Babyshower Gift Idea
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Babyshower Gift Idea

What to get someone for their baby shower can be challenging. I know there are gift registries these days but as a mother of four myself, I know that half the items on most registries never get used. How can you get them something unique and creative that they will absolutely use? Because seriously how many blankets can one baby need?

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Labor Induction
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Labor Induction

As a doula, I typically support hospital births. It is never my goal to tell you what type of birth is best, it is to give you information so that YOU can choose the right birth for you. Recently, I have been getting a lot of questions from my clients about inductions. I found that even clients who have chosen to take Childbirth Education classes to prepare for their birth are still unsure about what an induction is, or how it could affect their birth plan.

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Choosing Birth Photography
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Choosing Birth Photography

Birth Photography is fairly new to the photography scene. When people think about the times when they want to capture their memories for a lifetime, first on the list is wedding ✔ and newborn ✔. Birth photography is often overlooked. Why is that? I personally think it is because of the way birth has been portrayed. Birth is often painted as an experience that is shocking, scary, hidden, and not worthy of remembering. But if you are someone who has experienced birth firsthand you know that birth is not just the birth of a child but also the birth of a mother and is worthy of remembering. Birth is the most transformative event that you will experience in your lifetime.

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Is Your Doula an Advocate or Ally?
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Is Your Doula an Advocate or Ally?

Is your doula your advocate or your ally? I rarely hear the word ally used in doula circles, however, I hear the word advocate being tossed around frequently. Here in Kansas City, I get asked often by potential clients if I will be their advocate. As a doula I know that the words we use are important, so please allow me to share my perspective on this with you.

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How to Choose a Doula
Birth Planning Charity Vazquez Birth Planning Charity Vazquez

How to Choose a Doula

When you find out that you are expecting, you suddenly realize there are so many things you need to make decisions on. Many of these things you have put little to no thought into before your pregnancy. How will you make these decisions, especially when you are not even sure what questions you should be asking? Choosing a doula is one of these decisions. You know you would like to have a doula at your birth. All of those lovely stories from friends about how their doula massaged their back and squeezed their hips for hours, screams, SIGN ME UP!!!

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What to Pack for your Hospital Birth
Birth Planning Charity Vazquez Birth Planning Charity Vazquez

What to Pack for your Hospital Birth

If you are anything like me, then you like to be prepared. I have always been the type of person who finds comfort in knowing that I have some control over my life, especially when preparing for something as uncontrollable as birth. I am totally “that mom” who always has a bottle of water, Aleve, Carmex, peppermint oil, and honey sticks in my purse… at all times… just in case.

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My Journey to Became a Doula
Doula Journal Charity Vazquez Doula Journal Charity Vazquez

My Journey to Became a Doula

Aloha, I am Charity, the Birth Doula and Photographer at Mahina Birth Support in Kansas City. Birth work is the destination that so many aspects of my life have led me to. As September nears, I feel it is appropriate to share my journey into the birth world by starting at the beginning. I was a young mother when I had my first child 22 years ago this September.

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