Getting ready for birth
Birth plan vs. birth preferences: how to write one that works
Why flexible birth preferences work better than a rigid birth plan, a simple three-part structure, and how a doula keeps communication smooth with your care team.
Resources
Practical resources for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, a free checklist to start with, and where to turn when you need more than a guide.
Free download
The Minimalist Hospital Bag
A free minimalist checklist that separates what earns a place in your bag from what the hospital may already provide. Pack once, pack light, and skip the twenty items you will never open.
What’s inside
- Start with the hospital
- For labor
- For recovery
- For baby and support person
- Leave it home
- Quick notes
Free guide
Foods to avoid during pregnancy
A doula's short list of foods to skip while you're pregnant, why each one matters, and simple swaps, from deli meat and sushi to caffeine and raw milk.
- High-mercury fish
- Raw meat and seafood
- Unpasteurized dairy
- Deli meat and hot dogs
- Raw eggs
- Caffeine and alcohol
Naomi’s picks
The vitamins, gear, books, and people I recommend to my own clients. Nothing here is sponsored: I don’t earn anything from these links.
Pregnancy and labor
- We Heart Nutrition Vitamins
- Lila TENS unit and labor gowns
- Dr. Bill Chun OB-GYN on Instagram
Breast pumps
Books
- This Isn’t What I Expected Postpartum. By Karen Kleiman and Valerie Raskin
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth By Ina May Gaskin
- Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding By Ina May Gaskin
After birth
- Let Mommy Sleep Overnight nanny care
Thoughtful support for each season
- My Birth Plan A visual plan to share with your birth team. $20 View template
- Colostrum Harvesting Hand expression, collection, storage, and transport. $15 View guide
- The Minimalist Hospital Bag A short packing checklist for labor, recovery, and baby. Free View guide
- A Gentle Start to Breastfeeding Feeding cues, pumping, and when to ask for help. $15 View guide
- Postpartum Cooling Pads Preparation, safer use, and gentler alternatives. $5 View guide
- Birthing With Confidence Ten modules for birth and postpartum preparation. $147 Explore course
From the blog
All articles-
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Labor and birth
Can you have a doula if you get an epidural?
Yes! Doulas provide continuous support for epidural births, including positioning, emotional reassurance, partner support, and the move into postpartum.
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Hiring a doula
How much does a doula cost in San Antonio?
Typical doula rates around San Antonio, how my $550, $850, and $1,200 birth packages compare, and how payments and cancellations work.
When you need more than a guide
These guides are education, not medical advice. For anything about your own health or your baby’s, these are the right people to call.
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In an emergency
For any medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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Medical questions
Call your OB, midwife, or care provider. I can help you think through what to ask, but I don’t give medical advice.
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National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy, 24/7, in English and Spanish.
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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you’re struggling or thinking about harming yourself, you can reach someone any time.
Prefer to talk it through?
A prenatal session is one-on-one time to prepare, on Google Meet or in your home. Tell me what’s on your mind and we’ll find the right fit.