My Birth Friend - Doula Rizz

02/01/2026

01/15/2026

Newborn sleep sets the tone — but it doesn’t need to be rigid.
In the early weeks, we focus on:
• full feeds
• age-appropriate wake windows
• day vs night awareness
• safe, independent sleep habits

This isn’t sleep training — it’s sleep education.
And it makes everything easier later on ✨

01/15/2026

🤱 What Your Body Is Doing While You Feed Your Baby

Part 1: Healing the Mother

Your body didn’t stop working when your baby was born.
In many ways, the healing work begins when you feed them.

Breastfeeding is not just nourishment for your baby — it’s a carefully designed process that supports your recovery, too.

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✨ Your uterus is healing in real time

Each time your baby suckles, your brain releases oxytocin — the same hormone that helped bring your baby into the world.

Oxytocin:
• Causes the uterus to contract
• Helps it shrink back toward its pre-pregnancy size
• Reduces postpartum bleeding
• Lowers the risk of postpartum hemorrhage

Those crampy “afterpains” while nursing?
That’s your body actively healing.

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✨ Your hormones are regulating and protecting you

Breastfeeding increases prolactin and oxytocin, which:
• Support milk production
• Promote calm and emotional bonding
• Help regulate stress and anxiety
• Encourage rest and connection

This hormonal dance supports emotional recovery during a time of massive transition.

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✨ Your long-term health is being supported

Lactation is associated with:
• Lower lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• Improved insulin sensitivity and lower risk of type 2 diabetes
• Better cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular health

Your body isn’t just feeding — it’s protecting your future self.

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✨ Your nervous system is co-regulating with your baby

Skin-to-skin and feeding help:
• Slow heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce cortisol (stress hormone)
• Promote deep bonding

Your body and your baby’s body are syncing — regulating each other in real time.

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✨ Your body is doing multiple jobs at once — flawlessly

You created life.
You birthed that life.
And now, your body produces nourishment while healing itself.

That is not coincidence.
That is design.

✨ Feeding your baby can also be a way your body cares for you.
And however long, short, or complex that journey is — you are doing something extraordinary.

Follow me for more with this series!

—
Gypsy Heart Doula
Ala Tree Hugging Doula
Your birth. Your strength. My support.

01/13/2026

Not everything that happens in labor is an emergency—but some things are worth checking in about.

This graphic breaks down what’s common in labor (like shaking, long early labor, or contractions that stall and restart) versus red flags that deserve a call to your midwife or OB. Knowing the difference can help parents feel more confident, informed, and empowered as labor unfolds—and remind them to always trust their instincts if something doesn’t feel right.

01/13/2026

01/13/2026

📣 Stats show: Black mothers are more likely to receive unnecessary C-sections — let’s raise awareness, believe families’ birth experiences, and support informed consent in maternity care.

As individual doulas, we may not be able to change the whole system, but we can change the birth experience for each of our clients. We can support informed consent, active participation in the decision-making process, and help families find respectful care that supports autonomy and dignity in birth regardless of how birth unfolds.

👉 Read more: https://internationaldoulainstitute.com/2024/09/black-mothers-more-likely-to-receive-unnecessary-c-sections/

12/05/2025

🤍 You can’t spoil a baby — and science agrees.

Newborns aren’t manipulating or forming bad habits. They’re communicating needs. Responding to cries, holding your baby, feeding on demand, and offering comfort all help regulate stress, support brain development, and build secure attachment.

Security first. Independence later.

12/04/2025

👶✨ Your newborn is acting like a newborn — they’re brand new to this world.

Grunting, gas, frequent feeding, short sleep stretches, evening fussiness… these are all normal newborn behaviors as babies learn how to live outside the womb. 💛

If you’re wondering, “Am I doing something wrong?” — you’re probably doing exactly what your baby needs.

However, trust your instincts. If you are truly concerned about a behavior, check in with a qualified provider. You've got this!

11/17/2025

Myth or Fact? 🤔
Many believe doulas only support unmedicated births — but that’s not true! Doulas are there for every kind of birth. Whether it’s unmedicated, medicated, or a planned cesarean, your doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support tailored to your experience.

Because every birth deserves support. 💕