Exquisite Empathy

01/21/2025

I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new website
👉 exquisite-empathy.com 👈, and I am currently accepting new clients for birth and postpartum services!

Pregnancy is a time of profound transformation—filled with unique challenges, questions, and moments of discovery. Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your tenth, navigating this journey can feel overwhelming at times.

01/19/2025

https://www.exquisite-empathy.com/

New Website launched

Pregnancy is a time of profound transformation—filled with unique challenges, questions, and moments of discovery. Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your tenth, navigating this journey can feel overwhelming at times.

06/17/2024

Thank you Kanji Kata for this beautiful illustration! 💗🌸

If you live in the Cedar Rapids area please share 🙏🏾

05/26/2024

Hi everyone! I am a local doula and peer support counselor, and I was chosen by PSI (Post partum support international-IA) to hold and facilitate a Post partum support group! I would like to invite anyone who would like to be a part of this group mothly, or biweekly to join! It is an IN PERSON group and children and breastfeeding friendly environment! We will be covering topics that YOU bring to the group relating to parenthood, sharing troubles and triumphs, and building community as we navigate these topics together!

Because spots are limited to the size of my office, if the interest is high enough I will hold two seperate meetups (Group A and Group) this group is limited to 6 persons/group for the time being to avoid any crowding issues!

These groups are FREE to join and participate in- snacks and refreshments are provided! There is no childcare provided on site- so please keep that in mind! Please conact me if you are intrested and I will send you more information as well as a short questionaire. Group dates will begin after a poll is taken on when the best date/time is for participants!!

Thank you!! 😊

05/18/2024

Jazzmine Ray

I am so excited to introduce Jazz from Exquisite Empathy. Jazz has joined House of Luna Birth & Wellness and moving forward she will be my official backup doula. If you schedule a doula consultation with me, you will also get the opportunity to meet Jazz as well during that time.

Starting in June you might catch her in the office hosting support groups and classes. She is a great asset to House of Luna and I'm so happy to have her on my team! I look forward to sharing a little more about her and all the amazing things she has to offer.

05/14/2024

Breastfeeding can come with lots of different (and big emotions). It can also feel quite lonely, especially if you are struggling in some way or another. It may be that you are having difficulties with your baby's latch or maybe you just want to meet other breastfeeding moms who can sit in solidarity with you.. perhaps you are trying to navigate breastfeeding, pumping and going back to work - whatever the case may be, you don't have to do this journey alone. Join us May 5th from 10-12 for our monthly community lactation support group. Come as you are. Hope to see you there!

12/27/2023

🥳

11/20/2023

~It’s a gradual creeper…

11/09/2023

10/31/2023

🫂

Hold the mother, not the baby.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Because the baby’s being taken care of—⁣⁣
fed, snuggled, and given all the love in the world—⁣⁣
by not only the mother,⁣⁣
but her partner, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But the mother,⁣⁣
may have gaps in her mind from lack of sleep,⁣⁣
may be mechanical in her motions as she’s healing,⁣⁣
may feel more like a mess than a mother,⁣⁣
may be sitting in bed, crying, feeling overwhelmed in her body and life,⁣⁣
may be full of mom guilt because in her mind, "she's not good enough,"⁣⁣
and she’s bleeding, wincing in pain, swollen and emotional.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And the mother’s that baby's whole world and needs to be seen, so she doesn't disappear into that postpartum fog.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So, hold the mother, not the baby.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A mother agrees that her baby matters more.⁣⁣
But she’s hurting, while she’s the person behind the baby,⁣⁣
in the background, making it all happen:⁣⁣
feeding her baby at all hours,⁣⁣
snuggling her baby close to comfort newborn cries,⁣⁣
and being that baby’s everything.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So, it’s the mother who needs your love.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And a mother will remember who held her up.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So instead of “I’m coming to see the baby,”⁣⁣
try saying, “I’m coming to see you 𝘢𝘯𝘥 meet the baby, too.”⁣⁣
⁣
Because the mother needs to be held more.⁣⁣
⁣
✍️:
📸:

10/27/2023

💗✨

10/27/2023

“In ancient Greece, “maiai” would attend to the mother during childbirth. In some African and South American cultures, “birth attendants” or “wise women” would provide support and guidance during pregnancy and childbirth.
The modern use of doulas in the Western world can be traced back to the work of Dr. John Kennell and his colleagues in the 1970s. Dr. Kennell studied the use of doulas in a hospital setting and found that women who had the support of a doula during childbirth had better birth outcomes.”

In current times, the seeker of a doula is mainly focused on what they can do to provide a better experience of birth, and to feel fully supported leading up to the event, as well as feel supported for a short period of time after giving birth. But, what if I told you- post partum is forever? Needing support well after birth is a need I see in many parents way past the period of the initial birth event. When do we ever stop needing emotional support, information about a new parenting situation we find ourselves in, a listening ear when we don’t want to worry others with our fears in relation to parenting, or just general guidance to discover our authentic way of parenting and the many layers of transformation a parent goes through? All of these things are included in what a post partum doula is capable of providing.

If you find yourself struggling with uncertainty or in need of an empathetic support system- don’t be afraid to reach out.

With all my heart,
Jazz-Mine Ray 🫀🫂

Discover the fascinating history of doulas - from ancient Greek traditions to the modern-day doula movement. Learn how emotional support during childbirth has evolved.

10/27/2023

Exquisite Empathy is my passion project. I consider the work I am doing as a calling to the inner child and mother in me. In my early parenthood period I experienced a great deal of loneliness, anguish, confusion, despair, and disempowerment.

My relationship with my children’s father did not last and I found myself deeper into a world of confusion- unable to find the strength to navigate uncharted waters. I experienced post partum depression, a period of psychosis, and had no clue how I was going to pull myself out of it. I developed a chronic autoimmune illness a year or so into my single motherhood journey- the stress I was under activated my cells into believing I was in great need of healing- at all times.

My journey has been the guiding factor that has led me to my ultimate calling. To be a full spectrum doula and offer support to all parents in need of upliftment, advocacy, information, and support has led to fulfillment in my heart and peace within my mind.

I hope to help you too someday, if you should ever need it. I am humbled and honored to be your guide through the journey of parenthood, and if you ever need to do so- feel free to reach out.

With all of my heart ,
Jazz-Mine Ray 🫀🫂