Empowered Birth Alaska

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Empowered Birth Alaska

Providing quality, professional support & services. Your experience, birth, & wellness matter!

Click 'Learn More' to get more information about what EBA can offer to your birth journey experience. Check out our website www.empoweredbirthalaska.com to see a complete list of services, descriptions, and about us.

12/18/2025

😂 “she’s doing her best”

12/14/2025

Recently, I was contacted by a couple who had just had their baby and were struggling, a lot. Their birth didn’t go as planned, recovery was harder than anticipated, Baby wasn’t feeding well, they were getting basically no sleep, and they didn’t have any prior experience with newborns. Not good!

They needed help as soon as possible, and luckily, I was able to meet them later that day. We talked about their feeding issues and strategies to make it a little easier, and I gave them a game plan to get through the night until I could spend more time with them the next day.

When I came back we talked more about lactation and feeding, and generally what their current routine is. They needed a way to simplify all the things, and do less so they can prioritize sleep more! But sometimes, the best thing I can do for people is just listen and validate their feelings! This s**t is HARD, no matter what.

Just knowing someone is there for YOU and won’t judge is EVERYTHING when s**t is hitting the fan all around you! And I’m really honored to make a difference in someone’s experience of a very important time in their life ❤️

*unrelated family in the photo*

12/08/2025

I really love when grandparents are able to join in during newborn photos! 🥰 moms with their baby, and their baby’s baby! So special ❤️

11/30/2025

Quantifying the association between doula care and maternal and neonatal outcomes https://ow.ly/8rmW50XzJNO

11/05/2025

My favorite tips for helping your toddler/older kiddos adjust to a new sibling:

- during pregnancy, talk to them about it often! Discuss what newborns are like, and what their role will be as the big sibling. Role model with a baby doll if you can!

- when you see them for the first time after baby’s birth, greet them without the new baby in your arms. Give them some one on one reconnection time, until they’re ready to meet Baby. For some kids this is faster than others, that’s okay!

- when you have to attend to Baby’s needs, use baby-centered language, rather than you-centered. For example, instead of “I need to feed the baby now”, try “the baby needs to eat now”. This helps reduce feelings of jealousy or rivalry.

- utilize friends and family to take your older kid(s) on special outings to get their wiggles out. For most kids, they’ll think it’s a treat to get quality time with other adults! An hour at the park can do wonders for everyone’s mood.

- create time and space for one-on-one time with each parent, daily in the beginning of you can. It’s hard sharing a parents attention with a tiny human who can’t play with you yet!

- it’s everyones job to care for Baby! There’s tasks big sibling can do, and many that mom or dad have to do. Siblings can hand you things, help change diapers, and give love! Older siblings can give baby a pacifier, help hold a bottle, or play with toys with Baby. These are all important jobs! ❤️

But please remember, most siblings will go through an adjustment period. They’ll probably regress in some areas, or have big feelings about things they normally wouldn’t. I think the best thing we can do as parents is just meet them where they’re at, be okay with it, and know it won’t last forever! Even if that means your 5yo wants to be swaddled and suck on a pacifier 😆 i promise it’s normal and won’t last forever!

11/03/2025

Learned knowledge ≠ applied knowledge…is something I say often. You can take all the classes, read all the books, and watch all the youtube videos, but translating that into real life isn’t straightforward.

This applies for many aspects of newborn care; breast and bottle feeding, diapering, baby wearing, bathing, soothing, etc.

It translates so much easier when you have a translator by your side, ie a postpartum doula!

I can show you how, using your actual baby, then watch you do it, and give pointers and guidance in real time. This builds your confidence as a new parent, and reduces unnecessary stress and confusion! Why muddle through it if you don’t have to?

Things like; ways to hold your baby, safely passing off your baby to other people, putting your baby in their car seat and the proper fit, using a baby carrier safely and comfortably, ways to burp your baby, how to swaddle, soothing techniques, reading your baby’s cues, nursing positions, getting a good latch, bathing your baby, putting your baby down without waking them up, etc!

10/27/2025

I’ve been a doula for over 6 years, and taken many doula courses, but for the first time I decided to take a postpartum specific course AND finish the certification process! Go me. ☺️

10/23/2025

Sometimes postpartum support consists of making you a meal, giving guidance on baby care and breastfeeding, or drawing you a hot bath. Other times it’s going for a little walk with your baby so you can breathe for a minute and take care of yourself!

This little guy needed a nap and his momma needed to catch up on her to-do list, so off we went! He was sleep 2 mins later 🥰

10/15/2025

I will never take the place of your partner during labor. Not only because I can’t, since I don’t have the same emotional connection as you two do, but that’s just not helpful to either of you.

Instead, me and your partner work together to take care of you, and I’m there to support BOTH of you! I can give your partner guidance on how best to support you, fill in information gaps so they aren’t confused or scared, and do all the little extra things around you that make a difference.

I’ll be the one to refill your cup and offer you water, the one to grab that extra pillow or warm blanket, the one to clean up the bathroom/tub after you get out, or the one to go grab the nurse if needed.

I’ll show your partner how to do hip squeezes and counter pressure, I’ll give them some ideas on affirmations to say, I’ll let them know what it means if you suddenly sound different or if something changes, and I’ll step out of the way when you two need a moment together.

Your partner knows your preferences and desires the best, their presence gives you the most comfort, and their touch floods your system with oxytocin, which helps labor progress!

I could never take their place and don’t want to. But rather, I always enhance your dynamic, give you both peace of mind, and help give both of you an empowered experience of meeting your baby! ❤️

10/14/2025

“My first baby was born in March 2025 and I planned and prepared for an unmedicated hospital birth, with my baby to be delivered by a midwife. My plan for birth support was to have my husband and my mom there, but because my mom lives out of state, we weren’t sure if she would fly up in time for the birth. Enter, Hays! We initially tapped Hays for birth photography and backup Doula support but the plan quickly switched to having them as primarily there for birth support. My labor lasted a total of 25 hours with lots of ups and downs, but I ended up with the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. I am certain that would not have happened without having Hays there for physical and emotional support and encouragement. Most importantly, they helped me to make informed and confident decisions about interventions (having my water broken, and a second round of sterile water injections vs. epidural). They were also able to seamlessly switch gears between doula-ing and birth photography, and we are so so fortunate to have beautiful photos of my labor and the moments after baby girl was born. Any time we reflect on our daughter’s birth, both my husband and I mention that having Hays there was a total game changer! If I have another baby, I hope to have Hays there with us again.“ - Molly

10/11/2025

You don’t always have to speak to communicate. In fact, during labor I am watching body language and facial expressions constantly because it tells me a lot about how you’re feeling emotionally and physically, and what might be helpful in that moment. I often say, I am a big believer in science and facts, I’m not super “crunchy” per se, BUT I’m very intuitive, and that serves me well as your doula! There’s been tons of times I get a hunch or feeling about something, like “I think this thing might be helpful” without a clear reason why, and it’s usually dead on. And I think it’s really cool!

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Anchorage, AK

Website

http://Www.empoweredbirthalaska.com/

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