Tay's Village

11/01/2025

Today is November 1st! Which means that the holidays & the end of year births are fast approaching 😍 It's crunch time, girlfriend 🍂

If you're having a baby before the end of the year, how are you feeling? Eager? Overwhelmed? Excited? Anxious?

If you're having a baby in the new year, what are you working on to prepare?! Are you cleaning your house? Prepping freezer meals? Having celebrations with loved ones to welcome baby? Are you enrolled in a Childbirth Education class that aligns with your birth goals?!

If you're one of my friends who are planning a homebirth, have you told me about your plans yet?! Can I help you with anything? Should we coordinate a time to eat nutritionally dense snacks while discussing the hopes & dreams you have for this experience???

As your neighborhood birth nerd, I'm here for you! Whether you're looking for someone to hold space for your feelings about birth, someone to walk with you as you prep for your best birth, or someone to hold your hand as you go through the portal of birth - I'm your girl 😘

10/18/2025

5 years ago 》today ♡

I could yap your ears off with all the s**z I've learned about birth & biological norms in the last 5 years, yeesh!

10/11/2025

Midwifery Care is where it's at! Check out this post outlining more info about how midwives care for moms & families. I'm always here to point you in the direction of a caring midwife in our area if you're looking for one! 🥰

A couple weeks ago, we had the privilege of visiting Minnesota North College to talk with the Early Childhood Education class — and wow, they asked some really good questions.

It got us thinking… if they were wondering these things, chances are others are too.

So, in honor of National Midwifery Week, here are 10 of the most frequently asked questions about midwifery care.

1️⃣ What is a midwife?
A trained healthcare professional providing personalized, evidence-based care through pregnancy, birth & postpartum. From your first visit to six weeks after birth, you’re not just a chart — you’re family.

2️⃣ What kind of families do midwives work with?
All kinds. From teenagers, to the girl next door, to doctors and physicians — we care for families from every walk of life.

3️⃣ Are midwives “anti-doctor”?
Not at all. We collaborate with physicians and specialists when needed — it’s about teamwork and safety.

4️⃣ Is midwifery care safe?
Yes. For low-risk pregnancies, it’s a safe, evidence-based option. We spend time with you, get to know your body, and catch small changes early.

5️⃣ Do you still get ultrasounds, labs & tests?
Absolutely. You’ll receive all the same essentials — just in longer, more relational visits.

6️⃣ What comfort options do I have during labor?
Movement, breathwork, hydrotherapy, massage, and position changes — midwives are experts in natural comfort measures.

7️⃣ What if something goes wrong?
We’re trained to recognize concerns early and make safe transfers when needed. Our team is certified in NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) and CPR and carries emergency medications to keep both mom and baby safe.

8️⃣ What makes midwifery care different?
We view birth as a normal process — pairing that belief with evidence-based care & heart-centered support.

9️⃣ Can partners and families be involved?
Absolutely. We love when partners, siblings & families are part of the story.

🔟 Do midwives only support birth?
Not at all. We also provide prenatal, postpartum & women’s health care.

If one of these questions resonated, drop it in the comments or reach out — we’d love to answer more questions!

08/08/2025

Happy World Breastfeeding Week to my fellow milk makers

I'm so proud of us & all of the work we've put in to get here ♡ From being a first-time-mom who didn't meet her breastfeeding goals to nursing well into toddler-hood, I've learned a lot along this journey!

I'm always here for any woman going through it who might want a listening ear or to ask advice. I'm not a Lactation Consultant, but I can gladly help you find one 😘

07/12/2025

let's liberate ourselves & the next generation ♡

05/26/2025

Mark your calendars! 🗓

As summer approaches, so does the (re)start of our ● Women’s Circle ●

The plan this year is similar to last year…
• Gathering at my house on Sunday afternoons ☀️ (4-6 PM)
• Enjoying one another’s company 🫶🏻
• I’ll provide snacks & sips 😋
(you can certainly bring something to share if you feel called to do so, no pressure)

But also…
• We’re going to add a bit of crafting to our connection time! 🎨 (simple activities that can be completed in an afternoon)
• I have a few ideas in mind, but I’m totally open to suggestions if you have them!

○ Women’s Circle ○
2025 Dates
● June 8
● July 6
● July 27
● August 24
● September 28

We will use Bethel Lutheran Church as a backup location in the event of icky weather.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! Bring a friend - the more the merrier ♡ I hope you’ll join our circle 🥰

05/11/2025

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful mamas in my life 🤍

and "thank you" to those who serve moms & families so lovingly 🥰

05/09/2025

Last week, I traveled across the country to meet a bunch of strangers from the internet. Except, these people aren’t really strangers - they’re women I admire and am so proud to stand beside (even when we’re far apart). They’re my sisters in birth work.

We spent a weekend gathered on the side of a mountain - sharing laughs, shedding tears, holding each other in healing, cuddling babies, crafting like girls at summer camp, simmering in the hot tub, and breaking bread together. There were soul-level connections happening all over the place. My cup was filled to overflowing with love & sisterhood.

When I first joined Birth Belongs To Women a year and a half ago, I was kind of interested in the mentorship, but I was mostly seeking the community. This group started with the blossoming of a beautiful friendship between Jess & Kallie and quickly grew into a field of wildflowers - women from all over the world with different backgrounds & passions, but a shared mission to serve women & families in birth. I’m beyond blessed to be connected with these humans ♡

Some of my favorite things from the trip…
♡ Meeting 40+ other women who fiercely support the mother-baby dyad
♡ Drinking coffee in the mountains 3 mornings in a row
♡ Watching the founders of BBTW interact in-person (one was glowing with new life growing inside, one was giving me side-eye for almost getting abducted by my Uber driver - both were fun to witness)
♡ Holding my friends’ babies
♡ Seeing the meticulous planning all come together
♡ Sitting in circle with a bunch of girlies & babies while experiencing my first mother’s blessing & red thread ceremony
♡ Hanging out with (some of) my favorite study buddies in the Matrona midwifery cohort
♡ Learning how to make friendship bracelets
♡ Sipping sweet tea with supper every night
♡ Being witnessed by women I admire / witnessing them with awe

The moments shared will be held near & dear to my heart for years to come 🥰 I can’t wait for the next gathering “with women” 🤍

04/27/2025

if Tay from 5 years ago could meet the Tay of today, she would cringe at me, for sure 😆

tell me in the comments - what's something you love today that you used to think was cringey?

04/04/2025

Now that I work full time in an office, I wanted to have a little bit of green at my desk to brighten things up. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to bring 2 of my house plants into work with me.

Did I consider the fact that it was -20° on the day I decided to transport them? Nope.

Did they wither and nearly die almost immediately when exposed to the brutally cold air? 🥶 Yup.

I was so sad thinking that I killed my little plants 😥

Before discarding them completely, I decided to trim back the wilted bits. By the time I was done cutting, there was hardly anything left!

I put them in the sun every day ☀️
I watered them now & then 💧
Eventually, new leaves shot up 🌱

I decided to follow their example by reminding myself that it's okay to shed past versions of myself. Growth is good 🥰

03/15/2025

I went to a newly formed book club this past week. We all read a popular book by a trendy author (except for that one in the group who didn’t make it to the ending, so she looked up spoilers on TikTok instead - IT HAPPENS) 📖

During our meet up, we all added each other on Goodreads and then went around the room talking about our favorite genres of books and what we’re currently reading. Two of the women who are very good friends were talking about how one of them LOVED a book she read recently (instant 5-star rating when she finished it) and how the other decided to DNF 2 chapters in and then gave it a 1-star rating. We talked about how some adore romance books while others said they prefer historical fiction or thriller/suspense novels. I couldn’t help but notice the parallels in having reading preferences and having birth preferences ||

Given the choice, I’m gonna pick a fantasy series over a self-help book most of the time. Not because self-help books are bad, but because I prefer to get lost in a fantasy world.

Based on my lived experiences, I’d choose homebirth over giving birth in the medical system any day. Do I think people choosing to meet their baby in the hospital are wrong? Nope - I think we’re all doing the most to be in our preferred setting.

Do you choose to read the same exact books that your bestie reads? Or do you find your next book based on your individual preferences? Are you making your birth choices in the same way?

Tell me what you’re reading in the comments below! OR tell me the title of the last book you put on the DNF pile 📚