Empowered Birth Alaska

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Empowered Birth Alaska

Providing quality, professional support & services. Your experience, birth, & wellness matter!

Click 'Learn More' to get more information about what EBA can offer to your birth journey experience. Check out our website www.empoweredbirthalaska.com to see a complete list of services, descriptions, and about us.

11/03/2025

Learned knowledge ≠ applied knowledge…is something I say often. You can take all the classes, read all the books, and watch all the youtube videos, but translating that into real life isn’t straightforward.

This applies for many aspects of newborn care; breast and bottle feeding, diapering, baby wearing, bathing, soothing, etc.

It translates so much easier when you have a translator by your side, ie a postpartum doula!

I can show you how, using your actual baby, then watch you do it, and give pointers and guidance in real time. This builds your confidence as a new parent, and reduces unnecessary stress and confusion! Why muddle through it if you don’t have to?

Things like; ways to hold your baby, safely passing off your baby to other people, putting your baby in their car seat and the proper fit, using a baby carrier safely and comfortably, ways to burp your baby, how to swaddle, soothing techniques, reading your baby’s cues, nursing positions, getting a good latch, bathing your baby, putting your baby down without waking them up, etc!

10/27/2025

I’ve been a doula for over 6 years, and taken many doula courses, but for the first time I decided to take a postpartum specific course AND finish the certification process! Go me. ☺️

10/23/2025

Sometimes postpartum support consists of making you a meal, giving guidance on baby care and breastfeeding, or drawing you a hot bath. Other times it’s going for a little walk with your baby so you can breathe for a minute and take care of yourself!

This little guy needed a nap and his momma needed to catch up on her to-do list, so off we went! He was sleep 2 mins later 🥰

10/15/2025

I will never take the place of your partner during labor. Not only because I can’t, since I don’t have the same emotional connection as you two do, but that’s just not helpful to either of you.

Instead, me and your partner work together to take care of you, and I’m there to support BOTH of you! I can give your partner guidance on how best to support you, fill in information gaps so they aren’t confused or scared, and do all the little extra things around you that make a difference.

I’ll be the one to refill your cup and offer you water, the one to grab that extra pillow or warm blanket, the one to clean up the bathroom/tub after you get out, or the one to go grab the nurse if needed.

I’ll show your partner how to do hip squeezes and counter pressure, I’ll give them some ideas on affirmations to say, I’ll let them know what it means if you suddenly sound different or if something changes, and I’ll step out of the way when you two need a moment together.

Your partner knows your preferences and desires the best, their presence gives you the most comfort, and their touch floods your system with oxytocin, which helps labor progress!

I could never take their place and don’t want to. But rather, I always enhance your dynamic, give you both peace of mind, and help give both of you an empowered experience of meeting your baby! ❤️

10/14/2025

“My first baby was born in March 2025 and I planned and prepared for an unmedicated hospital birth, with my baby to be delivered by a midwife. My plan for birth support was to have my husband and my mom there, but because my mom lives out of state, we weren’t sure if she would fly up in time for the birth. Enter, Hays! We initially tapped Hays for birth photography and backup Doula support but the plan quickly switched to having them as primarily there for birth support. My labor lasted a total of 25 hours with lots of ups and downs, but I ended up with the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. I am certain that would not have happened without having Hays there for physical and emotional support and encouragement. Most importantly, they helped me to make informed and confident decisions about interventions (having my water broken, and a second round of sterile water injections vs. epidural). They were also able to seamlessly switch gears between doula-ing and birth photography, and we are so so fortunate to have beautiful photos of my labor and the moments after baby girl was born. Any time we reflect on our daughter’s birth, both my husband and I mention that having Hays there was a total game changer! If I have another baby, I hope to have Hays there with us again.“ - Molly

10/11/2025

You don’t always have to speak to communicate. In fact, during labor I am watching body language and facial expressions constantly because it tells me a lot about how you’re feeling emotionally and physically, and what might be helpful in that moment. I often say, I am a big believer in science and facts, I’m not super “crunchy” per se, BUT I’m very intuitive, and that serves me well as your doula! There’s been tons of times I get a hunch or feeling about something, like “I think this thing might be helpful” without a clear reason why, and it’s usually dead on. And I think it’s really cool!

10/10/2025

Just when I think I’ve seen it all, something happens during a birth that surprises me, and reminds me of why I do what I do. In this case, calling out a nurse who breeched scope of practice… (this story is completely unrelated to the image attached and the people in it)

At 3am, after 20 hours of labor, when your baby is finally in your arms safe and sound, it’s really hard to have mental clarity about big decisions. That’s why creating a birth plan during pregnancy is so important, it gives you the opportunity to think through your options when you’re not exhausted, depleted, and don’t have high emotions.

So when my clients informed the newborn nurse of their choice to give their baby the Hepatitis B vaccine, I was shocked to hear the nurse question it. And even more shocked to hear her tell them that “a study shows it causes autism” which I had never heard before!

Understandably this gave my clients pause. They hadn’t heard that either, and of course they care deeply about their baby’s health.

I immediately asked them if they’d like to talk to the hospitalist pediatrician (who I knew was close by) about it. If anyone is going to give you medical advice or have science-backed, evidence-based information about medical care, it should be a doctor.

Nurses can technically share information, but it should be evidence based, it should be the same info a doctor would give, and they shouldn’t question a decision you’ve already made! I operate under those same pretenses.

The pediatrician was equally shocked to hear that the nurse had told my clients this. He had a thorough conversation with them that helped them make an informed decision they felt good about.

The nurse was reported for stepping outside the scope of practice. I was glad I was there to notice the breech and facilitate a conversation that gave my clients peace with their final decision.

If you want more information about vaccines, please talk to your pediatrician! There’s a TON of misinformation circulating these days, and its kinda scary.

10/08/2025

1. Creating associations with sleep help prime our brains to fall asleep easier. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and I encourage you to keep it simple! An example; change their diaper, sing a song, give them some milk or a pacifier.

2. When your baby is close to you they feel safer and warmer! I think it’s perfectly okay and normal to cuddle your baby to sleep before putting them down. In your arms is their favorite place to be

09/23/2025

ACOG reaffirms the safety and benefits of acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
More than two decades of research have found no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children. Acetaminophen continues to be an important and safe option for managing pain and fever in pregnancy—conditions that can pose serious risks to pregnant patients and their fetuses if left untreated. Learn more about acetaminophen use during pregnancy: https://bit.ly/4mqIzWr

07/25/2025

When I visit a family postpartum I ask:
How’s breastfeeding/lactation going?
How do your ni***es feel?
How much sleep are you getting? And does it feel like enough?
How has your baby’s temperament been? Are they easy to settle and get to sleep?
How long of sleep stretches are you and baby getting?
Do you have any questions about baby care and reading cues?
How has your mood been?
Have you found routines that allow you (all caregivers) to get your needs met?
What has been your biggest struggle about learning your baby so far?
What has been the hardest part of your relationship dynamic changing?
How have your other children and/or pets responded to Baby’s arrival?
And more, depending on each individual couple.

If I was at the birth, we also debrief about how it went. I answer any questions that come up after there’s been some processing of what happened, and fill in any blanks as needed. Often we also laugh about certain moments and reminisce about others.

And if it my lucky day, I get to hold your baby too! 🥰

06/19/2025

When you hire me as your doula you’ll get access to my “Resource Repository” ie a shared google drive folder with tons of info and resources to help you prepare for your birth and postpartum journey. Things like: a birth plan template, paced bottle feeding education, a quick guide on latching your baby, a labor bag packing list, a book suggestion list, labor positions cheat sheet, breastmilk storage guidelines, evidence based birth handouts, and educational videos on labor and birth, comfort measures, postpartum, and lactation, to name a few!

Soon to come; a comprehensive childbirth education course, prerecorded and self-paced for your convenience!

Because a big part of being empowered in your birth and postpartum experience is being informed on your options and choices 💪

06/09/2025

I absolutely adore when I get to continue to take photos for families beyond the newborn stage! 🥰 I’ve taken photos of this tiny tot during her birth, newborn stage, 6 months, and now first birthday 🎂 hbd baby M!

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Anchorage, AK

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http://Www.empoweredbirthalaska.com/

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