Mind Body Baby Doula

Would ya look at that … ACOG recognizing something physiological birth already does when we don’t manage birth.

Birthing folks will always be the smartest person in the room to know when they need to push.

Active second-stage duration under 15 minutes in spontaneous vaginal deliveries with delayed pushing - Distribution of the duration of expulsive efforts in the study population (n=10,565) https://ow.ly/saCH50YOVbB

Looking like an ad for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center new labor & delivery floor.

Your cord is perfectly designed for this.

🌿 Nuchal Cord Facts
🟢 1. Nuchal cords are extremely common
Occur in 20–30% of all births

That’s 1 in 4 babies

Most are loose and cause no problems

🟢 2. They are usually not dangerous
A nuchal cord is simply the cord around the baby’s neck.
Because of Wharton’s jelly and the cord’s structure, blood flow is usually well‑protected.

🟢 3. They rarely cause emergencies
A nuchal cord becomes concerning only if it causes:

significant cord compression

repetitive variable decelerations

signs of fetal distress

This is uncommon.

🟢 4. They are not a reason for induction or cesarean
Evidence shows:

Nuchal cords are not linked to stillbirth in healthy pregnancies

They are not an indication for early delivery

They are not a reason for automatic C‑section

🟢 5. Providers manage them easily at birth
Most of the time:

The cord is slipped over the baby’s head

Or the somersault maneuver is used
Both are simple, routine techniques.

🟢 6. Multiple loops are still often harmless
Even 2–3 loops can be normal.
What matters is tension, not the number of loops.

“The evidence base is clear: for appropriately selected individuals, intermittent auscultation is associated with equivalent neonatal outcomes compared with EFM and fewer cesarean and operative vaginal births.“

The American College of Nurse-Midwives has released an updated Clinical Bulletin "Intermittent Auscultation for Fetal Heart Rate Surveillance" now available as an open access and member resource in 'sHealth
This Clinical Bulletin reviews the evidence supporting intermittent auscultation and provides clear recommendations for technique, interpretation, and documentation. In Canada and the United Kingdom, IA is the preferred method of fetal surveillance for individuals who enter labor at term without medical or obstetric conditions associated with uteroplacental insufficiency or increased risk of fetal acidemia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists likewise affirms that IA is acceptable for patients without complications.
The evidence base is clear: for appropriately selected individuals, intermittent auscultation is associated with equivalent neonatal outcomes compared with EFM and fewer cesarean and operative vaginal births. Operative births carry additional risks for both birthing people and newborns. IA also facilitates mobility, comfort, and physiologic labor progress, while supporting continuous labor support practices that are themselves evidence-based.
The bulletin outlines practical, implementation-ready guidance. IA should be used according to defined criteria, including clear parameters for when to convert to EFM. Recommended techniques include multiple-count methods (e.g., listening for 6 seconds and multiplying by 10, repeated several times), which appear more accurate than single-count approaches. Listening through contractions, rather than only between them, improves detection of periodic or episodic changes that may warrant escalation. Documentation should use approved terminology and reflect both auscultated characteristics and the broader clinical context of labor.
This updated Clinical Bulletin was developed under the guidance of ACNM’s Research and Standards Committee and reflects interdisciplinary collaboration and expert review. Authors: Kristen Ostrem-Niemcewicz CNM, DNP, FNP-BC, Jessica Holm CNM, MSN, Lisa Kane Low CNM, PhD
For clinicians, educators, administrators, and policy leaders, this resource provides research-grounded guidance to support safe, evidence-based, and autonomy-respecting intrapartum care.
Available now at JMWH.org

You guyyzzzzz, those baby blues!

🎉 I’ll be opening up my photography schedule to the public for the summer while I’m taking a break from on call doula life.

Stay tuned 📷

What did someone say to you during your labor and birth that made you feel safe?

Midwives are the keepers of physiological birth.

As a doula, I WANT the midwives to be well rested and not burn out. That’s my job to hold the space during the long hours, the hip squeezes, the help with movement.

Doulas are needed in all birth settings!

This is how we wait for a baby at a home birth. Off in a side room with my assistant, charting and scrolling and generally having a wonderful time :) Mom is just a room away doing the work of labor. We can hear her breathing and sometimes a moan slips in. We look in on her every 20-30 minutes to listen to the baby and then retreat. If she asks us to stay by her side, we do, but most moms don't want to be watched until closer to the end. When birth comes near, we quietly enter the birthing space to witness the miracle

Introducing Monday Mom Meet Up!

✨ Starts Monday, February 23rd ✨

Every other Monday I'll be hosting a zoom call for new moms to find connection and community.

This one hour low key call holds no expectations. Come as you are, drop in whenever you'd like.

This is simply a safe space for new moms to be held and supported by eachother.

Set yourself up in a cozy spot with or without your baby and bring your favorite beverage or even your lunch!

Be prepared to support and be supported. 🤍

Comment "MOM" for the Zoom link.

I'll see you there!

Accurate .. minus the third hand 😂