Hire a Birth Doula in Michigan for Your Journey

The transition to motherhood does not end at the time of the birth. That's when it begins. As you look for your doula, don't limit your questions and preferences to what she provides for pregnancy and birth. Ask about postpartum and beyond as well. With PPD and PPA rates rising to near 20%, new mamas need support more than ever.

The national burn out rate for solo practice doulas is about 2 years. Anyone who takes call 24/7 for a prolonged period will wind up burnt out eventually.

When you start your search for a doula, navigating finding the right one can feel overwhelming if not paralyzing. With the number of doulas increasing, how do you know if the doula you are hiring is the right one for you?

Welcoming a new life into the world is one of the most profound experiences you will ever have. It’s filled with excitement, anticipation, and sometimes, a little uncertainty. That’s why having a caring, knowledgeable companion by your side can make all the difference. Imagine someone who understands your hopes, listens to your fears, and supports your choices every step of the way. This is exactly what Great Expectations Doula Services offers—a warm, empowering presence duri

The house seems empty. Eerily quiet after all the hustle of the hospital corridors. Now what? You think to yourself. What's first? This new little one is completely dependent on you for everything. In many ways, this landing zone is its own form of drop shock!

All. Night. Long. Feeding, then crying, then feeding then crying! It's easy to become concerned that maybe you're just not producing enough milk, and your new baby may very well starve. Cue deep feelings of failure (which are then exacerbated because you're exhausted from the birth process and now not sleeping all night!)

Then it happens! Baby is free, and they are turned toward you. You gaze down at this little . . . stranger. Your feelings may be foreign, platonic, numb. You expected to adore this beautiful combination of you and your partner, but instead, the little one with smooshed features and strange colors contorts their face as their cries expand their lungs.

Do you know what to expect when you arrive at the hospital to have your baby? Most hospital maternity wards (especially at larger facilities) are separated into several different areas. They have a triage space, a medical space, and birthing suites. And when you go into the OB unit to have your baby, often you will stop in at triage first.

But you can guarantee success in your birth space if you make a subtle shift in your focus . . .

Due dates are not an exact science. The Perinatal Institute reports that only about 4% of babies are born on their predicted "date". Most pregnancies last between 259 and 294 days (which is a difference of 35 days!)

What is too large and how do we know? Evidence based birth looks into the current evidence of "big babies" and reports that two out of three expecting mamas were given an ultrasound near the end of pregnancy and told that their babies were too big . . .

Induction of labor (without valid medical necessity) increases the risk of cesarean section due to increasing risk of uterine hyperstimulation (too many contractions), fetal distress in labor (due to too many contractions), placental abruption, stalled labor progress (due to being hooked up to monitors or mom's body not being ready). Risk for postpartum bleeding also increases if Pitocin is used for a prolonged period.

Anyone who wants to move forward as a whole person, must first pickup and repair the fractured pieces!

For it is in gratitude that we find satisfaction. As we take time to accept where we are from where we have come, we can settle into the present and begin to look to the future.

Until we grieve the losses and validate our experiences, we cannot move on to growth and dreams and discovery.

We cannot move toward where we want to be without first realizing where we have been!

But how do you navigate your need to be close to your family and friends while still keeping baby healthy this Holiday Season?

When we feel the internal buildup of pressure, we often seek a way to relieve it (STERB: Short Term Energy Relieving Behaviors). The problem with STERBs is that they appear to work for a while, until they don't anymore. Then we seek out more of that behavior or even a new one in order to distract ourselves from the internal energy buildup.

C O M P A S S I O N Showing Compassion to Herself Compassion is such a misunderstood concept. If you look up the English meaning of this word, it lists it as a noun. A thing. As if we can hand it out or keep it for ourselves. But if you look at the etymology and roots of this word, you begin to understand it so much better and recognize how it can be so transformative for both us and others. Compassion stems from Latin and Greek Roots. Com - Coming near, close beside or toget

As children, we may have been given resources to know that these bodily sensations are actually our emotional responses to life. We may have been guided gently by caregivers teaching us the names of these different sensations, seeing us where we were, and showing us dignity and compassion. Or we may have had caregivers who were doing the best they could with what they had, but who were unable to guide us down a healthy emotional path.