Divine Doula

04/15/2020

DID YOU KNOW:

The documentary "The Business of Being Born" and "More Business of Being Born" is being streamed FOR FREE right now? If you're pregnant, this is for YOU! Be informed. Be encouraged.

https://www.thebusinessof.life/the-business-of-being-born

Birth: it's a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth is a business. Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, Ricki Lake explores the maternity care system in America with filmmaker Abby Epstein.

04/13/2020

There are two questions we can ask for the same situation that is happening in our world.

1. Is this causing destruction?

OR

2. Is this causing transformation?

Or could it be a beautiful blend of both? In order for something new to emerge, something else needs to break down, so those pieces can be used to make something new.

What destruction have you faced, that now you see the beautiful transformation beginning to unfold?

04/04/2020

Overwhelm is a feeling many of us are experiencing right now.

Not because our calendars are full with places we have to be physically, but because of real life circumstances happening around us.

Our brain gets to decide how to feel about each circumstance. Our brains already do. They have been trained to go to whatever default mode that's been set up already in the way we think.

And an "easy" default is overwhelm.

But let's take a minute to decide if that is the way we want to feel. Maybe we want to feel peaceful. Or have pockets of calm.

What would we need to be thinking instead, to experience peace and calm?

Possibly acknowledging what is a real circumstance/fact in your life, and then saying right after it " but I"

"My productivity is down for my business, "but I" am thankful I still have a job."

"I am pregnant during a pandemic, "but I" recognize my womb is the safest place for my baby right now."

Do you have any "but I" statements you could share below?

03/24/2020

When the area around you shuts down, what do you do?

You show up.

How? There is no where to go. Literally.

Show up for yourself. Show up for your family.

Showing up entails doing the things that helped anchor you before *stay at home* started.

Shower before you work from home.

Do your work out like you normally would.

Eat wholesome foods that have made you feel strong.

Show. Up.

Because when you don't show up, you let your anchors go, and then you drift and blow with however the day takes you, and that's pretty risky.

Virtual hugs and elbow bumps, I got you.

03/21/2020

“Life keeps leading us on journeys we would never go on if it were up to us.”

How is this true for you this week?

What have you found that you love? Share below-

03/20/2020

Birth brings so much uncertainty.

A new baby at home brings uncertainty.

Breastfeeding, for the first time, or for the 4th baby brings uncertainty.

Add in a big world uncertainty and it feels the brain can't process it all.

What should be a joyful time in life has this big dark shadow over it. Whispering all the things you can't have. Your mom in the L&D room, your sisters offering you sips of water at the birth center. All the things you are losing play out in your mind, in that dark shadow.

But what if in all the uncertainty, we made a list of all that is certain? A new slideshow to play during this incredibly hard time?

- The Sun rose this morning, with streaks of pink and orange across the sky.

-Your sight is intact- once that baby comes out you will see her little eyelashes, fluttering to open, and soak in your face.

-You have that rock of a support person, the one that has walked alongside you in the pregnancy, who jumped up and down with you when you found out you were pregnant, and has been there to listen to your concerns, rub your shoulders, and help you put your feet up.

What if, just for today, you stopped your mind from walking into the dark cave of uncertainty, stepped out of the dark shadow just for a bit, and imagined all you still have? Would it help, just for today?

If you need help make your list, send me a PM, I'd love to help.

03/19/2020

Hi friend. Things have changed a lot since you first took that pregnancy test. Before, it was life as usual, childbirth classes, hospital or birth center tours, baby showers scheduled, doula support lined up, and meal trains post baby ready to go. In just a couple short weeks, the landscape of the rest of your pregnancy is so different and you may be feeling like you have been handed a giant basket of zero options.

How should you meet other pregnant moms?

What about prenatal yoga that started to make you feel so good about your changing body?

What about weekly childbirth classes that were calming your mind because you were learning information about labor and delivery?

Can your doula still be a part of your labor?

What if I told you, with some creativity, you could still have these things?

What is happening right now in the world is one big circumstance, but you get to decide how you respond.
-Get in a due date pregnancy group online
-Contact your local yoga instructor to see about zoom sessions, maybe even a zoom classroom.
-CBE are going online all over the USA right now to meet the new demand.
-Your doula can support you via facetime or skype, and you can literally pick a doula from anywhere in the US now!

If you are feeling stuck, like your plan just isn't working out, send me a message and I'll help you put together a plan you can be excited about.

You can do this mama.

03/17/2020

My pregnant friends out there-

What part of the country do you live in?

Have your childbirth classes, prenatal yoga, or support group classes been canceled?

If so, are you looking for a community of pregnant gals to connect with? Basically, what do you need NOW to feel less of the social distancing impact? Tag your pregnant friends if you’re reading this but not pregnant.

Thank you!

03/10/2020

Hi Friends! I’ve been locked out of this page for four years! I’ve missed connecting with all my birth people, and clients who have turned Divine Doula into a place where moms are valued and seen for their own strength. Hit the like button and let me know you’re all still out there!

12/07/2015

Busy baby weekend! Baby boy M.D. born Friday evening with hair long enough to form a mohawk, and big shouldered J.R. born in the water Saturday evening and grabbed his mama's finger within seconds of being born. Sweet babies, sweet couples, perfect way to end the 2015 year of attending births. Now to relish in family time and be back at it in 2016! xoxo

09/23/2015

Early Tuesday morning, in the dark, a baby was born. At home, with older sister watching mom be an amazing rock star and two other siblings sleeping soundly in their rooms. I was at ALL THEIR BIRTHS! Muah girl, it's my pleasure now to be a bystander to your awesomeness. Please have a 5th! ;-)

09/17/2015

Husker Nation grew by one fan yesterday! H.G.T 6lbs 11oz and screaming "Go Big Red!" On his way into the world! Happy Birthday little one.

07/06/2015

Not even fireworks got this little girl to budge- 11 days "late" just like her older sister. Happy Birthday Baby "P."

06/29/2015

I mostly like this story because there is mention of a placenta and bees :-)

A Nevada woman who got lost in a national forest while trying to drive to her parents’ house reportedly wound up giving birth in the wilderness, where she was stranded with her newborn for three days.

05/22/2015

Find a cozy, quiet corner and indulge in Hazel's birth video! Danielle Good Photography

The beautiful, natural delivery of Hazel Maureen.

05/19/2015

I looooove placentas! Did you encapsulate yours?

05/05/2015

Birth story redemption for Hazel's mama yesterday and I was honored to be her doula a second time to bear witness to a woman respected in labor by her care provider. Happy Birthday Hazel nearly two weeks after your "expected" arrival date :)

05/03/2015

This little peanut in the size of 6 sweet pounds joined our world late yesterday afternoon!

04/02/2015

Not often I can play doula and aunt! Meet my 9lb 10oz nephew! God was good to my sister with the labor he gave her and this "little fella" was born from start to finish in less than 5 hours!

04/02/2015

Can anyone guess whose "fresh from the womb" baby feet these belong to?

03/25/2015

Earlier this week I was a part of a special babes entry into the world, and today I pack up to travel to NE to bear witness to my sister having her second little one. It's a great "World Doula Week" for me!

03/10/2015

I love working with supportive birth partners, it makes my job so fun! Crowned Photography

03/01/2015

My doula partner extraordinaire was at this birth last week and the awesome Angie Schutt Photography was there to capture the tenderness and love between this couple. This is taken just minutes after their baby girl was born

02/24/2015

Was blessed to be invited to watch this lady be born last week while the snow fell softly outside. Can you believe I've been honored to work with this sweet family three times? I have to pinch myself :)
She still needs a name, any suggestions???

01/25/2015

Who were you? Or are you her/him already?

01/07/2015

Anyone else facing this? More pills please!

I had my fourth child in August, and despite how hard it can be, I'm scared to ever say I'm done having kids. Read why, on Babble.

01/06/2015

"Because somewhere in between adding more babies, and more diapers, and more laundry, you also add more perspective. You realize there are worse things than a long night, and challenges really do pass, and tiny toes don’t stay tiny forever. You know cribs turn into beds, and strollers turn into bikes, and the chubby cheeks making fish faces today will be wearing your makeup tomorrow."

The first time a kind stranger peeked at my newborn baby and gushed, “Oh honey, treasure every second!” I almost burst into tears. Not because I was so touched, but because I was so tired. We wer...

01/06/2015

Posting for fun, as I'm 2 weeks postpartum :)

12/31/2014

I'm sentimental, I hate saying goodbye. I loved all the families that invited me to walk beside them as they brought their baby's earth side in 2014. But 2015 will be an even better year for me as a mom, wife,friend, and doula. And that makes me say "Happy NEW Year!"

12/30/2014