Woven Womb Services LLC

01/12/2026

✨ Why We Say: Wait Until the Umbilical Cord Is White ✨

Delayed cord clamping isn’t about a stopwatch, it’s about honoring your baby’s physiology.
At birth, about 1/3 of your baby’s total blood supply is still in the placenta and umbilical cord. That blood is meant for your baby.
Here’s what happens during those first sacred minutes:

🧡 Roughly half of that cord blood is directed to the lungs, helping them expand and transition to breathing air.
🧡 The other half supports the rest of the body, the brain, organs, circulation, and temperature regulation.

The umbilical cord continues to pulse and deliver this blood for an average of 2–5 minutes after birth. When the cord becomes white and no longer pulsing, that transfer is complete.

💡 Important myth to clear up:
Once baby is born, the umbilical cord becomes a one-way system. Blood flows into the baby only, it does not flow back into the placenta. That blood is never “lost” or “taken away” from the baby unless the cord is clamped early.

Delayed cord clamping supports:
• Smoother respiratory transition
• Higher iron stores
• Improved circulation and blood volume
• A gentler start to life outside the womb

Sometimes the most powerful support we can give a newborn… is simply time.

01/10/2026

Breastfeeding is natural - but it is also learned.

Early feeding challenges don't mean your body is failing or that something is "wrong". Most often, they simply mean you and your baby need skilled, compassionate support as you learn together.

How do you know when support might help? Signs can include:
• Persistent ni**le or breast pain beyond the first few feeds
• Latch that feels uncomfortable or inconsistent
• Baby showing frustration, fussiness, or long feeds without satisfaction
• Concerns about weight gain or feeding frequency

It's important to know that pain is NOT a normal part of breastfeeding. While some discomfort can happen in the very first latch or two, ongoing pain is a signal that adjustments or support are needed.

• Persistent ni**le or breast pain beyond the first few feeds
• Latch that feels uncomfortable or inconsistent
• Baby showing frustration, fussiness, or long feeds without satisfaction
• Concerns about weight gain or feeding frequency

With the right guidance, breastfeeding can become more comfortable, more confident, and more joyful for both you and your baby!
Lactation support isn't about perfection; it's about protecting your goals and your confidence as a parent. In the early weeks a lactation counselor can:

01/06/2026

Birth support isn’t about controlling birth, it’s about supporting the family.

Birth is unpredictable, but support shouldn’t be.

A birth doula doesn’t replace your partner or your medical team. Instead, we work alongside them to provide steady, continuous support throughout labor and birth.

So what does that actually look like?
✨ Informed decision-making- helping you understand options as they arise so you can choose what feels right for your family.
✨ Physical comfort- hands-on comfort measures, position changes, breathwork, and guidance through labor.
✨ Advocacy & grounding- helping you feel heard, supported, and emotionally steady during intense or uncertain moments.

Even with a loving, supportive partner and excellent medical care, having continuous labor support can change the birth experience, because partners deserve support too, and you deserve someone fully focused on you.
You deserve to feel supported, seen, and steady no matter how your birth unfolds 🧡

Reach out to schedule a free initial birth consultation or book for your birth support! Discounts available for military service (active and retired), educators and first responders!
www.wovenwombservices.com

01/01/2026

A fun little recap of 2025 as we jump into the New Year! This year held so much growth, professionally and personally, especially returning to this work after my own maternity leave.

I’m endlessly thankful for the families who welcomed me into such holy, tender moments. Excitedly looking ahead with gratitude and trust in where God is leading in 2026!

12/21/2025

Did you know that rates of mastitis go up around holiday periods? Why?

It's your first Christmas with your baby. You're mega excited and so is everyone else to have this gorgeous bundle in their lives. Christmas is going to be AWESOME.

Lots of travelling around in the car visiting friends and family! And that is genuinely fabulous.

But all that travelling leads to lots of time in the car seat, and for most babies the car seat sends them to sleep. And long sleeps mean long gaps between feeds, which leads to full breasts with potential for blockages...

Then the parties, the gatherings, celebrations! Lovely right?! Yes! Except everyone wants a hold of little baby Rupert and once again he has longer stretches between feeds. And when he does come back to you he's over stimulated and over tired and only takes two minutes on the breast before he falls asleep leaving you with, you guessed it, full breasts....

Or the guests seem to think they know better than you do about baby Josie's feeding cues and tell you she doesn't need feeding, they can settle her for you. You're then stuck because you would like to feed your baby, but you don't want to upset family or the way they did things, and maybe they're right?

So your breasts don't get 'emptied' like usual and can you guess what happens next? Yep....

Maybe you're sleeping somewhere different, the bed is different, you can't quite get the angle of the feed right on this squishy mattress and the latch goes a bit dodgy, but you put up with it because you don't want the baby to cry and wake everyone. Dodgy latch leads to breast not emptying efficiently...and you know the rest.

Christmas is lovely, but for a huge amount of people it's also very stressful. Stress hormones can impact on oxytocin, which is the hormone needed to let your milk flow.

So plan ahead now to make sure this holiday season is one where you can feed whenever and wherever you need to. Be led by your baby. Don't stretch out or cut short feeds.
Listen to your body, not Auntie Denise.

🖼️ and ✍️

12/18/2025

A little hello from Woven Womb

I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately, and that’s because this season has been beautifully full, supporting so many families through births, early postpartum days, and lactation consultations. When I’m not posting, it usually means I’m exactly where I’m meant to be: in sacred spaces, holding hands, offering reassurance, and walking alongside families in some of their most tender moments.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with nourishment, connection, and gratitude. As we move into this winter season and toward Christmas, I’m praying you’re able to slow down, savor the quieter moments, and rest in the peace and presence of the Lord.

I look forward to continuing to be invited into such sacred and intimate spaces, serving families with care, humility, and deep respect for the journeys they're on. Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for supporting this small business. It is truly an honor to do this work, and I’m continually reminded that each family I serve is placed in my path with intention. May this season be one of reflection, hope, and deep joy as we celebrate the coming of Christ.

With much love & gratitude,
Rachael
Woven Womb Services

11/21/2025

10/26/2025

🌿 The Power of Words in Labor 🌿

In the intensity of labor, our minds are just as active as our bodies. The words spoken in those sacred moments can shift everything, bringing peace, courage, and strength right when it’s needed most.

Words of affirmation and encouragement aren’t just comforting; they’re powerful tools designed by God. Speaking life, “You are safe.” “God is with you in every breath.” “Your body was fearfully and wonderfully made for this.”, can calm fear, release tension, and help contractions do their beautiful work.

When we align our words with God’s truth, we create an atmosphere of peace and confidence. Partners, doulas, and birth teams, your voice matters! Speak faith, speak hope, speak life.

✨ Each word has the power to remind a mother of the divine strength within her and the holy sacred purpose in her labor.

10/15/2025

✨ Let’s Talk About Cervical Checks ✨

It’s common during labor for people to focus on how many centimeters dilated they are, but here’s the truth: a cervical check is only a small snapshot of what’s happening. It doesn’t tell the full story of labor’s progress or how much longer things will take.

Dilation is just one piece of the puzzle. We also look at:
🌿 Effacement: how soft and thinned the cervix has become.
🌿 Baby’s station: how low the baby’s head is in the pelvis.
🌿 Position and flexibility of the cervix itself.

But even those numbers don’t always show what’s really happening.

When it comes to cervical checks, less is more.
Each check carries a small but real risk of introducing bacteria and increasing the chance of infection, especially once the water has broken. Beyond the physical risks, there’s also an emotional aspect. Hearing numbers like “only 3 centimeters” or “no change yet” can plant seeds of doubt, frustration, or discouragement even when progress is happening in ways that can’t be measured by fingers.

Stress and discouragement can cause the body to release stress hormones, which may actually slow labor down. That’s why a calm, supportive environment and patience are so powerful.

It’s also important to remember that a woman has the right to say no to any cervical check if she chooses. A laboring woman is always in charge of her body and her birth experience; she can say yes or no to as much or as little as she wants. This is one of the many reasons having a doula can be so valuable: to help build confidence, support her decisions, and remind her that her voice matters every step of the way. 💪💜

As doulas, we pay close attention to the mother herself, her sounds, movements, and energy. A birthing woman who’s allowed to move freely and follow her instincts will often begin to:
✨ Get lower to the ground- squatting, swaying, leaning forward.
✨ Turn more inward- eyes closed, breath deep, conserving focus.
✨ Make deep, primal sounds that help the baby descend.
✨ Sometimes, even a purple line that appears just above the buttocks, a natural sign that the body is opening beautifully.

Labor is a process that unfolds in its own rhythm, and no single check can measure the wisdom of the body. Trusting the process and the cues of both body and baby tells us far more than numbers ever could.

If you’d like to learn more about how to navigate birth with confidence and informed choices, reach out to begin receiving individualized education and care through Woven Womb Services. You deserve to feel supported, prepared, and empowered every step of the way. 🌿 www.wovenwombservices.com

Supporting Every Thread of Your Maternal Journey: Expert Birthing Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Lactation Counselor Care

10/13/2025

A Little Update from Woven Womb Services

Hi friends! I wanted to take a moment to pop in and share a little update, because I’m always so grateful for the families this work connects me with. 🧡

If you’re new here, I’m Rachael, a faith-based birth and postpartum doula and lactation consultant serving families throughout Fredericksburg, Stafford, and surrounding areas. With over 8 years of experience, my heart is to help mothers feel confident, supported, and at peace through pregnancy, birth, and those tender postpartum days.

✨ I’m also excited to now offer special discounts for military (active & retired), first responders, and educators (homeschooling included), a small way to give back to those who give so much to others.

Every birth is sacred. Every postpartum story matters. Whether you’re expecting your first baby or welcoming another little one, I’d love to walk beside you with compassionate, evidence-based, and faith-rooted care.

💻 Learn more or reach out to schedule a free discovery call: https://wovenwombservices.com/services-offered
📍 Serving Fredericksburg | Stafford | Surrounding communities

Supporting Every Thread of Your Maternal Journey: Expert Birthing Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Lactation Counselor Care

09/26/2025

09/23/2025

🌿✨ New on The Woven Journal ✨🌿

This week’s post is live:
“Why the 5-5-5 Rule & True Support Are Crucial for Postpartum Care”

So often, postpartum is rushed or overlooked, but God calls us to rhythms of rest, nourishment, and community. In this piece, I share the wisdom of the 5-5-5 rule, the importance of warm, nourishing foods, and what true support really looks like. I’ve also woven in biblical reflections and scripture that show why caring for mothers in this sacred season matters so deeply. 💛

📖 The 5-5-5 rule isn’t just an old-fashioned idea; it’s a blueprint for lifelong wellness. Pairing deep rest with warm, easy-to-digest foods, genuine postpartum support, and prioritizing mental health allows the body to recover from birth, prevent long-term physical and emotional health struggles, and build a foundation for strength well into menopause.

When we treat postpartum care as sacred and essential, we not only honor mothers, we change the trajectory of women’s health across the lifespan. Most importantly, we honor God who designed motherhood as a gift and entrusted new life into their care.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://wovenwombservices.com/blog?blog=y

Supporting Every Thread of Your Maternal Journey: Expert Birthing Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Lactation Counselor Care