Childbirth Support Specialists

06/08/2025

Call Don't Text!

Check out Childbirth Support Specialists’s video.

05/08/2025

Sometimes things just unfold exactly how they were meant to. Their beautiful labor and birth is a perfect example. What an honor it is to be your doula 💕 Victoria

03/08/2025

02/08/2025

25/07/2025

Sign up today and live your dream of becoming a doula!

Childbirth Support Specialists provides top support to families & birth professionals. With over 20 years of experience in the birth world, we are certified and equipped to train doula & labor support skills Internationally & support local families.

15/07/2025

👩🏽‍⚕️🧠 The world’s first Certification in Perinatal Mental Health is available through Postpartum Support International. The Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) Program recognizes individuals who possess the competency required to help mothers, fathers, and families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in the perinatal period.

🎉 We’re excited to announce that the PMH-C exam will soon be available in Spanish! This is an exciting opportunity for Spanish-speaking and bilingual providers dedicated to supporting perinatal mental health in diverse communities.

📩 Fill out this form to be the first to know when the exam becomes available: https://loom.ly/JWQ_Gow
📲 Don’t miss a thing — follow PSI Español for PSI updates en español!

15/07/2025

A wonderful opportunity!

Join the South Dakota State University BIRTH-SD-AIM team for an overview of South Dakota perinatal resources!

They will have representatives from four different organizations associated with the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Department of Social Services, who will be presenting information about the resources that they provide to individuals across the state. You can learn additional details about a program you may not have heard of before, get up-to-date information about resources that you are already familiar with, or to have a chance to ask representatives from these organizations questions in a live format!

The call will be recorded and sent to all registered individuals with the exception of the Q&A portion.

🗓 Wednesday, July 30
⏰ 12-1 p.m. CT
💻 Zoom
🔗 https://sdstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/ThdEiLNJQNiKR0-KiUxL7w

Reach out to Keri Pappas (Keri.Pappas[at]sdstate[dot]edu) or Stephanie Hanson (Stephanie.Hanson[at]sdstate[dot]edu) with questions.


[Image description: A colorful asset spotlighting Bright Start, Baby Ready, DOH: Pregnancy Care, and DSS: Mental Health programs as South Dakota Resources that will be shared by BIRTH-SD-AIM in their next meeting on July 30 at 12 p.m. CT.]

08/07/2025

Letting a baby cry it out might sound like tough love but science says it’s tougher on the baby than anyone else.

Research now shows that ignoring a crying infant or frequently leaving them to self-soothe without comfort can have real consequences not just emotionally, but neurologically. A large-scale Japanese study involving over 100,000 mother-child pairs found a clear link between chronic non-response during infancy and developmental delays. These included setbacks in communication, social interaction, motor coordination, and even problem-solving abilities.

But it doesn’t stop at developmental skills.

When babies cry for extended periods without comfort, their bodies release large amounts of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. And while short-term stress responses are natural, prolonged elevated cortisol levels can disrupt brain development, particularly in regions responsible for emotional regulation, memory, and attachment.

This early emotional stress may also lead to weaker caregiver bonds, and increases the risk of anxiety, aggression, and lower IQ later in life. The baby learns not just that their needs won’t be met but that the world may not be safe or responsive at all.

Comforting a crying baby isn’t about spoiling them it’s about building their brain, shaping secure attachment, and laying the groundwork for emotional resilience. Every time you respond with love, you’re not just calming a cry you’re wiring a healthier future.