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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

In a prior post, I introduced the issues pregnant people need to know regarding vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).  That post concluded, “if you are pregnant after a cesarean, fear, politics, risk management and physician preference may filter the options and information available to you in navigating your care.” As a result, folks planning a…

I recently saw a fellow doula share a post targeted toward folks suffering from birth trauma that said, “When you replace ‘Why is this happening to me?’ with ‘What is this trying to teach me?’ EVERYTHING SHIFTS.”   I would like to respectfully offer an alternate view on this. I am a doula, someone who experienced…