08Aug/16

So You’re Afraid of Tearing

August 8, 2016Birth, Birth Plan, Childbirth Education, Doula, LaborBloomington, Champaign, episiotomy, galesburg, Pekin, Peoria, perineal massage, pushing, Springfield, tearKate Herzel

As a certified childbirth educator and doula, the number one fear I hear from my clients is usually: I don’t want to poop on the table!!! But the closest runner-up is: IRead More…

20May/16

I Wish I Had a Doula for Our First Year of Marriage

May 20, 2016Birth Plan, Doula, Postpartum DoulaBirth Plan, bloomington IL, Bloomington-Normal, Doula, pekin IL, peoria ILKate Herzel

Just three months after we got married, I ran home over my lunch break to find a huge utility van in the parking lot with a big hose coming out of the backRead More…

12Feb/16

To helicopter or not to helicopter?

February 12, 2016Birth, Birth Plan, Childbirth Education, Doula, Epidural, Hospital Birth, Natural Birth, Nonjudgmental Support, ParentingBirth Plan, bloomington IL, C-Section, Central IL, Cesarean, Cesarean Birth, childbirth class, Doula, Empowerment, epidural, lamaze, natural birth, peoria IL, VBACKate Herzel

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.”   ~Alexandra K. Trenfor An important aspect of any parenting journey is to let our kids learnRead More…

02Oct/15

There’s No Such Thing as a Natural Birth

October 2, 2015Birth Plan, Doula, Epidural, Natural Birth, Pain ReliefBirth Plan, Birth Preferences, Bloomington, Central IL, Doula, natural birth, Pekin, Peoria, Vaginal DeliveryKate Herzel

I was talking to my pregnant friend about her birth vision a few years ago, and her husband shared this awesome story about his sister, who had birthed 3 children: When she wasRead More…

18Sep/15

Ask Now or Forever Hold your Peace

September 18, 2015Birth Plan, Childbirth Educationbirth class, Bloomington, childbirth, Doula, lamaze, midwife, Pekin, Peoria, prenatal testing, Questions for your midwife, Questions for your OBKate Herzel

“Do you have any questions for me?” My midwife asked me this at the end of my very first appointment. In my head, my question list was: Am I supposed to haveRead More…

08Sep/15

No One Gives You a Gold Star for Having a Natural Birth

September 8, 2015Birth Plan, Doula, Epidural, High Blood Pressure, Natural BirthBirth Plan, Bloomington, Bloomington-Normal, Central Illinois, epidural, Gold Star, natural birth, Pekin, PeoriaKate Herzel

True. But no one should be shamed for the birth plan they create, nor should they be shamed for the birth they end up having if it differs from their plan. MostRead More…