Shalom Doula Services

12/09/2021

Because I know many of you and the ones you love adore your breastfeeding journey— this is such a good keepsake! Also, you’d be supporting small business and my talented niece when you buy from this page. 🤍

You can find pricing on the page that originally posted this photo. Go to photos — then albums— click on the items you’re interested in— and the pricing will be in the captions. 🤍

Y’all look at this beautiful breastmilk stone, 1 piece made and ready to be shipped!😍

Absolutely obsessed with how this mamas pendant turned out. If your interested in getting a keepsake made just message me!🤍

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08/24/2020

12/14/2019

No matter what our birth stories hold for us, they can always hold healing. 🌿

This one, I’ll never forget. ✨

11/25/2019

In case you needed any more excuses 😘

“Kissing your baby changes your breast milk. Did you know that the undeniable urge to cover your baby in kisses serves a biological purpose? When a mother kisses her baby, she samples the pathogens on baby’s face, which then travel to mom’s lymphatic system. Mom’s body then creates antibodies to fight those pathogens, which baby receives through breast milk. What?! Amazing, right?”

http://www.mothering.com/articles/10-things-might-not-know-breastfeeding/ 📸: Dusktildawnphotography

09/06/2019

Go ahead and kiss the babes 💕

This is the world’s first ever magnetic resonance image showing a mother and child’s bond.
The image is of neuroscientist Rebecca Saxe kissing her two month old son.

The child’s brain appears to be smoother and darker. This is because it has significantly less white matter. White matter is comprised of myelin, which is fatty tissue that acts as insulation for the wires that communicate messages inside your brain.

The activations in the image do not refer to the act of kissing but to the organisation of functional activity in infant brains when viewing meaningful images.

Kissing causes a chemical reaction in your brain, including a burst of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’ because it stirs up feelings of affection and attachment.

Kissing activates the brain’s reward system; releasing dopamine which makes us feel good. It also releases vasopressin which bonds mothers with babies and romantic partners to each other. It also releases serotonin which helps to regulate our mood.

08/11/2019

Two years ago now and my love for families and birth has only grown! ❤️

Doula Facts Post #5: Why am I a doula?

A small spark started in me about 4 years ago when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. I fell in love with the research about how our bodies were made and was empowered by the stories of so many other women who had paved the road before me--women who found birth to be sacred.

The life growing inside of me sparked a new love I had never known--both for the child thriving inside of my womb, and for my body; a temple that was now cradling another.

I was guided through many studies in this time and the more I grew, the more I realized the field of birth was under attack. There were so many lies to filter through, but several truths remained prominent: there is more than one way to birth, women's bodies are not utterly broken, and birth itself is not to be feared, and women needed to know that.

The avenue by which I birthed my precious babies is irrelevant, but I can tell you one thing: every single moment from the first pulse of labor to the first moments of nourishing my new babies was completely sacred-and completely mine to possess- something I cannot explain in words, but I can feel with my entire heart.

And I want women to know that. I want them to be able to confidently make decisions and courageously show up to their births. And no matter what turns birth takes or where this path leads her, I want her to be empowered. I want birth to leave a lasting impression on her heart. And I want that impression to be lovely--no matter what it looked like. Because bringing a new life into this big world is always a big deal-- and I just want you to love it for whatever it is. 💕

That's how I want to serve you.

That's why I'm a doula.

07/12/2019

There’s power in connection. ✨

I often find that partners want to connect with their significant other during labor, but are scared or confused about how to do that successfully. Though I recognize their situations are very different, I have also realized that these special moments are just as intense for them. Sometimes, much pressure is put on the partner to perform naturally and efficiently in what may already be a very high-stress situation for them and unlike the birthing mother, there are very few resources to help them manage these feelings. This often leads to them withdrawing from helping— even when they desperately want to— because they don’t want to make a mistake and increase the birthing mother’s pain. The good news is: this situation is preventable with the right support. Many people think about labor assistance, but can’t wrap their minds around their benefits because they already have a partner to uphold the role or they think the doula may intrude on or hinder the moments that should be shared in intimacy with their partner. In my own experiences as a doula, I have found this to be untrue. I LOVE supporting and fostering connection in families. My goal is to make birth as comfortable and empowering as I can for you and I find that one of the best ways to do that is through the hands of the ones you are already extremely comfortable with. My favorite moments are when the partners are empowered to empower the birthing woman. Not only is this a special moment to remember in such a delicate window of life, but it produces high amounts of oxytocin to aid in labor progress, and builds confidence, support, and peace between the partners that lasts beyond the birth room. This experience carries them right into parenthood with the same level of connection and makes all of our hearts beat just a little bit faster. 💞😌

In addition, I know not everyone has this level or facet of support and it is my honor to walk and connect with you, personally, in a way that carries you through labor and thrusts you into motherhood with the confidence, strength, and support you need.

No matter the situation, I’m here for y o u. 💕

07/11/2019

There’s something about baby toes — because they’re cute, yes, but maybe because we know they’ll grow — maybe because we know they’ll go—maybe because they’ll plant themselves on this very same ground we walk on in a different time — an age we may never reach. Maybe this world needs them like we need them, so we cherish them while they’re new, while they’re small, while they’re with us. 💕

07/05/2019

liquid gold ✨

Before I had my daughter, I wasn't particularly interested in mother's milk. Now I'm literally awake at night thinking about it.