Baby Steps Birthing Services

03/31/2023

The Butterfly Effect is real.

9 years ago, a family friend connected me with a job at a real estate firm. At the time I didn’t really have a long term goal. I got placed in a shared office with this amazing woman who gave me permission to share our story.

At the time, Frankie and her wife were expecting twins who came far too early. Thankfully, these miracles are still with us today. Although we hadn’t known each other long, I felt drawn to Frankie as a person and she confided a lot in me. I didn’t think about why I felt so compelled to support her other than she was an amazing mom going through a hard time and wanted her babies to live.

Over the years, Frankie and I both moved on from that job but stayed in touch. About 5 years ago, we ended up in a new real estate job together, and it was as if no time had passed. I talked with her about how my daughter was in Early Intervention and it was something I was interested in pursuing. Without hesitation, she told me that working with families was exactly what I was meant to do. Her belief in me ultimately helped me decide to pursue my calling.

Throughout the entire process Frankie lifted me up and supported me. Today, as I look back on the last 9 years, I realize that all of these tiny little moments set me on a path of being the change I want to see in the world. I had experienced a profound Butterfly Effect, and Frankie was my butterfly.

Today, on my last day in commercial real estate, she reminded me that heart work was always my calling, how proud she was of me, and validated everything that I have worked so hard for. As I move forward into my future in Early Intervention and Birth Work, I want to recognize and thank Frankie for setting my life in motion and encouraging me through every step. And I want to share with you that these moments may seem small, but they can have such a lasting and positive impact.

Sometimes the path to pursuing your dreams is just waiting for a push in the right direction. Here is to a lifetime of gratitude for Frankie and other butterflies like her who make a difference every day, whether or not they know it.

10/28/2022

5 years ago today, my life was forever changed by this wonderful human being. At 9pm, arrived at my home after I had been laboring for an hour and said it’s time to go. Less than 3 hours later, she looked me in the eye and said “You are about to meet your baby” as I gave my last push and welcomed my first baby into the world. It was her amazing care that showed me how much birth and postpartum support is needed and valued. It was her amazing care that helped me realize my own calling. There are people who are in your life for a season, and then there are some that stay with you forever, whether physically or in spirit. I’m lucky to still have Jaelan in my life supporting and guiding me through my journey in supporting other families. I know she will read this at some point and I hope as she does she realizes what a tremendous impact she has and how she has changed lives, mine included.

07/09/2022

Hands down one of the best parts of my job is the baby snuggles. And I can never get enough of them. Plus mom (or other caregiver) gets a chance to rest, shower, nap, get a bite to eat, or just spend some time alone to scroll through their phone. That’s a win-win-win for me. Baby T was a perfect little angel while mama J got some rest.

04/21/2022

They are two healthy babies, three months old, exclusive breastfeeding, and, believe me, neither the one on the left is obese, nor the one on the right is undernourished.

They are variations of normality!

Most likely, when they start crawling, the one on the left will slim down a little and the one on the right will gain muscle mass.

Do not compare your child to other children. Each of us is different.

02/10/2022

I’m beyond thrilled to announce that it’s officially official. I am now fully certified as a postpartum doula! Need some extra support when you bring baby home? I’ve got you covered!

12/14/2021

Just popped this baby in the mail! Just a few weeks away from becoming fully certified as a postpartum doula! Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey. I am feeling blessed and privileged to be able to continue on this journey in supporting families.

11/25/2021

From our family to yours, wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

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09/26/2021

I often hear stories about how dads (or non-birthing parents) feel left out in the beginning, especially when mom is breastfeeding and baby is eating frequently. Here’s a fun way to get involved, especially after the first month or so, and have their own special bond.

This is one of my favorite interactive positions because it is comfortable for parent and baby. Sit in a reclined position with knees bent and sit baby on your lap using your legs to support baby in an upright reclined position. It’s the perfect distance for most newborns to see your face and for you to be able to talk to and touch them in ways that are fun and appealing for their age and developmental needs.

For babies that are under- or over-stimulated, this is particularly useful because it is a relaxed position that allows for calm interaction, doesn’t require too much energy from exhausted parents, and allows parents to easily read baby’s cues. I’ve even found that it’s a great transition position for eat-play-sleep because as baby grows tired the parent can easily and gently rock their knees back and forth to help calm baby into a drowsy state for nap time. Before you know it, baby will be smiling and cooing and interacting right back.

09/15/2021

One thing motherhood has really taught me is intentionality. With my daughter, I struggled with postpartum depression for several months. I wanted the time to fly by so that we could get past the hard parts. I felt like I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, like I was drowning, and the only way to feel better was to fast forward. Then one day, about a week before my maternity leave was over, I realized that I didn’t want to go back to work. I didn’t want to leave my baby. I needed more time with her. I realized that things were getting better and I wanted it to just stay that way. I learned a hard, hard lesson during that last week… it is sooooo tough, but you also don’t get that time back.

Now with my son, thanks to my daughter, I have learned to cherish the moments, even the hard ones. I can’t get those moments back with my daughter, but I can learn from the experience and soak up the good and the not so good with my son. I make sure to hold him when he cries, to let the laundry wait, to snuggle and play. I have also learned to be patient with myself and to afford the same love and patience with my daughter now that I give to my son. I’m certainly not perfect and the toddler years are no joke, but I’m far more intentional about my time with them.

So if you are going through the thick of things, please know that your feelings are valid and you aren’t alone. But please also reach out for help, even if it’s just someone to talk to, so that you can take care of yourself and give yourself the space you need to appreciate those moments and soak them up. Because one day you will sleep again, one day you won’t be covered in spit up and drool, and one day you won’t have to change diapers anymore. But when that day comes, you won’t get these days back. Take care of yourself so that you can be fully present and intentional during such a difficult and precious time, because it truly is both.

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09/03/2021

Let’s talk postpartum apps!!!

I am not sponsored by anyone so these apps are recommended from personal experience.

1) Baby Tracker App - This app is a user-friendly, comprehensive way to track baby’s day. As a mom who had a tiny baby, our ped wanted us to track every single diaper and feeding. This app covers the basics but has so many options to meet your needs…timers, manual entry, and easy to read review columns that can be narrowed down by day and category. Highly recommended!

2) What to Expect - This app isn’t just for tracking how big baby is in the womb and what size of fruit they can be compared to. Postpartum, this app tells you about baby’s milestones and provides forums for parents to ask questions that can be answered by other parents.

3) Peanut - This app is Tinder for finding mom friends. You can swipe to find moms in your community based on children’s age and mom’s interests and location. There are also forums, webinars, and news feeds to ask questions and keep up on current parenting topics.

4) Wonder Weeks - Want to know more about baby’s milestones? Wondering why baby is suddenly more fussy and clingy? Could be a developmental leap. This app breaks down the leaps and gives parents a general idea of when those leaps are approaching. Understand what skills baby will be learning and how you can get through each leap and come out the other side with an appreciation for each new skill learned.

Have you tried any of these apps? Any favorites that I haven’t mentioned? I want to hear your thoughts!!!

08/11/2021

I’ve gone back and forth on sharing this but I think it’s important to be real about postpartum life…

When I struggled to breastfeed my first baby, I told myself I would learn and make sure it never happened that way again. She had a tongue and lip tie and we struggled to latch properly for over a month, leading to a lot of pain and almost giving up altogether. But with much determination and support we made it to 13 months breastfeeding her. Because of that experience, I went and got my Lactation Counselor certification and educated myself in as much depth as I could.

Then I had this little guy. He has ties, but they aren’t nearly as severe and we are choosing at the moment to not get them revised. However, we are still struggling with getting a nice deep latch and, although not nearly as bad as with my daughter, I’m still fairly sore. And this kid eats A LOT so mama (and her nips) can’t really catch a break. I started to experience feelings of inadequacy. I have all of this education and I advise other women on their breastfeeding. Why am I struggling so badly with my own breastfeeding? Luckily, I am receiving support from my birth center, colleagues, and husband to work toward another success story.

Why am I sharing this? I think it’s important for other families out there to know that these struggles can happen to anyone, even a pro. The most important piece isn’t what you know. Sure that’s important, but it doesn’t top the list. The most important piece is the support you receive. Who is around you to cheer you on? To provide sound advice and hear your concerns? If you don’t feel that you have that support, please contact me! Everyone deserves the support they need and desire to meet their goals, and I’m here for that!!!

08/03/2021

Wanting to take a moment to honor World Breastfeeding Week!

Both of my babies have been breastfed and both presented their own unique challenges. Breastfeeding isn’t for everyone and I support a mother’s right to choose. It can be a difficult and sometimes even heartbreaking journey. But breastfeeding really does have so many unique benefits that can’t be found in any other single substance on the planet. If a mom wants to breastfeed you better believe I’m going to support her every single step of the way.

And please please please know that if you wanted to breastfeed and could only make it a month, a week, or even a few days, that is not a failure. You SUCCEEDED in giving your baby what no one else could for a period of time.

To all the moms out there who chose the b**b, no matter how long, you are seen and you are honored!

**biebabies

07/28/2021

I have found the one whom my soul loves.

Part of the beauty of birthing in the birth center we chose was my husband’s ability to be an active participant and partner in the birth of our baby. This type of participation isn’t wanted or possible for every family, but for me it made all of the difference.

Little back story, we had trouble getting baby’s head into a good position to be birthed, leading to a long and exhausting process. He was by my side the entire time as we moved around the room in every position imaginable to help baby shift.

He held me, he affirmed me, and at times he even literally supported the entire weight of my body to give me all I needed to push through the pain and exhaustion and succeed in the birth I wanted for our family.

I dream of this kind of support for all birthing families. No matter who your team is and who your birthing partner might be, or what type of birth or venue you end up having, I hope you are able to find what works for you to feel supported throughout the process.

07/27/2021

The right team makes all the difference. My first birth was at the hospital. It was precipitous and the staff wasn’t exactly warm or friendly. My second birth was at local birth center with a wonderful team of midwives and nurses, but was long and intense.

But in both cases Jaelan, my doula and friend, was integral in bringing my children into the world. She gave support to me and my husband that we didn’t even know we needed. She helped me find my voice and my empowerment. She encouraged me when things got tough and made it possible to be at peace with the births I got rather than focus on the births I thought I would or should have. She understood my wants and needs, my boundaries, and how she fit into the picture of my birth.

I’m blessed that we were brought together four years ago and that I’ve had her by my side for such intimate and amazing parts of my life. If it weren’t for these moments, I wouldn’t have pursued doula work myself. Birth work is hard work because it’s heart work. It’s these moments that make everything worth it. And having the right team who truly cares and has your best interest at heart makes all the difference in the world.

07/16/2021

Today is bittersweet. I have my last visit with a postpartum family before I go on maternity leave through the end of the year. I have had such pleasant experiences with my most recent families and I am going to miss the connection and joy that this heart-work brings.

But I am also so overjoyed to be welcoming my own little one into the world. I will continue to share lots of info and fun stuff when the timing is right. Until then, thank you to everyone who has supported my journey so far and for those continuing to support my family as our baby joins the world.

And a special shout out to for the wonderful opportunities and endless support. I am beyond blessed to work with such amazing and wonderful women.

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05/09/2021

Happy Mother’s Day to all mamas out there!

No matter your situation, you are wonderful and deserve to be recognized.

If you have a child on earth, in heaven, not here yet, you are wonderful. If your babies are grown, have left us, or haven’t arrived, you are wonderful. If you have dreams of being a mom but it hasn’t or can’t happen for you, you are wonderful. If you have a strained or broken relationship as a mother or with your own mother, you are wonderful. If you take care of a child that you didn’t give birth to, you are wonderful.

Although this day can be hard for many, I firmly believe that we are all in this together and we all are worthy and deserving of love. Please know today that no matter your situation I see you and honor you on this Mother’s Day!

02/17/2021

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I have joined New Life Birth Services as a student postpartum doula! This collective local to New Mexico has a wonderful reputation and is near and dear to my heart as they were with me through my own personal journey and will be again.

This opportunity will allow me to learn my trade under the guidance of some of the most trusted and knowledgeable birth professionals in our community.

If you or someone you know is having a baby and is interested in a birth doula, postpartum doula, board certified lactation consultant, birth classes, prenatal yoga, and so much more, please look up New Life or contact me for more info.

I’m looking forward to serving our community and can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you!

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02/16/2021