Laura Weldon
Laura moved to Auburn in 1995 as a college junior and has lived there ever since. She is a two time Auburn University grad with a bachelor's in English and a master's in education. While in school at Auburn, she met and married Russell, a third generation Auburn grad, who now coordinates course materials for Auburn University. She taught high school English for three years before becoming a mother. After the birth of her second child, she decided to pursue certification as a childbirth educator and doula. Now she home schools her three children Silas (2002) Elliot (2005) and Eleanor (2010). She also teaches the Birth Village Class, a childbirth preparation class, and works as a birth doula (New Leaf Birth Services). Her family loves making trips to the beach, going to the movies together, and gazing at the beauty of the night sky.
When Your OB or Midwife is a Mismatch
In my last post, I mentioned some questions you might want to ask your obstetrician or midwife, to see if they are a good fit for you. It’s very common to start your pregnancy...
The Secret Life of a Doula On Call
I am sitting in church. When I’m here, I like to be able to completely focused on worship, but today there’s at least part of my brain that is thinking about my phone, where...
Questions You May Want to Ask Your Obstetrician or Midwife
One of the best ways to find out how your doctor or midwife practices is to ask them questions. But it matters what questions you ask and how you ask them.
To get the best...
When Your Birth Plan Goes Out the Window
I want to be super clear: I am a BIG fan of birth plans. You can read some of my tips for writing a birth plan here. The act of learning about your options...
Different Kinds of Midwives and Why You Might Want One
There are a lot of misunderstandings out there about midwives. I had a very well-educated relative that was shocked to learn that most home birth midwives carry things like oxygen, fetal heartbeat monitors, and...
How to Create an Effective Birth Plan
As a doula, I hear a lot of different opinions about birth plans. One thing I used to hear a lot is that a birth plan is a “ticket to the OR.” I also...
The Power of Talking Over Your Birth
It’s not uncommon after giving birth, especially for the first time, for a mom to feel a little bit shocked by the experience. Whether she is overwhelmed by the physical intensity of the experience...
How “This, Too, Shall Pass” Has Changed My Parenting
If you’ve been a parent very long, especially if you’ve shared any of your parenting struggles with someone else, you have probably been told, “This, too, shall pass.” It’s easy to get annoyed with...
The Keys to a Positive Birth (Hint: They Have Nothing to Do With “Going...
Do you ever wonder why one person can tell her birth story and seem genuinely traumatized, but another person who had a very similar “kind” of birth is completely fine? Obviously, there are some...
Labor Pain Relief Options That More Moms Should Know About
When it comes to pain relief for birth, most moms in the United States opt for an epidural, and there are several reasons for that. First and foremost, epidurals are usually extremely effective. For...