Amara's Childbirth Education and Doula Services

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Amara's Childbirth Education and Doula Services

Providing doula services and childbirth education classes to Hampton Roads families since 2004. www.amaradoula.com For more information: www.amaradoula.com.

05/09/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Elijah Louis💙
4-19-26
3:52 am
8 lb 1 oz
20.5 in

Rachel and Ben knew that an induction was the likely start to meeting their son since Rachel’s GDM diagnosis. But Rachel still maintained a strong desire to labor without pain medications. When the induction date came, she waited through a long day of numerous cytotec doses and a foley balloon, until her body was finally showing readiness for labor. Pitocin was added and bumped up gradually, until it was at the highest level. Rachel was tired but motivated so she agreed to have her water broken in the hope it would keep things moving forward. It took some time, 3 hours later she was 7 cm dilated, and then after some strategic labor positions, she was pushing 2 1/2 hours after that. And 35 minutes later, Rachel had her son in her arms! To recap: her birth consisted of 5 rounds of cytotec, many hours of a balloon, many, many hours of pitocin bumped to the max, her water broken, and finally pushing. Her labor was a true marathon. And Rachel is a warrior. And having Ben by her side loving her through it all didn’t hurt. It was an honor to see you in your strength!

05/08/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Eloise Ann 🩷
4-3-26
6:12 pm
6 lb 11 oz
19.5 in

Angela and Spencer were a joy to get to know in my 7-week series and even more of a delight in birth. Their sweet baby girl made her arrival after quite a bit of waiting. Angela’s water broke a week before her due date but the labor was slow to come. Once at hospital, a few rounds of cytotec kicked things off with no need for pitocin. Angela labored to 5 cm and then got an epidural. Her contractions needed a little oomph of pitocin to get back on track but it didn’t take much. We were all pleasantly surprised when just 3 hours later her baby was ready to be born!Angela pushed for just 13 minutes! And it also demonstrates just how motivating feeling your baby’s head with your own fingers can be! Watching this loving couple grow into loving parents was a blessing! Welcome to the world, sweet girl! You are loved beyond measure!

05/07/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Juniper Lanh 🩷
3-22-26
1:06 pm
6 lb 3 oz
19.25 in

Nicole and Joe were students in my 7-week class, preparing for the birth of their first. After having contractions off and on for days, Nicole’s labor kicked into gear. She was 4cm upon arrival to the hospital and her water had broken. She did an excellent job balancing rest with more active laboring postures. And just a few hours later she was 6-7cm. Things progressed to the intensity of transition and Nicole continued to move as her body and baby led her. She labored down for a good hour and then pushed in earnest to welcome her sweet baby girl 2 hours later. Nicole labored without an epidural which was her preference! And she became a mother while her own mother looked on. Thank you for trusting me to be in your birth space!

05/02/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Violet Louise 🩷
3-6-26
2:40 am
6 lb 5 oz
19 in

What an honor to serve this sweet family 3 times! Isabella and Corey welcomed their newest little love in a surprisingly different birth. Although Isabella is a midwife herself, that doesn’t mean she didn’t seek out doula support, especially with the wild card third birth. Her labor was kicked off by a sweep, something that has worked for her previously. Isabella is in tune with her labors, and this time she knew something was different. Her contractions intensified but her cervix was not completely open yet. She felt her baby pushing down but she wasn’t ready to come. So with pregnant pauses between contractions, Isabella snuggled with her firstborn and naturally generated some oxytocin to push her labor into transition. Isabella marched forward bravely with having her water broken to bring baby down so her cervix would open fully for pushing. It was very intense, and Violet came just 25 minutes later, born into her daddy’s hands, while big sister looked on. It was a truly family-centered birth, surrounded by caring women (and Corey!) who trusted birth and believed in Isabella to know what she needed. I am so grateful to have been invited into Isabella’s birth space three times! (And I just love her surprised expression on her face every time she gives birth!) She is remarkable.

01/29/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Isla Rose🩷
11-28-25
12:37am
7lb 13oz
20.5in

When we first met, we knew there was a very slim chance that I would be out of town when Gabriella went into labor since she was due 11/12 and I had Thanksgiving travel plans. Well we should have assumed then that she would almost definitely end up getting induced for going nearly two weeks past her due date. Because that’s indeed what happened! Gabriella and Max did great being flexible with the plan of induction as well as a backup doula. (Thank you, Liz Griffin!) The ripening process took off like a shot and Gabriella was soon dilated from 2 to 6/7 cm! She labored hard and decided on an epidural. Gabriella soon dilated to 9cm, but remained there for quite some time. She did end up completely dilated and pushed for 3 hours, but with baby still not descending, they decided a C-section was the safest bet for Isla. Once again, Gabriella and Max were flexible with the birth. And their sweet baby girl was born safe and healthy and they love her to pieces! I’m sad I missed it but am so proud of them! Way to go, team!

01/23/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Baker Lee 💙
11-16-25
4:20 am
8 lb 12 oz
22.5 in

Marley and Nate looked forward to meeting their rainbow baby. This would be their fourth baby and their second VBAC after 2 c-sections! (2vba2c) There was the usual nervousness heading into the induction, but Marley did an amazing job staying positive and keeping her headspace as clear as she could. Nate was also steady, loving support. The induction went well and didn’t take long. The foley fell out after an hour and Marley was 5cm, big changes considering she started at 1cm! Pitocin helped to generate labor and Marley opted for an epidural to cover all possible scenarios. She was moved into all sorts of positions to encourage dilation and descent. A few hours later Marley was dilated to 8cm, then 9cm 45 minutes later, and complete 30 minutes after that. Baby was still -1 but Marley moved him down to +2 quickly and he was born after barely 30 minutes of pushing. And the only reason he wasn’t born in 10 minutes of pushing was because he was in the direct OP position! He was also not tiny!😆 Another notable fact was that Baker had a knot in his cord as well! Marley did amazing and her body was clearly made to birth. I’m so honored to have been present to see her strength and bear witness to the arrival of her sweet boy.

01/09/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Thomas Edward 💙
11-12-25
10:34 am
7 lb 6 oz
20.4 in

Sara and Michael took all the classes to prepare for the birth of their son. And it’s a good thing because he really made his mom work for it. Sara minimized her early labor, staying home literally all day and going in late that night to discover she was dilated 5cm. She labored several more hours but the back pain was intense, leaving us all suspecting her baby was OP. She was dilated 6-7cm soon after and near complete 2 hours later. Two hours of laboring down helped her to conserve energy and allowed her to push less than an hour. Michael was a very involved partner the whole way through and even helped catch his son! Now that’s something! Thank you for allowing me to share your birth space and help you prepare for your birth journey.

01/08/2026

Welcome to the world!🌎

Cassidy Piper 🩷
11-4-25
7:52 pm
9 lb 6 oz
20.5 in

This was Kaitlyn’s second baby but Isaac’s first so they took my 7-week class together to prepare. Kaitlyn’s due date came and went and she ended up with an induction for postdates. Kaitlyn went through many hours of the ripening prep work and did a myriad of positions to help baby get lined up. But when her contractions kicked in wholeheartedly, she labored to 7cm before choosing an epidural. Things progressed rapidly from there and she was completely dilated 2 hours later. Pushing was very short and Cassidy was born after about 4 contractions! Isaac was an excellent partner throughout, knowing Kaitlyn better than anyone, he knew how to help her feel calm, safe and supported. This birth took quite a bit longer to get going, which surprised us all. But it just goes to show how different every birth is and also how baby’s position can affect the journey! Kaitlyn and Isaac had the best attitude the whole way through and I’m so proud of them. Their banter and sense of humor was a joy for all of us.

01/03/2026

What a year it has been! I am forever grateful for the families who trusted me to be part of their birth journeys as their childbirth educator, doula, or both! I treasure you all and have learned so much from you and your unique birth experiences. There was a lot of humility on my part as births unfolded in very surprising ways - multips going extra long, a parking lot baby, and even 22% of labors began with water breaking (usually well under 10%)!This year is already shaping up to be quite busy with clients booked into July and even September inquiries! Please don’t delay if you are interested in any of the services I offer. I look forward to the blessings 2026 will bring!

12/20/2025

Welcome to the world!🌎

Finley Atticus 💙
10-27-25
10:23 pm
6 lb 6 oz
19.75 in

Cindy and Adam were students in my fall 7-week series and were the first to give birth from the class. In fact, they missed the last couple of classes because their baby boy came at 35 weeks and 4 days! Cindy’s water broke and when she got to the hospital she was already dilated 3-4cm! A little bit of pitocin was in order since her body did not begin contracting. But Cindy’s body took off and was only in labor 3.5 hours before she pushed her baby out in 15 minutes! She had no pain medications and her goal was to “try and see.” But Cindy was very calm and confident the whole entire time. She did amazing and so did Adam! Welcome earthside, Finley Atticus!

12/09/2025

Welcome to the world!🌎

Amelia Jo 🩷
10-26-25
12:04 am
7 lb 5 oz
20 in

Sophie and Fernando were students in my summer 7-week class as well as clients! Or was great getting to know them throughout the classes. Sophie felt her first contractions around 2:00am. She went to the hospital for a check at 7:00am and returned home since she was 3cm. She labored at home 8 more hours and returned to the hospital dilated 4-5cm. Her baby had come down some as well. She decided on an epidural a couple hours later and was soon 6-7cm. But when her water was broken it was apparent that her baby’s head was cocked to the side. We were very strategic with positions to make space for baby to straighten her head and 2 hours later Sophie was fully dilated and her baby was low! So she began pushing and in just 30 minutes Amelia Jo was born! Sophie and Fernando did an excellent job laboring at home to insure labor was well established before getting admitted. And Sophie’s willingness to move into some crazy positions, including side-lying release and flying cowgirl, also made the difference in getting Amelia into her arms!

Address

Virginia Beach, VA
23456

Website

http://www.amaradoula.com/

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