Cari McCutcheon Doula

08/01/2021

I haven’t posted to my doula account for a while because I’ve been taking time to focus on my family and community.

Recently I started working again. Though I’m not headed back into the birth world anytime soon, I’m providing support to the birthing community with my pregnancy and postpartum herbal products.

They’ll be listed on my Etsy store soon, but in the meantime follow me over .officinalis for updates 💗

Wishing you all the best!

23/07/2020

I’ve made the decision to continue my break from birth work.
I was so privileged to attend a beautiful birth as my last for the foreseeable future.
I want to focus on my family and my own internal work for now.
Sending love to all the birthing people 💗

11/06/2020

***if you know the OP of this photo please let me know so I can give credit!

I haven’t posted on my doula account in quite a while. My silence on this page has not been intentional. I stand with my BIPOC brother and sisters. I have seen first hand the racial injustice that happens to birthing people of color and it HAS to change!
Birth work is political, We must stand together to be the change we seek. ❤️✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿❤️

16/04/2020

Yesss!!!!
There is nothing “indecent” about breastfeeding 🤱🏻
If you don’t like it, don’t look.
These mamas are already stressed and doing their best to take care of their babes.
Be kind.

15/04/2020

I haven’t been posting on social media much lately. ⁣
The current state of the world has shaken me hard. ⁣
This new way of living has me feeling lost. ⁣
It’s hard for someone in my job, one usually filled with joy and excitement, to instead be one of uncertainty and trepidation. ⁣
⁣
Having to take extra care to stay healthy, not just for myself and my family, but for clients and their new families, for the nurses and doctors and midwives I come in contact with and their families.⁣
Instead of being able to touch and embrace clients, having to speak to them through a screen. ⁣
⁣
I go through periods of sadness and fear and anger. I go through periods of gratitude and joy and love. I miss the way it was but I’m still trying to stay positive and hopeful for the future. ⁣
⁣
I’ve taken solace in throwing myself into my herbalist studies and have been meditating and tending to my root chakra to help keep myself grounded. I invite you to do the same. ⁣
⁣
I wish you safety and health as we wait this out: separate, but together.

02/04/2020

Because sexual health is important...

25/03/2020

I see you birthing people. I feel your anxiety. I hold space and pray for peace in your heart. May these words bring you comfort ❤️

・・・
We love the way blog is honoring the reality of what it looks like to birth in this season. To all the families navigating this, we hear you and support you. We encourage you to try this fear-acknowledgement-affirmation sequence if you feel it will be helpful. 💜💜💜

18/03/2020

I wasn’t originally going to post this blog, I wanted to save it for a while. ⁣
⁣
But, as the current state of the world has me feeling a bit stressed and blue. I’ve been using these tips to help me and thought maybe they could help you. ⁣
⁣
A sample of tips are:⁣
• Get Some Sun - whether it’s in your backyard or just opening the blinds let the sun shine in. ⁣
⁣
• Do a Yoga/Workout Video on Youtube- I’ve really been loving and have always been a fan. ⁣
⁣
• Have a Hot Beverage - I’m a coffee lover but I won’t shun a nice cup of tea or lemon water when the occasion calls for it. ⁣
⁣..find more on the blog (https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/simple-self-care-for-anxiety-and-depression) and check out my mental health highlight for new ideas every Thursday. ⁣
⁣
Sending you love and light in these times of uncertainty. ⁣
⁣
Let me know what other simple, cheap/free, at home self-care ideas you have ❤️⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

14/03/2020

Hey y’all!

It’s been decided that for the health and safety of all our expectant parents and local doulas that the doula share will be cancelled.

Wishing you health ❤️

11/03/2020

This captured moment made my breath catch in my throat. ⁣
⁣
The supportive birth partner. ⁣
⁣
The birthing person completely in their element. ⁣
⁣
I have said it before and will say it again and again. ⁣
⁣
When we support women in labor we unlock a secret strength within them that cannot be compared to anything else in this world. ⁣
⁣
⁣
・・・⁣
Be less willing to tell women how painful birth is and be more willing to tell them how strong they are 💪🏻❤️⁣⁣

10/03/2020

New blog up today on what to pack in your labor go-bag.
I always suggest having a bag packed whether you're birthing at Home, the Birth Center, or at the Hospital.
This list is simple and concise and I even added a FREE printable PDF to make it even easier on you.
https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/what-to-pack-in-your-labor-bag

09/03/2020

This photo is one of my favorites from my dancing days. ⁣⁣📸:
⁣⁣
In this image I was around 12-16 weeks pregnant with my 3rd daughter and had just started my birth doula journey (I had actually been at my first birth the night before)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I was a professional burlesque dancer for 6 years and used it as a platform to take back the autonomy that was stolen from me by sexual trauma I experienced in my youth. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Lately my spirit has been feeling so lit up.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I’ve been so inspired by the women I follow and know personally. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I love seeing women come into and claim their power. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I love seeing mothers refuse to be sorted into a Madonna vs W***e box. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I love seeing women taking back their sexuality and owning it as something they are intrinsically connected to. ⁣⁣
Not something that is shameful or dirty. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Keep on being sexy mamas, I see you ❤️⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
💕

07/03/2020

Mark your calendars folks 📆
Meet Me!
Meet Other Local Doulas!
Take a Couple Free Classes!

04/03/2020

Yesss!!!! I love nettles! An essential herb for every home.

How to prepare a nettle infusion to maximize health benefits during pregnancy and postpartum. Nettle infusions are a nutrient-dense herbal supplement that can be enjoyed throughout a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. Reduce hair loss, lower blood pressure, reduce risk of hemorrhage, ease labo

04/03/2020

I was reading a book to my children today.⁣
⁣
In it the demigod Hanuman told a story about how he was cursed by priests to not remember how strong or powerful he was until someone reminded him. ⁣
⁣
He then added “sometimes I wonder if it is a curse that we are all under at some point or another.”⁣
⁣
Of course my doula brain immediately correlated this idea to birthing people. ⁣
⁣
So here is your reminder! You are a Divine, Strong, Powerful Being. ⁣Never forget!
⁣
(P.S. the book I’m referencing is Aru Shah and the End of Time 📖 )⁣
.capturingbirth⁣
・・・⁣
She ebbed and flowed. She stretched... and arched... and opened. She learnt how to surrender ✨⁣⁣

02/03/2020

I love the show Good Girls. I’ve watched the 1st and 2nd seasons multiple times and was so excited to hear a 3rd season was coming out. ⁣
I was watching the newest episode when one of the character’s moms said this line. ⁣
⁣
Wow! It was like a punch to the gut. It didn’t seem to be a big part of the episode, but as a birth worker and a survivor of postpartum depression, to hear a show speaking so candidly about postpartum in a way so many of us can relate to was powerful. ⁣
⁣
It’s one step towards Normalization. ⁣
⁣
Towards realizing that women (birthing people) are not just birthing babies, they are birthing mothers (parents).⁣
⁣
Mothers (Parents) who still need care and support and love, even once baby is earth side. ⁣
⁣
Towards ridding our society of the stigma surrounding postpartum mental health. ⁣
⁣
Once you release people of the shame a stigma can bring they are free to get help without fear of negative repercussions. ⁣
⁣
Though this may have not been the point of the discussion happening in this episode, those words hit me hard and made me want to share. ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

26/02/2020

When some look at this picture they may see an idyllic moment between mother and child. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A time out from the hustle and bustle of the world for connection and nourishment. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
When I look back at this photo though, I see a mom who was drowning in the depths of depression, who was hanging on to nursing with every ounce of strength she had because it was the only thing that made her feel like a somewhat decent mom. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A mom who was recovering emotionally, mentally and physically from a traumatic experience. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is the only picture I have of me nursing my youngest daughter. My last baby. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
While some may only see beauty, and though I truly wish that’s all I could see too. I know what was really happening behind the scenes. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I wrote a blog yesterday (https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/when-breastfeeding-is-awful) about “What to do When Breastfeeding is Awful.” ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I hope it reaches someone who may need to hear what I too needed to hear ❤️⁣
⁣
What are some of your suggestions to moms who are having a hard time with breastfeeding?

25/02/2020

New blog up today about what to do when breastfeeding is not going the way you thought it would.

https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/when-breastfeeding-is-awful

We’ve all heard the stories and seen the photos. A beautiful mother gazing lovingly at their tiny bundle as they gently nurse them. The hashtags of and . For some of us though, that’s just not what our breastfeeding reality is. It isn’t an idyllic moment between us and...

24/02/2020

⁣
Recently shared a blog post from Dr. Nathan Riley, an OBGYN. ⁣
In it he goes over the frustrations he’s been feeling as a practicing obstetrician. ⁣
The whole article is so passionately written, but the pictured quote stood out to me.⁣
⁣
This is what gets me so fired up in birth work. ⁣
I’m so frustrated that a natural process has become a science experiment, a medical condition, an emergency. ⁣
⁣
I love that we have hospitals and surgery available for the times where it is medically necessary. I myself would be DEAD if it weren’t for these services. ⁣
⁣
I’m not anti-medicine. ⁣
I’m anti-administrative pressure. ⁣
I’m anti-“let me make this easier on me, your birth experience be damned.”⁣
⁣
I’ve worked with so many OBs who have “allowed” the birthing person to be in whatever position they wanted, caught babies on the floor, squatted next to the birthing parent. ⁣
Those births are MAGICAL! ⁣
⁣
I’ve also been to way too many births where the birthing person is forced into pushing on her back and an episiotomy “to make more room”. ⁣
Where nurses are yelling “PUSH” and there are at least 6 other people from all different areas of specialty gawking at my client at the most transformative part of their life.⁣
Births where my hands have been ripped out of a crying, obviously distressed mother’s hands because I “wasn’t allowed to be in the room when she received her epidural.” ⁣
⁣
It’s nauseating and completely unnecessary in the majority of cases. ⁣
I’m glad to see a doctor coming out and saying what so many of us are seeing, thinking, feeling. ⁣
We need a huge shift in the way we view birth and birthing people and the more we talk about it, the more changes I believe we’ll see.⁣
⁣
One Birth At A Time.

22/02/2020

The love between siblings is the most beautiful bond.
I love seeing new brothers and sisters meet each other for the first time.
When my oldest met my youngest for the first time she squealed with delight she was so excited!

・・・
It's so true when they say, "The days are long, but the years are short..." Can't believe Flo is already ❤
Kai is so sweet and gentle with his sis - you can see the love in his eyes 😍 it truly is so beautiful to witness their love blossom 🌱🌻

21/02/2020

Meeting their baby sister for the first time. 💕⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I can still remember so clearly the squeal of joy that came out of my oldest daughter when she set eyes on her newest sister. ⁣⁣
Her eyes twinkled with joy and she was immediately in love. ⁣⁣
She’s been a second lil mama ever since. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
My middle kid however...⁣⁣
she was not quite as thrilled. ⁣⁣
She was like alright that’s cool, but she’s loud, smells weird and takes all of your attention so I don’t like her so much. ⁣⁣
They have since become great friends but it took almost a year. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
How have your kids reacted to a new sibling? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What concerns do you have about introducing a new sibling?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
📸 by ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
❤️

20/02/2020

This shirt right here is EVERYTHING!⁣
⁣
This shirt helps supports a badass local birth worker and mama on her journey to becoming a Midwife. You can buy this shirt or one of her other awesome offerings. ⁣
⁣
So many of us white women and birth workers see the injustice happening in the birth world to POC. We know that there are systemic reasons that there are so few black birth workers. ⁣
⁣
We may feel lost as to what we can do. It can be pretty simple. Support them with your $$$$. Buy their merch! Donate to their gofundme! Be the change y’all!⁣
⁣
We moms need support and community. ⁣
We need to have each other’s backs. ⁣
We need to lift each other up. ⁣
It starts with us!⁣
⁣
⁣

19/02/2020

I’ve seen a lot of posts about informed consent making their way through social media lately... and I LOVE IT! ⁣
⁣
If us screaming from the rooftops will actually make a difference, then fine, I have 3 kids, trust I can yell loud enough!⁣
⁣
With all the unknowns and changes birthing people go through in pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum the EASIEST and most IMPACTFUL thing care providers can do is to simply respect that this person is a HUMAN. ⁣
⁣
To realize that they SHOULD have a say in their childbirth journey. ⁣
⁣
That they have opinions on what is done to their body. ⁣
⁣
That they are not a science project or another day at the office. ⁣
⁣
When a person is in labor they are not incapable of giving consent, they do not need to be treated like children. ⁣
⁣
They need CHOICES, FACTS, and RESPECT. Period. ⁣
⁣
I posted a blog on my website yesterday discussing in more depth what you need to know about informed consent. https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/informed-consent
•
•
•

19/02/2020

INFORMED CONSENT! What you need to know.

https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/informed-consent

You’ve heard the term “informed consent” before, but what does it mean for your pregnancy, labor, and delivery?

17/02/2020

This Is Everything! Feed those babies! Everyone else “Mind Your Own Tits!”


・・・
“Waited 6 hours in line for tickets. You know Cruz was hungry! My sweatshirt from said it all 😊🤱🏽⁣”

16/02/2020

WOW! The beauty of this image takes my breath away. The vocalizing mama, the supportive partner, the affirmations... all of this is just idyllic 😍


・・・
Birth is hard. That is why part of it is called “labor”. This mama worked so hard for her labor. She persevered, surrounded by her birth team. She fought her fears and overcame them. At one point we mentioned we needed a miracle for this baby to be born at home, and man did we get the miracle. The mental game is so strong during birth and this birth was the epitome of redemption ✨❤️

14/02/2020

Happy Valentines Day!⁣
⁣
Enjoy all the Oxytocin 🥰⁣
⁣
Here’s a throwback photo of my mister and me when I was pregnant with Luna (8 years old now)⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

13/02/2020

So much love captured in this one image ❤️😍🥰


・・・
Omg we’re parents 😧😂😍 .
Mel & Hannah (both she/her) are farmers in Vancouver, BC who have recently had twins. From my series, Fertile Ground: an exploration and reimagining of fertility, abundance and making family. You can find out more about this project in my highlights.
Photo made on the traditional unceded land of the Musqeaum people. Image description: a series of three photos of two new parents, one lying in bed holding one of their new babies while the other looks on, then laughs and then they are kissing in the third.

12/02/2020

Can we just pause for a moment to take in all this beauty and love 😍💕


・・・
Let’s just Appreciate the melanin and natural ShapeUp this baby was born with 😍😆

11/02/2020

New Blog up this morning....

https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/what-to-say-instead-of-good-job

When our partner is in labor sometimes all we can think to say is “Good Job”. Here are 15 other phrases you can use to verbally support your partner in labor.

11/02/2020

When a woman is in labor, she needs reminding that she is capable of traveling this intense road. While one “good job” may not be annoying or offensive, if that’s the only thing you’re saying for HOURS of labor… chances are, it’s going to get old FAST!⁣
⁣
I posted a blog today with a list of 15 things you can say instead. ⁣

https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/what-to-say-instead-of-good-job
⁣
Here are 5: ⁣
“You are so strong”⁣
“Your body knows what to do”⁣
“You have this”⁣
“Let that contraction go”⁣
“I love you”⁣
⁣
Any of these remind your birthing partner that they are capable, strong, loved, and that their body is doing what it’s naturally made to do.

10/02/2020

Any home-birthers our there want to share your experience?

https://www.vox.com/2020/2/10/21131161/home-birth-insurance-finances

What drives women in America to have babies at home rather than in a hospital or birth center?

10/02/2020

I have followed this mama’s YouTube channel for YEARS, I’ve seen struggle on the path to motherhood. This picture right here brought tears to my eyes! Look at that face of “OMG, I just did it?!?!”
That’s my favorite part of birth, the amazement in the birthing person’s eyes when they realize what they just accomplished!

・・・
God is so good 😩🙌🏻 Our labor & delivery vlog is now live on my YouTube channel....The link is in my bio ❤️❤️❤️

10/02/2020

I cannot get over how darling this sweet squish is! Throwin a duce ✌️


・・・
“PEACE”

07/02/2020

I love this shirt by so much I had to put it on straight out of the mail and selfie in my backyard! ⁣
⁣
There are few virtues in this life I hold higher than 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭. ⁣
Nothing will get me more heated than seeing blatant disrespect for others, ESPECIALLY in terms of the birth world. ⁣
⁣
Respect that every person and birth is different.
Respect cultural traditions.
Educate on all available options.
Trust people’s choices. ⁣
Period. ⁣
⁣
Being sensitive and respectful of these truths is of the utmost importance. Negating them is negating people’s very existence. Trust people to choose the right options for them.

06/02/2020

So, I made a switch... I’m now officially a Tiny Love Certified Doula!

I’ve been a certified doula through DONA and my re-certification period was coming up but I decided to change who my certification is through.

05/02/2020

This. This is the 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. ⁣⁣
Security in my body, security in my environment, security in my birth team. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I come from a history of trauma. ⁣⁣
Emotional, physical, sexual, birth....⁣⁣
I’ve tread a rough road. Here though, in this captured moment, at 8 cm, right at the precipice of transition...⁣⁣
⁣
There was no fear. ⁣⁣
There was no armor. ⁣⁣
There was no guard. ⁣⁣
I didn’t need it. ⁣⁣
⁣
I was familiar with my surroundings. I knew my doula, husband and midwife team had me. ⁣⁣
I knew no one was going to hurt me, ⁣⁣
or pressure me, ⁣⁣
or rob me of my autonomy. ⁣⁣
I was protected.
⁣
This moment is why I’m a doula. I want every birthing person to know what true security feels like. How 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 birth without fear can be. ⁣⁣
⁣
Trauma is a force, but no force is greater than a completely supported birthing person.⁣⁣
📸:

04/02/2020

New Blog Up Today.
https://www.carimccutcheon.com/blog/why-hire-a-doula

Should you hire a doula? In short, Yes. Yes you should. But why?

03/02/2020

Did you know that you don’t have to fear birth? ⁣
Did you know that birth can be enjoyable? ⁣
That birth can be a moment in time you look back on with a smile instead of a cringe?⁣
⁣
What a disservice our society does to birthing people, teaching them of pain and damage, but not of the ecstasy and enjoyment. ⁣
⁣
Enter your birth with education, not ignorance.⁣
Arm yourself with affirmations, not anxiety.⁣
Surround yourself with support, not stricture.⁣
⁣
You are more capable than you could ever imagine.