By Design Birth Services

03/28/2026

We have a box of L-XXL Maternity clothes for anyone who is interested! Text (517) 320-0231. FCFS

Send a message to learn more

03/23/2026

DUMB WAYS TO DIE BIRTH EDITION: Here are things you should NEVER say to a woman giving birth (if you value your life)😂

-"Please just get the epidural, I can't stand to watch you in pain"
-"You don't get a medal for going unmedicated"
-"Can you quiet down"
-"This part usually doesn't take this long"
-"How did you get pregnant if you can't handle a pelvic exam"
-"Can I have your pillow"
-"How long is this going to take"

What would you add?

03/23/2026

WE ARE BOOKING ALL OF 2026! Reach out today to secure us as your doulas!

03/22/2026

Kate in Bridgerton has a baby bump and we wanted to use this opportunity to talk about pregnancy in the regency era.

Before tests, women knew they were pregnant primarily through signs and symptoms. Missed periods, nausea, and tender breasts BUT one of the most reliable and trustworthy ways was through "the quickening".

The Quickening occurs in the first trimester and was incredibly significant because movement signaled life! They even believed that the quickening was the precise moment a baby was given their soul. It meant her baby was alive in a time where ultrasounds couldn't confirm it beforehand.

It was typically felt after 13 weeks, however in our modern society most women don't report this sensation until after 20 weeks.

Pregnancy is a unifying experience, where women from all backgrounds can share a journey so personal, beautiful, and transformative.

When did you first feel your baby? What did they feel like?

03/21/2026

YOU CAN EAT OR DRINK IN LABOR...YES, EVEN WITH AN EPIDURAL

If your hospital's policy is to not eat or drink in labor, they are VASTLY outdated and not practicing evidence-based care.

No one can keep food or drink from you, it is your right to make an INFORMED decision on it, regardless of hospital policy.

If you are high-risk, those risk factors may look different but you still have the right to make that decision for yourself. Food is fuel and it can give you energy during labor. Your provider should never use the phrase "it's our policy" to justify a medical practice. They should walk you through the risks and respect your choice.

One primary risk is a concern of aspiration if you were put under anesthesia for a c-section. However, research has revealed this risk to be incredibly low.

"In a Cochrane review, researchers combined evidence from five trials involving a total of 3,103 participants who were randomly assigned to eat/drink or not during labor (Singata et al. 2013). Everyone was in active labor and at low risk of needing a Cesarean...They concluded that there is no proven harm or benefit in restricting low-risk people from consuming food and drink during labor."

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-eating-drinking-labor/

03/20/2026

Karina and I logged 11,000 miles in doula work in 2025.

Our planet's circumference is 24,000 miles.

No wonder it felt like we were constantly on the road. 🤣

03/20/2026

A good nurse is an AMAZING birth asset, but they aren't a doula. A doula is an AMAZING birth asset, but they aren't a nurse...

You see, these roles are entirely different and BOTH working together in service of the mom is ultimately what can lead to the BEST birth experience.

A nurse and a doula shouldn't be compared. A nurse cannot give you continuous care and a doula cannot give you medical care. These roles are different and that is GOOD because collaboration allows them BOTH to devote more time to their own role!

03/20/2026

WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A DOULA

This is a common question and the answer is pretty simple, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

A doula has resources for every step of pregnancy!

💛Want help with morning sickness? We got resources, recipes, life hacks, and teas.
💛Need help switching/finding a provider? We got you!
💛Want to AVOID sciatica and round ligament pain? We can help give you exercises in your first trimester to help you have a more comfortable pregnancy.

By hiring a doula early you ENSURE support from someone you connect well with. You have longer to get to know them, more resources available to you, and someone to lean on through every step.

03/20/2026

Hate to break it to you, but having an unmedicated birth is more about you learning to regulate your nervous system than it is having a high pain tolerance. 🤭

Send a message to learn more

03/14/2026

This week Karina Gerbers welcomed her little one into the world ❤️

“Things don’t always go to plan but the Lord is faithful.

Della Jean 6lbs 10oz born March 12 🫶

Prayers for her please as she is in the NICU with some complications.”

Pray for Karina and Della’s recovery and for peace and smoothness in the days ahead

03/12/2026

Hey Everyone + Business Update!!!!🥰

Wow, it has been a bit since we've posted, but we have a lot in store in 2026.

We have had a SLEW of labors less than 2 hours each in January. So many mamas and little ones. In February Karina and Elizabeth took a much needed staycation and Karina is awaiting her little one any day now! (Picture taken by Moments with Elizabeth Mae)

Also, Elizabeth is now trained in Spinning Babies which is a HUGE milestone and will serve many of our families in the upcoming year. In fact, the first time she tested out her new-found knowledge the mamas water BROKE 🤣 It is CRAZY how connected the mind and body are to one another.

In 2025 we served around 35 families and learned a ton. We had some of the fastest, smoothest, and hardest births we've ever experienced and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

In that process, we have learned a lot about what we want our business to look like more long term and have begun to adjust our approach, philosophy, and support plans to better meet the needs of our clients and our community.

What we have realized is this, women need a village more than they need an educator. They need a sisterhood, they need nurtured, and they need a friend. They need women who are willing to walk through their fears and gently remind them of their own strength.

Our business in 2026 is taking a shift. A shift towards helping women be bold, confident in their bodies, and helping them take initiative in their role as a mother so that they TRUST their God-given instincts to know and love their baby well. Our goal is to foster love and connection, wherever the journey goes.

Practically speaking, our new model will seek to prioritize the following:
-Peace and self-awareness by processing through fear and building confidence through truth.
-Educating on exercises throughout every stage of pregnancy to prevent sciatica, round ligament pain, and prepare the body for a smooth physiologic labor.
-More supplementary educational materials that we curate
-Baby Wearing and Breastfeeding taught to every mama prenatally, before the busy-ness of motherhood arrives.
-Nervous system regulation exercises