Beyond The Bump
- The Blog
There is more to your journey than a baby bump. Join me in the beyond; where I discuss transitions before, during, and after pregnancy; from what you need to know, don’t know, and could relate to.
Postpartum Doula Support: Your Lifeline After Birth
Your postpartum doula can end up becoming a crucial lifeline during the delicate postpartum period. Whether it's helping with breastfeeding, providing much-needed rest, or simply lending a sympathetic ear, postpartum doulas empower parents to thrive and bond with their newborns.
Healing Trauma Mama’s Podcast! -Birth Photography, Attachment Theory & How They Can Help.
Listen to my guest appearance on Healing Trauma Mamas Podcast AND check out my new blog post where I share more of my healing journey and give some great advice on healing insecure attachment!
A letter to myself when I’m struggling.
What you will not do today is suffer needlessly. You absolutely can feel what you need to feel, you can cry and even take the time to rest if your energy is truly depleted. But don’t allow your cup to stay empty for the sake of staying sad or feeling sorry for yourself. Self-pity has done nothing but hold you back in your life. Remember this moment when you have taken full responsibility for the way your life has turned out, and how absolutely empowering and freeing this feeling is.
Gaining Peace of Mind in the First Trimester
On Aftershock: A Doulas overview & Perspective
1 in 6 women report mistreatment during childbirth, included being scolded by physicians, having their requests for help refused, and being ignored. The most mistreatment occurred for women of color, women giving birth in hospitals as opposed to giving birth at home, and women with lower socioeconomic status. That’s most women in case you didn’t realize that. It’s really no surprise that given these statistics, “postpartum” is now a word that’s literally more associated with depression than any other word in today’s vocabulary.
Should I Hire A Doula for My Home birth?
Your birth team is the most important team you will ever choose. More important than your wedding party or any other group of people you will ever gather with. Birth is a moment of great vulnerability, emotion, and spiritual transition. It is important to ensure that you are surrounded with people who respect you and give you good vibes when they are around. Especially if this is your first birth or first home birth experience. Doulas are absolutely a huge help in creating a peaceful and collaborative birth environment! Some of them also take really beautiful birth photos… wink wink.
Does Medicaid or Private Insurance Cover Doula Fees in Texas?
However, I have some awesome news to share on this topic! I have been in communication with Amerigroup Medicaid of Texas in regard to a doula pilot program they are trying to launch. This will allow us to prove how beneficial doula services are to birthing outcomes in rural areas of Texas. Shortly after applying for my NPI number, which allows me the benefit of insurance billing, I received a phone call inquiring my interest in this program. I obviously was ecstatic to have a potential opportunity to provide services for those who truly need it!
My Birth Philosophy - Shelby Gotcher, Abilene & Big COuntry Doula & Birth Photographer
Birth is an incredibly, intensely, beautiful process to watch as it unfolds, and if you just have the patience to do so you can unlock such a deep peace and security within yourself. Trusting your body to communicate with your baby and responding to that in the way you feel is best, is truly the key to allowing your baby to write their own birth story. Birth and postpartum are transformative journeys in life for both parents. When you make this transition in a peaceful, collaborative way, it truly paves the path for a family that does the same in the future. Your bond will deepen, and your love will grow by a whole extra heart.