Magdalena Eschenberg Doula

08/04/2026

“I had to switch to formula for my mental health” is one of my least favorite narratives around feeding babies. Formula companies actively lobby against paid maternal leave and breastfeeding support. This isn’t a conspiracy, it’s been reported by the World Health Organization, Yale School of Public Health, and others.

When we are looking at the issue of maternal mental health and postpartum mood disorders, the biggest factor is a lack of support. Support around breastfeeding, support around care for other children, support in the home, support from the healthcare system and access to mental health professionals. The reason we have an issue with maternal mental health in this country is not due to breastfeeding; it’s because new parents are discharged from the hospital with only a 6 week appointment, without paid maternity leave (in California we’re lucky that most folks get 8-12 weeks, but even that’s not enough!), and because they’re isolated from their communities.

Formula companies want you to believe that relieving the burden of breastfeeding will solve a systemic issue, while they lobby against you getting the support you need.

I am not out here to shame anyone who feeds/fed their baby formula. Formula is an incredible and lifesaving invention. However, WHO states that worldwide breastfeeding rates are far too low, and formula companies are to blame for their false and coercive messaging and lobbying against health initiatives to support breastfeeding families. Most breastfeeding issues could be resolved with proper support and education, and that is what I am advocating for.

https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/five-things-infant-formula-companies-dont-want-you-to-know/

https://www.who.int/news/item/08-02-2023-experts-call-for-clampdowns-on-exploitative-formula-milk-marketing-in-new-lancet-series

08/02/2026

Let’s talk about donor milk! 🧑🏽‍🍼
Donor milk should be readily available and free for all families who are unable to breastfeed their babies. As part of the World Health Organization 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, they recommend prioritizing supplementing with donor milk when a parent’s own milk is insufficient.

Donor milk may come from a variety of sources, including the hospital (shout out to our local Kaiser for having donor milk for ALL babies, not just NICU babies), private milk banks, or the community.

A special shout out to everyone who has ever donated their own milk this , you all are incredible!

08/01/2026

07/31/2026

These are not your usual birth photos to share - this baby came out needing some help breathing, which is one of the more common emergencies in birth. Here’s what I think everyone should know about neonatal resuscitation in the home birth setting:

Look at the mom’s eyes in the first photo. She is completely trusting that her baby is being well cared for by their midwives, there is no fear in her eyes. Hospitals could take a page out of home birth midwives book during neonatal resuscitations: the cord stays intact, the baby is on mom, the parents are being communicated to, all while baby is receiving the help they need.

I’m not saying that this is possible in every case, but statistically we know most babies who need help when they’re born just need a bit of PPV to inflate their lungs, which can be easily done while the cord is intact and baby is with their parent.

Another thing I wanted to point out in sharing these photos is the wide spread misconception that home birth midwives are not prepared for emergencies. Midwives are trained and ready to use suction, PPV, oxygen, and laryngeal mask airways when needed.

A good midwife is an expert in noticing when things deviate from normal and healthy, and is well prepared to keep you and your baby safe.

07/30/2026

Scenes from a beautiful daytime home birth with big sister in attendance (+ my favorite midwives Homebody Midwifery)

07/27/2026

This was a really sweet birth ❤️ Her first birth was a long post-dates induction, so going into labor on her own felt foreign and we spent a lot of time preparing for that happening, and that this birth could be much quicker than expected (2nd babies y’all. They’re in a rush). Two days after her due date, I got a call at 5pm saying her water broke! We discussed options, and since her fluid was clear, baby was moving, and everything was well, she decided to wait at home for contractions to start. By 7pm, she had her first strong contraction, and hopped in the car. I met her and her husband at the hospital just after 8pm, and I could tell as soon as I saw her that she was very close to giving birth. An important part of her plan was to get an epidural, as she had a great experience with her first in receiving it and felt that an epidural helped her feel more present in her birth experience. We got up to L&D, and her favorite midwife was there. She did a quick exam and announced she was fully dilated, but baby was still high, which I think was baby giving her enough time to get what she later called her “emotional support epidural.” Once the epidural was in, she got comfy in bed, and centered and ready to push. About 10 minutes later, now 10pm, this beautiful babe emerged from her mama straight into her dad’s hands!

07/21/2026

Here’s your baby!

07/21/2026

Doula practice update ~ All my summer doula babies have been born! I am currently enjoying being able to go to places out of reception, and sleeping at night without worrying about my phone settings. Being on-call is really hard on the mind and body and I’m very grateful to have this scheduled time to unwind. I love and cherish my job so much, but I am EXHAUSTED… I’ve already attended almost as many births this year as I did last year in total.

As many of you know, my current educational goal is to become an RN, and eventually nurse-midwife. I was anticipating beginning a 2-year program this fall, but unfortunately did not get into our local programs for this semester. While I am disappointed, I also trust in the universe’s timing of things and I am looking forward to supporting more families before the year is done. I do now have spots open for birth and postpartum clients this Fall, so if you reached out and I was not accepting clients at the time due to school, please reach out again and we can chat!

In other practice updates:
Adding Body Ready Method® to my services has made a huge difference. Since I started preparing my clients in this way after finishing the certification in March, I have had only one OP baby during a labor (who quickly rotated with encouragement from positional changes), seen far fewer labor stalls, quicker labors and pushing stages (even in primips), and no cesareans for arrest of progress/descent.

I have now photographed about 15 births for previously contracted clients and I have been loving it! I will likely be making it available as an add-on to doula services for clients due this fall 💛

06/14/2026

The phrase “breast is best” arose during a time when most people were not breastfeeding. This phrase was used as part of a public health initiative to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding, for which there are many. Americans had been told for decades that formula was the superior way to feed a baby, so the slogan was meant to counter act that cultural notion as science proved the obvious, that human milk made for human babies is the best nutrition there is. This is fact, it is not up for debate. I’m not going to list the many reasons why, because everyone has Google.

Having supported many families in their breastfeeding journeys from the very start and often through the first 3-6 months, I truly believe that education and support is what leads to successful breastfeeding.
I have had a handful of clients who actually do need to combo feed or formula feed, primarily because of insufficient glandular tissue (breast hypoplasia). I find that parents who intended to exclusively breastfeed feel guilty, upset, or sad about the fact that their baby is dependent on a food source outside of them. You know what is far more comforting to these families than saying “fed is best”? It is hearing that any amount of breastmilk - whether it was only day 1 of life, a few ounces a day, or for a few weeks - is incredibly beneficial for their baby. Human milk, whether it is from the person who gave birth or a generous donor, is invaluable.
We can acknowledge that there are situations where formula is needed and the best available option without negating the incredible benefits of breastmilk.

My take is that formula should be treated as a medication, not just food. Here’s why:
1. Insurance coverage of the cost of formula for those who need it
2. Get rid of predatory formula marketing
3. Higher safety standards for formula (there have now been several recalls in the last year for botulism!)
4. I imagine that sharing breast milk would become MORE common and easier to access, both in hospital and in community

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 💛
My own mama inspired my calling to birthwork. I grew up hearing the story of my own birth - a long and hard home birth turned beautiful hospital birth - and witnessing the births of my 3 siblings. Thank you mom, for believing that birth is a family event, and for instilling the belief that birth is normal, sacred, and empowering.

It’s also my baby sister’s birthday today. My mom planned a 3rd home birth with her fourth baby, but a long labor pivoted plans to a hospital transfer. She was born at 2:20, just 2 minutes before me, at the same hospital. I got to be the first to hold her (2nd photo) after my mom and I felt so unbelievably lucky and in love with this little human.