At Nurture, our team of doulas believes that postpartum care is not just recovery — it’s sacred renewal. Recently, a few of our doulas (and I!) have begun training to become Postpartum Ayur-Doulas — doulas who specialize in Ayurvedic practices for the postpartum period.

When Today’s Parent reached out to me about sleep positions after giving birth, I was thrilled to share one of my favorite pieces of practical postpartum advice: side-lying sleep. It’s a simple shift that reduces pressure on healing tissues, supports circulation, and helps new parents find relief. But while the article covered the basics beautifully, there’s more I want to add from my own years of experience supporting families through the raw, tender days after birth.

I’m honored to have been quoted in a recent Family Education article on baby name regret, a topic that touches more parents than we often realize. Naming your baby is such a tender, meaningful decision—and sometimes, once your baby is here, the name you thought was perfect no longer feels like the right fit.

There was a recent article in The Bump that dives into the real cost of hiring a doula and the deep value behind that investment. It’s a conversation worth having, and I was grateful for the opportunity to weigh in as an expert.

The article breaks down typical doula pricing—ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 for a birth doula, and up to $3,500 in larger markets. It also notes that postpartum support usually averages $25–$50 hourly

Meet Gabby! Gabby began her doula journey from a place of deep empathy. After feeling the gap in support during her own postpartum period, she knew she wanted to make sure other families didn’t experience that same isolation. “It’s not that I didn’t have support,” Gabby says, “it’s just that my friends didn’t know how to help effectively. I was the first of them to have kids.”

Meet Brittni O’Connor! I first met Brittni almost ten years ago, when she walked into one of my CAPPA doula trainings. From the moment we started talking, I felt an instant connection with her — that spark you get when you know someone’s heart is in the right place and their calling is aligned with their soul. She absorbed the training like a sponge, asking thoughtful questions, and sharing openly about her love for supporting families.

At Nurture we believe pregnancy and birth are not just medical events—they are human events, spiritual events, family events. They require care that goes beyond checklists and heart rates. That’s why we’ve designed every offering around supporting the whole experience of becoming a parent.

There is something undeniably sacred about a postpartum herb bath. It’s one of the oldest, simplest, and most nourishing rituals a new parent can give themselves after birth. Long practiced across cultures, this healing soak supports both physical recovery and emotional integration. And when approached through the lens of Hypnobirthing and hypno-postpartum care, the bath becomes even more than a remedy—it becomes a practice of deep inner healing and recalibration.

This spring, I lost my best friend, Irene. After a long and courageous journey with cancer, she made the brave decision last fall to stop treatment and simply livewith whatever time she had left. She did just that — living fully, intentionally, and surrounded by love until her passing just a few weeks ago.

Irene wasn’t just my best friend — she was my inspiration. I met her when I was 19, and our lives have been interwoven ever since. She was by my side during one of the most intense moments of my life — when I went into early premature labor with my first baby, a birth that eventually led to a cesarean. Long before anyone really talked about “doulas,” Irene was my doula. She was present, supportive, steady — everything a doula should be.

At Nurture, we believe that every member of our team brings something beautifully unique to the care we offer—and Jenna is no exception. Jenna Schroeder is a woman of many gifts—but the common thread is always support, connection, and empowerment. With over 13 years of experience teaching yoga, she is certified in YogaFit and specializes in Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga. Her classes offer more than movement; they are spaces where women can reconnect with their changing bodies and find both strength and softness.

At Nurture, we believe that every member of our team brings something beautifully unique to the care we offer—and Leah is no exception. As a Birth and Postpartum Doula and our welcoming Guest Specialist, Leah’s presence is as grounding as it is uplifting. Her journey into birth work started with a moment of deep connection, and it’s only grown from there.

The early postpartum days are beautiful, blurry—and often busy in ways you never expected. You might find yourself balancing a newborn on one arm, trying to soothe, feed, or burp them… while realizing it’s 2 p.m. and you haven’t eaten since breakfast. That’s why nutrient-dense, one-hand snacks are essential in postpartum life, and we are sharing our favorite recipe for a delicious snack.

As we begin this new year, we’re setting the intention of “connection”—to ourselves, our families, our communities, and the work we do. Connection is at the heart of everything we stand for at Nurture, and it’s a theme we hope to manifest in every aspect of our lives this year. Whether through supporting families, building relationships within our doula team, or strengthening bonds with those we serve, connection is what drives us forward.

In the spirit of connection, we are thrilled to feature one of our own who embodies this intention so beautifully: Anna Nix. Her dedication to creating meaningful connections with families, as well as with her colleagues, is a perfect example of how we can weave this powerful intention into everything we do.

This past weekend, we had the immense honor of being invited to the Cincinnati Museum Center to showcase our work at Nurture as part of the Advancing Health exhibit. This exhibit celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of Cincinnati leaders and innovators in healthcare, highlighting how our city has shaped medical advancements and improved public health. It was an absolute privilege to represent pregnancy, postpartum care, and the innovations we’re making in women’s health at Nurture—especially as the very first organization to spotlight childbirth in this powerful space.

Planning a cesarean birth often means navigating a range of decisions to ensure that your preferences are met and that you feel comfortable and informed throughout the process. Whether your cesarean is planned or becomes necessary during labor, having a clear set of preferences can help you communicate your wishes effectively with your healthcare team. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you outline your cesarean birth preferences.

As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, it’s a perfect time to acknowledge and honor all forms of breastfeeding. Whether you’re directly nursing, pumping, bottle-feeding breast milk, or using a combination of these methods, your efforts are valuable and important. Breastfeeding is not just about providing nutrition; it’s a profound way to bond with and nurture your baby. I want to share my own journey to encourage and uplift you, no matter where you are in your breastfeeding story.

Pregnancy brings with it a myriad of changes, including the dreaded swollen feet and ankles. While it's a common discomfort, there are several natural remedies and lifestyle adjustments you can make to ease the swelling and promote overall comfort during this special time.

This Pregnancy Power Drink is more than just a refreshing beverage; it's a powerhouse of essential nutrients that support your and your baby's health. Enjoy it daily as part of a balanced diet to keep yourself hydrated and nourished throughout your pregnancy journey.

I asked one of our doula clients to share her amazing birth story (and VBAC victory) with you. This story starts with a first, cesarean birth experience that left a lot to be desired for Cori. It follows up with a TOLAC that became a VBAC that eventually became part of the saving grace that brought baby Simon into the world healthy, strong, and in the very best environment to care for his unexpected diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea— a condition that is often undetected until much later in a baby’s life but thanks to Cori’s amazing instincts and her supportive birth team (including her partner and doulas, nurses, and doctors) Cori’s amazing birth became the very best beginning for Simon and a very emotionally healing journey for her as a mother.

Pregnancy is a profound journey, marked by physical changes, emotional shifts, and the anticipation of new life. While medical care is essential, there's a dimension of support that goes beyond clinical interventions – non-clinical care. In this post, we'll explore what non-clinical care entails, why it's crucial in pregnancy support, and how it humanizes healthcare by prioritizing the “whole-istic” well-being of women and their babies.