Willow Moon Doula

05/29/2024

Such an honor to support this sweet family as their doula and help to document their birth. Photos shared with permission.

11/23/2023

Reminder - You get to decide who holds your baby. With upcoming holidays I think we all could use the reminder that you and your baby’s needs superseded anyone else’s. If handing your baby over so that you can eat, relax, get a break - amazing! Take that break! But if you don’t want to let others hold your baby (or your baby isn’t comfortable with the people you are with) then listen to your gut. My favorite tip to keep baby close: babywearing!

09/18/2023

Are you hoping for a water birth? Based on statistics from Twin Cities hospitals you have 0-3% chance of having a water birth (dependent on hospital). Comparatively you have a 44-95% chance of water birth at a birth center (there are 4 out of hospital birth centers here) or home birth. The stats say it all. If you are set on a water birth, birthing out of a hospital is your best bet.

Thanks to for the stats!

09/11/2023

You can fire a provider. Yes, if you aren’t jiving with your provider at any point in your prenatal, birth, or postpartum experience you can fire them and ask for someone else. It’s your birth and you should feel respected.

08/23/2023

Hello! I’m Anya of Willow Moon Doula and I am a birth and sibling doula serving the Twin Cities metro. I got into birthwork after having a doula at my own birth and recognized that this is where my heart is. I want to help other families feel seen, heard, respected, and empowered in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Here’s what I‘ve been enjoying this summer - local adventures with my daughter, reading fan fic late into the night, playing Zelda TOTK, eating nearly every meal outdoors, visiting farmers markets, and eating all the fresh berries and peaches!

08/09/2023

You, yes you, are the expert of your own body. Being pregnant/in labor/postpartum doesn’t change the fact that you know your body. You deserve to have autonomy and make choices about your body throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Not sure about your choices…take childbirth education and hire a doula!

07/31/2023

Active labor requires rest. Rest is so very important during labor and can be productive in multiple ways. Doulas have all kinds of ideas for how you can rest while still helping baby move through the pelvis. My favorite resting position? - sitting backwards on the toilet and resting your upper body on pillows stacked on the tank.

06/29/2023

Your milk does “come in”, it changes.

Did you know that pregnant people start producing colostrum in the early weeks of their 2nd trimester? Colostrum (also known as liquid gold because of how amazing it is) is the earliest form of human milk. After baby is born, that colostrum is ready for your baby and contains all the protein, sugars, fats, and immune factors they need. Milk volume increases around 30-40 hours after the placenta is delivered (though for 25% of people this may take a little longer).

All that to say - you have milk for your baby when they are born! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

06/16/2023

Did you know that it is Minnesota law that lactating parents have the right to:
- Receive paid breaks to express milk (unless you are pumping during an unpaid break such as lunch)
- A private space (that is not a bathroom) where you won’t be interrupted by coworkers or the public
- Space that is in close proximity to your work area and has an electrical outlet

For more information:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/breastfeeding/workplaces.html

06/11/2023

I have just added some availability this summer and fall! willowmoondoula.com

05/19/2023

New video sharing a little more about me ❤️

Learn a little bit more about me!

05/11/2023

Postpartum is important! There are so many reasons why I do 2 postpartum visits (with options for additional visits). Here are a few of them:
⭐️Your postpartum experience matters
⭐️You will have different questions at different points in postpartum
⭐️The more people keeping an eye on your family’s mental health the better
⭐️It gives you time to check in with yourself and see how you are doing