 As a doula with over a decade of experience, I have developed numerous relationships within the birth community and strive to stay informed about local birth news for the benefit of my clients and the surrounding parent community. Here are the latest updates regarding birth in the Triangle area. If you are planning to expand your family, there are some amazing resources and support options for you to explore. North Carolina Birth Center
Earlier this month, it was announced that North Carolina Birth Center will be closing. This news was sudden and very unexpected. If you read my last update or subscribed to the NCBC newsletter, then you know all that hard work and effort that was put forth to get the former Womens Birth and Wellness Center reconstructed and transformed into the beatutiful and welcoming facility for families. With just over a year in operation, the birth center was doing very well and hiring to accomadate more families, which makes this loss even more devastating. Here is words from the birth center's manager about NCBC's closing: "Two and a half years ago, I accepted a position to help open a birth center in Chapel Hill. I was the first employee hired and the only local team member, while the corporate leadership was based out of state. Over the last 2.5 years, I poured my heart into this work. I monitored construction, assembled furniture, maintain the website and social media, gave tours to EVERY prospective client who walked through our doors, onboarded patients, and supported our midwives as we built something truly special for families in our community. And now, that work is coming to an abrupt end. Not because the birth center failed. Not because there was a lack of patients, community support, or interest in the birth center model of care. In fact, we were growing and thriving. The reality is that the corporate company that managed our birth center, along with many others across the country, made business decisions that left the organization millions of dollars in debt. As a result, they are closing all of their birth centers, laying off employees, and abandoning patients who trusted them with their care. The heartbreak is difficult to put into words. After years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, everything we built is being taken away through circumstances completely outside of our control. But despite what has happened, my North Carolina Birth Center colleagues and I have made a decision: we will not abandon our patients. Thanks to the generosity of our building’s landlords, we have been allowed to remain in the space through the end of June. During that time, our midwives and staff are continuing to provide care, support, and guidance to our existing patients as they navigate new birth options. We are doing this without pay. We are not asking our patients for a single dollar, even though many employees are still owed weeks of unpaid wages. At the same time, we are covering essential expenses out of pocket, including internet service, office supplies, and other necessities required to continue caring for families during this transition. A local doula, Andrea Fowler, moved by what was happening, created a GoFundMe to support our team during these final weeks of service. Every donation will help us continue caring for patients, cover operating expenses, and provide some relief as we navigate the loss of our jobs and begin rebuilding our futures. If you are able to donate, share this fundraiser, or simply send words of encouragement, it means more than you know. Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and reached out with support. Your kindness is helping us continue showing up for the families who need us most. With heartbreak, frustration, and hope, Mariam" Very special thak you to Andrea Fowler for organizing the fundraiser and helping the NCBC staff support the remaining families. Please join BOBWDS in making a donation. Haven Women's Health and Birth Center Haven Women's Health and Birth Center recently celebrated their 2nd birthday and are very close to welcoming their 200th baby! Check out their website for classes, support groups and schedule a tour if you're thinking about a birth center for your next birth experience. Aya Birth & Community Wellness Aya Wellness NC is now accepting accepting Medicaid for birth services for families due September 2026 & beyond. Curious about birth center birth? Aya’s Open House is later this month! You’ll get to:
Saturday, June 27, 10-1pm Aya Birth & Community Wellness 1412 Hudson Ave Durham, NC 27705 Special Beginnings Midwifery Special Beginnings Midwifery has opened their birth suites in Durham. The birth suites were thoughtfully designed to feel warm, peaceful, and deeply supportive so families can labor, birth, and bond in a space that feels safe and sacred. Home birth support is still available. 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. Abiding Love Birth Collective I am so excited to share my new birth collective with you! Since our launch in March, Abiding Love Birth Collective has grown into a wonderful community of Christian doulas and local business owners who are all dedicated to supporting families. I am so blessed to transition into this new phase of my career and am truly thankful for all the support and new clients who trust my leadership and our collective to support them. We are now accepting clients due in August and beyond and will begin accepting applications for new collective members later this summer. Stay tuned for more birth news!
0 Comments
 There’s just something about a crisp, creamy broccoli salad that satisfies your taste buds in every way. This classic, yet underrated side dish, is always a crowd favorite and disappears fast. It’s fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced between crunchy, savory, and sweet. What makes this broccoli salad especially perfect for warm-weather gatherings is how simple it is to prepare ahead of time. The flavors only get better as they chill, making it an easy, stress-free addition to your menu. Packed with crisp broccoli, smoky bacon, and a creamy dressing that ties everything together, this dish brings comfort and crowd-pleasing flavor to every cookout table. As we gather this Memorial Day weekend — celebrating, remembering, and spending time with the people we love — recipes like this become part of the memories we make together. So grab your serving bowl and get ready for a summer favorite that everyone will be asking you to bring again and again. Did you know?
Broccoli Salad Prep Time: 20 minutes Chill Time: 1 hour Ingredients:
Instructions: Wash the broccoli and dry it very well. Cut the florets (and the stem) into bite-sized pieces. Add bacon and cranberries. Whisk the dressing ingredients (mayo, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper) in a small bowl and set aside. Place the ingredients into a large mixing bowl, and toss with dressing. Remember to allow time for the recipe to chill in the fridge to give the broccoli a chance to soak in some of the dressing, making it more flavorful! Notes: Preparing to make your salad- you can prep and make this salad a day before you serve it. Leftovers will keep for 4-5 days. Substitutions- If you don't like mayo, you can use Miracle Whip, Coleslaw Dressing or Greek yogurt. You can also add bacon bits if you don't want to make bacon for this recipe. Additional ingredients- Some people add red onion, cheese, sunflower seeds and sugar to their broccoli salad. I like to add a 1/4 cup of ranch dressing for an added kick. Enjoy! For Your Information This recipe is:
  As a doula with more than a decade of experience supporting families from all walks of life, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of real, human care in birth and postpartum. And lately, I’ve been reading a lot about the rise of “AI doulas.” If you’re a pregnant woman, a parent, or someone who cares about equitable maternal care, you should think critically too. Because here’s the truth: AI doulas, no matter how smart or advanced the technology, cannot replace the support, knowledge, compassion and embodied expertise of live doulas and birth workers. And that limitation matters deeply, especially for Black and Brown women and for families in rural and underserved areas who are already struggling to access quality maternal care. The Evidence Speaks for Real Doula Support Over years of training, intuitive skill and lived experience, doulas have become an evidence-based part of maternal care. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have linked doula support, particularly continuous, human, non-clinical support, to:
What Real Doulas Bring That AI Simply Can’t When people talk about AI doulas, they usually mean chatbots or machine learning tools designed to answer questions about pregnancy, contractions, labor stages or baby care. They might offer information. They might offer checklists. They might even simulate empathy through programmed responses. But here’s what AI cannot and will never do:
The truth is that AI can't give the much-needed human response to years of infertility, a third trimester pregnancy loss, a changed birth plan that ends in an emergency csection, birth trauma, the long journey of breastfeeding or pumping, preparing to leave your baby with someone while you return to work and all of the other countless physical, emotional and mental changes that come with parenthood.  Soula — AI emotional support self‑discovery coach for women Where AI May Help and Where It Falls Short
Listen, I don’t dismiss technology outright. The modern world has come along way with technological advances. AI tools can offer resources, triage information and support access to basic guidance when no human is available. There is emerging research on AI applications in maternal health in low-resource settings that aid triage and decision support for clinical staff. But that’s not the same as replacing a doula. Those applications are clinical adjuncts, not sources of continuous physical, emotional, cultural, and advocacy support. Bridging the Gap: Companies Who are Making a Difference At the same time, we are seeing companies like Maven Clinic and Cleo step into this space, offering families access to virtual doulas, care advocates, and wellness support through technology. These platforms are often employer-sponsored benefits designed to increase access to guidance, education, and support across pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. Through services like video consultations, messaging, and on-demand resources, virtual doulas on platforms like Maven can help with birth planning, answer questions, and provide emotional support from a distance. Cleo similarly connects families with guides and experts who offer personalized support across different stages of caregiving . And to be clear, there is value here. These tools can help bridge gaps, especially for families who might not otherwise have access to any support at all. But even as these companies expand access, what they are offering is still adjacent to, not a replacement for, the deeply relational, hands-on, culturally attuned care that in-person doulas provide. Technology can extend our reach, but it cannot replicate our presence. AI will continue to evolve. AI doulas may become more sophisticated. But they will always be tools, not replacements, for the human heart, presence, intuition and expertise that real doulas bring to birth and postpartum care. Real doulas don’t just provide information, we bear witness. We advocate. We care. We walk into the unknown with you. And in birth, that human presence matters. Want to know the real deal about AI? Watch this eye-opening video on the future of AI from a spiritual perspective.  In 2026, families in North Carolina and all across America face a rapidly evolving landscape when it comes to growing their families and caring for children. With higher costs of living, inflation driven partly by tariffs, healthcare costs rising sharply and continuing maternal health challenges, planning for everyday life and family expansion means understanding more than just diapers and cribs. It means understanding economic realities and health care considerations that affect every step from conception to raising kids.
The Impact of Inflation and Tariffs on Everyday Living in 2026 Unfortunately, inflation isn’t over and tariffs compound it. Though inflation has somewhat eased from its peak years, the ripple effects continue. Tariffs on imported goods, particularly from China, Mexico, and Canada, have pushed prices up on basic household goods, groceries, and baby products. Estimates suggested that recent tariffs could raise food prices by about 2.6% overall, with fresh produce increasing even more, potentially adding nearly $4,000–$5,000 annually to a typical household’s grocery bill. Industry analysts expect tariff-driven cost pressures to impact healthcare supply chains as well, meaning some equipment and supplies used in hospitals may become more expensive and guess where those additional costs are going? Yep, right to you. Even modest increases in everyday prices matter greatly when you’re budgeting for rent or mortgage, utilities, childcare, transportation, and rising health insurance premiums. The Real Cost of Childbirth in America Fact: Bringing a baby into the world is expensive. According to 2025 estimates, the average hospital cost for a vaginal birth in North Carolina was about $14,700 without insurance, with out-of-pocket costs (after insurance) of about $2,750. In contrast, a C-section typically costs 50–75% more than a vaginal birth. Severe complications increase costs substantially with complicated deliveries totalling many thousands more in combined hospital and physician fees, especially with readmissions. Even with insurance, some families pay $3,000–$5,000 or more out-of-pocket for delivery and newborn care. And if complications arise, like a NICU stay, costs can easily exceed $10,000 or more. The impact of hospital delivery costs ripples through family budgets, causing financial strain and debt. It also influences decisions about where and how to give birth, including increasing interest in home births. In North Carolina, home births have nearly doubled since the pandemic, partly because families are seeking alternatives to expensive hospital bills. High costs may also deter some families from seeking early or consistent prenatal care, which can worsen health outcomes. And of course we can't talk about childbirth without mentioning the ongoing maternal health crisis. It continues despite efforts to improve standards of care, including federal proposals aimed at improving hospital maternal care, although such programs can be costly to implement. In North Carolina specifically, maternal health funding has been boosted with federal investments (Medicaid expansion) aimed at expanding access to care, growing the health workforce and supporting perinatal mental health, which is a positive but still limited step. But with health care subsidies now expired and average premiums on the ACA marketplace nearly doubling, basic health care needs for families hang in the balance and may leave many families putting plans to expand on hold. How Families Can Plan Ahead Families expanding in 2026 should build a family budget that accounts for reality and prepare in these areas: 1. Understand the Full Cost of Raising Children
2026 brings both challenges and uncertainty for families in America, especially here in North Carolina. Economic pressures like tariffs and inflation affect everyday living costs, while maternal health risks and childbirth expenses underscore the importance of proactive planning, budgeting, and advocacy. Growing a family isn’t just about preparing a nursery, it’s about understanding the financial landscape and health realities that shape your first years together. With thoughtful planning and community support, families can navigate these challenges and build a strong foundation for the future.  Returning to work after having a baby is a deeply personal and often emotional experience. It’s a significant milestone that can bring a mix of pride, anxiety, and guilt. For many new parents, this transition means not only adapting to a new daily routine but also coping with the emotional strain of being away from their baby for extended periods. If you're approaching this chapter, know that you're not alone and that preparation, both physically and emotionally, can make a world of difference. The Emotional Reality of Returning to Work One of the biggest challenges new moms and dads face when returning to work is the emotional tug-of-war that comes with leaving their baby in someone else’s care. Whether your little one is staying with a family member, a nanny, or going to daycare, it can be heart-wrenching to walk away each morning knowing someone else will witness their smiles, feedings, and firsts during the day. Common emotional challenges include:
Preparing Physically: Establishing a New Routine The key to easing back into work is creating a routine that supports both your well-being and your baby's needs. Here’s how to get started: 1. Practice the Morning Routine Early- A week or two before your official return, do a few trial runs of your morning schedule. Wake up at the time you would for work, get yourself and your baby ready, and leave the house as if you’re heading to work. This helps both of you adjust to the rhythm without the pressure of a real workday. 2. Build a Consistent Sleep and Feeding Schedule- Work with your baby to find a predictable sleep and feeding schedule that aligns with your working hours. This will help the person caring for your baby maintain consistency, which is comforting for babies and reassuring for you. If you are planning to pump while you are working, be sure to make the necessary arrangements to be able to do so (pumping space, scheduled time for pumping sessions and milk storage). 3. Prepare Meals and Outfits Ahead of Time- Evening preparation is a game-changer. Lay out clothes, prep bottles, pack your lunch, and organize your baby’s diaper bag the night before to minimize morning stress. 4. Prioritize Self-Care- Returning to work isn’t just about your baby—it’s also about you. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and incorporating some gentle movement (even a walk counts). A healthy mom is a happier, more present mom. Preparing Emotionally: Coping with Separation and Change 1. Visit and Trust the Caregiver- Spend time getting to know the caregiver or daycare staff. Observe how they interact with your baby and ask plenty of questions. Feeling confident in who’s caring for your baby can ease separation anxiety and help you focus at work. 2. Start with Short Separations- Ease into longer days apart by starting with shorter separations if possible. Begin with a few hours and gradually extend the time. This allows both you and your baby to adjust more gently. 3. Stay Connected During the Day- Ask your caregiver to send updates or photos throughout the day. A quick message can offer enormous comfort and help bridge the distance. 4. Create Special Rituals- Make the most of the time you do have. Create simple morning or bedtime rituals that are just for you and your baby. Whether it's singing a special song, reading a book, or snuggling before bed, these moments will be cherished and help strengthen your bond. 5. Give Yourself Grace- Some days will be harder than others. There may be tears (from both of you), forgotten items, or guilt that creeps in unexpectedly. Allow yourself to feel all of it without judgment. You’re doing your best—and that’s enough.  You may never feel like you’ve achieved perfect balance, and that’s okay. The key is finding a rhythm that works for your unique family. Remember: Going back to work doesn’t mean you’re choosing your career over your child. It means you’re providing for your family, showing your baby what resilience looks like, and continuing to grow as a person and a parent.
Lean on your village, trust your instincts, and don’t forget—you’ve already done something incredible by becoming a mother. Returning to work is just another way you’re showing up with strength and love. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to returning to work after baby. But by preparing your routine, nurturing your emotional health, and building a support system, you can ease the transition and create a life where both you and your baby can thrive. |
About the AuthorKelly Collins Archives
June 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed