With a few keystrokes, you can access research studies, birth stories, hospital policies, evidence-based articles, podcasts, videos, online communities, Google, ChatGPT, and virtually every perspective imaginable on pregnancy and birth. But birth isn’t a multiple-choice exam. You don’t “win” because you memorized the evidence. Giving birth asks something different of you.

Looking for the perfect push present? While jewelry, flowers, and luxury handbags may dominate social media, today’s mothers are redefining what it means to feel celebrated after giving birth. At Nurture, we believe the best push present isn’t always something you unwrap—it’s something you experience.

Recently, I was featured in Forbes Vetted sharing expert advice on pregnancy sleep. While preparing for that interview, I realized many of my favorite strategies never made it into the final article—not because they weren’t important, but because they go beyond products and sleep positions. They focus on something even more fundamental: helping your body feel safe enough to truly rest.

Summer celebrations, backyard barbecues, pool days, and Fourth of July festivities are some of the best parts of the season—but they also bring soaring temperatures and an increased risk of dehydration.

Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or breastfeeding, staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your health and your baby’s well-being.

Today we’re sharing a refreshing Red, White & Blue Pregnancy-Safe Electrolyte Drink along with everything you need to know about why hydration matters during pregnancy and postpartum.

When most people think about preparing for birth, they think about information. They sign up for childbirth classes. They read books. They listen to podcasts. They create birth plans. They learn the stages of labor and research their options. And while all of these things are important, they only address one part of the birth experience: the mind.

Birth is not just a thinking experience.

Birth is a body experience. A nervous system experience. A relational experience. And if we prepare only through education, we may find ourselves missing one of the most important aspects of labor and birth.

When my twins were born at 26 weeks at University of Cincinnati Hospital, everything I thought I knew about motherhood was turned upside down. They spent three months in the NICU, fighting and growing stronger every day, while I was learning how to navigate my own postpartum recovery. Those early weeks weren’t filled with soft moments of bonding- they were a blur of hospital walls, pumping, medical updates, and trying to take care of myself while worrying about my tiny babies. I didn’t know how to soothe the overwhelm or rebuild my strength without feeling guilty, and I wish I had.

There are moments in life that don’t just change you — they call you. For me, birth was one of those moments. I didn’t step into this work because it was trendy. I didn’t do it because it seemed like a good business idea. I stepped into birth work because something inside me would not stay quiet.

I was the woman who cried during birth stories. The one who leaned in when other people leaned back. The one who felt the sacredness of the room even before I had language for it.

There is something powerful about watching a woman realize her strength in real time. Something life-altering about witnessing a family being born. I remember thinking, This matters. This is holy work. And I knew I wanted to be part of it.

Social media has become one of the most influential sources of information about pregnancy and birth. For many expecting parents, it’s where they first encounter birth stories, learn new language around advocacy, and begin forming expectations about labor and delivery. As a doula, hypnobirthing educator, and facilitator of birth story sharing circles, I see both the power and the risk of this exposure every day.

After birth, the placenta is often treated as an afterthought — something quietly discarded once its job is “done.” But emerging research is telling a very different story: the placenta holds powerful information about pregnancy, birth, and long-term health for both parent and baby.

In fact, physician-scientists are now calling for placental evaluation to become a routine part of obstetric and neonatal care, not just something reserved for emergencies.

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

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.

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.

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.