Connect with Your C-section Scar: Rituals for Healing
C-section scars are not only physical. While the medical focus is narrowly on surgical recovery, many c-section moms find their emotional recovery totally neglected. Birth trauma, feelings of disfigurement or failure, pain and depression/anxiety are common. These can complicate healing just as much as infection and other medical risks. At the same time, there is…
Allison’s VBAC to CBAC story: Twin Cities, MN
I had an intense and frustrating 30 hour labor with Avery (my first). After 14 hours of unmedicated labor with very little progress, followed by pitocin and an epidural, and eventually 4 hours of pushing with the most intense back labor pain… the experience ended in a C-section. She was in a posterior/sunny side up…
Introduction to Birthing From Within
Birth brings you face to face with your tigers. Birthing From Within founder, midwife and world renowned childbirth educator Pam England, aptly teaches that in labor, none of your worldly knowledge, possessions or statuses will help you. Instead, at key thresholds in your birth journey — referred to as “gates” — you will be stripped…
Stand by Your Midwives: Let Prevea Know How you Feel About Loss of Midwifery Services
MENOMONIE & EAU CLAIRE FOLKS: you may have heard that Prevea is ending its OBGYN care as of 9/30. CNMs Karen and Annie are the heart of Prevea’s maternity service, providing warm, gentle welcomes to new babies and compassionate, person-centered midwifery care to expecting families all over the Chippewa Valley. It is really sad to…
Stop saying VBAC “candidate”
If you have a vagina and are not experiencing a life threatening complication or other absolute contraindication to vaginal birth, you are a candidate for VBAC. Even if you are high BMI. Even if your cesarean was for “failure to progress.” Even if you attempted VBAC previously and had another cesarean. Even if your baby…
VBAC client review: Sario & Farah (Minneapolis, MN)
Diana is amazing!! I highly recommend her if you are looking for a doula who will go above and beyond for you. Diana is very passionate, a hard worker and knowledgeable. My only regret was not having her for my first birth. I was expecting my second child when I heard of the benefits of…
Sara’s Birth: Client Tribute
Let me tell you a little story about this client. About how she navigated a difficult birth as a first time mom. About how you can utilize intervention judiciously *WITHOUT* losing freedom of movement and giving up your entire birth plan. Her water broke first, without immediate contractions — also known as PROM (or, premature…
Client Review: First-time parents Christina & Michael
Diana was our doula for the birth of our daughter in 2019 and I can’t say enough how wonderful it was to have her there. She is warm, empathetic, and completely accepting and non-judgmental. Before the birth she very thoughtfully answered all our questions and helped us understand what to expect, and it was very…
VBAC Client Review: Amanda
Diana is a brilliant and intentional ally to have on your birth team. She is a wealth of knowledge, resources, and most importantly radical support. After an emergency C-section with my first child, I sought out a Doula to assist me through a TOLAC. It had been my goal the first pregnancy to deliver naturally,…
Tips for Cesarean Recovery
Nobody expects to have a cesarean, let alone be dealing with cesarean recovery. Even if you’ve had time to prepare (e.g., your cesarean was scheduled, as opposed to occurring on an unplanned basis in labor), many find the reality of major abdominal surgery hits them like a ton of bricks. Pain, bloating, trouble with bowel…