The Happy Mama Place

08/26/2025

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Michel Odent, a renowned and internationally recognized surgeon and advocate for the demedicalization of childbirth.

Odent wrote several key articles and publications on childbirth, lactation, and caring for pregnant and birthing people, including the first article applying the gate control theory of pain to childbirth. He was among the first advocates for water birth to support a more client-focused environment, with the goal of centering the birthing parent and their baby in the birth experience once more.

An example would be "Birth Under Water," one of his earlier publications from The Lancet in 1983. It reflects on what he and his team learned after the 100th baby was born after the use of water immersion in his hospital. The ideas shared set the stage for water birth to become more common and more widely accepted as an avenue for managing the intensity of labor and supporting birthing parents in coping through labor progression.

We welcome you to share the impact Odent's work and writings have had on your work as birth and lactation professionals, so we can remember and learn from his legacy of advocating for the rights and experiences of parents and babies.

Odent, M. (1983). Birth under water. The Lancet, 322(8365-8366), 1476-1477.

Photo: Xavier Caré / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA

06/22/2025

✨ Off to Venture X Bethlehem today to guide another HypnoBirthing class is one of my favorite parts of what I do.

Every parent deserves to feel calm, connected, and truly prepared for birth, mind, body, and baby. HypnoBirthing is just one way I help families build trust in themselves and welcome birth with more confidence and ease.

If you’ve ever wondered how to prepare for birth in a way that feels peaceful and empowering, I’m always here to chat. 💕

📍 Bethlehem, PA
📆 Sundays at Venture X

06/15/2025

✨ Why I always recommend learning about breastfeeding before your baby arrives…

Too often, families assume they’ll just “figure it out” once baby is here. But those precious first hours — the golden hour — are meant for bonding, resting, and soaking in your baby, not for feeling stressed or confused about latching and feeding.

Unfortunately, not every hospital has a lactation consultant on staff, and even when they do, the support is often limited — and sometimes the advice given isn’t based on the best evidence. For example, nurses may recommend pumping your colostrum instead of hand-expressing or latching baby directly, or they’ll tell new moms to start pumping because “your milk isn’t in yet and baby isn’t getting enough.” But early pumping in those first 6 weeks can create an oversupply, which can be very uncomfortable and hard to manage later on. Knowing how to latch well and trust your body’s natural process can make all the difference.

This is exactly why I recommend Brittany at Kimble Lactation Support to all my clients for in-home visits when extra support is needed. I hear story after story about how helpful, caring, and absolutely wonderful she is.

I’m so excited she’s now offering prenatal breastfeeding classes — because learning ahead of time means fewer worries during that sacred golden hour. When you have the skills and confidence before birth, you can focus on what truly matters: bonding with your baby.

✨ More than a doula — I prepare you for it all.
This class is officially on my doula recommendation list — and it should be on your birth prep list too.

📧 In-person and virtual options available!
For details or to register, email brittany@kimblelactation.com

I’m so excited to announce I’m am offering a Prenatal Breastfeeding Class!!!

✨Virtual or in person options
✨Come learn all the things you need to know to successfully feed your baby
✨Come learn in a judgement free and supportive environment, where you will feel empowered to feed your baby confidently!
✨email me directly brittany@kimblelactation.com for more info or to register

06/13/2025

🌿She Found the Four-Leaf Clover… On Day Four of Labor
—and in that moment, something shifted.

All pregnancy long, they searched.
On every walk, they looked—hoping to find a sign. A quiet reassurance. A little magic.

On day four of labor, in the thick of it all…
they finally found it.

This was a birth that stretched across five days—
five days of breath, strength, fear, and release.
She didn’t just cope through it.
She met it. Fully. Without medication. Without giving up.

She left the hospital she was supposed to birth in.
After how she was treated, she walked out of triage and said:
"I never want to go back there."
She never did.

Instead, she was welcomed into care that saw her.
A chiropractor—who had never met her before—opened his doors, his hands, and his heart.
Not the first laboring mother I’ve sent there.
And once again, they rose to the moment.

The staff made her laugh.
She felt safe. Held. Heard.
After an adjustment, she described feeling a pull upward… and then release.
Her body began to open. Her labor deepened.
She found her rhythm again.

Through all five days, she leaned on her HypnoBirthing tools.
Every surge met with breath. Every decision met with presence.
She stayed grounded.
Even when things got hard—especially then.

Her partner watched in awe.
He said, "I've never seen this kind of strength in her."
They’ve known each other for years. But this was different.

This was transformation.
This was birth.

Not every story ends the way we imagine.
But when a mother walks away proud of how she showed up, how she was supported, and how deeply she trusted herself—
That’s still a powerful birth.

✨More than just a doula: Full-circle birth support from pregnancy through postpartum.✨

If you’re expecting and want to feel supported, seen, and fully prepared for birth—I’m here.
📞 Call 570-212-9520 or fill out the contact form at thehappymamaplace.com

06/11/2025

"The Placenta: An Organ Created for the Baby—That Can Still Support You."

The placenta is the only temporary organ your body creates—and it’s created entirely for your baby.

It delivers oxygen and nutrients… removes waste… produces hormones… and even acts as part of their immune defense.

But after birth, this incredible organ doesn’t have to be discarded.

✨ For many families, the placenta becomes part of their postpartum healing.

Encapsulation may support mood, energy, and milk supply.

Tinctures can extend hormone support for months (even years).

Smoothies offer a nutrient-rich option in the hours after birth.

Infused balms soothe sore skin with your body’s own regenerative power.

Your placenta gave everything to your baby. Now, it can help give something back to you.

If you're not sure where to start—I'm here to guide you.

📍 Serving Northeast PA + Lehigh Valley
🌐 thehappymamaplace.com
📞 570-299-9246

06/04/2025

What does birth photography really look like?
It’s not just the baby being born.
It’s the quiet support of a partner’s kiss.
The calm presence of a doula’s hands.
Even the dog curled at the foot of the bed, holding space in their own way.
Birth is powerful, sacred, and deeply personal. Every story is worth remembering in its fullness.
If you're curious about having your birth journey documented in a way that feels honest, respectful, and artfully told, I’d love to talk.

📷 Now booking 2025 due dates.

📍 Serving families in Wilkes-Barre

06/04/2025

This is what you see in the triage room at Labor & Delivery.
A sign about pain medicine—and nothing else.

It’s subtle, but powerful.
Our subconscious is always listening.
From the very beginning, we’re taught that birth = pain, and the solution is medication.

But what if that’s not the full story?

Yes—birth brings intense sensations:
Tightening. Pressure. Stretching. Pulling.
But when you understand what you’re feeling—and why—fear fades.
And often, so does pain.

It’s not just the surges.
It’s the tension… the resistance… the fear that makes it feel unmanageable.

That’s why I teach HypnoBirthing®.
Because real birth prep is so much more than just breathing and hip squeezes.
It’s about calming the nervous system, understanding your body, and preparing your mind before labor begins.

✨ Upcoming HypnoBirthing Series:
📍 The Happy Mama Place
→ Last-minute Monday class begins June 23rd
📍 Bethlehem @
→ Sunday class begins June 22nd
📍 Honesdale @ Greater Honesdale Partnership
→Saturdays starting September 13th

Because sure, I could just be your doula and support you through birth.
But when you’ve done the deeper work—when you understand your body and trust it—
everything changes.

✨ More than a doula—birth prep that transforms your whole experience.
thehappymamaplace.com/childbirth-education-hypnobirthing

06/03/2025

✨ Why I Said Yes to Peppa Pig—Even After a 5-Day Birth ✨

After coming home from supporting a birth that unfolded over five days, I did something a little unexpected…

I called my daughter off from school and took her to the movies. 🎥💕

She wanted to see Peppa Pig: Baby Evie—and even though I was absolutely exhausted, it was completely worth it.

Korrah loves everything baby-related. She tells me all the time that she wants to be a doula when she grows up. 🥹
She comes with me to home visits, lights up when she meets the families I support, and especially loves postpartum visits when she finally meets the baby she’s been hearing about for months.

So it’s no surprise she picked this movie.

In the film, Peppa and George learn how babies grow (using fruit as examples!), how to care for a newborn, and how to share their feelings.
Mama and Dada Pig attend a childbirth class together.

This movie gives a sweet and simple visual of what preparing for a new baby can look like.
What it should look like.

And it reminded me, this is why I teach childbirth classes.
Why I offer prenatal bodywork to prepare the pelvis.
Why I guide families in getting their mind and body ready for birth, not just for the big day, but for what comes after.

Because birth shapes more than just the moment a baby is born.
It shapes the story we pass down.
The way we feel in our bodies.
The confidence we carry into parenthood.
And yes epigenetically, it shapes generations.

More than a doula your full-circle birth support specialist. ✨

📩 Call or text 570-212-9520 or visit www.thehappymamaplace.com to learn how we can prepare for your birth together.



https://youtube.com/watch?v=-yVb7BPaHYQ&feature=shared

⚡️ Watch More BRAND NEW Peppa Pig Tales Here: https://bit.ly/3LMLyJU Life as a little one is a journey of constant discovery, and full of exciting new experi...

05/31/2025

A little birth humor that is funny and scary.

05/30/2025

When Advocacy Makes You “Difficult”

There’s one local hospital where I’ve supported several births—and unfortunately, where I’ve also seen repeated hostility when I advocate for my clients.

At a recent birth, I calmly asked if we could adjust the peanut ball to better open the pelvic outlet—a small shift that can help baby descend more easily. The nurse said no and added, “I know what you’re trying to do.” When she left the room, the birthing parent and I revisited the position, and she chose to make the adjustment. Her labor picked up quickly.

The nurse came back, saw the change, and was furious.

Later, the client’s husband quietly told her, “You need to speak up. She’s been taking a beating for trying to help you.”

This moment sticks with me—not because of the drama, but because of what it revealed.

I don’t work for the hospital.
I work for the birthing person.
And I work with the body.

Unfortunately, that sometimes makes me a target. I’ve been met with side-eyes, whispering, and cold treatment. But I won’t stop showing up for my clients—rooted in anatomy, grounded in compassion, and guided by physiology.

This hospital also routinely separates doulas from clients in triage. A “quick 20 minutes” without support can completely shift a birthing person’s emotional state and stall progress. This isn’t trauma-informed. It’s outdated. And it needs to change.

If you’re preparing for birth and want someone in your corner—someone who knows how to support both your body and your voice—I’m here.

✨ Your birth experience matters. Your body is wise. And your voice deserves to be heard.
📞 Call me at **570-212-9520 or www.thehappymamaplace.com

05/28/2025

“You won’t let me?”
She asked it twice. And everything changed.

This was the moment her story took a turn—the moment she realized this wasn’t about being allowed. It was about being heard.

Here’s what most people don’t know:
In late pregnancy and labor, a birthing person becomes highly receptive to suggestion. It’s part of how the body transitions into instinctual mode—softening, opening, surrendering. But it also means that a few careless words from a provider can shift everything.

Language matters.
Support matters.
And knowing your rights matters even more.

This mama stood her ground—and this text?
It was only the beginning.

✨ Follow along as her story unfolds.
✨ Real support. Evidence-based care. Instinct-led birth prep.
✨

05/28/2025

🌸 Three impressions. One incredible placenta.
Made with natural food-based coloring from a Mother's Day birth—each print captures a different part of the same sacred story.

Isn’t it amazing how one placenta can create such distinct beauty each time it's pressed?

💬 Which version speaks to you most—A, B, or C?
I’d love to hear which one draws you in the most. 💗



✨ Which version speaks to you most—A, B, or C?
Drop your favorite below—I’d love to know what you see. 💗