Birth Doula NI

13/10/2025

13/10/2025

14/06/2025

🌿 10 Weeks Pregnant • 209 Days to Go 🌿⁣
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You’ve made it to double digits! At 10 weeks, your baby is growing fast — and development is in full swing.⁣
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👶 Your little one is now about the size of a prune (around 3.1 cm long) and weighs about 4 grams. While they may still be tiny, big things are happening this week!⁣
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✨ Major organs are formed – including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. From now on, your baby will focus on maturing and growing these essential systems.⁣
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🧠 The brain is rapidly developing and producing neural connections. Every day, baby is becoming more and more capable of sensing the world around them.⁣
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👐 Tiny fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and nails are beginning to grow! Joints in elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles are now fully functional — baby can bend and move!⁣
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💓 The heartbeat is strong, beating at about 170 beats per minute — almost twice as fast as yours! Some parents may be lucky enough to see or hear it via early ultrasound.⁣
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🌱 And here’s a milestone: The yolk sac is saying goodbye. This week, the placenta takes over in nourishing and protecting your baby, taking the lead role in hormone production and oxygen delivery.⁣
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🤰 Emotionally, this can be a tender week. You may feel more connected — or more exhausted. You’re building life from scratch. That’s sacred work.⁣
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💡 Did you know? Your uterus has doubled in size and is now about the size of a grapefruit. You may begin to notice subtle changes in your body — a slight bump, fuller breasts, or increased fatigue.⁣
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📝 Gentle tip: This is a great time to start journaling, connecting with your bump, and considering support for your journey — doulas, antenatal classes, or simply someone to listen.⁣
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You are doing incredible things — even when it feels like you're just resting.⁣
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With love,

Your gentle guide through pregnancy, birth, and beyond 💗⁣
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09/06/2025

✨Let the Magic Happen — No Hat Needed!✨

Did you know your baby’s head is more than just soft and kissable? It’s a powerful communicator. Newborns release pheromones—natural chemical signals—through the top of their heads, especially during those first precious hours after birth. 👶👃

According to research published in journals like Nature and Frontiers in Psychology, these pheromones stimulate regions of the adult brain linked to bonding, love, and caregiving. They also trigger the release of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which plays a huge role in attachment and breastfeeding.

✨ So why does this matter?

Because when a baby’s head is covered with a hat, that scent—those signals—can be blocked. This may interfere with natural bonding and the let-down reflex needed for breastfeeding. Leaving the head uncovered during skin-to-skin contact helps the mother’s (or birth partner’s) brain receive those messages fully and instinctively.

👩‍⚕️ Today, many midwives, doulas, and neonatal experts recommend delaying or skipping the hat during uninterrupted skin-to-skin unless there’s a clear medical need. Even WHO and UNICEF guidelines on newborn care highlight skin-to-skin for warmth and bonding, without insisting on a hat.

🌡️ And yes—baby will still be warm! If the room is cozy and your baby is snuggled skin-to-skin with a blanket over their back, your body naturally regulates their temperature.

🌸 These small, intuitive choices make a huge difference. So when your baby arrives, let that beautiful scent linger. Let your body recognize your baby. Let the bond deepen—hat-free and heart-full.

06/06/2025

Your baby is growing, and so much is changing inside your body — even if it’s not visible on the outside just yet. ✨

At 10 weeks, your little one is now about the size of a kumquat or a strawberry, and already has tiny limbs, fingers, toes, and facial features forming beautifully. The most amazing part? Those little arms can now bend at the elbow! 🤲

But there’s another incredible milestone happening this week, one that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves:
🌸 The placenta is starting to take over.

Up until now, your baby’s nourishment has been coming from the yolk sac — a small, temporary structure that acts like a mini-lifeline in early pregnancy. But this week, your placenta begins to fully step into its role, slowly taking over the job of delivering oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to your baby, and removing waste.

This shift marks a new stage of stability in your pregnancy. The placenta is like a temporary organ your body builds from scratch — just for this baby — and it's a powerhouse of connection and protection.

💡 Fun Fact: The placenta even makes pregnancy hormones like progesterone and hCG, supporting the pregnancy and your emotional well-being too.

You might feel:
🌬️ A little more breathless
🧠 Extra dreamy or forgetful (hello, pregnancy brain!)
💫 Or maybe you’re still waiting to feel "pregnant" at all — and that’s normal too.

Every pregnancy is different. If you’re feeling tired, queasy, or overwhelmed — be gentle with yourself. Your body is doing sacred work, even on the quiet days.

🫶 This is a beautiful time to begin journaling, bonding, and dreaming. Start talking to your baby. Start visualising your birth. Start surrounding yourself with stories, people, and support that uplift you.

The journey has only just begun, and already — you are doing an amazing job. 💗

With love,
Ana Maria H
Birth Doula NI

28/05/2025

✨ What a beautiful day at Belfast Works Connect in East Belfast! ✨

Today I had the privilege of facilitating a workshop on Understanding Labour and Childbirth as a birth doula and founder of Birth Doula NI. I want to extend my heartfelt thank you to every single person who attended — your openness, presence, and participation made the space feel warm, empowering, and deeply meaningful. 💗

We explored the incredible design of the birthing body, the powerful hormones at play, stages of labour, birth preferences, and most importantly, how to feel confident and supported during the journey to birth. I’m still reflecting on the honest conversations, the thoughtful questions, and the sense of community that was built in just a couple of hours.

I am so grateful for the kind feedback I received. Hearing that you left feeling “more prepared,” “empowered,” and “seen” means the world to me. This is why I do what I do. Your birth matters. Your story matters. And you don’t have to walk it alone.

Whether you’re preparing for your first baby, walking beside someone you love, or simply curious about how birth really unfolds — this is a space for you. 🌸

Thank you again to Belfast Works Connect for hosting and supporting this vital conversation. Let’s continue to create spaces that inform, uplift, and celebrate the sacred transition into parenthood.

With gratitude and love,
Ana Maria Husanu
Founder of Birth Doula NI

21/05/2025

211 Days to Go – A Look at NIPT for Down Syndrome 🌱

If you’re in your first trimester and planning your antenatal care, you might have come across something called the NIPT – or Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing.

So what is it? And why is it offered?

✨ What is NIPT?
NIPT is a simple blood test that looks at fragments of your baby’s DNA that are circulating in your bloodstream. It's done as early as 10 weeks and screens for the likelihood of chromosomal conditions, including Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18), and Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13).

It’s called non-invasive because it doesn’t involve any risk to your baby – just a regular blood draw from your arm. Unlike older tests that required amniocentesis, NIPT poses no miscarriage risk.

💡 Why is it done?
It helps parents prepare. NIPT doesn’t diagnose, but it gives a very accurate risk estimate – especially for Down Syndrome. If the result comes back “high chance,” further diagnostic tests (like CVS or amniocentesis) may be offered for confirmation.

💛 What happens next?
It’s totally up to you. Some families choose to test for peace of mind. Others may decide to decline testing altogether. There’s no “right” or “wrong” path – only what feels right for your values, faith, and family.

🎗️ A Note on Compassion
Down Syndrome is not a tragedy – it’s a life, a journey, and a story of its own. NIPT isn’t about “fixing” anything — it’s about being informed, supported, and empowered to walk the road ahead with compassion and confidence.

🤝 Your Choice Matters
If you’re unsure about testing, ask questions. Speak with your midwife, a trusted doula, or support organisations. Your decisions in pregnancy should always be made with kindness and care – for both you and your baby.

You're doing amazing, mama 💫

📅 211 days to go… and every step matters.

15/05/2025

✨ 212 days to go... and already, your baby is learning to love the sound of your voice, the rhythm of your heart, and the warmth of your body. ✨

As your baby grows and your connection deepens, now is a beautiful time to begin preparing for one of the most powerful early bonding experiences after birth: Kangaroo Care — also known as skin-to-skin contact.

👶🏽 What is Kangaroo Care?
It’s the simple yet incredible practice of holding your naked baby (diaper only) against your bare chest. It’s warmth. It’s safety. It’s love in its rawest form.

🤱🏼 Why is it so important?

Regulates your baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing

Boosts oxytocin for both you and baby (that’s the love hormone!)

Reduces crying and stress — helps your baby transition earthside

Supports early breastfeeding success

Deepens bonding between you and your baby (and partners can do it too!)

Even for babies born via C-section or in NICU, skin-to-skin has been shown to support better outcomes, healing, and attachment. It’s more than a cuddle — it’s biological connection at work. 💛

🌿 But why talk about this now, at 212 days to go?
Because preparing for your birth isn’t just about your hospital bag or knowing the stages of labour — it’s also about planning for those first sacred moments after your baby is born.

Knowing the benefits of kangaroo care in advance helps you build it into your birth preferences, speak to your care provider about it, and feel confident to ask for it — even if things don’t go exactly to plan.

Your baby will arrive already wired for connection — and so are you.
Let’s start preparing for that first embrace now.

You’re doing beautifully. You’re growing a whole human. And you're growing into a mother too. 🌸

💬 Have you heard of Kangaroo Care before? Is it something you’d like to include in your birth plan? Let’s talk below ⬇️

05/05/2025

✨ Double the Kicks, Double the Love? ✨
Have you ever had a strong instinct that you might be carrying twins? You’re not alone — many mums describe a unique sense early on that something extra special is happening inside their belly. And while your intuition is powerful, let’s look at the numbers too. 💛

In 2025, twin pregnancies are more common than you might think — thanks to both nature and science:

👶 Twin Birth Rate in the UK: Approximately 14.4 per 1,000 pregnancies, which means around 1 in every 69 pregnancies results in twins. That’s a lot of double love walking (or waddling!) around. 💫

👵 Maternal Age: Women aged 35–39 have an even higher chance — about 1 in 57 pregnancies are twins in this group. Why? As we age, our ovaries can release more than one egg during ovulation. Double eggs = double babies! 🎯

🧪 Fertility Treatments: IVF and assisted reproductive technologies have also increased twin rates over recent years. These treatments often involve the transfer of more than one embryo, which raises the odds of multiples.

So, if you’re feeling extra tired, growing faster than expected, or having stronger pregnancy symptoms — it’s not always twins, but sometimes... it just might be. 💕

🤰 Twin pregnancies often come with unique joys and challenges — from early scans and extra monitoring, to planning for two newborns. But you don’t have to walk this path alone.

As your doula, I’m here to support you every step of the way — with faith, evidence-based knowledge, and encouragement for your beautiful and unique journey. Whether it’s one baby or two — your story is worthy of gentle care and powerful love.

💛 Double the kicks. Double the hiccups. Double the grace.
You’ve got this, mama. And I’ve got you.

02/05/2025

214 Days to Go — Your Little Miracle Is Growing Wonderfully! 🌱
✨ 9 Weeks Pregnant ✨

Can you believe it? Just a few weeks ago, your baby was a tiny collection of cells… and now they’re starting to look more and more like a miniature human! 🥹💛

At this stage in your pregnancy:

👶 Your baby is about the size of a grape — around 2.3–2.5 cm long and weighing just under 2 grams. Tiny, but mighty!

🧠 The brain is growing rapidly, forming millions of neurons that will eventually help your little one think, feel, and move.

💓 The heart is beating strongly — and it’s already pumping blood through their little body at about 170 beats per minute. That’s almost twice as fast as yours!

👃 Facial features are taking shape — tiny eyelids, a little nose, and even an upper lip have formed.

🖐️ Fingers and toes are now visible, and they’re starting to lose their webbing. Joints like elbows and knees are beginning to function, allowing baby to bend and stretch!

🧡 Your baby is moving! Though you can’t feel it just yet, those first tiny twitches are happening inside the womb — a silent, beautiful dance of life.

As your doula, I want to remind you that every heartbeat, every little movement, and every change is part of a sacred story — your story. You are creating and sustaining life, and that’s nothing short of a miracle. 🌸

💕 If you're wondering what’s next or need support during this trimester, I’m here for you. Let’s walk this beautiful journey together.

29/04/2025

At 9 weeks pregnant, your baby is developing faster than ever…
💥 Muscles are forming — and baby is starting to wiggle
🦴 Tiny bones are beginning to grow
🎧 The inner ear is forming — the building blocks of hearing
🖐️ Their fingertips? Already there — complete with tiny ridges that will become fingerprints
🫀 Heart, brain, lungs — all forming their complex networks

Even though they’re only about 2.5 cm long, your baby is already uniquely them."

🌟 Every week brings new wonders. You’re doing amazing, mama. 🤍

18/04/2025

"Born in Love. Reborn in Hope." 🌿
Birth is sacred.
It’s raw, holy ground — where your pain and purpose meet.
Where your body stretches beyond limits…
And your soul finds strength you didn’t know you had.

As Easter approaches, you might feel the deeper echoes —
of sacrifice, surrender, and overwhelming love.
Because your journey into motherhood?
It mirrors that story.

You may walk your own garden of Gethsemane in labour.
You may feel afraid, tired, undone.
But you are never alone.
God is with you — in every contraction, in every breath, in every moment of surrender.
He carries you through.

🌸 You’re not just birthing a baby.
You’re being reborn as a mother.
And it’s love that fuels it all —
Love that lays down, love that rises again.

This Easter, remember:
You were made for this.
You are held by grace.
And your sacrifice — your strength — is not unseen.

🤍 He who overcame the grave is right there with you.
And from your pain, new life will rise.