Serving Tomorrow Birth Services, LLC

2 is better than 1♥️

When you need all hands on deck: a partner to hold onto and dangle from but you also need those hips squeezed!

One person just can’t do it all, and you deserve all the support you can get!

Partners & doulas complement each other really well. I am not taking your partner’s place (that’s not even possible!). But I *am* helping him help you even better by giving him ideas and showing him some tricks.

PLUS when you get into positions like this, having the second person (me🙋🏻‍♀️) you get even more relief, even more support♥️

Dads often end up being the biggest advocates for doulas after they’ve experienced birth with one! I know that’s what happened to my husband for sure 😂

What did your partner think of having a doula in the birth space with you?! Tell me some experiences below 👇

One of the most common phrases (unfortunately) in the birth space:

❌“We’re just going to…”❌
👉… break your water to bring baby down
👉… check and see where you’re at
👉… start pitocin to move things along
👉… put baby on the monitor
👉… start your IV
👉… give you these antibiotics
👉… break down the bed

etc etc

If a phrase starts with “we’re just going to”, and you don’t say “no”, that DOESNT mean you gave consent for it.

Consent looks like:
✅”I’m thinking X might help here, can I share why I think that, and some of the potential outcomes that can happen, and then you let me know if you want to do this or not?”
✅”would you like to be checked now or are you good doing what you’re doing right now? It’s totally up to you”
✅”we typically would recommend antibiotics with your GBS status, here are the pros and cons of this, what would you like to do for your body & baby?”

Receiving consent starts with a question. Both informed consent AND informed refusal are valid.

If you feel icky, pressured, or like you’re only getting one side of the story… WAIT. You do not have to make a decision right when they’re asking.

Instead you can say “I’d like some time to think about that/discuss with my partner/see how things play out a bit longer before choosing” etc.

Take the time. YOU are the authority in the room. YOU are the expert in your body.

Regardless of what choices you make in your labor; it truly doesn’t matter what those choices are. What is the MOST important principle (that reduces birth trauma!!!) is how you FEEL when making those choices.

&btw- this is NOT restricted to hospital births or OBGYN. I have seen numerous times with birth centers, home births, midwives where they use similar language. It is SO important to be picky about who you birth with ♥️

Love you, always you’re cheerleader,
Emily

What was your favorite position in labor?!

For me, it was sitting in the shower for my first birth & sitting in the tub for my second (I sense a theme here 💦😍😅)

Tell me yours! 👇

Photo credit to the extraordinary for photos 1-4 & for photo 5 🥰♥️

Some of the incredible people involved in these births: .dfw .marie.seymour ♥️♥️♥️

A question came up in birth class last night… what does “physical grounding” mean?

Birth Partners, this is for you!

You have the ability to help mom feel calm, centered, and confident in her body. Even during intense and emotional moments of labor.

Don’t freeze, jump in with these simple techniques.

And to those doing the hard work of birthing your baby into the world: you have everything you need within yourself already to command peace over yourself. These techniques are simply to add to your layers of support that you deserve. But remember, it all comes down to *you*. And you are wildly capable to do finish what your body has started ♥️

& on this day, Valentine’s Day, full of love and appreciation… I promise, as your doula, I will hold you. Support you (with no judgement), encourage you, Silently or not, physically or verbally or emotionally, love you as you love and labor your child into this world. You are pure love, pure magic, and that is never lost on me. Every “birth day” is a “valentines day”. Sending soooo much love and light your way 💕✨

📸
Mom:
Birth center: .dfw

I help clients seek out & switch to their ideal birth location & attendant allllll the time! & swipe through for the top 5 reasons people choose their original OB or Midwife that’s 😬😬😬😬

So instead:
👍 seek out recommendations from people who have had the type of birth you are looking for.
👍 consider cash pay to access out of hospital options even if insurance doesn’t cover it.
👍 interview providers and be up front with your desires & expectations from the start.
👍 get a virtual consult from a local birthworker to talk in depth about the differences between locations in your area (& don’t forget to pay them for that labor as well😉)
👍don’t be afraid to switch! It’s never too late, and I promise, it’s not a big deal to the person you’re leaving.

Want to walk through your prenatal care knowing exactly what’s coming up next & your options in everything? (PS- being open to alternatives, options, and declining is a great sign of a supportive provider!!!)

📍Download the Free Prenatal Visit Guidebook! 🔗in bio or shoot me a DM & I’ll send it on over 😍

I feel like the BRAINED method can use some more context - so here it is!

P.S-> slide 5 is the one I feel makes the biggest different in real life scenarios.

Need ideas for situations where you can practice this during your prenatal care to strengthen your self advocacy muscle for labor?

👉 then download your free prenatal visit guide found in the first 🔗 in bio to get started!

2022 Doula Recap🥂🎉♥️

These numbers represent incredibly brave, powerful, intelligent, intuitive, determined, funny, joyful, transformed families♥️

& I couldn’t be prouder of them.

THANK YOU to each family who has allowed me to walk alongside them in this experience. I don’t take that privilege lightly ♥️

Onto 2023, with big business changes & even more Serving Tomorrow families♥️

Grateful for the DFW birth community, way too many to tag, some big shout outs to , , and ♥️ and photo credits on the front page to and

Let’s talk pushing with an epidural!

‼️Myth- epidurals mean you can only be on your back

Heck no! Especially not with me as your doula 😉

Swipe through these photos to see a progression of all the ways this strong woman brought her baby down and pushed!

It takes some coordination & creativity to help find the best position that you’re most effective pushing in.

(& just like the rest of your labor) ✨motion is lotion✨ changing positions and pelvic shape totally benefit your pushing experience!

🥜 Also- PEANUT BALLS! I have advanced peanut ball skills training through & love breaking out these positions with my clients!

👍side lying
👍hands and knees
👍squat bar
👍semi reclined
👍tug of war
👍closed knee
👍whatever position feels best for you!!!

Now the caveat here- dense epidurals will not allow you to get on hands and knees, so talk with your anesthesia provider prior to placement requesting a dose that will help you retain mobility & control♥️

It was such an honor to backup for this beautiful birth!

Photos by
Strong Mom

Are you surprised by any of these positions? What questions do you have about epidurals?

January’s group childbirth Ed series is open for registration!!!🎉

There are so many options for childbirth classes, so how do you choose? Bradley, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, o my! So many options!

Non-medicated or maybe you want all the interventions? Waiting to go into labor naturally or maybe the plan is to induce...

The point is... you shouldn't have to choose one type of class and hope you chose well. You need to know everything before you can make those decisions. This is where we step in!

A comprehensive birth class that dives into everything about later pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the early post-partum, including walking you through all the interventions offered by most hospital systems.

We talk the mechanics of labor, pain intervention strategies (both medical and not), and even how to make sure you know how to protect your pelvic floor.

This class is not limited to those birthing in a hospital. This class is for those who want a well rounded, non biased look into birthing.

Sign up today for in person (limited to 10 couples) or join us virtually Thursday evenings from anywhere in the country!

Co-taught by me and Dr Stefanie Long of .therapy - we can’t wait to see you there!

Doulas talk a lot about “holding space” .. but we also are there to literally hold *you*… or am emesis bag…. Or quick facts to help when decisions arrive.. Or your hips… or your water… holding all the things so you can simply focus on riding the waves, feeling your power, and experiencing this life giving event.

Support looks different for each person, but I promise you this: I will be there to hold whatever needs held. You are never alone.

Supporting a beautiful friend in her first birth was an honor .weyermuller with midwife Olivia and images caught by

& spoiler alert, her precious daughter was worth every second.



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Tips for Induction of Labor:

With more & more people inducing labor, here are some of my top tips.

Now whether or not induction of labor is beneficial for the percentage of people being induced is another conversation; but they are definitely common and sometimes super necessary!

An average first time induction can be anywhere from 24-48 hrs depending on your Bishop Score and steps taken to prep your cervix and induce labor.

What tips do you have from your induction experience? Or what questions about the induction process do you want answered?

Happy birthing!

Last call for final registration 🎉🎉 Comprehensive birth & postpartum prep taught by a certified childbirth educator & doula as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, including resources created by an IBCLC!

Bringing you tons of information, hands on practice, and practical application so you feel prepared and EXCITED to birth!

We have 2 spots left before we close registration for this round (next series will begin in January) so please let me know if you have any questions at all! Or sign up at www.servingtomorrow.com
therapy thank you for hosting and teaching pelvic floor sections and being amazing!!

Doulas are for scheduled cesareans too ♥️💕 no matter where or how your birth takes place, you are absolutely incredible and deserve continuous support. What a beautiful birthday it was this morning!

Wow it has been a minute since I posted here!! It's been a busy summer of welcoming babies, serving families, teaching, continuing ed, and enjoying the summer with my own kids!!

Availability is closing up for 2022, I have *ONE* November spot left and then in 2023, *one* January opening, and *one* March opening still available. Can't believe we'll be having April inquiries starting soon!

In the meantime, I've had a few incredible clients rock their VBACs in the last couple months - here is a sweet note from one of those moms!

Ok Type As & those who really like being in control…. Find a birth team & location where you can “turn it off”.

Let your neocortex take the back seat, tap into your parasympathetic nervous system, and allow the flow of hormones like oxytocin & beta - endorphins take over♥️

This comes from a deep trust in yourself, the birth process, and the support you have around you. When those things align, magic happens 💖

Active Labor:
-defined as 6-8cm but here are some non-dilation markers of this phase in labor:

• no longer talking during contractions, barely talking in between them
• feeling very “inward”, not fully noticing what’s going on around you
• typically vocalizing and feeling primal during contractions
• altered consciousness, sometimes feeling out of body, lack of awareness of time

Of course everyone’s experience of labor is unique, but these are some very common markers of a person in active labor! Continue moving in ways that intuitively feel good, your body knows how to do this.

Save this one, and scroll back to save the post for ideas for early labor!

One of the most influential choices for your birth outcome will be where and with whom you birth.

Not everyone needs or want to birth in a hospital. But some do. And for those that do, not every hospital is the same.

And in the hospital, not everyone needs an OB. But some do. And for those that do, not all OBs are the same.

For those who choose midwifery care in the hospital setting, not all midwifery groups practice the same.

And for those who choose out of hospital births, some will choose birth center birth, and some will homebirth.

Not all birth centers are the same. Not all homebirth midwives are the same.

Find out which options you are a good candidate for, which options you have access to in your area, and which options feel like your peace.

You should always feel centered in your care, respected (at minimum), and supported.

Sweet words from clients ♥️

Happy Easter! May Christ’s grace mercy & love shine vibrantly in your life today & always 💐✝️

anyone having Easter babies today?! New life being brought into the world is always such a gift.

He is risen, Alleluia 🌅

Early Labor Activities:

Step One- go about your day, or continue to sleep if it’s night time.

But, I get it, it’s exciting! So here are some ideas to help pass the time and keep your mind off mild contractions that are fairly spaced apart. ♥️

Happy World Doula Week to alllllll the doulas out there! 💕💕


📷 taken at Texas Health Mansfield w/ Midwife+Co while my client rocked her induction for her first baby. A privilege to support ♥️

Due end of June or later? I have a brand new group birth & postpartum prep course for you!

Taught by myself (certified birth educator and certified doula) and Dr. Stefanie Long, DPT of Concept Therapy and Wellness

We will prepare you for
•a healthy third trimester to prep you for labor
•teach you and your partner labor techniques for both medicated and unmedicated births in the hospital setting.

We’ll practice
•communicating with providers so you feel in charge of the decisions being made for your care.

And, Dr Stefanie will teach us how to push effectively with minimal pelvic floor trauma ♥️

and I would never teach a course without including postpartum education!

You’ll receive
•planning workbooks
•healing tips
•an entire online class for infant feeding by an IBCLC!

We’ll even cover pelvic floor rehab postpartum (spoiler alert- you don’t have to p*e when you sneeze just bc you gave birth!)

It begins May 14th in Keller! It will be 5 sessions, taking a break off for Memorial Day weekend! Feel free to comment, DM, or message me any questions. And share with your friends! Registration is here: www.servingtomorrow.com/hospital-class

Partnering with an incredible physical therapist to offer a comprehensive birth & postpartum prep class in May!! Check out all the topics we will cover and registration information here ➡️ https://www.servingtomorrow.com/hospital-class

Y’all. I am SO excited about this.

I’ve wanted to do something like this forever and it’s finally happening. I’ve always thought that the silliest thing about healthcare is that it is reactionary, not preventative. ESPECIALLY when it comes to childbirth and the common issues after - leaking urine, pain during in*******se, low back pain, etc…

But if we can help to prevent that, why wouldn’t we?? So this class is a product of that goal. I’ve partnered with an amazing childcare educator (Serving Tomorrow Birth Services, LLC) who grabbed a hold of my dream and turned it into reality! A class that gives you the info you need to have a successful hospital birth! With allllll the info about alllll the interventions that you could have! And some pelvic floor rehab thrown in!

To say I’m excited is an understatement!

So if you’re interested - DM me!

Or if you’re pregnant and ready to dive all in, click the link in the bio! Trust me! You won’t be disappointed! Starts May!

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What does “Serving Tomorrow” even mean? I view “tomorrow” in 3 different lenses:

-your birth experience
-your postpartum experience
-the future generation of families

By investing in this experience, all 3 of those areas will benefit.

I am not here to just teach you stages of labor, then do hip squeezes, and say hi once postpartum. When I am welcomed onto your birth team, I provide a continuity of care and support that is attentive and individualized. Because you deserve no less. I am humbled to be apart of such sacred, intimate moments with your family, and I want you to know that ♥️

Anyways, I realized I never truly explained the meaning behind my business name. I hope this gives a little more insight to me and my values as a birthworker.

I would be honored to serve you this year ♥️