Gathering Ivy Doula Care

10/28/2025

This short and sweet class offered by Albany Family Life Center would be so informative and helpful for all these early on questions! The care provider and place you choose to birth your baby will make a huge impact on your experience in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

09/07/2025

08/18/2025

Local Childbirth Ed class! Katie is a fellow doula and I know this would be an informative and helpful training!

08/07/2025

This is great! Just a quick course on how to get your baby into a good position for a smooth labor and delivery. Movement is so important throughout, so this would be another great tool to add!

07/11/2025

This is my happy place!

07/03/2025

Postpartum Preparation Workshop

Date: Sunday, July 20th

Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

Location: 1820 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203

Facilitated by: Lawren Flynn, SBD, PCD(DONA)

Cost: $60

Link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/postpartum-preparation-workshop-registration-1450881187689

This 4-hour class is designed to help parents prepare their mind, body, heart, and home for the transformative postpartum journey. Topics will include:

Immediate Postpartum & the Golden Hour

Postpartum Mindset & Expectations

Physical Recovery

Newborn Care Basics

Safe Sleep Practices

…and more!

The workshop aims to empower families with knowledge, practical tools, and local resources, while also offering space to connect with others preparing for this life transition. Class size is limited and registration price includes space for one support person per registrant.

06/18/2025

Grow Your Village (GYV) is a weekly gathering for new parents, co-led by postpartum doulas, created to provide connection, peer support, and a sense of belonging during the transformative first year after birth.

✨ Our Vision

To create a thriving, supportive community where every baby and parent feels connected, understood, and supported.

💜 Our Mission

GYV is dedicated to fostering connection through shared experiences, mutual encouragement, and a welcoming, non-judgemental space. Each week we’re joined by postpartum doulas and perinatal professionals, and we invite parents to come as they are—whether they want to share, listen, ask questions, or simply be in community.

Details:

🗓 Every Wednesday, 10AM–12PM

📍 1820 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203

💰 Donation-based, always appreciated but never required

🥨 Snacks and drinks welcome, but not expected

❤️ Join the GYV2025 email chain after attending a group to stay connected!

05/11/2025

I've worked with a couple clients who are using this "group" prenatal visits program with Capital Region Midwifery. A group of moms due around the same time get to sit all together and ask questions and get to know each other, while a midwife sits with them, answers questions and talks through concerns. What a great way to build a village and help a mom create community and not feel alone when she has her baby. Then they have their own individual checkup, Call the Midwife style. It's a brilliant idea!

https://cbs6albany.com/news/wellness-watch/centeringpregnancy-program-offers-unique-prenatal-care-boosts-outcomes-in-capital-region--------------------------...

05/09/2025

Leaving this here because surviving your milk coming in is no joke!

I'd also add that if my baby was struggling with a good latch, I'd get them checked for tongue tie with a professional who specializes in this area. Pediatricians unfortunately don't always catch it. Let me know if you need the name of a laser tongue-tie specialist!

I don’t mean to scare off soon-to-be moms. Breastfeeding is by far one of the most amazing things I have ever done and worth the struggle. But my milk coming in kicked my butt. I just survived my milk coming in with my second baby and this is what I did to make things easier as I dealt with engorgement....

Read more: https://blog.latchedmama.com/2021/09/28/how-i-survived-my-milk-coming-in-engorgement/

04/04/2025

Some of my top recommendations!

Magnesium Lotion from Earthley (really I suggest checking out all of Earthley's products - so much great stuff). Specifically, magnesium lotion is great because it's one less pill to take while still getting helpful nutrients, and taking care of your skin to boot. Magnesium is so important for so many functioning things in your body through pregnancy and beyond - including but not limited to helping you sleep well and balancing blood pressure and sugar. There just isn't enough of it in our food.
https://earthley.com/products/good-night-lotion

On that note - electrolytes!!! The rec for this is a little complicated because you have so many options. LMNT are the ones I use and like. But many don't love stevia. If you've found an electrolyte supplement you use and love, please pass it along. Either way, sometimes just a pinch of Himalayan pink salt in your water helps get the salt in that your body needs. This is also magnesium intake, obviously I can't recommend it enough! I don't suggest Gatorade to check this box though.

Last rec is this book, Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel. This book is such a great practical guide to set you up for success if a natural home-like hospital birth is your vision. All the little decisions and preparations needing to be made leading up to your birth matter. The first half talks about preparing for your birth, the second half talks you through every step of giving birth and what to expect, with lots of practical ideas and positive birth examples. It's a pretty easy read so one I highly recommend! The Amazon audible audio version is actually free right now so good time to check it out!