Alongside Doula

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Pitman, NJ
Alongside Doula

Emilee is a full-spectrum birth and end-of-life doula serving South Jersey.

07/29/2024

When I tell people I'm a death doula, I usually get one of two reactions. Either "oh, how wonderful." or "I could never!"

The "I could never" crowd usually goes on to explain how uncomfortable they are with death and the dying, while the "oh how wonderful" crowd usually shares an experience they had with a dying loved one that put death into perspective for them (I love hearing these stories).

One reaction clearly comes from a place of fear. As humans, death is our biggest unknown. And when we focus on its unknown-ness, it's easy to be fearful. Instead, let death be a reminder that life is something beautiful and sacred, it's precious and altogether short. We analyze and think about death not to "solve" it, but to befriend it and accept it, to let it remind us of life.

If you have any questions about the doula process, feel free to send me a DM.

07/22/2024

Yes, another garden-related quote... can you blame me? Summer is blooming in my garden right now!

Mindfulness fosters compassion. Both compassion for others, and compassion for self, become more and more natural as we practice mindfulness regularly. We become more patient, more willing to see the other's side (or our own side), more gracious and understanding over time.

It's so worth the time and the effort to become more compassionate to ourselves and others.

Do you have a mindfulness practice? What does it look like?

07/18/2024

Let's talk about ritual.

My morning ritual involves making my coffee and savoring the first sip (after that first sip, the day is off and rolling and I'm usually trying to catch up!). Lots of folks have these little rituals that they practice throughout the day. But a key touchstone of ritual is mindfulness. How often am I *mindfully* making my coffee and *mindfully* savoring that first sip?

Small ritual can be a daily practice, but I think more than ever it's important to find a place for larger and more intentional rituals. I love the app for this, and as a doula I try to find ways to work ritual into my practice. Ritual can help clients mark transition points, whether that's a blessingway for expectant parents at the point of viability, or a ceremony marking the decision to end treatment for a terminal disease. Ritual can create meaning and beauty during transitional times that can otherwise feel rushed or skipped-over.

Questions about ritual or about the doula process in general? I'm just a DM away.

07/04/2024

Meet your doula! 💕

Current favorites:

🥛 Drink: Olipop Cream Soda
🎞 Movie: Kiki’s Delivery Service
📖 Book: Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Dr. Sarah Buckley
🎵 Song: Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter
🌊 Place: Ocean City, NJ
📱 App: Notion

06/27/2024

"Mindfulness is paying attention to what's happening in the present moment, in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of kindness and curiosity." - Mindful Nation UK Report

Mindfulness and meditation are two different things, but meditation can be a great way to practice mindfulness. One way I meditate is lighting a candle and paying attention to the flame - watching it dance, noticing the way it moves, the colors within it, how the wax melts under it. It's a way of practicing presence in the moment, and while we all know how a candle looks when it's burning, how often do we really pay attention to its little dance?

06/24/2024

I talk a lot about nonjudgment and acceptance. And it’s easy to slip into thinking that acceptance is a passive thing, but it’s not - it’s an intentional act, something we have to choose again and again. Acknowledging the truth of the moment, accepting it, and letting it go requires effort and action. So while it might seem like the “easy” or “lazy” way on the surface, it’s not passive.⁣
⁣

06/22/2024

Enjoy the little things. Be present for them.

06/22/2024

Meet your doula! 💕

I’m Emilee! I’m 33, I have two kids, and I’m a full-spectrum birth and death doula. I love coffee, mom jeans, romance novels, sitting on my front porch, and going to bed early.

I came to doula work in a bit of a roundabout way, but now I can see how every setback and obstacle was paving my way here. I love my clients and I love that I get to be a part of their stories.

As always, if you have any questions about my work, I’m here to chat!

Many thanks to for the headshots 💕

06/10/2024

The heart of mindfulness is non-judgment: not analyzing or assigning value to thoughts or feelings as they come and go. Rather, mindfulness is acceptance of those thoughts and feelings and being present with them, observing them. It's way more easily said than done, but incorporating a mindfulness practice into your day-to-day can help you move toward non-judgment.

06/06/2024

As a doula, my journey is one of constant learning and growth, much like the pages of a book waiting to be explored. Each book in this stack represents not just knowledge, but the wisdom gained from every birth I've attended, every death I have witnessed, every family I've supported. Like chapters in a story, each experience adds depth and richness to my practice.

So here's to the power of knowledge, the foundation of compassionate care. With each experience, I expand my understanding and strengthen my ability to serve, nurture, and empower.

As always, if you have any questions about the doula process, I'm here to chat.

06/03/2024

In the quiet of birth, a profound power emerges—an energy that accumulates like clouds on the horizon, carrying parent and child into a new chapter.

As a birth doula, I've witnessed this raw strength firsthand, a reminder of our innate capacity for creation and love. This power extends beyond birth, guiding us through life's storms, offering resilience and transformation with each challenge.

Embrace this power within you, for it is a constant force, ready to carry you forward.

As always, if you have any questions about the doula process, I'm here to chat.

05/30/2024

Life often feels like climbing a staircase—each step a new challenge, a new opportunity, a new lesson. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, to want to leap to the top in one bound, but growth doesn't happen in giant leaps; it happens one step at a time.⁣ ⁣

In my work as a birth and death doula, I've learned the importance of embracing this slow ascent. Just as in birth, where each contraction brings us closer to the miracle of new life, and in death, where each breath draws us nearer to the inevitable, every step we take holds significance.⁣ ⁣
It's okay if you can't see the entire staircase from where you stand; sometimes, all we need is the courage to take that first step. Trust in the journey, trust in yourself.⁣ ⁣

And like gratitude, progress is not always about the grand moments but the small victories—the moments of peace amidst chaos, the lessons learned in setbacks, the resilience found in adversity.⁣ ⁣

So, let's take things one step at a time, acknowledging the beauty in the process, finding solace in the journey, and embracing the wisdom that comes with every step forward.⁣ ⁣

No matter how daunting the climb may seem, remember, you have the strength within you to ascend, one step at a time.

As always, if you have any questions about the doula process, I'm here to chat.

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Pitman, NJ
08071

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http://www.alongside-doula.com/

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