Preparing for the birth of your baby can feel like a full-time job. Between the endless registry lists, birth class options, and nursery plans, it’s easy to get swept up in the logistics and lose sight of the bigger picture. But if you’re looking to take your birth planning and preparation to the next level and go beyond the basics, this post is for you. Here’s how to think holistically, proactively, and realistically about your journey ahead.

1. Build a Birth Dream Team (Beyond Your Partner and Doula)- Your birth team doesn’t have to stop at your partner and a doula. In fact, considering a wider circle of support can offer physical, emotional, and mental reinforcement before, during, and after birth.

Consider including:

• Chiropractor– Prenatal chiropractic care can help align your body, relieve discomfort, and may support optimal fetal positioning.
• Acupuncturist– Acupuncture can help with common pregnancy symptoms and may assist with labor preparation in the final weeks.
• Pelvic Floor Therapist– This specialist can help you prepare your pelvic muscles for labor and support your postpartum recovery.
• Therapist or Mental Health Counselor– Birth and parenting can bring up anxiety, trauma, or simply the need for emotional processing. A therapist can help you prepare mentally and emotionally for all possibilities.

Bringing in a diverse set of professionals helps create a web of support that holds you in more ways than one.

2. Go Beyond the Basic Birth Plan- A traditional birth plan usually includes preferences like pain management options, labor positions, and immediate postpartum care. But if you’re ready to level up, be sure you know your rights as a hospital patient and also make space for the unexpected.

Include contingencies for:

• Navigating hospital policies & procedures- Learn and understand standard policies, procedures and patient rights and how to advocate for yourself if you get pushback about certain choices you make.
• Early labor or NICU time– How will this change my birth plan? What bag needs to be packed differently? Who will take care of things at home? What are the care protocols if I am discharged and my baby is in the NICU?
• Emergency C-section or hospital transfer– What happens if your original birth setting changes suddenly?
• Infant loss or complications– It’s painful to imagine, but thinking through these possibilities with compassion and support can help you feel less disoriented if they occur.

You don’t need to dwell in fear—but you can plan with courage.

3. Make a Financial Plan (Kids Cost Coins!)- Diapers, hospital bills, lactation consultants, maternity leave—these things aren’t cheap. Being financially prepared doesn't mean you need to have everything figured out, but a flexible plan helps reduce stress.

Your plan can include:

• Estimating birth-related costs (hospital, midwife, home birth supplies)
• Budgeting for baby essentials and recurring costs (childcare, formula, wipes)
• Planning for unpaid leave if applicable
• Starting a savings fund for unexpected expenses

Consider consulting with a financial advisor or using a simple spreadsheet to get started. It's not glamorous, but it's peace of mind.

4. The Extra Mile: Pre-Birth Pumping (With Caution)- If you’re planning to breastfeed or pump, you might be curious about expressing and storing colostrum before birth. Some birthing people choose to begin hand-expressing after 37 weeks as a way to:

• Become familiar with their milk supply
• Store early nutrition for baby
• Support feeding if baby has trouble latching initially

Important note:
You should not attempt to express colostrum before 37 weeks, as it may trigger contractions. And it’s not required for a successful breastfeeding journey. If it feels stressful or overwhelming, it’s okay to skip it. A calm, supported start matters more than a freezer stash.

Leveling up your birth planning is not about controlling every outcome. It's about preparing for the journey with awareness, confidence, and grace. Whether it’s building a multi-faceted support team, planning for the unpredictable, or simply giving yourself permission to not do it all—this is about you and your growing family.

Don't have a birth plan or know where to start? All of my clients are provided with a birth preferences & wishes template to get them started with outlining their desires for labor and birth. This visual birth plan is also a great one if you're looking for something simple to share with your provider and birth team.

​I am so excited to share the latest updates regarding the new birth centers in the Triangle. I've been a part of the birth world for nearly a decade now and I have seen so much growth and expansion in the realm of resources and support for families. If you are planning to expand your family, there will be some amazing birthing options available to the community.

North Carolina Birth Center
It's been nearly a year since construction began at the North Carolina Birth Center and with construction now complete and their occupancy license obtained, furniture is being arranged and last minute touches are being placed to prepare for opening. While an opening date has not been announced yet, it will definitely be this year! The center is still searching for a Director of Midwifery and will need to fill the position before they can open and operate as a free-standing birth center. If you are interested in giving birth at NCBC, employment opportunities or learning more about the center and it's legacy, please visit www.northcarolinabirthcenter.com. 

Haven Women's Health and Birth Center
This women's clinic and birth center opened in April 2024 in Cary. Certified Nurse Midwife, Sarah Fawson has established an amazing team and highly sought after environment to give birth. They offer facility tours, ultrasounds, well woman care for all ages, personalized maternity care and birth including waterbirth in beautiful birthing suites, as well as prenatal ad postpartum education, community events, classes. Haven Women's Health and Birth Center is accepting new OB (including early pregnancy appointments) and well woman patients.

Aya Birth & Community Wellness
Aya Wellness NC is now offering services to the Triangle Community through its Birth House and Open Access Maternity Clinic in Durham. The clinic is open to anyone seeking affordable prenatal, postpartum and newborn care as well as childbirth education and doula support. A sliding scale payment system is available for those who are uninsured, underinsured, and/or undocumented who desire midwifery care with birth in the hospital setting (Duke Regional). The Birth House is now accepting clients due in 2025. On Saturday, February 1st, they will be hosting their open house from 12-3 pm. You'll be able to meet owner & Executive Director, Tina Braimah and her team, tour the first Black Midwife-owned birth center in North Carolina and learn more about their innovative five-pillar care model. For more information or to inquire about services, visit www.ayawellness.org.

Special Beginnings Midwifery
In November, Special Beginnings Midwifery closed on a space that will be available for rent (think birth Airbnb) for clients, community midwives and anyone wanting a beautiful space to birth. They are currently in the process of renovating, designing and dreaming up the space! Special Beginnings has also partnered with Well One Healthcare to bring primary care services to their Durham office. This is a choice friendly clinic and crunchy mommy friendly. Services include and routine check ups, newborn/pediatric, prenatal and adult care, FMLA paperwork and prior authorizations, labs & referrals and iv therapy.

Stay tuned for more birth news!

Spring has sprung and that means for me that means eating lighter. Like so many people, you may be adjusting your diet to get "summer ready", but I know that looks different for everyone. I have been focusing on eating more fruits and veggies as well as increasing my water intake and workouts.

This week's recipe is one of my favorites and it's actually one my "go-to" recipes when I need something filling and healthy. I first found this recipe when I began training for my first 5k in 2014. As usual, it quick, easy to prepare and family-friendly. Apple stacks are fun to make and eat because of the endless topping possibilities. You can make a simple snack or turn your stacks into an elaborate treat!

Did you know?

• Apples are high in fiber. One average sized apple contains almost twice the amount of fiber as one serving of a fiber supplement.
• Apples are high in malic acid. Apple juice, apple flesh, and apple cider vinegar all have a high malic acid content. This beneficial compound is helpful in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and gallstones.
• Apple consumption may reduce the risk of cancer. Apples contain pectin, quercetin, procyanidins, and Vitamin C, which are all beneficial in the prevention of disease and cancer when consumed regularly.
• Apples are 25% air. This is why apples float!

​1. Give me some background information ­on yourself and your birth worker career. 
I first started assisting families in the hospital while being employed in 2011. I was primarily worked in Mother/Baby and Central Nursery but floated to Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics and the Women's Unit. Then in 2015 I started working with the local health department as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor before becoming an IBCLC. I formally took my doula training in 2019 and started Birthing Boldly in 2020 and finished midwifery school in 2023. 

2. What made you decide to become a birth worker? Was there a defining moment when you knew? 
As crazy as it may sound, I have never imagined myself doing anything other than this. As a child I was always intrigued by birth, babies and women's health. I was definitely drawn to it and while all my cousins watched cartoons I was watching the Discovery Health Channel and TLC learning everything there was to know about pregnancy and labor. It just felt right and I'm glad I had supportive family to help nourish that gift. I would like to say I was well before my time because all the things I wanted or envision for my practice was unheard of then but is now mainstream. 

3. What were the best & hardest parts of starting your business, both personally and professionally? 
The best part is pouring into families and having your own business to facilitate the type of care families receive. 
The hardest is shifting your mindset from employee to business owner especially in the beginning. Also learning how to navigate being the owner but also providing the bulk of care, so you wear many different hats when first starting to establish your business. 

4. What did you learn about yourself an­d your support system during this process and how did you grow professionally? 
I'm a very vocal person so it shocked me to learn that I care so deeply for others that I will over extend myself just so I don't have to ask someone to do something. I think I was just on auto pilot and expected everyone to just know what I needed, which is impossible. Communication is key! Now I'm like I have this scheduled and I need X, Y and Z done and it makes things so easy.
Resilience, research and making connections has been my key to professional growth. I joke I'm a professional student but honestly I'm an avid learner and I think that has help mold me into the person I am today. And not being afraid to ask questions and be willing to pay for the answers. 

5. You recently became one of NCs newest midwives. Congratulations! Tell me about your journey to become a midwife. 
My journey was both beautiful and ugly, kind of like life, there will always be ups and downs at times. I saw something recently that made me stop in my tracks. It said. "when you are following your purpose in life that's when it seems like so much is falling apart". I can testify that rang true for me. The deeper I got into midwifery, I learned that it was more than my passion, it was my ministry and everything I've experienced in life has helped me with caring for my clients. 

6. How do you feel about the current state of the health care industry and birth? What impact do you hope to have on both? 
It is disheartening! The stories, the maternal infant mortality rates, the insurance coverage, all of it is horrible and families ultimately pay the cost and not get proper care. I hope to be apart of a positive change for families! Where they are safe to vocalize their needs and desires and be partners with me in the type of care they receive. I plan to help with legislation efforts for NC laws and insurance companies for fair compensation for midwives and lactation consultants. 

7. Where do you see yourself personally and professionally in 5 ­years? 
Personally, I see myself with a mini farm and homeschooling my younger babies. By then my oldest will be a young adult so that's a little hard to fathom right now, but I'm big on family so definitely carving time out for family time and vacations.
Professionally, a birth center or community wellness center encompassing care from puberty to menopause. 

8. What advice do you have for anyone looking to become a birth worker? 
Do it because you love it and you genuinely want to make a difference and help families. It all looks good on social media until you're sleep deprived and haven't seen your family for multiple days. Being a birth worker is rarely something you can just turn off because your always on call because someone needs you. So just be true to yourself and that in turn will allow you to be true to your clients. Lastly, be open to always learning and figuring out ways to better help the families you serve. 

9. Who in the birth community inspires you? 
Because when I chose this career at such a tender age and I never saw anyone doing what I wanted to do, there is no one in the birth community that inspires me. The person who inspired me is my grandmother, Christine Slade, who most called her "Mrs. Chris". She had 16 children, most born at home and raised all her kids, other people's kids and watch all the grands and great grands. She had a heart made with gold and was the first to pour into my gift and see something in me before anyone else. Sadly, she isn't here to see me now, but I have a feeling she knew this day would come. 

10. Other than graduating, tell me about your most recent "wi­n" or accomplishment. 
I'm really filled when families express their gratitude on how I cared for them and how that made them feel. That will always be a win for me because I get to see the difference that I'm making in people's lives. 

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

Winter is fast approaching and this week I wanted to share a home remedy to keep you and your family healthy.

If you frequent the internets and don't live under a rock, chances are you've heard of fire cider. It is a homemade herbal tonic for immune support. The "fire" comes from the hot peppers that are infused in the tonic. They have been shown to increase circulation, boost metabolism and support the immune system. Obviously, you can add a little or as much spice as you would like to you recipe. Raw (unpasteurized) apple cider will be the base of the tonic. It aids in digestion, fights infection and clears sinuses, among other things. The other ingredients in the tonic are up to you! Whatever medicinal plants that you enjoy can be added for flavor and provide health benefits such as anti-inflammatory affects, antioxidants, antibacterial and healing properties. 

Not only is fire cider a natural remedy that can be made in minutes, you can use it to keep your immune system strong and also use it to rebuild it should you come down with something instead of your typical over-the-counter drugs. Bonus: it's not just limited to cold and flu season-it's beneficial all year round! This is just one way I stay healthy, especially when I am on call for a birth.


Basic Fire Cider Tonic Recipe:
Prep Time: 20 minutes
"Cook" Time: 4-6 weeks

Ingredients:

• ​Onion & Garlic
• Hot Peppers
• Ginger Root
• Horseradish
• Turmeric 
• Thyme or Rosemary
• Citrus (Oranges, Lemons & Grapefruit)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (The Mother)
• Honey

Instructions:
Clean and chop veggies as needed. Fill a clean jar with the prepared ingredients, aside from your sweetener and pour apple cider vinegar into the jar to fully submerge the ingredients. Seal the jar with plastic lid (metal will corrode) and let it sit at room temperature but away from the sun for anywhere from 4-6 weeks. During this time all of the ingredients will infuse into the apple cider vinegar along with all of their health benefits. After this time strain the vinegar through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. At this point, you can sweeten the fire cider to taste or leave it unsweetened. Transfer the final product to a glass bottle or jar for storage. Store fire cider in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Herbal vinegars like this should last for up to 1 year stored at room temperature.

​Notes:
Dosage: Take a shot of fire cider or 1-2 tablespoons daily for a potent punch of immune system support and increase that dosage to 3 times a day to use it as a natural remedy to help fight off common cold symptoms. As always remember to please use caution, do your own research, and consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others.
Alternative Ingredients: you may prefer maple syrup instead of honey; you can also add a variety of herbs such as sage, oregano lemon balm and lemon verbena. My next recipe will likely include cranberries, elderberries, pineapples and rosehips.

I highly recommend making your tonic at the end of the summer so you can have it on hand when the weather starts getting cooler. If you intend on drinking a little each day, have a big family or plan to cook with it, be sure to make your tonic periodically so you don't run out.

For Your Information
This recipe is:

• Family-friendly (1 year and older if using honey)
• Safe during pregnancy and postpartum
• If nursing, be cautious of the certain herbs and raw honey​. Consult your doctor.