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Loveand Birth, Dinwiddie, VA (2025)

07/08/2025

✨ A Gentle Reminder ✨

As a doula, I deeply value every family I serve. Supporting your birth journey is an honor and something I never take lightly.

With that said, communication is key.

When a contract is signed and a deposit is made, I reserve your due date and often the entire month surrounding it. That means I decline other inquiries, hold space on my calendar, and make myself available for you.

Recently, I’ve experienced a few instances where clients stopped communicating after booking, only to reach out again on the day of their birth. This puts everyone in a difficult position and can limit the support I’m able to provide.

Please remember: just like any other professional, doulas rely on clear communication, mutual respect, and timely updates. We’re here to walk alongside you, but we can only do that if we’re kept in the loop.

With love and gratitude always 💛
— Claudia, Birth & Postpartum Doula

07/02/2025

🌻 JULY AWARENESS MONTHS 🌻
Did you know July isn’t just about fireworks and sunshine? It’s also full of meaningful observances—especially for moms, mamas-to-be, and caregivers.

Here’s what July is known for:

👶 Group B Strep Awareness Month
If you’re pregnant, this one’s big. GBS is a common bacterial infection that can be passed to your baby during delivery—but testing and treatment can help prevent complications. Most OBs test around 35–37 weeks. Knowledge is power.

🧬 Cord Blood Awareness Month
Thinking about banking your baby’s cord blood? July is a great time to learn more. Cord blood is rich in stem cells and can potentially be used in future treatments for various illnesses.

☀️ UV Safety Month
Pregnancy hormones can make skin more sensitive to the sun (hello melasma). Don’t skip the SPF, mamas — protect that glow the right way!

🧠 Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Started by Bebe Moore Campbell, this month shines a light on the unique mental health challenges faced by BIPOC communities — including Black and Latina moms, who are often underserved and underdiagnosed. Let’s keep talking about mental health. Let’s keep advocating.

🍼 World Breastfeeding Week (coming up Aug 1–7)
While technically in August, many start preparing in July — especially first-time moms or birth/postpartum professionals! Start gathering info, support groups, or lactation consults now.

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✨ Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or just parenting through the chaos — July is a reminder that there’s so much more happening behind the scenes. Keep learning, keep growing, and give yourself credit. 💛

06/02/2025

🌈 Happy Pride Month from your local doula! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Hi everyone! My name is Claudia, and I’m so excited to (re)introduce myself as the face behind Loveand Birth. I’m not just your everyday doula, I’m a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community who is passionate about providing compassionate, non-biased care to ALL families, especially those in our q***r community. 💖

I know firsthand how important it is to feel seen, heard, and safe during such a transformational time in life. Whether you’re a same-sex couple, trans parent, single parent, or anyone navigating this journey, I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way. 🌸✨

This Pride Month, I’m celebrating love in all its forms and standing up for every family’s right to a supportive, respectful, and joyful birth and postpartum experience. 🌈💬

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and are seeking a doula who gets it, who truly understands and values your unique journey, let’s connect! I’m here to support you, advocate for you, and help make your experience everything you’ve dreamed of. 🌿🌈

💬 Drop me a message to learn more or to just say hi—I’d love to connect and celebrate YOU this Pride Month!

🌈✨

05/26/2025

To the moms who feel like they’re falling apart today…

You’re not failing. You’re not weak. You’re human.

I know the days feel long, the laundry feels endless, and the little hands pulling at you feel both precious and exhausting. I know you feel like you’re constantly giving while wondering if you’re doing enough.

But let me tell you something, mama. You are enough. You are the glue holding your family together in ways they may never understand. You are the safe place your children run to, the comfort in their fears, the warmth in their chaos.

They don’t see the mess you think they do. They don’t care if dinner was late or if you didn’t fold the laundry today. They see you. The person who loves them endlessly, who shows up no matter what, who kisses their scrapes and makes the world feel okay again.

So if today was hard, it’s okay. You’re not alone. You’re doing an amazing job, and your babies love you more than you’ll ever know.

Let’s remind each other that we’re in this together. Share this with a mom who needs to hear it today.

04/24/2025

National Infertility Awareness Week
April 20–26, 2025

This post is for every woman who’s ever stared at a negative pregnancy test and felt her heart shatter. For every person who has felt like their body betrayed them. For the ones who have screamed into pillows, cried in parking lots, and still shown up smiling.

1 in 6 people will face infertility. That’s not a small number. And yet, most of us go through it in silence, like it’s some shameful secret. But it’s not shameful—it’s heartbreaking. It’s isolating. It’s real.

My journey was filled with years of trying to conceive. Years of pain, poking, prodding, and praying. I fought through endometriosis and PCOS, the double whammy that made every cycle feel like a slap in the face. But even through all of that, I held onto hope.

That hope turned into years of praying, medicines, and eventually, my sweet little Amalia!

Braden and I planned to have another child after Amalia - but my body had another plan.

My uterus—literally turned against me. I was diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells four months after having Amalia, and suddenly, I wasn’t just facing infertility… I was facing a life-altering decision with barely any time to process it. There was no egg retrieval. No time to freeze anything. No “wait and see.” It was a choice between keeping a broken piece of me or saving the rest.

So, I had a hysterectomy.
And let me be very clear—it was not a choice I made easily or willingly. It was ripped from me by circumstance, and it’s something I grieve, even now. Because while it gave me physical peace, it closed a door I never wanted shut.

Infertility is more than just a diagnosis. It’s the quiet ache during baby showers. It’s the forced smile when someone says “you’ll understand when you have kids.” It’s the trauma of lost time, lost chances, and lost dreams.

But I’m here. And if you’re reading this and you’re going through it—I want you to know you’re not alone. Whether you’re still in the thick of it, healing, or just trying to breathe through the grief… I see you.

To the 1 in 6—you are strong, you are worthy, and you are so much more than what your body could or couldn’t do.

Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep fighting. And let’s keep holding space for every story—especially the ones that never got their fairytale ending.

Graphic made by: Claudia Rivera

04/01/2025

Trans Day of Visibility

(Yes, I know I’m a day late—life’s been laughing at me lately—but this still matters deeply.)

Yesterday was Trans Day of Visibility, and I couldn’t let it pass without saying something important to my LGBTQIA+ friends, family, clients, and loved ones:

You are seen. You are heard. You are valid. You are not alone.

We will continue to fight with you and for you.

Loveandbirth, RVA proudly supports and stands with the LGBTQIA+ community—not just on this day, but every day.

We are honored to serve this community and are deeply passionate about protecting and uplifting human rights. If you or someone you love is in need of a Doula or simply needs emotional support, please know our space is always safe and welcoming.

Reach out. You’re not alone. You matter.

With love and light,
Claudia | Loveandbirth, RVA

03/09/2025

March is Pregnancy After Loss Awareness Month 🤍

Pregnancy after loss is something no one truly prepares you for. It’s not just excitement and anticipation—it’s fear, anxiety, and an endless cycle of “what ifs.” It’s carrying both hope and heartbreak at the same time.

It’s taking pregnancy tests long after you already know you’re pregnant, just to make sure the line isn’t fading.
It’s checking the toilet paper every single time you go to the bathroom, holding your breath, praying for reassurance.

It’s every cramp, every ache sending you into a spiral of panic.

It’s gripping the sides of the ultrasound table, your heart pounding until you finally hear that sound—the heartbeat you’ve been begging for.

It’s crying on the days when your symptoms aren’t as strong, convinced that something must be wrong.

Pregnancy after loss is one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. The constant fear, the emotional exhaustion, the battle between trusting my body and fearing it would fail me again—it changed me. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

To every parent walking this road: I see you, I understand you, and you are not alone. Your fear is valid. Your love is valid. And no matter where you are in your journey, your baby—every single one of them—matters. 💕

03/08/2025

✨ Happy International Women’s Day! ✨

Today, we honor the power, resilience, and beauty of every woman—especially the mothers, the nurturers, the life-bringers. As a doula, I am constantly in awe of the strength women hold, whether they are bringing new life into the world, healing, growing, or simply showing up for themselves and their families each day.

To my daughters and to all the incredible women I’ve had the privilege to support—may you always feel empowered in your choices, heard in your experiences, and loved in every stage of life.

Let’s continue to uplift, support, and celebrate one another—not just today, but every day. 💜

💬 Tag a woman who inspires you!

03/03/2025

In 2022, just four months after giving birth, I was forced to make a decision no woman should have to face. A hysterectomy. Not because I wanted to, but because endometriosis, PCOS, and precancerous cells left me no choice.

I wasn’t just losing an organ—I was losing the future I had dreamed of. The chance to carry more babies. The ability to choose what happened to my own body. Endometriosis stole that from me.

But here’s the truth they don’t tell you: A hysterectomy isn’t a cure. Even after removing my uterus, the disease still remained. It clung to my colon, my intestines, my kidneys—wrapping around my organs like a silent predator. My surgery was supposed to be quick. Instead, it stretched to nearly four hours as my doctors uncovered the damage this disease had done.

Endometriosis is not just “bad periods.”
It’s not just “a little pain.”
It’s a relentless disease that takes, and takes, and takes.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and I refuse to let this battle go unnoticed. Women everywhere are suffering—begging to be believed, waiting years for a diagnosis, being dismissed and told that pain is just part of being a woman.

We deserve better.
We deserve answers.
We deserve research, treatment, and real solutions.

To every warrior fighting this battle—I see you. I hear you. I stand with you. Your pain is real. Your story matters. And together, we will make sure the world listens.

Speak up. Fight back. Demand more. Because we are more than our pain. We are unstoppable.

02/28/2025

✨ Exciting Updates + What It Means to Have a Doula! ✨

Hey everyone! I’ve had a lot of interest in my services lately, and I just wanted to take a moment to share some updates and answer a few common questions!

As of right now, I have:
👶 Two July babies
👶 A potential August baby
👶 An October baby
👶 A potential November baby

I am beyond grateful for the growing trust families are placing in me to support them during such a life-changing time! If you or someone you know is expecting and looking for birth or postpartum support, I’d love to connect and see how I can help. 💕

💡 What Does a Doula Do?
As a birth and postpartum doula, I provide unwavering emotional, physical, and informational support to families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. My goal is to ensure that you feel heard, empowered, and cared for every step of the way—whether that means helping you advocate for your birth preferences, offering hands-on comfort measures, or simply being a listening ear when you need it most.

💖 How I Support You:
🤍 Emotional Support – Holding space for your feelings, easing fears, and ensuring you feel confident and supported throughout your journey.
🤍 Physical Support – Providing comfort techniques, guiding positioning, and using relaxation methods to help you through labor.
🤍 Informational Support – Answering questions, sharing evidence-based resources, and making sure you feel informed about your choices.

💰 Do I Take Insurance?
At this time, I do not accept insurance, but I work directly with families and their budgets to make sure every mom has access to the support she deserves. This work is not about the money for me—it’s about ensuring moms feel supported, safe, and never alone during one of the most life-changing experiences of their lives.

I also offer payment plans, and I have contracts in place to keep everything clear and stress-free. If you’re expecting in 2025 and looking for a birth or postpartum doula, I would love to chat and get you on my schedule! 💕

Thank you all for your continued support—it truly means the world to me! 🤍✨

02/11/2025

✨ Good Morning, Friends! ✨

Rise and shine! 🌞 Let today be the day you chase your dreams, sip that extra cup of coffee, and smile at least three times (even if it’s at your own jokes).

💡 Today’s Reminder: You’re capable, you’re worthy, and you’re doing better than you think.

Let’s make it a good one! 💕 Drop your goals or plans for the day below—I’d love to cheer you on! 🫶

01/12/2025

✨ To the Mamas Battling Postpartum Depression: You Are Not Alone ✨

Hey, mama. 💕
If you’re in the trenches of postpartum depression right now, I want you to take a deep breath and remember this: you are not failing, you are healing.

Motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also hard—and postpartum depression doesn’t make you a bad mom. It doesn’t define your love for your baby or your worth as a mother. It’s a chapter in your story, not the whole book.

🌸 Here’s a gentle reminder:
• It’s okay to ask for help—whether from a loved one, a friend, or a professional.
• Your feelings are valid, even the hard ones.
• Rest is productive. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and taking care of yourself IS taking care of your family.
• Healing takes time, and you deserve to give yourself grace in that process.

You are doing so much better than you think, mama. Your baby doesn’t need perfection—they just need YOU. ❤️

Let’s break the silence around postpartum depression and create a community where every mother feels supported, seen, and heard.

💌 If you ever need someone to listen or resources to lean on, you’re never alone in this journey. Sending love and strength your way.

Loveand Birth

07/08/2025

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