Mountain Moon Doula, Fort Collins, CO (2026)

03/11/2026

I feel like I could write a book about . I’ve had it with all of my pregnancies, and I’m currently going through it again with my 4th, and maybe final little pea.
Everyone hears about first-trimester nausea, and yes, that alone is no fun… but imagine that lasting for months. Imagine it being more than nausea. Full-blown vomiting multiple times a day. Not being able to eat or keep anything down, but if you don’t eat, it somehow makes it worse. No amount of medication seems to help, even though you’ve tried literally everything under the sun hoping to make even the smallest dent.
The changing meds, the combo meds, eating every hour and a half, snacking before getting out of bed, the ginger, the bubbly drinks, the acupuncture, the nausea bracelets, the essential oils, smelling alcohol wipes, the list goes on and on.
Now add going through all of that while you still have multiple kiddos to care for, little humans who don’t understand (and honestly don’t care) that mommy doesn’t want to get out of bed today.
HG takes everything out of you.
Your energy. Your nutrients. Your mental health. Your patience. Your strength.
It’s a tough, humbling, relentless season. And even though you want so badly to enjoy growing your sweet baby, it’s incredibly hard to soak in the beauty of pregnancy when you feel like you’re just trying to survive the day.
Unless you’ve had HG, it’s almost impossible to understand.
I’m not sharing this to ask for sympathy.
I’m sharing this for the HG mamas. The ones in the thick of it right now. The ones laying on the bathroom floor, the ones forcing themselves to get up for their other babies, the ones wondering how they’re going to make it through another day.
You are not alone.
It is okay to not enjoy this moment.
It is okay to let things go.
It is okay to complain.
It is okay to just survive.
And even in the middle of all the sickness, exhaustion, and tears, we are still doing something unbelievably powerful.
We are growing life.
We are showing up when our bodies feel broken.
We are loving our babies before we even meet them.
HG may take a lot from us, but it will never take away the strength it proves we have.

03/09/2026

Today on International Women’s Day, I just want to take a moment to honor the incredible strength, courage, and vulnerability I get to witness every single day in my work. Walking alongside women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum has shown me just how powerful this season of life truly is.
I see the women who are building businesses, the stay-at-home moms holding down the fort, the ones going to school, the ones making the money, and the ones raising the next generation and often doing all of those things at the same time. It is nothing short of amazing to be part of a community that carries the title of woman.
Women are superheroes. I will never stop saying that. The strength it takes to bring life into this world is beyond what most people can imagine. The intensity of birth alone is often compared to breaking bones, yet women rise through it with determination and power. And after birth, the rush of hormones can feel like the biggest roller coaster of all. Yet mothers continue to show up, love deeply, and give endlessly.
The amount of focus, multitasking, planning, patience, and heart it takes to be a mother is more than anyone could fully understand unless they’ve lived it. And I have the honor of witnessing it every day.
To all the women in every season, every role, every path you are strong, you are capable, and you are extraordinary. Happy International Women’s Day!

❤️

02/23/2026

This year has been heavy, hard, and filled with grief in more ways than one. In the midst of it all, I’ve been reminded how much children teach us. They embody the innocence, honesty, kindness, and playfulness we sometimes lose as we grow into adulthood. They are the reason we keep going, the reason we fight harder and love deeper.
Through everything, my children have carried me in ways they don’t even realize. Their smiles, their snuggles, their honest little conversations, their silliness, and their unconditional love have been my light.

I have always dreamed of having a big family. It was one of the very first things I talked to Kevin about when we started dating. Even at 15 years old, we were on the same page. Eleven years later, we welcomed Haven the little bean who made us parents. Then came Malcom, who showed us what it truly means to be boy parents (iykyk). And then Carter, our sweet surprise, who reminded us that parenthood can still catch you off guard in the most crazy beautiful ways.
Now, we are patiently waiting for our final little baby to grow and make their way earthside. The last puzzle piece that will complete our family. I know this baby will teach us just as much as the others have.
It’s bittersweet knowing this will be the last time we experience all the firsts. But our hearts are full, and we are so grateful for the little blessings that have come our way.

To my doula families, I want you to know that this season only deepens my love and passion for the work I do. Walking through pregnancy again myself brings me even closer to the emotions, the anticipation, the vulnerability, and the strength that each of you carry.
My care for you will never be hindered. If anything, it expands. It softens me in the best ways. It reminds me in real time what it feels like to wait, to wonder, to prepare, and to surrender.
The bond we create during your pregnancy and postpartum journey is sacred to me. Experiencing this alongside you only strengthens that connection. I am still fully here, holding space, supporting you, advocating for you, and loving your babies like my own.
This isn't just what I do, it's who I am!❤️

01/10/2026

Parenthood on Tap is a come-as-you-are community meet-up for families in all seasons of parenthood from pregnancy through postpartum and beyond. I created this space for both partners, growing families, and brand new parents who are just beginning their journey, and for those looking for connection, support, and real community.

Messy buns and sweatpants are welcome. Kids can come in their pajamas, no shoes, and mismatched outfits. You can grab a brew, enjoy something non-alcoholic, or simply soak in being social without pressure. This is a space where children are free to be kids with no judgment from other group members, and where parents can feed babies, take a breath, and be fully themselves. This is a space to share stories, ask for advice, get the facts, and feel comfortable being you!

Parenthood on Tap is about building long lasting relationships, finding your village, and remembering that you don’t have to do this alone. Whether you’re expecting, newly postpartum, or somewhere in between, you belong here.

This community is lovingly built by Nikki McDaniel of Mountain Moon Doula in collaboration with Savanna of Marigold Mountain Doula and Cheryl of Cheryl Small Doula Services, three doulas coming together with one shared goal: to create more support, more connection, and more village for our families.

Pull up a chair, park the stroller, and join us. Parenthood is better together!

We will be holding meets once a month on every third Saturday of the month. Location TBD prior to the event. Event details will be posted on here, our Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need immediate support!

01/07/2026

My beautiful niece passed away on New Year’s Day. A day meant to be filled with celebration, hope, and new beginnings instead brought our family unimaginable grief and heartbreak. She was only 15 years old, with so much life still ahead of her.

Brynn loved volleyball, her friends, and all the things that make being a teenager so special. But what I loved most about her was her deep, natural love for babies. I don’t know if she ever would have chosen to follow in her auntie’s footsteps, but I do know this, Brynn would have made a damn good doula. Caregiving came so naturally to her. If there was a baby nearby, Brynn was right there changing diapers, playing, dressing them, rocking them to sleep, holding them close, and soaking in every moment she could. She had a calm, gentle way about her, and you just knew that when she was around, those babies were safe, loved, and cared for.

Our lives have been forever changed by this loss. We will carry Brynn with us always, holding her close in our hearts. We love you endlessly, Brynnlee.

To my clients: I am taking time to be with my family during this incredibly difficult period. I am always available by text, and if you need immediate support, my trusted backup doulas are available and ready to support you with the same care and compassion. Please feel free to reach out to me directly, or contact Cheryl Small or Savanna Brede

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and love.

12/13/2025

Parenthood can so easily start to feel like a competition.
Who’s rolling first, walking first, talking first, sleeping through the night first.
And social media doesn’t help. The highlight reels full of “early” milestones that make us question if we’re doing enough or if our baby is somehow behind.

But here’s the truth we don’t hear often enough:
Hitting milestones early does not predict future intelligence, success, or educational outcomes. It doesn’t mean one baby is “ahead” and another is “behind.” It simply means they’re different.
Instead of focusing on when milestones happen, what if we focused on what’s happening right now?
The tiny fingers wiggling in excitement.
The way they reach for a toy with so much determination.
The look of pure wonder when they lock eyes with you.
The small moments that don’t come with a chart or a timeline, but matter just as much, if not more.
Every baby develops at their own pace.
Every journey is unique, and babies don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
Let’s release the pressure, step out of comparison, and celebrate babies simply being babies, exactly where they are, exactly as they are. 🤍

12/10/2025

Being a postpartum doula means so much more than an extra set of hands… it means becoming part of your family.
I’m there for the late-night baby snuggles, the quiet moments when the world is asleep, and the joyful chaos that fills your home in those early weeks. But I’m also there for the other babies… the furry ones who love just as deeply.
Your pets become my coworkers.
They curl up with me during feeds, keep me company during those peaceful overnight hours, “help” me keep an eye on the newborn, and of course wait patiently by my feet for a crumb to fall while I cook for tired parents. They remind me when the baby cries, follow me from room to room, and show me just how big a family’s love can be.
I don’t just support the postpartum healing journey…
I care for the whole home, the tiny humans, the grown-ups doing their best, and the four-legged family members who feel every change right along with you.
If you welcome me into your space, know that I’m stepping in with my whole heart.
Not just as a helper, but as someone who truly sees and loves your family exactly as it is—paws and all.

11/15/2025

Let’s talk about PMADs (perinatal mood & anxiety disorders).
I don’t share this lightly, but I share it because I wish someone would have said it to me all those years ago.

One of the biggest reasons I became a postpartum doula is because of my own journey with my first baby. It was honestly one of the hardest seasons my husband and I had ever walked through. We were first-time parents, trying our best, telling ourselves “this must be normal," but also wondering why it felt so impossibly heavy.

Here’s the truth I wish someone had whispered to us:
It shouldn’t be that hard.
And you deserve support long before you reach your breaking point.
PMADs look different for everyone. And those quick questions at the doctor’s office? They don’t always capture the whole picture. Sometimes, you answer honestly, but you also have moments of happiness, so you downplay it. Sometimes you’re not even sure what you’re feeling. You just know something is off.

I’ve experienced some form of PMADs with all three of my babies. Some during pregnancy, some postpartum, and honestly, most showed up after the 4-month mark when everyone assumes you’re “better” by now.

For me, it looked like:
• Taking the dog out for 5 minutes and panicking that the baby would wake up or something would happen, even while watching the monitor
• Feeling like I wasn’t “myself” anymore, but telling myself it was just hormones
• Anger — so much anger — snapping over nothing and then instantly regretting it
• Constant exhaustion that didn’t make sense
• Forgetting where I was driving
• Holding my breath without realizing it
•Feeling like I was always on high alert

If you’re in it right now, please hear me: you are not alone.
You’re not failing.
You’re not “too much.”
You’re not imagining it.

Reach out. Ask for help. Tell a friend. Message me if you need a safe place. I’m here to listen without judgment, to meet you exactly where you are, and if you need resources, I have some incredible ones to share.
You deserve support. You deserve to feel held. And you absolutely deserve to feel like you again.

08/30/2025

📣Last Call to Vote📣
Tomorrow is the final day to vote for NoCo’s Best Doula 2025!
I couldn’t be more thankful for every single one of you who has already taken the time to vote and support me on this passionate journey. These last few years as a postpartum doula have stretched my heart in the best way. Helping families during such a tender, transformative season is truly my calling.
To even make it to the ballot is such an honor, and I would be incredibly grateful to be voted into the Top 3!
Your support means the world—thank you for cheering me on, believing in this dream, and spreading the love.
Vote here: https://share.google/YULjIQbIBrgwfHVZn

08/09/2025

Exciting News!!
I’ve been working on something new that I am so excited to finally share with you… Birth Photography! 📸

This newest passion of mine feels like the perfect extension of the work I already love so much as a postpartum doula. Capturing those raw, powerful, and beautiful first moments of life has truly deepened my love for supporting families during this incredible journey.

I’d be so grateful for your support—take a peek at my website, check out my gallery, and share with anyone who might be looking for someone to capture their birth story.

www.mtnmoondoula.com/birthphotography

Your encouragement means the world to me!

08/04/2025

It's World Breastfeeding Week 🤱🏽

Did you know that in many cultures around the world—and throughout history—wet nurses played a vital role in infant feeding and community care?
From West African and Middle Eastern traditions to European and Asian societies, wet nurses were often family members, neighbors, or designated caregivers who breastfed and nurtured babies that were not their own. It wasn’t taboo—it was community. ❤️
In the Philippines (my own heritage!), aunties and cousins would often help care for and feed a newborn when needed. In other places, milk kinship (a bond formed through nursing) was considered sacred.
Today, while wet nursing may look different, the core idea still matters: supporting each other in postpartum and infant care is natural, necessary, and normal.
🤱🏽 Whether it's through donor milk, lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, or just having someone hold your baby while you shower—you were never meant to do this alone.
So this week, let’s honor:
✨ The legacy of wet nurses
✨ The magic of shared care
✨ And the reminder that community is everything
Let’s rebuild that village, one mama at a time 💛
📸

08/03/2025

✨ Day 7: Celebrate Yourself ✨

Take a moment today—yes, right now—to say,
“I’m doing a great job.”
Because you absolutely are.
You’ve made it through sleepless nights, unpredictable days, milk spills, meltdowns (yours and theirs), and more snuggles than you can count. You’ve felt the weight of worry and the beauty of deep love. You’ve shown up in the ways only you can, and that deserves to be honored.
Let this be your gentle reminder:
💗 You don’t need perfection to be an amazing mom.
💗 You are not alone in your struggles.
💗 You are worthy of celebration—every single day.

This may be the last day of the Mom Guilt Series, but it’s not the last day to pause, reflect, and remind yourself of your strength, your grace, and your absolute badassery as a parent.
So throw some confetti (real or imaginary), treat yourself to something that fills your cup, and repeat after me:
“I am doing enough. I am more than enough. I am a wonderful mom.”

Mountain Moon Doula

03/11/2026

03/09/2026

02/23/2026

01/10/2026

01/07/2026

12/13/2025

12/10/2025

11/15/2025

08/30/2025

08/09/2025

08/04/2025

08/03/2025

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