Strength Love Birth

01/05/2023

Today I'm taking a class on preventing racial bias in perinatal care. This kind of education is a requirement for a doula certification I'm finishing up and it is SO IMPORTANT for any caregiver. We have to do better for black moms and babies and stop the biased care.

12/08/2022

Time for soup and snuggles!

12/07/2022

This is my magical box 🪄 of low tide treasures gathered for me and mailed from Alaska to Ohio by a lovely friend of mine.

This box is a reminder that I am so loved.

These treasures are proof that everyday magic exists in our world.

One thing that often gets lost in motherhood is our ability to find magic and to remember how loved we are. We're so busy taking care of others and giving our love that sometimes we can feel alone in a dreary world of caretaking, day in and day out. We don't always feel this way, but these are definite motherhood valleys that I have found myself in.

Let this box of treasures remind you that you are so loved and there's magic all around you.

✨Prove it by telling me who loves you and where you peeped some magic recently ✨

12/06/2022

A little lunch and learn with .faith.mariah as I prepare to help more people than ever by stepping into transformational coaching in addition to my doula work.

09/29/2022

Awww...🥲

07/19/2022

I love this article. I'm always encouraging moms to trust their instincts, and I love how the author dug up some studies that back this up scientifically!

Did you trust your instincts as a new parent?

To say my husband and I were utterly terrified when we came home from the hospital with our newborn is an understatement. Gone were the feelings of

07/12/2022

It's Prime Day! Today's the day for you to save a bundle on all your baby stuff, from strollers and car seats, to glass baby food jars and organic bedding.

Click the link -----> https://amzn.to/3uH0vnK to go straight to the best baby deals for Prime Day (July 12 & 13).

Hurry, these go fast and you can save enough to set aside the extra for a weekend away or that awesome baby photographer you thought you couldn't afford!

04/24/2022

If you're really wanting to avoid a cesarean, there ARE things you can do to lower your chances.

Check out this list of 8 things you can do that I wrote for !

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Is it possible to avoid a c-section? While there are no foolproof ways to pevent a cesarean, there are many specific things you can do to avoid a c-section.

04/17/2022

Are you wondering if you should keep nursing your little one past their first birthday? It can feel really weird in our culture, but it's really perfectly normal!

Read more about extended breastfeeding in this post from Brenda at

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Find out extended breastfeeding pros and cons to help you decide how long to breastfeed. Should you continue after that 1 year breastfeeding milestone?

04/10/2022

Are you a first time mom? This post has some great advice from moms who've BTDT (including me!) rounded up by Lisa at .

Check it out!

➡️https://www.birtheatlove.com/best-pregnancy-advice-for-first-time-moms/

Pregnant for the first time? Learn priceless pregnancy tips for first time moms that can help you have an easier pregnancy and a positive birth experience.

03/01/2022

Ask your provider what their standard cord clamping time is. You can request a longer pause before cutting. ❤️

When I was first attending births in 1984, the obstetric model was to cut the umbilical cord immediately after birth and take the baby away for evaluation and a first bath. This was based on the belief that placental blood flow would increase birth complications for babies.

Even back then, we midwives knew to do it differently - we waited until the placenta stopped pulsating - 10 or more minutes -- before clamping and cutting the cord. Baby’s did great, placentas came out readily, and all was good - even if our methods were considered silly by doctors.

Times change, science has caught up. The midwives were right. We now know that immediate cord cutting, unless there’s a medical emergency that requires it, is not recommended. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping for at least 30–60 seconds, and the WHO recommends 2-3 minutes.

The benefits of waiting include:
❣️ Transfer to baby immunoglobulins and stem cells, essential for tissue and organ repair
❣️ Extra iron, which has been shown to prevent iron deficiency in the first year of life
❣️ Possibly reduced risk of hemorrhage and easier placental delivery for mom

While jaundice can develop from delayed cord cutting due to this influx of blood, this type of jaundice is not usually a medical problem. Baby will naturally clear this excess iron with pooping. Your midwife or pediatrician will keep an eye on baby over the first few days to make sure it’s clearing. However, the benefits of delayed cord cutting are more beneficial for baby than the risk of this jaundice.

Unfortunately, immediate cord clamping/cutting are still common practice in hospitals. You have to let your midwife or doctor know that you want to wait, with baby tummy to tummy on you, while you do. I recommend bringing this up with your care provider in advance to ensure that they are on board to do ‘delayed cord clamping and cutting’. Get specific with exactly how long you want baby to be connected to the placenta. Unsure how to advocate for yourself? Want guidance on pregnancy, birth, and newborn care? Join the Mama Pathway for all the support you need to be in the know. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ideservebirthsupport/

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