Joei Gowing Doula

This was a hard thing to learn as a birth worker and enthusiast. I read Ina May's book out loud to my belly with Levi, and I truly believe it was the foundation of how I viewed birth & was able to relax into it. However. When our idols (like JKR) show us their true colours, it doesn't take away from us. It takes away from our view of them, but it doesn't make us less valid.... It is time to let Ina May go. - She touched birthing people in labour/crowning sexually without consent, even/especially when their partners were uncomfortable making the experience sexual themselves. - She does not advocate or believe that black mothers have inherent risk in the USA for higher maternal infant mortality due to institutionalized racism, and blamed them for being uneducated or poor. - She does not support all birthing people, refuses to use gender neutral language, and only believes that women give birth (ignoring intersex, transgender and non-binary birthing people). - She supports routine infant circumcision, not for medical reasons, which denies body autonomy. Support birth workers who are truly making a difference in birthing communities. The Grand Midwives were incredible indigenous and black women carrying forth the tradition of midwifery even when white supremacy tried to outlaw them and medicalize birth. Phyllis Klaus (who I've talked to directly about MMIW, birth trauma, and indigenous parenting) believes in trauma informed care, with room for intersection with racism, sexism, etc. Rebecca Black, owner of Evidence Based Birth , advocates for all birthing people with information and compassion. Many many birth workers are out there fighting the good fight without the misogyny, racism, and transphobia. Find them.

Revealing our family costumes!!

This year Halloween looks a little different! We're trying Boo Baskets, family game and movie night, and hunting for candy around the house with flashlights. I threw this together with things from the dollarstore - how did I do?!

#Repost @carolinadoulacollective You are in complete control of one element of your birth experience. Your provider. Who you choose as your provider can honestly make or break your birth experience. Not because some providers are good and some are bad. I don't believe that. But because not every provider is going to be the best fit for YOU. ... An OB specializing in high-risk birth just isn't likely to be able to give you the hands-off, low intervention vaginal waterbirth birth of your dreams. And a midwife at an out of hospital birth center isn't going to be able to give you a scheduled C-section. Who you choose as your provider dictates where you give birth and what resources you will have available to you during your birth (tub, birth ball, wireless monitors, nitrous oxide...) it dictates the end of pregnancy protocols that you will encounter (standard induction at 41 weeks), it can even dictate whether you are viewed as high risk or not (Does your provider do a lot of VBACs or is a VBAC especially high risk for them?). Most of all though who you choose as your provider and whether or not you trust them will dictate how you feel about your entire birth experience regardless of how it turns out. It will dictate whether you feel supported, whether you felt informed, and whether you come away secure in the knowledge that your birth experience was what was best for you and your baby. Choose wisely. Do your research. Interview different doctors (yes that's a thing). If you're not happy- switch. #pregnant #pregnancy #birth #preggo #motherhood #momlife #newborn #newbornbaby #mom #pregnantbelly #birthmatters #birthphotography #pregnancyeducation #thirdtrimester #raleighmoms #birthwithoutfear #raleighnc #childbirth #laboranddelivery #raleighbirthdoula #birthdoula #midwifery #obstetrics #choice #support #research #hospitalbirth #homebirth #birthcenter See more

REVEALING OUR NEW BABY!! Were you right on what you thought it was?? Happy Gotcha Day