 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!
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 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.  The holidays are often painted as a season of light, laughter, and togetherness. But for many families, this time of year arrives carrying an ache that’s hard to put into words. An empty chair at the table. A quiet house where a child’s laughter once filled the air. A job lost, a dream deferred, a relationship changed, a body that no longer feels the same after birth or loss. Grief doesn’t take a holiday break. Many people often feel pressure (spoken or unspoken) to “be strong,” to show up for others, or to recreate joy for their families even when their own hearts feel heavy. Even I have expereinced a great deal of unexpected loss and grief this year both personally and professinally. If you’re walking through the holidays after loss, I want you to know this first and foremost: Your grief is valid. Your sadness is not a failure of faith. And joy does not mean pretending everything is okay. Grief and Joy Can Coexist One of the greatest misunderstandings about grief, especially within faith spaces, is the idea that joy replaces sorrow. But scripture tells a different story. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18 Joy, in a biblical sense, is not forced cheerfulness or constant gratitude. It is a quiet, steady hope rooted in God’s presence with us, even in the valley. You can grieve deeply and still experience moments of joy. You can laugh one moment and cry the next. Both can live side by side. Joy may look different now. Softer. Quieter. More fleeting. And that’s okay. Naming the Losses We Carry Loss during the holidays isn’t always tied to death alone. Many families are grieving:
Grief after birth, whether after a traumatic delivery, NICU stay, infertility journey, or postpartum struggles, can feel especially isolating during a season that celebrates new life and happiness. If this is you, please know this: God sees every part of your story, including the chapters you never wanted to write. Gentle Ways to Make Space for Joy (Without Forcing It) Joy doesn’t need to be manufactured. Often, it’s received quietly when we allow ourselves grace. 1. Lower the bar. This may not be the year for elaborate traditions or full calendars. Give yourself permission to simplify. A peaceful day is enough. 2. Create new traditions. It’s okay if old traditions feel painful. Light a candle in remembrance. Write a prayer. Take a quiet walk. Invite God into something new. 3. Let yourself feel it all. Suppressing grief doesn’t protect joy, it delays healing. Tears are not a setback; they are a form of release. 4. Ask for support. Just as I remind new parents they weren’t meant to do postpartum alone, grief was never meant to be carried in isolation. Lean on trusted friends, your faith community, or a professional if needed. 5. Look for holy moments, not happy ones. Joy may show up as a deep breath, a kind word, a warm meal, or a moment of rest. These are sacred, too. A Faith Reminder for the Weary Heart “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4 God does not rush your healing. He does not ask you to skip over grief to prove your trust in Him. He meets you in it. The incarnation we celebrate at Christmas is a reminder that God entered a broken world, not a perfect one, and chose to dwell with us in our pain. If this holiday season feels heavier than joyful, you are not alone. There is no timeline for grief. There is no right way to mourn. And there is no expiration date on love. But know that our God heals and he is waiting to do it for you, May this season hold space for your sorrow and gently invite moments of peace. May you feel God’s nearness in the quiet moments and His grace when the days feel overwhelming. And may joy, however small and however unexpected, find you exactly where you are. If you are grieving, you are seen. You are held. And you do not walk this season alone.  |
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August 2026
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