Ora Doula Services

01/08/2026

Important information for clients and followers birthing at a Parkview hospital!

**A press release from the Allen County Department of Health

With respiratory illnesses rising locally and across Indiana, precautions are increasingly important to protect friends, family and those among our most vulnerable residents – patients being treated in healthcare facilities in Allen County.

Cases of influenza (flu) and COVID-19 have increased, and health officials urge caution. Each illness – along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – is common this time of year, and can result in severe disease.

“Immunization remains the best defense,” Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Gutwein said. “Anyone looking for vaccinations can check availability with their health care provider, area pharmacies, Super Shot and the Allen County Department of Health. You can also help stop viruses with simple steps like covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when you’re sick and washing your hands regularly.”

Vaccination reduces the risk of severe outcomes such as pneumonia, hospitalization and death.

Influenza-like activity is rising in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), and at least 17 people have died this season, which runs from October to May.

Parkview Health is experiencing higher increases in both emergency room and clinic visits for respiratory illness activity. This has resulted in Parkview implementing temporary visitor restrictions to protect patients, family and staff.

“Our highest priority is keeping patients safe, especially those who are most vulnerable to severe illness,” said Dr. Jeff Boord, chief quality and safety officer, Parkview Health.

Precautions include:

• No visitors 12 or younger
• Limit of two visitors at a time, per patient
• All visitors encouraged to wear a mask

Hospitals could have additional or different restrictions in certain departments or specialties, as needed.

Anyone with questions should contact the hospital they plan to visit. In addition, the Department of Health urges Allen County residents to take precautions to minimize transmission of respiratory illnesses:

- Get vaccinated. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations are available at many locations, including primary care providers’ offices and pharmacies. To check availability, contact providers, pharmacies or the Department of Health at (260) 449-7504. Super Shot also provides immunizations.

- Stay home if you’re sick. If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, you should stay home from work or school, whenever possible, until you are fever-free and symptoms are improving. Contact your primary health care provider if treatment is needed.

- Wash hands frequently. Use soap and warm water. If they are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

- Cover coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4qmqoEf

01/08/2026

What a joy it was to serve this sweet family!

Say hello to Eloise! She was born weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces on 12/25/25 with Marianne. Happy Birthday!

Her mother kindly wrote, "We are incredibly thankful for Dr. Stroud's practice & the knowledge of all the providers. Eloise is our rainbow baby after a loss last December. FMCC has taken amazing care of me through my pregnancy and walked beside me through it all. Marianne was present for delivery this time and let dad catch baby, it was such a wonderful experience for all of us. Marianne brings such an encouraging & calm presence to the birthing room. We're so thankful we had her and for her care during and after delivery after I experienced some complications. What a blessing FMCC is."

01/01/2026

💗

2025 has been quite a year for DNFW! We have grown exponentially - adding many new doulas and hosting a number of fantastic events! We can't wait for what 2026 has in store!

We collectively attended approximately 236 births this year, and our postpartum doulas supported families for approximately 405 hours! We provided birth support, postpartum support, lactation support, bereavement support, photography/videography, and childbirth education.

It has truly been a joy for each of us to serve in the greater Fort Wayne area. Happy New Year, see you in 2026!

12/31/2025

This year, I witnessed and supported 39 mothers as they welcomed their babies into the world!

2025, what a year! Of those 39 births, 31 were unmedicated, including 9 waterbirths. Several were VBACs, including a VBA2C and a VBA3C with a vertical incision. I supported several epidural births and a handful of C-sections, planned and unplanned.

The smallest baby I saw born this year was 4 lbs 6 oz, and the biggest was 10 lbs 8 oz! The earliest gestation (but not the smallest baby) was 35 weeks, and the latest were 42 weeks (and not the biggest babies).

I supported births in 2 birth centers, 4 hospitals, and a bunch of homes. The was the first year I attended a hospital birth in Ohio! I celebrated reaching 200 births total in November!

In 2025 I attended a birth on my own birthday, on Good Friday, on my daughter's birthday, on Thanksgiving, and on Christmas - definitely a Bingo of special days!

I was especially blessed this year to care for several repeat clients. It especially touches my heart when families ask me back for subsequent births.

If I learned anything this year, if has been how powerful a tool is my intuition. As I welcome 2026 and the babies and changes it has in store, I plan to continue to cultivate that intution as I lean into all the joys and hardships of birth work in new ways.

2025 has been so memorable! I can't wait for what 2026 has in store!

12/31/2025

Come join the best birth team in the area! I've worked with Agape since March 2021, and have learned, grown, and have had such a life-changing experience. If you're interested in birth - whether you have lots of experience or not at all - the birth assistant role is an entirely unique perspective on birth that you won't get anywhere else.

Agape is looking to hire another birth assistant! We average 4-8 births a month and are looking to add a dependable individual to the team!

We are looking for someone who:

-works well in a team setting
-can take call a week at a time
-able to attend monthly training
-able to walk out the door within 15 minutes of a call
-willing to grow and work in a home birth setting
-has reliable transportation
-able to drive within an hour (occasionally more than an hour) of Fort Wayne
-must have a smart phone
-must carry phone and answer call when on call
-must be able to carry heavy birth bags and O2 tank (minimum 50lbs)
-certify in NRP/CPR/BEST every 2 years with team. Upcoming training is August 6-7, 2026

12/25/2025

What could be a more beautiful way to celebrate the birth of Christ than with a birth? Congratulations to the beautiful 2nd time mom who welcomed her baby in the wee hours of the morning, her second unmedicated hospital birth! It's always such a special joy to care for families through multiple pregnancies. Dad even got to catch the baby this time!

I'm especially thankful this baby decided to be born at the perfect moment - I didn't miss Christmas Vigil Mass or present time at home! Other birth workers and on-call professionals will understand how that truly feels like divine providence.

Merry Christmas!

12/16/2025

After church this morning, an older woman stopped to chat with me because she'd heard I was a doula. "That must be so amazing! And sometimes probably heartbreaking." I have never felt so seen.

I think some of the hardest moments of this work can only be described as heartbreaking - to walk with families on what should have been the best days of their lives and for it to be their worst day. Those births stick with me, and they should. I honor the heartbreak of tragedy in the midst of all the joy this profession brings.

To the moms who I've cared for on the worst days of their lives, I'm thinking of you today. You are seen, your loss in honored, and not forgotten. If you're preparing for a Christmas without someone who should be here, take some time to honor that ache in midst of this busy season. You aren't alone.

12/03/2025

Thrilled to be on the board of the Doula Network of Fort Wayne for another year!

This past week, our members elected the new board for 2026! Please welcome our new Director Alyssa Oprie, our new Treasurer Makayla Slone, our new Event Coordinator Shelby Yarnelle, our returning Secretary Ronae Cleland, and our returning Webmaster Laura Kiefer. We're looking forward to building on our growth as DNFW continues to flourish!

12/03/2025

Something about a snow day sure brings on the births! What a joy to witness and support a strong first time mom as she welcomed her 4lb 6oz baby.

11/24/2025

What an incredible joy to witness an incredible mom get her VBA2C! This mom has such a special place in my heart, and caring for her as she navigated this new and beautiful experience was such an honor. 💗

11/20/2025

This beautiful candle was a gift from a sweet client! It was such a joy to witness her power as she welcomed her fifth baby!