We are almost a year into this pandemic and while we are all getting used to “new normals”, wearing masks, Zoom meetings and hangouts, getting tested, keeping our circle extremely small - something that hasn’t changed is Doula Support. Sure it may “look” a little different, but the unwavering support has not changed. Maybe your friend had a Doula, or your care provider spoke to you about the benefits of a Doula? (Check out our blog Do Doulas Do That to get a better idea of wh

The past 20 weeks of pregnancy has been 20 weeks of 31 years of unpacking, learning and unlearning so many lessons, but must importantly TRUST has been the biggest theme. I knew that I always wanted to be a parent. From when I was young, even in high school I knew that one of the main reasons I was placed on this earth was to be a parent. I was raised by both my Mother and Father, but it was my stay at home, hard working, bad ass mother who set the tone for me in the incredib

Last week I had a clogged duct at my Full Moon Circle. I know that’s a lot to process. Where to begin? Well, Friday afternoon I started to feel like my right breast was slightly bruised- as if I had a black and blue about an inch southeast of my areola. Soon after noticing the pain it got a bit worse. It hurt when I touched it and anytime my breast moved while I walked around. Since I had a clogged duct after my first child I knew this is what it was. Immediately I microwaved

“Self care” is so hot right now. Just saying that phrase gets us a bit nauseous. What does it even mean? Maybe we’re projecting because we don’t “practice” it, or feel like we have time to practice it. But really, its seems like all the top executives from all the leisure activities people love, got together and said, ‘we need to make these already expensive and luxurious items super elusive and market them to parents who have ZERO time do to them- and make them feel bad abou

We’ve all seen the heteronormative movies- a young, gorgeous couple has drunk herteronormative intercourse, conceives a baby effortlessly, cis-female goes into labor and channels all of her discomfort at her frenetic cis-male husband- yelling and cursing at him, “YOU DID THIS TO ME” then baby is born (magically already clean and swaddled) and the parents share a knowing look, sweet kiss and eventually a loving slow dance at 2am in the living room while rocking their quiet, sl

There are some questions we always get asked as doulas and parents of a total of 4 children combined. “Is cluster feeding normal?” (Yes.) “Is the ‘ring of fire’ real?” (Yes, though miserable imagery in that phrase.)“Do I need to ‘pump and dump’? (No.) “How long will it take to ‘bounce back’ after birth?” (That concept is an illusion) The list goes on. There also some questions that never get asked- for one reason or another- though we know from personal experience and years d

After 4 days of laboring and pushing at home for the homebirth I planned, I transferred to the hospital for a cesarean. Moon was cut from my womb and there will always be a scar where she once lived. My sore incision stretched and throbbed as I shifted around in the hospital bed trying to make her comfortable as she sucked at my breast. My body had been hers for the past 10 months but it felt truer when she latched onto me than ever before. Moon suckled for 5 hours straight t

My best friend sent me this article today, "Get the Epidural"- one that has been making its away across the virtual birth world like wildfire. I responded to her with the following and upon her suggestion, I share it here with you now! I support, encourage and value open and honest discourse regarding almost ANY subject, and I have to be frank and say that I highly disliked this particular article. Jessi Klein makes the age old assumption that childbirth is painful and that

This is the second week my toddler has been in preschool. She asks the night before if she can go to preschool "tomoyyo" and before we even arrive she yells, "BYE MOM!". Meanwhile, I cried for 3 consecutive nights before her first day and feel a pit in my stomach each time I drive into the parking lot. My husband, a professional family therapist, has done his best to 'talk me down' as they say... He reassures me that she has a secure attachment with us, that she is confident,