The 603 Doula

03/22/2024

It's bittersweet and very ironic that I'm officially making this announcement on . I celebrate, honor, and respect all of my fellow today and every day.

I've made the decision to temporarily step back from doula work and shift roles to being a full-time SAHM until my rapidly growing (😭) littlest goes to kindergarten. It's not a decision that was made lightly, but one I feel called to and very happy about in this current season of life.

To each and every family I have met, supported, and gotten to know these past few years, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul for your trust, faith, and friendship. To be invited into your lives, homes, and birth spaces during some of the most exciting, fragile, and vulnerable times in your lives is an honor and privilege that I cherish and am truly grateful for.

I have every intention of returning to birth and postpartum work when the time is right, and I am hoping to keep my toes in the community as much as time allows.

Please stay in touch and reach out as much you like.

Wishing you all the best in this crazy, beautiful life.

Love,
Doula Mel
🫶

01/02/2024

Haven't posted on here in a while, and made the conscious decision months ago that focusing on social media content in regards to my doula work is something I won't be doing as much. This could change, or maybe it won't. I'm still here, I'm still a doula, and I still very much love this work and the amazing connections I've made with clients, families, and my peers. Wanted to say a quick hello and wish you all a Happy & Healthy 2024! 🤍✨️

📷: photo taken by an amazing nurse I had the pleasure of working alongside for a beautiful, powerful, and peaceful HBAC (home birth after cesarean).
*photo shared with permission*

08/17/2023

Reminder from your friendly neighborhood doula to myself and anyone who needs it. 🫶

07/20/2023

Sometimes postpartum support includes giving your fur babies a little TLC! What a beautiful location for a stroll today!☀️🐾❤️

07/16/2023

First birth in the big city for this New Hampshire based doula. 🤰🏙🤰

06/10/2023

🤍 Whether in the hospital, birth center, or your home.
🤍 Medicated or unmedicated.
🤍 Your first baby or your third.
🤍 I will be calm, caring, resourceful, encouraging, and one of your biggest cheerleaders.
✨️ I am a doula. ✨️

06/07/2023

Absolutely wonderful to meet and chat with .new.mom.therapist yesterday during Postpartum Support Group. Thank you for your time, energy, and this incredible resource that I fully intend to put to use at home in my daily life.🤍
🌟 Periodic special guests are just one of the many valuable benefits of this weekly group. Come as you are for conversation, connection, comfort, and to fill your cup!
🌟Held weekly on Tuesday mornings at .nh from 10am-12pm.

05/20/2023

In love with my Mother's Day gift from my forever supportive and amazing husband.✨️😍
🪻I've been wanting one of these custom-made from for well over a year. .lotus, your work is beautiful, and the photo doesn't do it justice!
🪻From 1-10cm. I can't say it enough. Bodies are incredible!
🪻Looking forward to bringing this w/me for clients to show the visual representation of how the cervix opens to birth your baby.
🪻While cervical change is an important part of labor & childbirth, it's NOT the only indicator and you do always have the choice to decline a cervical exam prior to and during labor.

05/10/2023

03/24/2023

✨️"You're a doula?! You must love holding babies all the time!!"✨️
✨️Of course tiny baby holding is an added occasional bonus to the job...but, no; I'm there to hold the mother.✨️
Happy World Doula Week! 🤍

03/19/2023

Yes, yes, yes.
To all of this and more. 🤍✨️

Hold the mother, not the baby.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Because the baby’s being taken care of—⁣⁣
fed, snuggled, and given all the love in the world—⁣⁣
by not only the mother,⁣⁣
but her partner, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But the mother,⁣⁣
may have gaps in her mind from lack of sleep,⁣⁣
may be mechanical in her motions as she’s healing,⁣⁣
may feel more like a mess than a mother,⁣⁣
may be sitting in bed, crying, feeling overwhelmed in her body and life,⁣⁣
may be full of mom guilt because in her mind, "she's not good enough,"⁣⁣
and she’s bleeding, wincing in pain, swollen and emotional.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And the mother’s that baby's whole world and needs to be seen, so she doesn't disappear into that postpartum fog.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So, hold the mother, not the baby.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A mother agrees that her baby matters more.⁣⁣
But she’s hurting, while she’s the person behind the baby,⁣⁣
in the background, making it all happen:⁣⁣
feeding her baby at all hours,⁣⁣
snuggling her baby close to comfort newborn cries,⁣⁣
and being that baby’s everything.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So, it’s the mother who needs your love.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And a mother will remember who held her up.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So instead of “I’m coming to see the baby,”⁣⁣
try saying, “I’m coming to see you 𝘢𝘯𝘥 meet the baby, too.”⁣⁣
⁣
Because the mother needs to be held more.⁣⁣
⁣
✍️: Living FULL
📸:
....................................................⁣⁣
My Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is out everywhere: https://amzn.to/317TvVc

03/05/2023

🤍✨️🤍

The chief national affairs analyst explained that she planned to have her daughter delivered via cesarean section. Looks like the newborn had other plans!