Doulas of Kankakee

03/26/2026

Day 4

“What’s in your doula bag?” 💼

This is actually a hot topic in the doula community!

My favorite items to bring to a birth aren’t that exciting because they’re exclusively things for me. 😅

🧊 Caffeine that is fizzy, coconut water, electrolytes + a plain water
🥒 Snacks that don’t smell or make me smell & my favorite mints
😮‍💨 Chapstick because I do a lot of mouth breathing along with my clients
🧣 Layers because you never know if a hoodie will need to be a pillow for a quick rest, or for warmth because a client runs hot when they labor and they want the temp waaayyy low.

Yanno, the practical stuff. 😀

I’ll comment below why I don’t bring anything for clients. ⬇️

03/25/2026

Day 3

My go-to resources:
-Cochrane, ACOG, WHO, Mayo Clinic
-Evidence Based Birth
-LactMed, KellyMom, La Leche League
-March of Dimes

Where do you go when you have a question about pregnancy & beyond?

03/24/2026

🙂

03/24/2026

A practical one!
🤰🚽⏱️
Lifting your pregnant belly and leaning forward on the toilet can help to actually empty your bladder and (maybe) reduce your urge to p*e so often 🙂

03/23/2026

Happy World Doula Week!

My “why” really came to me in stages.

🐈 When I was a young child, a family cat gave birth to her kittens in my bed. I remember staying up late with her, asking questions about what was happening, and being FASCINATED.

🌱 As a young adult I had a random exchange with a woman about hair, totally unrelated to birth. But that encounter turned into several hours of conversation, much about birth and what she did as a birth worker. My curiosity was piqued, and a seed was planted.

🤰My own empowering birth experiences, and the experiences of the women who have allowed me into their births helped me to realize how very special and profound it is to be invited into that space.

🤍 I do it because these women deserve to be cheered on, to be celebrated in their triumphs, and to hold space and hands when no words are needed. I do it to witness the tenderness of not just babies being born but fathers too, and for them to know if ever it’s okay to be seen being vulnerable, this is it. I do it because maybe I’m one of the few who saw their baby’s face. I do it because you will never forget how you are treated during this time in your life, and you deserve to feel respected and empowered every step of the way.

03/18/2026

Okay, this one stopped me in my tracks 🥰✨

Seeing the subtle details emerge from a placenta print

And this baby’s name, formed in the cord that sustained him…

These are the quiet, sacred details of birth that don’t get talked about enough.

Honoring the placenta is part of honoring the entire journey. 🤍

✨ If this speaks to you, I’d love to walk you through your options! ✨

👉 Did you keep your placenta, or do you plan to?

03/09/2026

A heartfelt congratulations to two amazing home birth families who welcomed their sweet boys earthside this past weekend! 💙

These little ones were born just a little over 24 hours apart, which kept this doula hopping… but can you believe how polite they were to take turns? 🙂

Happy birthday, March babies!
Theo, Baby B, Ezra, & Miss Charlie!
💙 💙 💙 💗

Being invited into these sacred spaces is something I never take for granted. What an honor it is to witness families meet their babies.

03/02/2026

If you’re expecting this year and considering doula support, I’d love to connect.

I intentionally take a limited number of births each month so I can show up fully present, steady, and available for the families I serve.

Current labor support availability:
• August
• November

In-home placenta encapsulation (Traditional Chinese Method) is available April through December, with limited monthly capacity.

Reserving your due date is now simple and secure with online invoicing through Stripe.

If you’d like to talk through your vision for birth or ask questions about support, my inbox is open!🤍

Caitlyn
Doulas of Kankakee

02/17/2026

Happy birthday to all the sweet February babies!!
Dawson
Noah
Augustus
And Fletcher! 💙

06/15/2025

Happy birthday to all my June doula babies!!

🧁 Carson
🎈Mav
🥰 Luna
🎉 Nixxon
🍰 Mateo

06/11/2025

Often used interchangeably by providers, oxytocin and its synthetic counterpart Pitocin are NOT the same. Understanding its role can help you decide if it’s a tool you are comfortable with using, or when it might become a good choice for you.

Pitocin is the same as oxytocin

Except it’s not.

And whoever tells you this is lying. 🤥

Oxytocin is the love hormone.

Birth is beautifully made.

👉🏻 Oxytocin tells the uterus to contract for labor and birth

👉🏻 Oxytocin lets the brain know to release Endorphons which acts like morphine to make contraction sensations easier

👉🏻 Oxytocine promotes bonding and breastfeeding

👉🏻 Oxytocin keeps you feeling safe and calm

Pitocin is the FAKE Oxytocin

❌ It doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier so you don’t get the pain-buffering effect to cope with contractions

❌ It can lead to overactivity in the uterus which can lessen placental function and oxygen flow to baby

❌ Overactivity in the uterus can also lead to an increase risk in pp hemorrhage

Pitocin is a great tool when medically necessary.

But it’s often overused and overused without fully explaining the benefits AND risks properly to mom

Tell us in the comments ⤵️

Did you use Pitocin in labor? Did you feel totally informed by your doctor? What was your experience?

doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05221-w
PMCID: PMC3947469

05/07/2025