It's true. I bring this up because after I completed my doula training three years ago …

Importance of Vitamin D and Your Pregnancy

Here we are in the dead of winter, and I want to talk about the importance of Vitamin D during your pregnancy. Vitamin D is an essential chemical that in adults facilitates the absorption of bone and muscle strengthening ingredients like phosphorous and calcium. It's also necessary for helping your baby grow healthy teeth and …

Study correlates breastfeeding with lower risk of eating disorders

I went a little hog wild picking out some new magazines to read this month, but one I especially look forward to is my Food and Nutrition Magazine.  I am also super excited to share a finding it published that relates breastfeeding and positive outcomes to lower risk of eating disorders in children. According to …

How you can afford a birth doula

One of the saddest misconceptions of doula support today is that it's a service only available for the well-to-do. This frustrates birthworkers like me, because we are so passionate about our work and that everyone deserves to have our services. #Doulasareforeveryone! So here are some tips to try when looking for a doula to accompany …

Essential oils and doula support

Essential oils are a fantastic addition to any labor or birth support kit for a doula. From helping a birthing person to relax and release, or to give a tired birthing person the kick they need to keep up the work, they can do amazing things. My friend and Doterra essential oil salesperson Ruth Ann, a …