Open Arms Birth Co.

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Here to hold moms. Here to hold your hand. Here to walk you through this. 🤍

I’ll always hold your baby if you offer but I think my favorite part is getting to watch you mother.

08/27/2026

Most doulas are trained in basic lactation support. That means we know what a good latch should look like and can help you get started with breastfeeding.

It does NOT mean that we can diagnose a tongue or lip tie, give you medical advice, or provide long-term lactation support. That’s why we have relationships with local IBCLCs and CLCs that we can refer you to when you need more specialized support. They’ve put in the hard work, education, and training to be able to help you with things that are outside of the basic lactation knowledge we have.

Your doula doesn’t have to know everything, But we do know someone who can help. 🤍

08/27/2026

Would you like to join us for a breastfeeding class or a birth 2.0 class? We do still have room for more couples in both classes, register on our website www.greatlakesdoulas.com. And for the mamas who has already delivered, remember we have FREE breastfeeding drop in group on Thursdays at 11:00. No need to register- just come and have some tea and some love.

08/26/2026

‼️Trigger warning, pregnancy and infant loss‼️

Every doula should have bereavement training.
Not just bereavement doulas.
Every birth worker.

Because babies die. In every stage of pregnancy.
Sometimes a family who expected to bring their baby home instead leaves the hospital with empty arms. Sometimes a loss happens unexpectedly in the middle of what everyone thought was going to be a normal birth.

And when that happens, we need birth professionals who know how to be present without making the situation more painful.

We need to know not to say, “You can always have another baby.”
We need to know that “At least you know you can get pregnant” is not comforting.
We need to know that asking, “When are you going to try again?” is never an appropriate response to someone’s grief.

We need to understand that a rainbow baby does not replace the baby who died.

And perhaps most importantly, we need to learn how to recognize our own grief and trauma so that we don’t make a grieving family carry ours, too.

You may have never called yourself a bereavement doula. You may never intend to specialize in pregnancy or infant loss, But if you work in birth, you are going to encounter loss.

Bereavement education isn’t about having all the right words. It’s about understanding what grief can look like, knowing how to support parents through the unexpected death of their baby, and learning how to hold space without centering ourselves.
The goal isn’t just to support families through the births we hope for,It’s to be prepared for the births that don’t go the way any of us planned.

“I read a book in my doula training” isn’t cutting it anymore. Prepare yourself so you can pivot if the unthinkable happens. Education is power and if a training is what helps you cut down the risk of further traumatizing a client then it’s worth the time and money.

08/19/2026

So much pride and joy in this picture. 🥹

08/15/2026

I cannot say enough about how special it is to have clients who come back to me again and again for each baby they welcome into the world. There is something so meaningful about being invited back into such an intimate and sacred season of their lives. 🤍

I said to someone the other day, “I meet all my best friends when they’re naked,” and it’s absolutely true. 🤣 Birth has a funny way of turning clients into friends, and I’m so grateful for it.

Three sweet babies have now been in front of my camera, and all three times, I have been so incredibly proud of and impressed by their mama. Watching her become a mother of three, witnessing her strength, and getting to document these moments for her each time has been such an honor.

Three babies. Three births. And somehow, I’m even more grateful every time she chooses me to be there. 🤍
While she isn’t my first three-peat client, this one was extra special to witness this week.

07/20/2026

The provider you choose to walk through pregnancy and birth with can make or break your experience.

Whether you’re planning a hospital birth, birth center birth, or home birth, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’re not being difficult, you aren’t an inconvenience you are making an informed decision about one of the biggest days of your life.

Ask questions that tell you how they practice, not just what they believe.

If you’re choosing a hospital provider, consider asking:
• What is your induction rate?
• What is your cesarean rate?
• How often do you perform episiotomies?
• What is your approach to delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin?
• How do you support physiologic birth?
• How do you feel about doulas being present?
• When do you typically recommend interventions, and why?

Read reviews. Talk to other parents. Ask local doulas. Listen for patterns.

If you’re considering a home birth provider, ask:
• What is your transfer rate?
• Can I see your statistics from previous years of practice?
• Under what circumstances do you recommend a transfer?
• How do you handle emergencies?
• What is your relationship like with local hospitals?
• What training and certifications do you hold?
• Note how they treat your partner. Will they be welcomed, respected, and included as part of the birth team?

Then do your own research. Read reviews, verify credentials, and interview them thoroughly.

No provider has perfect outcomes, and no birth is completely predictable. What matters is finding someone who practices evidence-based care, communicates honestly, respects your autonomy, and makes you feel heard.

Birth is too important to choose your provider based on convenience alone.