Christmas Day arrives with a lot of expectation attached to it. By the time today comes, we’ve already been surrounded by weeks of messaging about joy, gratitude, magic, and togetherness. We’re told this is the day it all comes together. The day it’s supposed to feel good. Whole. Meaningful. But real life doesn’t always line up that neatly. For many people—especially parents, postpartum families, and those carrying grief or exhaustion—Christmas Day can feel layered. There can

Christmas Eve has always carried a certain weight for me. Not the loud kind. Not the sparkly, performative kind. But the quieter weight—the kind that settles in your chest when the house finally stills, the lights are low, and you’re left alone with memory, grief, gratitude, and everything in between. This night asks for reflection whether we’re ready or not. As a parent, as a doula, as someone who has lived through a pregnancy that didn’t follow the script and a postpartum s

When people start looking for a birth doula, they usually focus on things like training, packages, or how many births someone has attended. Those questions matter, sure — but they aren’t the first ones I encourage families to ask. The real first question is simple! “Do I feel safe, seen, and supported with this person?” Everything else comes later. Birth is intimate. Raw. Transformative. It cracks you open in ways you can’t prepare for, even when you’ve read all the books, wa

There’s this idea in our culture that postpartum recovery ends at six weeks. Your appointment happens, you get “cleared,” and suddenly you’re supposed to bounce back — physically, emotionally, mentally, sexually, socially. Like your body and mind reset the moment a doctor signs a piece of paper. But anyone who’s lived through postpartum knows that six weeks is a joke. Healing after birth takes time. Real time.More than we’re taught to expect, and definitely more than we’re su

If there’s one myth that creates the most pressure, frustration, and self-doubt during labor, it’s the idea that dilation should happen like a straight line: 1 cm per hour,  steady progress, no pauses, no detours. But birth is not a math equation. It’s a physiological, emotional, hormonal, spiritual process—messy, powerful, unpredictable, and deeply human. And dilation? It follows that same rhythm. Here’s why dilation isn’t linear in everyday, down-to-earth language  and what

There are parts of parenting you never imagine you’ll experience — things that feel so far outside the picture you had in your head that when they arrive, you go quiet inside. The feeding tube chapter of our story was like that. It didn’t start with acceptance. It started with fear, confusion, and the kind of exhaustion you don’t have language for until much later. People see a G-tube and think, “medical device, what a sick baby.” But what they don’t see is the emotional weig

Healing is one of those words people toss around lightly, like it’s a straight line you can just step onto and follow until things feel “normal” again. But healing after birth — especially after NICU trauma, postpartum depression, anxiety, and months of survival mode — doesn’t move in a straight line. It isn’t pretty. It isn’t inspirational. It isn’t tied up with a bow. For me, healing was messy.Slow.Non-linear.A loop of steps forward, steps back, pauses, breakdowns, breakthr

There’s a before and after when it comes to the NICU. Before, you still believe birth will follow some version of the story you imagined. After, everything is different — the pace, the fears, the way your body reacts to the smallest sounds. Even years later, the beeping of a monitor in a doctor’s office can hit a nerve you didn’t know was still raw. Nothing prepares you for the NICU. Not books, not classes, not the stories other parents share. It’s its own world — one you’re

People often assume that because I’m a doula now, my own birth story must have been this powerful, connected, earth-shaking moment — the kind that gets written in soft lighting with perfect music playing in the background. But the truth is much different. My birth story started with detachment , fear, confusion, and a kind of quiet grief I didn’t have words for at the time. I didn’t have a “bad” birth. But I also didn’t have the birth I expected, or the emotional experience I

Caesarean birth carries a lot of emotion for people — sometimes excitement, sometimes fear, sometimes disappointment, sometimes relief. And often, it holds a mixture of all of those at once. There’s this idea that caesarean birth is automatically “easier” or “less intense,” but anyone who has lived it knows that’s not true. A caesarean is still birth. It’s still a transition. It’s still a moment that can change a person forever. As a doula, I approach caesarean birth with the

Abortion is healthcare — and like any big, emotional, or overwhelming moment, nobody should have to go through it alone. People imagine abortion support as one specific thing, but it’s actually a wide range of care depending on what someone needs that day. Every experience is different. Every story is different. And every person deserves compassion, honesty, privacy, and steady support. My role as an abortion companion is not to judge, persuade, or impose anything. It’s to sh

Pregnancy changes your body in ways that are impossible to describe until you’ve lived it — the curves, the growth, the shifts, the way your belly becomes a world of its own. It’s temporary and permanent all at once. And for many people, there’s something powerful about capturing that moment in a way that lasts long after pregnancy ends. That’s why I love belly casting. It’s not just plaster and gauze. It’s not a craft project. It’s a way to honor your pregnancy in physical f

Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum is one of those topics people whisper about, tiptoe around, or hide completely. Not because they’re doing something reckless — but because they’re afraid of being judged, dismissed, or shamed. I’ve heard the fear in people’s voices when they bring it up. I’ve seen the hesitation in their messages. And I’ve also seen the relief when they realize they can finally talk about it openly. That’s why I choose to be a cannabis-informed dou

We hear it everywhere: “Six weeks and you’re cleared.” “Six weeks and you’re healed.” “Six weeks and you should feel like yourself again.” But anyone who has lived through postpartum knows the six-week timeline is a myth — one that leaves people confused, ashamed, or feeling like they’re “failing” when their body and mind don’t magically snap back. Postpartum recovery is not a six-week journey. For many people, it’s not even six months. For a lot of us, postpartum recovery ca

When people talk about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support, HIV-positive mothers are often left out of the conversation — not intentionally, but because stigma still lingers in places it shouldn’t. And where there’s stigma, there’s silence. Where there’s silence, people feel unsafe, misunderstood, and alone. But HIV-positive mothers deserve the same thing every parent deserves: safe care, respect, dignity, privacy, and support without judgment. My work with CHIP (Childre

When a friend has a baby in the NICU, it’s a time filled with mixed emotions—joy, anxiety, hope, and worry all at once. I remember supporting a close friend who spent countless days and nights in the NICU, holding onto hope while feeling helpless. For the parents, it can be an incredibly overwhelming experience, and as friends, we want to be there for them, even if we don’t fully understand the weight of their journey. Navigating how to support them can be tricky, but small g

The postpartum period is a time of adjustment, healing, and bonding with the newest family member. For older siblings, though, this phase can feel confusing as they try to understand their new role. Including them in your postpartum recovery can ease their transition, helping them feel connected and valued within the family. Here are some simple, heartfelt ways to involve older siblings in this special time of recovery and connection. Invite Them to Simple, Gentle Care Moment

Water has a natural way of softening everything — tension, fear, intensity, and even time. For many parents-to-be, laboring or birthing in water creates a sense of calm that helps them feel more in control, more grounded, and more connected to their body. Water birth isn’t just a trend — it’s a gentle, supported option backed by solid evidence when done with trained providers and safe practices. 💜 Safety First: What the Research Shows • For low-risk pregnancies, water immers

The postpartum period is a time of rest, bonding, and adjustment, not just for the parents and the new baby but for the whole family, including older siblings. For little ones who are used to having more of our attention, these early days of recovery can feel a bit confusing. While we’re focused on healing and getting to know the newest family member, it can help to have some fun, low-key activities that keep siblings engaged, happy, and feeling just as loved as they’ve alway