Enchanted Birth Doula Services

11/10/2023

The end of the year is upon us (unbelievable right??). With this comes the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I know we are already feeling it. How about you? I am beyond grateful for the changes that this year has brought and the families I have been able to serve along the way. We have moved to a new town, which has changed my range of travel slightly. But I am excited to get to know a new area and hopefully make my presence known here in the coming months! The rest of 2023 is looking pretty packed, but I do still have some availability!
I am able to take on:

November:
**Birth: No Availability
**Postpartum: ONE spot open!

December:
**Birth: No Availability
**Postpartum: ONE spot open!

I would love to speak to you about your family's needs!

06/07/2023

Happy International Homebirth day.
In August of 2022 I had mine.
Sharing something as intimate and raw as birth photos can be a bit scary. I haven't shared any from ours until now.
Welcoming my baby into the world in our home was something that meant so much to me. I have wanted to do it for so long, but never was able to. With my first baby, I chose to give birth at a birth center. With my second, a hospital birth was my only option. And so, when we found out we were expecting a third, I was determined to finally have a home birth.
With my first two babies, I remember rushing out of the house in a panic between contractions. There was something so calming for me about being able to be in my familiar surroundings with our third. It was so wonderful when it was all done that I could just continue to lay in my bed and snuggle my new little love undisturbed in my own bed.
As a mother that has experienced birth in three different locations, I will say that this was my favorite. Was it the "perfect" birth? No. There are things that I wish would have gone differently. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Is a home birth going to be the best choice for everyone? No. But it will be for some. I was a low risk pregnancy. I had two previous low risk pregnancies. I was supported by a wonderful, loving partner. I was educated and prepared. Some may not realize, but a lot of preparation goes into a home birth.
I remember obsessing over all the little things. So sure that I wasn't going to have enough towels. I don't know why. But towels were something I was so worried about. Now we have way too many. Because I just HAD to buy more.
I remember I bought snacks for the birth team. And then forgot all about them the second I went into labor.
I remember when things happened that I didn't expect that my wonderful husband and our midwife's assistant helped me be calm. Support matters. Understanding what is going on matters.

Unsure where to start on your journey? I would love to chat.

05/14/2023

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mom's out there ❤️

05/01/2023

I would love to hear this!

What was the best advice you ever got about breastfeeding or the early days with your baby?

04/27/2023

Pregnant? Postpartum? Adopting? Thinking about having a baby??? Come on out and see us TOMORROW!!!!

Shelby Springer Birth Doula & Photography Services & Jelina Sonnenberg Birth Services have been working sooo hard to put on this amazing event for the community! You don't want to miss it!

04/20/2023

I was thinking this morning about how I have been a nursing mom for over five and a half years. I have had about 40 days of no nursing during this time. That is almost 2000 days. I have nursed both of my boys throughout pregnancy and over the age of two. And now our sweet girl is approaching one (wow!) and still going strong.
I have been extremely fortunate in my experience. Yes, I have encountered issues, but through everything, my babies have been able to continue to nurse. For the mama's that have struggled, have had to supplement, or have chosen not to breastfeed, I see you! I support you! And you are a rockstar! I am simply sharing my experience as a nursing mother.
So what are the benefits of nursing?
There are so many! I'll go over FIVE!
1. Breastfeeding can protect baby from short and long term illnesses
💛 This includes lowering their risk for things like athsma, type 1 diabetes and ear infections

2. Breastfeeding can protect the mother from illnesses too!
💛 This includes things like lowering your risk for breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer and high blood pressure!

3. Your milk ADAPTS as your baby grows to meet their specific nutritional needs!
💛 From colostrum at birth to mature milk, it is constantly changing! Your baby's saliva actually tells your body what is needed! Crazy right??!

4. You don't have to run to the store for it!
💛 While this may not be true for all nursing families, in general, breastfeeding is more accessible than formula. Obviously things like pumping supplies, bottles, donor milk etc. you may not have readily available. But when you are feeding straight from the tap, it can sometimes be as fast and easy as lifting your shirt.

5. Brain development
💛 Did you know that breastfed babies have been proven to have a higher IQ by about 3 points? Crazy right? Just the parent-baby interaction that is done through the physical touch of nursing your baby has been proven to help their brain development. Then there are the benefits of the milk along with that!
"Mother-to- child touch and nurturing interactions during breastfeeding play an important role in strengthening a child's sensory and emotional circuitry, both of which are important for cognitive and social-emotional development."
https://www.astho.org/globalassets/brief/breastfeeding-for-healthy-early-brain-development.pdf

There are so many more benefits to breastfeeding from the first few days to one year and beyond! No amount of time is too short not see some kind of benefit!

https://lactationnetwork.com/blog/the-benefits-of-breastfeeding-a-timeline-for-the-ages/

I'd LOVE to hear about how your own journey with breastfeeding is going! It is beautiful, frustrating, exhausting, fulfilling and sooooo many other things! Just know, wherever you are in your journey, you are not alone!

📸 Shelby Springer Birth Doula & Photography Services

04/11/2023

03/31/2023

You CAN birth big babies 🥰

03/28/2023

So you've just brought home your precious newborn. Now what? The meal train has stopped (if there ever was one), the visitors have stopped coming. Maybe your significant other has returned to work. Now what? You're still healing. You're supposed to be resting. But life goes on, and it feels so overwhelming.

That's where I come in. I'll be your helping hands, your listening ears, and your support. I'll help you find a way to rest. Give you time to bond with your little one without the worries of: "How will the house get cleaned up?" and "How am I going to have time to make dinner?"

You haven't showered in three days? Been there. I've got you!

As a mother of three, I have felt the darkness and the beauty that is postpartum. I've navigated days and nights by myself. I've felt the intense love for this tiny helpless human that you never knew even existed. I've questioned everything I do and everything I have done. I struggled with postpartum depression for a year and a half after my second little love was born. It was scary, it was lonely, and I didn't know if I would see the light at the end. But I did. I made it. But because of that, I do not put a time frame on "postpartum". I will be there to help from birth to as long as you need help. Life is different now. Kids go through phases. Each phase is as equally(or maybe more) challenging as the one before.

Interested in talking about postpartum care? Let's chat.

03/24/2023

I get SO many questions about sibling doulas. What do I do? Am I basically just babysitting? Why hire a sibling doula when I could hire a babysitter?

Well here is the short answer. Yes, you could totally hire a babysitter. BUT as a sibling doula, I do so much more than just watching your sweet little one (or ones!).

I am beyond lucky to have a huge family. Like really big. And I also married into a large family. So when it came time for me to welcome my babies, I had multiple backups. But the more I worked as a doula, the more it became obvious that there was a gap that I could help with. How are you supposed to relax and focus on welcoming your new baby into this world when you still have to worry about childcare for your other babies? Sometimes it would come down to losing their support person because there was nobody else to care for their child(ren). So along with my doula buddy (Shelby Springer Birth Doula & Photography Services) we started our journey into the world of a sibling doula.

As a sibling doula, I work my hardest to maintain your normal routine (or I don't if that is your desire! I've done both!!). School, daycare, breakfast, lunch, dinner, laundry, housekeeping, dog walking. I've got it! Although I do NOT drive with your children! I am not a CPST, and your child's safety is my priority.

So what is different? Well, along with all of the things above, I also help with the transition when you come home. Welcoming a new baby can be exciting, overwhelming and exhausting. You just got home, you are tired, hurting and have basically been through a marathon. Your significant other is exhausted as well. Let me be your helping hands. I help make your introductions a little easier. For you, your little ones, and even your fur babies. I'll make sure you are fed (even cut up that cantaloupe you've been dreaming about in your fridge), get you showered, help with getting baby to latch, and offer you water constantly (if you know, you know). And I'll never leave a dirty dish in your sink. I'll make sure you are able to nap, make sure your other littles have all of their needs taken care of. And when you are all settled, cozy and ready, I'll quietly take my leave.

What happens when I come in the middle of the night and your little ones are asleep? I can walk with you around your neighborhood while your significant other gets the rest they need. I can help you through your contractions and calm your fears. When you are ready to head to your birthing location (if you are leaving your home) I can help you gather your things and get all loaded up.

The role of a sibling doula is as diverse as you need it to be. I am there to get to know your little(or big!) family, and learn all of the things that help make it run. We will discuss all of this at your prenatal appointments. Where I get to meet you and your little one, to make sure that they are comfortable around me. I want to make sure that I know all the little things that make them have a GREAT day! From their favorite songs and their favorite games to strawberry ice cream!

Have more questions about the role of a sibling doula? Let's chat!

03/24/2023

03/24/2023

No matter what your journey looks like, I am there to support you.

It's a common misconception that doulas are only for families that want a home birth. That is beyond FALSE! A doula is there to support your journey. No matter what that may look like!

Just having a doula has been proven to decrease the (emergency) cesarean rate by 50%! The request for an epidural by 60%! And they have been proven to help shorten the duration of your labor by 25%.

Just by having a doula on your side you are more likely to breastfeed for a longer duration.

Yes, I support unmedicated home births. Yes, I support your desire for an epidural. Yes, I support c-sections. Because at the end of the day I am there to support your own unique needs as a person.

What is right for one person, may not be right for another. And that is absolutely wonderful. Personally, all three of my babies have been born in different situations! And I actually love that. We did what worked for us at the time.

03/22/2023

Happy World Doula Week!!

During this week, I will be highlighting all of the different things that my work consists of. I am honored to be chosen to walk by the families that I have, and look forward to serving more in the future.

Being a doula is so much more than hip squeezes. A doula is there to be by your side for as long as you need. From preconception to postpartum, there is a doula for everyone. We are so lucky to live in a community where there are so many doulas (and more joining all the time).

Expecting? Thinking about it? Postpartum? Let's talk!!

📸 by KP Creative

12/29/2022

It's my Birthday! It's not every day a gal turns the big 3-0! So to celebrate, I want to extend an offer for a special Birthday that you will be celebrating in the new year!!! For the next 30 days I will be offering 30% off of all services! Space is limited, so talk to me today!!!

09/30/2022

🥰🥰🥰 Life over in my neck of the woods has been busy lately. A little more love was welcomed into our home in the middle of August, and we have been learning how to manage three littles since.
💓 As we start to get the hang of things, I am going to start opening my availability again for postpartum and home/birth center births.
‼️ Sibling services and hospital births will be coming available again a little later this year (or early next year) as our sweet girl (and her mama) is more comfortable spending longer lengths of time apart.

Send me a message on here if you are interested in a consultation.
You can also reach me at
enchantedbirthdoula@outlook.com

📸📸📸 Shelby Springer Birth Doula & Photography Services