Footprints Midwest Doula Services

08/04/2026

What’s something you learned from your experience with breastfeeding? No two experiences are identical!
For me, I learned so much about perseverance and how to grow in my ability to physically sit still while also being present mentally.
Perseverance because the surprise hurdle of being unable to nurse a tongue-tied baby, then teaching him to use his tongue properly while keeping up a milk supply, and also dealing with ongoing stinging and burning with nursing really challenges your resolve to keep going. But you know what, things got better. With the right lactation support, care providers, and a whole lot of shoulders to lean and cry on, I can proudly say I am still breastfeeding my son after all we went through.
Growing in my ability to stay in one place during a nursing session physically was difficult but staying in one place mentally was even harder. Constantly jumping from one thing to obsess over to the next and wishing time would just speed up so I could move on to the next thing in the day was the rhythm of so many nursing sessions. Something my counselor asked helped shift my perspective, “What about your son?” Seems basic…but she was right. Doesn’t he matter more than those little things I was obsessing over? Does anything else matter when I’m holding the most beautiful treasure I’ve ever received? Reminding myself of this grew my patience with sitting still while nursing and even being “nap trapped.” I learned to absorb the details of his sweet face instead of wishing he’d hurry up so I could be “productive.”
Nursing my son has been a battle I didn’t realize it would be. But it has also changed my heart and life for the better. I am so thankful to have been gifted this ability and opportunity to nourish my son and bond with him in such a special way. 🤍
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com

07/30/2026

06/02/2026

Excellent 5min video explaining some of the basics for how a tongue tie can present. Spoiler: it’s not always the same symptoms!

Parents, don’t give up if you’re being dismissed by a care provider despite seeing evidence of unresolved problems! It is worth it to seek another opinion. 💜

05/23/2026

Great reminders!

Before you convince yourself you need a new pump👀
Here are 5 things that are WAY more likely to be the issue when you’re not seeing the milk volumes you expect

1️⃣ Your fl**ge size is probably wrong
The fl**ge that came with your pump is usually 24mm

Most ni***es? Not even close 😂

A LOT of parents actually measure somewhere around 13–18mm. And yes, even being off by a couple millimeters can affect:
• comfort
• output
• swelling
• milk removal

Your ni***es should not be fighting for their lives in there.

2️⃣ You cranked the suction to max
I know it feels logical
“More suction = more milk”

Unfortunately, your ni***es disagree.

Too much suction can cause swelling, pain, tissue damage, and actually make milk harder to remove. Your body tends to cooperate better when it feels safe… not attacked.

3️⃣ You’re using the same settings the whole session
Most pumps have stimulation mode and expression mode for a reason

Your body doesn’t respond best to one speed and suction for 20 minutes straight like it’s a copy machine 😅

Many parents do better switching modes, cycles, and suction levels throughout the session as letdowns happen.

4️⃣ Your pump parts may be tired
Duckbills and membranes wear out over time and slowly lose suction

Sometimes the problem isn’t your supply
It’s a $7 piece of silicone hanging on by a thread.

5️⃣ You think pumping output should look the same every time
Bodies are not vending machines

Sleep, stress, hormones, hydration, illness, your period returning, how long since baby last fed, whether Mercury is in retrograde… all of it can affect output 😂

Your pump may not actually be the problem.
Most parents were just never taught how to use one effectively in the first place

05/10/2026

It’s Mother’s Day!
Motherhood is such a gift and blessing, yet it also takes immense fortitude and determination.
As I reflect on my own motherhood journey, I can see so much clearly the incredible sacrifice, love, and care that my own mother gave to me (and still gives) and it amazes me. This simultaneous mix of joy and struggle, happy tears and overwhelmed tears, a full heart and a brain that won’t stop.
It’s something that can be hard to understand until you experience it.
So thank you to the mothers (biological and non-biological) for giving all that you give and choosing to put your child’s life ahead of your own. We wouldn’t be who we are without your sacrifice and love. 💕💕
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com

04/27/2026

🤍April is Cesarean Awareness Month🤍
The narrative is often that a cesarean section (or C-section) isn’t a birth to be proud of, or it’s the “easy route” to having a baby. The truth is very different.
Many mothers opt for cesarean sections because they feel it is best for their family. Many mothers are told a cesarean is their only option due to placental differences, a previous cesarean, or anatomical challenges. And still many other mothers worked to avoid a cesarean but for many reasons needed or chose one after labor had begun.
Whatever the reason, we need to remember that a cesarean is still a birth! The journey and healing process may look different, but there are still precious moments to be had as you cherish your new baby. It’s still a beautiful moment when a new little human takes their first breath and sees their mama and dada for the very first time. It’s the first time a baby’s cry is heard and when those first happy tears are shed with your little one outside of you. 💕
If you or someone you know has had a cesarean for whatever reason, make sure you remind yourself or tell your friend that they still did something incredible by bringing a human into the world 💪
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com

04/17/2026

To add to this: just a reminder that treatment options for potential mastitis have changed as of 2022!! (Check it out from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine)

Things to focus on for relief:
🟡Cold packs
🟡Anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes (sleep more, reduce sugar and processed foods)
🟡Avoid deeply massaging bumps on your breast
🟡Keep feeding your baby!
-> if you are exclusively pumping, look into how effective your pump is at removing milk and make sure it’s not increasing mastitis potential! (Double check fl**ge fit, suction, etc)
🟡See a lactation consultant for individual guidance and medical attention!! Some women have an oversupply at the root of recurrent mastitis and this can be corrected with the help of a lactation consultant.
🟡Symptoms of flu and/or breast redness shouldn’t be ignored. Call a lactation consultant and/or your doctor for further guidance!

Sunflower lecithin is having a moment… and I get why
When you’re dealing with recurrent “clogs,” you’ll try anything to make it stop

But sunflower lecithin is not fixing the problem. At best, it’s a support tool. At worst, it delays you from actually solving what’s going on

Because what we call “plugged ducts” aren’t little chunks of milk stuck like a cork. They’re inflammation in the breast tissue

And inflammation always has a reason

So if you keep getting the same spot over and over… we need to zoom out 👇

Common root causes I see every day:

• Pump fl**ge that’s too big or too small → tissue trauma
• Suction set too high → swelling + micro-injury
• Shallow latch → inefficient milk removal + ni**le damage
• Oral restrictions (hello tongue tie) → poor drainage of the breast
• Going long stretches without feeding/pumping → milk stasis
• Tight bras, sports bras, carriers → external pressure on ducts
• Sleeping positions that compress the breast
• History of breast surgery (implants, reduction) → altered drainage patterns

👉 Lecithin doesn’t fix any of these

It may help make milk a little less “sticky” for some people
That’s it
It’s not treating inflammation
It’s not correcting milk removal
It’s not preventing recurrence if the root cause is still there

Don’t wait this out if:

• You’re getting recurrent clogs in the same area
• The breast is becoming red, hot, or more painful
• You feel flu-like symptoms (chills, body aches, fever)
• Things aren’t improving within 24–48 hours

04/10/2026

It is THE BEST feeling when I get to support a mother who knows how powerful her body is and knows that she can trust what her body is telling her during labor.
No fear about what’s happening inside of her. No worries of knowing when to push. Knowing how much or how little to breathe through contractions.
This kind of birth doesn’t happen by accident and it doesn’t happen alone. It’s the result of preparing the mind to surrender and stay steadfast in her goals, learning what healthy, normal labor is like, and continually reminding herself that her body was made by a Creator who designed pregnancy, birth, and motherhood with beautiful intentionality.
It is a joy to support all my clients whether this is their birth story or not. But these kinds of births amaze and encourage me to keep helping mothers become educated and feel confident moving into or continuing their journey of motherhood.
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com

04/05/2026

In Christianity, today is such a glorious and joy-filled day. Today marks when Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and defeated the hold of sin, death, and chaos over humanity!
More than that, His resurrection means we (humanity) have the chance to acknowledge Jesus as God and believe in Him, receive forgiveness and grace over our past and current mistakes (sin), and start living in wholeness and unity with God. 💕🙏
It’s because of Jesus and His resurrection that we can have hope and light for the future even when the world is still drowning in violence, hatred, and death. One day there will be an end to all of the sadness and mess of this world, but until then we as Christians can have this joy and hope in Christ’s resurrection.
Have a happy Easter!!
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com
✝️

03/27/2026

“Oh you’re a doula?? You must love working with babies!”
Although holding sweet babes is the most precious thing to me, my role as a doula usually looks more like readjusting your blankets, suggesting a new comfort measure or labor position, keeping you hydrated, encouraging and just being with you through transition, trading off with your support person on counter pressure, communicating your wishes with the nurses if needed, and bringing the mood of the room back to one of steadiness and hope. My goal is to support you in ways that allow you to hold that precious baby for as long as possible. 🫶
Birth and postpartum look different from family to family and that means I adjust to the needs of that family to the best of my ability.
footprintsmidwestdoulaservices.com