Stonebrook Doula Services

01/04/2023

Home is where my heart is ❤️ there is so much beauty in watching all births, yet I am very honored to know the home side of it is where “trust your body” shines it’s light. This mama right here was the most in-tune and trusting of her body I’ve ever seen, and she was a first time mom! She moved and moaned with intuition, fully embodied in her transition from womanhood into motherhood and it was pure magic to bare witness to.
📸 by

09/20/2022

I am officially launching virtual doula support & prenatal coaching as well as an a-la-cart phone line service to answer all your questions about pregnancy/birth/postpartum/lactation/newborn care!

Not everyone wants or has access to a birth doula. If any of these speak to you in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out! DM me or shoot an email over!

If you have questions about more detail in what these options offer, sliding scale pricing, bartering, or otherwise please don’t hesitate to ask!

12/23/2021

DO NOT be this person.

It is entirely possible to be BOTH grateful for your baby’s physical health while also grieving or experiencing trauma from your birth.

Healthy babies deserve healthy moms, and suffering from PTSD doesn’t make a mom healthy.

Your trauma is valid whether you: almost died, your baby almost died, you got an infection, you went under general anesthesia and “missed your baby’s birth”, you were screamed at, you were torn manually, you were given checks without permission, you were forced to starve and be strapped to the bed, or simply that you were not talked to respectfully or given informed consent from staff.

All trauma is valid. And you are a WORTHY and GRATEFUL and DESERVING mother even if you experience trauma.

If anyone tells you “all that matters is a healthy baby”, simply respond to some effect of “I’m grateful my baby is healthy, that is the MOST important thing to me. However, it is NOT all that matters. My experience mattered, too. I matter, too”

Imagine it being as simple as “my baby is alive so my birth was great!” 🙄

12/02/2021

Did you know? 👀

The initiation of TERM-labor (not preterm) is perfectly designed and controlled by your baby?

A substance called surfactant (which is essential for breathing air) is released by your baby, signaling your uterus that baby’s lungs are ready to breathe outside of the womb.

This is just one of many benefits of waiting for labor to begin spontaneously when there are no concerns that require considering medical induction.

Even in cases of planned cesareans, waiting for labor to begin can still be weighed against the risks/benefits of having your cesarean prior to.

When researching for your birth plans, make sure to consider this and many other aspects about induction vs spontaneous labor and weigh out your risks and benefits!

10/27/2021

📸PhotoCred: Amber May - Birth Photographer📸

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Surprise breech births are another reason why it’s vital for all providers to be trained in supporting vaginal breech births.

-Love,
Flor Cruz
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09/23/2021

Breech birth at home, like a boss 🤩

✨Mama: https://www.facebook.com/ohcoco ✨

She writes:

“Birthed our second breechy at home this morning! Our first two were frank (Scheduled cesarean then HBAC) and our little girl chose complete. Feeling so grateful and in awe of the fierceness and power of my body.”

09/21/2021

If you’re wanting to have a minimally intervened birth in a hospital, I couldn’t recommend the midwives at Regional One more highly.

Through every step of a recent birth, they supported, informed, and empowered the mother rather than pushing things or provoking fear.

An absolutely wonderful team!

08/14/2021

Yesterday, I had a postpartum appointment for my most recent clients. These are always sad for me as we had developed this relationship over the last few months before I was present for the most transformational moment of their lives and now it’s time to go.

But this one really hit hard, because this birth was traumatic for her and her husband.

Despite my knowledge, support, and advocacy skills, I could not prevent the trauma from the doctor who oversaw her case in the hospital.

There was a point before my client was taken to the OR where she looked me in the eyes and said, “I’m so sorry you watched me go through everything you went through” 😭😭😭 (she had heard my Birth Story Podcast episode)

In that moment nothing was truer than what I told her. “Don’t be sorry. I went through everything I did to try and prevent this from happening to another mom and I’M so sorry that I couldn’t do that for you. But I can be here to validate your trauma and fears, to help you find SOMETHING in this experience that gives you some power back, and guide you out of the darkness after this is over. This is not your fault, and I am so so sorry this happened to you”

It’s time for OBGYNs to get trauma informed.
It’s time for traumatized birthers to speak out.
It’s time for policies to change in favor of birthing people.
It’s time for a dismantling of a system that isn’t broken but built upside down.

Everyone deserves a safe and empowering birth, and that can happen anywhere from home to the operating room.

08/10/2021

If you were told this, you were lied to.

Is there a place for induction? Sure. And that place is for you to decide in your particular situation.

But when you’re making that decision you should be told ALL the things so you can make the best possible choice for you and be happy with that choice, no matter how things go.

A few points to consider...

Induced labor is almost always more painful, with less of a break between contractions to recover.

Because of that, you’re more likely to agree to medical pain relief, which can lead to heart decelerations in your baby, which can lead to surgery.

Labor induction is rarely suggested out of actual medical necessity. More often than not it’s suggested out of fear of liability or to accommodate someone’s schedule (usually not yours).

Pitocin, which is lab-manufactured, synthetic oxytocin (what your body makes naturally during labor), is NOT oxytocin. It is a drug.

If you’re induced and your body isn’t ready, you risk a “failed induction”, which means you go through all that pain for nothing. You may choose to go home and wait out spontaneous labor, but, more often than not, you’re taken to surgery.

If someone is suggesting induction based on how long you’ve been growing your baby & the potential for stillbirth, ask for the actual numbers. The risk is very small, but they won’t make you feel that way. Also ask for the risks associated with whatever interventions they’re suggesting.

Also remember that your dates could be off. Or you could just take longer to grow babies. Forcing your baby to be born before they’re ready can result in a lot of unwanted complications.

07/15/2021