Blog | Blessedbeginnings

top of page

About
Services
Testimonials
Aligned Motherhood: Monthly Meetups
Contact
Blog
More

Use tab to navigate through the menu items.

All Posts

Search

When the Past Meets the Present: How Trauma Affects Breastfeeding

When the Past Meets the Present: How Trauma Affects Breastfeeding

When the Past Meets the Present: How Trauma Affects Breastfeeding

Ashley Strengholt

Nov 14, 20256 min read

When Breastfeeding Hurts the Heart: Understanding D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex)

When Breastfeeding Hurts the Heart: Understanding D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex)

When Breastfeeding Hurts the Heart: Understanding D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex)

Ashley Strengholt

Nov 13, 20255 min read

Breastfeeding Aversion: Understanding, Supporting, and Overcoming a Hidden Challenge

Breastfeeding Aversion: Understanding, Supporting, and Overcoming a Hidden Challenge

Breastfeeding Aversion: Understanding, Supporting, and Overcoming a Hidden Challenge

Ashley Strengholt

Nov 12, 20255 min read

Why Pumping Should Be Rare: Returning to the Baby-at-the-Breast Design

Why Pumping Should Be Rare: Returning to the Baby-at-the-Breast Design

Why Pumping Should Be Rare: Returning to the Baby-at-the-Breast Design

Ashley Strengholt

Nov 10, 20255 min read

Is It Really Safe to Kiss a Baby? Let’s Get the Evidence

Is It Really Safe to Kiss a Baby? Let’s Get the Evidence

Is It Really Safe to Kiss a Baby? Let’s Get the Evidence

Ashley Strengholt

Nov 5, 20254 min read

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Prepares You for Labor - and Helps You Heal After Birth

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Prepares You for Labor - and Helps You Heal After Birth

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Prepares You for Labor - and Helps You Heal After Birth

Ashley Strengholt

Oct 26, 20255 min read

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): Evidence, Risks, and How to Decide

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): Evidence, Risks, and How to Decide

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): Evidence, Risks, and How to Decide

Ashley Strengholt

Oct 16, 20255 min read

Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery: What the Evidence Says and How to Prepare

Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery: What the Evidence Says and How to Prepare

Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery: What the Evidence Says and How to Prepare

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 26, 20254 min read

My Birth Story: Choosing a C-Section After Gestational Diabetes

My Birth Story: Choosing a C-Section After Gestational Diabetes

My Birth Story: Choosing a C-Section After Gestational Diabetes

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 23, 20253 min read

Are Due Dates Accurate?

Are Due Dates Accurate?

Are Due Dates Accurate?

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 19, 20254 min read

When Is the Right Time to Start Researching and Interviewing a Doula?

When Is the Right Time to Start Researching and Interviewing a Doula?

When Is the Right Time to Start Researching and Interviewing a Doula?

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 14, 20253 min read

Emotions Frequently Associated with Early Labor

Emotions Frequently Associated with Early Labor

Emotions Frequently Associated with Early Labor

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 10, 20254 min read

The Relationship Between Fear and Birth

The Relationship Between Fear and Birth

The Relationship Between Fear and Birth

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 8, 20254 min read

The Role of a Doula in Pregnancy and Birth: Why Your Husband is NOT the Doula (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

The Role of a Doula in Pregnancy and Birth: Why Your Husband is NOT the Doula (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

The Role of a Doula in Pregnancy and Birth: Why Your Husband is NOT the Doula (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 5, 20254 min read

Hormone Assessment

Hormone Assessment

Hormone Assessment

Ashley Strengholt

Sep 2, 20250 min read

What the Menstrual Cycle Can Reveal About Fertility

What the Menstrual Cycle Can Reveal About Fertility

What the Menstrual Cycle Can Reveal About Fertility

Ashley Strengholt

Aug 30, 20253 min read

Pelvic Exams and Trauma: Understanding the Need and Easing the Fear

Pelvic Exams and Trauma: Understanding the Need and Easing the Fear

Pelvic Exams and Trauma: Understanding the Need and Easing the Fear

Ashley Strengholt

Aug 26, 20253 min read

Christian Childbirth – Are We Cursed to Feel Pain in Childbirth? Understanding the “Curse of Eve” and the Role of Fear and Pain

Christian Childbirth – Are We Cursed to Feel Pain in Childbirth? Understanding the “Curse of Eve” and the Role of Fear and Pain

Christian Childbirth – Are We Cursed to Feel Pain in Childbirth? Understanding the “Curse of Eve” and the Role of Fear and Pain

Ashley Strengholt

Aug 24, 20255 min read

Using the Bishop Score & Natural Induction: What You Need to Know

Using the Bishop Score & Natural Induction: What You Need to Know

Using the Bishop Score & Natural Induction: What You Need to Know

Ashley Strengholt

Aug 21, 20254 min read

How a Doula Supports Both Mother and Partner During a C-Section Birth

How a Doula Supports Both Mother and Partner During a C-Section Birth

How a Doula Supports Both Mother and Partner During a C-Section Birth

Ashley Strengholt

Aug 19, 20254 min read

Some scars are visible.
Some are carried quietly.

If you are considering VBAC, you deserve support that honors both your history and your hope.

VBAC preparation is not about pressure. It is about clarity,
alignment, and steady guidance.

If this resonates with you, reach out. I’m here.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#TraumaInformedBirth
#EmpoweredBirth
#ChristianBirthSupport

Some scars are visible.
Some are carried quietly.

If you are considering VBAC, you deserve support that honors both your history and your hope.

VBAC preparation is not about pressure. It is about clarity,
alignment, and steady guidance.

If this resonates with you, reach out. I’m here.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#TraumaInformedBirth
#EmpoweredBirth
#ChristianBirthSupport

VBAC success is not random.

While every birth is unique, research consistently shows higher VBAC success rates when:

1️⃣ There is spontaneous labor rather than elective induction
2️⃣ Providers are truly VBAC-supportive (not just “allowing” it)
3️⃣ Mothers feel informed and supported throughout pregnancy
4️⃣ There is continuous labor support

Preparation matters. Provider alignment matters. Emotional safety matters.

VBAC is not about proving anything. It’s about making informed decisions rooted in your history, your body, and your goals.

This is why specialized VBAC training matters in a doula.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#AdvancedVbacDoula
#SpokaneDoula
#BirthAfterCesarean

VBAC success is not random.

While every birth is unique, research consistently shows higher VBAC success rates when:

1️⃣ There is spontaneous labor rather than elective induction
2️⃣ Providers are truly VBAC-supportive (not just “allowing” it)
3️⃣ Mothers feel informed and supported throughout pregnancy
4️⃣ There is continuous labor support

Preparation matters. Provider alignment matters. Emotional safety matters.

VBAC is not about proving anything. It’s about making informed decisions rooted in your history, your body, and your goals.

This is why specialized VBAC training matters in a doula.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#AdvancedVbacDoula
#SpokaneDoula
#BirthAfterCesarean

Vaginal birth after cesarean is not just a “second chance.”

For many women, it is a deeply redemptive and empowering experience.

I’m honored to share that I have completed my Advanced VBAC Doula (AVD-TVL) training through @thevbaclink

This advanced certification deepens my training in:
• Evidence-based VBAC research
• Repeat cesarean prevention
• Trauma-informed support after surgical birth
• Advocacy within hospital systems
• Preparing families for both VBAC and repeat cesarean scenarios

If you are considering VBAC, you deserve a support team that understands both the emotional weight and the clinical realities of your journey.

VBAC support requires nuance, preparation, and steady guidance - and I am honored to walk that path with families who feel called toward it.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#AdvancedVbacDoula
#SpokaneDoula
#BirthAfterCesarean

Vaginal birth after cesarean is not just a “second chance.”

For many women, it is a deeply redemptive and empowering experience.

I’m honored to share that I have completed my Advanced VBAC Doula (AVD-TVL) training through @thevbaclink

This advanced certification deepens my training in:
• Evidence-based VBAC research
• Repeat cesarean prevention
• Trauma-informed support after surgical birth
• Advocacy within hospital systems
• Preparing families for both VBAC and repeat cesarean scenarios

If you are considering VBAC, you deserve a support team that understands both the emotional weight and the clinical realities of your journey.

VBAC support requires nuance, preparation, and steady guidance - and I am honored to walk that path with families who feel called toward it.

#VBACSupport
#VBACJourney
#AdvancedVbacDoula
#SpokaneDoula
#BirthAfterCesarean

Pregnancy after loss is not a “do-over.”
It’s a tender, layered experience where hope and fear often walk side by side.

Research shows that anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional ups and downs are common in pregnancies after loss. That doesn’t mean you’re broken or ungrateful. It means your body remembers what it’s been through.

Trauma-informed, bereavement-trained doula support during pregnancy after loss can help hold space for both grief and joy - without asking you to choose between them.

You are allowed to love this baby.
You are allowed to grieve the one you lost.
Both truths can exist at the same time. 🤍

________________________________

#PregnancyAfterLoss
#LossAwareCare
#TraumaInformedBirth
#BereavementSupport
#PerinatalMentalHealth

Pregnancy after loss is not a “do-over.”
It’s a tender, layered experience where hope and fear often walk side by side.

Research shows that anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional ups and downs are common in pregnancies after loss. That doesn’t mean you’re broken or ungrateful. It means your body remembers what it’s been through.

Trauma-informed, bereavement-trained doula support during pregnancy after loss can help hold space for both grief and joy - without asking you to choose between them.

You are allowed to love this baby.
You are allowed to grieve the one you lost.
Both truths can exist at the same time. 🤍

________________________________

#PregnancyAfterLoss
#LossAwareCare
#TraumaInformedBirth
#BereavementSupport
#PerinatalMentalHealth

Aligned Motherhood – March Gathering

You deserve to feel strong, supported, and informed in every season of motherhood.

Join us for our next Aligned Motherhood gathering featuring a special conversation with Jobeth McKoon, founder of Mama OT and Pelvic Floor Occupational Therapist.

We’ll be talking about:

• Preparing your body for birth
• Healing after vaginal or cesarean birth
• Core + pelvic floor recovery
• Leaking, prolapse, pain with intimacy (yes, we’re going there)
• What’s normal — and what’s common but NOT something you have to just live with

So many women are told “that’s just part of having babies.” It doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, years into motherhood, or simply curious about caring for your body well — this space is for you. Come learn. Ask questions. Feel empowered in your body again.

🗓 Thursday, March 12
⏰ 9:30–11:30am
📍 Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic

🤍 Children are welcome. Littles, babies, and all the beautiful real-life moments that come with motherhood are part of this space.

This monthly mother group is co-created by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic + Blessed Beginnings Doula Care and lovingly hosted by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Our gatherings are intentionally slow, supportive, and centered on connection.

📍 Address:
Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic
958 S Lochsa St, Suite 307
Post Falls, ID 83854

Save this post, DM me with any questions, or visit the link in my bio for more details - we’d love to have you there 💛

#AlignedMotherhood #PelvicFloorTherapy #MotherhoodCommunity #MomsSupportingMoms #PostpartumSupport

Aligned Motherhood – March Gathering

You deserve to feel strong, supported, and informed in every season of motherhood.

Join us for our next Aligned Motherhood gathering featuring a special conversation with Jobeth McKoon, founder of Mama OT and Pelvic Floor Occupational Therapist.

We’ll be talking about:

• Preparing your body for birth
• Healing after vaginal or cesarean birth
• Core + pelvic floor recovery
• Leaking, prolapse, pain with intimacy (yes, we’re going there)
• What’s normal — and what’s common but NOT something you have to just live with

So many women are told “that’s just part of having babies.” It doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, years into motherhood, or simply curious about caring for your body well — this space is for you. Come learn. Ask questions. Feel empowered in your body again.

🗓 Thursday, March 12
⏰ 9:30–11:30am
📍 Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic

🤍 Children are welcome. Littles, babies, and all the beautiful real-life moments that come with motherhood are part of this space.

This monthly mother group is co-created by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic + Blessed Beginnings Doula Care and lovingly hosted by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Our gatherings are intentionally slow, supportive, and centered on connection.

📍 Address:
Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic
958 S Lochsa St, Suite 307
Post Falls, ID 83854

Save this post, DM me with any questions, or visit the link in my bio for more details - we’d love to have you there 💛

#AlignedMotherhood #PelvicFloorTherapy #MotherhoodCommunity #MomsSupportingMoms #PostpartumSupport

These are the beliefs that guide my work in birth spaces. They shape how I support, how I advocate, and how I show up.

If these beliefs align with yours, we’ll probably work really well together.

#birthdoula
#informedbirth
#birthsupport
#traumainformedbirth
#evidencebasedbirth

These are the beliefs that guide my work in birth spaces. They shape how I support, how I advocate, and how I show up.

If these beliefs align with yours, we’ll probably work really well together.

#birthdoula
#informedbirth
#birthsupport
#traumainformedbirth
#evidencebasedbirth

Spent the day diving deep into physiology, biomechanics, and true body literacy at the Spinning Babies® Foundational Workshop - and wow.

Learning how to support optimal fetal positioning through balance, gravity, and movement added so much depth to the way I approach labor support. This work isn’t about “doing more,” it’s about understanding why things unfold in labor and how to gently create space when it’s needed.

So grateful to keep sharpening my skills to better serve the families who trust me in their birth space. 🤍

#SpinningBabies #BirthEducation #PhysiologicBirth #DoulaLife #ContinuingEducation

Spent the day diving deep into physiology, biomechanics, and true body literacy at the Spinning Babies® Foundational Workshop - and wow.

Learning how to support optimal fetal positioning through balance, gravity, and movement added so much depth to the way I approach labor support. This work isn’t about “doing more,” it’s about understanding why things unfold in labor and how to gently create space when it’s needed.

So grateful to keep sharpening my skills to better serve the families who trust me in their birth space. 🤍

#SpinningBabies #BirthEducation #PhysiologicBirth #DoulaLife #ContinuingEducation

🍼 From Puritan hearths to hospital nurseries - the story of
breastfeeding in America is the story of motherhood itself. 🇺🇸

For over 400 years, feeding our babies has reflected the heart of our culture:
💡 Faith and family.
⚙️ Science and modern medicine.
💪 Feminism and women’s rights.
💗 And today - a return to connection, education, and informed choice.

From the days of wet nurses to formula ads, to the rise of La Leche League and public health initiatives, each era reshaped what it meant to nourish a child.

✨ Our feeding choices are never just personal - they’re part of a long legacy of mothers doing the best they can in their time.

#BreastfeedingHistory #FaithAndMotherhood #MaternalHealth #LactationSupport #WomensHistory

🍼 From Puritan hearths to hospital nurseries - the story of
breastfeeding in America is the story of motherhood itself. 🇺🇸

For over 400 years, feeding our babies has reflected the heart of our culture:
💡 Faith and family.
⚙️ Science and modern medicine.
💪 Feminism and women’s rights.
💗 And today - a return to connection, education, and informed choice.

From the days of wet nurses to formula ads, to the rise of La Leche League and public health initiatives, each era reshaped what it meant to nourish a child.

✨ Our feeding choices are never just personal - they’re part of a long legacy of mothers doing the best they can in their time.

#BreastfeedingHistory #FaithAndMotherhood #MaternalHealth #LactationSupport #WomensHistory

Conceiving Healthy Babies by Dawn Combs

Book Review: 💕📖
This one was deeply personal for me. The chapter A Journey to Family felt like I could have written it myself. While I personally followed
It Starts with the Egg when I was TTC, I love how Dawn brings in the herbal and dietary insights ISWTE didn’t cover.

Favorite Quote:

“You cannot enter a birthing situation with the idea that you will wait and see what you think about medication. If you do, you have already decided to take it.” (Pg. 23)

Takeaway: Birth requires conviction. Without clear intentions, it’s easy to be swayed into choices that may not align with your values—and regret them later. 🌸

#InformedBirth #DoulaLife #BirthSupport #ChildbirthEducation #holisticfertility

Conceiving Healthy Babies by Dawn Combs

Book Review: 💕📖
This one was deeply personal for me. The chapter A Journey to Family felt like I could have written it myself. While I personally followed
It Starts with the Egg when I was TTC, I love how Dawn brings in the herbal and dietary insights ISWTE didn’t cover.

Favorite Quote:

“You cannot enter a birthing situation with the idea that you will wait and see what you think about medication. If you do, you have already decided to take it.” (Pg. 23)

Takeaway: Birth requires conviction. Without clear intentions, it’s easy to be swayed into choices that may not align with your values—and regret them later. 🌸

#InformedBirth #DoulaLife #BirthSupport #ChildbirthEducation #holisticfertility

Struggling to conceive doesn’t always mean infertility. It can reflect cycle timing challenges, post-birth control adjustment, stress impacting ovulation, nutrient depletion, thyroid or hormone shifts, or simply not enough time trying yet. Many of these factors are temporary and supportable. A longer journey doesn’t mean your body is failing - it often means it needs support, time, or care.

#FertilityEducation
#TTCJourney
#CycleHealth
#ReproductiveWellness
#HolisticFertility

Struggling to conceive doesn’t always mean infertility. It can reflect cycle timing challenges, post-birth control adjustment, stress impacting ovulation, nutrient depletion, thyroid or hormone shifts, or simply not enough time trying yet. Many of these factors are temporary and supportable. A longer journey doesn’t mean your body is failing - it often means it needs support, time, or care.

#FertilityEducation
#TTCJourney
#CycleHealth
#ReproductiveWellness
#HolisticFertility

If you’re pregnant and feeling tight, uncomfortable, or out of
alignment - you’re not alone 🤍

The Webster Technique is a pregnancy-specific chiropractic approach that supports pelvic balance, comfort, and mobility as your body changes.

✨ Moms often seek Webster for:
• low back + hip pain
• SI joint pain
• pubic bone discomfort
• sciatica-like symptoms
• general tightness or imbalance

One important note:
Webster doesn’t “turn” breech babies - it helps reduce tension patterns so baby may have more room to settle into an optimal position.

#webstertechnique #prenatalchiropractic #pregnancywellness #pregnancypainrelief #birthprep

If you’re pregnant and feeling tight, uncomfortable, or out of
alignment - you’re not alone 🤍

The Webster Technique is a pregnancy-specific chiropractic approach that supports pelvic balance, comfort, and mobility as your body changes.

✨ Moms often seek Webster for:
• low back + hip pain
• SI joint pain
• pubic bone discomfort
• sciatica-like symptoms
• general tightness or imbalance

One important note:
Webster doesn’t “turn” breech babies - it helps reduce tension patterns so baby may have more room to settle into an optimal position.

#webstertechnique #prenatalchiropractic #pregnancywellness #pregnancypainrelief #birthprep

Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten

Book Review: 🌸✨
Get off the pill, detox your body, and balance those hormones - your fertility will thank you! 🙌 Highly recommend this program if you’re coming off birth control.

Favorite Quote:
“Have sex. You knew this was coming, right Orgasms are good for your health and a great form of stress release, so try to have at least one per week during the program.” (Pg. 73)

Takeaway: For married couples, it’s so important to rediscover intimacy and enjoy sex outside of just TTC. 💕

#PillDetox #FertilitySupport #NaturalHormoneBalance #HolisticFertility #DoulaLife

Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten

Book Review: 🌸✨
Get off the pill, detox your body, and balance those hormones - your fertility will thank you! 🙌 Highly recommend this program if you’re coming off birth control.

Favorite Quote:
“Have sex. You knew this was coming, right Orgasms are good for your health and a great form of stress release, so try to have at least one per week during the program.” (Pg. 73)

Takeaway: For married couples, it’s so important to rediscover intimacy and enjoy sex outside of just TTC. 💕

#PillDetox #FertilitySupport #NaturalHormoneBalance #HolisticFertility #DoulaLife

Your body knows how to give birth. Even if you feel afraid. Even if it takes time. Even if the path looks different than you imagined. Birth isn’t a test you pass or fail - it’s a physiologic process that unfolds with patience, safety, and support.

#PhysiologicBirth
#BirthConfidence
#TrustBirth
#DoulaSupport
#BirthEducation

Your body knows how to give birth. Even if you feel afraid. Even if it takes time. Even if the path looks different than you imagined. Birth isn’t a test you pass or fail - it’s a physiologic process that unfolds with patience, safety, and support.

#PhysiologicBirth
#BirthConfidence
#TrustBirth
#DoulaSupport
#BirthEducation

You deserve a provider who listens, respects your voice, and partners with you - not one who pressures, dismisses, or decides for you.

Red flags don’t always mean your provider is “bad,” but they do mean something isn’t aligned.

Alignment matters.
Your birth experience matters.

Consent, communication, and collaboration are non-negotiable.

If something feels off, you’re allowed to ask questions.
You’re allowed to slow down.
You’re allowed to change providers.
You’re allowed to choose care that honors your autonomy.

If you need help finding your words, a doula can support you in asking the right questions and advocating for what feels safe, respectful, and right for your birth. 💛

#BirthAdvocacy
#InformedCare
#RespectfulMaternityCare
#KnowYourOptions
#DoulaSupport

You deserve a provider who listens, respects your voice, and partners with you - not one who pressures, dismisses, or decides for you.

Red flags don’t always mean your provider is “bad,” but they do mean something isn’t aligned.

Alignment matters.
Your birth experience matters.

Consent, communication, and collaboration are non-negotiable.

If something feels off, you’re allowed to ask questions.
You’re allowed to slow down.
You’re allowed to change providers.
You’re allowed to choose care that honors your autonomy.

If you need help finding your words, a doula can support you in asking the right questions and advocating for what feels safe, respectful, and right for your birth. 💛

#BirthAdvocacy
#InformedCare
#RespectfulMaternityCare
#KnowYourOptions
#DoulaSupport

So honored to support families during such meaningful moments 🤍

Hearing that preparation before labor made a difference means everything to me. Every birth, every baby, every family is unique - and it’s a privilege to walk alongside you through it all.

Thank you for trusting me with such sacred work

#DoulaSupport
#BirthWork
#FamilyCenteredCare
#PreparedForBirth
#spokanedoula

So honored to support families during such meaningful moments 🤍

Hearing that preparation before labor made a difference means everything to me. Every birth, every baby, every family is unique - and it’s a privilege to walk alongside you through it all.

Thank you for trusting me with such sacred work

#DoulaSupport
#BirthWork
#FamilyCenteredCare
#PreparedForBirth
#spokanedoula

A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth by Gina C. Mundy

Book Review: ⚖️📚
This book was a game changer! I’d recommend it to all doulas, but to clients only on a case-by-case basis.

It’s important to approach it knowing the author is an attorney who sees the worst of the worst every day. If parents can’t separate the heavy emotions from the facts, it may feel overwhelming—but that’s where a doula can step in to summarize and help turn it into informed decision-making power. 💪✨

Takeaway: Use this book as a tool, not a fear trigger. The right support makes all the difference. 💛

#DoulaLife #InformedBirth #ChildbirthEducation
#BirthAdvocate #EmpoweredBirth

A Parent’s Guide to a Safer Childbirth by Gina C. Mundy

Book Review: ⚖️📚
This book was a game changer! I’d recommend it to all doulas, but to clients only on a case-by-case basis.

It’s important to approach it knowing the author is an attorney who sees the worst of the worst every day. If parents can’t separate the heavy emotions from the facts, it may feel overwhelming—but that’s where a doula can step in to summarize and help turn it into informed decision-making power. 💪✨

Takeaway: Use this book as a tool, not a fear trigger. The right support makes all the difference. 💛

#DoulaLife #InformedBirth #ChildbirthEducation
#BirthAdvocate #EmpoweredBirth

Aligned Motherhood – February Gathering

This month we’re holding space for an important conversation around perinatal mental health - because your emotional wellbeing matters just as much as your physical care.

We’re honored to welcome Sarah Kaiser, LICSW, a perinatal mental health therapist, who will gently guide us through this topic with compassion, insight, and practical support.

🗓 Thursday, February 12
⏰ 9:30–11:30am
📍 Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic

🤍 Children are welcome. Littles, babies, and all the beautiful
real-life moments that come with motherhood are part of this space.

This monthly mother group is co-created by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic + Blessed Beginnings Doula Care and lovingly hosted by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Our gatherings are intentionally slow, supportive, and centered on connection.

📍 Address:
Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic
958 S Lochsa St, Suite 307
Post Falls, ID 83854

✨ Come as you are.
✨ No fixing, no performing.
✨ Just space to breathe and be held.

Save this post, DM me with any questions, or visit the link in my bio for more details - we’d love to have you there 💛

#AlignedMotherhood #PerinatalMentalHealth #MotherhoodCommunity #MomsSupportingMoms #PostpartumSupport

Aligned Motherhood – February Gathering

This month we’re holding space for an important conversation around perinatal mental health - because your emotional wellbeing matters just as much as your physical care.

We’re honored to welcome Sarah Kaiser, LICSW, a perinatal mental health therapist, who will gently guide us through this topic with compassion, insight, and practical support.

🗓 Thursday, February 12
⏰ 9:30–11:30am
📍 Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic

🤍 Children are welcome. Littles, babies, and all the beautiful
real-life moments that come with motherhood are part of this space.

This monthly mother group is co-created by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic + Blessed Beginnings Doula Care and lovingly hosted by Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Our gatherings are intentionally slow, supportive, and centered on connection.

📍 Address:
Atlas Aligned Upper Cervical Chiropractic
958 S Lochsa St, Suite 307
Post Falls, ID 83854

✨ Come as you are.
✨ No fixing, no performing.
✨ Just space to breathe and be held.

Save this post, DM me with any questions, or visit the link in my bio for more details - we’d love to have you there 💛

#AlignedMotherhood #PerinatalMentalHealth #MotherhoodCommunity #MomsSupportingMoms #PostpartumSupport

Postpartum isn’t just about the baby. It’s hormonal shifts, physical healing, emotional waves, and learning who you are in this new season. Recovery isn’t linear, and needing support doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. You deserve care too.

#PostpartumSupport
#FourthTrimester
#PostpartumHealing
#NewParentLife
#DoulaCare

Postpartum isn’t just about the baby. It’s hormonal shifts, physical healing, emotional waves, and learning who you are in this new season. Recovery isn’t linear, and needing support doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. You deserve care too.

#PostpartumSupport
#FourthTrimester
#PostpartumHealing
#NewParentLife
#DoulaCare

YES - preemie babies can successfully breastfeed.
Your milk? It’s not just food… it’s medicine. 💛

Preemies often need a slower, gentler start - drops of colostrum, pumping, NG-tube feeds, or non-nutritive sucking at the breast. But every drop counts, and every step brings you closer to full breastfeeding.

✨ Your milk is specially designed for YOUR preemie.
✨ Skin-to-skin strengthens their heart, lungs, digestion, and feeding skills.
✨ Your baby’s cues - not the clock - will guide your journey.

Preemie breastfeeding is slow, sacred, and powerful.
You’re doing an amazing job, Mama. 🤱💛
Your baby is stronger than you know — and so are you.

#PreemieBreastfeeding #NICUMom #BreastfeedingSupport
#LactationEducation #BreastfeedingJourney

YES - preemie babies can successfully breastfeed.
Your milk? It’s not just food… it’s medicine. 💛

Preemies often need a slower, gentler start - drops of colostrum, pumping, NG-tube feeds, or non-nutritive sucking at the breast. But every drop counts, and every step brings you closer to full breastfeeding.

✨ Your milk is specially designed for YOUR preemie.
✨ Skin-to-skin strengthens their heart, lungs, digestion, and feeding skills.
✨ Your baby’s cues - not the clock - will guide your journey.

Preemie breastfeeding is slow, sacred, and powerful.
You’re doing an amazing job, Mama. 🤱💛
Your baby is stronger than you know — and so are you.

#PreemieBreastfeeding #NICUMom #BreastfeedingSupport
#LactationEducation #BreastfeedingJourney

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and April Bolding

Book Review: 📖✨
Such a great resource—I wish I had read it before my first pregnancy! It’s packed with information, yet so easy to digest. Perfect for both birth workers and non-birth workers alike. Bonus: the short snippets for dads mean they might actually read it 😂👏.

Favorite Quote:
“Cultures around the world celebrate birth as a significant, joyous event marked by rituals of hope, promise and new life. At the moment of birth, many lives are transformed. For you and your partner, your baby’s birth marks your birth as parents. For your family, the birth creates new roles as siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.” (Pg. 5)

Takeaway: What a beautiful reminder that birth transforms everyone - not just the baby. I love the idea that my son’s birth was also my birth as a parent. 🌸 My prayer is that our culture continues to revive the celebration of family and the sacredness of birth.

#DoulaLife #BirthSupport #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #EmpoweredBirth

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and April Bolding

Book Review: 📖✨
Such a great resource—I wish I had read it before my first pregnancy! It’s packed with information, yet so easy to digest. Perfect for both birth workers and non-birth workers alike. Bonus: the short snippets for dads mean they might actually read it 😂👏.

Favorite Quote:
“Cultures around the world celebrate birth as a significant, joyous event marked by rituals of hope, promise and new life. At the moment of birth, many lives are transformed. For you and your partner, your baby’s birth marks your birth as parents. For your family, the birth creates new roles as siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.” (Pg. 5)

Takeaway: What a beautiful reminder that birth transforms everyone - not just the baby. I love the idea that my son’s birth was also my birth as a parent. 🌸 My prayer is that our culture continues to revive the celebration of family and the sacredness of birth.

#DoulaLife #BirthSupport #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #EmpoweredBirth

Preparing for birth looks simple, but it’s intentional:
-Showering and using unscented products for clients with nausea.
-Clothes that let me move freely.
-Water filled, bag packed, birth plan ready.
-A moment of prayer before stepping into someone else’s sacred space.

How I prepare matters, because presence matters.

#birthdoula
#faithinbirth
#servingwomen
#birthwork
#doulamindset

Preparing for birth looks simple, but it’s intentional:
-Showering and using unscented products for clients with nausea.
-Clothes that let me move freely.
-Water filled, bag packed, birth plan ready.
-A moment of prayer before stepping into someone else’s sacred space.

How I prepare matters, because presence matters.

#birthdoula
#faithinbirth
#servingwomen
#birthwork
#doulamindset

Early pregnancy vertigo can be so unsettling 😵‍💫🤍
Between hormone shifts, low blood pressure, dehydration, and blood sugar dips - dizziness can show up fast in the first trimester.

One gentle holistic tool some moms explore is moxibustion (moxa) - a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy using warming support from an herb called mugwort near specific points to encourage circulation + regulation.

✨ First trimester note: moxa has a strong scent.
If you’re nauseated or sensitive to smells, it may feel like too much - and that’s okay. A prenatal-trained acupuncturist can often adjust the method or use other tools instead.

✅ Always see a licensed provider trained in pregnancy care.
And if dizziness is severe or sudden (fainting, severe headache, vision changes, dehydration symptoms), call your provider.

#moxibustion #firsttrimester #pregnancyvertigo #holisticpregnancy #prenatalwellness

Early pregnancy vertigo can be so unsettling 😵‍💫🤍
Between hormone shifts, low blood pressure, dehydration, and blood sugar dips - dizziness can show up fast in the first trimester.

One gentle holistic tool some moms explore is moxibustion (moxa) - a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy using warming support from an herb called mugwort near specific points to encourage circulation + regulation.

✨ First trimester note: moxa has a strong scent.
If you’re nauseated or sensitive to smells, it may feel like too much - and that’s okay. A prenatal-trained acupuncturist can often adjust the method or use other tools instead.

✅ Always see a licensed provider trained in pregnancy care.
And if dizziness is severe or sudden (fainting, severe headache, vision changes, dehydration symptoms), call your provider.

#moxibustion #firsttrimester #pregnancyvertigo #holisticpregnancy #prenatalwellness

Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke

Book Review: ✝️📖
I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t. As a Christian, I believe following practices so closely tied to Buddhism can be unintentionally damaging and even open us up to spiritual attacks. While I can’t argue with the benefits of meditation, I would instead frame it for my clients as intentional time with the Holy Spirit—listening to both Him and their body.

That said, I did really like Nancy’s exercise with her class on childbirth sensations. By eliminating the ones that won’t be part of labor and focusing only on those that will, she helps put unrealistic fears to rest.

Favorite Quote:

“The very existence of your due date can interfere with seeing the processes of pregnancy and birthing as being in harmony with Horticulture Time… Because Industrial Time fosters the illusion of certainty… we may create stress for ourselves by imposing the standards of Industrial Time on this biological process occurring in our body.” (Pg. 69)

Takeaway: The comparison of Horticultural Time vs. Industrial Time was eye-opening - birth doesn’t run on a clock, and reframing it this way can truly ease client anxiety. 🌿

#DoulaLife #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #BirthSupport #ChildbirthEducation

Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke

Book Review: ✝️📖
I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t. As a Christian, I believe following practices so closely tied to Buddhism can be unintentionally damaging and even open us up to spiritual attacks. While I can’t argue with the benefits of meditation, I would instead frame it for my clients as intentional time with the Holy Spirit—listening to both Him and their body.

That said, I did really like Nancy’s exercise with her class on childbirth sensations. By eliminating the ones that won’t be part of labor and focusing only on those that will, she helps put unrealistic fears to rest.

Favorite Quote:

“The very existence of your due date can interfere with seeing the processes of pregnancy and birthing as being in harmony with Horticulture Time… Because Industrial Time fosters the illusion of certainty… we may create stress for ourselves by imposing the standards of Industrial Time on this biological process occurring in our body.” (Pg. 69)

Takeaway: The comparison of Horticultural Time vs. Industrial Time was eye-opening - birth doesn’t run on a clock, and reframing it this way can truly ease client anxiety. 🌿

#DoulaLife #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #BirthSupport #ChildbirthEducation

Pregnancy after loss often comes with prayers whispered through tears.

If your faith feels fragile right now - that does not scare God.

You are allowed to grieve.
You are allowed to hope.
You are allowed to bring both to Him. 🤍

Comment FAITH and I’ll send you my free pregnancy after loss guide.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. -Psalm 34:18

#pregnantafterloss #FaithAfterLoss #ChristianMoms #RainbowBaby #christiandoula

Pregnancy after loss often comes with prayers whispered through tears.

If your faith feels fragile right now - that does not scare God.

You are allowed to grieve.
You are allowed to hope.
You are allowed to bring both to Him. 🤍

Comment FAITH and I’ll send you my free pregnancy after loss guide.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. -Psalm 34:18

#pregnantafterloss #FaithAfterLoss #ChristianMoms #RainbowBaby #christiandoula

I’ve created a small collection of faith-centered resources for those navigating miscarriage and pregnancy after loss.

These guides were written with care — to offer clarity without overwhelm, faith without pressure, and support without platitudes.

If this would be helpful for you or someone you love, comment SUPPORT and I’ll send the resource hub privately 🤍

Open it whenever you’re ready.

#PregnancyAfterLoss
#MiscarriageSupport
#FaithCenteredCare
#YouAreNotAlone
#bereavementdoula

I’ve created a small collection of faith-centered resources for those navigating miscarriage and pregnancy after loss.

These guides were written with care — to offer clarity without overwhelm, faith without pressure, and support without platitudes.

If this would be helpful for you or someone you love, comment SUPPORT and I’ll send the resource hub privately 🤍

Open it whenever you’re ready.

#PregnancyAfterLoss
#MiscarriageSupport
#FaithCenteredCare
#YouAreNotAlone
#bereavementdoula

Acupuncture can be such a helpful tool during pregnancy 🤍

✨ Common reasons moms use prenatal acupuncture:
• nausea + morning sickness
• headaches
• hip/back/pelvic pain
• sleep + stress support
• swelling + circulation
• late pregnancy birth prep (term only)

Important: Choose an acupuncturist trained specifically in pregnancy

#holisticpregnancy #prenatalwellness #pregnancysupport #birthprep #pregnancyeducation

Acupuncture can be such a helpful tool during pregnancy 🤍

✨ Common reasons moms use prenatal acupuncture:
• nausea + morning sickness
• headaches
• hip/back/pelvic pain
• sleep + stress support
• swelling + circulation
• late pregnancy birth prep (term only)

Important: Choose an acupuncturist trained specifically in pregnancy

#holisticpregnancy #prenatalwellness #pregnancysupport #birthprep #pregnancyeducation

The Infertility Companion by Sandra L. Glahn & William R. Cutrer, MD

Book Review: 📖✨
Sticky notes everywhere by the time I finished this one! A must-read on infertility, IVF & Biblical ethics, and more!

Favorite Insight:
“For me, infertility is long-term – for a lifetime… The prospect of never having children has been worse for me than the diagnosis of cancer.” (Pg. 65)

Takeaway: Infertility can be a lifelong emotional journey - compassion and support make all the difference. 💛

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #InfertilityAwareness #IVFJourney #FertilitySupport #DoulaLife #EmpoweredParents #BirthSupport #FertilityEducation #InformedBirth #FaithAndFertility #FamilyBuilding #BirthCommunity #SupportiveCare

The Infertility Companion by Sandra L. Glahn & William R. Cutrer, MD

Book Review: 📖✨
Sticky notes everywhere by the time I finished this one! A must-read on infertility, IVF & Biblical ethics, and more!

Favorite Insight:
“For me, infertility is long-term – for a lifetime… The prospect of never having children has been worse for me than the diagnosis of cancer.” (Pg. 65)

Takeaway: Infertility can be a lifelong emotional journey - compassion and support make all the difference. 💛

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #InfertilityAwareness #IVFJourney #FertilitySupport #DoulaLife #EmpoweredParents #BirthSupport #FertilityEducation #InformedBirth #FaithAndFertility #FamilyBuilding #BirthCommunity #SupportiveCare

Your newborn’s stomach is tiny - and it grows slowly, not all at once.

Cherry → Grape → Strawberry → Egg.

Small feeds. Frequent feeds. That’s normal. 💛

If your baby seems like they want to nurse often, cluster feed, or only take small amounts - that doesn’t mean they’re not getting enough. It often means their body is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

You don’t have to panic or feel like you’re failing. This is physiology, not a problem. If you need support understanding what’s normal (and what’s not), that’s exactly what doulas are here for. 🤱✨

Your baby is learning.
Your body is learning.
You’re doing better than you think.

#NewbornStomachSize
#InformedFeeding
#BreastfeedingSupport
#FourthTrimester
#DoulaTips

Your newborn’s stomach is tiny - and it grows slowly, not all at once.

Cherry → Grape → Strawberry → Egg.

Small feeds. Frequent feeds. That’s normal. 💛

If your baby seems like they want to nurse often, cluster feed, or only take small amounts - that doesn’t mean they’re not getting enough. It often means their body is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

You don’t have to panic or feel like you’re failing. This is physiology, not a problem. If you need support understanding what’s normal (and what’s not), that’s exactly what doulas are here for. 🤱✨

Your baby is learning.
Your body is learning.
You’re doing better than you think.

#NewbornStomachSize
#InformedFeeding
#BreastfeedingSupport
#FourthTrimester
#DoulaTips

Birth has always been holy work.

From the Hebrew midwives who protected life in Egypt to modern doulas walking beside mothers today - God has always valued those who serve with courage and compassion. 💛

As a doula, I see birth as more than a physical process - it’s a sacred calling to nurture life and reflect God’s heart for mothers.

Which part of the biblical story of the midwives speaks to you most? 👇

#ChristianDoula #FaithInBirth #BiblicalMidwives #BirthHistory #sacredbirth

Birth has always been holy work.

From the Hebrew midwives who protected life in Egypt to modern doulas walking beside mothers today - God has always valued those who serve with courage and compassion. 💛

As a doula, I see birth as more than a physical process - it’s a sacred calling to nurture life and reflect God’s heart for mothers.

Which part of the biblical story of the midwives speaks to you most? 👇

#ChristianDoula #FaithInBirth #BiblicalMidwives #BirthHistory #sacredbirth

When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus

Book Review 📖❤️
An emotionally challenging but essential read. I had no idea past abuse could impact breastfeeding - eye-opening and important for anyone supporting parents.

Favorite Insight:

“The modern history of western culture attitudes toward childhood sexual abuse begins with Sigmund Freud… Freud and others had...made a
connection between “hysteria” and early incest… Hysteria included muscle paralyses, amnesia, seizures, and numbness in parts of the
body.” (Pg. 7)

Takeaway: Understanding a survivor’s history is key - trauma is stored in the body! Compassion, patience, and informed care can make all the
difference in birth and postpartum experiences. ✨

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #WhenSurvivorsGiveBirth #TraumaInformedCare #BirthSupport #DoulaLife #InformedBirth
#PositiveBirth #RespectfulBirth #EmpoweredBirth #BirthAdvocate #TraumaAware #ChildbirthEducation #BirthWisdom #BirthJourney
#DoulaCommunity #BirthMatters #BreastfeedingSupport #PostpartumCare
#BirthProfessionals #EmpoweredParents #BirthAwareness

When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus

Book Review 📖❤️
An emotionally challenging but essential read. I had no idea past abuse could impact breastfeeding - eye-opening and important for anyone supporting parents.

Favorite Insight:

“The modern history of western culture attitudes toward childhood sexual abuse begins with Sigmund Freud… Freud and others had...made a
connection between “hysteria” and early incest… Hysteria included muscle paralyses, amnesia, seizures, and numbness in parts of the
body.” (Pg. 7)

Takeaway: Understanding a survivor’s history is key - trauma is stored in the body! Compassion, patience, and informed care can make all the
difference in birth and postpartum experiences. ✨

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #WhenSurvivorsGiveBirth #TraumaInformedCare #BirthSupport #DoulaLife #InformedBirth
#PositiveBirth #RespectfulBirth #EmpoweredBirth #BirthAdvocate #TraumaAware #ChildbirthEducation #BirthWisdom #BirthJourney
#DoulaCommunity #BirthMatters #BreastfeedingSupport #PostpartumCare
#BirthProfessionals #EmpoweredParents #BirthAwareness

You are allowed to say no.

Consent doesn’t disappear in pregnancy or birth - and routine does not mean required.

Your comfort and your dignity matter every step of the way.

It you need support advocating for your wishes, a doula can help you speak up with confidence and peace. 💛

#InformedBirth
#BirthAdvocacy
#CervicalExamConsent
#DoulaSupport
#EmpoweredBirth

You are allowed to say no.

Consent doesn’t disappear in pregnancy or birth - and routine does not mean required.

Your comfort and your dignity matter every step of the way.

It you need support advocating for your wishes, a doula can help you speak up with confidence and peace. 💛

#InformedBirth
#BirthAdvocacy
#CervicalExamConsent
#DoulaSupport
#EmpoweredBirth

This year held both answered prayers and quiet heartbreak. 
Joy and grief walked side by side—and God met me in both.

This work is deeply personal, and I carry every experience with reverence as I serve families through birth, postpartum, and loss.

Grateful for growth. Trusting God with what’s still unfolding. 🤍

#FaithInMotherhood #CalledToServe #BirthworkWithHeart #GriefAndGrace #yearinreview

This year held both answered prayers and quiet heartbreak. 
Joy and grief walked side by side—and God met me in both.

This work is deeply personal, and I carry every experience with reverence as I serve families through birth, postpartum, and loss.

Grateful for growth. Trusting God with what’s still unfolding. 🤍

#FaithInMotherhood #CalledToServe #BirthworkWithHeart #GriefAndGrace #yearinreview

Seven certifications.

Each one earned with purpose, prayer, and a desire to serve families well. 🤍

I officially completed all seven programs through @EliteDoulaTraining, and I’m so grateful for the growth, the mentorship, and the skills I’m carrying forward. These aren’t just titles - they’re tools I’ll use every day in the work I’ve been called to:

🌿 Birth Doula
🌿 Postpartum Doula
🌿 Childbirth Educator
🌿 Breastfeeding Counselor
🌿 Newborn/Infant Care Specialist
🌿 Pregnancy, Infant, & Child Loss Bereavement
Doula
🌿 Fertility Coach

I’m honored to step forward as a Christian Pro-Life, Elite Certified Doula equipped to support families with both skill and compassion - holding space with dignity, honoring life, and serving in a way that reflects Christ’s heart.

Feeling thankful, grounded, and ready for the families God places in my path.

#EliteDoulaAndCo #BirthWorker #DoulaLife #CertifiedDoula #ChristianDoula

Seven certifications.

Each one earned with purpose, prayer, and a desire to serve families well. 🤍

I officially completed all seven programs through @EliteDoulaTraining, and I’m so grateful for the growth, the mentorship, and the skills I’m carrying forward. These aren’t just titles - they’re tools I’ll use every day in the work I’ve been called to:

🌿 Birth Doula
🌿 Postpartum Doula
🌿 Childbirth Educator
🌿 Breastfeeding Counselor
🌿 Newborn/Infant Care Specialist
🌿 Pregnancy, Infant, & Child Loss Bereavement
Doula
🌿 Fertility Coach

I’m honored to step forward as a Christian Pro-Life, Elite Certified Doula equipped to support families with both skill and compassion - holding space with dignity, honoring life, and serving in a way that reflects Christ’s heart.

Feeling thankful, grounded, and ready for the families God places in my path.

#EliteDoulaAndCo #BirthWorker #DoulaLife #CertifiedDoula #ChristianDoula

The Prenatal Bombshell by Stephanie Azri & Sherokee Ilse

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

This book was so thoughtfully written. I felt the authors presented both continuing and terminating a pregnancy for medical reasons with complete impartiality. Every option was laid out clearly, compassionately, and without bias.

I loved the structure of this book - especially the birth plan
section. It’s easy to assume that a birth plan doesn’t matter when facing stillbirth or the anticipated loss of a baby, but including wishes for baby’s care and interventions is a powerful way for parents to have their voices heard without needing to make decisions in crisis.

The section on supporting siblings was incredibly impactful as well. Helping children understand loss in an age-appropriate way is so important. I also appreciated the clarity around the difference between grief and clinical postpartum depression - such an important distinction.

This book inspired me to create a specialized birth plan template for families facing anticipating loss. I don’t plan to offer bereavement doula services at this time, but I want to be prepared should one of my birth clients ever walk that road.

✨ Favorite quote:
“Grief is hard work… intense, ongoing, overwhelming at times, and necessary in order to heal… We do not ‘recover’ or ‘forget,’ but heal while keeping your child in your heart for the rest of your life.” (p.205)

What a beautiful truth - we don’t forget; we heal and in healing, our babies stay with us always. 💛🌿

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossSupport #PerinatalLoss #AnticipatedLoss #DoulaReads #BirthSupport #HoldingSpace #GriefJourney #CompassionateCare #DoulaLife

The Prenatal Bombshell by Stephanie Azri & Sherokee Ilse

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

This book was so thoughtfully written. I felt the authors presented both continuing and terminating a pregnancy for medical reasons with complete impartiality. Every option was laid out clearly, compassionately, and without bias.

I loved the structure of this book - especially the birth plan
section. It’s easy to assume that a birth plan doesn’t matter when facing stillbirth or the anticipated loss of a baby, but including wishes for baby’s care and interventions is a powerful way for parents to have their voices heard without needing to make decisions in crisis.

The section on supporting siblings was incredibly impactful as well. Helping children understand loss in an age-appropriate way is so important. I also appreciated the clarity around the difference between grief and clinical postpartum depression - such an important distinction.

This book inspired me to create a specialized birth plan template for families facing anticipating loss. I don’t plan to offer bereavement doula services at this time, but I want to be prepared should one of my birth clients ever walk that road.

✨ Favorite quote:
“Grief is hard work… intense, ongoing, overwhelming at times, and necessary in order to heal… We do not ‘recover’ or ‘forget,’ but heal while keeping your child in your heart for the rest of your life.” (p.205)

What a beautiful truth - we don’t forget; we heal and in healing, our babies stay with us always. 💛🌿

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossSupport #PerinatalLoss #AnticipatedLoss #DoulaReads #BirthSupport #HoldingSpace #GriefJourney #CompassionateCare #DoulaLife

Mary was postpartum too.
God didn’t ask for perfection - only presence.
If you’re healing this Christmas, He is with you. 🤍

#postpartumfaith #fourthtrimester #faithandmotherhood #christiandoula #christmas

Mary was postpartum too.
God didn’t ask for perfection - only presence.
If you’re healing this Christmas, He is with you. 🤍

#postpartumfaith #fourthtrimester #faithandmotherhood #christiandoula #christmas

Fertility is about so much more than ovulation tests and lab results.

It’s about your whole being - body, mind, and spirit - coming into balance and peace. 🌿

A holistic approach to fertility looks at the big picture:

✨ Nourishing your body with real food, rest, and hormone support
✨ Creating calm and joy through prayer, journaling, and stress release
✨ Strengthening your faith as you wait in trust for God’s timing

You are not broken. Your body was beautifully designed - and sometimes it just needs gentle care, restoration, and faith-led guidance.

As a doula and fertility coach, I walk alongside women in this sacred season - offering encouragement, education, and support that honors your unique story.
💕

Whether you’re just starting your journey or have been waiting for a while, remember:

🌸 You are loved.
🌸 Your journey has purpose.

—
#HolisticFertility #ChristianDoula #fertilityjourney #faithbasedwellness #FertilitySupport

Fertility is about so much more than ovulation tests and lab results.

It’s about your whole being - body, mind, and spirit - coming into balance and peace. 🌿

A holistic approach to fertility looks at the big picture:

✨ Nourishing your body with real food, rest, and hormone support
✨ Creating calm and joy through prayer, journaling, and stress release
✨ Strengthening your faith as you wait in trust for God’s timing

You are not broken. Your body was beautifully designed - and sometimes it just needs gentle care, restoration, and faith-led guidance.

As a doula and fertility coach, I walk alongside women in this sacred season - offering encouragement, education, and support that honors your unique story.
💕

Whether you’re just starting your journey or have been waiting for a while, remember:

🌸 You are loved.
🌸 Your journey has purpose.

—
#HolisticFertility #ChristianDoula #fertilityjourney #faithbasedwellness #FertilitySupport

Companioning at a Time of Perinatal Loss by Jane Heustis, RN & Marcia Jenkins, RN

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

This was such a meaningful resource. It was difficult to read the stories of parents who lost their babies but it was absolutely worth it. The book is clear, well organized, and honors each family’s story with so much respect.

The process outlined throughout is incredibly helpful, and while most examples involve hospital staff, the principles apply to anyone in a caregiving role. The critical timeline (p.140) alone is a must-have for bereavement doulas - it’s a powerful reminder of when and how to follow up with grieving families.

This book inspired me to create safer spaces for mourning, open gentle conversations, practice the art of truly caring, and help families hold on to the moments that matter.

✨ Favorite quote:
“Conversation… becomes the method for linking pieces of information together to form a chain of connection.” (p.51)

Such a beautiful reminder that communication isn’t about dispensing information - it’s about connection which applies to every area of doula work. 💛

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BereavementDoula #PregnancyLossSupport #Companioning #GriefSupport #DoulaReads
#DoulaLife #HoldingSpace #PerinatalLoss #InfantLossAwareness #CompassionateCare

Companioning at a Time of Perinatal Loss by Jane Heustis, RN & Marcia Jenkins, RN

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

This was such a meaningful resource. It was difficult to read the stories of parents who lost their babies but it was absolutely worth it. The book is clear, well organized, and honors each family’s story with so much respect.

The process outlined throughout is incredibly helpful, and while most examples involve hospital staff, the principles apply to anyone in a caregiving role. The critical timeline (p.140) alone is a must-have for bereavement doulas - it’s a powerful reminder of when and how to follow up with grieving families.

This book inspired me to create safer spaces for mourning, open gentle conversations, practice the art of truly caring, and help families hold on to the moments that matter.

✨ Favorite quote:
“Conversation… becomes the method for linking pieces of information together to form a chain of connection.” (p.51)

Such a beautiful reminder that communication isn’t about dispensing information - it’s about connection which applies to every area of doula work. 💛

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BereavementDoula #PregnancyLossSupport #Companioning #GriefSupport #DoulaReads
#DoulaLife #HoldingSpace #PerinatalLoss #InfantLossAwareness #CompassionateCare

Curious about labor induction?

There’s a lot of information (and opinions!) out there - but understanding why and how induction happens can bring peace and confidence to your birth journey.

As a doula, I love helping families make informed decisions and prepare for both natural and medical possibilities.

Which of these methods surprised you most? 👇

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BirthEducation #LaborInduction #DoulaSupport #ChristianDoula #InformedBirth
#PregnancyEducation #BirthWithConfidence

Curious about labor induction?

There’s a lot of information (and opinions!) out there - but understanding why and how induction happens can bring peace and confidence to your birth journey.

As a doula, I love helping families make informed decisions and prepare for both natural and medical possibilities.

Which of these methods surprised you most? 👇

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BirthEducation #LaborInduction #DoulaSupport #ChristianDoula #InformedBirth
#PregnancyEducation #BirthWithConfidence

🤔 Is it labor… or just Braxton Hicks?

It’s common to wonder if those contractions mean baby time or if your body is simply warming up. Here’s how to tell the difference:

🔹 Braxton Hicks: irregular, mild, slows or stops with rest/hydration
🔹 True Labor: regular, stronger over time, continues no matter what

✨ Tip: When in doubt, rest + hydrate first. If contractions don’t stop and grow stronger… it may be GO time!

💜 Remember - you don’t have to figure it out alone. A doula can help you understand the signs, reassure you, and guide you through those “is this it?” moments.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #LaborSigns #PregnancyEducation #DoulaTips #BirthPrep #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #PregnancyJourney

🤔 Is it labor… or just Braxton Hicks?

It’s common to wonder if those contractions mean baby time or if your body is simply warming up. Here’s how to tell the difference:

🔹 Braxton Hicks: irregular, mild, slows or stops with rest/hydration
🔹 True Labor: regular, stronger over time, continues no matter what

✨ Tip: When in doubt, rest + hydrate first. If contractions don’t stop and grow stronger… it may be GO time!

💜 Remember - you don’t have to figure it out alone. A doula can help you understand the signs, reassure you, and guide you through those “is this it?” moments.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #LaborSigns #PregnancyEducation #DoulaTips #BirthPrep #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #PregnancyJourney

Your High-Risk Pregnancy by Diana Raab, MFA, RN

Book review for @Elitedoulatraining

This book was such a helpful read - one I wish I’d had during my own high-risk pregnancy. I’d love to see an updated edition, as so much has evolved in maternal care over the past decade and a half.

💜 Favorite quote:

“Just because you survived a high-risk pregnancy does not necessarily mean that you will have a high-risk labor and delivery.”

Such an important reminder - your pregnancy doesn’t define your birth story.

Having been through a high-risk pregnancy myself, this book reaffirmed my passion for supporting other mamas walking that same road.

A doula can be a huge source of comfort and empowerment during a high-risk pregnancy - offering emotional support, helping parents process information, and ensuring they feel heard and confident in their care decisions.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #DoulaReads #HighRiskPregnancy #BirthEducation #DoulaSupport #PregnancyAfterLoss
#EmpoweredBirth #MaternalHealth #BirthSupport #PregnancyJourney

Your High-Risk Pregnancy by Diana Raab, MFA, RN

Book review for @Elitedoulatraining

This book was such a helpful read - one I wish I’d had during my own high-risk pregnancy. I’d love to see an updated edition, as so much has evolved in maternal care over the past decade and a half.

💜 Favorite quote:

“Just because you survived a high-risk pregnancy does not necessarily mean that you will have a high-risk labor and delivery.”

Such an important reminder - your pregnancy doesn’t define your birth story.

Having been through a high-risk pregnancy myself, this book reaffirmed my passion for supporting other mamas walking that same road.

A doula can be a huge source of comfort and empowerment during a high-risk pregnancy - offering emotional support, helping parents process information, and ensuring they feel heard and confident in their care decisions.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #DoulaReads #HighRiskPregnancy #BirthEducation #DoulaSupport #PregnancyAfterLoss
#EmpoweredBirth #MaternalHealth #BirthSupport #PregnancyJourney

Did you know labor often begins at night?

It’s not just coincidence - your body is brilliantly designed.
Here’s why nighttime is prime time for labor:
🌀 Higher melatonin + oxytocin levels (they work together to
strengthen contractions)
🌀 Fewer distractions = a more relaxed, safe-feeling body
🌀 Nature’s way of giving you privacy and calm

✨ Pro tip: Rest whenever you can - you may be glad you did later!

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #LaborFacts #DoulaSupport #PregnancyEducation #BirthWisdom #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #PregnancyJourney

Did you know labor often begins at night?

It’s not just coincidence - your body is brilliantly designed.
Here’s why nighttime is prime time for labor:
🌀 Higher melatonin + oxytocin levels (they work together to
strengthen contractions)
🌀 Fewer distractions = a more relaxed, safe-feeling body
🌀 Nature’s way of giving you privacy and calm

✨ Pro tip: Rest whenever you can - you may be glad you did later!

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #LaborFacts #DoulaSupport #PregnancyEducation #BirthWisdom #InformedBirth #PositiveBirth #PregnancyJourney

Birth is sacred. It’s not something to fear - it’s something God designed with purpose and love. 💜

From the first contraction to your baby’s first cry, His presence is near. You were created for this moment - strong, capable, and supported by His perfect design.

As a Christian doula, my prayer is that every woman would experience birth not through fear, but through faith - knowing her Creator made her body to do this.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. — Proverbs 31:25

✨ Save this post for when you need a reminder: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #FaithBasedDoula #ChristianBirth #BirthWithGod #FearfullyAndWonderfullyMade #FaithOverFear #DoulaSupport #ChristianMom #KingdomBirth
#PregnancyEncouragement

Birth is sacred. It’s not something to fear - it’s something God designed with purpose and love. 💜

From the first contraction to your baby’s first cry, His presence is near. You were created for this moment - strong, capable, and supported by His perfect design.

As a Christian doula, my prayer is that every woman would experience birth not through fear, but through faith - knowing her Creator made her body to do this.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. — Proverbs 31:25

✨ Save this post for when you need a reminder: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #FaithBasedDoula #ChristianBirth #BirthWithGod #FearfullyAndWonderfullyMade #FaithOverFear #DoulaSupport #ChristianMom #KingdomBirth
#PregnancyEncouragement

Companioning the Bereaved by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD

Book review for @EliteDoulatraining

✨ Companioning the Bereaved was an insightful read on grief and healing. While the tone felt a bit “new age” for me personally, the wisdom it offered for supporting families through loss was so valuable.

💜 Favorite quote:

“Only in gathering courage to move toward this hurt is anyone able to ultimately heal.”

A beautiful reminder that grief isn’t something to fix - it’s something to honor.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossAwareness #DoulaReads #GriefSupport #BereavementDoula #InfantLossSupport #HoldingSpace #PregnancyAfterLoss #HealingThroughGrief

Companioning the Bereaved by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD

Book review for @EliteDoulatraining

✨ Companioning the Bereaved was an insightful read on grief and healing. While the tone felt a bit “new age” for me personally, the wisdom it offered for supporting families through loss was so valuable.

💜 Favorite quote:

“Only in gathering courage to move toward this hurt is anyone able to ultimately heal.”

A beautiful reminder that grief isn’t something to fix - it’s something to honor.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossAwareness #DoulaReads #GriefSupport #BereavementDoula #InfantLossSupport #HoldingSpace #PregnancyAfterLoss #HealingThroughGrief

Why moms should STOP packing pacifiers in hospital bags

Let’s talk about what the evidence really says 👇

🚫 Artificial teats and pacifiers interfere with early breastfeeding. They can cause nipple confusion, poor latch, and early weaning.

🤱 Mama - your breast is enough.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW BreastfeedingEducation #DoulaSupport #EBF #FaithAndMotherhood #PostpartumEducation
#LactationSupport #BabyFriendlyHospital #ProtectBreastfeeding #InformedMotherhood #MaternalAdvocacy #NoPacifiers
#BreastfeedingAwareness

Why moms should STOP packing pacifiers in hospital bags

Let’s talk about what the evidence really says 👇

🚫 Artificial teats and pacifiers interfere with early breastfeeding. They can cause nipple confusion, poor latch, and early weaning.

🤱 Mama - your breast is enough.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW BreastfeedingEducation #DoulaSupport #EBF #FaithAndMotherhood #PostpartumEducation
#LactationSupport #BabyFriendlyHospital #ProtectBreastfeeding #InformedMotherhood #MaternalAdvocacy #NoPacifiers
#BreastfeedingAwareness

God is so faithful. 🤍

I’m continually humbled by the families He brings into my care and the ways He shows up in every birth space.

So thankful for this beautiful review and for the privilege of serving this precious family.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #DoulaLife #BirthSupport #SpokaneDoula #ChristianDoula #FaithBasedBirth #DoulaCare #BirthWorker #PregnancySupport #LaborSupport #BirthJourney #EmpoweredBirth #SacredBirth #HolisticBirth #BirthWithConfidence #DoulaLove #INWDoula
#ClientLove #TestimonialTuesday #BirthMentor #SupportForMoms

God is so faithful. 🤍

I’m continually humbled by the families He brings into my care and the ways He shows up in every birth space.

So thankful for this beautiful review and for the privilege of serving this precious family.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #DoulaLife #BirthSupport #SpokaneDoula #ChristianDoula #FaithBasedBirth #DoulaCare #BirthWorker #PregnancySupport #LaborSupport #BirthJourney #EmpoweredBirth #SacredBirth #HolisticBirth #BirthWithConfidence #DoulaLove #INWDoula
#ClientLove #TestimonialTuesday #BirthMentor #SupportForMoms

If you’re dreaming of a cozy fall baby, now is the perfect window to start trying 🍁🤍 I’m here to guide and support you every step of the way.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #NowIsTheTime #FallBabyVibes #TTCCommunity #TryingForABaby #FutureParents #BabyDustToAll #PumpkinBaby #FertilitySupport #PlanningToConceive

If you’re dreaming of a cozy fall baby, now is the perfect window to start trying 🍁🤍 I’m here to guide and support you every step of the way.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #NowIsTheTime #FallBabyVibes #TTCCommunity #TryingForABaby #FutureParents #BabyDustToAll #PumpkinBaby #FertilitySupport #PlanningToConceive

Your Guide to Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss by Kate White, MD

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

📖 This was a challenging read - not only for the heavy topic, but because I felt the author’s personal biases were woven throughout. Still, there were valuable takeaways, especially the section on how men process grief differently. It helped me better understand how my own husband grieved our losses. 💔

💡 Favorite quotes:
✨ “Grief is not proportional to gestational age… Pain cannot be measured by a ruler or a calendar.”
✨ “You are a parent, even if your baby did not survive until birth.”

This book reminded me how important it is to offer compassionate, unbiased care - meeting families in their grief with love, empathy,
and understanding.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossAwareness #MiscarriageSupport #PregnancyAfterLoss #FaithBasedDoula
#ChristianDoula #GriefSupport #DoulaLife #InformedCare
#CompassionateSupport #PregnancyLossJourney

Your Guide to Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss by Kate White, MD

Book Review for @Elitedoulatraining

📖 This was a challenging read - not only for the heavy topic, but because I felt the author’s personal biases were woven throughout. Still, there were valuable takeaways, especially the section on how men process grief differently. It helped me better understand how my own husband grieved our losses. 💔

💡 Favorite quotes:
✨ “Grief is not proportional to gestational age… Pain cannot be measured by a ruler or a calendar.”
✨ “You are a parent, even if your baby did not survive until birth.”

This book reminded me how important it is to offer compassionate, unbiased care - meeting families in their grief with love, empathy,
and understanding.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #PregnancyLossAwareness #MiscarriageSupport #PregnancyAfterLoss #FaithBasedDoula
#ChristianDoula #GriefSupport #DoulaLife #InformedCare
#CompassionateSupport #PregnancyLossJourney

🌟 The Golden Hour after birth is pure magic.
That first 60 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin is more powerful than we often realize.

During this time:
👶 Baby regulates temperature, breathing, + heartbeat
🤱 Breastfeeding is easier to initiate
💜 Mom + Dad are flooded with oxytocin (the love hormone!)

Whenever possible, protect that first hour—it sets the tone for bonding and recovery. ✨

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #GoldenHour #SkinToSkin #DoulaSupport #PositiveBirth #EarlyBonding #InformedBirth #BirthEducation

🌟 The Golden Hour after birth is pure magic.
That first 60 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin is more powerful than we often realize.

During this time:
👶 Baby regulates temperature, breathing, + heartbeat
🤱 Breastfeeding is easier to initiate
💜 Mom + Dad are flooded with oxytocin (the love hormone!)

Whenever possible, protect that first hour—it sets the tone for bonding and recovery. ✨

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #GoldenHour #SkinToSkin #DoulaSupport #PositiveBirth #EarlyBonding #InformedBirth #BirthEducation

🤱 300 years ago, nursing in public was normal. Let’s make it that way again.

In colonial America, mothers fed their babies wherever they were -without shame or side-eyes. Over time, bottles, formula marketing, and shifting social norms pushed breastfeeding out of view, turning something sacred into something “inappropriate.”

✨ Today, every state protects a mother’s right to breastfeed in public - but stigma still lingers. True normalization starts not with laws, but with love.

💬 If you see a mom nursing, offer a smile - not a stare.
Because feeding a baby is never something to hide.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #NormalizeBreastfeeding #NursingInPublic #FaithAndMotherhood #MotherhoodUnfiltered
#BreastfeedingRights #DoulaEducation #PostpartumSupport
#BreastIsNormal

🤱 300 years ago, nursing in public was normal. Let’s make it that way again.

In colonial America, mothers fed their babies wherever they were -without shame or side-eyes. Over time, bottles, formula marketing, and shifting social norms pushed breastfeeding out of view, turning something sacred into something “inappropriate.”

✨ Today, every state protects a mother’s right to breastfeed in public - but stigma still lingers. True normalization starts not with laws, but with love.

💬 If you see a mom nursing, offer a smile - not a stare.
Because feeding a baby is never something to hide.

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #NormalizeBreastfeeding #NursingInPublic #FaithAndMotherhood #MotherhoodUnfiltered
#BreastfeedingRights #DoulaEducation #PostpartumSupport
#BreastIsNormal

Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Dr. Jack Newman & Teresa Pitman

Book review for @elitedoulatraining

📖✨ Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding was every bit as rich and insightful as Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding - maybe even more so! I loved how detailed it was, especially the “Common Problems and Solutions” section on sore nipples, sore breasts, colic, sick babies, and more.

💡 Takeaway: This book deepened my understanding of breastfeeding and how birth interventions can influence feeding success. It’s an incredible resource for both doulas and parents alike! 💕

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BreastfeedingSupport #DrJackNewman #DoulaLife #BirthAndBeyond #BreastfeedingJourney
#InformedParenting #PostpartumSupport #EmpoweredMothers #DoulaReads
#PhysiologicalBirth

Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Dr. Jack Newman & Teresa Pitman

Book review for @elitedoulatraining

📖✨ Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding was every bit as rich and insightful as Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding - maybe even more so! I loved how detailed it was, especially the “Common Problems and Solutions” section on sore nipples, sore breasts, colic, sick babies, and more.

💡 Takeaway: This book deepened my understanding of breastfeeding and how birth interventions can influence feeding success. It’s an incredible resource for both doulas and parents alike! 💕

#BlessedBeginningsDoula #BlessedBeginningsINW #BreastfeedingSupport #DrJackNewman #DoulaLife #BirthAndBeyond #BreastfeedingJourney
#InformedParenting #PostpartumSupport #EmpoweredMothers #DoulaReads
#PhysiologicalBirth

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow me on Instagram:

@blessedbeginningsinw

Contact Me

I am looking forward to hearing from you! Please fill out the below fields to schedule a free consultation.

First name*

Last name*

Phone*

Email*

Estimated Due Date

Type your message here...*

509-720-7028

info@blessedbeginningsinw.com

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:13–14

bottom of page