Shelley the Doula

06/15/2022

Wow! This is such a cool visual!!

Fun fact: The amniotic sac has 2 layers.

Chorion- the outer layer, or fore-bag
Amnion- the inner layer, or hind-bag

This is why it is possible to have differences in a ruptured membrane. Somepeople have a leak versus others have a gush 💧

06/03/2022

Wouldn't change my job for anything in the world ❤️

04/03/2022

The things we do for our clients!! 🥰

Things like walking out of the hospital, carrying a placenta 🌳 to hand off to the encapsulation lady, who can't get onto the military base.
So happy to see this placenta off into good hands! 😍

Shout out to Carmen at The Nurturing Root for being so flexible and helping with the hand off! 😊

https://thenurturingrootsa.com/

03/23/2022

World Doula Day 2022 🥳🌎🤰🤱❤

What did I do today? First, I stayed up most of the night on the phone talking to a momma who had her water break at 33 weeks. Then, I spent the morning at the hospital with her while she delivered her 33 weeker, laboring despite her fear and with LOTS of encouragement, without an epidural, as close to her original birth plan as possible. My heart ached for her as I watched her emotional rise and fall as she got to hold her baby and then see him off to the NICU. Meanwhile, we began hand expressing colostrum and collected a WHOLE syringe of liquid gold, which momma proudly showed off as she sent her hard work up to NICU for her son 💙

Then, I rushed over to a home birth of another momma who was so full of power that her presence was exuded through the entire house and she roared her daughter earth side 💪😍

Next, I swung over to a third momma who was laboring in her home with her family of two sweet boys. I was blown away by her tenacity and drive to continue taking care of her family as though it was just any other day. A mother's hands are always busy but her heart is always full 💙

And now, I sit here, with aching feet but a heart exploding with pride for these women who birth, despite circumstances or fear, with unmatched fierce power.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my time on World Doula Day! 🥰😍

01/25/2022

This hit me in the feels 😭😭😍😍❤❤

What did we do today?

Daddy came home from work and asked what we did all day.
The dinner is barely started and I didn’t put laundry away.
It is a very fair question – one I would have asked too,
After all, “All a baby does is eat and sleep and poo.”

As a mom I now know better – the joke is really on me,
I thought I’d spend my maternity leave indulging in trashy tv.
But love, you keep me busy.
No time for chilling anymore.
I’ve mastered more in the last few hours, than I ever did before.

See mommy is an acrobat – can juggle several things at one time.
I’ve made and eaten a sandwich, while humming a nursery rhyme.
Changed several diapers and outfits, whilst stopping you throwing a strop.
Played with you and soothed you, whilst doing my weekly shop.
Pumped and pumped again, whilst washing bottles and teats.
I showered in under five minutes, whilst also brushing my teeth.
I’ve rocked and danced you to sleep, whilst drinking a cold cup of tea.
I’ve mastered the use of my feet to pull a blanket over you and me.

Used a foot to bounce your bouncer, while texting and watching the news.
Always keeping an eye on you, and quick to react to your cues.

I’ve walked miles around the house in an attempt to make you nap,
While (half) listening to several chapters of a book on my Audible app.
We had tummy time, play time and mat time and I still had time to spare,
To bath, massage and feed you, and rub cradle cap from your hair.

The only thing I longed for was a chance for a little shut-eye,
But every time I’d put you down, you’d whine and whinge and cry.

I know that time with you is precious, so I promise I won’t complain.
Soon I’ll go back to work and long to do it all again.

So ask me what I did all day, and I’ll struggle - I just can’t recall.
In these last few dozen hours, we did everything and nothing at all.


Hugs to anyone in the middle of this phase.
Maternity/paternity leave is such a crazy rollercoaster of emotions and exhaustion and love and endless diapers and getting everything and nothing done ❤️

📸 Follow me on Instagram.com/the.mommy.poet

01/23/2022

Love this visual! So many women have heard of the mucus plug, but very few actually know what it really is or does. The mucus plus stays intact, keeping a safe barrier between the outside world and your baby until right before or during labor. Many times when mom has discharge or bloody show during labor, she panics 😳 After all, we're taught that blood is a bad sign all through pregnancy, right?! When in reality, these are all the good signs we look for in labor to show the body is progressing normally 🤗

Doulas are a great tool when it comes to explaining normal vs abnormal during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum! Whether you are a new parent or a have been down this road before, there is a good chance you will encounter something you have questions about! We are here to help!

01/05/2022

As a doula, I get the privilege of watching so many precious babies come earthside in this world. However, every once in a while, a birth moves me in such a way that I know I will never be the same doula that I was before.

As I watched this momma, reach deep within herself to find her power and greet her newborn son, and as dad looked on from a video screen (such as military life), I was in awe of the sacrifice and strength of this family.

Congratulations to my first doula baby of 2022!! 🎆 Momma, you are the epitome of strength, power, dignity and beauty ❤ I was so blessed by your many moments of transparency. Birth looked good on you.

**shared with permission**

03/18/2021

San Antonio Birth Doulas is offering FREE car seat checks to anyone who is pregnant or has a child 36 months or younger! Appointments run about an hour long per child, in person or virtual are both an option. Appointments still available for 3/22 and 3/29. Call San Antonio Birth Doulas at 210-222-0988 to schedule your appointment or message me for more details!

03/14/2021

Doulas don't stop 💪 Even on a Sunday, the last day of spring break, AND daylight savings time. Doula support is 24/7 through it all 👍

Also, let me love on all the pups! 🐶

02/03/2021

Y'all, today I had a BLAST in one of the best cesareans ever! Momma was a rockstar 💪 the OB was so kind, flexible, and yet entertaining 👏 plus this baby had the BEST dimples and a gorgeous head of hair! 😍 Mom noticed a huge difference between an urgent cesarean, like her first birth, and an elected one. I am so glad she enjoyed her birth experience today, even if the medical history required another cesarean 👍 Either way, belly birth is still birth! ❤🤰

01/28/2021

After a day of pouring out love and support to a birthing momma, nothing helps me recover faster than coming home to this little one and the oxytocin rushes she gives me! ❤