Parenthood in Bloom

02/08/2026

A 2025 study published in AJOG adds powerful, up-to-date data showing associations between doula care and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.

Key Maternal Outcomes:

More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC): For every 100 patients who received doula care, there were 15 to 34 additional VBACs compared with those without doula care.

Higher postpartum follow-up attendance: 5 to 6 more per 100 received postpartum office visits.

Key Neonatal / Infant Outcomes

Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates: Babies whose families had doula support were more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

Fewer preterm births (and early preterm births): Doula-supported births showed a reduction in preterm birth rates.

In short, the study links doula care with improvements in birth outcomes — across birth mode (more VBACs), infant health (less prematurity), and early infant care (breastfeeding, postpartum follow-up).

Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2025/11/evidence-for-doulas-new-ajog-study-finds-doulas-improve-outcomes/

02/06/2026

A new lactation pod is now open inside the children's department at the Warren Library, providing a safe, private space for families. The pod allows parents to nurse, pump, or tend to a baby’s needs in comfort and privacy while at the library. The space also provides a quiet area for caregivers whose children may become overstimulated and need a calm environment for a brief sensory break before returning to explore and play.

The project was made possible by a community grant from the Warren Kiwanis Club and by a donation from the Warren Library Association.

02/02/2026

Master the mindset and comfort measures for a natural hospital birth!

01/30/2026

Are you planning an unmedicated hospital birth but aren’t sure how to make it happen?

My name is Jaimi, and I’m a birth doula here in the Mahoning Valley. I’m passionate about giving you the tools, education, and confidence you need to have the birth you’re desiring.

That’s why I’m hosting an in-person couples natural birth class at on February 21st from 9AM–1PM.

We will be discussing:
• The fear–pain–tension cycle—how to recognize it and techniques to break it
• Pain management—hands-on techniques for labor
• Stages of labor—knowing when it’s time to head to the hospital
• Breathing techniques for every stage of labor
• How to protect your pelvic floor during pushing (taught by Dr. Riana Taktikos, pelvic floor therapist)
• Navigating the hospital—understanding interventions, informed consent, and how to advocate for yourself

✨ Sign up through the link in my bio!
Early bird pricing runs through 1/31. Hope to see you there 🤗

01/29/2026

One of the resources I give to all of my clients is the crisis hotline and other support options — free, virtual, solo, group, etc.

You should never be afraid to reach out for help. I would rather everyone have options and never need them, or even utilize tools just to find out you’re okay. It’s better to risk feeling “embarrassed” (even though you shouldn’t feel shame for needing help — we’re not meant to do it alone!), than for a family to lose a loved one.

Help is here 🤍

https://www.parenthoodinbloom.com/perinatal-mental-health

Kylie Grimes of Utah dialed 911 not because of a crime or medical crisis, but because she’d reached her limit.

Her husband was working late, leaving her alone with their four young children. Two of them have Type 1 diabetes, requiring constant monitoring and extra care. Exhausted from weeks of sleeping less than two hours at a time, she was nearing 10 p.m. with dinner still unmade when her 15-month-old son started eating soil from a houseplant.

“I realized I was not okay,” Grimes later shared. “I needed immediate help and support.”

When the 911 dispatcher asked the nature of the emergency, she replied plainly: “She was the emergency.”

Her raw honesty about being an overwhelmed “medical mom” struck a chord with parents everywhere.

Grimes admitted she was nervous about being judged but felt it was vital to speak up. Her call wasn’t just a cry for help—it was a wake-up call about the invisible weight carried by caregivers everywhere.

01/28/2026

A no-cost clinic offering one-on-one support for maternal health and infant feeding is now available at Pitt's Community Engagement Center and Wellness Pavilion. Services include breastfeeding or bottle feeding support, mental health, role adjustment, feeding routines, return-to-work planning, and infant feeding development. Thank you to our Pitt OT Assistant Professor Kimberly Krebs for supporting this important work!

📅 When: Thursdays, 1:00–5:00 p.m.
(By appointment; walk-ins accommodated)

📍 Where:
Wellness Pavilion Clinic
Pitt Community Engagement Center
622 N. Homewood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208

👥 Who: Residents of Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Brushton, East Liberty, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington, and Penn Hills

📞 Contact: 412-383-3770

📧 Email: SHRSWellnessPavilion@pitt.edu

01/28/2026

01/24/2026

01/18/2026

Tomorrow!

01/17/2026

01/16/2026

Crazy how time flies, even from my perspective! This little one is already almost 6 months 🥹

01/14/2026

The Ohio Commission on Minority Health, also referred to as the Commission, awarded the Mahoning County Health Department $440,000 in grant funding.