Boise Birth Services

03/13/2025

Did your organization miss the first call? There's still time to join us!

The "Everyone Is Welcome" message has resonated deeply in our community, and we’re inviting more businesses, nonprofits, and organizations to stand with us.

If you'd like to add your name to the growing list of places where Everyone Is Welcome, please send your organization's name and logo to info@wassmuthcenter.org by end of day on Tuesday, March 18.

Together, we can ensure that Idaho is a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and included. Let’s keep this message going strong!

02/10/2022

Say their names.

At just 17 years of age, a slave girl named Anarcha was "given" to a medic named James Marion Sims, along with two other slaves named Betsey and Lucy. They were then forced to undergo multiple torturous procedures in the form of gynecological experiments; without the use of any anesthetic agent to numb the pain (Downes, 2020). Anarcha herself, underwent 30 experimental surgeries within a four year period (Pimentel, 2021).

Most providers and gynecological programs do not study the complete history of gynecology, and have erased the names of enslaved Black women and girls from medical books and medicine as a whole (Downes, 2020). To make matters worse, James Marion Sims was then termed the "father of gynecology" and many of his "discoveries" never gave the proper recognition to Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy.

We may never know the names of most of the enslaved Black women and girls who underwent these horrifying procedures, and whose organs have been displayed without their consent in the name of science (Pimentel, 2021). However, "it is long overdue for us to know the names of the women whose bodies, conditions, and work helped advance [the field of obstetrics and gynecology] (Pimentel, 2021).

07/17/2021

Sometimes we wake up at 3:30am to draw a barely legible diagram for our doula partner whose client needs a little help with baby descending and has an epidural (and sometimes we Freudian slip and write “sleep” instead of “sling”). 😂 Let us tell you: the things you can do with a hospital bed and a single top sheet is immense.

Good doulas ask for help when they need it with no shame because this is not about ego. We are unapologetically all in for our clients. Sometimes that’s tapping into the hive mind for ideas. Sometimes that’s calling in back up because its been a long birth and your client deserves a rested doula with a fresh pair of eyes and hands. And sometimes it’s reaching out to process the deep emotions some births bring so you don’t bring those things into future birth spaces.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or ineptitude. It’s about the client. Always.

06/15/2021

One of our favorite things is working with midwives and are usually welcomed with open arms into those spaces. On occasion we hear clients decline services because their midwife told them that they could be their doula too. We are all a team, and the glory ALWAYS goes to the birthing person. We love this analogy below.

How does a birth doula help your midwife?

❤️ Allows midwives to focus on the big picture, while your doula handles the minutia

🧡 Allows midwives to come in well rested while your doula tends to your emotional, mental and physical comfort

💛 Allows your midwife time to chart and update your file in case of a transfer

💚 Gives you a readily accessible sounding board for concerns, and emotional support leading up to pregnancy

💙 Adds another layer of support in postpartum to get the best experience and resources available to you

💜 If an emergency arises, the family can stay informed of what’s happening by the doula while the midwife manages the medical care, thus reducing trauma

💗 And most importantly! We learn from one another! Just the other day we showed a midwife a supported squatting position with an epidural in place, AND helped our clients baby descend quickly and safely. There are tricks we’ve picked up and ones we’ve been able to share! We support each other’s growth!

Cheers!

⚠️Unpopular opinion⚠️
Midwives, YOU ARE NOT DOULAS!
…
Midwives assess the big picture, the (w)holistic perspective, the environment, the ebbs and flows of energy within every body in the room, the readiness of equipment and tools, the status of the waters, all of the moving parts and more. Midwives are aware of the intricacy of the fetal heart tones over time, around baselines and in relation to the contraction pattern.
…
Midwives are a lifeguard in this ocean of birth. If you are too close to the swimmer, you cannot see what is a mile out or if they are swimming towards a rip current.
The birthers comfort can never consume your focus like it does for a doula. (So make sure your client gets a doula!)
This may take new midwives time to achieve, but our advanced practice fetal heart tones course can help you get started.
…
What was the moment that you realized midwives are not doulas in your practice?

📸

02/05/2021

Aaaand... just like that! Doulas will be allowed back in all area hospitals starting February 8th. While we know it was a necessary precaution to keep our frontline workers and families safe, we are elated for one more step towards normalcy in what has been a chaotic year.

So grateful for all the advocates we had on the inside who went to bat for us including OBs, nurse midwives, nurses and an incredibly motivated Maternal-Fetal Medicine doc.

Doulas and hospital staff are partners in the positive outcomes of families, no matter how they birth, and we are so excited to get the gang back together. ❤️

01/01/2021

Ho boy! It’s been a while since we’ve posted, but with the wild year we’ve had, it’s nice to start with a little reminder why we do what we do.

Turns out despite a pandemic, families were still being made, but it looked a whole lot different in terms of how postpartum looked. Many had to make the hard decision to limit exposure to themselves and their parents, and extended family during this pivotal time, for many reasons, but that didn’t mean support couldn’t be had.

Our doulas rallied together, created guidelines to follow outside of our doula families to minimize risk and guidelines we would follow while working with families day to day. We were still able to deliver the stellar service we are known for and create peaceful transitions from the fourth trimester.

Not sure why or what a postpartum is or does? Give this podcast a quick listen! ❤️

Happy New Year!
Take a listen to our latest podcast episode, all about Postpartum Doulas!
https://mindfulbirthpodcast.com/044-postpartum-doula-support/

04/08/2020

This is one of my favorite births I ever attended, and it was because of the team that helped bring this baby into the world and support this new family. From the midwives to the nurses to the anesthesiologist down to the attending laborist and family medicine resident, it was always kind, compassionate and respectful care.

Plans are changing rapidly for so many families but I am so grateful to know that my clients will be supported fully. The faces will be masked, the hands will be gloved, but the heart is on their sleeve, uncovered and ready to welcome your new family. Thank you to all of the nurses, OBs, midwives and all healthcare workers on the front lines. We are wishing you safety and health. ❤️

Disappointment seems to be a word that sums up what a lot of pregnant folks are feeling these days. Baby celebrations, maternity pictures and even the joy of browsing the baby section at Target are all put on the back burner for now.

Most hospitals are only allowing one support person to be present at the birth. This is causing a lot of anxiety for birthers that were planning on having a doula, friend or family member there to help with physical and emotional support. This means birthing families are needing the nurses on the Labor and Delivery floor to fill in those roles even more than usual.

I want to send out reassurance and some positive encouragement if you are going to be giving birth during this pandemic. The nurses on the L&D floor are there because they LOVE birth. They don't love charting, or hospital protocol, they love supporting people that are becoming parents. They love holding your hand and giving a good hip squeeze. They want to love on you, and help you through this process, they see you and the transformation you are going through. A nurse knows she can't replace your mom or your sister, but she can be there for you and walk you through this special day.

Yes, your birth plans may have drastically changed but I'm going to tell you a little secret... birth rarely goes as planned anyways. Take a breath, and enjoy the process because this is your babies birth story ❤️

&dnurse

04/01/2020

I am thinking about you all today. Those expecting a baby soon, those who found out they are newly pregnant, those of you who have welcomed their new babies and have not been able to celebrate with everyone you hold dear. A lot is going to be asked of you right now, and its going to be hard, its going to be out of your control and its going to make you stronger as you move through this.

News is being passed down that many if not all area hospitals will be limiting support people to just one person. This will come as a blow to many of our clients, but know that we have been planning for this eventuality and have plans in place to make sure you have the support you need. We will be contacting everyone in the coming days to discuss our plans and your options.

Giving birth in the time of Covid will have lasting effects on families but we can all do our part to make them feel safe, loved and well cared for. At this time we will be limiting our postpartum support to families with a medical need or history of postpartum mood disorders. Practicing social distancing is imperative to make sure that new families are safe, but we recognize that the needs of some will require additional help.

"to the brave and brokenhearted who have taught us how to rise after a fall; your courage is contagious." -Brene Brown

"This is not what you had planned. This is not what you’d envisioned. There are no visits from friends, no loving doula bringing you soup, no “mommy and me” yoga classes, no coffee dates, no stroller walks through the park. There is empty space where you had planned comfort and company. There are long days with no one but your little one to talk to and this big transition to navigate all alone.

I know it’s lonely, mama. I know the walls of your house feel tight and the days feel so long, and you crave a warm hand on your knee and the soft embrace of a friend. You wish for someone by your side to marvel at this beautiful baby of yours and to wrap an arm around you when the feelings get too big and scary.

We were never meant to do this alone. Motherhood has never been a solitary sport. And yet here we are, in this odd chapter of isolation and distance, with no choice but to do it by ourselves.

But mama, know this- We are alone. Together. You are surrounded all the other mothers who are navigating this tender time in isolation. You are held by all of us who have walked the path before you and who know how much you must be hurting. You are wrapped in the warm embrace of mama earth, as she too settles into this time of slowness and healing.

This too shall pass. And when it does, hugs and coffee dates and visits from friends will taste so much sweeter. Soft kisses on your cheek and arms around your waist and gentle laughter in your ear will be the joyful medicine after this trying time.

Until then, hunker down mama. Find the coziest, warmest spot on your couch, sink into the pile of unfolded laundry, and sleep the Spring away, with that sweet babe warm on your chest."

You are not alone mama.

Image and words by the stunning Spirit Y Sol
https://www.instagram.com/spiritysol/?hl=en

03/19/2020

Get those babies and kids outside, and if we’re honest, it’s good for your health too! Stay healthy and safe everyone. ❤️

With schools around the country closing for two weeks or more, parents and caregivers face a stiff challenge: Keep kids active, engaged — and as safe as possible. We've got a few suggestions.

03/18/2020

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Stay safe and healthy ya'll!