ABC Doula & Newborn Care

06/07/2026

Just finished teaching 18 expected parents, and they were so honest about their fears and worries. They were nervous about raising their babies, but afterwards they felt more confident, they were making plans about sharing the load, and were laughing and much more relaxed.

Taking an in person class gets these results!

I love an out of hospital class too! But don't discount the local educators in your hospital system. Many have been teaching for years and have fine-tuned their approach to helping parents feel more confident with their babies.

If you're in Portland come join us at Providence! .

And if you're one of those who wish they could teach classes like this DM me and I'll send you what I know about training & certifications and how to contact the hospital to find opportunities.

05/31/2026

My AZ house is for sale! If you are retiring or looking for a winter home, this is an affordable way to get into the community of Victory and enjoy all the amenities. We call it a starter victory home.

People ask me why it's been on the market so long and I think the biggest issue we've had is that the garage is small and people think they need a bigger one. But I'll be honest, when you have a second home or a winter home you don't have even a quarter of the things you have in your regular garage. And in Arizona you live outside most of the time so you need access to things that get you out and moving like your bikes or your golf cart or exercise equipment. And many folks only have 1 car here as they can walk and bike and golf cart everywhere.

So here's the tour and sorry for the shameless plug. I just wanted to show it off because it's so cute and I know that the perfect buyer is just waiting for it.

Here's the link
https://redf.in/aI1uxu

05/28/2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/opinion/women-childbirth-postpartum-care.html?unlocked_article_code=1.l1A.sXBN.lBpcNkpok2vx&smid=url-share
One of my Providence Health & Services - Oregon Region new moms shared this with us at group today.
I couldn't agree more.
Mother's recovery matters. Not just the child.
And I LOVE the concept of bundling their visits to insure moms get attention too. Let's come up with a billing model that makes this happen!

One year after my daughter’s birth, I’m still experiencing health complications.

05/23/2026

Overnight care for tired newborn families: I write and teach and counsel and advise about this topic all the time. I have trained thousands of doulas on how to provide it. I organize this care every week for families who need doula support at night.
But when it came to writing this blog, you can bet I used some AI to help get it done.
Because sometimes it says things I think are too basic to write. (And because it helps the algorithm. :) )
Of course I rewrote it once I saw what it built. I had to make it mine, my flavor, my take as a doula agency owner and a lactation consultant. But I rather like what it churned out. What do you think?
https://www.abcdoula.com/blog/2026/5/18/how-does-overnight-doula-care-support-exhausted-new-parents

I don't typically use AI to write for me. I know everyone feels differently about this topic but I wanted to see if it would use my voice enough to make it mine. I had to change over half of it, but overall it still saved me a ton of time. Curious how it sounds to others (especially those who know me!).

Many new parents are shocked by how relentless the needs of a newborn can feel, especially at night. Feeding every 1–3 hours, soothing a fussy baby at 2 a.m., recovering from birth, pumping, worrying about safe sleep, and trying to function during the day can quickly leave parents depleted. For ma...

05/03/2026

Have you wondered about the value of a class?

Our participants fill out a survey after class and I have dozens of quotes from them just like this:

"This was way more valuable than we thought. We learned so much! Thank you "

The grandparents I had in class today were all parents of students I have had in baby care and breastfeeding classes which is super fun. But they were probably coerced a bit to be there and initially that shows. 😁

But it doesn't take them long to warm up to the idea that their role is different and still incredibly valuable and needed.

I teach this in person in Portland and online but this has been a universal response to the class.

It's hard to know what you don't know. But it's not that hard to invest a few hours in building an amazing foundation for your future grandparenthood. That's why I do what I do.

04/25/2026

New on the blog! I tackle the question of how many people you actually NEED with a new baby to feel like everyone is cared for.

How many do you think is best?

When a new dad suggested that 3 adults to 1 baby is the best ratio, we started to think about how newborn life is stretching most couples and what the difference the support of just 1 more person can provide. Contrasting family and friends support with professional doulas, let's talk about how to cr

03/26/2026

Know how many moms in my mom's group don't go out with their baby? The biggest majority. Their doctors have told them to keep their babies protected throughout the winter so they just stay at home.
If they have a supportive partner they might go out on their own but leave the baby at home. But if their partner is back to work as most of them are they just tough it out.

And this can end up building into a pretty dark place for many of them.

So if that's you with that new parent in your life whether it's a grandparent or a friend or a co-worker or even a neighbor, appoint yourself the village and reach out.

It can be for something small like to bring over her coffee order or a sandwich, or something bigger like to invite her out for a walk where no one will touch her baby but she'll be able to get outside.

Keep it easy and casual but remember she probably doesn't have a lot of initiative to be able to take right now so that rests on you for this season. Soon enough she'll become that amazingly busy mom who can handle a million things and think about everyone else too.

But right now she's just trying to make sure her baby is fed and changed and loved and cuddled and their brain is built in the most optimal way-- while bonding and recovering from birth. And she's likely doing it in isolation.

03/21/2026

It's something I echo a lot in class...
The parents get to choose, and the grandparents get to support.

As grandparents we had our opportunities to choose and now we get to trust that our kids are making the absolute best decisions available and support whatever those choices are.

We talk about what to do if we don't agree (keep quiet and process it elsewhere) and how easily our judgment comes across, even though we don't feel like we're expressing it.

I have such a great time discussing these issues with these intelligent and loving grandparents. They have such great ideas and input and make the class so much fun for me.

Reach out if you're interested in having your parents attend or if you're a new or expectant grandparent looking for info on how to start with a great foundation of postpartum care.

www.grandparentdoula.com

03/12/2026

I know it's easier to do as a professional who serves new moms. It's definitely harder to do for my own flesh and blood--those who have the ability to hurt me more deeply. However I'll say it to myself too.

With a new parent who isn't sleeping much, grace is required.

So if you're a grandparent who's feeling disrespected or not honored, know that there just isn't bandwidth for that right now (but it is still present). New parents need support more than accountability. Accountability can come later when they're sleeping through the night and their anxieties have reduced because their baby/child is thriving.

I know there are many grandparents who do not need this message and already live it out everyday. But for those who don't I'm just sending a gentle reminder. This season of sleeplessness passes and how we care for parents during this time matters.

Focusing on our grown kids helps build a foundation for being able to connect more with our grandbabies.

02/26/2026

with a sentiment I get to see every week. It's not just the dad's who are embracing a bigger role in this season. Granddad's are showing up in ways I never had witnessed before.

Grandpa's honoring their daughters and sons and stepping up into baby care maybe even more so than when they got to be dads themselves.

Papa's who bring food and do dishes and take care of chores. Pops who take shifts so Mom can nap.

I have the privilege of training them on baby care updates and postpartum realities. And I see the joy they get when they get to be a part of their kids and grandkids life in a whole new level.

I teach classes for grandparents who are interested in being the postpartum village for their kids and building a legacy of generational support.

And Grandfathers blow me away with their capabilities and heart to help. 💓