Ashley’s Doula Services

06/05/2025

06/05/2025

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06/05/2025

📕 Chapter 9: Integration -"Listening to the birth story is also an opportunity for the care provider to ask the woman questions that reinforce her capability and power. This includes asking her what she learned about herself, where and how she experienced her power and agency, and what messages and themes lie within the story."
https://www.rachelreed.website/rcrp

02/07/2024

12/10/2023

such a beautiful photo .

10/29/2023

〰️♥️THE UMBILICAL CORD♥️〰️

The umbilical cord is a conduit between the developing baby and the placenta. During prenatal development, the umbilical cord is physiologically and genetically part of the baby.

The umbilical contains 2️⃣ arteries(umbilical arteries), and 1️⃣ vein(umbilical vein), which are buried within Wharton's jelly that all beautifully form the umbilical cord.

The umbilical cord develops from the yolk sac🍳and allantois. It forms by the 5️⃣th week of pregnancy, replacing the yolk sac as the source of nutrients for the baby. The cord is not directly connected to the mother's circulatory system, but instead joins the placenta, which transfers materials to and from the maternal blood without allowing direct mixing🔀

The umbilical cord in a full term baby is usually about 20 inches long and about 0.75 inches in diameter📏

The blood flow through the umbilical cord is approximately 35 ml / min at 20 weeks, and 240 ml / min at 40 weeks of gestation. Adapted to the weight of the baby, this corresponds to 115 ml / min / kg at 20 weeks and 64 ml / min / kg at 40 weeks📚

The umbilical cord enters the baby via the abdomen, at the point which (after separation) will become the baby’s belly button🤗 Within the baby, the umbilical vein continues towards the transverse fissure of the liver, where it splits into two. One of these branches joins with the hepatic portal vein (connecting to its left branch), which carries blood into the liver. The second branch (known as the ductus venosus) bypasses the liver and flows into the inferior vena cava, which carries blood towards the heart. The two umbilical arteries branch from the internal iliac arteries, and pass on either side of the urinary bladder into the umbilical cord, completing the circuit back to the placenta😍

The umbilical vein supplies the baby with oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood from the placenta. The baby’s heart pumps deoxygenated, nutrient-depleted blood through the umbilical arteries and back to the placenta. 👈🏽 THE UMBILICAL CORD IS PERFECTLY DESIGNED TO MAKE A GORGEOUS EXCHANGE OF GOOD THINGS COMING IN AND BAD THINGS GOING OUT🙌🏾

09/04/2023

Laboring at home provides a safe, comfortable space for you to be during early labor. It's recommended that you start heading to the hospital when you are in active labor, but some moms prefer staying at home for longer!

For VBAC moms, some providers want you to go into the hospital as soon as labor has started. Talk with your provider about what you're comfortable with and decide a plan that you both feel good about.

Here are 6 tips for laboring at home that will help make it a positive, safe experience.

1. Take a birthing class: Taking a birthing class will help you feel confident as you are laboring on your own. Birthing classes will teach you breathing techniques, comfort measures, and signs to look out for.

2. Time your contractions: Timing your contractions is one of the ways you might know when it's time to start heading to the hospital. Most hospitals recommend heading to the hospital at "5-1-1". This is when your contractions are 5 minutes apart, they last 1 minute, and that pattern has been happening for 1 hour. Make sure not to time your contractions the entire time because that can become exhausting. Time contractions for 30-60 mintues and then take a break. Once you notice a pattern change, start timing again!

3. Hire a doula: Doulas can meet you at your house before you head to the hosptial. A doula is great at providing physical and emotional support, but she will also know the sings to watch for to know when it's time to leave your house.

4. Rest: Early labor is a great time to get some rest in before the contractions become longer and closer together. Conserving energy and resting your mind and body is essential to keep laboring moving along.

5. Movement: Movement will help labor progress and will help your baby get into a favorable position. Movement and rest go hand in hand - you need both!

6. Stay hydrated & fueled: Labor and birth is like a marathon, and eating and drinking is essential so you can have the energy to do all that's required of you.

We'd love to hear what your experience was like laboring at home! 👇

08/04/2023

My first Birth was 8/8/21 my first baby girl was Frank breech, I was told I had nothing to worry about @ my 37 week appointment, was told that she was going to turn head down. (Not to mention I was the one who told them she was breech in the first place) they confirmed she was and told me to come back at my 38 week appointment to discuss options. I went into labor at 38.2 and ended up having a C-section due to the lack of resources, education, & options.
I got pregnant 5 months postpartum and was determined to do all my own research, surround myself with positivity and find a provider who was going to be on my side and encourage me. I did exactly that. I switched Hospitals & Providers and had a very smooth successful VBAC.
- moms are unstoppable. Do you research, find your tribe, & trust your body.

07/24/2023

July 19th 2023 Erin made the phone call to me at 12:01am due to some contractions that were already 4 minute apart lasting 1 minute and over the 1 hour time frame. I was 2.5 hours away so I immediately grabbed my coffee and headed towards her. Once I got to the hospital due to no cervical change they sent her home. We all tried to catch a little sleep knowing what was ahead. 6:35am Erin and myself started on some exercises and positions like the supported lunge, shaking the apple tree, hip rolls and followed with some curb walking. In between exercises we took some breaks but by 9:30am Erin was ready to go back to the hospital. Upon arrival she was checked for dilation and she was more dilated from when she was discharged the first time. From 11:39am-5:30pm she was walking the halls, I’m behind her every contraction doing hip squeezes and talking her through them. She finally got some medication through her IV that made her relax a little. Her water finally broke on her own at 8:45pm! A couple hours later her epidural was in and she was very thankful! The following morning at 4:25am she got administered a small dose of pitocin and within 2 hours she went progressed immensely in dialation! She started to feel some pressure so at 9:50am practice pushes became active pushing. Sweet banks made his arrival at 10:55am. Erin was a complete rockstar & I’m so thankful she allowed me to attend her birth and be apart of this journey!
Being a birth worker is the BEST 🫶🏼