Shayla Van Meeteren - Birth Doula

21/11/2024

Just working on a fun little spreadsheet for a friend who’s expecting 😍

Would anyone else like a personal comprehensive breakdown of car seats you’re looking at? Let me know!

31/08/2023

Exciting things happening! & I need YOUR help!

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

I have finished all of the coursework involved with my CLC course & now I’m needing some “hands-on” hours to sit for the IBCLC boards exam.

This is where YOU come in!

I am now accepting appointments for all things breastfeeding.
•Questions regarding your upcoming breastfeeding journey
•Prenatal consults
•Returning to work consults
•Having problems with breastfeeding
•Questions on your breastpump

Best news yet, these appointments are available to YOU for little to no cost!

Please message the page to set up an appointment & tell your friends 😊

13/08/2023

I had the pleasure of working the car seat safety booth today at the Iowa State Fair! We had a set up of 3 infant seats - 2 which were fake and 1 that was real.

We had a lot of questions: how do you know it’s fake? (A) car seats must have very specific verbiage on the safety warning label

Another question was: what happens if a fake car seat is used. (A) Doona Infant Car Seat actually crash tested a imposter look-a-like car seat & I posted the video it below. It’s truly terrifying.

All this to say, do your research & if you have any questions or want some help with car seats reach out to your nearest CPST 😊

It was advertised to look like a high end brand, but this car seat is a copycat. Legitimate sellers say it’s one of many potentially dangerous kids products sold on Amazon. CNN Business’ Clare Sebastian reports.

08/08/2023

Another fun fact for the week after

Breast milk has a unique protein that induces programmed cell death in certain cancer cells.

In mouse and human studies evidence shows these proteins could have potential value for future treatment of some cancers!

How cool is that!

08/08/2023

“Don’t worry! Fed is best anyways!” A doctor at the hospital tells a mother who just birthed her baby who won’t latch.

“Don’t worry, they all grow up to eat chicken nuggets anyways!” Laughs the nurse at a babies 3rd well visit, he isn’t gaining weight the way they want.

“Don’t worry! It hurt me to nurse too so I stopped!” Says a woman to her friend over lunch as she watches her cringe in pain.

“Don’t worry! A bottle will help her sleep through the night.” Says a husband to his wife when the alarm goes off to feed.

“Don’t worry! He’ll never remember you stopped!” Says a coworker to his friend who’s freezer supply is dwindling and she’s struggling to get more then an ounce.

Don’t worry they all said. Fed is best anyways.

She cried for help.
She sobbed in that office.
She called her friend exhausted.
She went to anyone she could.
She begged. She pleaded.

But fed is best anyways.

A phrase we started to help moms know it’s okay if it just simply “doesn’t work out” Is crippling thousands of woman.

Choosing formula over breastfeeding is a choice. Yet the mothers choosing breast are having that choice ripped from them - before they ever stood a chance.

So I encourage you, next time a mom is begging for support, don’t turn to her and say “Well fed is best anyways!”

Ask her what you can do.
Help her read the books.
Help her search on google.
Help her find an IBCLC.
Help her get the help she needs.

The western world has the lowest and shortest breastfeeding terms globally. I’ll let you do the math on why you think that is.

If you are a mother who struggled and had your journey end before you were ready, I stand with you. My heart hurts for you.

Just know there are woman like me, doing everything we can to make sure the next generation doesn’t have to beg and plead for the help they need.

✍🏼: Alysa Evon from Simply Sacred Birth on Facebook

And for those in the thick of it, Remember: Breastfeeding is NOT all or nothing. Every teaspoon of has up to 3,000,000 germ-killing cells in it. You’re doing great 🫶🏽

07/08/2023

Let us know in the comments! My own will be there!

What was your breastfeeding and working experience like? We want to know! Fill in the blank in the comments.

06/08/2023

Hey! 👋🏼

It’s been awhile 😬

A lot has happened since I last posted 🫢

But I have lots of exciting things coming in the near future!! & what better time to post, then 🤱🏼

I am currently studying for my Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) with hopes of going a step further to become an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation consultant) 🥳 with that being said & given the here are some fun facts I’ve learned so far in my studies 😊

•A lot of women report having a “slacker boob” & according to recent research it’s probably true. It’s shown that most women’s right breast produces more milk then that of the left

• A recent study shows that listening to flute music while pumping can actually increase pump output

•While low output/breastmilk supply is often assumed by the mother (for a multitude of reasons) often times mothers have the capability to feed up to 3 babies!

•The breastfeeding mom often needs up to 2,200 calories a day, approximately 500 of those calories are used to produce breastmilk. It is often reported that most breastfeeding mothers only take in 1,500-1,800 calories vs the recommended 2,200.

•The health benefits for mom and babe last longer then just the time they are breastfeeding. Mothers having a lower risk of breast cancer if they breastfeed

If you or someone you know is looking for a birth doula, lactation support or has a car seat question please send a message, I’d love to chat! ❤️