Birth, Baby & Beyond Blog
Black Maternal Mental Health Week, 2020
Whenever I start a conversation with an expectant parent on the phone, I ask “How are you?” And to be honest, I usually ask it a couple of times, in different ways. “How’s the day been?” “How’s your pregnancy going?” I ask because I care. I also ask because I...
Can I Pay for a Doula with Insurance?
At DC Metro Maternity, we don't bill insurance companies. This lets us focus on providing excellent service to you, instead of on the phone with companies whose primary goal is to save money. We've noticed that demand has increased recently (yay), and more people are...
How Does An Induction of Labor Work?
Let’s talk about inductions. What is an induction of labor? If an intervention is done that encourages your uterus to produce contractions before your body begins labor on its own, this is considered an induction of labor. Why might you have an...
Finding a Pediatrician (or other Provider) for Your Newborn
For many of us, our first pregnancy is the most interaction we have with a medical provider since we’ve been old enough to remember. And of course, your baby(ies) is being cared for by your OB or Midwife too. Soon though, enough that little person inside of you...
Tiffany on Insecure, and a Tale of Postpartum Depression
We need to talk about Tiffany on Insecure, and her postpartum depression. *spoilers ahead, so if you’ve not watched the season, stop now* I know that Molly and Issa have been the top storyline this season. We’ve formed our teams, and watched their portrayal of a...
Let’s Be Direct- Trans Birth Should be Celebrated
We interrupt your regularly scheduled blogging for a special message (that I hope one day goes without saying): Trans* birthing folks are valuable to us. Regardless of your gender, when giving birth, you deserve quality, affirming healthcare. You should be cared...
Boosting Your Immune System
As we continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19, and take steps to move towards a new normal, we want to make sure that we're doing so in as healthy a fashion as possible. Being doulas gives us access to awesome professionals like Dr. Bryant Harris, owner of Tru...
How I’m Still Showing Up While Hurting
Content warning: this post discusses White supremacy, Black death, and police brutality. This has been a hard week, coming after weeks of “unprecedented times.” And, like so many of you, I’m tired. I’m over being adaptive, and nimble and pivoting, and responding...
Dear Doula, I’m Planning a C-section. Can you help?
Dear Doula, I’m planning to have a c-section, and I’m not sure exactly what to do. I’d had a vision of giving birth, and this was NOT it. I hoped to labor for a while before getting an epidural (and considered maybe not getting one at all). A c-section seems like the...
Advice from an OBGYN on Birth During COVID-19
At DC Metro Maternity, it’s been our job to guide clients through changes brought about by COVID-19. We’ve worked to address each situation individually for our labor clients. Throughout the first few weeks of the virus' impact on the DC Metro area, hospital...
In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within oursleves.
– Jon Kabat-Zinn