Arkansas Doulas

11/30/2025

📣 New Research Confirms What Arkansas Families Have Long Known

A major study just published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that doula care is associated with better outcomes for both parents and babies, including:
✔️ Fewer preterm births
✔️ Higher breastfeeding success
✔️ More vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC)
✔️ Better attendance at postpartum visits

Even more importantly, these positive outcomes were consistent regardless of race or insurance status.

Here in Arkansas, where maternal and infant health outcomes still need serious improvement, this research matters. It reinforces what families, providers, and advocates have been saying for years:
✨ Doula care is not a luxury. It is evidence-based, lifesaving support.

We remain committed to supporting the Doula Alliance of Arkansas as they continue to advocate for increasing access to doulas for ALL Arkansas families.

❤️If you’re expecting, planning, or supporting a growing family, we’d love to connect, educate, and walk alongside you.
👉 Learn more about our services, resources, or how to get connected with one of our AMAZING doulas!

Please feel free to read and share the full study directly from the source to help amplify why this work matters.

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

11/27/2025

We're thankful for the chance to nourish new families—with compassion, evidence-based info, and a really good hip squeeze!

Today, we encourage you to focus on nourishing yourself and your loved ones!
Eat the stuffing, skip the guilt, and remember: Rest is not a luxury, it's essential postpartum prep.

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/26/2025

Welcome back to The Hormone Club! It's time for the ultimate VIP and star of the show: Oxytocin- the DJ who drops the beat! She spins the tracks that drive contractions, connection, and all the good vibes.

Understanding how to keep this VIP feeling safe and supported is the #1 Hormone Hack for a smooth, empowering labor. If you know how to dial up Oxytocin, you control the party!

Oxytocin needs the perfect vibe- demanding a safe, dark, and private environment to perform.
If your body feels stressed, scared, or watched, Adrenaline rushes in and shuts down the show!

Create the optimal environment:
Go Dark & Quiet: Dim the lights, whisper, and minimize traffic. Oxytocin loves privacy!

Stay Warm: Cold is a sign of danger (stress), which spikes Adrenaline. Warm blankets, warm water (shower/tub), or socks signal safety.

Touch is Trust: Gentle massage, hip squeezes, or just holding your partner's hand creates immediate Oxytocin spikes.

& Her set isn't over after your baby is born! Oxytocin pivots immediately to flood your brain with love, creating intense attachment to your newborn, and triggering the milk ejection reflex (the "let-down").

11/20/2025

🌟 Doula Spotlight: Celebrating Our Wonderful Alexis Jackson! 🌟

We are so excited to shine a major spotlight on one of the foundational members of our team, and amazing Birth & Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care specialist -Alexis! If you’ve worked with her, you know she embodies warmth, kindness, and incredible support.

Alexis has that beautiful, maternal ability to make everyone in the room feel safe and truly heard. She truly excels as a Postpartum Doula, serving with unwavering postpartum support.

She brings joy to every family she meets and helps them smoothly transition into parenthood with unparalleled expertise! We asked Alexis what inspired her to begin this work, and her journey is truly moving:

“I wanted to feel like I was making a difference somewhere. I came across doula-ing for the first time. Reading more about the work made me reflect on my own experiences... There was so much I didn't know, not only pertaining to infant care but my own recovery as well."

This deep personal connection drove her to make a huge change:
"After prayers and many confirmations, I left my full-time job and decided to become a doula.”
We are so glad you followed your heart Alexis!!!

So, what is it that Alexis enjoys most about being a vital part of a family’s village?

“What I enjoy most is knowing that new and growing families are gaining the knowledge and confidence that I didn't have when I had my children. Hearing and seeing how being part of a family's village is contributing to positive experiences really makes me feel I am doing the work I was led to do.”

We are so proud to have her dedication and incredible spirit as part of Arkansas Doula's team. She is so wonderful at her job, and we love her!

11/20/2025

We are so proud of UAMS and they work they are doing with the midwifery program! We absolutely adore the midwives at UAMS.

UAMS will launch the state’s first nurse-midwifery program next fall to train more midwives who provide women with comprehensive care during pregnancy.

11/15/2025

Ready for the next VIP introduction? Last time, we got the party started, but you can't get past the velvet rope without meeting our guy...

🚪 Prostaglandins: The Bouncer

Club Duty: Checks the door (your cervix) to make sure it's soft, thinned out, and ready for the main event.

Before Oxytocin, The Headliner, can drop her rhythmic beats, The Bouncer has to file all the paperwork. Prostaglandins are locally produced (they live on-site, not flown in!) and their job is to transform your cervix from a firm barrier to a stretchy, open entrance.

Think of it like this: your cervix needs to go from a hard, closed vault to a perfectly "ripe" avocado. If the cervix isn't ripened (or "effaced"), it doesn't matter how hard Oxytocin tries to contract the uterus~the party stalls!

WANT THE ULTIMATE CLUB HACK? 🤫

Since Prostaglandins are locally produced, you can sometimes encourage them! Simple things like walking (pressure on the cervix) or even certain kinds of sexy time (yes, semen contains natural prostaglandins!) are like slipping The Bouncer a little extra cash to open the door faster. 💰

👉 The Bouncer’s Vibe Check: "The paperwork must be complete before we open the door. No exceptions."

Next Week: We finally bring out the star of the show! Get ready for Oxytocin: The Headliner!

11/13/2025

Bougie Birth Prep has entered the chat. 💅 When Arkansas Doulas hosts the Fearless Series, we get cozy, we get wise, and yes, we get non-alcoholic tea champagne for a celebratory toast! 🥂 Cheers to stepping into our power and knowing everything we need for birth. This is how you prep!

11/10/2025

That’s a wrap on the Arkansas Doulas Fearless Series! 🥳 Three days of diving deep into birth, baby, and feeding that felt more like a retreat than a workshop.

Cozy couches, endless snacks, and a “leave your shoes (and your fears!) at the door” kinda feel at . It wasn’t just a class, it was a whole VIBE. ✨

Thanks to our amazing experienced doulas Birth With Hope Arkansas Breastfeeding Clinic Your Family Tree Doula Servicesfor sharing tons of empowering, non-judgmental information.

Ready to feel fearless? Stay tuned for the next one!

11/08/2025

Welcome back to The Hormone Club! Our first member spotlight shines on the hormone that sets the foundation for the entire journey: Relaxin, the Flex Master!

Relaxin is quietly and diligently running the renovation project throughout your pregnancy, ensuring the main structure is ready for the new arrival. She is the reason your body can stretch and accommodate a whole human, and sometimes, the reason your hips feel like they’re staging a rebellion!!

Relaxin starts grooving in pregnancy, with the main goal being to maximize Pelvic Capacity. Relaxin loosens every ligament and joint, but her central project is your pelvic girdle. She is actively dissolving the firmness of the ligaments connecting the p***c bone and those in your low back. This creates flexibility, allowing the pelvic bones to shift, tilt, and spread by millimeters—the exact clearance needed to guide the baby through the birth canal. She's the reason your uterus can expand without structural resistance. Get it girl!

But she's still going during labor~Relaxin works alongside Prostaglandins to give the cervix its final polish—softening and "ripening" it so it can dilate smoothly and efficiently when Oxytocin starts the contractions.

So how can we support our bodies during this big flex?!

Mind Your Movement: Focus on gentle, balanced strength training.

Embrace Symmetry: Keep your knees together when getting out of a car or rolling over in bed to prevent uneven pressure on the hyper-flexible pelvic joints.

Seek Support: A supportive belt or brace can help stabilize your pelvis, providing external stability while Relaxin is busy with her internal duties.

Relaxin reminds us that the body is wonderfully designed for birth. She gives us a massive head start, prepping the entire structure long before the first contraction hits.

We hope you are enjoying this deep dive into Hormones during pregnancy & Labor! Stay tuned for the next Hormone Club Member- Prostaglandins!

11/07/2025

Walking Epidural-it’s a thingggg: Low-dose pain relief for labor that prioritizes mobility and sensation (less numbness) over the complete pain block of a Traditional Epidural. It’s the “hybrid” option for those who want to actively shift positions and feel more during birth. 🤰✨

Also- did you know Arkansas Doulas has a TikTok?!! Go give us a follow!

11/06/2025

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬!!
The process of labor and birth is not a chaotic event; it’s a 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒅 physiological performance- a 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 managed entirely by a complex and powerful crew of chemical messengers!

Meet The 𝑽𝑰𝑷 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒘
Your body uses seven key hormones to orchestrate the entire show, from softening the entrance to locking in the bond.

The Flex Master- Relaxin, softens the joints and ligaments to prepare the space.

The Bouncer-Prostaglandin, ripens the cervix and sends the first signals to start contractions.

The Headliner-Oxytocin, drives contractions and fosters fierce love and attachment.

The Natural Buzz-Endorphins, provides natural pain relief and an altered state of consciousness.

The Clean-Up Crew-Adrenaline & Noradrenaline, provides an energy surge for the final push, then quickly leaves.

The After Party Host- Prolactin, keeps the refreshment (milk) flowing and ensures parental calm.

It's time to level up-
We are going to take this info to the next level and learn how to manipulate your environment to keep the good hormones flowing strong. This is your Hormone Party Hack for a smoother, less interrupted physiological birth.

Join us each week as we meet the real hosts of the show: your hormones.
Understanding who's in charge—and what can disrupt their work—is the key to a smoother, more supported birth.

We'll introduce one to two Club Members each week, giving you Actionable Tips you need to optimize their performance! This isn't just nerdy info—it's birth strategy.

Ready to start hacking your hormones?

👉 Drop a comment below and tell me: Which club member are you most curious about learning to control?!

10/29/2025

Happy Halloween from Arkansas Doulas! 🎃 Don't let approaching parenthood be a "spooky" experience – our Fearless Series classes are here to banish those ghoulish anxieties!

This is your last chance to register for our November Childbirth, Newborn Care, and Feeding classes. We'll help you conjure confidence and knowledge for a truly magical parenting journey. No tricks, just treats!

Classes are start NEXT WEEKEND, November 7th at 6 PM
Location: 17005 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR

Spots are limited, so don't be a scaredy-cat, follow this link and register today !
https://www.arkansasdoulas.com/childbirthclassesinarkansas