How to Make Your Birth Not Suck During A Global Outbreak

In a time when everything feels like it’s outside of your control and you feel trapped or without options, I am here to tell you that you 👏 still 👏 have 👏 options! And with a bit of planning ahead and knowing where to look, you are capable of having an AMAZING birth - in spite of COVID-19.

Doulas Are For Partners Too!

Birth, Birth Plan, Comfort Measures, Kansas City, Labor Doula, ParentingMary PopeMarch 23, 2019Oh Baby KCbirth preferences, birth doula, doulas in kansas city, doulas are for partners, birth, ask the doula, support for partner, will a doula help my partner, will a doula replace my partnerComment

Nitrous Oxide: What You Need To Know Before You Use This In Labor

The Life Changing Magic of Writing a Birth Plan: A Birth That Sparks Joy

Birth Plan, Birth, Childbirth Education, Minimalism, Labor Doula, Kansas City, Self CareMary PopeJanuary 15, 2019birth plan, birth preferences, birth doula, minimalism, konmari method, spark joy, childbirth education, birth, ask the doulaComment

Questions To Ask On Your Hospital Tour

How To Overcome Anxiety About Birth

Childbirth Education, Birth Stories, Birth, Labor Doula, Mental HealthMary PopeNovember 15, 2018Oh Baby! KCovercoming anxiety in birth, birth without fear, natural birth, empowering birth, anxiety in birth, hospital birth, homebirth, birth in kansas cityComment

Two Things That Are Helpful In Starting Labor

Birth, Childbirth Education, Labor Doula, Birth Stories, Birth PlanMary PopeNovember 6, 2018Oh Baby KCbirth, natural birth, due date, oxytocin, how to make labor start, how to make labor start naturallyComment

15 REAL Questions to Ask Doulas (Plus 5 Questions That Don’t Really Matter!)

What Do You Really Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag?

Birth, Birth Plan, Childbirth Education, Comfort Measures, Essential Oils, Kansas City, Labor Doula, MinimalismMary PopeOctober 17, 2018hospital bag, what do I need in my hospital bag, hospital birth, epidural birth, natural birth, cesarean birth, Kansas City birth

Life Hacks for Your Birth

I am going to share a few of my birth doula trade secrets with you in this post. I want to give you an idea of why having a doula is a great idea, what kinds of things we are capable of doing, and to reassure you that if you forget something, it's not the end of the world.

How to Write a Birth Plan

If you were to go to Google right now and just type “Birth Plan”, you would come up with SO MANY templates, blogs and opinions. I’m not here to tell you what all to put on your birth plan. Instead, what I want to do is give you a few rules of thumb to follow when writing yours that will give you flexibility, your providers a clear map of what you want and to help you achieve the birth experience you desire.

Thaddeus' Birth Story

I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to Hanna for sending her birth story to me to post! As I've said before, I don't write my clients' birth stories for them because it is their intimate story to tell. But it brings me so much joy when they send them to me! Thank you, Hanna, for entrusting me with your birth as well as with your story. I loved being your doula! <3

- Mary

Doulas and Epidurals

"Doula" and "Epidural" aren't usually 2 words that you think of in conjunction to one another. *Usually* you think of natural birth when you think of a doula. But that is a common misconception. Sure, some doulas prefer to support natural births and there have been the "horror stories" of doulas leaving the birth once the birthing person chooses an epidural. But I'm going to bust that reasoning and hopefully by the end of this blog, you'll realize that not only is having a doula present if you're planning on having an epidural a good idea, but your doula can also be a valuable member of your birth experience regardless of how you plan on doing birth!