Your birth, supported.
Finding the right doula can sometimes seem like a big job. This is a person that you will trust to share accurate and helpful information with you as you prepare for birth, support you during your labor, and help set the tone for your entire birth experience. Most doulas offer a complimentary interview in order… Continue reading 4 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Doula
When I first became pregnant at a very wise (ha!) 22 years old, I had a major pet peeve. I absolutely could not stand hearing a father or other non-pregnant partner say, "We're pregnant." Whenever someone said to me and my husband, "Oh, you guys are pregnant?" I would jump in with a very adamant,… Continue reading How Can Birth Partners Prepare for Labor?
As a first-time Mom, there will be no end to the lists that you'll come across. Many of them are focused on tests you need to have done or the things you aren't supposed to be doing, eating, or drinking. With my clients, I love to focus on the things that they do want from their pregnancy and… Continue reading A Short To-Do List For the First Trimester
This is a birth story. But it's more than that. Read Part 1 to find out how the birth of my son led me to birth work! In October of 2018, we moved to a new apartment. I was 38 weeks pregnant, and planning a home birth. My doula, also a good friend, lived a… Continue reading What Made Me a Doula: Part Two
This is a birth story. But actually, it's more than that. It's the first chapter in the story of how I discovered my passion for birth work. It's an integral part of who I am, as most birth experiences are to the people who live them. In the summer of 2015 I was pregnant with… Continue reading What Made Me a Doula: Part One
If you have decided to pursue an unmedicated childbirth, you have probably heard at least one, if not all, of the following: "You're doing WHAT?!" "You won't be able to handle it." "Why would you put yourself through that pain when you don't have to?" "You won't win any medals, it's not a competition you… Continue reading 4 Ways to Respond to Birth Plan Haters
Often when we see mainstream images of women in labor, they are lying on their backs in bed. So when you start to feel the intensity of labor contractions, your first thought might be that you need to lie down. Or when you get to the hospital, they may ask you to lie down so… Continue reading 5 Benefits of Staying Mobile During Labor
A woman is happily chatting with a friend. Suddenly, her water breaks. It is a giant gush. Everyone freaks out. Thirty seconds later she is being rushed into the hospital in a wheelchair, screaming angrily at everyone she encounters. Cut to scene of doctor handing woman a huge, perfectly clean "newborn." Sound familiar? How about… Continue reading Fear of Childbirth: Where Does It Come From?
If you are first time mom, chances are you have at least one blog post saved to Pinterest titled something along the lines of, "What to Pack for the Hospital." Packing the hospital bag (or preparing the home birth supplies) is an exciting step! It means you are close enough to the end of your… Continue reading What to Pack (In Your Brain) for Labor
There was a time when most women had their babies at home with their families, a midwife, or their friends. Then in the last half of the 20th century, it became almost unthinkable that a woman should give birth anywhere besides a hospital. In recent years, more and more women are beginning their pregnancies with… Continue reading Hospitals to Home Births: Where Should I Have My Baby?
Bethany Birth Services 