Author Archives: Abbie Downing

The last year and a half of my professional life has been an incredible exploration of childbirth, service, and our capacity to create space for others as human beings. Through this exploration, I have made several important discoveries, but the one that I ponder most often is the truth that there is no wrong wayContinue reading “There’s no wrong way to have a baby…”

pushing-the-importance-of-realistic-expectations. Pushing, the second stage of labor, is a unique experience for everyone. Understanding what is happening in the birth canal and maintaining realistic expectations can be paramount in moving through this phase with confidence. This is a sample of the many videos that I share with my clients throughout each phase of our laborContinue reading “Pushing : The Importance of Realistic Expectations”

Breathing in labor – active labor, transition, and pushing. Breath is one of our most valuable and most controllable tools in labor. We use our breath to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which then sends a signal to the brain to calm the anxious thoughts and feelings that can sometimes surface in labor. Breath isContinue reading “Breathing Techniques In Labor”

Hablo español como segundo idioma y, aunque no es perfecto, puedo ayudar a los clientes que prefieren el español. La comunicación es una pieza clave para garantizar que la atención que recibe al traer a su bebé al mundo sea amorosa, compasiva y completa. He estudiado español desde que estaba en la escuela secundaria yContinue reading “Servicios en español”

Part of my mission as a doula is to help promote empowerment in birth and counteract the message that childbirth is scary and painful. While it is true that experiencing contractions of the uterus and pushing a baby through the birth canal can be incredibly intense, hundreds of thousands of years of practice have giftedContinue reading “Alternative pain relief measures in labor”

The presence of a doula in the birthing space is a game changer. We hold space, we advocate, we educate, we wipe sweat, and cheer you on…so that you can focus on bringing that baby (or babies!!) earth side. It’s powerful💥 But, what exactly IS a doula? Doula is a greek word meaning “caregiver”. AContinue reading “The benefits of having a doula attend your birth…”