Mikala Coltrane - Birth Doula and Birth Educator

03/08/2026

Active labor 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

02/24/2026

Interested in placenta encapsulation? Consider seeing Tara Eichorn in the eastern Kansas area!

Professional placenta encapsulation in Emporia, KS and surrounding area. Safe and respectful preparation, pickup and delivery to support postpartum recovery.

02/24/2026

I just saw a comment that said “Babies are born with devastating injuries because birth is horrible.” If you truly believe that, I’m so sorry you haven’t experienced peaceful and wonderful pregnancy and birth. It is usually hard, but hard doesn’t always equal bad (I’m learning, haha). I wholeheartedly believe if we stay where we are comfortable and supported and hands off, most low risk births will be great.

10/07/2025

Let’s get you the birth experience you want 💪. Taking new clients for 2026!

10/07/2025

10/07/2025

💛 Colostrum, also called liquid gold, is the very first food your baby receives, a powerful start full of antibodies, nutrients, and love.

In the first days after birth, your body makes small amounts of this golden milk, rich, concentrated, and perfectly designed for your newborn’s needs.

Adapted from our article: “Colostrum: Prenatal / Antenatal Expression.”
📖 https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/colostrum-prenatal-antenatal-expression

Note: 📷 Taken in 2020 during the COVID-19 quarantine, this real photo, shared by a mother, reminds us of the essential role colostrum and close contact played when the world needed protection the most. 💛

02/15/2024

My goal this year is to really get to know and understand first time moms, and why couples make the choices that they make.
Please, whether you’re a first time mom, dad, grandparent, or anyone feel free to share what you think about where birth should take place, and why. Thank you!

12/20/2022

Nurse nurse nurse!

Does your baby have respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)? The antibodies in human milk will help protect them and aid in healing. It will help them recover faster and they will need less oxygen therapy.

Read more in our new article https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/rsv/

[Image description: close-up photo of baby breastfeeding, with hand on their mother's breast. Text 'Continue to breastfeed your baby if they become ill with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).']

12/02/2022

I love birth photos! You hire a photographer on your wedding day, so why not the other 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th…. depending on how many babies you have 😉) most amazing day of your life? I am booking clients now for 2023.

On a separate note: I still need two more births to attend and write about to complete my doula certification before December 2023. If you know of anyone in the Emporia area looking for a doula (birth coach/emotional support and advocate), let me know! It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning to give birth in a hospital, birth center, or home; I go where you go. Since you would be helping me finish my certification, the service would be free to you. Thank you!

05/25/2022

Once you find out you’re pregnant, you probably think you have to choose a provider. Well, you certainly don’t have to. There’s no law telling you that you have to get prenatal care, go to a doctor, or birth a certain place. However, I do understand many people would rather pay someone to check on their health for them rather than researching and being in tune with their own bodies.
If you do decide you want someone in charge of your birth other than yourself, there are several options starting from least intrusive to most intrusive (usually).
Traditional birth keeper/Amish midwife: usually hands off and just there to help make decisions based on experience.
Certified Professional Midwife: has extensive medical training for emergencies, usually hands off
Certified Nurse Midwife: a nurse and also trained for birth emergencies. Sometimes just as intrusive as an ob or nurse at a hospital.
Family Doctor: Usually intrusive and has to follow hospital protocol. Won’t perform c sections.
Obstetrician: Follows protocol, trained to help with medical birth, may have not even seen a natural homebirth. Does many c sections in a normal week.

Choosing a provider you TRUST and feel safe with is most important. It’s never too late in your pregnancy to switch to someone who respects you as a human being (or decide to fly solo ✈️ ).

Which provider did you choose, and why?

05/01/2022

This is so cool! I'd love to be your doula at your c-section, too! :)