RAS Doula Service

09/16/2026

Some benefits to skin to skin and “The Golden Hour”

1. It helps regulate baby’s body systems. Skin to skin can help stabilize a newborn’s temperature, heart rate, breathing, and blood sugar while they adjust to life outside the womb.
2. It can help breastfeeding get off to a stronger start. Babies placed skin to skin soon after birth often show natural feeding behaviors, including rooting, hand to mouth movements, and the instinctive “breast crawl.”
3. It boosts oxytocin for both mom and baby. Skin to skin encourages oxytocin release, which supports bonding and milk let down and can also help the uterus contract after delivery.
4. The golden hour doesn’t have to be exactly 60 minutes. The idea is really about protecting the early period after birth from unnecessary interruptions.
5. Partners can do it too. If mom is unable to have immediate skin to skin, a partner can provide it. Baby still gets warmth, comfort, familiar voices, and calming contact.

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

What miracles feel like🤍

08/19/2026

Your body spent 9 months growing, nourishing, and carrying your baby. Recovery deserves time, too.

The 5•5•5 postpartum rule is a gentle reminder to slow down:

• 5 days in the bed
• 5 days on the bed
• 5 days around the bed

While this isn’t always realistic, the message behind it is important.

Rest isn’t laziness.

Taking things slowly can help support:

-Physical healing

-Reduced pain and bleeding

-Milk production and breastfeeding

-Emotional well being

-Bonding with your baby

-A smoother recovery

Listen to your body. Your baby won’t remember whether the laundry was folded, but they’ll absolutely benefit from a healthy, supported, and healing mother.

05/17/2026

The word doula comes from ancient Greek and originally meant “a woman who serves.”

Research shows doula support is linked to lower cesarean rates, fewer interventions, and higher satisfaction with birth experiences.

05/14/2026

First moments

05/12/2026

For years, fertilization was often described as a race where the fastest s***m reaches the egg first and wins. Newer research shows the process is more complex. The egg is not just a passive target waiting at the finish line.

The fluid surrounding the egg after ovulation contains chemical signals. These signals can attract s***m and influence how they move toward the egg. This process is called chemotaxis, where s***m respond to chemical cues instead of swimming randomly.

A major 2020 study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B by Fitzpatrick and colleagues studied this in humans. The research looked at how s***m reacted to follicular fluid, the fluid around eggs that contains natural s***m-attracting chemicals.

The study found that follicular fluid from different women did not attract all s***m equally. In some cases, one woman’s egg-related fluid attracted s***m from one man more strongly than another man’s s***m.

One of the most interesting findings was that the chemical attraction did not always favor the woman’s partner’s s***m in the study setup. This suggests that the egg’s surrounding chemistry may act like a biological compatibility filter.

This does not mean the egg is consciously “choosing” s***m. It also does not mean speed is unimportant. S***m still need strong movement, proper function, and the ability to complete the final steps of fertilization.

The better explanation is that fertilization depends on both sides. The s***m must be capable, but the egg’s chemical environment can help influence which s***m are more likely to reach it and succeed.