The Mother's Voice Birthing Services

03/15/2022

Better access to midwifery care is so necessary!!

Birthing people with low-to moderate-risk pregnancies who receive midwifery care, or who have access to collaborative care that integrates midwives, are more likely to experience a low-intervention, spontaneous vaginal birth!

01/31/2022

Informed consent is SO incredibly important, yet so incredibly underused.

🤎🤍🅸🅽🅵🅾🆁🅼🅴🅳 🅲🅾🅽🆂🅴🅽🆃🤍🤎

Being educated and knowledgeable is absolutely vital ; informed consent and informed refusal are both so important in a birth setting.

Informed consent is NOT telling you what is going to happen, it is INFORMING you on the benefits and risks of your choices and letting you make an informed decision.

There are topics that need to be discussed and researched before you give birth, that way you are aware of everything that is going on and educated on the choices that may be presented to you.

"Well how do I do that?"
🤎Hire a doula
🤎Take a birth education class
🤎Follow for educational and evidence based handouts!

You have choices; you have options. ✨

01/28/2022

01/10/2022

If an OB can get a pregnant patient cared for in 10 minutes or less, what do we do with all the other 50 minutes in your midwifery appointments with us??

I might lay down on the ground with my pelvic model and point at my butt while explaining how your posture influences your baby’s position in pregnancy. (Normal midwife stuff 😂)

We might spend 10 whole minutes palpating your baby’s position with you during your exam, really making sure you know what your own hands are feeling in there so you can connect with her again at home in between your visits with us.

We may take up half the appointment counseling you on your options for gestation diabetes screening, including refusing the whole thing. (What? Options? Refusing?? )

We might designate an entire visit to postpartum planning and helping you get a course of action in place for much more help and support with your upcoming postpartum time than you had with your first baby.

We may practice stretches to alleviate that pesky sciatic pain, massage your round ligaments for you, practice relaxation techniques or just turn the lights low while you lay down and listen to our suggestions for getting better sleep.

It’s care that can not be replaced with a handout, with a zoom call, with your mother’s advice, or a google search.

It’s care that catches the first onset of a complication and works immediately to bring your pregnancy back into normal.

It’s care that listens, care that feels, care that checks up on you in between appointments to see if the remedy we suggested is working.

It’s not above and beyond care, my friends. It’s the base and basics of what women who grow humans need and deserve. It’s the foundation for confident parenting and connection in a growing family.

It’s our undeniable pleasure and absolute privilege to provide such a meaningful model of care. ♥️

04/21/2021

Really great advice from Kristian with Natural Baby Doulas 💜

I had my second baby this past November! Now that I’ve had two postpartum experiences, I decided to put together a guide for the fourth trimester. Many people call the first three months postpartum the “fourth trimester” because newborns still think they are part of mama’s body during that t...

04/03/2021

“COVID has caused many hospitals to ban doulas through either outright bans, or obscure policies that force them into vendor status which does not benefit the patient (the person that actually contracted them) in any way. Doulas improve outcomes. There is no research that supports efforts to block access to doula care.”

COVID has caused many hospitals to ban doulas through either outright bans, or obscure policies that force them into vendor status which does not benefit the patient (the person that actually contracted them) in any way. Doulas improve outcomes. There is no research that supports efforts to block access to doula care.

03/24/2021

Another hospital has changed their policy so mamas can have the support they deserve! 🙌🏼 Northern Hospital in Mount Airy is now allowing 3 visitors, so message me today if you are delivering at Northern and want doula support! 👏🏼

03/22/2021

I absolutely love this! I say this to moms all the time. 💜

“My baby’s using me as a pacifier!” “My pediatrician says my baby is using me as a pacifier.” “How do I make sure my baby doesn’t use me as a pacifier?”

🙅🏼‍♀️🙅🏼‍♀️🙅🏼‍♀️

You are the ORIGINAL pacifier. Full stop.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with pacifying your baby at the breast, for using your breasts for their intended purpose, for bringing your baby to the breast at every cue - this is NORMAL, and healthy!!!

Let’s change the narrative. “My baby loves to be soothed by me.” “I love giving and getting extra cuddle time in with my baby.” “I enjoy being the cure-all for the world’s problems for my baby!”

In addition, if you feel like you have low supply, this can be an extra nudge for a boost.

If you are experiencing painful latching, and soothing your baby at the breast hurts, see a skilled IBCLC 👩🏼‍⚕️

03/16/2021

Novant has finally changed their policy so laboring women can have the support they deserve! This means I’m back to taking clients delivering at Novant! Message me today if you’re interested! 💜

03/10/2021

What was your favorite position to labor in?

With all 3 of my natural labors hands and knees or squatted were the most comforting.

These are just a FEW amazing positions to labor in. There are even many different positions you can labor in with an epidural placed.