Dueling Doulas

04/28/2026

This Saturday! Pass the info along 😊 Be sure to message The Nurturing Mother, not the Repeat Boutique. We will only be the pickup location.

04/26/2026

🩸✨ Breast milk is made from blood — not directly from what you eat.

Your body pulls from your bloodstream to create milk that’s perfectly designed for your baby. Most newborn gas is normal, and diet usually only matters if there’s a true protein allergy or intolerance.

Evidence matters. So does reassurance.

04/25/2026

🚨🚨 BREAKING: Research catches up with physiology....

Don't want to push for a long time in labor? Just don't push for a while and use gravity. Then you might end up pushing less than 15 minutes!

Is purple pushing FINALLY on its way out? While many facilities and providers have stepped away from strong and forceful purple pushing, variations of it still exist. This often leaves parents pushing for 1, 2, or even 3 hours - especially in first births and with epidurals.

Despite awareness of the fetal ejection reflex and birth being a normal physiological process, modern obstetrics left many believing we MUST push as soon as we reach full dilation.

Yet this often leaves moms pushing for hours.

Research from Besançon University Hospital, France looked at over 10,000 term singleton births.

Their research concluded: Under a delayed pushing policy of up to 3 hours, active pushing remained less than 15 minutes, supporting high rates of spontaneous vaginal birth and potentially reducing the need for instrumental delivery.

While there are occasional situations where directed pushing might be indicated (baby showing signs if distress, signs of cord compression, etc.), research is showing what midwives, many l&d nurses, and doulas have observed: birth needs patience.

👇🏽 Did you labor down or push as soon as you were fully dilated?

Study below.

04/24/2026

04/23/2026

Fun fact: cervical dilation doesn't always tell you exactly what's happening in labor. In fact, many people labor without any exams.

While exams can have a place, especially in births requiring medical intervention, exact dilation is such a small part of the overall puzzle.

Birth workers, what signs of progress do you notice in labor?

04/11/2026

Hold all the babies!!!

Some habits feel small, but their impact lasts a lifetime.

Babies who are held regularly during sleep develop stronger pre-frontal–amygdala connections, the very pathways that help regulate stress and prevent anxiety later in life. It’s not about coddling or creating dependence; it’s about wiring the brain for resilience, calm, and emotional balance. Those nightly cuddles and gentle touches quietly shape how your child will respond to challenges, stress, and relationships for years to come.

What feels like a fleeting comfort is actually a lifelong foundation. Holding your baby isn’t spoiling it’s a form of protection, helping prevent future mental health struggles before they even begin.

04/09/2026

03/25/2026

2026 birth availability update 🤎
November has space for 1 more family, and December has openings for 3.

If you’re considering a homebirth and feel like this might be your season, I’d love to connect and see if we’re a good fit. Reach out to chat soon! 🤎

03/25/2026

“‘At least you didn’t have to push.’”

…yeah.
I just had major abdominal surgery while fully awake.

They cut through multiple layers of skin, tissue, and muscle
to bring my baby into the world.

Then they stitched me back together
and handed me a newborn to care for
like my body wasn’t just opened.

No real rest.
No time to heal.
No pause.

You’re expected to:
walk within hours
pick up your baby
feed them around the clock
function on zero sleep

All while your body is screaming.

Laughing hurts.
Coughing hurts.
Standing up feels like your insides might fall out.

But sure…
“at least I didn’t have to push.”

C-sections are not the easy way out.
They’re just a different kind of strength people don’t respect enough.

03/25/2026

Happy World Doula Week to the advocates, the space-holders, and the quiet warriors in the birth room. We at ICAN recognize doulas are helping make systemic changes, provide-evidence based education, and helping ensure every mother has agency over her care.

Help ICAN and buy a shirt: https://www.bonfire.com/cesarean-awareness-month-2026/

09/26/2025

From Lamaze:
What Experts Say: Acetaminophen Remains Safe in Pregnancy

Dear Lamaze Community,

You may have seen recent headlines questioning whether acetaminophen use in pregnancy is linked to autism. These stories can cause confusion and concern, but leading experts and international authorities are clear: the evidence does not support a causal link.

Lamaze International encourages all educators, parents, and families to look to science and reliable sources when making health decisions, and to reach out to their own healthcare practitioners with individual questions to inform shared decision making about their healthcare.

To support you in staying informed, here are reliable sources you can review and share with parents and your community.

International sources confirm that acetaminophen (paracetamol) remains a safe option in pregnancy when used as directed.

World Health Organization (WHO): Emphasizes that there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) during pregnancy. Read more

European Medicines Agency (EMA): Confirms EU recommendations remain unchanged: paracetamol can be used in pregnancy when clinically needed. Read more

UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA): Confirms paracetamol is safe in pregnancy and there is no evidence it causes autism in children. Read more

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG): Advises paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option in pregnancy and highlights the risks of unmanaged fever and pain. Read more

UK Government Drug Safety Update: Reinforces there is no evidence of a causal link and points to large cohort data. Read more

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Affirms Safety and Benefits of Acetaminophen during Pregnancy. Read more

Childbirth educators can help parents prepare for prenatal visits by encouraging them to bring specific questions to their care team. For example, families might ask:

Do I need medication for this symptom now, or are there non-drug options I could try first?
If medication is appropriate, what dose and timing are best for me?
What are the risks of leaving my fever or pain untreated?
Where can I find more information from credible sources?

Lamaze remains committed to sharing evidence-based information that fosters confidence, clarity, and informed decision-making for families around the world.