To My Sweet Antonia, on Your Second Birthday

Dear Antonia – happy birthday! In a blink of an eye, you are a curious and independent two year old and I’m left wondering how time can go both slow and fast at the same time. This past year you have grown so much. You’ve gone from a baby to a toddler seemingly overnight. Here…

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Why I’m Hanging Up My Doula Hat

What a title, huh? I certainly wasn’t expecting to make this post, so if it’s a shock to you too, welcome to the club :). My mentor always said, “you don’t choose this work, it chooses you,” and I totally subscribe to that. But let me tell you, having a baby changes EVERYTHING and for…

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To My Sweet Antonia on Your First Birthday

Dearest Antonia, We made it, baby. Today you are one years old and your dad and I (along with our village) have nurtured and loved you 24/7 for 365 days. There is so much I want to say to you on your first birthday but I’ll start with the most basic: thank you. For as…

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My Postpartum Experience

Today I’m getting really real about what the postpartum experience was like for me. I’m mostly talking about the first 3-4 months postpartum, as that tends to be the most tender time. Although now, at a little over 10 months postpartum, I’m still experiencing some things that I’ll dive into later. Also, super fun added…

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What to Include in Your Birth Preferences – Part III

baby delivered via c-section

It took me over a year (having a baby and experiencing a global pandemic is a lot, y’all), but today I’m completing the “what to include in your birth preferences” series with a dedicated post on if you end up having a scheduled or unplanned cesarean birth. If you missed parts I and II, go…

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Antonia Marie’s Birth Story

*I wrote this story down 3 days after her birth. It’s raw and intense, but also beautiful. Also, CAN YOU EVEN WITH THAT SWEET FACE?! I miss fresh-out-of-the-womb Toni already.* Antonia Marie Gonzalez was born Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 1:34am. She weighed 6 lbs. 11.5 oz and was 21.5 inches long. Before I go…

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What to Include in Your Birth Preferences – Part II

Welcome to part II of my post discussing birth preferences and how to create yours. If you haven’t already, check out part I where I go over what birth preferences are, the importance of using the term “preferences” instead of “plan,” and how to compile your list. Adding Two Addendums Since we can’t plan our…

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What to Include in Your Birth Preferences – Part I

This is probably the #1 question I get from clients, friends, and prospective clients – what should I include on my birth preferences list? Let’s briefly discuss what birth preferences are. Simply put, they are a communication tool between you and your provider that helps generate a conversation about what’s important to you throughout your…

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