By Grace Through Faith

11/19/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GuDKdAcW5/

11/17/2025

For some perspective

🤰 UTERUS: BEFORE vs. AFTER PREGNANCY

Before Pregnancy
• 📏 Size of a small fist
• ⚖️ Weighs around 50–70g
• 🟣 Sits low in the pelvis

During Late Pregnancy
• 🍉 Grows up to 500x bigger
• 📏 Reaches the size of a watermelon
• 🫀 Pushes organs upward to make space

After Birth
• ⬇️ Shrinks quickly in the first few days
• 🩸 Cramping = uterus closing & healing
• ⏳ Returns close to pre-pregnancy size in 6–8 weeks

11/17/2025

Laureen Gamba, Certified Doula & Childbirth Educator**
By Grace Through Faith Birth Services: Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator
Western North Carolina

Laureen Gamba is a highly trained and experienced doula serving families across Western North Carolina through both private and community-based care models. She provides comprehensive prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum support to families in rural, underserved, and high-need communities throughout Buncombe County and the surrounding mountain regions.

Laureen received her formal childbirth education and doula training through the Hartland College Department of Midwifery Ministry, completing an intensive, four-week program that covered reproductive anatomy, fetal development, labor progression, childbirth education, comfort measures, hydrotherapy, newborn care, maternal health, postpartum recovery, and breastfeeding support. Her training also includes trauma-informed practices, advocacy, and understanding hospital protocols, preparing her to support families in home births, birth center births, hospital births, and surgical births (C-section).

In addition, Laureen completed the Sisters Caring 4 Sistas Community-Based Doula Program, a nationally recognized model designed to reduce disparities and improve maternal-infant outcomes. Through this program, she gained advanced skills in:

Serving families affected by poverty, trauma, substance use, and housing instability

Providing culturally humble, respectful care

Supporting rural and medically underserved communities

Navigating systemic barriers and advocating for equitable treatment

Strengthening continuity of care from pregnancy through the postpartum period

Laureen brings eight years of hands-on experience supporting births within her community, having served families since 2017. Her work integrates evidence-based education, emotional support, physical comfort measures, resource navigation, and steady, compassionate presence throughout the perinatal journey.

While her Christian faith informs the way she serves—with dignity, respect, and compassion for every family—Laureen’s care is inclusive and centered on the needs of each individual she supports. She welcomes families from all backgrounds and belief systems, emphasizing safety, empowerment, informed decision-making, and healthier birth outcomes.

Laureen is committed to expanding access to perinatal support across Western North Carolina’s rural and mountain communities, where distance, poverty, and limited maternity care access create significant barriers for expectant parents. Through By Grace Through Faith Birth Services, she strives to provide high-quality, family-centered doula care that honors each family's unique story and strengthens maternal and infant well-being across the region.

11/17/2025

Serving Families Since 2013 — Proudly Local to Asheville & WNC

Hi neighbors! I’m sharing this on behalf of my husband, Michael Gamba, and our family-run agency, Gamba Family Financial — partnered with Symmetry Financial Group and powered by Quilty.

Michael and I have been licensed life insurance agents since December 2013, faithfully serving families for more than a decade. Although we have clients across multiple states, our family has been local to the Asheville and Western North Carolina area since 2021, and this community is truly home to us.

While we both hold licenses, Michael is the primary agent and the heart of our agency. His passion has always been simple and sincere:
to make sure every family — regardless of income or pre-existing conditions — has access to protection.

This isn’t just business for him.
It’s a ministry of helping people, especially those who think they can’t get coverage or who have been discouraged elsewhere.

Michael specializes in:

✔️ Affordable life insurance for every budget
✔️ Finding coverage for hard-to-insure cases
✔️ Compassionate guidance for families with pre-existing conditions
✔️ Policies with living benefits
✔️ Cash-value and retirement-building options
✔️ Virtual appointments in NC, SC, GA, VA, and FL

For Michael, every family deserves dignity, options, and support — not pressure. He takes the time to explain everything clearly so you can make the best decisions for your loved ones.

📬 Contact Michael Directly:
Email: Gambasfg@gmail.com
Cell: 512-879-7914
Office: 828-505-1891

— Laureen (for Michael), Gamba Family Financial

11/16/2025

🌷 A Beautiful Recommendation for Expecting Mothers 🌷

I truly love this book. My dear friend Tamara wrote it with such a deep passion for God’s presence in the birth room and a powerful understanding of physiological birth. As a fellow Christian doula, I can tell you firsthand—this book is an incredible encouragement for any expecting mother who desires a peaceful, faith-centered birth experience.

If you’re preparing your heart, mind, and body for labor, please consider purchasing this beautiful read. It is filled with truth, grace, and practical wisdom that supports both your spiritual walk and your journey into motherhood.

📘 “Invite God Into Your Birth Room”
👉 https://books2read.com/invitegodintoyourbirthroom

It is truly so, so good. Highly recommended! 💕

Invite God Into Your Birth Room: The Art of Spiritual Strategy for the Childbearing Year by Tamara D. Wrenn

11/16/2025

Are Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong Modern or Ancient? A Christian Perspective.

Many people today say that yoga, tai chi, and qi gong are “just exercise.” But when we look at their history, we see something very different — and as Christians, it’s important to understand the roots of what we’re participating in.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

🌿 Yoga is ancient — more than 3,000 years old.
It was never created as exercise.
Its original purpose was Hindu worship, altered consciousness, and union with other deities.

🌿 Tai Chi is several hundred years old — rooted in Taoist philosophy.
Created in the 1600s, it is a Taoist martial art based on yin/yang and the movement of “chi” (spiritual energy).

🌿 Qi Gong as practiced today is actually modern.
The Chinese government standardized it in the 1950s, based on older Taoist breathing practices, still centered around manipulating “qi” (life-force energy).

As believers, we are called to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), avoid the spiritual systems of other religions (Deuteronomy 12:30–32), and guard our hearts from practices rooted in false worship or energy manipulation.

✔️ Movement is good.
✔️ Stretching is good.
✔️ Strengthening the body is good.

But spiritual practices rooted in other faith systems are not ours to redeem.
Our peace and grounding come from the Holy Spirit, not from energy systems or altered consciousness techniques.

May we walk in wisdom, honoring God with our bodies and staying set apart in all things. 💛

Laureen
By Grace Through Faith Birth Services: Certified Doula & Childbirth Educator
“Faith-Filled Birth Support for Every Mother’s Journey”

11/14/2025

✨ Professional Christian Doula Statement of Practice

By Grace Through Faith Birth Services: Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator
Faith-Filled Birth Support for Every Mother’s Journey

Purpose & Calling

As a Christian doula, I provide professional pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support rooted in the Word of God and aligned with His divine design for motherhood. My work is grounded in compassion, Scripture, evidence-based education, and a reverence for life. I serve each family with excellence, dignity, and humility, following the example of the Hebrew midwives who protected and honored the sacredness of birth (Exodus 1:15–21).

Scope of Christian Doula Care

My role includes:

Emotional, physical, and educational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum

Advocacy support that promotes respectful, trauma-informed, evidence-based care

Assistance in navigating policies, options, and procedures

Personalized childbirth education from a biblical and physiological perspective

Guidance in preparing spiritually, mentally, and physically for birth

Postpartum support including newborn care basics, mother care, and breastfeeding support

Providing a calm, peaceful, Christ-centered presence during all stages of care

I do not perform any medical tasks, diagnose, provide clinical care, or offer medical advice. I work collaboratively with all care providers and support each family’s chosen birth setting.

Faith-Based Commitment

My practice is firmly rooted in Christian values. I honor God’s design for:

Pregnancy

Labor and delivery

Birth physiology

The family unit

Breastfeeding

Postpartum healing and bonding

The sanctity of life

I offer prayer, Scripture, encouragement, and Christ-centered support when welcomed by the family. I respect each family’s beliefs and provide care without judgment, pressure, or spiritual imposition.

Spiritual Safety: Practices I Do Not Use

As a Christian doula, I do not incorporate or promote:

New Age or occult practices

Energy work, Reiki, or chakra-based modalities

Birth altars, goddess or deity invocations

Manifestation rituals or spiritual “visualizations”

Hypnosis or any altered-state techniques rooted in non-biblical spirituality

Astrology, moon rituals, or divination

Wiccan, pagan, or shamanic birth practices

My care is spiritually safe, biblically aligned, and free from practices contrary to the Christian faith.

Client Autonomy & Respect

I support informed decision-making and respect every family’s cultural background, personal values, and choices for their birth. I do not impose my beliefs; rather, I offer faith-filled support when invited. All care is provided with professionalism, confidentiality, and compassion.

Collaborative Practice

I work respectfully with all providers—midwives, physicians, nurses, and community health professionals. My goal is to promote unity, evidence-based care, and positive birth outcomes.
As a Community-Based Doula through Sistas Caring 4 Sistas and a private Christian doula through my own practice, I uphold high standards of integrity, humility, cultural respect, and trauma-informed service.

Inclusivity & Community Mission

While my practice is faith-based, my care is offered to all families regardless of race, background, or belief system. I serve with sensitivity, cultural humility, and a commitment to equity—especially for mothers navigating complex challenges or systemic barriers.

My Promise to Families

I commit to:

Serve with compassion, excellence, and a Christ-centered heart

Uphold spiritual integrity and biblical principles

Offer evidence-based education and consistent, trustworthy support

Respect each family’s autonomy and values

Maintain professionalism and confidentiality

Protect the sacredness of birth and motherhood

Be a steady source of peace, encouragement, and strength

Birth is holy work. Motherhood is sacred.
It is my honor to walk beside families as they welcome life according to God’s perfect design.

11/13/2025

🌬️ Breath of Life Birthworkers Association 🌬️

Hey everyone! 💛

Just a friendly reminder that our Town Hall Meeting is happening this Saturday, November 15th from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM (EST) on Zoom 💻

We’re asking all members to join us if you’re available — your presence and voice truly matter!

During this meeting, we’ll:
✨ Discuss our core values, mission, and vision
✨ Introduce the leadership team and their roles
✨ Share new membership opportunities and organizational updates
✨ Explore new ways of communication
✨ Talk about the 2026 Breath of Life Conference and potential location 🌎
✨ And of course, make time for you — to share more about who you are, what you’d love to see, and how Breath of Life can best serve you 🌿

There’s so much happening and so much to look forward to — you don’t want to miss it!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, November 15th
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM EST
📍 Location: Zoom (link will be shared soon)

Let’s come together in unity, purpose, and growth as we continue to breathe life into this beautiful community of birthworkers! 💫

11/13/2025

My Training, Experience, and Heart for This Ministry

By Grace Through Faith Birth Services: Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator
Faith-Filled Birth Support for Every Mother’s Journey

I am a Certified Christian Doula and Childbirth Educator trained through the Hartland College Department of Midwifery Ministry, where I completed the intensive Christian Childbirth Educator & Doula Certification program. This biblically grounded, four-week course provided a deep and comprehensive foundation in the ministry of childbirth. My training covered everything from reproductive anatomy, fetal development, and labor progression to comfort measures, hydrotherapy, natural remedies, postpartum recovery, newborn care, breastfeeding, and informed maternal rights. It also firmly equipped me to recognize and avoid New Age pitfalls as I minister to families in a Christ-centered way.

In addition to my private doula work, I completed the rigorous Sistas Caring 4 Sistas Community-Based Doula Training Program, which strengthened my ability to serve families in need across Buncombe County and beyond. This training deepened my understanding of health disparities, trauma-informed support, advocacy, cultural humility, and the role doulas play in improving maternal and infant outcomes — especially in underserved, rural, and high-risk communities.

My experience serving families began long before formal certification. Since 2017, I have supported numerous births for family and friends — learning, praying, studying, and showing up for mothers long before I ever held a title. Over the years, I have strengthened my skill set in:

Prenatal education & childbirth preparation

Labor support, comfort measures, and emotional companionship

Postpartum care, bonding, breastfeeding support & newborn basics

Advocacy, communication, and helping families navigate providers

Christ-centered prayer support and faith-based encouragement

Evidence-based education that empowers parents to make informed choices

Every part of my journey — personal experience, formal training, biblical study, and Spirit-led transformation — has shaped me into the doula I am today.

But more than credentials, my heart is what anchors this ministry.

God has called me to serve the families of Western North Carolina — from Buncombe and Madison to McDowell, Yancey, Mitchell, and all the surrounding mountain communities. These hills are full of mothers who deserve compassionate, personalized, Christ-centered care, whether they are first-time parents, seasoned families, private clients, or mothers receiving community-based support. My calling is to meet them where they are.

I serve because birth is holy.
I serve because motherhood is sacred.
I serve because every family deserves care rooted in truth, love, dignity, and the peace of Christ.

This work is not just my career — it is my calling, my ministry, and the place where God has woven together my training, my experience, my compassion, and my obedience to Him. My heart is to walk with families from pregnancy to postpartum with the same gentleness, wisdom, and courage of the biblical midwives — honoring life, supporting mothers, strengthening families, and giving glory to God in every birth I attend.

11/12/2025

The Safety & Benefits of Home Birth in Western North Carolina

Faith-Filled, Evidence-Based, and Centered on You and Your Baby

Planned home birth can be a safe, peaceful, and empowering choice for healthy mothers under the care of trained and licensed birth professionals. When supported by qualified midwives and a certified doula, low-risk home births show excellent outcomes and fewer unnecessary interventions.

What Makes Home Birth Safe

Licensed and experienced midwife (Certified Nurse-Midwife or Certified Professional Midwife in good standing)

Thorough prenatal screening to confirm low-risk status

Clear emergency transfer plan to a nearby hospital (Mission, Pardee, McDowell, or local WNC facility)

Essential supplies on hand: oxygen, IV fluids, newborn resuscitation, postpartum medications

Postpartum visits within 24–48 hours for feeding, newborn assessment, and maternal wellness

Benefits Families Experience

Continuity of care from the same trusted team

Lower rates of induction, epidural, cesarean, and episiotomy

Calm, familiar environment that supports the natural flow of labor

High breastfeeding success and early bonding

Spiritual freedom to pray, worship, and welcome your baby God’s way

Who Is a Good Candidate Healthy, low-risk mother carrying one head-down baby at term, without major medical complications or pregnancy risk factors.

“When the time comes for the baby to be born, the Lord Himself opens the womb.” — Isaiah 66:9

By Grace Through Faith Birth Services: Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator
Faith-Filled Birth Support for Every Mother’s Journey
📍 Serving all of Western North Carolina
🌐 bygracethroughfaithbirthservices.com
📧 Gracethroughfaithbirthservices@gmail.com
📞 (512) 803-3775

Birth Services, Doula, Birth Coach, Pregenancy

11/11/2025

By Grace Through Faith Birth Services is a faith-centered birth ministry dedicated to supporting mothers through every stage of their pregnancy journey. Rooted in the servant-hearted care exemplified by the biblical midwives, I strive to provide compassionate, Christ-centered guidance and support to help you feel empowered, informed, and cherished throughout this sacred season of life.

I offer comprehensive doula services for the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods, ensuring that you and your family feel supported every step of the way. As a certified childbirth educator, I provide personalized education to help you prepare for labor, birth, and the early parenting experience with confidence. My breastfeeding support is designed to encourage and equip mothers as they begin their nursing journey, ensuring they feel supported in meeting their goals.

Whether you are preparing for your first baby or welcoming another precious blessing, By Grace Through Faith Birth Services is here to walk alongside you with faith, wisdom, and unwavering support. Together, we will honor the miracle of life and the beauty of God’s design for birth.