Onēsan Labor Doula + Birth Photography -By Erica Curtis

19/04/2026

19/04/2026

🩸✨ Breast milk is made from blood — not directly from what you eat.

Your body pulls from your bloodstream to create milk that’s perfectly designed for your baby. Most newborn gas is normal, and diet usually only matters if there’s a true protein allergy or intolerance.

Evidence matters. So does reassurance.

19/04/2026

A 2025 study published in AJOG adds powerful, up-to-date data showing associations between doula care and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.

Key Maternal Outcomes:

More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC): For every 100 patients who received doula care, there were 15 to 34 additional VBACs compared with those without doula care.

Higher postpartum follow-up attendance: 5 to 6 more per 100 received postpartum office visits.

Key Neonatal / Infant Outcomes

Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates: Babies whose families had doula support were more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

Fewer preterm births (and early preterm births): Doula-supported births showed a reduction in preterm birth rates.

In short, the study links doula care with improvements in birth outcomes — across birth mode (more VBACs), infant health (less prematurity), and early infant care (breastfeeding, postpartum follow-up).

Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2025/11/evidence-for-doulas-new-ajog-study-finds-doulas-improve-outcomes/

14/04/2026

Mark your calendars!!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CAVfCEZRd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/04/2026

The CHILDBIRTH PROGRAM WAS EXTENDED!! They have had to see something to extend it for ANOTHER 5 years!!!! This is providing insight to the importance and impact doulas have. This is going to be such a blessing for many families!

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/10/2026-06913/extension-of-the-tricare-childbirth-and-breastfeeding-support-demonstration?fbclid=IwdGRleARGI3lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe22njji-VmpuLkpQ1hQsX2f29gUcWRopAnnPDxHjxFZIXak_EKT0QnelpQJA_aem_1TdxNnd3RruyB_7x8fxrOg

The Department will extend the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) by five years. The Department is also soliciting comments on the CBSD and its potential integration into the TRICARE Basic benefit. The comment period will end 30 days after the publication of this notice....

05/04/2026

For those wondering why they are still needed to be up and moving during all stages of labor, this is why!

04/04/2026

❤️❤️❤️

April is cesarean awareness month. Giving birth via a c-section is not easy! As doulas, we understand the sacrifice parents make when they must have a surgical birth to safely bring their babies earthside.

Why awareness? Because it is important people understand how transformative birth is, including c-section birth.

All birth has the potential to be positive and empowering, including c-section birth. This is why prenatal support and birth doula support are still important for c-section parents.

One of our instructors, is supporting a scheduled c-section client today.

27/03/2026

Let your baby finish one breast before offering the other.

Swithing back and forth from one breast to the other prevents the baby from getting the nutritious “hind mik”- milk release later during breastfeeding

The “fore milk”- milk release at the beginning of feeding- has more water and satisfies the baby’s thirt. The “hind milk” has more fat and satisfies your baby’s hunger

26/03/2026

Did you know…? 👀✨
Studies suggest that eating 6 dates a day in the final weeks of pregnancy may support labour by helping with dilation, shortening the first stage, and reducing the likelihood of a C-section 🤍

Of course, every pregnancy is different — but it’s definitely an interesting one to add to your list 👀✨

22/03/2026

👩‍⚕️ Is it better to see the same midwife or a small team of midwives throughout pregnancy and labour?

Evidence from 17 studies involving 18,533 randomized women was included in this updated systematic review.

Women or their babies who received midwife continuity of care models (seeing the same midwife or team of midwives) were:

⚕️ Less likely to experience a caesarean section or instrumental birth with forceps or a ventouse suction cup.

⚕️May be less likely to experience an episiotomy (a cut made by a healthcare professional into the perineum and vaginal wall).

⚕️More likely to experience spontaneous vaginal birth.

⚕️Reported more positive experiences during pregnancy, labour, and postpartum.

⚕️Additionally, there were cost savings in the antenatal (care during pregnancy) and intrapartum (care during labour and birth) period.

Further evidence may change our results, and future research should focus on the impact on women with social risk factors and those with medical complications, and understanding the implementation and scaling up of midwife continuity of care models, with emphasis on low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Read the full Cochrane review: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub6/full

22/03/2026

According to the March of Dimes 2025 US report card:

"In 2024, nearly 380,000 babies were born preterm—1 in 10 births—placing the US among the highest rates in developed nations. Progress is not reaching the families who need it most."

"For the fourth consecutive year, the United States earned a D+ grade for preterm birth, marking the longest stretch of the lowest grade in Report Card history."

Less than 8 US states earned A and B reports. The US is failing our most vulnerable women and children.

We cannot emphasize enough that doulas are bandaids on the massive wound that is US health care. We aid in improving outcomes for each of our clients but we are not the solution, neither is the responsibility ours.

Nonetheless, a 2024 study found doula support was associated with a 29% lower risk of preterm birth. Why?

It's likely multifaceted but doula care is often associated with:

✨️ Education about risk factors, red flag symptoms, and ways to reduce risks around a variety of pregnancy complications
✨️ Encouragement to attend all prenatal care appointments
✨️ Continuity of support and encouragement of advocacy - if something feels off, you deserve appropriate care!
✨️ Reminding parents of their rights during pregnancy and labor

Not all cases of preterm labor can be prevented and we don't always know why a preterm labor occurs. However, there are things we can do, when families have access to proper medical care, to reduce the risk of preterm labor. Some ways to reduce risk include:

✨️ Adequate prenatal care
✨️ Continuity of care with midwives
✨️ Continuity of care with an OB
✨️ Addressing any signs of and treating UTIs
✨️ Adequate support, including nutrition support, for parents with hyperemesis gravidarum
✨️ Educating parents and providing screening for risk of cervical insufficiency and treating it
✨️ Establishing care in the first trimester
✨️ Proper support for managing gestational diabetes
✨️ Monitoring blood pressure and signs of preeclampsia

If your response to this is, "but doesn't everyone already have access to those things?" unfortunately, no. Many disparities in care exist.