So often we get caught up in birth planning that we forget to plan for our postpartum experience... and find ourselves side blinded by all the things that we never thought about. 

A dear friend and doula client, who was preparing for the birth of her 2nd child, had the idea of writing a ''Postpartum Plan'' in addition to her ''Birth Plan'' and graciously gave me permission to share it. Please, feel free to copy and paste, and use as your own. 

Isn't this a beautiful idea? Will you embrace the ''Postpartum Plan?'' What would you add to it or take away? Share your comments and suggestions in the comments. 

In a world where everything is changing so quickly, I find myself wondering, in life and labor....

             ​My mom had me at home and told me stories about my birth all of the time. It was a powerful and positive birth and I have always been interested, fascinated, and intrigued by birth because of this. The biggest impression it left on me was that she had to take control of her own birth in order to get the care she deserved. It is important that a mother feels empowered and confident in her birth choices but that is not always the narrative told in our society. 
As a doula, it is so important to me that you are listened to, given options and that you have respectful care. For my mom that meant a homebirth but that can be true for any birth from homebirth to hospital birth, vaginal birth to cesarean birth, medicated to un-medicated, induction to spontaneous labor.
I started my training for doula work when many women in my life were pregnant.  I am a nurturing person who naturally helps and cares for others and felt called to birth work.  I have always been a feminist and believe in building others up with encouraging words and affirmations. 
             With all of the darkness and ugliness we have in our world, one of the biggest reasons I became a doula was to bring more beauty, more positivity, more love, and more connection to this life. I truly believe we can change the world by honoring and respecting birth and postpartum.  Which, in turn, improves outcomes for both. 
It is always an honor to be invited into someone’s birth space and it is always beautiful, no matter how the unpredictability of birth unfolds, to witness new life being born. It’s an honor to witness people born into mothers and fathers and families grow. To witness that initial bond establish between parents and child. 
​As a queer woman who is married to a trans man, it is especially important and close to my heart to serve LGBTQ+ families.  During my first year working as a doula I didn’t put my focus on that as I was just learning, growing and evolving so rapidly.  Moving forward I will be putting more energy on that focus as a birth worker. 
​I am still learning, growing, evolving constantly as a doula, as informed birth work always is. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing women and families over this past year and I am so excited for all of the families I will have a chance to serve now and in the future.

​It’s Okay to Not be Okay. There... I said it. And I will continue saying it because I didn’t believe it at first when someone first told me that it’s okay. It’s okay that life is a mess sometimes, or that you may cry for no reason. It’s okay that motherhood is scary, and confusing and sometimes (ok... most times) messy. It’s okay that sometimes you may feel helpless, or lost, or that you may feel like the walls are closing in on you. Bottom line is... it’s okay.

I tell you this as a proud mother of 2 beautiful and amazing children. My son, Rowen, is almost 4 years old and my daughter, Parker, will be 19 months old in a few short weeks. From the beginning of time, I always always ALWAYS wanted to be a mother. I had a younger sister growing up, and taking care of her and of others in my life as I grew up was my true calling. I even went into the healthcare field in order to take care of my patients, and so I became a pharmacist and am still helping others to this day.