http://www.linktr.ee/birthplandoula

Autumn Baker, the Birth Plan Doula, Baldwin Park, CA (2025)

03/19/2024

Love hearing about supportive doula dads!

03/08/2024

Each of these women taught me HOW to doula, how to advocate, and how to serve. My mother-in-law was the first one to believe in me.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, she told me I didn't need the epidural, that I was strong and capable and could give birth all on my own. She taught me the unbelievable strength and intuition that women possess, and the power you return to them when they are taught those truths.

My sister was the first one to show me the power of presence, how it edifies a woman when you're present with her in pregnancy, in birth, and in postpartum. How support should look like a calm, quiet undergirding that allows her to fully stand in her own power and intuition as a mother.

My best friend taught me how normal and unscary birth is. That when you're surrounded by the right people, the work is short but the celebration is long and that this pattern is a mirror of motherhood.

I advocate for women, I show them their strength, I remove the fear so they can stand in this power. So that my daughter will grow up without a single doubt that she is STRONG, CAPABLE, INTUITIVE and POWERFUL. That should she decide to become a mother, the pattern of power expressed in her births will echo through the love she expresses to her children and be magnified in her motherhood. ❤️

❤️

03/02/2024

Need your birth plan done, like, yesterday? What if we work together and I complete it for you in the next 24 hours? Swipe through to see what will be delivered!

Hello there! If you're new here, my name is Autumn Baker, the Birth Plan Doula and I offer next-day appointments, and deliver a customized, attractive, and effective birth plan with a bundle of other resources to my clients' inbox just 24 hours after our session. I am a certified doula with 5 years of experience who offers a condensed, highly-focused session to help parents to know their options, be able to communicate their preferences, and advocate for their birthing choices in a hospital setting.
My services are ideal for families who:
-may not have the time or funds for a full childbirth education series
-would benefit from a quick, individualized birth planning session tailored to their goals
-can't afford or don't want the physical presence of a doula in their birthing space
-want to make intentional choices and know how to advocate for them

Soooo, what are you waiting for? I have sessions available TOMORROW! And if you're not ready to book a session just yet, follow me for birth-y info and let's be birth besties! ❤️

01/16/2023

ICYMI... these gorgeous birth affirmation cards are now available for instant download in my Etsy shop! 😍

Filled with 24 phrases I've used in my own births and with clients, these cards are labor-tested and doula-approved. ✅️

They're great to have on hand so your partner and birth team can bring you fresh motivation when it's needed most. 🤗

There are also 6 blank cards for your own positive mantras that you can edit in after download. ✍️

At 5x7in with high contrast lettering, they're the perfect size to be seen from anywhere in your birthing space, but the color scheme is suble enough to maintain the calm atmosphere. 😌

Grab them now! 🔗 in my bio! 💕

01/11/2023

Have you heard of Penny Simkin?? 😍😍😍

She's amazing. Years and years of doula and childbirth educator experience and just the sweetest soul. This was an observation she made and I think it's just so powerful.

These three R's are not something you 'assign' a mom to do in labor. These are things that naturally happen when she feels safe and supported, and can surrender to the process.

'Coping' looks different for everyone, and regardless of what you've seen on those birthing videos on IG, sometimes it's loud. (Fun fact: I was definitely a vocal birther and my husband could tell by sound alone when I was in transition. 🤣)

Having a 'safe word' gives moms the opportunity to say or do whatever they need to without interference from her birth team until she uses her safe word.

If you're looking for ways to prepare yourself and your birth team so that you can cope well during labor, message me!! I have a whole class on this very topic. 🤗

01/10/2023

Your body is made to breastfeed just like it's made to birth your baby.

But in both of these there are biological systems, 'instincts' maybe, that must be followed for optimum results.

In birth, you must treat your body with care during the process. Nourish yourself, rest as much as you can, and be surrounded by support and love so that you feel as safe and strong as possible.

In breastfeeding, as soon as that baby is out, you must HOLD your new little creation, bare skin to bare skin, on your chest. Admire their little face, breathe in their newness, count those little fingers and toes.

As you do, your baby will go through a series of universal steps that primes them and you for a beautiful nursing relationship. If left undisturbed, your baby will find and attach itself to your breast--without your help. The latch may not be perfect, but in this system, it is not designed to be. The ni**le stimulation paired with the breast 'massage' as your little one's clumsy fists knead your chest, causes your body to prime receptors in your milk-making cells for making a perfectly sufficient volume of milk for the days, weeks, months, maybe years to come. ❤

How kind that our Creator made such an important biological system feel so incredibly magical. 💕

doula birth

01/09/2023

Have you heard this quote?

I personally believe this to be true. I often write a motivational quote I find inspiring on the whiteboard at my desk and look at it every morning to remind me to keep pursuing my goals when my short-sighted brain tells me it would rather be doing something else.

But sometimes a quote I'm using stops inspiring me, and I have to find a new one. I need a new idea for fresh motivation. I think this is true for all things where we have to apply consistency and persistence.

So how about birth?! How much more do you think this applies to something so mentally and physically taxing? Like a marathon, we have to keep fueling the body and mind to rejuvenate the endurance required to 'finish the race' and meet our baby. ❤

I am famous for latching onto the phrase 'I can do this' (like the little engine that could 😆) once I hit transition in my first labor. I just said it over and over and there was something so soothing in the affirmation.

What affirmation or motivation has been helpful to you (in your current season or in a previous birth)??

01/08/2023

Sharing how I connected with my birth community and potential clients as a new doula.

01/08/2023

Starbucks, anyone?? ☕️

In order to celebrate the opening of my Etsy Shop and making doula-style resources available to more families, I'm doing a giveaway!! 💃💃💃

I am giving away $15 Starbucks giftcards to 3 sweet souls that help me spread the word!! 📣

TO ENTER:
1. Follow 🕊
2. Like and save this post 👍
3. Tag your mama friends in the comments! Each comment is one entry. 💁‍♀️

BONUS ENTRY: Share this post to your story to share the love. 💕

✨️ The contest runs from now until Friday, January 13th at midnight. I will be announcing the winner on IG live Saturday, January 14th at 6pm PST. ✨️

[Giveaway open to the US only. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or Starbucks.]

01/06/2023

It's here!! 🎉🎉🎉 Have you been wondering what the big announcement was??

I've opened an Etsy Shop! 🛍 It's still in the beginning stages, but one of the first things I've made available is the single-page, provider-preferred visual birth plan I've used with all my clients! The instant download even includes the Birthing Options mini-class I shared yesterday.

I know the pink flowery aesthetic is not everyone's jam, so there's also a tone-downed version available. In the coming weeks, additional colors will be added as well as some other exciting things!

Follow my page or my shop for notifications about updates! ❤

And please share what types of downloads would help you through your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!! 💕

01/05/2023

Umm... that last one is a little overwhelming, is it not??

It may seem easier to just say, "Yeah, I'm just going to do what my doctor tells me." The problem is that our prevailing maternal health system isn't the best (in fact, the US ranked the WORST among 11 developed countries in a study done by the Commonwealth Fund... ooof 😬).

While there are a HOST of people working to research and correct this, it's bound to be a while before we see system-wide change. So what can YOU do to improve your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience? Educate and advocate for yourself. It's a tall and unfair order while you're growing a human, I know!! ❤

Thankfully, there is truly statistic-changing help available (doulas and childbirth classes, anyone??) but knowing WHO and WHAT you're looking for can be even MORE overwhelming. Soooooooo...

What about a FREE series of only four handouts? To just briefly cover what sort of things are available to you. Would that help??

- One for vaginal births
- One for Cesarean options
- One for the types of providers you can choose from, and
- One about aelf-advocacy.

All the things mentioned here, in succinct, easy-to-gance-over... 15 minute mini-class? Would that be a good place to start for you?

Swipe to get a preview and head over to my stories for the link. That's it!! And if you have any questions, message me and let's talk! We can take some baby (haha, pun intended!!) steps together. ❤

01/04/2023

Do you know the difference between an obstetrician and a midwife? Did you when you were pregnant with your first baby?

Both are trained professionals qualified to oversee the care and progression of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum, but there may be a few differences that impact which is the best choice for you.

Of course there are always exceptions, but in general, one of the biggest differences between the two is their view of birth. Doctors tend to see birth as a medical event where the medical professionals are the expert, whereas midwives typically see it as a physiologic process where the mom is the expert in knowing what's best for her body and baby. This difference in perspective impacts how each professional field conducts prenatal appointments, prenatal testing, and labor management.

In the United States, when a woman first finds out she's pregnant, I think she usually tends to think of her OB/GYN first. But the truth is, OBs are a relatively new invention. Swipe to see how long midwives have been overseeing birth! (Shout out to the amazing for one of my favorite t-shirts! 😍)

Which model of care most aligns with your view of pregnancy and birth?? 🤔 Have more questions?? Message me! ❤

01/03/2023

Are there any rule followers out there like me?? Conflict-avoidant, keep-the-peace, go-with-the-flow mamas??

Of course, there's nothing wrong with that! We need people of all types. HOWEVER...

Sometimes we miss out on opportunities simply because we don't naturally question the system, ya know?

Like those standard-of-care hospital gowns that have had who-knows-what on them. Did you know you DON'T have to wear those during birth OR postpartum?

Aside from forgoing clothes altogether (that's also totally an option!) there's a BUNCH of really cute, still super functional (think snaps or elastic for breastfeeding) maternity-type gowns on Amazon. Whaaat? I have a few in my 'Doula Delivered' highlight reel. Head over to check it out! :)

The black dress I have on in the picture was super soft and had a SUPER stretchy neck for skin-to-skin and breastfeeding. I wore it for basically my entire postpartum period. 😆

What did you wear during your birth(s) or postpartum season?

01/03/2023

Something exciting is coming!! ❤

Keep your eyes open for an announcement coming this Friday! 📢

And since y'all know coffee is my love language... it may include an opportunity for FREE Starbucks! 🤗🤗🤗

12/31/2022

So I'm not 100% sure who originally wrote this (Bill Gates?), but I heard it recently and was instantly inspired.

As someone with a likely neurodivergent brain, I'm often defeated when I don't check every item off my daily to do list...anyone else?

This quote reminds me that it's okay if I don't attack every item every day, but with persistence and consistency, so much can be accomplished in a year's time.

So, I'm trying to keep my bigger goals in mind, and just keep trucking along. 🤗

What is one thing you accomplished this past year?? Let's celebrate together! ❤

12/31/2022

Ooooh no. Forgive me, I don't mean to add to the onslaught of inspirational quotes surrounding New Year's goal-making. 🙈

But does this resonate with anyone else as they reflect on the past year and look toward the new one?

Is there any better demonstration of this concept than pregnancy and childbirth? Who remembers how achingly slow their first pregnancy felt, where the weeks dragged by? Or how agonizing it was waiting for the early labor hours to pass and for active labor to begin? But then that moment when you met your baby... was it worth it? There are no shortcuts to that moment.

I have some big plans for the new year. They're in the works, but they will take some time, some patience, some slow building. I think it will be worth it, but it will take many small steps, many small ounces of love, focus, and determination to hopefully culminate into something beautiful for the birthing community. Are you ready??

What are you grateful for this year?? Have you started dreaming about the new year?? 🤔

Autumn Baker, the Birth Plan Doula

03/19/2024

03/08/2024

03/02/2024

01/16/2023

01/11/2023

01/10/2023

01/09/2023

01/08/2023

01/08/2023

01/06/2023

01/05/2023

01/04/2023

01/03/2023

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12/31/2022

12/31/2022

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