Crown & Cradle: Birth to Beginnings

05/22/2023

💯 yes! 🥰🤩🤣

07/16/2022

🌟🥰💪🏻

📸PhotoCred: Joselyn B. Photography📸

Upright breech birth with gentle hands awaiting.
Because we are capable.
We are intuitive.
We are everything that is badass!

-Love,
Flor Cruz

07/13/2022

The more you know! 🌈

Nope 👇

Some facts about nuchal cords:

🔆 Nuchal cords are incredibly common, occurring in an estimated 1 of 3 births.

🔆 They are very rarely dangerous.

🔆 Fetuses receive oxygen through the umbilical cord, not by breathing through the mouth or nose, so a cord around the neck is not cutting off their air like it would for you or me. If the cord is left in tact, the baby can still be receiving oxygen from the placenta for several minutes after birth.

🔆 Most babies with a nuchal cord have one that is very loose and it can be simply slipped over the head after birth. There is usually no indication of the nuchal cord at all.

🔆 The main way for a nuchal cord to be harmful (if the cord is healthy) is if it is wrapped multiple times and is so tight that it compresses itself, thereby decreasing blood flow inside, or if there is a true knot so tight that it does the same (rare). The cord would have to be extremely tight to cut off blood flow between the body and brain.

🔆 Nuchal cord is very difficult to identify before birth, even with ultrasound.

🔆 You do not need to have a c-section solely due to a suspected nuchal cord.

🔆 Medications given during a birth induction/augmentation can cause erratic & extra strong contractions, causing heart decelerations in the fetus. If a c-section is performed and a nuchal cord is discovered, it is frequently blamed (though the cause was more likely the induction meds). This can lead the mother to feel her baby was "saved" by the hospital staff, when they may have actually been the ones to CAUSE the issues the baby was "saved" from.

🔆 A healthy umbilical cord is filled with a gelatinous substance called Wharton's Jelly that protects the cord vessels as a fetus twists and turns its way inside the uterus.

If you want to read up on the evidence on nuchal cord, visit my Instagram account () and scroll back to my post of that name.

06/11/2022

I’ve always thought it was so odd for them to step out. 😅

02/18/2022

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

This image of British ultrarunner Sophie Power breastfeeding her 3-month-old son, Cormac, was taken at a rest stop 16 hours into the 106-mile trail race. ❤

“Oh my god, I was in agony," she told of this moment. "Cormac usually feeds every three hours, and it took me 16 to get to Courmayeur where he could first meet me, so I was hand expressing everywhere I could en route. I was so relieved he was hungry!”

Sophie took the race slow and steady and made subtle changes to the way she ran because she was breastfeeding.

"In a typical race I would get in and out of the aid stations as quickly as possible, but here I had to focus on keeping down enough food for me and for Cormac, and resting,” she said.

She completed the intense race through France, Italy and Switzerland in 43 hours and 33 minutes. 💪💪💪

(📷: for )
(✏️ )

02/03/2022

👏🏻🙌🏻💯⭐️

01/21/2022

🌟 New for 2022-

•We have classes and education starting up this year! I am so excited to be making connections and partnering with some amazing people to have accessible education for labor, lactation, womb support, and tween menstrual workshops!! I'll be announcing the availability for those as we get dates set in stone!

•This is also the official announcement to introduce our new sliding scale system. See the long winded details below!

As a birth keeper I believe that everyone should have access to the support they want and need during their pregnancies and birth. I recognize the chaos that our current economic system has created, and envision another model in which every birthing person is supported and empowered and truly are the owners of their births. However, while we work toward a new model in which the rights of birthing people are paramount, accountable institutions are created, and equitable birth support is accessible for everyone, I realize we are not there yet. The sliding scale I am implementing is one way of acknowledging differences in wealth, income, costs, and actively addresses the economic disparities in our communities and society. The sliding scale is a way to say no to the way things are and yes to the way they can be, while providing support for everyone. I have had mentors discourage me from using it, but what I want more than anything is to help people and make sure that services are accessible to anyone interested. I recognize that this isn't going to change the world, but it can hopefully help tidy up our corner of it.

This scale is intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of our financial resources and accept or extend a hand. While I ask you to take these factors into consideration, please don’t stress about it. Pay what you feel is right. I will not ask questions or quiz you on your payment choices, or ask you to prove anything. I trust you to have authority for your own complicated needs.

I recognize that some people may not be able to afford the low end of the scale, and I am in the process of building a partnership with a local outreach here in our community to assist those people. If you believe you fall into this category, please let me know and we can work something out.

I appreciate so much the support that I've received from friends, family, and even strangers on this journey. My goal is to be able to offer support to anyone who wishes to have it, regardless of position or opinion.
Thank you for supporting my business.

01/03/2022

I wanted to take a few minutes to praise and introduce this amazing human.
Meet Ashley Ledford. Over the years of knowing her I have trusted her to not only feed other babies who's mothers may need a supplement, but also my own.
After she hired me to assist with the birth of her newest addition last year, I knew immediately she was meant for the birth world and I have been manifesting a partnership with her since that day.

Currently she has the most amazing home learning center that is allowing her to be present with her babies, and birth work may not be a full-time adventure just yet.

BUT- for now, I am officially introducing her as my backup doula. When a family emergency arose two days prior to a client's due date, she was happy to jump on the opportunity to be back in the delivery room. I wouldn't have trusted many other people to do that for me or my client. She went above and beyond and I am so thrilled that it worked out the way that it did.

I am so excited to have her on board and I can't wait to see where this year goes for Crown & Cradle.