Mohawk Valley Doula Collective

10/19/2026

We’re looking for 💡 Great Ideas 💡 for our next Birthworker Networking Event in the New Year! Are there any trainings you’ve been longing to take or bring to the area? What do you think would improve our skills and knowledge? We need feedback! Skies the limit!

10/19/2026

🌕 October "Hunter's Moon" Motherhood Circle: Trusting Your Wild Wisdom

✨As we come together this month for our Full Moon Motherhood Circle, our theme is centered around intuition, instinct & the wisdom within…✨

🦌 When have you felt a deep inner knowing about something, even when you couldn't explain it?
🦌 How has becoming a mother changed the way you trust yourself?
🦌 What messages have you received about what makes a “good mother,” and how do those messages compare with what feels true to you?

🌕 This month, we invite each other to explore these 3 questions:

1. The voices around me: What expectations, advice, fears, or outside opinions sometimes make it difficult to hear myself?

2. The wisdom within me: What have my own experiences taught me about what I need, value, or believe?

3. The voices beside me: Which women help me feel safe enough to trust myself, even when my path looks different from theirs?

✨Trusting our instincts doesn't mean we have to know everything or do everything alone. We can honor our own wisdom, ask questions, seek professional guidance, and lean on our village at the same time.✨

✨As always, women in any stage of motherhood is welcome to attend - a support group facilitated by Doulas, led by Mothers. Because sharing our collective wisdom is how we learn and grow as mothers.✨

10/19/2026

✨Curious about joining the Collective? Just ask! Any trained Doulas are welcome to be added to the Doula Directory. No groups, no cliques, no competition, no favoritism, no agenda - other than to bring more awareness of Doula & other Birth Support services to our community, and to grow and strengthen our professional network. ✨

10/16/2026

✨Friends of the Collective Spotlight✨

Andrea Blowers
Herkimer County Doula Partnership Program Coordinator

*Andrea is not a Birth Doula, but she has been instrumental in creating a functioning Doula Network in Herkimer County, and has been at the forefront of creating sustainable programs that help connect pregnant and parenting families with services - we had to give her a shoutout!*

Andrea Blowers is the Population Health Specialist at Herkimer County Public Health, where she leads the county’s work to expand and strengthen access to doula care. Her role focuses on building the systems behind the work including developing partnerships, supporting doula recruitment and training, helping doulas navigate Medicaid enrollment, strengthening referral pathways, and connecting families with doula support. Andrea approaches this work from a population health perspective, looking at how local and regional systems can better support both doulas and the families they serve. She works with doulas, healthcare providers, community organizations, and regional partners to identify barriers, advocate for sustainable solutions, and help build a stronger network of doula care across the region.

10/12/2026

At our Motherhood Circle this past week we were joined by Mahala Dyer Stewart-sociologist, researcher, professor at Hamilton College, and Mother. Mahala is conducting research for her second book and is looking for women who have become a first time mom in the past two years to share their story! Reach out to Mahala at [email protected] to schedule your interview.

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

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10/08/2026

🙃 Anastasia Kot Lindsey Nugent Kayleigh Marosek

10/06/2026

As Doulas, our goal is to help women have the most physiologic birth experience they can possibly have (as closely as it aligns with the woman’s own birth goals, of course!) But why does it matter? Why are we so concerned with lowering overall cesarean rates?

👉Lowering unnecessary C-section rates matters because a cesarean delivery is a major abdominal surgery that carries higher short- and long-term risks than a vaginal birth without providing added health benefits when used on low-risk pregnancies.

👉Why Lowering C-Section Rates Matters
• Reduces overall health risks: Unnecessary surgeries expose mothers and babies to avoidable surgical and medical complications.
• Improves future pregnancies: Lower rates decrease severe long-term complications like abnormal placental attachment and uterine rupture in later pregnancies.
• Lowers healthcare costs: Avoiding unnecessary major surgeries reduces hospital stays, medication use, and intensive care admissions, lowering overall costs.
• Aligns with global standards: The World Health Organization notes that population-level C-section rates above 10% to 15% do not improve health outcomes and can cause harm.

👉Cons of C-Section Over Vaginal Birth

For the Mother:
• Longer recovery time: Healing takes 6 to 8 weeks for a C-section compared to 2 to 6 weeks for a vaginal birth.
• Surgical risks: Higher chances of heavy bleeding, blood clots, surgical injuries, and wound infections.
• Future pregnancy complications: Uterine scarring increases the risk of dangerous conditions like placenta previa (where the placenta covers the cervix) in later pregnancies.
• More intense postpartum pain: Recovery involves managing an abdominal surgical incision alongside newborn care.

For the Baby:
• Respiratory issues: Higher likelihood of breathing difficulties and temporary fluid in the lungs, which can lead to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions.
• Missing beneficial bacteria: Infants miss exposure to protective bacteria in the birth canal, which research links to a higher long-term risk of allergies, asthma, and obesity.
• Breastfeeding delays: Infants born via C-section may take longer to latch or experience delayed early breastfeeding initiation.

10/06/2026

I had a great time speaking to the Utica College Nursing Students today about what a Doula does in the modern Maternity care environment. Thank you for having me! 💗

Do you have a class or students you’d like us to come speak to? Let’s connect!

Kayleigh Marosek