Doula By Grace LLC

Was your last birth not what you hoped for? Have none of your births been positive for you? You are not alone, countless women have been in the same boat.

I still think that you have every reason to hope and plan for a better birth. I have seen women have better births their 2nd time around, their third, their fourth! It is absolutely possible. Birth is unpredictable but we can stack the odds in your favor. Some things to try to have a better birth this time around:

*change birth locations
*find a provider that has a low cesarean rate
*take a birth class (especially one that teaches coping skills)
*add additional prenatal care that helps you feel your best like pelvic floor therapy, acupuncture, a licensed therapist
*get more support and ideas for a better birth from a doula

You and your baby deserve all the support available. Don’t give up!

If your provider says they don’t work with doulas. Run. It is a red flag for many reasons. 🚩
I don’t work with doulas means:
*I don’t practice evidence based care
*I don’t work well with other members of a birth team
* I like births to be a certain way (my way)
*I am not well connected and respected in the broader birth community.

Instead, fine a provider who says:
“I love working with doulas. I’ve attended many births with so and so. Here is their contact information.”

I work with many providers who refer clients to me. Who are happy to see me when they walk into the birth room. Who want evidence based care for their clients. Don’t settle! You deserve support and the best care possible for your birth.

How does your provider feel about doulas?

Wondering about when to reach out to a doula? Do it now! It doesn’t matter where you are in your pregnancy. It’s never too early or too late. I’ve had clients reach out to me the week they find out they are pregnant and their last month of pregnancy. We doulas are flexible people! Many times people are confused about how to start the process of hiring a doula. Just send an email or give us a call. We can guide you from there! I’m currently being hired for births in February and March but also had an October spot open after an early delivery. Reach out!

Supporting families through multiple births is one of my favorite parts of doula work. So is converting skeptical dads into doula believers.

Need help finding a doula? Here are three strategies to start. Remember, you deserve all the support you can get!

It’s normal to need help as a mother. You and your babies benefit when you receive support. Help can come from family , medical professionals, and community organizations. Asking for help is a STRENGTH. Let’s all work on doing it more! What are some ways you have asked for help as a mother?

One six week visit with your OB or midwife is not enough! In America we tend to forget about mom’s needs after having a baby. Knowing there a professionals who specialize in postpartum care can help. I recommend talking with your insurance about providers they cover and if you need a referral for services BEFORE baby is born. That way when you are tired, frustrated, or in pain you already have a name and number picked out to help that you can turn to.

It is normal to need help postpartum. It is common for women to need professional help to fully heal from pregnancy and childbirth. If something feels off, you wish you felt better, or you simply need more support GO FOR IT. You deserve the best.

Doulas are evidence based care. Doula support leads to better clinical outcomes for both mom and baby. Check out the compilation of data has on doulas. Evidence cited from: Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 6;7(7):CD003766. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6. PMID: 28681500; PMCID: PMC6483123.

It’s that simple.

The nurses at Saint Joe’s are always so sweet and wonderful to work with. One them wrote my name on the board with a heart around it this past week. A positive nurse who puts in extra effort to show you support is invaluable. Research has shown nurses play a huge role in clinical birth outcomes. They spend a lot more time with you than your doctor or midwife. Research your hospital, communicate your needs and desires clearly when being admitted, ask for a nurse who would be a good fit for you. If you don’t like your nurse, that’s ok! Just ask for a new one. You can do that! It’s your birth and you deserve a birth team that’s there for YOU!

I’m a size friendly doula! I’ve officially been on the plus size birth directory as a size friendly doula for over four years. is a wonderful resource for evidence based information during pregnancy and postpartum. They also have a directory of plus size friendly providers and doulas. You deserve all the support during your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Make sure you have support from a team that sees you as a whole person, treats you with dignity, and follows evidence based practices.

Little Miss Doula