How Mindfulness Prepares You for Labor and Empowers Your Birth
Explore mindfulness techniques for pregnancy that reduce stress, encourage body awareness, and prepare you for a positive birth.
Know Your Rights: Prenatal Care, Labor & Hospital Stays
You have legal rights during pregnancy, labor and hospital stays! Part of advocating for yourself is knowing what those rights are and how to ensure they’re being followed. This blog post teaches you 7 rights you have.
All About Cervical Checks During Pregnancy and Labor
Cervical checks are often treated as a routine part of pregnancy and labor—but here’s the truth: they’re completely optional.
Whether you’re nearing your due date or already in labor, understanding what cervical checks are, when they’re offered, and why you might choose to decline them can make a big difference in how you feel about your care. In this post, we’ll break it all down so you can feel informed, empowered, and ready to advocate for what feels right for your body.
What It Means When Your Baby Measures Big
“Your baby is measuring big.”
If you’ve heard those words during pregnancy, you’re not alone—and it’s normal to have questions.
In this post, we explore what it really means when your baby is estimated to be large, how accurate growth scans are (hint: not very), why size alone isn’t a valid reason for induction or cesarean, and how many parents go on to birth bigger babies with ease. We’ll also talk about gestational diabetes and how it may play a role.
Whether you’re feeling pressured, confused, or just want more clarity—you deserve evidence-based information and calm, confident support.
Read on to feel empowered, not intimidated.
How to Find an LGBTQ+ Friendly and Affirming Practitioner
When you’re queer, trans, nonbinary, or part of the LGBTQIA+ community, finding a provider who truly sees and affirms you can make all the difference, especially during sensitive seasons like pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.
Too many LGBTQ+ folks have experienced dismissal, judgment, misgendering, or care that feels clinical but not compassionate. You deserve better, and you don’t have to settle for “tolerated” when you could be celebrated.
Here’s how to find LGBTQ+ friendly (and affirming!) providers who will support your whole self.
TENS Units for Labor: A Natural Pain Relief Option You’ll Want in Your Birth Plan
If you're preparing for birth and looking for natural ways to manage labor pain, you're probably already exploring positions, breathing techniques, and maybe even water therapy. But there’s another powerful tool that often gets overlooked: the TENS unit.
Used widely in the UK and gaining popularity in the U.S., TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) units are a safe, drug-free way to manage contractions, especially in early and active labor. At Your Family Doula Services, I not only teach clients how to use them, but I also offer labor-specific TENS unit rentals so families can feel empowered and prepared when labor begins.
Doula vs Midwife vs OBGYN: Building a Birth Team That’s Right for You
Pregnancy involves many decisions, like where to give birth, how to prepare, and who you want by your side. One of the most common questions I hear as a doula and educator is, “What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?” While doulas are becoming more mainstream, there is still some confusion about our role during pregnancy and delivery and how it differs from all of the other support available.
Let’s break it down simply so you can feel more confident in building a support team that fits your birth vision.