Sunshine Doula Co. : Ocala & Gainesville, FL Birth & Doula Services

11/06/2023

Day 3/3 ☑️ We learned and practiced a variety of comfort measures 🫶🏼

I’ve personally had two water births at home, but never used an inflatable tub so I was able to try that out and learn some new tips on positioning etc - super comfy and supportive!

11/04/2023

I am excited to earn my G.R.O.W. Doula certification. This is a program initiated by HealthyStart and will be a great resource for Marion County.

But…what am I most excited about? The room full of women ready to learn and serve 💗

Something I have been praying for is more support and community as a doula - doulas for back-ups, additional resources and networks and emotional support to process the wide array of feelings/emotions/scenarios we experience.

10/21/2023

Just completed my CPR refresher course!
✅

10/14/2023

My neighbor across the street (a college professor with three little girls), whom I barely knew at the time, showed up with a pan of homemade lasagna & a sweet note written in Sharpie on the tinfoil 📝

To this day, whenever I bring a meal to someone, if I can find a Sharpie that works (AKA one my kids haven’t left the top off of) - I write a little note/instructions on the tinfoil and think of her with gratitude 💗

09/29/2023

Partner Support. A doula can help your birth partner feel/look/act like a rockstar 🤩

In my prenatal visits, one of the most common comments I get is - my partner/spouse/whoever won’t know how to help me.

What do I hear?

I want my partner/spouse/whoever to help me.

I can help your partner help you.

Oftentimes that looks like:

- Making sure they stay fed and hydrated, as adrenaline can spike/crash for them as well (ahem, no passing out!)

- A quick tutorial on how to perform a hip squeeze or counterprssure

- Preparing a cool washcloth with peppermint oil for them to apply to your forehead

- Showing them how to hold the bendy straw to your mouth for sips of Gatorade

- And many other tasks to keep them engaged and supported so they can best support you!

09/29/2023

Really great things in the works for Marion County! I participated in the G.R.O.W. Doula call lastnight.

Looking forward to this certification and the ability to reach more families!

Doula care provides an opportunity to engage and empower families, improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and provide positive learning experiences in a practical and cost-effective way. Investing in Doula care during pregnancy produces proven, long-term returns for mothers, babies, and famili...

09/24/2023

Availability!
October - 2
November - 4
December - 2

09/16/2023

Come check out our booth!! Lots of awesome vendors! 🤩

09/15/2023

Fiona being weighed on an infant weight sling by our midwife. I remember thinking…is this legit?! So many experiences that were beyond my vision of what birth “should” be.

Looking back, I think about how my doula always approached fear with questions and curiosity. This enabled me to come to my own conclusions and, eventually, I started recognizing and distinguishing fear and asking it my own questions. This enabled me to take calculated (real/perceived) risks (chances) to my current mindset in pursuit of a growth mindset, which - I discovered - is something I value deeply.

This was one, amongst many, of the highlights of our homebirth!

09/13/2023

As your doula, I am happy to read and/or help you write your birth story.

I submitted my fourth child’s birth story to several publications this past year. It was published in Birthing Magazine’s summer edition. These copies arrived in the mail yesterday, much to my delight!

How you feel about your birth matters 🌻

09/13/2023

This cervical dilation board is a helpful tool to visualize the different stages of dilation 🌟

09/04/2023

Have you heard of the CUB? Your hospital, most likely, will have one of these along with a bouncey ball and a peanut. I love the versatility it offers for comfortable positioning ✨

Positioning ideas posted in comments.

09/04/2023

When mom asks you to get a picture with her sweet baby boy, whom she brought into this world with so much strength and love 🩵

08/31/2023

What is the most memorable thing someone brought you postpartum?

08/31/2023

“When you need help the most it’s the hardest to ask,” my midwife replied, when I told her I was struggling. Truer words had never been spoken!

Reminder: You are never alone and you are never without help. Midwives, doctors, doulas (just to name a small starting point) have many resources at their fingertips…chances are high that there’s not much you can say/do that they haven’t heard/seen before 💗

08/31/2023

Heading to a birth in my new Bleached by Britt t-shirt! ✨

08/13/2023

Fear is an indicator. It shows you what you have to do.

08/08/2023

My SIL Bleached by Britt and I are vendors at this local event! I’m SO excited - now, to figure out how I’m going to design my booth 🤔