It Takes a Village VA

05/25/2026

That’s why I would rather do life with you face to face!

Being a parent looking to learn, find support, or find your village isn't easy.

There's always been some challenges but getting negative feedback used to be from your neighbor Sally and your second cousin Lisa.

Today? You can get negative feedback from hundreds, thousands, even millions.

Rather than parents coming together to learn and support each other, sometimes social media is nothing more than proving a point or being "right" and putting others down.

We're not talking legitimate safety, such as car seats. Though even those discussions could be respectful.

Sometimes the only thing we can do as new moms is take a break from social media. Get in nature. And remember, everyone births and parents in their own way and that is OKAY.

👇🏽 Do you ever feel stressed by constant negativity online?

05/21/2026

July is booked! Accepting later in the summer and into the fall.

05/19/2026

As a doula one of my favorite things to tell fathers before birth is their first skin to skin experience with their newborn will be unforgettable because it’s when their hormonal change happens (because mom has 9 months of changes that prepares her body for the baby). They don’t usually believe me. When dad has that first encounter, his hormones actually change: their entire demeanor, facial expressions, and they now “know” they are a dad. It’s one of my favorite things to observe and photograph in the birth room.

05/13/2026

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/10/2026

Big fan of Dr. Bill Chun as well!

05/08/2026

Did you know a doula and midwife are NOT the same? A doula is not a replacement for an OB.

A doula provides NON-medical support. A midwife is instead of or works alongside an OB. They provide prenatal care, take vital signs, monitor pregnancy and fetal development, and ensure safety during birth.

While doulas help improve birth outcomes, this is not done through medical care. Doulas help improve outcomes by providing prenatal education, continuous labor support, and directing parents to their medical providers for any concerns.

Midwives vary in exact role and definition location to location, and there are multiple types of midwives, but they're all equipped to be your main provider instead of an OB or work alongside OBs. Midwives offer continuity of care throughout your perinatal period, but might be caring for multiple people in labor, similar to an OB.

Doulas are NEVER a replacement for having a midwife or OB present at your birth.

Did you know doulas and midwives are different?

04/22/2026

Honored to be here. Honored to march. Honored to represent EveryLife. Honored to speak up.

04/21/2026

A 2025 study published in AJOG adds powerful, up-to-date data showing associations between doula care and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.

Key Maternal Outcomes:

More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC): For every 100 patients who received doula care, there were 15 to 34 additional VBACs compared with those without doula care.

Higher postpartum follow-up attendance: 5 to 6 more per 100 received postpartum office visits.

Key Neonatal / Infant Outcomes

Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates: Babies whose families had doula support were more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

Fewer preterm births (and early preterm births): Doula-supported births showed a reduction in preterm birth rates.

In short, the study links doula care with improvements in birth outcomes — across birth mode (more VBACs), infant health (less prematurity), and early infant care (breastfeeding, postpartum follow-up).

Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2025/11/evidence-for-doulas-new-ajog-study-finds-doulas-improve-outcomes/

04/05/2026

He is risen. ✝️🌼

(And for anyone wondering, I did not break my social media fast… I scheduled this post before my fast began.)

I pray your celebrations with friends and family really express the true joy that the Lord gave us!