Hands of Grace Birth Services

03/25/2026

Don’t suffer alone… there is help for postpartum depression

03/21/2026

Had my last VBAC baby at 42 and 4days…I’m a slow cooker and went over with all my babies except the induction that lead to my primary c-section.

This is another myth I hear time and time again: "It is unsafe to VBAC beyond 40 weeks."

Here's the truth: Going beyond 40 weeks gestation is not a contraindication to labor after cesarean.

While some studies have found lower VBAC odds after 40 weeks, I question the role of provider pressure and birthing parent stress on labor, spontaneous or otherwise.

What about the VBAC odds among those who feel supported during the last weeks of their pregnancy rather than facing the deadline of a repeat cesarean on the books?

As ACOG says, "Gestational age greater than 40 weeks along should not preclude [planned VBAC.]" *

There are no hard stops in terms of gestational age due to prior cesarean.

Want to learn more about VBAC and the evidence on uterine rupture risk by gestational age? Go to vbacfacts.com/courses

* I replaced "TOLAC" for "planned VBAC" in ACOG's quote.

03/20/2026

Reminder, you can ALWAYS ask questions.

Unlike the ridiculous legal fight of a Florida woman, most facilities will accept your autonomy - even if there's some pushback.

Discussion and respect is how we have safe birth without unnecessary trauma. Doctors, midwives, nurses who practice with respect will have these conversations with you to help you make informed decisions and understand if there's a true medical concern.

What questions did you ask in labor?

03/10/2026

Registration now open for Revival: A Grieving Mother’s Retreat taking place April 24–26 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp in Wellston.

This retreat offers a beautiful opportunity for mothers grieving the loss of a child from pregnancy or infant loss to find hope, healing and community. If you or someone you know desires more than shallow survival, this is a chance to experience renewal and support in a compassionate environment.

Register today by visiting forms.office.com/r/KGFzC4gXzV or scanning the QR code on the flyer.

03/06/2026

Highly experienced doula, in the Shawnee area!

A few days ago I prayed that if I was meant to, births would find me again. I haven’t been to a birth since October and I am really missing being in that space.

I love the work I’ve been doing (and will continue to do) teaching Birth Boot Camp, mentoring, and leading Postpartum support group in the nonprofit sector, but getting to support families through the miracle of birth is a privilege that I hope I get to be a part of for a long time to come.

With that said, with in 3 days of that prayer, I booked two repeat clients for this fall, and another has reached out for a consultation. So I’m gonna go ahead and put myself out there a bit more and say, if you’re thinking about having a doula, and especially if you live in the Shawnee area, let me know, let’s chat!

Also, if you live in the Shawnee area and don’t actually want a doula, we still need to chat. I have some great resource recommendations for new and expecting families in our area.

03/03/2026

Breastmilk is amazing!

🚨 Recent research is challenging the CDC's strict guidelines on breast milk storage—especially for partially used bottles after feeding.

The CDC currently recommends using or discarding leftover breast milk within 1–2 hours after a baby finishes feeding from the bottle, to limit bacterial risks.

A 2026 German study (preprint on medRxiv, with 44 healthy full-term infants) tested this directly by measuring bacterial growth in leftover human milk after actual bottle feeds.

Main findings:

• Bacterial levels rose after feeding due to contact with the baby's mouth, but showed no meaningful further increase at 4 hours or 8 hours—whether kept at room temperature (~20°C) or refrigerated (4°C).

• Significant growth appeared only after 24 hours at room temperature.

• Refrigerated leftover milk stayed low-risk and stable for up to 24 hours.

For healthy, full-term babies, this suggests it's generally safe to:

• Refrigerate a partially used bottle and reuse it within 24 hours, or

• Leave it at room temperature for up to 8 hours when needed.

Unused pumped milk also proved more stable than the CDC's 4-hour room-temperature rule, with very little bacterial growth even up to 24 hours in many cases, consistent with other recent studies.

The current guidelines are understandably cautious, especially for preterm infants, NICU babies, or those with health issues, who should stick to stricter rules and check with a doctor.

For most parents with healthy babies, though, this new evidence provides real relief: less wasted breast milk, fewer stressful discards, and guidelines that better match actual safety data and everyday feeding life.

🔗 Full preprint: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.13.26346179v1.full-text

02/25/2026

02/18/2026

This is BRILLIANT!!! Free resource to save you some of the hassle of admission!

02/09/2026

🤣🤣🤣