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

10/30/2025

Are you expecting between Feb and August 2026? I’m becoming certified as a RETAIN Parental Leave Coach, and we're looking for practice clients to work with!

Do you or someone you know need help preparing for parental leave and navigating the professional and personal changes that come with the transition from working person to working parent? How does FREE parental leave coaching sound? The Center for Parental Leave Leadership is training and certifying the next generation of RETAIN parental leave coaches using their evidence-based, data-driven, and heart-centered framework developed over the last fifteen years and as part of the program I need a certain amount of supervised practice! You can work with me or one of the other coaches being certified in this cohort.

Here's what you'll get ($795 value): Parental Leave Transition Assessment™ (PLTA) and PLTA customized report plus personalized feedback and recommendations Two one-on-one parental leave coaching sessions with a RETAIN coach-in-training (who is supervised and supported) 3-phase leave planning template and guided next steps Apply by December 12th, 2025. Sessions will take place between January 6th – January 13th and January 20th – January 27th, 2026.

To apply for the program, fill out the form here: https://cplleadership.com/freecoaching

Are you expecting a child between February & August 2026? Would you love expert guidance, tools, and support around preparing for your leave? We are happy to offer you an opportunity to receive FREE parental leave assessment and coaching through the Center for Parental Leave Leadership (CPLL). CPLL....

10/24/2025

Sometimes we have to remember not just what we’re fighting against —
but what we’re fighting for.

No matter how your birth unfolds, what stays with you is how you were supported — not just what happened.

If you’re preparing for birth, take time to imagine how you want to feel — safe, heard, supported — and what it would take to make that possible.

I offer both in-person and virtual birth preparation and doula support, designed to help you feel steady, confident, and cared for every step of the way. 💛

10/23/2025

We made it back on the ice for the first time this season, and within minutes one of my kids said, “Why is the ice so hard? It wasn’t like this last year!”

Of course the ice was the same level of hard…They just had to find their rhythm again, get used to unfamiliar sensations, and remember how to fall and get back up. There were some tears—but by the end, I could tell they were feeling proud and excited for next time.

Birth prep is kind of like that.

You can read, plan, and imagine how it might feel—but stepping into it for real can still surprise you. It’s not about control; it’s about learning to move with something new, finding your rhythm, and trusting the process (whether that process is an unmedicated birth or otherwise!). And it’s about having support that holds you steady and guides you, even when the “ice” feels harder than you expected. 💛

✨ For more grounded, evidence-informed, and compassion-centered guidance for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—follow along .

10/13/2025

At a birth I attended recently, a veteran midwife I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many times— one of those unflappable, deeply experienced hands in birth — turned to me and said:

“Doulas are one of the most underpaid and underrated professions.” 🌟

It meant a lot coming from her — and she’s not the first to say it.
If I’m honest, I don’t think I fully understood the value of doula support until I had one for my own birth (after already being a doula for years). 🤷‍♀️

Because the best doula work is often invisible. 🧙‍♀️

It’s in the steady presence that helps a parent find their breath again.
The reminder that what’s happening is normal — and also incredibly HARD.💪
The quiet confidence that helps a partner know exactly what to do next.
The gentle translation between medical and emotional worlds.

Birth is unpredictable — but support shouldn’t be. 💓

You deserve a birth team that centers you.
That protects your calm, your confidence, and your voice.
That helps you walk away feeling seen, respected, and supported — no matter how your birth unfolds. 🫶

—
If you’re preparing for birth and want to feel deeply supported every step of the way, I’d love to connect.
🤍 [link in bio / laurapascoe.com]

10/09/2025

In our first prenatal, Anaïs said her goal for birth was simple: “I don’t want to die.”

She said it calmly—aware of the unacceptably high maternal mortality rates facing Black women.

We spent our time preparing for both: understanding the real decision-making moments that might arise, while also cultivating the excitement and connection that birth can bring.

When labor came—she felt safe, respected, and heard.

And listen ya’ll: Her birth was equal parts intense and hilarious. 😂💗

Anaïs would probably tell you not all of it was fun (things got very real, as they do in birth) — but afterward, she said two things I’ll never forget:

First, a wide-eyed “Birth is wild.”

And, looking at her wife moments before this photo: “I’ve never loved you more than in this moment.” 😍

I love the hands-on parts — the counterpressure, hip squeezes, breathing guidance, and that real-time grounding and informed decision-making that sit at the heart of what I do as a doula and birth mentor.

But most of all, I love witnessing families become: mothers become grandmothers, sisters become aunts, partners become parents.

✨ Follow : a seasoned doula and birth nerd bringing compassion, evidence, and humor to your birth and parenting journey.

09/26/2025

This week I got to wrap up yet another incredible Evidence-Based Birth® Childbirth Class in the books! 🌟 Huge thanks to Gifford Medical Center in Randolph VT for making these classes possible and free for our community ♥️

I love seeing people come in with different questions and experiences, then walk out more connected, confident, and ready to support each other through birth and beyond. Teaching these classes is one of my greatest joys, because I’m always learning alongside families in the making 💜

A few words from participants:
💬 “Laura was amazing - she answered all our questions and would look up additional research and follow up with us.”

💬 “Laura was very engaging in both the online and in-person classes.”

💬 “A key takeaway for me is that everyone is different—there is no perfect scenario. You need to listen to your body/gut.”

💬 “Laura is super knowledgeable, super friendly, super awesome!”

So grateful for this work, for every family who shows up, and for the community we’re building together. ✨

Check out my website for info on future dates for these classes, and I offer private and customized childbirth education and birth mentorship too! Website link in bio.

Follow me for more evidence-based birth prep, postpartum guidance, and partner support 💕🌈

09/23/2025

Trump & RFK Jr. may struggle with the basics (including not being able to pronounce acetaminophen), but they sure can spread misinformation. 🙃

In case you had any doubts: The truth? Tylenol remains one of the safest pain relief options in pregnancy when used as directed. Untreated fever is far more dangerous than the medicine. I witnessed the power of Tylenol in a birth just this last weekend when my client was facing an infection and Tylenol bought both her and baby critical time.

✨ Anyone telling you to “tough it out” is confusing your inherent badassery in pregnancy with plain old misogyny. You deserve safe relief, not unnecessary suffering.

Don’t just take my word for it—here’s what the experts say:
🔗 ACOG affirms safety & benefits of acetaminophen in pregnancy: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/09/acog-affirms-safety-benefits-acetaminophen-pregnancy

🔗 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine statement: https://www.smfm.org/news/smfm-response-to-administration-announcement-on-acetaminophen-use-during-pregnancy-and-autism-

✨ Always check in with your own provider for guidance. And if you want compassion-centered, experienced, and evidence-based support preparing for birth, postpartum, and parenting—that’s where I come in.

09/19/2025

Gun deaths are now the leading cause of death for kids in this country. That is unacceptable, and preventable.

But we won’t solve violence by wishing men away. We have to stay rooted in our collective humanity—because dehumanizing anyone dehumanizes us all. The real work starts earlier—at birth and in parenting.

Fatherhood is a profound invitation for men to open to unconditional love, to practice nonviolence, to create safety, and to leave behind what no longer serves them so their children inherit something better. When dads lead with tenderness and connection, they shape a world that makes more possible for their children.

📊 Equimundo’s State of the World’s Fathers 2023 shows men still do only one-third of the unpaid care women do (19% vs. 55%)—but many want to do more. These dynamics start early—and they can be transformed through intentional prenatal, birth, and postpartum support that strengthens a couple’s connection, rather than working against it.

If you’re ready to prepare for birth with the goal of connected, equitable parenting, I’d love to support you. I offer fully customizable childbirth education and birth guide support—virtually anywhere, or in-person in VT & NH. Link to my website in bio.

09/18/2025

What fun!!! I love a room full of birth nerds 🤓Especially when I get to work with them to support my clients and students.✨

These photos are from the multidisciplinary labor support workshop I co-facilitated earlier this month alongside OBs, midwives, and nurses at DHMC.

For the 2nd year in a row, I was invited as the local doula + childbirth educator to join this incredible team in training medical students and nurses on how to better support vaginal births (with or without pain meds).

We covered pelvic anatomy, positioning, coping strategies, and shared decision-making—mixing teaching, hands-on practice, and tons of great questions.

Photo #1: Dangle position, helpful for making space in the torso, which is helpful for an asycinclitic/OP (sunny side up) baby.

Photo #2: Flying cowgirl (renamed “the witch’s broom” by a clever client of mine!) is great for encouraging a baby to move down into the pelvis.

Photo #3: Jennie is showing how to do a side lying release, one of the three key “body balance” exercises from Spinning Babies to help make space for baby.

Photo #4: This helped clarify the “why” behind learning positions and movements to support the making of room for baby to move through the pelvis.

One of my favorite parts was hearing experienced providers—OBs, midwives, nurses—ask each other for ideas and strategies. The energy in the room was collaborative, curious, and inspiring. 🌿💫

So grateful to have built these kinds of positive relationships with the providers I work closely with.

*photos shared with permission*

✨ Follow me for more evidence-informed and compassion-centered guidance on birth, postpartum, and parenting.

09/11/2025

🌟 I’m so honored to be a 2025 Vermont Early Childhood Fund grantee, alongside so many inspiring folks and organizations! 🌟

This grant supports two parts of my work that light me up:
🌱 Gender-inclusive classroom trainings for early childhood + elementary educators

🌿 Parental leave coaching certification (starts next week!!) — this will help me support employers to implement family-friendly policies, support parents in navigating leave with less stress, and promote equitable caregiving at home + work.

I once struggled to hold my birthwork and my gender + health consulting as one business… now it feels obvious how deeply connected they are, and how much each teaches and strengthens the other. 🏳️‍🌈❤️🌈

This is all part of my mission to create a ripple effect that empowers individuals and strengthening families, workplaces, and communities to co-create a more equitable, caring, and compassionate world. 💞

✨ Follow me for more on birth, equity, and building stronger and more expansively loving families + communities.

07/21/2025

Ever wondered if you could predict when you would go into labor? If you are in early pregnancy (first trimester) you may be eligible to join this fascinating study examining how/if we can better understand average length of pregnancy and a personalized estimation of WHEN your labor might begin! Check out link below :)

An Institutional Review Board responsible for human subjects research at The University of Arizona reviewed this research project and found it to be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and University policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in...

07/10/2025

✨ “I feel prepared and so excited for birth.”
That’s the heart of what I hope every family walks away with — not because we’ve mapped out every step, but because we’ve taken the time to prepare for the unknown.

This 5-star review captures what my Advanced Birth Prep series is all about: thoughtful, evidence-based support that helps you feel informed, grounded, and connected — to the research, to your choices, and to each other.

It’s not about scripting a particular kind of birth. It’s about preparing for the one you’ll have — with calm, confidence, and clarity.

💛 My fall is nearly fully booked (what a gift!), and I’m starting to plan for early 2026. If this kind of care is what you’re looking for, I’d love to hear from you.