#pregnantdoula

[jaclynmichele]

Getting to the point where I get asked if I am checking in to triage when I walk into Labor + Delivery to pick up a placenta or attend a client birth... #pregnantdoula (at Jaclyn Michele Photography + Birth Services)

[loveinasoul]

my babygirl has been earthside with us 2 months today! now that she's here, i look back at my pregnancy photos in wonder. it had been HER in my belly the whole time. how i had no idea of the true blessing i was about to receive. how i didn't realize her birth would completely renew and strengthen my trust in birth as a whole. (birth story coming up. long story short: i had a vaginal breech birth at home!) who knew. well, she did. and i couldn't be more grateful. birth is and has always been powerful. in other words, i can't wait to return to my doula work. and to empower other birthing people more than ever. 💕 ・ :photo magic by @tmgs: ✨ ・ #2monthsold #breechbaby #trustbirth #trustyourbody #vaginalbreechbirth #homebirth #pregnancy #maternityshoot #goldenhour #pregnantdoula #iammother #iamdoula #DTIdoula #empoweredbirth #birthwithoutfear #tmgsfotography

[asideofcrunchy]

Tweeted

19 weeks baby bump in my new birthkeeper shirt!!! I officially don't just have a pouch. . .#babybumps #doula #pregnantdoula #birthkeeper #doulalife #clarksvilledoula #tennesseedoula #newmomstobe #newbaby2019 #pregnancysupport #birthsupport #herbalcertif… https://t.co/wt93Ku613O pic.twitter.com/jCw9YOSsLp

— A Side of Crunchy - Birth Doula (@asideofcrunchy) March 7, 2019

[sapientiaoscen]

Going back to where it all started for me. I saw this book in a bookstore back before I even knew what a doula was. Something inside me said, "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!" Very loudly. So I bought it & I read it & I loved it, and a few years later I became a doula. Now, many years later, as I am 16 weeks away from my own due date, it is so fun to pick it up again. Diving into birth stories and remembering when I read them the first time. I am so grateful to all of the families who have shared their stories with us. And love imagining the idyllic life on the farm as I trudge through this NYC urban jungle! Although this book can be a bit wild for over the shoulder reading, I did manage to read it on both the subway and bus today without over-scandalizing anyone (I think)! Haha. #inamaygaskin #thefarm #spiritualmidwifery #pregnantdoula #sacredpregnancy

[fatbottomfashion-blog]

30 weeks!

[tattooedmidwife]

Set up an appointment with WIC to help us with grocery cost as it is about to expand. I already shop locally at farmers markets primarily. I love to buy locally grown food and organic as much as I can afford. Our local farmers market has a double up program where your WIC/ EBT dollars are worth 2x there. This will really make a difference in our budget as we save towards our home birth.

Things I'm Currently Looking for:

-Good bra to last through pregnancy into nursing

These ladies are screaming, I've already outgrown my 34/36 D Bras.. I don't want to look like a granny for the next 9 months either, some of those bras are ugly as sin!

-The BEST belly butter out there. (Organic is preferred!)

I already have stretch marks on my stomach hips and breasts from previous weight gain so I'd love to prevent them from getting worse or develop new ones.

-Long Gaucho Pants! Screw maternity jeans, I need to find these bad boys for the next 9 months!

What are you favorites?

What were your pregnancy must have's?

[loveinasoul]

Calm before the Storm. my birth altar. candles, towels, camera, postpartum recovery kit. #homebirth that. i managed to snap this shot in between of my contractions!? ;) #whenaphotographerisinlabor haha. 💌 #pregnantdoula #birthaltar #birth

[loveinasoul]

OXYTOCIN BABES! ・ @HandWavesBirth: "What is the symbol on our shirts? Oxytocin! (Thanks DTI for these awesome shirts!) Oxytocin is a hormone, known as the "love hormone" that exists in all of us because it is involved with lovemaking, fertility, labor and birth and breast/chestfeeding. There are so many benefits of having oxytocin including the fact that this hormone is usually released in large amounts during labor, intensifying contractions that open the cervix and allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. Oxytocin also stimulate the body to "let down" breastmilk as more are released when the nipples are stimulated during sucking. Oxytocin helps develop bond between the birthing person and the baby, and so much more. Oxytocin is an amazing hormone! It makes us feel good, and it triggers nurturing feelings and behaviors." ・ #doulatogether #HandWavesBirth #pregnantdoula #deafdoulas #DTIdoula #lovehormone #oxytocin

[loveinasoul]

this is my CELEBRATION of: the beauty in carrying a baby, the art of light, the love of friends and family, the upcoming birth of LIFE. :) :📸: @tmgs / #TMGSfotography: #expectingwomban, #pregnantdoula, #COUNTINGMYBLESSINGS, #sunsetmaternity #GoldenHour

[jessicasebokdoulartist]

Lots of baby kicks. They're kind of subtle but there are some bigger ones towards the end!! #pregnant #pregnantlife #preggers #pregnantdoula #babysebok2016

[jessicasebokdoulartist]

It's subtle, but FINALLY you can see the kicks from the outside! : ) look a little to the right side of this shot of my belly. ♡ ♡ #babykicks #pregnantdoula #pregnancy #preggers #babysebok2016 #pregnant

[sapientiaoscen]

My most recent share with @carriagehousebirth 🌞💖 ~ Estsanatlehi ~ The First Nation Apache Tribe called the Earth Goddess by this name. Their wisdom teaches that she is the Goddess of Change ~ known as the Changing Woman or Turquoise Woman. Estsanatlehi took the Sun as her lover. She lives in the West, and every night the Sun goes to her. As the cycle of the year changes, so does her appearance. Each year she turns from maiden, to mother, to crone. When she gets tired at the end of Winter and needs to renew herself, she walks to the East until she meets the younger version of herself again, they merge, she is renewed, and Spring begins. Estsanatlehi teaches us about the changing of the seasons of the Earth, and the seasons of our lives. Her symbols of renewal are the hoop, rainwater, rainbows, mountains, flowers, and apples. For me these days, it feels like so much is changing so fast. Sometimes I don't even recognize myself when I look in the mirror! With life whirl-winding around, changes inside and out, how can I stay grounded? One thing we always have is the gift of tuning into the rhythm of our breath! I am trying to channel Estsanatlehi, to help me release my questions and fears, and to instead go with the flow of wherever these changes are taking me and my little girl. If I think I am changing a lot, I can only imagine what she is going through! Celebrate the Changing Goddess today by going outside to appreciate some Spring flowers. It pleases Estsanatlehi and initiates her renewal in your spirit.🌸🌼🌺🌷 #expectingwomban #sacredpregnancy #pregnantdoula #estsanatlehi #23weekspregnant #circleoflife #seasons #springtime #gowiththeflow #carriagehousebirth (at Williamsburg NYC)

[fatbottomfashion-blog]

28ish weeks!!!

[tattooedmidwife]

Unbelievably Stoked

.. I couldn't think of a better way to start this blog..

December 21st 2012 was the end of an era and the beginning of a new age. It was winter solstice, My grandmother's birthday, and 9 months to the day until my 26th birthday.

I had a long running joke that if the world didn't end on 12/21/2012, that I'd try and have a baby. A "mayan apocalypse" baby.

We knew that the planetary alignment was coming, (a once in a 26,000 year opportunity). The inner astrologer in me was reeling. With all of those planetary influences how could we ignore the fact that I was going to be ovulating during this sacred time!

I mean who really gets the opportunity to get pregnant during a once in a 26,000 year event!??

My husband had been the one holding off on our decision to conceive. We'd had a few "scares" for lack of a better word and he'd never been into the idea of having kids before 30.  I decided to leave this to him. I knew how I felt, but I was not about to pressure him into this leap.

On 12/23/2012 we tried for the first time. I had a vision of two lights swirling together, but didn't think much of anything. We had said if it didn't happen then, we'd try this time next year.

I attended several births over the next week and developed a nasty sinus cold. I've been in bed most of the last week from it. I've had some heartburn and been tired, but chalked it up to drainage and sickness. I'd been ignoring the fact that we'd tried and just not thinking about it.

Friday night something in me said, "go buy a test" So we ran to the dollar store and looked for my usual $1.00 deals. These tests tend to be really accurate and WAY cheaper than buying digitals, ept, or any name brand.(see www.peeonastick.com)

Unfortunately Family Dollar only had the $4 Rexall  ones. I didn't want to buy 2 at that price. So we bought one (a blue +/- style test), and I know the drill and waited till the next morning.

I barely slept Friday night, not out of excitement or anything, just really restless sleep. 

6am Saturday I woke up, Grabbed my pee cup and took the test sleepy eyed. I didn't bother to read the instructions and dipped the stick for 5 seconds in the cup and threw my urine out. Of course then I read to have it soak for 20 seconds.. I figured the test would be a big fat negative and I'd crawl back into bed.

WRONG. 

There I am, staring blankly at positive. First thing in my mind? "NO F*CKING WAY!"

I didn't believe it, I was staring at the test, trying to make excuses as to how I'd read a positive and it not be real. Instead of playing it cool I woke up my husband...

"Hey come check this out! I need your eyes on this one, I think it's positive."

My sweet non morning person husband crawls out of bed, pulls sleep out of his eyes, comes to the bright bathroom and goes... "yep, that's a positive"

That's when I went into shock.

NO WAY. Not on the first try. Who does that happen to? What if it's a false positive? What if I miscarry again? How am I not supposed to tell anyone about this!?

I sent the photo to my friend in Chicago who is a fellow doula and student midwife. Several hours later I heard back.. Definitely Positive. We chatted for an hour or so about everything. It became clear I have to document this. 

I don't want to be your average pregnant woman. I know being a doula and midwife doesn't make me immune to the stresses of pregnancy, but seeing the things I do as a career, I feel like I've learned how to have a happy pregnancy or how to be a nervous wreck!

Time to live the truth I speak!

My heart is so full of joy! My friends and family's responses have just filled me with love. Not only are we excited, our whole tribe is!

So for the next 9 months I'll be sharing myself and my journey with you. 

I hope to be honest and real. I hope to be a light. 

I hope you'll walk on this crazy journey with me. 

<3 L