Beloved Embrace Doula Care

01/20/2026

Holistic Coaching is hosting a Winter Wellness Fair SATURDAY!!
Doors open at 11AM-3PM
I would love to see you there!!
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 &wellnessfair

01/20/2026

01/19/2026

01/15/2026

01/13/2026

Being at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort gave me the opportunity, as the founder of Beloved Embrace Doula & Maternity Care, to ask questions, have real conversations, and help educate our leaders on what a birth doula is, what a doula does, and why doula care matters.

This work goes beyond supporting families at birth—it’s about making sure the people shaping policy understand the real, measurable difference doulas make. Education matters so that when the time comes to vote on legislation supporting doula care, Medicaid coverage, birth centers, and access for families across Kentucky, our leaders are informed, prepared, and ready to act.

This is birth embraced.
This is advocacy in action.
This is education that drives change.

~ Beloved Embrace Doula

01/09/2026

Breastfeeding is often described as “natural.”
But natural does not mean instinctive.
And it certainly doesn’t mean easy without support.

Many doctors, nurses, and pediatricians are not properly educated in breastfeeding.
Not because they don’t care, but because the system never taught them.

Studies show that most physicians receive very limited breastfeeding education during medical school and residency. Many report fewer than 3–5 hours of formal training, often without hands-on practice. Nurses and hospital staff frequently feel underprepared as well, especially when it comes to latch, milk transfer, and troubleshooting common challenges.
Even pediatricians, the providers families see most often in the early weeks, are often not trained in breastfeeding management. Their education focuses on growth charts and illness, not feeding mechanics, milk supply, or maternal physiology.

And this gap matters. A lot.

When a provider isn’t educated in breastfeeding, the advice parents receive can be inconsistent, outdated, or flat-out wrong.
It often sounds like:

“Your baby isn’t getting enough.”
“They’re feeding too often.”
“Just top them off with formula.”
“Some women just don’t make enough milk.”

These statements are rarely backed by a full feeding assessment. No latch check. No observation of a full feed. No evaluation of milk transfer.

And that’s where the cascade of interventions begins.

A baby struggles with latch or weight gain →
A provider unfamiliar with breastfeeding physiology recommends supplementation →
Formula is introduced “temporarily” →
Baby nurses less →
Milk supply drops →
Parent is told their supply is low →
More formula is recommended.
And suddenly, breastfeeding ends, not because the body failed, but because support did.

Research consistently shows that early, unnecessary supplementation is one of the strongest predictors of early breastfeeding cessation. Once formula is introduced without proper guidance, it becomes harder to return to exclusive breastfeeding, even when that was the parent’s goal.
This isn’t a personal failure.
It’s a systems failure.

When providers are properly trained, outcomes improve.
Hospitals that implement evidence-based breastfeeding education for staff see higher exclusive breastfeeding rates and longer breastfeeding duration. Parents feel more confident, less anxious, and better supported.

Education doesn’t pressure parents to breastfeed, it gives them accurate information and real support, so choices aren’t driven by fear or misinformation.

This is why lactation consultants and breastfeeding-educated postpartum doulas are so important.

They:
-understand breastfeeding physiology
-watch full feeds, not just numbers on a chart
-help with latch, positioning, and comfort
-support supply without rushing to supplement
-offer consistent, calm guidance instead of conflicting advice

They fill the gap left by a healthcare system that often doesn’t have the time, training, or continuity parents need in the early weeks.

If breastfeeding feels harder than you expected
If the advice you’ve been given feels confusing or contradictory
If you were told to supplement without a thorough assessment
You are not failing.
You were under-supported.
Breastfeeding success is deeply influenced by the quality of education and support you receive. And you deserve better than guesswork.

01/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BxubA99nW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The American College of Nurse-Midwives mourns the devastating death of Dr. Janell Green Smith, CNM, who died from complications of childbirth. Dr. Smith was a respected midwife, scholar, and advocate whose life and work reflected a deep commitment to respectful, evidence-based, and equitable care.

That a Black midwife and maternal health expert died after giving birth in the United States is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Her death underscores the persistent and well-documented reality that Black women—regardless of education, income, or professional expertise—face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic racism and failures in care.

We grieve Dr. Smith’s loss and recognize it as a profound failure of the systems meant to protect birthing people. In her honor, ACNM commits not only to reaffirming our values, but to intensifying our actions to dismantle racial inequities in maternal health, strengthen accountability in care systems, and work alongside Black midwives, clinicians, and communities to prevent future tragedies.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Smith’s family, loved ones, and the midwifery community. We carry her legacy forward with urgency, humility, and resolve.

01/04/2026

I currently have space to support families May through August 🤍
If you’re preparing for birth and postpartum and want steady, compassionate support, I’d love to connect.

01/03/2026

01/01/2026

Year 2026!!!

In biblical terms, the number 26 carries a very specific and powerful meaning, especially as you’re looking at it through a New Year / spiritual lens.

✨ 26 = The Name of God

In Hebrew, 26 is the numerical value of God’s covenant name:

YHWH (Yahweh)
• Y (10)
• H (5)
• W (6)
• H (5)
Total = 26

This makes 26 deeply connected to:
• God’s presence
• God’s authority
• God’s faithfulness
• God’s covenant

⸻

🌿 What 26 Symbolizes Spiritually

Biblically and spiritually, 26 represents:
• God going before you
• Divine order and alignment
• Dependence on God rather than self
• Walking under God’s covering
• Faithfulness in seasons of transition

It’s less about human striving and more about God establishing His will.

⸻

🕊️ Meaning of 26 for a New Year

For a new year, 26 points to a year marked by:
• God-led decisions
• Divine protection
• Covenant promises coming to fulfillment
• Trust over control
• Obedience opening doors

This is a year where God’s name, character, and authority are meant to be evident in your life—not hidden behind hustle or fear.

⸻

📖 A Scripture That Aligns Beautifully

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6

That verse mirrors the heart of 26: surrender + trust = direction.

⸻

🤍 A Gentle Word (from a faith perspective)

A year marked by 26 is often not loud or flashy.
It’s anchored, protected, and deeply intentional.

It’s a year where:

“I don’t have to force it — God is already there.”

~ 💜💜💜💜💜

12/26/2025

12/26/2025