I published a list of wonderful lactation consultants in Mid-Missouri back in December 2024. Since then, I have connected with Alyssa Rodgers, IBCLC. She graciously sent me an updated list of local lactation consultants, so I wanted to share!

This past week, I have been tracking my blood sugar levels to screen for gestational diabetes. I opted to do this instead of drinking glucola because I was very interested to see how my body responds to foods that I regularly consume. Seeing how my blood sugar responds to different types of foods has given me more insight into how I can better support my body through nutrition, while also screening for gestational diabetes. It has also made me think about how often we think we don’t have options, but we actually do.

Over the past year, connections have been growing between birth workers within the mid-Missouri area. Due to these connections, there have been some pretty exciting things happening for pregnant and TTC families in the mid-Missouri area. Today, I want to highlight a couple events that are coming up in March and April 2025 that are SO exciting!

Dr. Kenzie with Vera Chiropractic is another Webster-certified chiropractor that is offering great services and resources for pregnant families in Columbia, MO. Chiropractic support during pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum can be so vital in helping your body function well to support you and your baby, so I am excited to highlight yet another great resource for those in Columbia.

Regardless of your reason for wanting an epidural, many can wonder how a doula could support them after they get one. Read on to see why doula support is still so important!

Pelvic floor physical therapy is not only helpful for easing various pains in pregnancy and helping ensure baby is in an optimal position for birth, but it can also provide vital support for your body in all stages of life, including pre-conception and postpartum. Too often, many women are told that the pain and discomforts that they are experiencing are normal, but they’re not! I interviewed Dr. Sarah Miller, a pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapist from Revive Rehab in Columbia, MO, and she provided some great insight into how important it is to get to the root cause of your symptoms. Check it out!

It’s super valuable to get evidence-based information from Certified Lactation Consultants because one breastfeeding trick that may have worked for one mama may not work for you. I asked Becky Weider, IBCLC from bb lactation in Jefferson City, MO some questions, and I hope her answers are helpful to you in your breastfeeding journey!

Supporting your mental health can have such an impact on your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Getting support from a Licensed Professional Counselor can make all of the difference. I asked Sarah Nonnenmacher, a Licensed Professional Counselor from Bamboo Nutrition in Columbia, MO some questions. She talks about what to expect during a first visit with her, how to be mindful of making weight recommendations, radical acceptance, and seeking support after birth trauma. Check it out!

So often, people will say that there is no point in making a birth plan because labor and birth likely won’t go the way you have planned. However, there are many benefits to creating a birth plan, regardless of how closely your labor and birth actually end up following the plan. These benefits definitely make it worth your time to create a birth plan and share this with your care team.

Chiropractic care can be so important to your overall comfort and well being during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Monique White, DC, MS, ICCSP is a perinatal and Webster certified chiropractor in Columbia, MO, and I asked her some questions to share with you! She touches on her passion for caring for women in the perinatal timeframe, the importance of building a valuable care team, and the benefits of chiropractic care for your baby. Check it out!

It can be difficult to find a provider that is right for you, but let this list be a starting point, talk with other people that have had experiences with these doctors, and ultimately go with who you feel fits best with your values and needs.  

Check out this list of amazing Certified Professional Midwives in Central Missouri!

Breastfeeding support, especially in the early days postpartum, can make a huge difference in you and your baby’s breastfeeding journey.

There is such an advantage to hiring a birth photographer that is also a doula, and this mainly lies in the fact that we understand the process of birth. This means that we won’t walk into your birthing space and disturb the peace. We won’t ask your care provider how much longer before they think the baby will be born. We will be discreet and unobtrusive when capturing images of your birth.

Check out these hospital and postpartum essentials!

If we don’t realize that we’ve taken on someone else’s expectations or opinions as our own, this can lead to a disappointing or frustrating birth experience. This is because we don’t truly understand the “why” behind the decisions that we’re making.

Birth photography and birth doula work complement each other well. Let me tell you why.

I don’t trust the birthing process, but I do respect it. Coming from a birth doula and photographer, this might throw you off, so let me explain what I mean.

There is no room for assumptions in birth work. So, I won’t make any assumptions about you and please don’t make any assumptions about me.