Amanda Mondlock, Birth & Postpartum Doula

03/30/2026

I’ve always had some concerns about how widely the ARRIVE trial findings are applied. While correlation isn’t causation, I’ve been at many inductions, particularly for first-time parents, that ended in cesarean for “failure to progress”.

It makes me hopeful to see more research emerging. In the meantime, informed consent and nuanced conversations about induction matter so much!

We hear a lot about the ARRIVE Study. As doulas, this is definitely a publication we've struggled with as it doesn't assess birth experience and autonomy.

However, newer research is adding more to the conversation 👇

A 2024 study published in Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care looked at real-world births. It found something important:

✨ Induction at 39 weeks may lower c-section rates based on the ARRIVE study in a somewhat controlled study

BUT

✨ In everyday clinical practice, induction was associated with a higher chance of c-section

👉 This newer study looked at outcomes from an entire population (Victoria, Australia) and not a controlled trial.

It found:
✔️ Only after 40 weeks did induction show a benefit in reducing perinatal mortality
✔️ For lower-risk pregnancies, non-medically indicated induction may carry its own risks

So what does this mean for you?

It’s not about “induction is bad” or “induction is good”

It’s about informed decision-making, having autonomy, and providers respecting a desire for spontaneous labor.

Spontaneous labor has benefits when there's no medical concerns for the birthing person or baby. Parents deserve accurate information to make informed decisions that also align with birth preferences.

When induction is offered, try using BRAIN:
🧠 Benefits
🧠 Risks
🧠 Alternatives
🧠 Intuition
🧠 Nothing (what if we wait?)

You deserve to understand your options and have autonomy in your birth experience.

Save this for your next provider conversation
& share with someone navigating pregnancy decisions

👇 Did your provider discuss BOTH risks and benefits of induction?

.

03/29/2026

Lee, IT. The language of failure. JAMA 2022; 327(5):425-426.

09/22/2025

Too often, especially on social media, birth gets framed as a performance; something you can pass or fail, win or lose. But birth isn’t a test. You’re not being graded for how long you labor, what interventions you use, or whether you stay ‘calm.’

When birth is treated like a performance, parents are left feeling judged, pressured, and compared, instead of supported. That pressure can add fear and stress, which are the very things that work against labor progressing smoothly.

Birth is a threshold. A crossing into parenthood, into expansion, into something you can never fully prepare for but carry with you the rest of your life.

This is why support matters. A doula isn’t there to evaluate or push you toward a certain “ideal birth.” We’re there to protect the space, quiet the noise, and help you feel safe, grounded, and truly seen. When birth stops being performative, it becomes what it was always meant to be: your unique transformation, honored and supported every step of the way.

07/14/2025

06/15/2025

🌟 5 Things No One Tells You About the First Hour After Birth

You did it. The baby is here, but you’re not done yet. These moments can be unexpectedly intense. Here are five things that often catch new parents off guard right after delivery:

⸻

1. You might shake uncontrollably.

These birth shakes or postpartum tremors are completely normal. It’s a response to the hormonal and adrenaline rush of birth .
✨Warm blankets can help—ask your nurse to grab one.
✨Gentle, firm pressure on your limbs can help ground you
✨Most importantly: don’t fight the shaking. Let your body release what it needs. You’re safe and it will pass.

⸻

2. Just when you think you’re done… there’s still a lot of medical stuff that needs to happen.

After baby is born, your body still has important work left.
✨You may be in stirrups with bright lights on so your provider can check for tears and repair them.
✨A one-time dose of Pitocin is standard to help your uterus contract and prevent hemorrhage (it’s your choice, and you can ask questions or decline).
✨You’ll experience a fundal massage, which is firm pressure on your abdomen to stimulate uterine contraction and stop bleeding. It can feel intense, especially if you weren’t expecting it.

None of this means something went wrong, it’s simply part of your ongoing care.

⸻

3. You might feel like you’re not fully in your body.

Shock, dissociation, numbness, or a feeling of floating above everything is very common, especially after an unmedicated or fast birth . You may feel dazed, cry, go quiet, or just not feel yourself.

This is your nervous system processing something enormous. You’ll come back to yourself in time. You are okay and there’s no “wrong” way to feel.

⸻

4. The room might suddenly feel really full.

As delivery nears, the room may have nurses, pediatric staff, and extra support. After birth, one provider may be assessing you, while another tends baby, someone preps the warmer, and someone else supports your uterus, all under bright lights.
✨ It doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means your team is making sure both you and baby are safe
✨ When it feels overwhelming, focus on your small, sacred moment of meeting your baby

⸻

5. You might not feel that instant bond, and that’s okay!

You may have been told that the moment baby hits your chest, everything would feel magical……but sometimes it doesn’t. If you’re shaky, overwhelmed, or emotionally distant, it’s perfectly okay to say, “I need a minute.”

Your partner can hold baby skin-to-skin while you gather yourself.
✨ Your baby is still getting warmth, connection, and love
✨ Bonding isn’t fragile, it happens over time
✨ You are already enough….even if you need a moment

⸻

There’s a lot of focus on the moment the baby arrives, but the moments after matter, too! You deserve to be supported not just medically, but emotionally and physically. That’s why I’m here.

06/14/2025

I have yet to see an en caul birth. 🤞🏻

This is so beautiful. ❤️

06/11/2025

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06/09/2025

Think you don’t need a doula because you’re getting an epidural? Let’s talk.

Epidurals can be an amazing tool—but they don’t replace emotional support, and they don’t make everything easy.

Even with pain relief, labor can still feel intense. You’ll still feel pressure as your baby descends into your pelvis. You might have moments of anxiety, uncertainty, or overwhelm. And you’ll still be making decisions, big and small, that deserve support.

With an epidural, I help:
💛 Create a calming environment (soft lighting, music, rest support, etc.)
💛 Reposition you in bed to help baby descend and labor progress
💛 Offer reassurance if things get emotionally or mentally tough
💛 Support your partner so they can stay grounded and present with you
💛 Guide you during pushing when sensations are muted or unclear
💛 Advocate for your goals and preferences if things change

👉 Sometimes, getting an epidural too early can slow labor down.
I offer hands-on comfort and coping tools to support you until your labor is well established….so the timing works *with* your body, not against it.

Pain relief is powerful. But it doesn’t replace presence.
Epidurals support your body. I support you.

05/31/2025

Hiring a doula isn’t about paying someone to hold your hand through labor (though yes, I will hold your hand through it all). You’re investing in something much deeper and a lot more “behind-the-scenes”:

✨ Ongoing Pregnancy Support
From the moment we start working together, I’m here. You get full access to my brain, heart, cell phone. You can reach out with questions, worries, wins, and weird symptoms. You’re not alone in navigating the physical, emotional, and mental load of pregnancy: I’m right there with you.

👥 Prenatal Visits
We don’t just meet at the birth. We sit down for real conversations. We talk about your hopes, fears, history, preferences, and coping strategies. I help you understand your body, your options, and what to actually expect so you go in feeling prepared and supported.

⏰ 24/7 On-Call Availability
Starting weeks before your due date, I’m on-call. That means no travel. No late nights. No weekend getaways. I sleep with my phone next to my pillow. My bag is packed. My family knows the drill. I have missed birthdays, holidays, school concerts, and vacations—because I choose to center you during one of the most vulnerable transitions of your life.

🧠 Years of Training and Education
You benefit from everything I’ve studied and practiced: birth physiology, nervous system regulation, trauma-informed care, positional techniques, medical system advocacy, and deep real-world experience. This is not a hobby. It’s a calling and a craft.

🫶 Emotional Labor You Don’t See
That calm, grounding presence? It’s not accidental. I’m attuning to your voice, your breath, your emotions, and your partner’s energy. I’m holding space while you fall apart, rebuild yourself, roar, rest, and rise. I carry your story in my bones.

📋 Behind-the-Scenes Work + Tools
Long before labor begins, I’m reviewing your intake, creating personalized plans, checking in, and sending resources. And when it’s go-time? I come with a whole toolkit: essential oils, a TENS unit, a rebozo, heat packs, and more. I’ve invested in comfort measures you don’t have to think about—I’ve got them ready when you need them

💥 Birth Attendance
Whether your labor is 5 hours or 35, I am all in. I stay by your side with physical support, pain relief techniques, emotional presence, and strategic coaching. I help you feel safe and strong, no matter how birth unfolds.

🌀 Postpartum Debrief + Continued Support
Once baby arrives, I’m still here. We talk, we process, and I connect you to local resources. You’re not just handed a baby and sent off alone: I help you land.

So no, you’re not paying “just” for hand-holding.
You’re paying for presence.
For expertise.
For commitment.
For the kind of care that doesn’t clock out.

05/22/2025

Lately, I’ve been hearing something from clients that makes my heart ache.
They’ll say things like:

“I feel like I should be doing more…”
“I saw this list on TikTok…”
“I’m hearing that if I don’t do XYZ, my birth will be harder.”

There’s so much pressure right now to optimize your birth—to follow all the steps, do all the stretches, bounce on the ball, drink the tea, and be in the perfect mental state at all times… or else. 😵‍💫

But birth isn’t a performance.
It isn’t a test.
Birth isn’t a competition you need to win.

There’s no prize for doing the most prep.
No gold medal for getting everything “right.”
No checklist that guarantees your birth will go exactly as planned.

Yes—preparation matters.
But none of it works if you don’t feel safe, informed, and deeply seen as an individual.

That’s the work I do.

I don’t show up with a formula to follow or a to-do list that promises perfect outcomes.
I walk beside you…not to manage, but to protect your space, your voice, and your heart.

Because emotional support isn’t fluff.
It’s the core of what helps you integrate your birth experience.
It’s what helps you feel like you were at the center of it all.

So if you’ve been feeling the pressure to do all the things (and then beating yourself up for falling short), let this be your reminder:

✨ You don’t need to prove anything.
✨ You don’t need to earn your birth story.
✨ You are already enough.

05/15/2025

What’s in breastmilk:
1. Water
Breastmilk is composed of about 87% water, which is crucial for keeping your baby hydrated.

2. Proteins
Proteins in breastmilk are essential for your baby’s growth and development.
Whey Proteins: Are highest in early lactation.
Casein Proteins: Casein concentration increases in mature milk and later lactation.

Proteins are highest in premature milk, colostrum and during weaning as an immune defence.

3. Fats
The fats in breastmilk include essential fatty acids, such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), which are crucial for brain and eye development.
The composition of fats in breast milk changes during each feed and throughout lactation to meet your baby’s developmental needs. The fat content of your milk is directly related to the fullness or emptiness of the breast. The emptier the breast, the higher the fat content.

4. Carbohydrates
The primary carbohydrate in breastmilk is lactose, which provides energy for your baby and aids in calcium absorption. Additionally, breastmilk contains oligosaccharides, which are complex sugars that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and protect against harmful pathogens.

5. Vitamins and Minerals
Breastmilk is rich in vitamins and minerals essential for your baby’s growth and overall health. These include:
Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K: support immune function, bone health, and overall development.

6. Antibodies and Immune Cells
One of the most remarkable aspects of breast milk is its immune-boosting properties. Breast milk contains antibodies, such as Secretory IgA specifically to protect mucosal surfaces, as well as lysozymes and lactoferrin which help protect your baby from infections and illnesses.

7. Hormones and Growth Factors
Breastmilk contains various hormones and growth factors that have significant effects on the developing baby’s gut, blood vessels, nervous system and endocrine system.

These include:
Prolactin and Oxytocin
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)

05/11/2025

To every mother, in every form—

To the ones giving birth, and the ones giving love.

To the new moms, the seasoned ones, the grieving ones, and the hoping ones.

To the parents whose paths to motherhood weren’t easy or traditional.

To the mothers navigating NICU stays, loss, postpartum healing, or simply the deep, quiet transformation of it all…

You are seen. You are powerful. You are doing the work of love.

Today, I honor not just the title of “Mother,” but the weight of it—the tenderness, the courage, the exhaustion, the joy, and everything in between.

Sending love to every mother I’ve walked beside as a doula, and every family navigating the journey in their own way.

💛 You’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.