Welcoming Calm

03/28/2025

In honor of World Doula Week, I wanted to say thank you 🤍 Serving you, holding you, praying with you, capturing these moments for you over the last 4 years; there is nothing that brings me more joy, honor and radiance. You are the “why” that keeps lighting the spark 🤍

It is such an honor to work in the fertility and birth world. Forever grateful.

02/12/2025

A beautiful, non-medicated, low intervention hospital birth. This mama was a labor warrior and her hubby was an amazing birthing partner. My heart was overjoyed watching as my clients holistic wishes were respected; including waiting until the cord was completely white before clamping and cutting! Your providers matter mamas! Happy Birthday baby girl! 🤍

01/14/2025

A new year is a time of fresh beginnings, dreams of vitality, and creating a life rooted in balance. For herbalists (and the herb-curious), this means embracing the wisdom of plants to nourish our bodies and minds—and what better allies to start the year than adaptogens?

Adaptogens have a normalizing effect on the body, particularly through their work to balance the endocrine system, helping to improve the body’s ability to respond to both physical and emotional stressors with increased resilience.

Many adaptogens need to be taken over an extended period of time in order to see their full restorative benefit. That said, adaptogens are a wonderful group of herbs for people of all ages to explore. Think of them as herbal companions that gently nurture your energy, immune system, and hormones, helping you find equilibrium in a fast-paced world.

Here are some simple ways to welcome adaptogens into your routine:

✨ Whip up herbal chai with warming spices for winter wellness (see our recent post for a free recipe!).
✨ Make adaptogenic bliss balls for a quick, nourishing snack.
✨ Enjoy teas, broths, or syrups infused with your favorite adaptogens.
Whether it’s ashwagandha for grounding, reishi for calm, or tulsi for clarity, these botanicals offer gentle yet profound support for your well-being.

Start the year with a sip of intention, and swipe for a little self-effacing fun. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we’re gonna have a long year of all work and no play ahead, and the adaptogens would NOT approve!



https://theherbalacademy.com/?s=adaptogens&post_type=post

11/17/2024

Can’t wait to serve you in 2025! 🥰🤍

10/01/2024

An unpopular opinion from a doula.

A story about a homebirth gone wrong circled the area and out came the cast of word vomit that lingered in the air of why ALL home births are unsafe and should never be done. Many came from those who have never worked in the home birth world or had very little experience to back up their evidence. As a doula who works in the birth world, both hospital and home birth, here’s my thoughts.

A great midwife knows when medical interventions are needed and respects medical intervention during actual medical emergencies. He or she also respects their clients wishes and works to serve their client in the ways THEY are wanting.

On the contrary. A good doctor knows when to back off and allow the human body to do what it does naturally. They also will respect THE CLIENTS wishes and not use fear tactics to try to persuade them in their choices.

I have heard of midwives putting women at risk to danger.

I have also witnessed with my own eyes, doctors putting women and babies at risk to extreme danger.

If I’m honest, over the years, I have sat with many, many moms who in fact had horrifying birth experiences in a hospital setting due to providers not having proper knowledge.

💎 It isn’t either or. 💎

There are some great midwives.
There are some great doctors.
(I have lists of them, please, do ask me and I will help you to find the best fit for YOU!)

As a doula I have had the privilege to work in both areas.

It is not one fits all. Unless you’ve witnessed multiple experiences in BOTH scenarios you don’t get to make black and white or blanket statements. Period.

At the end of the day, as I doula, I will speak loud and proud, that this is the LABORING MOM’S birth. Do your research. Pray. Make an informed decision. Ask the hard questions. Do what you feel is best and safest for you and your child.

Find a provider that supports YOUR desires and wishes and settle for nothing less. No one can make you do anything. Listen to your instincts, listen to the Holy Spirit. Your body will tell you exactly what to do next. Don’t shut off your mama heart whispers.

And for the love of birth, just because you believe strongly one way or another doesn’t mean it’s best for every single scenario.

That is all. Kindly, hopping off my soapbox now. 🧼

09/18/2024

Do you know what's better than episiotomy for easing a birthing baby out? The Side-lying Release! (See in the comments) When the neurophysiological approach to easier birth isn't known, and when the focus is on the provider to "do something" (and not on the birthing pair who are doing something!) then a force approach (cutting) gets prioritized. Physiology--the stretching edge of birth care!

03/04/2024

Speak your wishes mama! Loudly and proudly!

01/04/2024

01/03/2024

What do you think about delayed cord clamping?

The World Health Organization currently recommends waiting 1-3 minutes or longer to clamp and cut the umbilical cord for all births.

As a homebirth Midwife I like to “wait for white” meaning I like to wait until the umbilical cord has stopped pulsing and has turned white to make sure baby has gotten all that good blood before clamping and cutting the cord.

📸

12/31/2023

Looking out of the door of my hut in Acholiland, northern Uganda, I could see a tree spreading its branches out underneath a cloudy sky. The red earth was wet, everything was green and growing, and cheeping chicks were trailing around after mother hens as roosters crowed. It was the rainy season.

12/30/2023

When the body needs support during pregnancy and birth, we believe nature knows what to do. But can we listen to nature’s clues?

Stretch and jiggle receptors in the connective tissues can be activated for instant comfort and ease. Is this an intervention or Nature's way? What is your experience?