Bearfoot Doula Services

08/11/2025

Breastfeeding reduces healthcare costs, boosts cognitive development, strengthens economies, and sets children up with healthy beginnings. We must work to ensure every mother has access to the support and information she needs to breastfeed as long as she wishes to do so.

06/29/2025

How Much Can Your Newborn Eat? Your baby’s stomach is tiny at birth—but it grows quickly in the first month! From the size of a cherry 🍒 on day one to the size of a large egg 🥚 by one month, your baby’s feeding needs will change fast.

Understanding how much your baby can comfortably hold during one feeding can help you feel more confident. 💪

These amounts reflect the average size of a newborn’s stomach at each stage. Every baby is different, and WIC is here to support you every step of the way.

Got questions? We’ve got answers! Reach out to your local WIC clinic for personalized support.

06/25/2025

I have birth availability still this year!

September - full
October - available
November - available
December - available

I had planned to take the summertime off of births, but if you are nearing your due date and are looking for a doula, please reach out!
I’d love to work with you!

06/06/2025

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Happy Homebirth day!

I delivered my last baby at home! Even though it took a turn after that wasn't ideal, I would choose it again!

Homebirth is so magical. It is raw. It is intimate.

Homebirth is an AMAZING option for low-risk pregnancies!

Did you know having a homebirth with a midwife can...

🤎 Lower your risk of interventions

Planned home births with certified midwives have significantly lower rates of inductions, epidurals, and cesarean births—up to 60% fewer interventions than hospital births for low-risk pregnancies.

🤎Help you feel more comfortable and in control

Giving birth in your own space means you can move freely, eat when you want, and labor how your body tells you to—no IVs, monitors, or hospital gowns required.

🤎Offer continuous, personalized support

Unlike hospitals where providers may rotate, midwives stay by your side throughout labor—research shows this kind of continuous support can reduce labor times and increase satisfaction with the birth experience.

🤎Create a calmer birth environment?

The quiet, familiar setting of home helps reduce stress hormones and increase oxytocin—the hormone that powers labor. That’s why many home birthers describe their labors as more peaceful and empowering.

🤎Promote immediate bonding and breastfeeding

With no separation, your baby is placed directly on your chest after birth. Studies show homebirth moms have higher rates of successful early breastfeeding and skin-to-skin time.

🤎Include the whole family

Your partner, children, or other loved ones can be part of the experience in a meaningful way. Siblings can meet baby right after birth, creating beautiful memories from the very beginning.

🤎Reduce exposure to hospital-based germs and infections

Homebirth eliminates the risk of hospital-acquired infections for you and your baby, which is especially reassuring for families who value a clean, low-exposure environment.

🤎Come with expert care, at home

Midwives are trained in emergency protocols and carry tools for safe delivery. They also know when a hospital transfer is needed—though this only occurs in about 10–12% of planned homebirths

Are you curious about having a home birth? Check out my community connections page where I list homebirth midwives and other providers in the MOV area!

Missing a midwife? message me so I can add to the list!

05/22/2025

One of my favorite parts of visiting clients in the comfort of their own homes is getting to know and love their pets, too. Miss Luna is the best. ❤️

05/17/2025

Birth is ✨WILD✨.

This birth plan is not one that ended how mama envisioned it. But I have to commend her strength and her perseverance. She was such a queen and so strong through our whole day. I couldn’t possibly have been more proud to be part of her birth team and journey. ❤️

05/15/2025

Good advice!

Feeding the baby, NOT the freezer - when preparing to return to work it can be tempting to focus on over filling the freezer, so let's talk about it!

🤱 Realistic Expectations:
- Average Needs: Most babies need about 24-32 ounces of breastmilk per day. This varies by age, weight, and growth spurts, so remember to go with the flow! Talk with your childcare provider about paced bottle feeding and not overfeeding.
- Pumping Wisely: It's easy to get caught up in pumping for the freezer, but
aim to pump just enough for the next day's feedings. Excess pumping can
lead to overproduction and discomfort.
- Capitalize on the first pump of the morning- this is when milk production tends to be highest so adding in a pump session then, or pumping after the first feed can help with creating a "stash".

✨ Latch When You're Home: Take advantage of your time at home to latch
your baby as much as possible. This not only provides comfort and bonding
but also helps regulate your milk supply naturally. Some infants do what is called "reverse cycling" and will feed more at night and take less during the day while separated from parent.

🚫 Risks of Pumping Too Much:
- Over-pumping can lead to an oversupply, causing blocked ducts and
potential mastitis.
- It can create stress around milk production if you feel pressured to keep
an overflowing stash.

💡 Focus on Feeding: Your primary goal should be meeting your baby's
needs, not filling the freezer. Embrace mindful pumping and trust your
body to provide what your baby requires!

💚✨ Remember, every drop counts, and you’re doing an amazing job! ✨💚

05/12/2025

05/05/2025

My favorite birth photographer!! I recommend her to anyone I work with because she’s just amazing. You won’t regret it!

Welcome!

I'm Lauren- a family documentary photographer from West Virginia.

I've been working, exclusively, as a photographer since 2017 when I left my job teaching 1st grade to raise my kids. I love what I do deeply, but I've been seeking ways to further serve my commimuity and the people inside it, especially moms like me. I'm about to embark on a journey through grad school with the goal of having a degree in counseling, and I couldn't be more excited. Ideally, I'd be able to use my knowledge to meet my clients on a deeper level during our sessions together, creating a marriage between mental health and the art of documenting with photos. We'll see what that looks like in a few years.

My love of documentary family photography comes from my love of my own family albums and being able to pass down stories about our family and my childhood to our own kids. I aim to create that same thing with the families I serve.

The majority of the work I create is by meeting families multiple times a year and documenting their growth either through "Year In The Life" sessions or growth packages for new babies, but I also offer single sessions (Slice Of Life), Day In The Life sessions and document birth stories and weddings.

I'm always accepting new clients and even have room on my calendar for new YITL families. Scheduling a session is simple - either follow the link on my profile or reach out! I love meeting new people and telling their stories. I can't wait to document yours!

04/15/2025

The United Way Family Resource Network and Monongalia Partners in Prevention Team invites pregnant moms and primary guardians with babies up to 12 months old in Monongalia County to a special event filled with resources, baby essentials, and support!
📅 Date: Saturday, June 7
⏰ Time: 12-3 PM
📍 Location: Morgantown Elks Lodge
🎉 What to Expect:
✅ Free baby essentials for all expectant and new moms
✅ Door prizes
✅ Community resources
✅ Informative presentations
✅ Light refreshments and snacks
✅ A welcoming space to connect with other parents
Important Details:
🔹 Due to space limitations, each attendee may bring one guest.
🔹 Childcare will not be provided.
🔹 All attendees must pre-register. Registration opens March 15 and closes May 15 or sooner if full.
🔹 You must receive confirmation of your registration before attending.
📩 Questions? Contact the Family Resource Network Manager at frn@unitedwaympc.org.
🚗 Free onsite parking is available, and the venue is accessible via the bus line.
We can’t wait to celebrate and support you on your parenting journey! 💙
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/4i19Tjnhb1

04/09/2025

You won’t want to miss this!

04/08/2025