Sisterly Doula

03/25/2022

Doula Service 🌷

Know someone who could use support during pregnancy or postpartum? We are accepting families across Philly, South Jersey, and Delaware areas in need of doula support!

Some of our areas include:

💕 Advocacy
💕 Childbirth Education
💕 Birth and Postpartum Planning
💕 Communication Tools
💕 Virtual AND In Person Support Available

Visit our site at: www.sisterlydoula.com for a full list of what we offer or email us at [email protected] 😊

03/23/2022

Happy World Doula Week!

This week we honor and celebrate our calling as doulas, and the community we have gained during this journey. We are so happy to be apart of some loving communities, friends with loving people, and to have made some valuable connections along the way.

Doulas create safe spaces
Doulas empower and advocate
Doulas educate and support families

https://www.sisterlydoula.com/

01/20/2022

Mom Squad is a free online prenatal learning program for expecting mothers with a focus on reducing infant and maternal mortality. Participants engage in monthly interactive challenges on our private Facebook group. Upon completion of each challenge, participants earn points in the form of an achievement badge that goes towards acquiring mother and baby items.

Join by February 4th, 2022 to enter the "new member raffle" where 12 lucky winners will win a $25 gift card!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/819592068383086

12/17/2021

What’s on your to-do list this holiday?

So many are in the spirit of shopping, cooking, capturing fun moments, or taking on the task of organizing. Here are some R&R tips to help with the aftermath

Rest - 20 minutes or an hour, you owe it to yourself and your body. Get as much as you can, and give notice to everyone that, you are “off the clock.”

Recharge - Restore by engaging in calming activities, rituals, or moments of stillness.

Reflect - On things you’ve done, would like to do, or have plans for. Celebrate the wins. Also, remember to find goodness in, and honor your growth.

Reclaim - Your joy and your peace. You deserve to be happy!

Reconnect - With things you fell in love with before, places that warmed your heart, or whatever helped you feel your best.

12/16/2021

Can you believe 2021 is almost over?? We can't!!

To all of our friends, family, and colleagues we wish you all a safe and happy holiday! Sisterly Doula has been working hard off scene, and we hope to bring you more amazing things in 2022!

05/05/2021

We are now heading into the summer and accepting families looking for birth/postpartum support. 🌷 Send us am email or check out or website to see our many offerings ✨

03/24/2021

✨ DAY 2 OF WORLD DOULA WEEK ✨

Happy Day 2!

Today we honor the journey of self development. A large part of doula work is recognizing that it's a journey of not only your service but yourself. We create space for families, but it's essential to indulge in self care.

As doulas we are continuously evolving, advocating, and growing. We transform into better birth workers and versions of ourselves every time.

I want to honor every doula who shows up for both themselves and their service everyday 🌷

03/22/2021

Read our feature for World Doula Week here 💕 I honor my incredible sister 😊

The day I had the Mama Glow Homeschool application open, my sister stayed by my side until I gathered the confidence to hit submit.

03/21/2021

✨BIRTH PLAN ✨

So why make a birth plan? Whether you're new parents or a family with multiple children, birth plans are an amazing asset to set the tone of your birth. This enables you to detail what your methods of comfort, safety, pain management, and process are during your labor.

Let your birth team know how you want your pain management addressed. No matter what your birth looks like, walking through the options (i.e. pain medication, epidural, unmedicated) helps your birth team be prepared with what will work best for you.

It's helpful to express any health concerns, issues, or worries that you may have in your birth plan. This lets your birth team know how to handle anything that may come up during the process before, during, or after.

Talk about that afterbirth. If you want the Golden Hour observed to bond with baby, certain routines to wait, or support provided after birth your plan is perfect for highlighting everything. If you're planning to do follow specific postpartum rituals you can also include them. Preferences surrounding your placenta, breastfeeding, and rest can be include here as well.

After you've decided what your newborn care looks like, go through it and integrate it in your birth plan. This will let your midwife, nurse, or whoever is on your team aware of what's preferred and what isn't. Visitors, newborn procedures, and bonding are some of the things you can discuss in your plan.

Your comfort comes first in this entire process! What works best for you? Your birth environment plays a huge role in your birth, add specifics in your birth plan. Music, low lights, privacy, labor positions, etc. are some of the many comfort measures you can include. This allows your team to make sure your comfort is a priority.

Chat with your doula or midwife about what you want your plan to look like. It keeps everyone informed, aware, and most of all on board with what your care looks like.

03/16/2021

✨The Birth Environment ✨

Let's talk about it! What space do you envision for giving birth? Whether it's a hospital room, birthing suite, or at home there are a variety of things you can do to add some comfort to your space. Not only does this promote grounding and relaxation, but it helps you establish the ground work for getting you in your zone. So what can help?

🌷 Music ~ Have you ever heard of a birth playlist? Some in labor have found music to be comforting and a great encouraging factor for their experience. It can set the mood and reflect all of your favorite songs at once.

🌷 Candles ~ Grounding, soothing, relaxing. If you enjoy the lights dimmed low with a few candles during your bath, set the same tone for your birth. This can encourage a relaxing space while you're going through the motions, and can feature your favorite scent (if tolerable) as a bonus!

🌷 Aromatherapy ~ If you're new to essential oils, there are tons of studies out there highlighting the uses of oils during labor and postpartum. Talk with your medical provider, midwife, or doula on your essential oil preferences and find blends that work best for you. Certain scents can act as a relief during labor and work as an addition towards a relaxing space.

🌷 Water ~ Whether you're having a water birth, soaking your feet or using a wet cloth on the neck/forehead the use of water can be a welcoming relief for the laboring person. If you're considering a water birth, inquire about it with your midwife or doula so you can plan accordingly.

🌷 Crystals/Flowers ~ If crystals or flowers are apart of your downtime, include them in your birth space! Find your favorites that ground you the most and arrange them around your area. Rose Quartz or Moonstone are wonderful crystals to add for setting up a soothing environment. If you have a favorite flower, run it by your birth team and see the many ways it can be included. A fresh vase near your bed or petals around your space introduce another way to add to your comfort.

Have you used any of these comfort tools in your birth space? If not, what would you plan to add?

02/23/2021

Let's talk about Postpartum! ✨

Sometimes called "The 4th Trimester" it's equally as important as pregnancy and labor. You've done the amazing work of bringing your baby earthside and now it's time to rest! This time makes a world of difference for your recovery period.

Eating nourishing meals, resting often, staying warm, and leaning into your support system will make a big difference. Talk to your support circle if something doesn't feel right, listen to your body, and take as much time as you need to settle in. 🌷

02/15/2021

Building With Your Doula
Getting to know them and how they can help your birth experience is important. Communication is key and making sure your needs are being met are both important factors. Consider everything below when hiring your doula or midwife ✨

02/10/2021

2 decades ago, I lost my firstborn child who was nearly 5 years old, at the same time my two surviving children & myself nearly died. It was a turbulent time for us all. While in rehabilitation I remember seeing on the news that a mother lost all of her children in a house fire. If that wasn’t enough for me to process, a cousin lost her daughter not even 3 months after me, and her little one was the exact same age as my firstborn. If this touches you because you’re a parent who has experienced loss, whether your child was yet born or an adult, we’re healing together.

Today is the 26th b-day of my CeeCee. She loved to brush her grandmother’s hair, she loved to swim & take bubble baths, she collected purses to store rocks & shells. She loved being a big sister. Because she was present @ her brother’s birth CeeCee wanted to “help the mommies and babies” by becoming a midwife. At four years old she was seeing possibilities in the world! My little princess adored fashion! Her aunt and accomplice (Erin) would dress up/play, make a mess, eat, and sleep like no one’s business. Her favorite television shows were Martin and The Nanny. Her favorite song was Waterfalls by TLC which she happily swayed to while singing along. She was just a joy to be around. Happy Birthday Princess, you’re celebrated every day.

I take a breath. I give thanks for the opportunity to be a vessel for life. I give thanks for being humble to learn from such a brilliant and pure soul. I’m grateful for all of my children, my family who I hold close. I extend compassion to the parents who are hurting, who are healing, who are trying to remain strong and present. There’s medicine in the conversation and therapy in the words.

Confide in someone you trust that can be a listener, let them know how you’re feeling so the grief doesn’t consume your days. Seek professional counseling which is essential. You are love, you are light, you are allowed to feel angry and hurt, but that too needs a release. U need happiness. U Deserve happiness. You need restoration. For so long I didn’t talk about the hurt & it obstructed my ability to be dynamic in the world, I want MUCH better for U. ♥️ Nicole

02/08/2021

Your birth experience belongs to you alone, no matter how it happens. Bring your support circle together to get the conversation going ✨

02/08/2021

On the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

02/08/2021

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a collection of bills aimed to improve the future of black moms, women of color, and birthing people across our nation. We join with birth workers across the country to advocate for this cause. Check out this hashtag and our shared post for more information ✨

02/06/2021

02/06/2021

Our Website is now LIVE! Come learn about our calling to doula work, our offerings for service, and why doula care is essential. 🌷

https://www.sisterlydoula.com/

Sisterly Doula Offers Childbirth and Postpartum Support throughout Southern New Jersey, and the Philadelphia area.