 LewisLeigh & Co Photography I usually don't share my children's birth details for a few different reasons. Mostly because I do not want clients to have expectations that their birth will be like my births. We are different people who will experience things differently. I really meditated on if I would open up and share my cesarean experience. After lots of internal discussion, I came to the realization that my experience may be similar to those who have had a cesarean or who may one day face one.
So, I’d like to write about my thoughts and feelings surrounding my mental health after having a cesarean. That even though I am a doula, a cesarean birth can happen to anyone and it really might be the best choice to safely bring your baby into this world. When I 1st brought baby Violet home, sharing my experiences didn't feel safe. I gave cliff notes and vague details. I needed to process and work through what I had been through. Slowly but surely I began opening up.
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5/15/2018 1 Comment Sarah's Birth StoryI meet Sarah through the breastfeeding group I help admin on facebook. Such a warm, bubbly and down to Earth women! I knew Sarah had a less then ideal birth story (understatement of the year) and was thrilled when she offered to share her story. Unfortunately Sarah's story ended like many unplanned cesarean other mother's where they were left feeling abandoned and unheard by their care provider. Here is Sarah's experience, told by her in her words.  When I first found out I was pregnant, I was completely terrified, even though we had been not exactly preventing, not exactly trying. I was worried about the dream job I had just started months prior, the career I was just finally starting in that job, not having finished my Masters degree, and what if I'm not a good mom? But within 24 hours, I was over being terrified, and felt nothing but pure joy (well, okay, maybe still a little fear but that's normal!).
4/30/2018 0 Comments Randi's Birth Story Last summer we had new neighbors move in. Being in a postpartum fog & being wrapped up in all Little Kid's feeding issues, I honestly wasn't very neighborly and never went over to introduce myself. It wasn't until Halloween that I really meet our new neighbors and wait- they have a tiny baby! How did Doula Danielle miss that? Randi and I hit it off right away and shared our breastfeeding difficulties. Later on she shared her birth story with me. To say Randi and her husband went through a lot is an under statement. When I asked for women looking to share their stories and I was thrilled she wanted to share.
Well there are many scary moments in her story, it ends with an incredibly happy ending. For those with preemie babies or a long NICU stay, this story might have some triggers. But I think it's such an important story to share. Also it is a dedication to what strong wonderful mothers we are! And how important it is to listen to your body and trust yourself.  Jennifer Rambala is a mom to 2 children who looked for a more natural way to treat her families medical and behavioral aliments. It changed her family for the better so much, so is now sharing her experiences in hopes to help other families, by sharing education on natural alternatives. She did not t have the tools of essential oils and other support with her oldest son and so seeing the difference with younger daughter, which has inspired her to help other moms and link arms to show them there are ways to make things easier.
Essential Oils have a variety of uses for everyday life. From using topically for different elements, diffusing for health benefits and using in household products to ditch using chemicals found in many cleaning products in your home. I have been using essential oils in my everyday life since my oldest daughter was born. In the wintertime you will find me diffusing a “germ away” blend I create and in the summer making my own bug repellent from essential oils. I had a chance to chat with Jennifer Rambala, a mom of 2, daily essential oil user and doTERRA rep. We talked about how using a more natural approach to her and her family had a positive outcome on their health. 4/23/2018 0 Comments My Birth Journey-TriciaI first meet Tricia when she called for an interview. She was looking to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and her and her husband knew they wanted a doula this time around. Talk about the most warm and down to Earth couple! We instantly clicked. They hired me on the spot and we began to plan and prepare for their birth. Events unfolded and Tricia did not have her VBAC, but she did have the most beautiful family centered cesarean birth. I am honored that Tricia has taken the time to put into words her experience. I do not believe any 2 births are the same. I do love reading birth stories to learn about different perspectives and journeys. Here is Tricia's story from her point of view. Her beautiful healing family centered belly birth.  4/13/2018 0 Comments Using Herbs For Postpartum PeriodSasha Geerken is an anthropologist and herbalist with a passion for birth work. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from Montana State University and became a Certified Herbalist through Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism in Boulder, CO. Sasha is also a certifying Birth and Postpartum Doula through DONA and is currently training to be a Midwifery Assistant through Birthwise Midwifery School. As a certified herbalist, Sasha makes organic body products that are safe for both mother and baby - handmade in small batches, her body products are crafted using certified organic ingredients to nurture, soothe, and heal.  I'm not going to lie, experiencing undersupply with Little Kid took me by surprise! I had set myself up for challenges that might lay ahead, but this was not one. With Big Kid I joked I could feed a whole village, that is how much milk I made. I learned A LOT while breastfeeding Little Kid and hope to pass along some of it to women who might be in the same situation now or later in life.  1.) You can do everything "right" and still have undersupply.
I fed on demand, didn't introduce bottle early, had skin to skin in the delivery room, support of an amazing IBCLC and breastfeeding support group. I drowned myself in water, ate oats 3x's a day and took all the supplements. And for me, it didn't increase my supply. In the beginning there was a mixture of things that lead to my supply issues- PCOS, a sever lip/tongue tie, extreme nipple (bottle/pacifier) preference & inefficient suck.  Anika Fatouros is a professional photographer specializing in portraits, weddings and engagements throughout the Hudson Valley area. She is a mother and owner of A. Fatouros Photography. She works closely with families to capture the most import times in their lives.
You have photos all over facebook, instagram, your computer files and stored in your phone. Shouldn’t documenting your beautiful body and the amazing things it is doing during pregnancy be one of them? You are only pregnant with this little human for a moment in time. The memories of what it felt like to feel your baby move inside you might fade. Having lasting photos to treasure these moments is so important. Once our babies are here, they grow with the blink of an eye. By having professional photos done you will have lasting memories of those tiny toes and perfect faces forever.  You've talked to your partner, gotten a check up from your provider and made a secrete Pintrest board for all cute baby things & are now ready to start trying for a baby! This is a very exciting time in a couples life. If you are like me and want to take charge of your fertility, Kim Jordan is a WONDERFUL resource. Preparing your body for pregnancy does not need to be overwhelming and with Kim's help, but simple and easy.
Kim Jordan is a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and owner of Root and Branch Nutrition. Using a functional and holistic approach, she works to help women get to the root of their symptoms and create sustainable nutrition in order to restore their innate vitality. Kim is passionate about achieving optimal wellness naturally. Having gone through her own personal health struggles, she found that discovering the root causes and building up her body through nutrition and lifestyle to be keys to achieving improved health. Kim is passionate about helping women balance their bodies, take charge of their fertility, and prepare to for healthy pregnancy and postpartum. 4/3/2018 0 Comments Birth & Baby PreparationWhy should you invest in childbirth classes & a Birth and Postpartum Doula Services? Sarah Ludwig is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, DONA trained doula, SafeKids Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor, and an Infant CPR & babywearing educator. Sarah has offered support and education to the families of the lower Hudson Valley area for the last 7+ years. With her multifaceted training and experience, she is able to provide many different and needed servious to families. Sarah loves providing families with the tools to make a transition into parenthood easier.  Did you know in the US couples spend an average of $30,000 and 15 months planning their wedding? Also, the average family spends $2,000 preparing their nursery for a new baby. (Though I think that might be a little high, you can find what your new baby really needs here.) What about the time and investment in preparing for your new baby. I had the opportunity to chat with Sarah Ludwig, a local Rockland County Doula (among other things!), to discuss the benefits of birth preparation, postpartum preparations & a little car seat safety. What do you feel is the benefit to take a birth preparation class? Simply put, you do not know what you don’t know. Regardless of whether your plan is to have a home birth in your bath tub, or a hospital birth with an epidural is more your speed, my goal is that you have the information available to make decisions that are right for your family. I want everyone to feel calm and confident and to have a voice in shaping the birth experience they want. Having a birth preparation class gives you the tools to formulate your own opinions and preferences and a background to have informed discussions with your midwife or OB. According to The Knot, "In the last three months leading up to their wedding, brides spend an average of 11 hours a week working on wedding details." Like your wedding, the day of your baby's birth is a momentous occasion that deserves time and attention so that you are ready!
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AuthorHi I am Danielle. I am a doula, childbirth educator, placenta encapsulation specialist, mother, wife & passionate about birth in the Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland & Orange County, NY area. 
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