Prana Wellness and Doula

03/30/2025

Almost 7 months already since the most empowering, incredible day of my life.

The birth of my first daughter was a blessing, but unfortunately, it resulted in trauma as I hear too often from first time mothers. The day was full of pain, heartache, fear and regret, even though it resulted in my first beautiful blessing of a daughter.

This time around, I worked through my first birth story, what it was, what I felt it was, what I told myself it was, and what I needed this time around with our very unexpected second baby.

We planned for me to carry a baby for another couple last year. We went through a year of rigorous testing and matching to find the right couple, and a month before the transfer was scheduled, we found I had conceived on birth control.

I felt guilty, ashamed, scared, and uncertain.... so many feelings those first few months, and I felt even worse that none of them were joy.

The morning I took the test, after the dream that awoke me from a deep sleep prompting me to take it, I made a call to the OB, and as soon as we found out we may be pregnant, my next call was to .

I knew I would need tremendous support emotionally to get through this, and also a competent and caring midwife when the day came to bring this little soul Earthside.

The OB told me when we had our first ultrasound that she was sure I would miscarry and to just wait and see. My next appointment a few weeks later, she said the same and took the "congratulations" gifts the nurse brought in as she wasn't confident yet this would be viable. Geneva told me to trust the process and allow things to unfold the way they were meant to.

The final appointment with the OB, we finally got our welcome bag of "junk" and a guarded congratulations as I let her know we would be continuing care with our midwife, and I am so grateful we did.

Geneva was everything I didn't know I needed the first time around, and on the day of Wren's birth, I felt more confident, empowered and strong than I ever have in my life.

Used the word "empowered" a lot as a doula, but never truly understood the meaning until that day. Words could never express my gratitude for these blessings.

05/01/2023

Being a doula has been the biggest blessing. To walk alongside these incredible women as they realize their strength is such a powerful thing to witness and such an honor to be a part of.
I was blessed to have supported an incredible couple as they brought their baby into the world this weekend, and with each birth I learn something new about myself, this process and this truly spiritual experience.
I learn about the power of the woman, the divine feminine, the true meaning of life.
I learn about myself and what I can do to hold space for these incredible people.
I learn about the miracle of creation and the incredible journey these mothers and babies go through.
I learn about the power of love between two people and the capacity of love that I have for them that grows deeper with each experience.
I learn how grateful I am to have a partner who supports my passion and accepts the late nights, early mornings, and all the emotions I process and help others process along the way.
I remember and realize how grateful I am to have such a great mentor in and my doula friends who give me advice and hold space for me too.
I am so blessed and overcome with emotions to be on this path and through all the ups and downs I wouldn't trade it for the world.

04/22/2023

I'm excited to be hosting my first free yoga class as part of my certification! All ages, levels welcome, this will be a gentle class and prenatal/postpartum friendly. Bring your mat and some water and join us for yoga in the park! (Weather permitting).

04/19/2023

So proud that Avery loves to run around saying "placenta" now. Future birth worker in the making!

To their credit, my kids have always handled it really well 😂

04/19/2023

As much as we would love to, we can't control every aspect of our birth story. Sometimes our bodies and our babies have other plans. Just know, if you pushed your baby through your birth canal, or with your heart, you are still an amazing human and have shown incredible strength. 🧡

Yes 💕

04/19/2023

Breastfeedingnis a beautiful and natural process that should not be sexualized. Did you knowbthat in CO there are protections in place allowing nursing parents to feed their children where, when and how they please? Let's normalize feeding our children in a comfortable, safe and judgement-free way 🧡

04/19/2023

The best part of being a doula?
I don't think I could possibly choose one thing.

It's the relationships you build.

It's convincing people in their most vulnerable and beautiful state of being just how strong they really are.

It's holding space, holding hands and providing unconditional love and support.

It's that beautiful moment of a family meeting their baby for the first time.

It's all of it. The good, the tough, the painful, the beautiful moments. It's the ability to do what you love and share that love everyday. ❤️

04/17/2023

Preparing a healthy postpartum meal for a client today with bone broth, healing herbs and homemade egg noodles.

Soups and herbs are great postpartum meal ideas to help aid in a speedy recovery, and I am so honored and blessed to offer these services for my clients!

What were some of your favorite postpartum meals?

04/14/2023

The most beautiful transformation 💕😍

04/14/2023

Maternal healthcare in our country has to change. Unfortunately, black mothers in our country are 3-6x more likely to die in our country than white mothers during birth due to a very real racial injustice that is still alive and well in our country.

Black mothers, I see you.
Black mothers, I hear you.
Black mothers, I love you.
Black mothers, I value you.
Black mothers, you matter.

It is Black Maternal Health Week, and this week, and everyday, we have to begin looking more into why race is still playing a role today in treatment of mothers in our maternal healthcare system.

Hiring a doula can help to ensure that you are heard, your needs are met and you receive the level of care you desire and deserve.

As a white woman, I understand that this is something I can never fully relate to, but something I am determined to do my part to spread awareness about, understand and change in any way that I can.

“If you are afraid of natural birth, at least some of this was taught to you by powerful white men who want your money. As mentioned, in early 20th century America, almost everyone was born at home. Many white midwives had been killed and the rest pushed underground, but someone still had to catch the babies, so most of the midwives who were attending births were either indigenous midwives who were here when the colonizers arrived or they were grand midwives, black slaves who had retained the wisdom from their native lands or had it passed down to them from their predecessors, other slave women. We owe everything we still know about natural birth to these women!”
- Wisdom From the Womb, Geneva Montano

04/12/2023

So often in our society, women are pressured to "bounce back" and ignore the necessary time to heal and bond with their babies. They may be left alone for a few weeks to "figure it out" as their partner must return to work and family may not be able to provide care.

A female-bodied person goes through incredible changes during pregnancy and birth, and it is critical that we support them in this postpartum period so they may settle into this new body, new role, and new life.

We must begin to look deeper into the causes of postpartum depression, including feelings of anxiety, fatigue, and isolation, and help to create a safe, calm, relaxing space to embrace this new life.

The United States is the only developed country that does not offer paid maternal leave for families, with countries like Sweden offering 56 weks of leave at 80% of their salary.

The US offers 12 weeks, unpaid, and only if you have been at your place of business for over 12 months.

"It is time to change our ways, to pick up the threads of knowledge that we forgot and weave them into a new kind of fabric to hold the mother. It is time to reclaim the postpartum period and reinstate it to its rightful place as the important conclusion of the childbearing story, something that deserves as much forethought as pregnancy and birth. We must do it for ourselves and for our children because the way women become mothers profoundly affects the way their children awaken to this world. When you take care of the mother, you take care of the child." - The First Fourty Days - The Essential Art of Nourishing a New Mother" Heng Ou

04/10/2023

The female body is such a beautiful thing. Able to support the creation of life for 9 months, and continue to support that life for many years after ❤️

♋️