Category Archives: Dealing graciously with others' advice and reactions

Look to yourself – not others – for “approval”

I advise moms to look for what resonates with them and to make the choices that will truly work best for them – regardless of what others think, do, or say. And, this advice is always met with enthusiasm and/or relief. Of course we want to do that. That's the only course of action that makes any…

Honoring each others’ choices

I talk about it a lot: the pressure we can feel from others, from “society,” from the statistics and articles we read, and from ourselves to make all the most appropriate choices during our pregnancies. We feel pressure about doing pregnancy the right way. This pressure is actually why I have a job. It’s why I’m here expounding about…

You agree that your pregnancy choices are YOURS to make…or do you??

You may agree with the idea that you, and only you, need to be fully comfortable with and understand the choices that you make regarding your pregnancy. And sometimes you may agree…only in theory. In reality, you might be dealing with people who question decisions you’ve made, who tell you about why another course of…

Tell me after I deliver

What felt good to Georgia was to know that she got to create her own experience of pregnancy and delivery – especially delivery. When she was pregnant she noticed that many women wanted to tell her their labor and delivery stories. Georgia decided that she didn’t want to hear them! She didn’t want to “take…

Share your experience…especially when you don’t feel like sharing

I coach and encourage expectant moms to do only what works for them during their pregnancies. This is the core focus of the work that I do. That being said, there are some general suggestions that I make. One is that you share with others about what you’re experiencing…especially when you don’t feel like sharing. …

Wanting to do it perfectly

Nichi is a doula and every time she witnessed another woman’s pregnancy or childbirth experience, she was busy creating an encyclopedia in her head. She’d think, “Note to self, don’t let this happen or make sure that you take care of yourself so you can avoid this or that.” Since she assumed she’d be pregnant again in…

No “should”ing on yourself

I think it’s pretty easy to put the pressure on ourselves during pregnancy. Based on what we think and what others tell us, we often tell ourselves that we “should” engage in certain activities, “should” think in certain ways, “should” experience certain emotions…. in essence, that we “should” be a picture perfect pregnant person in…

Having Conversations that We Have No Practice Having

Pregnancy is such a personal experience. The thoughts and emotions are different for everyone. It’s a common phenomenon that is experienced differently by each individual. We don’t know how to relate to it. For example, a woman being less than enthusiastic about her pregnancy is a conversation that is not easy for many of us….

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