Doula Wren

09/01/2025

I NEED MODELS!

I am in search of two groups of people:

1. Past newborn clients who have given birth at Wi******er Medical Center within the last 4 years 👶🏽👶🏼

2. Individuals who WILL be giving birth at WMC this fall. 🍁 🤰🏻

Why? We are starting a new wall project! The NICU is done and bringing hope and joy to the families and staff that frequent, and now it’s time to turn our focus to the walls of Mother Baby! Can you believe that the babies up now are 10, 11 and 12 years old?!? 😳

SL Hunter Photography is partnering with Wi******er Medical Center Foundation and local families to GIFT over 15 large format metal prints in 2026 ♥️ These pictures are a huge blessing not only to the families that get to see them when they deliver, but they bring encouragement to the doctors, nurses and other staff that often have good days, bad days and all the days in between! This will be my 4th project with WMC and I couldn’t be more excited! 🤩

Please visit my website and fill out the contact form, and put MOTHER/BABY in the contact subject line if you are interested in being a part of this project 🥰


www.slhunterphotography.com

12/31/2024

2024 STATS
*including 1 birth from late-2023*

🤰 5 moms supported
💙 3 baby boys
🎀 2 baby girls
👶 4 babies with names beginning with "E"
🗓 0 babies born after their due date (!!!) -- and 2 born on their due date
💛 1 C-section, 2 inductions, 3 epidurals

(On a professional note, I also got NRP (neonatal resuscitation) and CPR certified this year! 🙌)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: it is such an HONOR supporting you all through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I can't believe I get to be invited into this special time in your life, and be there with you through your hard work of labor. I'm amazed by the strength, vulnerability, and determination I see every time I support a mom through birth.

Can't wait to support more of you in 2025! Happy New Year!✨

08/05/2024

Honored to be featured in an alumni spotlight from my alma mater, Patrick Henry College!

Lauren Fernandez shares her journey from attending PHC to starting her doula business.

03/24/2024

Welcome, Baby Boy! 🩵 It was a rough labor, but you and your Mama were such troopers and handled everything so well. Your doula loves you!

03/22/2024

It's World Doula Week! 🥳

Celebrating my fellow local doulas serving the WV Eastern Panhandle and Wi******er area! 💛

Brandi Cook
Mtm Doula
The Ivy Doula Group, Birth and Lactation Support
Womb Space Postpartum Care
Visitation Birth Doula
Marigold Birth Services

Love being in a community with all of you! Tag any others I missed!

03/08/2024

3 topics to discuss with your doula...

GOALS
Do you want a natural birth? Do you want to avoid an outcome from a previous birth? Do you want your partner to be involved in a specific way? Your doula will be able to serve you best when she has heard what you most want from the birth.

And don’t feel pressure to say “a healthy baby”--we know you want that!

FEARS & CONCERNS
Many women enter birth with fear, either because of the way they have seen birth portrayed or because of a previous experience they haven’t yet processed. A doula is a great person to discuss your fears with. Together, you can process your concerns and develop an empowering plan for a happier birth.

TYPE OF SUPPORT
Do you want physical support, like counter pressure or massage? Do you want reassurance when you are doubting yourself? Do you want help understanding labor and your options?

A doula can provide all this kind of support! But everyone will be more confident knowing what kind of support means the most to you!

03/06/2024

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

03/06/2024

Things to include in your birth plan/preferences...

Who do you want with you?
What comfort measures and tools do you want available to you at each stage of labor?
How do feel about pain medications?
Are there routine procedures that you would like to decline?
What positions would you like to be able to deliver in?
If interventions are considered, what options would you like to exhaust first?
In the situation of an unplanned intervention, what would make the experience more pleasant for you? (e.g. "Gentle Cesarean")
What do you want to happen or not happen during the first few hours postpartum (the "Golden Hours")?

One frequently asked question:

"Birth is unpredictable. Isn't it useless to have a birth plan?" No! A birth plan is a good way to make sure your care team, partner, and doula know what is important to you. It helps determine what the "default" will be, and what would require more discussion before deviating from the initial plan. But if it helps you, think of them as birth PREFERENCES, not a strict birth plan.

As your doula, I will help you craft your birth preferences by helping you understand your options, providing evidence-based information, and asking questions to help you determine your priorities.

03/04/2024

Resources I wish all moms knew about in Martinsburg...

The Birth Collective - West Virginia Eastern Panhandle page - Join to find local pregnancy and postpartum resources and connect with other expecting parents. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044160306323212/

Prana Chiropractic - Chiropractic care during pregnancy can decrease discomfort and align your pelvis so you are ready for a smoother labor and delivery. Dr. Josie is such a kind and knowledgeable resource for Martinsburg moms!

Gaia Women's Physical Therapy and Wellness - Your pelvic floor experiences a lot of stress during pregnancy and birth. Seeing a physical therapist can improve your entire childbearing year. Dr. Maggie and Dr. Christine provide respectful and thoughtful care for all their patients at Gaia!

Root Lactation, LLC - It can be a good idea to have a lactation consultant ready to call before you even give birth. It’s one less obstacle to overcome during the postpartum haze in case you end up needing lactation support. I love working with Lauren of Root Lactation both personally and professionally!