If pregnancy were a boy band, let's be honest: Mom is Justin Timberlake. She's doing the vocals and the choreography and the costume changes AND hitting every note while also growing an entire human from scratch. Dad? Dad is giving solid Chris Kirkpatrick energy. Sure, he's there and he is totally part of the group, but if someone put you on the spot and said "Quick, name all 5 members of *NSYNC," you'd probably get to him fourth or fifth. (Sorry, Chris.) And yes, Mom is doin

When you're pregnant, you get hit with a million decisions. It's basically a nine month masterclass in decision fatigue. You're choosing a provider, a birth plan, a car seat and then someone asks if you're planning to bank your baby's cord blood. And you're like "I'm sorry, what now?" Suddenly you’re expected to have an opinion on something you didn’t even know existed a few months ago. Let's break it down. What is cord blood? After baby is born, there is blood remaining in t

I didn't set out to become a doula. For a long time, I was a teacher - which was exactly what I had dreamed of being when I grew up. It was not just my job, but an integral part of my identity. I loved my students and I loved my school and I loved being part of a special community. I was the kind of teacher who showed up for my students' soccer games and ballet recitals. I hosted a class bagel breakfast in my home. And then I had my son. At the end of my pregnancy, I knew som

If you got the 90s PSA reference, I see you. Remember the old "This is your brain on drugs" commercial with the frying egg? No? Just me? Cool cool cool. Let's talk about what sleep deprivation actually does to a relationship. How To Stay Connected There is a very specific moment in early parenthood when you look at your partner across a dimly lit room at 2:14AM and think "Who are we right now?" You love each other, obviously, But you're also exhausted, slightly feral, and bei

As a doula, I am most often walking alongside families who are continuing their pregnancies. I support births. I support postpartum. I support the wild, beautiful transformation into parenthood. And I am firmly, unapologetically in support of reproductive autonomy. Supporting people in whatever they choose is rooted in valuing bodily autonomy. People deserve accurate information, safe care, and the ability to make decisions about their own lives without coercion, shame, or po

In my childbirth prep classes, I say this all the time: Oxytocin is like a 13-year-old girl on Valentine's Day. She thrives on dim lighting. She swoons over dark chocolate. She loves feeling safe and adored. But introduce stress? Bright lights? Judgment? She shuts down. And here's the part most people don't realize: Oxytocin is not just the "love hormone." It is the hormone that drives labor so when we talk about support in birth, it's not just for vibes. It is physiologicall

There is this cultural fairy tale about having a baby; you bring them home, everything feels soft and glowing, and somehow you just... figure it out. Like a sitcom montage where the baby finally sleeps, the house is clean, and everyone looks hot in their pajamas. Except a lot of people do not. And no one really tells you that part. They do not tell you how lonely the early days can feel, How your body might hurt in places you did not know existed. How you can love your baby w

Winter is coming. With it arrives dry air, stuffy noses, disrupted sleep, and the sudden urge to panic every time your baby makes a new noise. Babies get congested. Adults get tired. Everyone gets dramatic. This is the season where even the calmest parent finds themselves whispering "is this normal?" into the void at 2AM. A few simple strategies can make winter far more manageable for babies and the adults sworn to protect them. Build the Wall: Protecting Tiny Airways Cold wi

If you have heard the phrase "cord around the neck" and immediately felt your stomach drop, you are in good company. A nuchal cord sounds dramatic, but the truth is far more reassuring. Most nuchal cords are totally normal, usually harmless, and not something to tangle your stomach up in knots. Knotted Up For Nothing A nuchal cord means the umbilical cord is looped around the baby's neck. This everyday variation has become a scapegoat for everything from long pushing stages t

If you have been googling "best baby gifts" you already know the deal: endless lists of swaddles, pacifiers, bottles, and things designed for the tiny human who cannot yet appreciate them. Cute. But you know who actually needs the love, comfort, and gifts? The parents - the people growing the baby, birthing the baby, and waking up fourteen times a night to keep the baby alive. 🛋️ Cozy Self Care Kindred Bravely Clea Bamboo Robe, $59.99 This robe feels like you wrapped yoursel