Bearfoot Doula Services

08/10/2026

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08/04/2026

What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Both are evidence-based roles that can help improve outcomes and birth experiences. However, their roles are very different.

A doula is NOT a replacement for a midwife (or OB). However, a midwife CAN be instead of an OB and provide all the clinical prenatal, birth, and postpartum care for expected risk pregnancies.

Why? Doulas often have comprehensive training but this is not clinical training. Midwives have extensive training and hands on clinical practice to safely support pregnancies and births as a primary provider. Midwifery training takes years because of the many potential variables in birth.

Doulas provide continuous support throughout active labor. In home births, they often arrive before your midwife as most people do not yet need clinical care in earlier parts of labor, just support and guidance. For those at birth centers or hospitals, a doula might meet you at home before you're ready to head to the birth facility, or meet you at the birth facility.

Midwives are VITAL for improving overall birth outcomes and provide evidence-based clinical care.

Doulas also provide support associated with improved outcomes but this is through education, physical and emotional support, and empowering parents to be self-advocates.

While doulas might occasionally be employed or contracted with a health system or midwifery practice, they're almost always independent of health systems.

Midwives come in a variety of roles in health care, all important. Some midwives practice independently, some in larger practices with OBs, and some work for the hospital.

Both midwives and doulas offer significant support during pregnancy and birth but their roles are different.

Midwives can provide safe birth care and catch your baby. Doulas provide non-medical support and do not catch babies.

👇🏽 Did you know the differences between midwives and doulas?

08/01/2026

Postpartum Psychosis is a severe mental illness. It is not a moral failure, a character flaw, or something anyone chooses. It is an illness, and with the right care, full recovery is possible.

*️⃣ Perinatal and Postpartum Psychosis as a medical and psychiatric emergency. If you think someone you love is experience postpartum psychosis, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-852-6262 (free, confidential, and available 24/7), call 911, or proceed to the nearest emergency room. *️⃣

It affects 1-2 out of every 1,000 births, about as common as conditions like severe pre-eclampsia or multiple sclerosis. Symptoms can include confusion, hallucinations, delusions, extreme agitation, or an inability to sleep.

You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you WILL be well 💙

Learn more about perinatal & postpartum psychosis at Postpartum.net/get-help/postpartum-psychosis-help

07/29/2026

Skin-to-skin care isn't just for babies, it supports mom too.

A new 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that kangaroo mother care (prolonged skin-to-skin contact, often paired with breastfeeding) was associated with a significant reduction in postpartum depressive symptoms.

While skin-to-skin isn't a replacement for mental health care when it's needed, it's a simple, low-cost, evidence-based practice that may benefit both parent and baby.

The greatest effects were seen among parents of preterm infants, but the overall findings reinforce what we've long known: nurturing the parent-infant connection matters.

Skin-to-skin contact isn't only for releasing the placenta or the first couple days. This contact is beneficial long term.

📖 Read the study: Impact of kangaroo mother care on maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials (Pediatric Research, 2026).

URL below.

07/18/2026

In some parts of West Virginia the smoke from Canadian wildfires is extreme- being outside means inhaling the equivalent of a half pack of ci******es each day.

I want to strongly recommend that if you are pregnant you stay indoors and wear a mask (n95 preferred) when you have to be outside.
Smoke inhalation from wildfires is dangerous to you and baby- it can cause preterm birth, low birth weight, and possible long term neurodevelopmental issues for baby. The fine particulates in this smoke can cross into your bloodstream and subsequently your placenta or breast milk. No, do not stop breastfeeding, but protect yourself and baby by avoiding exposure whenever possible.
Short term it will cause asthma attacks, lung inflammation, coughing, and exacerbation of any cardiac or pulmonary conditions.

Be careful, be smart.

07/17/2026

Health care in the United States is increasingly team-based, and doulas—who often provide emotional, physical, and educational support for patients during birth, the postpartum period, and beyond—are valuable members of many care teams.

ACOG’s new clinical guidance encourages ob-gyn collaboration with doulas and gives ob-gyns the tools they need to better understand a doula’s role. It also highlights the importance of stronger partnerships between clinicians and doulas, which can provide vital support across the lifespan—including during and after pregnancy—and can lead to better patient outcomes.

Read the press release: https://bit.ly/4flN1Eq

07/06/2026

A client I have currently inspired my desire to learn more about high-risk conditions that affect many of the women I see in my day-to-day work. I started this journey at the end of March, and it was slow-going but I did what I could, when I could. The 6-week class took me 12 to finish, and then the waiting game for all my assignments and submissions to be reviewed for completion.
I got this in an email today, and I’m so proud of myself. This provided me with a much deeper knowledge of high risk pregnancies and medicalized birth. Don’t worry, I’m still an avid supporter of low-intervention, natural and physiological birth. But I feel much more prepared to support someone through the scary stuff, too. ❤️