Kelly Collins, Doula+

02/25/2026

I often say that pregnancy is ~40 weeks so that the mother can truly be ready for labor. The weeks pass rapidly and slowly at the same time. Between doctor appointments, work, to-do lists, naps and continuous snacking, there seems to be little room to simply sit, reflect, dream or hear heaven.

When you have a baby, you hear a lot about missing your old life, but I don't think we talk enough about embracing the new life ahead. Yes, there will be days when you will mourn who you were and the life you once had, but parenthood is a beautiful journey of becoming... Becoming a new version of yourself so your children can become who they were created to be. Because becoming a mother means that God trusts us with his most precious treasures.

Pregnancy, birth and motherhood are all sacred and transformative times. Each stage of the journey profoundly changes a woman. And while you won't know everything you need to know overnight, you don't have to feel overwhelmed, stuck, uncertain or afraid. It is possible to activate your authority as a child of God and rest during every season of motherhood. In fact, it's exactly what the Lord wants.

If you are in need of support that calms, guides and encourages your spirit, let's talk and make the pasture your permanent dwelling place. God is welcoming you today.

🌿 Psalm 23, Isaiah 43:19 🌿

02/22/2026

One month from launch day!

02/21/2026

By now you probably know Alysa Liu won Olympic gold last night—the first American woman since 2002 to do it.

Everyone’s talking about her impressive comeback story…but I can’t stop thinking about what came before it.

Alysa was a bona fide skating prodigy: National champion at 13 (and 14!). World bronze medalist at 15. Olympian at 16. Graceful and powerful and bursting with talent.

She was the kind of young athlete adults get excited about and build futures around.

But after the Beijing Olympics (where she placed sixth), just when the world expected her to double down—she walked away.

Not because she couldn’t do it. Clearly, she could. She had.

But she was tired of having her life decided for her.

So she retired. She went on her first real vacation. Enrolled in college. Spent time with friends. And probably for the first time in her memory, she wasn’t skating.

Then on a ski trip a couple of years ago, she felt that familiar rush of adrenaline while flying down a snow-covered hill. And she wondered…could she find that on the ice, on her own terms?

So she came out of retirement. But this time, it was different.
She was different.

She decided what she wore. What she ate. What songs she skated to.

And she won.

First, the World Championships in 2025.
Then this week, Olympic gold in Milan.

If you’ve ever raised a teenager, Alysa’s story might make you a little uncomfortable.

Because a lot of us raise high achievers. Talented kids. Responsible kids. The kind of kids other people notice, and expect great things from.

And when you’re parenting that kind of child, pressure can be sneaky.

You don’t want them to waste their potential.

So when your teen says, “I don’t know if I want to do this anymore,” it almost feels personal.

It feels like scholarships and opportunities and years of investment hanging in the balance.

But Alysa Liu is a gentle reminder that it’s not about us.

There’s a difference between teaching our teens grit and teaching them to ignore their own hearts.

And I don’t want my kids to win at something and lose themselves in the process.

What I pray is they find the Alysa Liu inside.

To know they can step back.
To know they can choose.
To know their worth isn’t tied to achievement.

Because what the world saw in Milan wasn’t just talent—it was joy.

A young woman floating across the ice with a smile that said, “I’m here because I want to be.”

That’s the kind of win I want for my kids.

Well done, Alysa.

-Her View From Home

02/21/2026

📰 NEWS YOU CAN USE 📰

Because what’s happening in the world of women’s health and birth matters to YOU.

1. PREEMIE Act and Premature Maternal Deaths Act Reauthorized
These two pieces of legislation were signed into law in February 2026 as part of a bipartisan funding package. These acts extend critical federal research, data tracking, and, specifically for maternal deaths, aim to reduce premature births and improve maternal health outcomes.

2. New preeclampsia therapeutic shows promising results in early testing
Early testing of a new therapeutic, DM199, for preeclampsia shows promising results, with studies indicating that it can lower dangerously high blood pressure and potentially increase blood flow to the placenta.

3. Black box warning being removed from menopausal hormone therapies
The FDA is removing "black box" warnings from most menopausal hormone therapy products, specifically those referencing risks of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Based on updated scientific evidence, this decision reverses 2003 guidance that caused a major drop in, and fear regarding, the use of these therapies.

4. Global estrogen patch shortage
A widespread, ongoing shortage of estradiol patches (commonly used for hormone replacement therapy) is currently causing significant delays in refills across the U.S. and globally. There has been a surge in demand, partly due to the FDA removing "black box" warnings on HRT late last year, outpacing supply.

5. OBGYN & VBAC researcher named in Epstein files
Dr. Mark Landon, a well-published VBAC researcher, a gynecologist specializing in high-risk pregnancy and a professor of maternal-fetal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, is referenced in a memo describing an annual $75,000 retainer and quarterly payments of $30,000 made to him in 2005.

6. Latest WHO stats continue to prove that maternal health should be a priority
In 2023, an estimated 260,000 women died from maternal causes globally. Around 6 in 10 occurred in countries experiencing conflict or institutional & social fragility.

7. Food, formula and toy recalls are at an all-time high in the U.S.
Food, formula and toy recalls have reached critical, near-record highs, driven by increased bacterial contamination, supplier issues and, in some cases, a push for more complex ingredients, affecting millions of units. In 2025, U.S. food recalls hit a nine-year high, while formula recalls are causing global concern due to contamination, and toy recalls pose significant safety risks.

02/16/2026

✨ SAVE THE DATES ✨

Upcoming Community Classes:

✨ Parenting In Preconception
Thursday, March 12th at 6:30 pm

Learn how to prepare for parenthood through premester planning. We will explore physical fortification, emotional groundwork and financial organization. We will also discuss parenting styles, building your village, unique considerations and the impact of a doula through it all.

✨ The ABCs of Family Care
Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 pm

Learn all about family caregiver roles and how they can support you through various stages of parenting. Caregiver roles to be discussed include doulas, night nurses, newborn care specialists, sleep consultants, household managers, nannies, babysitters, mothers' helpers and caregivers for aging adults.

Community classes are free, but space is limited. Email me at kellycollins@bestofbothworldsnc.com to register and receive the class link.

02/10/2026

Register for the Postpartum Pep Rally 👇🏾
https://www.facebook.com/share/1HD7RQxFx2/

02/05/2026

Hey 👋🏾

How's your 2026 going so far?

Have you already started planning all the things and filling your calendar?

It's okay. Let me help you.

As a wife, homeschooling mom and entrepreneur with a WFM job, I stay busy. So I have already planned my time off for the year. I'm working on some special projects so I know that I will need down time to rest, spend time with my family and do absolutely nothing. I always want to be sure that I am ready and available to handle whatever may come my way.

But here's the thing: no amount of vacation time will be enough if your day-to-day isn't structured or regulated in some way.

In my line of work, burnout is very real. I have learned that certain habits must be in place in order for you to be productive and balanced because how you show up is important. Setting boundaries, not overcommitting, prayer and time with God and managing your time & energy well all help to sustain your well-being instead of having to recover from life every time something unexpected happens. Because life be lifing, right?!

So use those vacation days, but be as intentional about your 'time on' as you are your time off.

02/04/2026

Why Paid Parental Leave Falls Short for NICU Parents

Imagine: your doctor "accidentally" breaks your water during a 33 week cervical check (I don't even want to talk about how this happened 😒), you're rushed into an emergency csection, your baby is taken to the NICU and when you update your new boss on things their response is, "Will you be at work on Monday?"

Chile please!! 😳😤😡😫😵‍💫

There is so much to unpack here. Premature birth. Emergency c-sections. Unpaid parental leave. Job loss. Lawsuits. And these a just a few stories in a pool of countless women who have experienced this same heartache and injustice.

No new parent should have to choose between their baby, mental health and career.

After an emergency C-section and a premature birth, a new mom says her employer still wanted to know if she would be at work the following Monday. Her story reveals the impossible reality many NICU parents face.

02/03/2026

✨ New on the Blog: Double Feature ✨

This week I'm talking about all things family, finances and your favorite city.

In "Birth, Babies and Budgets", I outline everything you need to know this year about family care costs like birth, healthcare and long-term family planning for child and adult caregivers and how you can start preparing now.
http://www.bestofbothworldsnc.com/blog/birth-babies-budgets-in-2026

In "The Raleigh Advantage", I share why raising your family in Raleigh, one of the nation's top-rated cities, will not only give you peace of mind with job security, education and community, but allow you to make countless memories with your loved ones with all that our city has to offer.
http://www.bestofbothworldsnc.com/blog/the-raleigh-advantage

Read more to get all the info you need to ensure your family thrives in 2026 and beyond.

01/31/2026

A 136-kilogram (300-pound) whale placenta was just found floating at the ocean’s surface off Hawaiʻi — a discovery so rare that many marine scientists may never encounter one in their careers.

Researchers from Pacific Whale Foundation initially thought they were approaching floating debris. Instead, they realized they had stumbled upon a fully intact whale placenta — something that usually sinks almost immediately after birth. “This tissue typically sinks quickly after being released from the mother,” explained chief scientist Jens Currie, making the find exceptionally unusual. The presence of a large section of umbilical cord suggested the birth had occurred very recently, even though the mother and calf were no longer nearby.

Under federal research permits, the team carefully recovered the placenta and transported it for scientific study in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi Health and Strandings Lab and Griffith University. Only about 1% of the tissue was sampled. Scientists will analyze it for contaminants like microplastics, mercury, and PFAS — offering rare insight into maternal health, fetal development, and how pollution may affect whales before birth.

Beyond science, the moment carried deep cultural meaning. In Hawaiian tradition, such biological material is sacred. Guided by Indigenous cultural practitioners Kiaʻi Kanaloa, the team followed strict protocols to ensure respect. After research is complete, the placenta will be returned to the ocean at the exact location it was found, accompanied by traditional prayers and offerings — honoring both scientific responsibility and cultural stewardship.

01/05/2026

The American College of Nurse-Midwives mourns the devastating death of Dr. Janell Green Smith, CNM, who died from complications of childbirth. Dr. Smith was a respected midwife, scholar, and advocate whose life and work reflected a deep commitment to respectful, evidence-based, and equitable care.

That a Black midwife and maternal health expert died after giving birth in the United States is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Her death underscores the persistent and well-documented reality that Black women—regardless of education, income, or professional expertise—face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic racism and failures in care.

We grieve Dr. Smith’s loss and recognize it as a profound failure of the systems meant to protect birthing people. In her honor, ACNM commits not only to reaffirming our values, but to intensifying our actions to dismantle racial inequities in maternal health, strengthen accountability in care systems, and work alongside Black midwives, clinicians, and communities to prevent future tragedies.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Smith’s family, loved ones, and the midwifery community. We carry her legacy forward with urgency, humility, and resolve.