Laura Pascoe - Doula • Childbirth Educator • Parental Leave Coach

07/02/2026

A quick update since my last post...

I passed my Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) exam! 🎉

Perinatal mental health—the emotional well-being of people from conception through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the first year of parenting—is too often overlooked. When we don't prioritize it, everyone pays the price. Parents deserve to have their experiences taken seriously, their voices heard, and access to compassionate, evidence-based support.

Supporting emotional well-being has always been at the heart of my work, and I'm grateful to now add PMH-C to my credentials as I continue deepening the support I offer to individuals and families.

Thank you to everyone who cheered me on while I was studying. ❤️

05/13/2026

Just wrapped up postpartum support with this sweet little human — and her amazing cat brother 💛

One of the hardest parts of the newborn phase is that almost everything feels like it might be a problem… especially at 2am.

A few things I reassure new parents about over and over again:

• You cannot spoil a newborn with responsiveness, cuddles, or contact naps. Babies are built to need closeness.

• Some babies p**p 5x/day. Some every few days. Both can be normal.

• Evening fussiness (“the witching hour”) is incredibly common. Many babies get overstimulated by the end of the day and cluster feed in the evenings as they prepare for longer stretches of sleep overnight.

• Newborn sleep is noisy, active, and weird. Grunting, squeaking, flailing = often very normal.

• Sometimes babies cry even when they’re fed, changed, loved, and held. That doesn’t mean you’re failing.

• Fresh air helps more than people expect. So does putting the baby down safely for 5 minutes so you can breathe or eat something.

• If feeding hurts or something feels off, you deserve support sooner rather than later. “Natural” does not automatically mean easy.

And maybe most importantly:
You do not need to love every second to be a loving parent.

There’s a reason we talk about needing a village. What support do you need/did you need to thrive?

05/10/2026

Because being a mum is one of the most radical choices we can make in this world. Because as mums, we have the opportunity to be fierce, deeply loving, very wise humans who want to do everything we can to make the world a better, safer, more loving place for the tiny humans we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE us, world!!

Mothers’ experiences often intersect with federal policy battles over gun violence, immigration and childcare

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day dear ones!!!!

This year, I want to uplift the most important kind of self care of all — not the big stuff, or the stuff you can buy, or get a babysitter for — but the listening to and taking care of the small, foundational needs you have to say to your body and mind: “I see you and I have your back.”

Sometimes acknowledging that is what you are doing — and not just doing it — makes all the difference. E.g.: “I’m drinking this water right now to nourish myself and take a moment to attend to my needs.”

I’m so grateful that I have the incredible gift of two kids and a loving co-parent to celebrate me on Mother’s Day. I know there are those who want this day to hold a place for them, and I see you too.

Whatever your journey, what can you do, TODAY, to listen to and honor a foundational need you have from a place of love for you?

❤️

05/04/2026

If you're pregnant (or your partner is!), you're invited! The Upper Valley Community Baby Shower on Saturday, May 9 is at the Mount Lebanon School, from noon – 2 PM!

The first 40 people who RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/Yhi6yTdy7F8nYpWRA [forms.gle] will be guaranteed a lovely baby/mother basket of goodies.

We welcome you to the Upper Valley Community Baby Shower! Thank you for your interest in signing up. ******This event is aimed to reach pregnant families or families with children under 1 year old, but all families parenting young children are welcome to attend****** All participants are welcome to....

04/30/2026

Just days ago I was across the ocean with my family. It was such a delicious trip, an I’m so grateful we were able to make it happen 🇬🇧

Now I’m here, with a sleeping baby on me.

A full life can hold both—movement and stillness, adventure and deep presence.

If you’re in the newborn phase, this kind of stillness can feel endless… and also fleeting.

I’m back working with clients this week, and jumping back into a long on call period, but feeling really grateful to get to support people in this season of life ❤️