emphasis - doula & birthwork

Hey, I'm growing another human! I have limited availability for the summer, and then will be fully off for about 3 months in the fall/winter. Repeat clients - please reach out regardless of your due date! I want to support you or help find the best doula for you. I plan on easing back into birthwork starting with guess dates in February. Please reach out with anything! 😊

Oi. This is a lot to unpack. Those who went in at 1cm or less and with a BMI over 40 had a SIXTY SIX PERCENT CESAREAN RATE.

Wait until your labor is well established to go in. I know it can feel very exciting and overwhelming, but to improve your outcomes, stay home! Better yet, hire a doula. We support you via phone and text in early labor and join you at your home when things get more active. We help you make the decision of when to go in. The question I use the most in that time is, "what will it change?" Oftentimes people want to go in because they think they "should" or because their contractions are 5 minutes apart. Most of the time that's a big NOPE. Unless there's something you want to change - access to nitrous or an epidural, a big tub, monitoring, feeling pushy, etc. It's a very individualized decision and while the person at the hospital you talk to on the phone will often encourage you to come in, there's so many pieces in the puzzle. This is where doulas excel!

What an amazing event! 💜

Join me, and for a hands-on healing experience for those who have suffered birth trauma (which comes in MANY forms).
This event will allow you to see a new form of healing. You may be able to release triggers, heal physically, move forward, let go of feelings and hang ups and so much more.
The facilitators will be leading the myofascial releases with participants holding space or showing physical support to the participant being worked on but this will not be a “class” where techniques are taught.
Space is limited. Please reach out to enroll or with questions.

Such a beautiful project for anyone who had a surgical birth! 💜

Again this year ICAN of the Twin Cities will be hosting a photoshoot to capture how cesarean scars change overtime. If you're interested in participating, fill out the form. https://forms.gle/nqDg297YQ3BT8FeTA

If you're not familiar with the collection, be sure to visit it- it lives online now! https://www.ourcesareanscars.org/thecollection

Reminder of our in person support night tomorrow at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 6:30-8pm (1720 E Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis).

Combs for acupressure in labor. What has your experience been? Do you have combs packed in your birth bag? This parent used them all the way up until babe was out!

This one got me... 😂

Wow. That was a YEAR. In 2023, I was humbled and amazed over and over again by the power of birthing people to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies, the courage to continue through changes in plans and extremely difficult situations, and the confidence to advocate for their values and preferences. I experienced several "firsts" that pushed me to grow. There are so many adjectives that I could use to describe those 35 births, but I'll spare you the novel and say that it was a year full of emotion, discovery, joy, and pain - sometimes all at the same time. In addition to births, I also supported several families postpartum and encapsulated many placentas. Lots of baby holding and parent holding and hours in the basement in full PPE! I'm looking at 2024 with optimism, excitement, and humility. Thank you so much to the families who welcomed me into their most vulnerable, incredible moments in 2023. You all have such a special place in my heart!

HBAC scene: putting on baby’s first diaper after the newborn exam, “hey Rachel, could you run upstairs and grab the olive oil for baby’s bum?” This was the olive oil. 😂 Maybe it was the sleep deprivation and adrenaline, but we all found this to be hilarious. The many duties of your friendly neighborhood full spectrum doula!

Oh my gosh, this gift! I never expect gifts from clients, but they are so appreciated and give me all the warm fuzzies. This badass parent birthed in a supported (by me) squat, resulting in my socks being soaked in amniotic fluid and blood and who knows what else. 😂 The note says, “Thank you for helping me birth my son. Your support, care and energy made my birth such a positive and empowering experience. But I clearly remember your socks getting soaked in all kinds of birth fluids! Enjoy these new ones. Much love.”

Things that may surprise you in your birthing experience: the shakes, difficulty regulating your temperature, vomiting, emotional release, difficulty urinating. These are things I see frequently - what else surprised you?

Excuse me while I weep over here. 🥺 Supporting my clients through their most vulnerable, raw, powerful moments will never get old. I will never not feel honored and humbled to be a part of birth. It is a sacred space and there’s something about repeat clients that hits you in the feelers a little harder! When I asked Allie to try to describe her second birth in one word, she said “cool.” 😆 But it was! Such a cool birth. 💜
“Wow. Where to start.

Rachel was our doula for our first baby, she was incredible and was there for us through a challenging labor and while we processed and grieved an unexpected C-section.

When we got pregnant with baby #2 I knew I wanted Rachel on my team as we prepared for a VBAC. She provided great resources, checked in frequently, and helped me feel capable, empowered and knowledgeable.

She provided amazing support while we labored at home, was clear about my preferences when we got to the hospital and captured beautiful pictures that I look at regularly - from both births!

She helped us successfully have a VBAC and was an integral part of the team. It was truly a healing experience.”

Interested in doula support? Please reach out! A 2012 report published by the NIH, which analyzed over 15,000 births, found that persons with continuous labor support:

- are more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth
- are less likely to have intrapartum analgesia
- are less likely to report dissatisfaction
- are more likely to have a shorter labor
- are less likely to have a caesarean
- are less likely to have an instrumental vaginal birth
- are less likely to have regional analgesia
- are less likely to have a baby with a low five-minute Apgar score

VBAC! This amazing repeat client did SO much work to process her first birth, a C-section, to prepare for her second birthing experience. Preparing for a VBAC is not just making the decision to try. It is mental work, emotional work. Processing. Rebuilding. Healing. Strengthening. Loosening your grip. So much research. Making decisions with intention. And a little bit of 🖕🖕🖕 to the naysayers. After multiple days of tiring prodromal labor, I went over to their home for a check in and some releases and positioning. Hours later, I was thrilled to receive a middle of the night call, with her partner describing the intensity and frequency with which surges were coming. Upon arriving at their home again, it was clear that she was absolutely rocking the active labor phase. We rotated through some intentional positions and movements to support baby’s process, with partner and mom as critical support people. After a few hours, she was transitioning, and we headed to the hospital. Security definitely thought she was going to birth in the lobby. 😂 Just a short time after arriving, she powerfully birthed this sweet sweet baby. In the position of her choosing. On her time. With minimal intervention. No pressure except the butt pressure. Badass. 💪🥳

Feeling a lil fiery today. Birth does not always need to be managed. Babies will exit your body without anyone stretching your tissues or putting a cloth on your perineum. Of course, there are situations in which assistance is needed. But it is not the norm. Society (and OBs, especially) have a distorted view of what birth can look like. Do your research, hire a team that will truly support you, choose a doula who you feel safe with and who will advocate for you, and know that your birth location makes a massive difference.

The Twin Cities home birth community just got even better! 🙌 Check out Solstice Midwifery for all of your baby catching (or observing) needs.

After a decade of hard work and dedication, I am beyond thrilled to announce the birth of Solstice Midwifery!

I chose Solstice Midwifery as a practice name as a way to honor the journey that families embark upon in order to meet their babies. I see the ways in which the seasons of the sun shape our lives on earth mirrored in the ways that the seasons of childbearing and parenting change the lives of families and their loved ones. I hold space for and honor, the short and the long, the ease and the effort, the bright and the dark, and everything in between.

My logo was designed by a dear friend who beautifully brought my vision to life. One of my favorite moments as a midwife is tucking families in to bed with their new baby. This often happens at dawn or at dusk and is the last thing I see before I head back out into the world is the sun quietly shining on them. I look forward to celebrating these moments with families for years to come.

I am currently accepting clients with November guess dates and beyond. To learn more about me and my offerings, please visit my website! SolsticeMidwifery.com

In deep gratitude,
Jamie Huberty-Koerner, CPM, LM

When I first started my business in 2020, I knew I needed a system to make doula services accessible to everyone. Hiring a doula is often seen as a decision reserved for those with financial privilege, yet I strongly believe that anyone who wants a doula should be able to have one. Using an investment tier system allows me to support people with any amount of financial privilege - I was worried this might be taken advantage of, but oh my god it has been so beautiful. People are honest and good and generous and bold and I love it. Check out my website (emphasismn.com) for more info!

Wow, look at this cord! Bodies are so cool.

Hello baby! This first time parent worked so hard through a pretty whirlwind-y labor. For some reason, her body basically just vomited until she got an epidural and zofran. 😫 Not the most pleasant way to experience the birthing process! Once medications were in place, however, she was able to rest and recoup before powerfully pushing her baby out. 👏

Agh, my clients are so amazing! And I tear up at every review. I’m a softy, what can I say. 😆 “Rachel was so helpful and offered a ton of information and support to me and my family. Going into labor, I felt very comfortable knowing what we had learned from Rachel, as well as knowing she was there to help advocate for our family's birthing choices. During labor, she made a lot of helpful suggestions on positioning, breathing and used many words of encouragement. Rachel also made sure to check in with both me and my husband to see if we had questions about anything that was going on during delivery and to make sure we didn't need anything. After birth, Rachel checked in often and made sure that we felt comfortable with baby at home. I would highly recommend Rachel to anyone seeking a doula. I believe it made our birthing experience a lot more relaxed and comfortable.”

Every placenta encapsulation specialist needs a placenta stuffy, right?! 😂

I got my first birthday buddy today! A sweet bub born this afternoon to an incredibly resilient and calm first time parent. Welcome to the July 12 club, kiddo. What a great way to spend my birthday! 🥳

Of course the child of a birthworker who works hard to normalize bodies (and feeding with them and feeding with them for as long as the baby wants) would gravitate to the nursing goat at the petting zoo. 💕

Hi, my name is Rachel and I do the NYT mini crossword every night and was so excited to see this! This description of a doula is meh, but hey, it’s making more people aware that we exist. Yes, I am a trained childbirth assistant, I suppose - but there’s so much more to it. I provide individualized education regarding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Support you through your loss or abortion. Sit with you while you process previous trauma that may impact your experience. Encourage you to slow down. Practice comfort measures and positioning techniques. Answer the weird questions you’re embarrassed to ask anyone else. Recommend new providers if you decide to switch. Help you determine and solidify your values and priorities for your birth. Provide evidence based information. Answer your call at 4am. Walk with you through the laboring process, no matter what time of day. Remind you you’re safe and capable and supported. Encourage and facilitate emotional and physical release. Help get your baby optimally positioned. Aid you in determining when is the best time to head to your birthing location. Hold your puke bag. Refresh your cold washcloth. Protect your space. Engage your partner in the process. Prompt you and your partner to eat and drink. Translate medical jargon. Advocate with and for you. Remind you that declining is a valid option. Remind you that changing your plan is okay. Place food in your mouth while you labor in all the positions. Hold your hand. Hold your hips. Hold space. Describe what interventions entail. Stroke your hair. Help you weigh out the risks and benefits of everything presented to you. Photograph your hard work and your first moments with baby. See your baby as a human being deserving of respect. Obnoxiously ask staff if baby is stable and ready to come skin to skin. Remind you of your preferences, especially when they do not align with standard protocol for your provider. Hold you if your baby needs extra support and has to be separated, and your partner goes with baby. (Continued in comments, cuz you KNOW I’m not even close to done! 🤣)

Sometimes babies are safer on the outside than they are on the inside or a birthing person’s health is at risk, and medical induction is the best choice. Many inductions, however, are not medically necessary. Ask questions if your provider suggests induction of labor for you - lotsssssss of questions! *t **kscaretactics

Delayed cord clamping benefits: increased hemoglobin levels, improved iron stores, significantly improved outcomes for preterm babies. It also keeps baby with the birther, safeguarding their connection. This photo was taken 50 minutes after birth. When was your baby’s cord cut? Will you demand optimal cord cutting, waiting at least 5 minutes after birth?

Curious about hiring a doula? Expecting your first and feel lost? Pregnant with your second or beyond and hoping for a better experience this time around? I’ve got fall and winter availability! Please reach out for a free Meet & Greet!

Bodies are so cool. Look at this beautiful placenta! 😍 The organ your body grew, that nourished your baby and completed your birthing process. Just amazing. The creator of this placenta chose to have it encapsulated, which folks report helps bring stability to their mood, improves milk supply, increased energy, and promotes healing.

Okay. So in most hospitals I go to, giving pitocin (IV or injection) after the baby is born is protocol. This is part of active management of the third stage - the intention is that the pitocin will help the uterus to contract down, therefore encouraging the birth of the placenta and decreasing the risk of hemorrhage. Most providers will also apply traction to the cord soon after it is cut, attempting to speed the process of the placenta detaching from the uterus. However, evidence does not support this for low risk birthers and safe, typical births. Do your research. Know your rights. Hire a doula!

Client reviews are so appreciated! 🥰 If you’re looking for birth support, please reach out. “I got pregnant with my 3rd child under circumstances that weren't exactly ideal. The father and I didn't know each other very well and weren't planning a future together. I didn't use a doula with my oldest 2 children but this time around I had a great sense of needing extra support, I felt so alone! I was super nervous to reach out to a doula, ultimately embarrassed of my situation. I don't have family support like some people do, so I was going to be giving birth completely by myself. I spent a long time researching the perfect doula, did a few meet and greets and went with Rachel. ❤️ I had a great experience with her. She is a very open person, I felt comfortable with her right away. She was knowledgeable in all the areas I needed support and layed out all my options so that I was making informed decisions that best worked for me. She supported my goals for my labor and delivery and kept me focused during transition. After I had my baby she was an awesome resource for those quick texts, hey is this normal?! And genuinely cared about how me and baby were doing. She offers a lot of good experience and helped ease my anxiety of the many things that come with creating and bringing a new life earthside. -Cassandra”