The Minimalistic Doula

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The Minimalistic Doula

Hi!

I'm Allison, a birth doula serving the Dayton, OH & surrounding areas 🖤

Surrender + Rise: Your Guide to Achieving a Successful VBAC ⬇️
https://allison-champ-s-school1.teachable.com/p/surrender-rise-your-guide-to-achieving-a-redemptive-vbac

06/09/2026

this is the sweetest video from the sweetest repeat mama 😭

I feel so incredibly honored to have supported her through the birth of BOTH her sons. I truly have the best job ever, with the best families ever 🤍

excuse me while I wipe away my tears!!

06/04/2026

this week we flew across the country to Las Vegas to take another step forward in our surrogacy journey 🤍

spending quality time with the intended parents & completing our medical testing made everything feel a little more real. there were lots of “I can’t believe we’re actually here & that this is actually happening!!”

it was a day filled with excitement, hope, love & gratitude as we took another step forward together. this family has made this journey thus far more incredible than we could have imagined & they truly feel like people we have known & loved forever — which was something incredibly important to me as we were looking to match through this independent journey — but they have exceeded all expectations 🥹

surrogacy is strongly built on trust, connection, & a shared dream. getting to spend time together, learn more about one another, & discuss what the future could hold, reminded me why this journey is so special (even though I think about it everyday!)

while there are still many steps ahead, this week was a special step towards growing this sweet baby & growing a family 🤍

feeling honored (more than honored if there was a word for it) to be part of a story that is rooted in SO much love & looking forward to what comes next ✨

05/31/2026

if you plan to have your children present at your birth, let them document it 🤍

it was so sweet to see my daughters point of views (some sweeter than others 😂) but they’re keepsakes I will hold onto & cherish forever. I wish I would have had unlimited roles of film for them because they both loved it!

no matter how the photos turns out, this also gives the child(ren) a fun job during labor — “you can take photos for mommy to look at after the baby gets here! we can cuddle & look through them together. I know I will love them!”

05/27/2026

skin to skin is SKIN to SKIN, no blankets in between 🤍

benefits of immediate skin-to-skin for BABY can help:
▪️regulate temperature
▪️stabilize heart rate & breathing
▪️support healthy blood sugar levels
▪️reduce crying & stress hormones
▪️encourage instinctive feeding behaviors & improve breastfeeding outcomes
▪️promote bonding & sleep
▪️support immune system development through exposure to mama’s microbiome

benefits for the MAMA:
▪️increase oxytocin (the love hormone)
▪️helps the uterus contract & reduce bleeding, while encouraging breastfeeding which also helps
▪️supports milk production & feeding on demand
▪️helps lower stress & anxiety levels
▪️strengthens bond & attachment
▪️may help create a sense of grounding & calm after an intense experience

the benefits of skin to skin doesn’t stop after the immediate postpartum - it continues on through childhood 🖤

05/14/2026

TENS unit 🤌🏼

a TENS machine is a small device that can be used in labor to help manage pain naturally by sending mild electrical pulses through sticky pads placed on your back. it’s all controlled by you, turning it up as high or low as comfortable. there’s also a “boost” button that you can push as a contraction builds for a temporary, higher stimulation setting.

the electrical pulses:
▪️help block pain signals from reaching the brain
▪️encourage the body to release endorphins (your natural pain-relieving hormones)
▪️gives you something rhythmic & grounding to focus on during contractions

benefits:
▪️drug-free pain relief
▪️you are able to stay mobile
▪️minimal side effects
▪️gives many laboring people a sense of control
▪️usually helps “take the edge off” rather than eliminate pain completely

things to note:
▪️it should not be used in water
▪️pads can’t be placed over broken skin
▪️women with pacemakers or certain medical conditions should check with their provider first

I have personally never used a TENS in labor myself, but have had lots of mamas enjoy having it as an option! have you ever used one during labor? did you feel it helped?

05/10/2026

mother’s day looks a little different when you witness motherhood begin over & over again 🤍

I’ve watched women meet versions of themselves they’ve never known before — strong, raw, soft, exhausted, powerful, undone, & completely transformed all at once. I’ve seen mothers bring life into the world while learning to be reborn themselves.

to the mothers who labored for hours, the ones who birthed in peace & the ones whose stories changed unexpectedly, the ones who have yearned for a baby & those who have lost, the mothers healing physically & emotionally, the ones awake in the quiet hours feeding & comforting their babies, the ones wondering if they’re doing enough — you are.

being invited into these moments as a doula is something I never take lightly. motherhood is the most cherished part of my life, & to support & witness woman after woman enter the same era — how BEAUTIFUL.

today I’m celebrating every version of motherhood — the joyful, the tender, the sad, the messy, the sacred, the loved 🤍

05/07/2026

our bodies know, & it’s okay to meet it with softness ❤️‍🩹

many unexpected emotions may arise when beginning to look or touch your cesarean scar. this can be due to nerve sensitivity, numbness, trauma response, stress, or aversions. feelings such as nausea, dizziness, light headedness, or the “ick” are all normal - even tears can surface as your body reconnects with an area that went through so much.

cesarean scar massage plays an important role in recovery, healing, & the breakdown of scar tissue - which is especially important for future pregnancies - even more so for those whose goal is a VBAC.

here are some helpful tips if you find yourself experiencing any of the above emotions:
▪️start with desensitization - gently touch around the scar first, gradually moving closer to the incision as you feel ready.
▪️begin gently, slowly, & gradually - once you feel ready to touch the scar itself, you can do so with the lightest, most gentle touch, with no additional pressure. you can even use a soft cloth to just gently graze the area. if that’s only for 30 seconds once a week, that’s still a win.
▪️distraction - play your favorite show, movie, audiobook, podcast, conversing with your partner, etc. you may also try to focus on deep breathing or meditation techniques.
▪️allow others to massage the area for you - this could be your partner, pelvic floor therapist, medical professional, etc.
▪️as you get more comfortable touching the area, you may add additional pressure & massage techniques.

healing isn’t always linear or quick. go slow, breathe, pause when needed, & give yourself grace through it all 🖤

04/30/2026

another full year of breastfeeding 🤍

I have breastfed almost consecutively the last 6 (almost 7) years, stopping only for a few months in between each baby, when becoming pregnant again.

my body has not been “mine” for a long time now, but I’m so at peace with that. to grown, nourish, & comfort what I love most in this life, three times now, has been more than worth it.

cherishing these moments for the last time around - which is heartbreaking & relieving all at the same time ❤️‍🩹

📷

04/27/2026

all spots for birth support are filled for the remainder of the 2026 year 🤍

though in person support is full, I do have an option for a 3 hour prenatal visit and 24/7 virtual support for labor if you felt that would be beneficial (though in person support is VALUABLE so I’m happy to give recommendations for other local doulas)!

thankful for the trust all you mamas put into me, supporting one of your most monumental life moments.

by the end of September, I will have supported over 100 births in 3 years 🖤

nothing I love more than the magic of birth ✨

04/24/2026

our last little babe is O N E today 🤍

Hudson is the sweetest, most curious little boy. we love him so much!!!

fastest year of my life 🥲

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Dayton, OH
Dayton, OH

Website

https://theminimalisticdoula.com/

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