Birth takes on many different forms, as the physical and emotional changes happen to a woman's body and heart as she brings her baby earth side. Mother's are incredibly strong, selfless, and brave as they will do anything for their children. Today I am celebrating cesarean birth. The planned and unexpected, and the supportive providers (Doctors and Midwives) that provide evidenced based care. Today I am celebrating this beautiful mother and child, who I openly prayed with in the operating room through times of uncertainty. I am celebrating her healing and healthy, growing, handsome son. Today I am grateful to be able to share this image, to bring awareness to the variations of birth, and to give thanks to the families that have trusted me to walk alongside them. 📸: Alyssa Leon @cherryblossom_doula ![Just a beautiful birthing human and her doula.
Who's encouraging you?
Doulas will stay with you during your entire (active) labor through birth, and a couple hours after immediate postpartum. They will check in with you daily and schedule a postpartum a visit to make your mental and physical health a priority, to process your birth, answer any questions you have and provide any resources to make your postpartum transition smoother.
“Studies have shown that doulas can help cut back on time spent in labor, reduce a mom and/or partner's anxiety, lower the rate of medical interventions, including pain medication and improve mother-baby bonding post-birth.
Their assistance has even been shown to improve the odds of breastfeeding success, since many doulas are trained in lactation. - What to Expect excerpt, paraphrased
[Image: Doula and CB owner Alyssa Leon @cherryblossom_doula supporting a mother in active labor in her own home]
📸: @_kayleecraig_
Midwife: @auroramidwife
✨Alyssa has limited availability for the remainder of 2021. Connect here to schedule a doula or mentorship consult https://cbdoulaservices.com/contact✨](https://scontent-frx5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/200281112_961367154641275_5567608704347603843_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=_LvFl8ESFkgAX9oV2yi&_nc_ht=scontent-frx5-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=5933fb86f208788f219d6587e50f0305&oe=60D199BB)
Just a beautiful birthing human and her doula. Who's encouraging you? Doulas will stay with you during your entire (active) labor through birth, and a couple hours after immediate postpartum. They will check in with you daily and schedule a postpartum a visit to make your mental and physical health a priority, to process your birth, answer any questions you have and provide any resources to make your postpartum transition smoother. “Studies have shown that doulas can help cut back on time spent in labor, reduce a mom and/or partner's anxiety, lower the rate of medical interventions, including pain medication and improve mother-baby bonding post-birth. Their assistance has even been shown to improve the odds of breastfeeding success, since many doulas are trained in lactation." - What to Expect excerpt, paraphrased [Image: Doula and CB owner Alyssa Leon @cherryblossom_doula supporting a mother in active labor in her own home] 📸: @_kayleecraig_ Midwife: @auroramidwife ✨Alyssa has limited availability for the remainder of 2021. Connect here to schedule a doula or mentorship consult https://cbdoulaservices.com/contact✨ 
One of the *MANY* benefits of being in our beautiful space @rootandrisecollectiveaz is receiving love gifts like this from the owners bountiful garden out front. 🌱 Grateful to play catch up today with a #doulamentorship consult and #postpartumappointment with one of our beautiful @cherryblossom_doula families. 🌸 Grateful always that my passion continues to provide for my family. 🙏🏽 Happy Sunday!! 
SNEAK PEEK 🌸🌸🌸 These women give me such LIFE, dear Cherry Blossom family. May you get to know them in the capacity that best serves your journey! Note - we're still searching for our newest postpartum member. If you're on the fence about journeying with others, THESE gorgeous souls will show you the best of community without a doubt. Picture captured by @alexandriadevine // ![You matter.
Your mental health matters.
It's 9:30 at night and I spent the last 11 hours of my day learning about and leaning into maternal-child mental health.
There is SO MUCH wisdom from shared experience. And in my own journey experiencing PPD/A x 2 plus postnatal rage when weaning my youngest, I have found there is also SO MUCH strength in collective journeying, too.
@postpartumsupportinternational solidified this with their early call to action for moms during today's webinar: hire a doula 🙏 and surround yourself with a village.
So, at 9:30 at night I'm popping into your feed to say the same - hire a doula. Surround yourself with the village you need.
Please. And if you don't have the resources for one, still reach out. Newer doulas are always looking for experience - and many doulas offer discounted rates and scholarships when they can.
If I were standing at my own bedside 11 years ago, I would have told myself the same... Your MIL with 45 years of mother-baby experience might miss your signs and symptoms. You'll hold it together for her, Jennifer. Your husband won't get it right away. But your doula... your doula will not only reduce your incidence of postpartum challenges - but WILL notice when you haven't showered or turned the lights on for five days in a row.
She just will.
Doula Jennifer 🌸
@cherryblossompostpartum
[Image: statistics and a few slides from today's Maternal Mental Health webinar. Myself & @cherryblossomdoulamarlene met up at our home - @rootandrisecollective - to further our education, understanding, and available resources. And @iampea joined us from her home! What a beautiful community we have.]
#maternalmentalhealthawareness](https://scontent-frx5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/199349954_512119390139434_7875095091125313051_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=0xr2Ur1IGkMAX_QGXtG&_nc_ht=scontent-frx5-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=1e76e232116a2ca1ada54fc4e4eb0ec8&oe=60D0F61D)
"You matter. Your mental health matters. It's 9:30 at night and I spent the last 11 hours of my day learning about and leaning into maternal-child mental health. There is SO MUCH wisdom from shared experience. And in my own journey experiencing PPD/A x 2 plus postnatal rage when weaning my youngest, I have found there is also SO MUCH strength in collective journeying, too. @postpartumsupportinternational solidified this with their early call to action for moms during today's webinar: hire a doula 🙏 and surround yourself with a village. So, at 9:30 at night I'm popping into your feed to say the same - hire a doula. Surround yourself with the village you need. Please. And if you don't have the resources for one, still reach out. Newer doulas are always looking for experience - and many doulas offer discounted rates and scholarships when they can. If I were standing at my own bedside 11 years ago, I would have told myself the same... Your MIL with 45 years of mother-baby experience might miss your signs and symptoms. You'll hold it together for her, Jennifer. Your husband won't get it right away. But your doula... your doula will not only reduce your incidence of postpartum challenges - but WILL notice when you haven't showered or turned the lights on for five days in a row. She just will." Doula Jennifer 🌸 @cherryblossompostpartum [Image: statistics and a few slides from today's Maternal Mental Health webinar. Myself & @cherryblossomdoulamarlene met up at our home - @rootandrisecollective - to further our education, understanding, and available resources. And @iampea joined us from her home! What a beautiful community we have.] #maternalmentalhealthawareness 
New blog post alert ✨ When it feels like you're the ONLY PEOPLE in the world. This can absolutely be hospital birth. Quiet moments. Loving embraces. And all the skin-to-skin. This week our newest post is * all about * skin-to-skin and how it helps entire families thrive! Linked in bio. Your Cherry Blossom Doulas 🌸 // photography from @cherryblossomdoulakristy