Ashley Stetson

Ahh...2020... there is just no way around the reality of this year. It was shocking, stressful, energizing, depressing, connecting, distancing...you name it. It... has been a gamut of emotions and challenges. Giving birth in a global pandemic is harrowing to say the least. But the families I worked with this year overcame incredible odds and blew me away with their adaptability and strength. I would be lying if I did not have moments of fear and doubt for what this crisis meant for families, babies and birth work. My role has changed in many ways. Sometimes guiding families into community birth, away from the overwhelmed hospital systems. Sometimes coaching via text message or zoom call. Sometimes at their side, mask on. I feared finding balance. Suddenly homeschooling three 4th graders, teaching hypnobirthing from home and continuing to try and support birth however I could. All while feeling to pressure to stay healthy and keep my family safe. As Author Glennon Doyle shares "...the Greek root of the word crisis is to sift, as in, to shake out the excesses and leave only what’s important. That’s what crises do. They shake things up until we are forced to hold on to only what matters most. The rest falls away. We are part of a great sift right now. Some struggling more than others. But I hope and pray at the end of this, we are closer, stronger and more grateful. Birth Highlights: 37 Babies 29 Girls, 8 Boys 3 Sets of Twins 3 repeat families 5 zoom births 3 birth center births 4 homebirths

It also isnt an automatically high risk time either. People safely have babies at many ages and stages.

NEW BLOG POST It's time to get Doula's back in to maternity wards to support birthing people. https://thementalhealthdoula.co.uk/2020/08/19/blog-3/

This is such a hard time to be pregnant. Any research into pre and perinatal psychology will tell you: we are influenced by stressors experienced by our parents while in the womb. It affects our infancy, our childhood and even our adulthood. The good news is, we can make up for the stressors by being intentional and prepare a welcoming, loving space for our babies.