I’M PREGNANT. NOW WHAT? DESTRESSING YOUR BIRTH JOURNEY IN 6 SIMPLE STEPS

You’ve confirmed that your pregnant, you’ve wrapped your head around the fact that you’re having a baby (or at least starting to), and you’re starting to think “now what?!”

Childbirth, PregnancyCristina EvansNovember 5, 2020pregnancy, childbirth Comment

A PATH TO BIRTH WORK

Looking back I wonder, why did I rely on luck? Why didn’t I look into my options? What could I have done to make my births even better?

Childbirth, Doulas, Parenting, Postpartum, PregnancyCristina EvansAugust 27, 2020Pregnancy, Childbirth, Childbirth Education, PostpartumComment

I Don't Want to Talk About the Pandemic. Let’s Talk About Pregnancy Instead.

Instead of adding to any potential negativity, I’m going to do something I enjoy doing as a doula and help you shift your focus.

Mental Health, PregnancyCristina EvansMay 19, 2020Covid 19, Mental Health, Parenting, PregnancyComment

Finding Calm in Times of Crisis

You are going to have hard moments and that’s okay. You may find that at times, you are not your best self. It’s okay. No one expects you to be perfect.

Mental HealthCristina EvansMarch 21, 2020Covid 19, Mental Health, Pregnancy, ParentingComment

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

It's easy to say “I just want to be a good parent, a good partner, and a good friend.” That sounds lovely. It’s a wonderful goal. Really though, you have to break that down, because those are very broad terms!

Mental Health, Mindfulness, Parenting, PostpartumCristina EvansFebruary 16, 2020Parenting, Postpartum, Mental HealthComment

Tell Me A Story

Birth stories are important. All of them. Some need to be processed more than others, but they all have value.

Childbirth, PregnancyCristina EvansJanuary 24, 2020Pregnancy, childbirth, Birth StoriesComment

Awake Before The Sun

On almost any given morning during the winter I would rather sleep until after the sun has been up for at least a few minutes. I would prefer to stay under the covers snuggling and drinking hot tea.

Parenting, PostpartumCristina EvansDecember 21, 2019newborn, parenting, toddlerComment

TUNING INTO THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR BODY

We may not always know what they’re trying to tell us right away, but our bodies generally do a pretty good job of telling us what they need. We just need to tune in and listen.

Pregnancy, MindfulnessCristina EvansNovember 11, 2019Mindfulness, pregnancyComment

NAVIGATING THE SEASON OF "BABY'S FIRST"

What if your holiday involves something more difficult feelings? What if you need to opt out all together? My “aha” moment would send me into a little self-reflection about holiday values.

Parenting, Mental HealthCristina EvansOctober 23, 2019Newborn, Parenting, Mental HealthComment

THIS IS MY LAST BABY

This is my baby. My last baby. My for real last baby. She’s the youngest by alot. She’s amazing. She’s inquisitive, funny, and has the sweetest kindest heart. I would tell you that I can’t imagine my life without her in it, but the truth is that I can.

Mental Health, Pregnancy, ParentingCristina EvansSeptember 28, 2019Parenting, Pregnancy, Mental HealthComment

JOURNALING THROUGH PREGNANCY

It’s so important to address your emotions- especially during pregnancy as sometimes things that feel dormant can pop up during labor and even seep into postpartum. One fantastic way to do this is through journaling.

Pregnancy, Mindfulness, Mental HealthCristina EvansAugust 22, 2019Pregnancy, Mindfulness, Mental HealthComment

WHY PLANNING FOR THE FOURTH TRIMESTER IS IMPORTANT

We often have certain ideas of what parenthood should look like. These are modeled by family, friends, social media and popular culture. This is not dissimilar to what we expect birth to look like and be like.

Parenting, PostpartumCristina EvansJune 17, 2019Postpartum, Parenting, NewbornComment

ON EDUCATING YOURSELF

I can't adequately express how important it is to educate yourself about your options. When we find out we're pregnant, it can be exciting and sometimes a little scary.

Perfect Imperfections: A Word About Letting $h*! Go

What if instead of aiming for unattainable goals, we define what’s important and then get to the rest if we can or even let the rest go by the way all together? How would that feel? Can you imagine the impact this can have on your life?

Mental Health, Parenting, PregnancyCristina EvansApril 6, 2019Pregnancy, Parenting, Postpartum, Mental HealthComment

WHO’S CHECKING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF NEW PARENTS?

While I already check in with my clients after birth and do a postpartum visit, I felt like I need to be doing more. This is part of the reason that I started offering fourth trimester planning sessions.

Mental Health, MindfulnessCristina EvansJanuary 11, 2019Mental Health, Postpartum, newborn, ParentingComment

WHEN IN DOUBT, REACH OUT: WHEN A BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY VEERS OFF COURSE

My breastfeeding journey came to a sad and frustrating end because I didn’t have knowledge or resources. I didn’t have someone telling me that this was just a hurdle, not a dead end.

BUBBLE OF PEACE: GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO TAKE A STEP BACK

It's easy for people to simply view you as a vessel for this new life, to forget that you're not just a belly, and that you might actually value your privacy and personal space.

A LETTER TO GRANDPARENTS

As excited as everyone was to meet my babies, the last thing I wanted to do right after I’d given birth to my children was to hand off my baby before we even had time to bond.

Pregnancy, Postpartum, Parenting, Mental HealthCristina EvansApril 26, 2018Parenting, Boundaries, Grandparents, PostpartumComment

A PARTNER’S PERSPECTIVE

My wife bonded with our doula, Cristina, immediately and we decided we would appreciate having an advocate in the form of a doula. At that time, I had no idea how integral a part she would play in our labor.