In Joy Birth

01/19/2026

Your feelings are valid. It’s ok to love your baby but not love the way they came into this world. Those are two separate things. Babies don’t read birth plans and it’s ok that this sucks. On the flipside, it’s also OK to feel really good about how things went down. There’s no right or wrong way to give birth, we just want you to feel empowered by your decisions, even if your baby had to call the shots. We want you to feel like you maintained your autonomy and you were able to give truly informed consent. In the end, that is how we come out of the birth journey without trauma.

01/14/2026

I have 1-2 unexpected openings for birth or maternity sessions this January! So many January babes were born in December, so I have rare last minute availability. I would love to gift anyone who books on such short notice a free mini album. 🤍

01/05/2026

We have 4 spots left for our 2026 cohort. For a digital open house, email Heater to connect.

01/05/2026

Reminder that our crash course in Comfort Measure Class is this Wednesday evening at Tree of Life Birth center in Altamonte from 6-8:30. Details in the flyer

12/30/2025

https://cbs12.com/features/weathering-parenthood/financial-advisor-reveals-the-secret-to-raising-kids-without-breaking-the-bank-south-florida-mom-weathering-parenthood-podcast-soflo-moms-december-24-2025

This awesome mama is one of our favorites past client and our own personal advisor/life insurance agent if you’re in the market. Give her a follow/listen

https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/danielle-barak/

In a recent episode of Weathering Parenthood, host Lauren Olesky speaks with financial advisor Danielle Barak about the financial considerations.

12/24/2025

Bringing back our annual holiday card! Thank you to all of the families who have entrusted us to support your growing families over the years. It's been an honor to serve Central Florida and Denver, Colorado. Happy Holidays!!!

12/22/2025

From an L&D nurse, gently clearing up mucus plug anxiety 🤍

I see so many questions about mucus plugs, so I want to share this in a reassuring way. Not to dismiss concerns, but to help you know what actually matters.

✨ First: Losing your mucus plug is very common, and it’s usually not an emergency.
Mucus plugs can regenerate, and it’s completely normal to lose pieces of it days or even weeks before labor starts. On its own, it does not mean you’re going into labor.

✨ Second: What we really watch for in Labor & Delivery isn’t the mucus plug itself.
We’re concerned about regular contractions, water breaking, bleeding, decreased fetal movement, or contractions that are causing cervical change.

It’s true that losing your mucus plug can happen closer to labor, but without other symptoms, it’s usually just your cervix doing normal cervix things.

💛 Bottom line:
If you lose your mucus plug and feel fine otherwise, that alone usually isn’t a reason to rush into L&D. Trust your body, watch for other signs, and call your provider if you’re unsure, that’s what they’re there for.

You’re not silly for asking questions. Pregnancy is confusing.

This is just one of those moments where reassurance goes a long way 🤍

12/18/2025

When you are a Doula who regularly works with your own personal Ob/Gyn, you make an effort to shave your legs for once🤣

11/29/2025

Our crash course in comfort measure class that we usually hold on the first Wednesday of every month is canceled. Heather has to leave town last minute for a family matter. Our next class will resume the first Wednesday in January from 6-8:30 PM.

11/19/2025

I’ve been at this Doula game for over 16 years personally and I’ve seen some s*%+. Times have changed for the better, mostly in central FL but not for every family and not for every community. What we are witnessing in this video and a few others that have been shared since I have witnessed with my own two eyes, one too many times. Almost always mothers of color and almost always one specific facility locally, even with a Doula. If your Doula is encouraging you to switch providers or hospitals, trust us. We’ve seen some things at one facility over others and we’re not shy about it.

I don’t want to parrot all of the things everyone else is also saying, but thanks to the encouragement of a past client of mine, I want to give some tips for how to be an advocate for somebody if you find yourself a support person at a birth or medical emergency. Not all Doula‘s advocate (that’s a soap box for later), not everyone has or wants a Doula with them and that’s OK. I should note, I rarely have to do this anymore as we give little grace for this and nip it in the bud early.

-Be the bulldog. Don’t take no for an answer. Go get help higher up. Rock the boat. Shout and make one hell of a scene. Call out the abuse as you see it and don’t sugarcoat it to the waiting room of people behind you and the nurses station. The second you do that, others start recording as well.

-“Why are you refusing to take her pain seriously? She’s pushing and suffering, who cares what her due date is” “Someone come help us, this nurse isn’t helping/listening and its an emergency”

-At the nurses station, “We decline care from this nurse, please bring in another one willing to provide care”

-There are gloves on almost every wall in the medical facility. Grab gloves and become that person’s fill in Midwife if need be.

-Run out to the nurses station and ask for patient advocacy manager to come immediately and ask the charge nurse and nurse manager to come and assist.

-Come in with a prepared printed “nurses-cheat-sheet” (ours is in the pictures) with all moms details on it so they have as much of the important information they need so they can get you through quicker and mom can keep laboring away with out being pestered and slowed down.

-Don’t be afraid to name drop or call a friend who works there if you have the connection. a nurse, a midwife or even a admin who’s better connected. It helps even if it’s tacky.

-Play the long game. Get your prenatal care from a local midwife who does collaborative care. That way, they can help set you up for success when it is go time and help get you through. That being said, they will also likely steer you away from he hospitals knows for this behavior.

Arm your support system with these tools if you don’t have a Doula or one who is comfortable advocating. Especially if you are a black or brown mother. You might not be in a headspace to advocate for yourself so this is the next best thing.

11/14/2025

Birthy VBAC magic happened here. I’m SO grateful for the genuine support of a great care team and hospital. It makes all the difference.