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Gem Wellness, Spokane, WA (2025)

11/20/2025

There’s something so sacred about the newborn exam in midwifery care. ✨
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Instead of whisking your baby away, we bring the exam to you— right on your chest or right beside you in bed. This keeps baby calm, keeps you connected, and lets that beautiful golden-hour bonding continue uninterrupted.
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A couple hours after birth (once you’ve soaked in that first skin-to-skin, initiated breastfeeding, and had a chance to settle), we gently move into the newborn exam. This timing honors the physiology of birth and gives you and your baby the unrushed start you deserve.
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During the exam, your midwife is assessing all the things that reassure us your baby is transitioning well:
🩶 Heart and lung sounds
🩶 Reflexes and tone
🩶 Temperature and breathing
🩶 Cord, anatomy, and skin assessment
🩶 Birth weight, measurements, and overall well-being
🩶 Feeding cues and latch observations
🩶 Any findings we want to keep an eye on together
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One of my favorite parts? Your family gets to be part of it all. Siblings or grandparents can peek over your shoulder, partners can help weigh baby or feel those tiny reflexes, and mothers get a front-row seat as we walk through what’s normal, what’s unique about your baby, and what to watch for at home. You learn how to confidently monitor your little one, and what to contact the midwife about for support.
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This is care that invites you in, teaches you, and treats your baby like the precious, whole person they are.
This is midwifery care. 🤍✨

11/07/2025

🌿 Herbal Support for Immediate Postpartum Bleeding 🌿
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Right after birth, as baby settles into your arms and we wait for the placenta to detach, I love offering a warm cup of Heavy Bleeding Tea — a gentle, preventative herbal remedy to support healthy uterine tone and minimize bleeding in those first golden hours.

This blend is traditionally used to support heavy or erratic bleeding at many stages of womanhood- menstruation, miscarriage, perimenopause, and postpartum. Some of the beautiful herbs inside:
✨ Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) — long used by Indigenous women to ease menstrual cramps, labor pains, and support the reproductive system.
✨ Marjoram — calming to the digestive system and supportive for the cramping, nausea, and abdominal discomfort that often come with heavy flow.
✨ Shepherd’s Purse — one of my favorite uterine astringents, traditionally used for various types of hemorrhage, especially darker, clotty, or excessive bleeding.
✨ Yarrow & Cinnamon — both astringent and anti-inflammatory; yarrow especially shines when bleeding is bright red and brisk, while cinnamon brings warmth and steadiness.
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And beyond tea, I keep several herbal tinctures close by for additional support if bleeding needs more focused attention:
🌿 Angelica
🌿 Shepherd’s Purse
🌿 Erigeron + Cinnamon
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I also carry Carbo vegetalis homeopathic… and when truly needed or desired… medications such as Pitocin, Misoprostol, Methergine, TXA, and of course IV fluids.
Herbs are often my first line of defense; gentle, time-tested allies that pair beautifully with physiologic third-stage care and an unrushed, supported postpartum.
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✨ I’d love to hear from you: Do you have any favorite herbs or homeopathic remedies that help slow postpartum bleeding? Share below so we can learn from one another.
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You can buy my favorite Heavy Bleeding Tea from !

11/05/2025

✨The Golden Hours ✨
The moments right after birth hold so much beauty– the soft cries, the skin-to-skin snuggles, the scent of new life, the warmth of oxytocin, and the awe that fills the room. These sacred hours are never rushed in our out-of-hospital midwifery care.
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One question I often get is, “How long do you wait to cut the cord?”
The answer: we wait… until baby has received every last bit of their rich, oxygenated blood; until their cord is white, limp, and done pulsing. Until they’re transitioning beautifully in the arms of their parents.
This time is theirs. Uninterrupted, unhurried, and fully honored. We dim the lights, keep baby on mom’s chest, support early feeding, and quietly observe the miracle of connection unfolding. We don’t cut the cord until you’re ready to… Sometimes that means we wait multiple hours! It’s a gentle transition and a sacred severing of the cord that has served the baby in nourishment for many months. Did you know that stem cells and other nutrients are still passing to the baby long after they are born??
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Dad’s hands are often the first to help catch, to steady, to comfort, to rest on mom’s shoulder as tears fall and hearts expand. And it’s often dad’s hands that make the ceremonial “cut” of the cord. It’s a sort of “right of passage” for many dads. 😊

These are the golden HOURS - where bonding, regulation, and lifelong attachment begin.
This is the beauty of midwifery care, where time slows, intuition leads, and love fills the room.

09/20/2025

✨ Gestational Diabetes Screening – Informed Options ✨

In my midwifery practice, you won’t find the bright orange glucola drink. Why? Because while it does the job, it also contains artificial dyes, flavorings, and additives that don’t align with the holistic care I provide. 🌿

Instead, I offer The Fresh Test® (at no additional cost to my clients) — a cleaner, natural alternative made with just three simple ingredients (non-GMO glucose, organic lemon, and organic mint). It gives us the same diagnostic information, without unnecessary chemicals.

My clients have 3 options when it comes to testing:
1️⃣ The Fresh Test – a one-time blood draw after drinking it
2️⃣ Home monitoring – tracking diet & blood sugars with a glucometer over several days
3️⃣ Declining testing – with informed choice

Why test at all? Gestational diabetes matters because it affects how your body processes sugar during pregnancy, and unmanaged blood sugars can impact both you and baby. But how you screen is flexible. My role is to provide safe, evidence-based options while respecting your values and preferences. 💛

🤰 Did you try glucola, The Fresh Test, or a glucometer in your pregnancy?

09/06/2025

🤰 Ultrasounds in Pregnancy: How many should you have?
One, two… or none at all?
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This is a big conversation (check out my highlight “Ultrasounds” for the full breakdown!), but here are the basics:
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🔎 The Benefits
20-week anatomy scan → one of the most helpful tools for families planning an out-of-hospital birth. It can identify major concerns, confirm placenta placement, and give reassurance that it’s safe to move forward with a home or birth center birth.
Can help monitor growth, fluid levels, positioning, and baby’s wellbeing if there are concerns later in pregnancy.
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⚠️ The Risks
False positives are common → something is flagged as a concern, causing stress and anxiety, but later turns out to be normal.
Growth scans are often grossly inaccurate and can predict a baby too “big” or too “small,” leading to unnecessary inductions or even cesareans.
Excessive exposure → while ultrasounds are considered safe when medically indicated, research is limited on frequent use, especially regarding subtle effects on the developing baby.
Overuse can lead to unnecessary interventions.
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💡 The Bottom Line
Ultrasounds are a tool — not a guarantee. One well-timed scan (often at 20 weeks) can be very valuable, especially if you’re planning an out-of-hospital birth. But more is not always better, and avoiding unnecessary scans can help reduce stress and protect your baby from unknown risks.
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✨ Want more details? Head to my “Ultrasounds” highlight where I go much deeper into the research and options.
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How do you personally feel about ultrasounds?
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📸

09/01/2025

🌿 Postpartum healing isn’t just about rest — it’s about being truly cared for. One way I love to support moms is with sitz baths and “healing herbal burritos” that soothe, comfort, and speed recovery. 💛
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✨ Herbal Healing for the Postpartum Journey ✨
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Did you know that I exclusively see midwifery client in their own home for *at least* the first two weeks postpartum? One of the sweetest parts of my postpartum home visits is getting to nurture moms in their recovery.
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Something I’ve integrated into my care this year is more herbal healing modalities. In the pictures of this post, I’m making “healing herbal burritos” for a client — a soothing and effective way to help perineal tears heal. 🌿💛
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I use the Soothing Soak Tea from Wholistic Woman Tea , a blend of herbs that I’ve come to trust for postpartum care:
🌸 Lavender for calming and circulation
🧄 Garlic, Thyme, Yarrow & Calendula for their natural infection-fighting power
🌿 Comfrey & Shepherd’s Purse to support wound healing and slow bleeding
🌱 Ginger & Marshmallow to reduce inflammation and ease soreness
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Here’s how I bring this into my care:
💦 First, I prepare a healing sitz bath — steeped herbs with added Epsom salts to soothe, cleanse, and restore. Ready for the freshly postpartum mama to use in a hot bath, in a sitz bath basin, and/or in a peri bottle.
🌯 Then I wrap the leftover herbs in gauze with castor oil to make “herbal burritos” — cooling, comforting, and so healing for tender tissues.
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I first learned this from Tamy at Wholistic Woman, and it has become one of my favorite ways to serve moms. I’ve used it in my own healing and now I get to share it with others — watching women find relief, comfort, and quicker recovery in those tender first days.
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💛 When I walk into your home after birth, my care isn’t just about checking vitals — it’s about tending to you as a whole person. And sometimes that looks like standing at your kitchen counter, rolling up little “herbal burritos” just for you.

08/28/2025

A sweet client and new mama shared these slides today, and I asked her permission to reshare. I teared up reading this part of her story. I know this is relatable and true for many women– If that’s you, I hope this is encouraging for you. ♥️

How we birth matters. How a woman is treated and supported in the transition from maiden to mother matters.
Birth, like motherhood, can be intense and hard. But hard is not the same thing as bad.
It will show you strength and emotion that you never knew was possible.

Joy and love like you’ve never felt before can replace fear and anxiety when you trust, surrender, and accept the calling you’re being asked to step into.

You were designed for this.
He will equip you for the calling! 🫶

Thank you for sharing, .astapenko.7 🩷

08/24/2025

✨ Book Review: “Real Food for Pregnancy” by Lily Nichols, RDN ✨
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As a holistic midwife, nutritionist, doula, and mom, I often get asked: “What should I eat during pregnancy?” It’s one of the most common and most important questions—because nutrition is one of the biggest factors in preventing complications and helping women stay “low risk” for out-of-hospital birth.
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That’s why Real Food for Pregnancy is at the top of my recommendation list. This book dives into current research and emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods that truly fuel pregnancy. It covers blood sugar balance, challenges unnecessary food restrictions, and offers realistic, practical meal ideas.
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I love how this book affirms what I see in my own practice: women who prioritize real, God-given foods often feel stronger, have fewer complications, and recover more smoothly postpartum. For me, it beautifully reflects God’s design for our bodies and His provision through food.
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📚 If you’re preparing for pregnancy, already expecting, or supporting families as a birth worker, this is a must-read.
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💬 Have you read it? What was your biggest takeaway?

08/09/2025

When labor “stalls,” it’s not always a sign something is wrong — often, your baby just needs a little more space, movement, or relaxation to find their way down.

These positions move from gentle release → supported positioning → active movement, helping your body and baby work together.

From loosening tight spots and boosting oxytocin to lifting the belly so baby can tuck their chin or rotate anterior, each technique supports progress and comfort in its own way.

🌿 Listen to your body’s cues — sometimes the smallest shift makes the biggest difference. This is just an example circuit that may be helpful! Every labor experience is so different. Having a doula and/or midwife who trusts the process of birth and knows how to gently support it through positions and oxytocin-boosting can be so beneficial!

Please give this a share if you found it informative! Send it to a pregnant mama! 🥰

08/08/2025

What if Breastfeeding Isn’t Easy?

Breastfeeding is natural, yes. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

Even though God designed our bodies and babies to work together beautifully, many new moms run into challenges — from latch pain, to supply concerns, to feeling unsure if baby is getting enough. This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re learning.

Here’s the truth: 🧠 There’s a learning curve. 🫶🏽 There can be pain, overwhelm, and exhaustion. 🌿 And still — there can be connection and victory with the right help.

Swipe through for a discussion on how to set yourself up for breastfeeding success!

Seasoned mamas– anything you’d add to the list of preparation? Or words of wisdom you think a new mama might benefit from reading? Share in the comments! 🩷

08/06/2025

There is something sacred about a mother laying down her body again and again to feed, soothe, and nourish.
It reflects the heart of Jesus, who gave of Himself to give us life. 💛

Breastfeeding — like motherhood — is sacrificial love in motion. It’s not always glamorous. It’s often messy. But it’s beautiful.

This week, as we honor World Breastfeeding Week, may we also reflect on the One who nourishes us daily with grace, strength, and peace.

When you give of yourself in this way, you are doing holy work, and it’s sanctifying. And when you feel like you’re running dry yourself– let Him fill your cup; let Him sustain you as you sustain your little one.

“For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.”
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…” Isaiah 66:11-13

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

08/04/2025

Oral Vitamin K for Newborns?
Swipe for a quick Q&A about this alternative to the routine vitamin K injection 💧
(Not medical advice—read caption for full disclaimer)
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I get a lot of questions about oral vitamin K… Protocol for administration, efficacy, what type to give, etc. There’s MUCH more I could go into than what is possible in one post! So as with anything you read on Instagram, be sure to go do your own research as well! I’m also not going to dive into WHY someone might decline the vitamin K injection for their baby, at least not on this post, as this is for informational purposes to share another option for those who feel called to it. (This is not medical advice. Do your own research, speak with your provider, pray for wisdom, and listen to your intuition/the Holy Spirit.)
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All that being said— Swipe for a little Q&A on oral vitamin K!
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And so you have it linked easily here, my favorite brands are: / &

What are your thoughts on options for vitamin K supplementation for babies? Questions I didn’t cover here?

Gem Wellness

11/20/2025

11/07/2025

11/05/2025

09/20/2025

09/06/2025

09/01/2025

08/28/2025

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08/04/2025

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Tuesday	10am - 4pm
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