Agape Birth Doula Service

Reposted from @nikknowlesmidwife BIRTH CENTER to TRANSPORT: When the Plans Change. It is important that we share the stories of parents who didn’t deliver as they intended. As a midwife who attends home and birth center births, it is important that I use my voice to shed light on births where the plans change. Great midwifery care involves a lot of things.....one of them is to know when the plan needs to take a different direction. ... This couple endured days (4 to be exact) of true active labor. Their sweet baby tried her best to work with mom to obtain the optimal position for birth. They did all the things to prepare, but in the end, after many days of labor, no sleep and sheer exhaustion, mom and baby needed another option. We made a plan for them to head to Baylor University Medical Center to continue with her care. Baylor has done an amazing job of taking care of families transferring from out-of-hospital, to the hospital when it is no longer an option to proceed with the original plan. I’m personally lucky to have had such an awesome experience with them during my previous years as a doula. That’s how I knew they were going to be in great hands. Once this family was discharged from the hospital, they continued to get care from me. The location of the birth changed, but my care didn’t. These photos document what a full circle moment looks like. I’m grateful they approved of me sharing their story and it is my hope that it will help someone better process their experience. #midwiferycare #homebirth #birthcenter #hospitalbirth #shareddecisionmaking #healthymom #healthybaby #collabrativecare Midwife Assist: @dallas_midwifebecky Doula: @courtneybuttsdoula Photographer: @lawrenrosephotography Chiropractor: @uprisechiropractic

Birth requires intimacy, peace, and LOVE Being a doula doesn't always require me to touch mama, dad's are the BEST in those moments that mama doesn't need to be touched. I'm always asked what I do at a birth...the answer is...sometimes catch these amazing moments while holding space for mamaThe connection between mama, dad, and the baby is priceless and can NOT be replicated and definitely should not be interrupted Yours Truly Kiesha D. Mama: @krisme_ferris Dad: @cole_forever : @lookwhativymade

@womenrisepsyc_wellness Join us as we talk about Mental Health & Wellness: Myth vs. Truth! We can’t wait to see you there @agapebirthdoula @key2216

Congratulations to you @ingridsilva thank you for sharing your beautiful birth story and another amazingly stunning picture!! Reposted from @ingridsilva (@get_regrann) - Birthstory: Becoming a mother was journey. I prepared my body for 9 months, danced until 38 weeks, ate well, exercise, walked a lot and only had good energy around me. I choose that. My birth story story is my experience. ... On Thanksgiving day I was with my friend @guibk getting ready for our dinner, meanwhile I knew that day something was going to happen. So I stayed positive as possible, my water broke early in the day and went to the hospital at night I knew something was different, after speaking with my doctor she mention got the hospital will do few tests to confirm. When you water broke it’s not like in the movies, it happens different for everyone. I went with my husband to the hospital at 5pm thinking it wasn’t nothing, I am just going to run few testes and get back to dinner with Gui. Guess what? Did the testes and my water broke, wait what!! Omg it’s time, I wasn’t ready! who’s ever ready? I was in labor for 23 hours, my body did what I thought I could never do. I was born again after this experience. It was natural delivery. Yes I did get an epidural, that was life changing amem. I pushed Laura, when she came out, I can’t explain the feeling honestly, it was the most important moment of our lives. I had a wonderful team of incredible people who respected my body and did the best for my experience to be the best that could be. I am thankful for Dr Flavia for taking care of me, My doula Angela for everything you did to make this birth moment special and memorable, your support was everything. My husband for being my rock since day one, and holding my hands at every moment, this will forever change our Lives. Laura you our the Sun and the future.

During these uncertain times, when quarantine puts physical distance between family and friends and a doula may not be in the budget, our FREE Doula Hotline ens...ures that Black pregnant folks feel supported. We have eight Black, professional community doulas standing by to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and offer personalized advice for the wellbeing of your baby. Schedule your FREE phone or video call (via Google hangouts) with one of our community doulas today by texting 'DOULAHELP' to 833-987-2908 or visiting Frontlinedoulahotline.com. Ask us anything! Come to us with your questions! No concern is unimportant or insignificant. You deserve to be heard and supported. If you know a pregnant Black person, tag them in the comments to let them know that we are here for them! Tap the link in our bio or visit frontlinedoulas.com/hotlineinitiative to learn more about the work we are doing to address health disparities in the Black community and make astronomical maternal mortality rates a thing of the past! This initiative is brought to you by Black Women Birthing Justice @birthingjustice, Frontline Doulas @frontlinedoulas, and Diversity Uplifts, Inc. Funded by The Tara Foundation and The California Healthcare Foundation. Illustration: @theeducatedbirth #FrontlineDoulas #DoulasOnTheFrontline #Blackdoulas #InTheseBirthStreets #therevolutionisinthewomb #blackdoulauprising #blackmaternalhealth #doulasaredope #blackbirthworker #infantfeeding #birthjustice #blackmidwife #blackmamasmatter #blackbirth #blackbabiesmatter #maternalmortality #birthrights #maternalhealth

#Repost @sacred_prem_ob We are excited to host our 1st virtual town hall. . .... Join Dr. Karen A. Scott MD, MPH, FACOG & TaNefer L. Camara MS-HCA, IBCLC for a discussion on hospital birth in the time of Covid-19 and how Black mothers and birthing people define SACRED Birth. Learn more about this groundbreaking Black woman led research by, for, and with impacted Black birthing people,Black women scholars, Black birth workers and Black women led organizations. . . Please RSVP with our State Community Partner @cablackwomenshealthproject and get the zoom link by email: [email protected] . . We ask you to share the flyer to get the word out! BUT PLEASE DO NOT share the Zoom information (to prevent Zoom bombing). . . We have an amazing group of partners and supporters in attendance from across the nation. . . . If you are invested in #Blackmaternalhealth and ending #obstetricracism , you don't want to miss this! . . . Let’s work together to increase both public awareness and participation in the SACRED Birth Study! We continue to enroll eligible study participants and accept participant referrals from Black mothers and birthing people, community, hospitals, health centers, and health plans. Eligible participants who complete the study, will receive s a $100 electronic gift card by email. The study will remain live until 1000 Black mothers and birthing people complete the entire process. Learn more about how you can support and participate by Clicking on the Link in Bio: sacredbirth.ucsf.edu . . . We also encourage more hospitals and health centers become #SACREDBirth Champions and Referral Sites. Go online today and join the movement to #EndObstetricRacism and #AdvanceSACREDBirth. #BlackMamasMatter #BlackBirthsMatter#BlackLivesMatter @rjepiobwarrior @cablackwomenshealthproject