Postpartum Doulas & Emotional Support: Why Listening Is the Heart of Postpartum Care
Melissa Hnosko Melissa Hnosko

Postpartum Doulas & Emotional Support: Why Listening Is the Heart of Postpartum Care

The postpartum period is emotionally intense. Between hormonal shifts, exhaustion, and identity change, new parents often find themselves on a rollercoaster. Studies show that up to 80% experience “baby blues,” and about 15% develop a mood or anxiety disorder).

A postpartum doula’s role is to normalize these feelings, provide compassionate listening, and connect families with professional resources when needed. And the Magic? Unlike your friends and family, a postpartum doula doesn’t have any room for judgement because she sits in a professional role, not the role of a friend or family member.

Read More
What is advocacy for childbirth?
Joyce Dykema Joyce Dykema

What is advocacy for childbirth?

Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into physical support. What is advocacy for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?

Read More
What is informational support in childbirth?
Joyce Dykema Joyce Dykema

What is informational support in childbirth?

Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into physical support. What is informational support for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?

Read More
What is physical support for childbirth?
Joyce Dykema Joyce Dykema

What is physical support for childbirth?

Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into physical support. What is physical support for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?

Read More
What is emotional support for childbirth?
Joyce Dykema Joyce Dykema

What is emotional support for childbirth?

Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into emotional support. What is emotional support for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?

Read More
Questions I Hear Most Often from New Parents (and Why They Matter)
Melissa Hnosko Melissa Hnosko

Questions I Hear Most Often from New Parents (and Why They Matter)

When I walk into a home in those tender days after a baby is born, I know I’m entering a season of transformation. There’s often joy, yes, but also exhaustion, uncertainty, and a quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, you’re doing this “right.”

As a postpartum doula, I get to sit right in the middle of that swirl. Over the years, I’ve noticed that many parents ask the same things, though never in exactly the same way. These questions aren’t just about sleep and feeding—they’re about confidence, connection, and finding a way through the fog.

Read More
Why Should I Hire a Birth Doula?
Joyce Dykema Joyce Dykema

Why Should I Hire a Birth Doula?

Hiring a doula is a decision that can enhance your entire birth experience and help you feel empowered, supported, and informed throughout the process. Click through to see the top 5 reasons families choose a birth doula for their birth team!

Read More
7 Benefits of Hiring a Postpartum Doula
Melissa Hnosko Melissa Hnosko

7 Benefits of Hiring a Postpartum Doula

When I brought my first baby home, I thought I was prepared. I had the car seat installed, the tiny clothes washed, and a freezer full of casseroles. But within days, I realized something: nothing had prepared me for the physical recovery, the emotional ups and downs, and the sheer exhaustion of caring for a newborn around the clock.

Read More