Virago Doula Services

14/04/2023

Postpartum baby snuggles.

19/03/2023

Postpartum meal prep for a beautiful new family! Did you know that foods high in nutrients like protein, amino acids, iron and vitamin C can support tissue healing in the postpartum body? If you know someone newly postpartum, consider providing them a warm meal!

09/11/2022

It was a beautiful day to have a baby!

Did you know doulas can offer valuable support during a c-section? Support can look different for every birth and every birthing person.

13/02/2022

Just a reminder from your favorite doula...😂

10/08/2021

I have so many feels when I look at this picture. When I took it, I felt the magic. The connection. The pure strength. I saw two black mothers fighting against the odds to have their second child, a girl, named after her grandfather, free of intervention & pain medication. I saw her partner, who ALWAYS has her back. I saw a nurse on her knees, eyes open, looking into the face of transition & saying YOU CAN DO THIS....and she DID.
And....you can too. Pick your people. The ones who remind you of your power.

11/04/2021

Postpartum doula work feeds my soul! On my way to love on my new mama client with some yummy, nourishing food. The fourth trimester is a time for new parents to rest, nourish their bodies and bond with their new babies. Hiring a postpartum doula can help with this transition. I am available for postpartum work now in Ames and the surrounding communities.

25/03/2021

Asking yourself these questions can be great way to challenge unhelpful thoughts and shift focus back to the bigger picture so that we can problem solve.⁠

If you need additional help managing anxious thoughts PSI has a directory to help you find a counselor near you!
https://psidirectory.com/

25/03/2021

❤❤❤

We are pleased to announce that all three of our midwives have recently completed certification through Postpartum Support International for the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C). With this training, our midwives are now available to provide evidence-based support for pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Broadlawns now has five providers with this distinction.

06/01/2021

Every birther deserves a midwife. What a great new service available to expecting parents in the Des Moines metro area ❤

I am a certified nurse-midwife. I’m a floor sitter. A Spinning Babies, 3-sisters, rebozo, birth position & pelvic thrust demonstrator. A loud laugher and an even louder sneezer. I like to diffuse essential oils and have new age-y music on in the background. I’m a coffee connoisseur and a tea drinker. I geek out about amazing body functions. I have rhythm because I listen to the beat, the heartbeat. I am a good listener, a gentle voice (most of the time), a supportive hand, and a smiling face and eyes. I don’t have all the answers, all of the time, but I will help you look for what answers you seek and we can learn together.
2021 is for Woman Rising, for Women Rising, for Humanity Rising.
Welcome to my office. Let’s sit down and chat.

02/01/2021

16/10/2020

Join me in lighting a candle tonight for Karli Jo and all babies lost too soon. Honoring everyone impacted by pregnancy and infant loss.

26/09/2020

💪🏼where’s the uterus emoji?💪🏼
ID: an illustration with a sparkly yellow and organ he galaxy background behind a uterus with Fallopian tubes and ovaries, and the words “strongest muscle in the body!” Written in an arc around the top and bottom.

16/09/2020

Proud to have gone through BADT for Full Spectrum Douling training. A new session is starting soon for anyone thinking about becoming a doula!

19/08/2020

I am so very excited ro see this in our communities. Please give their page a like and share, share, share. Imagine all the wonderful families they will be able to serve.

Welcome to the Iowa Black Doula Collective!
We are excited to start serving Iowa families, centering black birthing people to educate and empower their reproductive health and birth experiences.
We have doulas serving: Ames, Ankeny, Des Moines, Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa City, IA and Moline & Rock IL.

04/08/2020

Happening this Friday on IG live!

Catch me Friday on ‘s IG Live chatting about my own personal journey around dreaming of and planning for future children. I don’t often take up space with details of my own story, but if there’s anyone I want to talk through it with, it’s Beth! ⁣Captioned replay will be posted afterwards. ⁣
⁣⁣
: ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Y’all know I love this human right? Jenna and I have had versions of this conversation privately and I’m excited to have it in space with all of you. Jenna (, they/he) is an amazing trans-masculine non-binary doula and educator and we’re gonna talk about our own experiences around gender transition and planning for gestation and lactation in the future. Since we’re both family-building professionals, you can expect that this conversation will be inclusive and mindful of the diverse array of experiences that folks have with gender transition and lactation, and we might even mention a resource or two, but you can also expect this to be more of a storytelling conversation as we discuss and reflect on our own experiences. Jenna is one of my nearest-and-dearest possibility models when it comes to gender and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say on this topic.⁣⁣
❣️⁣⁣
Join Jenna and Beth on FRIDAY, August 7th at 2 PM Eastern on IG Live as they talk about their personal experiences of gender transition, body dysphoria, and planning for future gestation and chestfeeding experiences.⁣⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
ID: light pink background with dark pink circles. Two of the circles contain photos, one of Jenna smiling and one of Beth laughing while eating pizza and nursing. The other circles contain text and text is also overlaid on the background. Information reads “Planning for Lactation while Trans: Chestfeeding and Gender Transition. Friday August 7th 2pm eastern/1pm central IG Live. Jenna Brown (they/he) Full Spectrum Doula & Educator . Beth Rich (they/them) Full Spectrum Doula . Join Jenna and Beth as they talk about their personal experiences of gender transition, body dysphoria, and planning for future gestation and chestfeeding experiences.”

07/06/2020

White privilege in mothers looks like...

10/05/2020

Thinking of you whether today brings joy, pain, or mixed feelings. Thinking of you whether Mother’s Day fits for you and your family, whether you share this day with another or others, or whether you choose to mark it (or not) as a father, baba, mapa, pama, or parent. ❤️🎨

23/04/2020

Wow!! Amazing!!

This image from a surrogate birth yesterday that my amazingly talented friend captured brings on so much emotion! Grab tissues when you read her caption y’all! ❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭
・・・
Against all odds
~
After more than two years and thru surrogacy, multiple rounds of IVF , breech positioning (that was successfully flipped), and a scramble to change birth plan due to COVID-19, baby Luca was born safe and sound yesterday morning at his surrogates home and caught by his mom at long last.
I’ve been quiet on here for a little while getting myself mentally, physically and emotionally ready to document this incredible birth during this unprecedented time.
It was incredibly emotional to be around other people for the first time in weeks (all in masks and thoroughly sanitized) and for such a monumental occasion. Throughout this tragedy that is COVID-19, I have kept afloat emotionally knowing that but to witness life emerging in real time, amidst such worldwide heartache- I’m forever changed.
~
Now, more than ever I am inspired by the power of humanity and the perseverance of love. Thank you, thank you to and your beautiful surrogate C and your families for inviting me into this year of your lives and for showing me what true sacrifice and dedication to family looks like.