Ada’s Gift Doulas

10/29/2026

The Postpartum Care Gap
Pelvic floor health is rarely addressed in a meaningful way during the postpartum appointment. Often, there is no physical examination to assess pelvic floor function, strength, or healing.
As a result, many women are left wondering whether the changes they experience in their “nether regions” are normal after giving birth. They may turn to friends or Dr. Google for answers, only to be left trying to diagnose themselves.
Women routinely hear things like:
“That’s normal after having a baby.”
“It takes time.”
“It’ll go away.”2
But what happens when it doesn't go away?
There is often no scheduled follow-up to check whether symptoms have improved or resolved. And referrals to postpartum pelvic floor physical therapists—professionals who can assess and treat these concerns—are far from routine.
The result? Many women are left to navigate their recovery on their own, assuming that discomfort, pain, or changes in bodily function are simply part of motherhood.
But common doesn't necessarily mean something you should have to live with.
Learn how to deal with Pelvic Floor Trauma from birth in our latest blog!
https://www.adasgiftdoulaservices.com/blog-2/1-in-3-mothers-experiences-lasting-pelvic-health-problems

10/06/2026

Many of my blogs have focused on births that didn’t go as hoped and situations where there may have been opportunities to allow labor and birth to unfold more naturally. Today, though, I want to highlight a cesarean birth that went really well.
We recently had a client whose baby was breech. Despite trying everything we could to encourage the baby to turn, that little one had other plans! Our client ultimately had a scheduled C-section.
The whole experience was what we would hope a gentle, family-centered cesarean could be. There was good communication and wonderful bedside manner from the attending physician. The anesthesiologist was thorough in her explanations and attentive to our client's questions and needs. The nursing team was attentive and performed regular fundal assessments and care to monitor for postpartum bleeding.
During the surgery, the beauty and significance of the birth were preserved for the parents. There was immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth. Delayed cord clamping was able to be accommodated, and the newborn exam was delayed until more than an hour after birth. Breastfeeding was also established during recovery.
The hospital was accommodating in allowing me, her birth doula, to remain with her right up until surgery and then join her again immediately afterward in recovery.
Sadly, our doula team has attended other cesarean births where many of these things were not routinely offered or allowed. These Gentle Cesarean practices may seem like they should be standard, but they aren't offered in every situation.
If a cesarean becomes necessary for your birth, talk with your doula ahead of time about what to ask your provider. Ask about immediate skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping, keeping baby with you when medically appropriate, delaying routine newborn procedures when possible, and having your doula present.
A cesarean birth can still be a beautiful, bonding, and deeply meaningful birth experience. The goal isn't simply a healthy baby; it is also to care for the mother and to preserve the beauty of birth whenever it is safely possible.

10/06/2026

Friends, we have a doula client who is struggling with breastfeeding. Do any of you have or know anyone who has extra milk that could be donated?

09/18/2026

There is a pumpkin growing out of a crack in my front porch!
Yep! There is absolutely a pumpkin vine snaking its way out of a large crack in my front porch. I saw the bright green tendrils emerge in late spring. With delight, I left it in peace, knowing it would most likely die from being trampled or neglected. It has not died. Instead, it has withstood rain, drought, my children’s playful antics, and the dog marking it every chance he gets. And now it is producing fruit! My children are watering it faithfully and I must confess, I am thoroughly enjoying watching it grow. How is a large vine able to be supported by a handful of accidental dirt? My mind is blown away by what I think I know about gardening and raising pumpkins. We grow them in huge fields, traditionally, to accommodate the long twisting vines with huge leaves that will take over and continue growing until disease or frost stops them.

I think the same thing about pregnancy and birth. Just when I think I have a basic understanding of how something works, I am humbled and my mind is blown in wonder! Our bodies are so complex and wonderful! I often say God has a sense of humor, but the pumpkin vine in the porch is so much more than that. Life is full of wonder that we should notice! It’s good for us to stop and see and acknowledge wonder! Pure joy is born of wonder and delight. We are often too busy getting through our day to “stop and notice”. My kids are a good reminder to stop and literally, “smell the roses”, or look at the toad they just caught (toads are incredible creatures if you look at them closely).

In the birth room, we spend a lot of our time as doulas, encouraging our clients to breathe. Just breathe. Our mamas may forget to stop and breathe in the intensity of a contraction, just like we forget to “stop and wonder” in our day-to-day stress. Breathing is a known anxiety reducer, as well as spending time outside in nature, noticing something wonderful.

What will you decide to notice, this fall? What wonder will you allow to creep inside your soul and take root, bringing joyful fruit? Let us know what new wonders you have discovered!

06/21/2026

05/19/2026

Today, I was at a birth with a local midwife for my first time. She and her assistant both prayed with my client during labor. During a difficult time, they were calling out to God for strength for her. It was absolutely amazing. The midwife kept a close eye on momma and baby, and she was fully prepared to address any emergency, but she just let nature take its course. She was as hands off as possible. This home birth was the most beautiful birth I personally have ever witnessed.
We know home birth is not for everyone, but if you'd like to know more, we'd be happy to chat with you about it.
- Joy

04/24/2026

These sweet baby girl toes came swiftly into the world this morning to delighted and exhausted parents. Welcome, little one!

04/19/2026

Just something to consider.
As your doulas, we attempt to provide you with the full scope of information about topics relating to labor and birth. Here is another take on the Vitamin K shot than is typically discussed.
What are your thoughts on this issue?
If you refused the Vitamin K shot for your baby, how did that go?
Was your decision respected?

03/17/2026

Come and see their new space!

03/13/2026

Another study about the amazing effects of breast milk!

🧠✨ A drop of breast milk… in the nose?
Science says it might help protect the brain!!!

A newly published clinical study explored intranasal administration of fresh mother’s breast milk for babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

HIE is a serious condition caused by reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth and is a major cause of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological disability. 

Researchers investigated whether giving a small amount of fresh breast milk into the nose could be safe and feasible for these infants.

Here’s what they did:

• Fresh mother’s milk expressed within 4 hours was used
• 0.4 mL was placed in each nostril
• Given twice daily starting within the first 48 hours of life
• Continued until day 28

The results from the clinical study showed:
✔ The treatment was feasible in both the NICU and at home
✔ It was well tolerated with no adverse events reported
✔ Parents were able to safely continue the therapy after discharge 

Why might this work?
Breast milk contains stem cells, neurotrophic factors, growth factors, immune cells, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may support brain repair and neurodevelopment. 

The intranasal route is particularly interesting because it may allow substances to reach the brain through pathways connected to the nasal cavity, potentially bypassing the blood-brain barrier. 

This early clinical study mainly demonstrated safety and feasibility. Larger studies are still needed to determine whether it improves long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Still, it highlights something remarkable!!
Human milk is not just nutrition. It’s biologically active medicine.

Science is still uncovering just how powerful it can be. 🧬

Tarjanyi E, Jermendy A, Szabo M, Brandt FA, Szasz B, Nyilas N, Meder U. F-NEO-BRIGHT: feasibility and safety of intranasal fresh breast milk in neonatal encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.1038/s41390-026-04847-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41776367.