Laura Pascoe - Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Couples Support Specialist

12/21/2025

Final Week of Our Yuletide Tradition: Joy + Light ✨

I have learned that JOY isn’t about constant happiness or pretending things are easy.

It’s about learning what sustainable joy feels like—and building—as weird as it may sound—the tolerance to let it exist without bracing for loss.

And light?
Light is only brilliant because there is darkness.

This feels especially true in pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood—seasons where joy often lives right alongside uncertainty, fear, anxiety, hyper vigilance, or grief.

One finding I can’t stop thinking about: some of the most joyful societies aren’t the wealthiest. Research on wealth-adjusted life satisfaction shows that joy tracks less with control or money, and more with meaning, connection, agency, and everyday moments of enjoyment.

That mirrors what matters most in birth and parenting too.

Joy isn’t naïve, nor is it ever the whole story.
Light isn’t denial (but it can be if we aren’t careful)
They’re practices.

I’m taking a short social media break to spend more quality, uninterrupted time with my family and will be back in January.

If you’re pregnant or preparing for parenthood and want support rooted in evidence, agency, and partnership, check out my website (link in bio) for ways I can support you.

What helps you notice joy right now? ✨

12/16/2025

Week 3 of our Yuletide Tradition: Curiosity + Magic 🪄

Sharing this tradition to show the magic of love-centered rituals—and that you don’t need church (or mosque or synagogue… though rock it if that’s your jam) to instill and live out your values.

This week we also lost John’s Great Uncle Vernon—105 years, sharp to the end, and deeply loved.

After talking about curiosity and magic, the kids asked if we could go outside, look at the lights, and sing Silent Night to honor him.
So we did ❤️

Also had an awesome magic show from our dear friend and one of the kid’s godparents () -they’ve been practicing ever since 😬. So special to have Tara join the fun and bring such joy, even from so far away 💫

If you’re pregnant and wanting support putting your values into action as you prepare for birth and parenting, DM me.

What makes this season magic for you? Comment below! ⬇️

12/15/2025

What does a gender-inclusive early learning environment look like, feel like? Find out here!

Please share and distribute widely to any early childhood educators looking for an engaging and interactive workshop on making a space that welcomes all children as their whole selves. So excited to have this opportunity through VTHEC (and another training for educators of grades 3-12 coming soon too!)

This workshop equips educators of young students with practical tools and strategies to challenge limiting gender norms, support gender diversity, and create classrooms where equity and inclusivity are the liberating default.

12/11/2025

I love when my kids jump in to help without being asked. It’s not always, but this time Dex knew that once the driveway was shoveled, we could go sledding 🛷❄️

In other words: he knew his “why”, and that was enough to power him through.

A lot of the families I work with have a goal of an unmedicated birth. And for some, the “why” behind that goal hasn’t been fully explored yet — and every person’s why is different. Humans are beautifully diverse, and that’s one of the things I love most about them!

In our sessions, we spend time getting clear on your reasons and values. Not to judge them, but to make sure they’re grounded in self-compassion — and to help you stay steady when birth gets intense or takes an unexpected turn. Knowing your why makes motivation easier, and pivoting easier too.

If you’re pregnant and looking for birth prep that supports your mind, body, and whole self, feel free to DM me — I’d love to help you get ready in a way that actually feels like you.

What’s a “why” that’s guiding you right now?

12/09/2025

Week 2 of our Yule tradition: Gratitude & Sharing.

This year, I special-ordered some Cadbury Roses (a nod to my British roots) + shared a few stories of my mum (Gram), who loved Roses (& all things chocolate 🍫) and died before I had my own family.

We talked about how it feels in your body to give and receive…

…why filling your own cup matters 💞

and chose one person we’re grateful for to share holiday cookies with. This year: our across-the-street neighbors who always offer a helping hand when they can, including sometimes snow blowing our driveway! ❄️❄️

Then we cozied up and watched That Christmas. High recommend.

These tiny rituals are how we put values into action — the same grounding, intention-setting, and connection I teach in birth prep, postpartum planning, and parental-leave coaching.

Who’s one person you’re grateful for — and why?

12/08/2025

I’m wrapping up my last class of my childbirth ed series this week, and thought I’d share some hot tips for preparing for laboring at home! (Assuming spontaneous labor is part of your plan).

I encourage my clients/students to think about and actually practice (get playful) with positions and places in your home you think will be conducive to that point of early labor when it’s still too early to go to hospital but things are too intense to be distracted from them. 😬😮‍💨

I share 5 positions to try - what positions will you try?

What other positions do you have in mind? Comment below or DM me questions about how to navigate early labor!

12/03/2025

I used to dread this season — the pressure, the noise, the grief tucked under all that forced cheer. Anyone else? 😬

But over the years, something shifted.
Parenthood. Partnership. Slowing down. My husband John is a magical human of love and holiday cheer. With amazing playlists.

Together, we’ve built a holiday rhythm rooted in values, not chaos.

So for the next four weeks, I’m bringing you behind the scenes of our family’s Yule tradition — the little weekly ritual that helps us live the values I teach in my birthwork, parental leave coaching, and gender-inclusivity work:

This week, we got to have two additions to our crew: my dad and my “bonus” daughter. 💗

This week’s values: Love & Connection.

We share stories, eat slowly, and ask tiny grounding questions like:

Who makes your heart feel big?

What feels important for you in this holiday season?

It’s simple, cozy, and such a beautiful reminder that values don’t live in our heads — they live in what we choose to do together.

If you’re expecting, parenting little humans, or just trying to move through this season more intentionally:

What’s one small way you want to practice love this week? Comment below or dm me to keep yourself accountable and share the inspiration! ❤️❤️

nhdoula

11/26/2025

I’m furious that the federal administration is taking a hit at nurses.
Of all people. Nurses. Seriously??

The backbone of every hospital, every clinic, every birth room.
This is not the direction we need to be going.

To all the amazing nurses in my life -- sending you gratitude and love and I have your back!!!

I’ll keep standing with the people who hold our communities together.
Nurses deserve so much more than this moment. 💛

11/21/2025

Yesterday I shared something really important to me.

Today? Sharing the outtake where I absolutely ate it while filming.🤣😂

Because even when the message is serious, the person behind the camera is still human and imperfect 😬

If this gave you a smile, stick around for evidence-informed, compassion-centered support for birth, postpartum, partnerships, and parenting. I’ll meet you wherever you are… even if that’s on the ground. 💛

11/20/2025

Well… Instagram decided to swallow my first reel, so here we go again 🙃

On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, I’m inviting expecting and new parents to pause and reflect.

Because whether your child is cis, trans, nonbinary, q***r, straight, still unfolding (and whoever you are in your own unfolding), the environment you create—your language, your curiosity, your compassion—shapes their understanding of who belongs.

And every child deserves to feel safe and loved in their full truth.

✨ The full blog is live — link in bio if you haven’t read it yet.

If you want more evidence-informed, compassion-centered support on birth, postpartum, partnerships, and parenting…
follow along. There’s more coming. 💛

11/14/2025

Birth rarely follows a script—and that’s okay. I’m grateful this family trusted me to share a moment from their experience.

My new blog is officially live, and I’ll be posting regularly—stories, reflections, and evidence-based birth + postpartum support. If the post resonates, or if you’ve had a similar experience, or if you’re curious about doula care, reach out anytime. I’d love to hear from you.

✨ Full post at the link in my bio!

11/08/2025

Every time I step into the operating room, I’m reminded how much collaboration, trust, and communication matter — not just in health care, but in every system we’re part of.

As a doula, my role in a cesarean birth is to hold space — to bridge connection and evidence, and to remind everyone that compassion and clarity can coexist, even in moments of uncertainty.

It’s been a full and deeply meaningful year — supporting families through all kinds of births and partnering with DHMC clinicians to make cesarean care more patient-centered, with doula support as the default.

If you’re preparing for birth and want more than just to get by — if you want to feel steady, supported, and truly seen through birth and postpartum — follow along or DM me to learn more. 💛