07/20/2026
Every birth has shaped the doula I am today. Each experience taught me something new about preparation, advocacy, recovery, and the importance of having a village. My hope is that every family knows they deserve support, not just during birth, but throughout postpartum too.
#1 mentally prepare! Prepare for every scenario in birth, for the sleep deprivation and expectations postpartum, the feeding, and the hormone roller coaster.
#2 clear the fears! This is also a big part of mental preparedness. Find the facts, the statistics, and know your options if things don't go according to plan. It makes it less scary and gives you the chance to pivot because you know what else is possible and can still have a wonderful experience.
#3 plan for support! Whether thats family, friends, birth doula, postpartum doula, lactation consultant, or babysitters. You honestly can never plan for too much support. It gives you a cushion so you aren't panicking when you need more help than you expected. If things go great then you always have a trusted back up plan if needed. Also, make a list of the things that will keep your household running without you. Delegate the laundry, dishes, house cleaning, meal prep, and anything else that you handle daily to others. Having it written down and in a place that everyone can see, gives them the chance to do these things without asking.
#4 self care! There is always a debate on what self care means but in all honesty its whatever you need to do to feel seen, heard, and both physically and mentally relaxed. Get the massage, go see the chiropractor, do your nails, take the naps, order out, hire the cleaners, get groceries delivered, get your hair done, get waxed, get a dog walker, read the book, delegate the tasks. This is your time to focus on you and that growing baby and a relaxed mama makes for a better birth and a better postpartum!
Which of these lessons resonates with you most?
