Nest and Nurture Postpartum Doula

04/11/2025

I'm so excited to attend this conference today and make strides towards my postpartum doula career! I'm looking forward to listening and learning how to best support future clients in my area.

One week until we kick off Black Maternal Health Week with our Standing to Protect Black Maternity: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Change Conference. Our Black Maternal Health Equity Action Alliance Conference Planning Team has done an amazing job and the conference will feature some great speakers and topics!

Check out this great coverage with Conference Team Lead, Teresita Hammond from Sentara Health with 13News Now - WVEC! https://www.13newsnow.com/video/news/health/black-maternal-health-conference-to-kick-off-at-norfolk-state-university/291-d1b4ee9a-4a03-41ea-9f7d-64987d627c55

The conference is still open to registration for virtual attendance (Sorry, we are all full for in-person attendance!). Register today so you don't miss this important conference. It's free but registration is required.

Register here: https://evms.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaSq8YFxgDOxXjU





Virginia Department of Health

04/10/2025

It's been a long time since I've posted in this space! Hello to those of you who followed previously, and welcome to anyone new!

Since I last worked in this space, we moved from Illinois to Virginia. We've settled in and are carving out our niche in our new community.

I've got new things coming on the horizon - finally returning to completing my certifications and hoping to take clients by the fall!

Stay tuned as I explore and grow in my very much missed doula world!

08/25/2023

"Have a safe, wonderful trip and an even better life." Love, Joe

"It seems the more love you give, the more love you receive." Love, Ma

These words were written in a card to me by my grandparents before I embarked on a road trip to (unintentionally) elope and marry Rob 17 years ago. We got married at Angel's Nest Wedding Chapel in Bay Minette, AL by Reverend Windy. The short ceremony was complete with Enya music playing in the background while another young Air Force couple waited for their turn to exchange vows. We were supposed to get married at the courthouse in Mobile, AL but the marriage officiant didn't show up to work that day. We set the tone for the next 17 years by improvising and figuring out how to still make it a special day even though things didn't go according to plan.

Rob was in tech school and I was living with Ma and Joe after Mom had passed away. We had intended to have a small wedding ceremony later that winter, but quickly realized that was not going to be possible as we prepared for our first Air Force move to Oklahoma City. We have joked over the years about having a vow renewal ceremony, but the Air Force has thrown deployments and PCS moves at us as we passed our 5, 10, and 15 year wedding anniversaries. Our next idea is to have a vow renewal at 20 years as part of his Air Force retirement ceremony as well lol. We'll have to see what happens 😉

Ma and Joe's words have rang true these past 17 years. We have had a wonderful life full of love given and received. There have been ups and downs, challenges and celebrations. We have traveled along next to each other, supporting one another through career endeavors, numerous deployments, endless life changes, and more. We have learned (and are still learning) how to be parents together. We are each other's best friend, and have enjoyed the friendships we've made with others as we moved across the country.

We challenge each other constantly to be better people - to love and live with our whole hearts and follow our dreams. I have loved each chapter of our marriage and am excited about what the next chapter will bring (hint - we are due to be moving sometime next year). Here's to 17 more!

08/23/2023

Hello friends! It's been awhile since I posted in this space. Summer as a stay at home mom with two young kids is full of playtime and sunshine. There's not a lot of time leftover to dedicate to working on certifications and a budding business. But we had so much fun! The girls swam, rode bikes, and played until the sun went down all summer.

The girls are back in school, pre-K and 2nd grade! I'm trying to take advantage of some of the quiet time and space to work on completing my first two certifications as I work towards my dream of being a birthworker and postpartum doula. Sometimes that means reading, working in my manual, networking, managing social media, brainstorming and more.

I'm thankful for living in a community with amazing coffee shops where I can sit, work, and get inspired. Currently enjoying coffee and a scone at June's while I work in my New Parent Educator manual. Here's to a great school year and progress towards my goals!

Fellow mamas - how do you make time for YOU? And what does that time look like? Are you pursuing goals, enjoying a book or hobby, or simply getting a chance to catch your breath and to have some alone time? Leave a comment below!

07/18/2023

Planning for the postpartum period is so important! Being prepared for the fourth trimester can help you feel confident and more empowered as you adjust to life with your new baby. Check out this FREE postpartum planning course offered through Postpartum Support International!

Is your family growing? Would you like some dedicated time to learn and think about your postpartum period? Join us for our free, online 2-hour Postpartum Planning Class for expectant parents (2nd and 3rd trimester)! All expectant parents are welcome: moms, birthing people, non-gestational parents, partners, couples, and single parents. If you are expecting a baby soon, we welcome you to join us. We will focus on the parents’ emotional wellbeing during the postpartum period. The class will include education, discussion, review of a postpartum plan, and resources. The main topics covered will be: postpartum physical recovery, partner support, self-care, support networks, lactation and emotional wellbeing, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We hope that you will finish the class feeling more confident and knowledgeable about your postpartum experience.

Learn more, view the schedule, and register ➡️ bit.ly/Postpartum2023

07/17/2023

I'd like to thank Laura, Suyin, and Abby for an amazing postpartum doula training. I have been wanting to pursue this dream for 6 years and am so grateful to finally begin. This was my second CAPPA training this year and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from such skilled and experienced faculty members. I can't wait to work on my certifications and serve families during the postpartum period to help them as they welcome new babies into their lives ❤️

07/17/2023

Being a military spouse can be a challenge on the best of days! You have to acclimate to a new lifestyle, learn all sorts of crazy acronyms, move to a new and unknown place, and build community and friendships.

All of these things are made much harder when you bring a new baby into your life, particularly because most military families don't live near extended family that can help during the postpartum period.

Check out these 7 tips from Hello Postpartum on how to prepare for postpartum recovery as a military spouse! Do you agree? Is there anything you would add? Leave a comment below!

Preparing everything before the baby can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re a military spouse whose home life structure may differ slightly from others. As mothers, it’s sometimes in our nature to bypass our own needs and focus on our newborn, but we’re here to tell you that it’s cruc...