The Happy Mama Place

10/23/2026

💗 A little update for our November 1 Little Village gathering!

With more moms wanting to join us, we’re moving to a larger space to comfortably welcome everyone and their littles. It makes my heart happy to see this village growing!

Please check the updated flyer for the new location before heading over. We can’t wait to see you! 🌿

UPDATED FLYER

10/22/2026

I'm finishing up my Body Ready Birth teacher certification, and I figured, why not share a little of what I've been working on! 💗

We often hear about hands and knees as a labor position. But there's so much more to it than simply getting onto our hands and knees.

What's happening inside the pelvis? Where is baby navigating? And what are we hoping to accomplish with a particular movement?

The pelvis has three levels: the inlet, midpelvis, and outlet. Different movements influence the space available at each level.

**Hands and knees is a base position. It's a starting point.**

Simply being on hands and knees doesn't automatically change the orientation of the pelvis or create additional space where baby needs it.

It's what we do from that position that matters.

In this video, I'm demonstrating internal rotation of the hips by bringing the knees inward and allowing the feet to move outward. This movement can help create more side-to-side space at the pelvic outlet.

Adding a reach can influence the movement of the sacrum, encouraging more room from front to back.

And here's something important: a movement that encourages opening at one level of the pelvis may actually reduce space at another.

This is why understanding where baby may be navigating matters.

Birth positioning isn't about memorizing positions. It's about understanding how the body moves, recognizing clues during labor, and choosing movements with intention.

There's so much more to birth than simply saying, "Try hands and knees."

And that's one of the things I love most about continuing my education. I get to bring this knowledge into the birth room and help families understand the *why* behind what we're doing. 💗

10/20/2026

**BACK LABOR: Is your baby really sunny-side up?** 🌸

You've probably heard that intense back labor means your baby is posterior (OP), also known as sunny-side up.

But that's not always the case.

There are several factors that may contribute to the pressure or discomfort you experience in your lower back during labor.

Your baby's position, how they're navigating the pelvis, and your own history of pelvic discomfort are all worth understanding.

And here's something I want you to think about:

**Did you experience painful menstrual cycles, recurring back pain, or pelvic discomfort before pregnancy?**

Those symptoms don't mean you'll experience back labor, but persistent pain deserves attention.

Swipe through as we explore what might be happening and why understanding your body before birth matters.

❤️ **Have you experienced back labor? Where did you feel the most pressure, and what helped you find relief?**

10/20/2026

After years of supporting births, this was a first for me. I had never seen a cervical balloon come out with both balloons still inflated!

I was supporting a mom during an induction when this Cook catheter came out. Its two balloons sit on either side of the cervix and are filled with sterile saline. Their pressure helps the cervix soften, thin, and begin opening.

What does it feel like? Some moms feel pressure and cramping, similar to period cramps. Others find insertion painful or feel stronger cramps afterward. You may also feel fullness or pressure in your pelvis while it is in place.

Some moms choose pain medication before insertion. Ask your care team what options are available. You can also ask them to explain each step and pause if you need a moment. Your comfort matters.

Once the cervix opens enough, the catheter can sometimes fall out on its own. Other times, the provider deflates and removes it. Coming out does not mean you are fully dilated or ready to push.

Every body, every baby, every mom, and every labor is different. I always learn something new at a birth, even after all these years.

If I’m not learning, asking questions, and paying attention, I don’t feel like I’m doing my job well. The families I support deserve that from me. 💗

10/20/2026

Feeling every contraction in your back?

Sometimes changing positions isn't enough.

When someone is experiencing intense back pressure during labor, it's tempting to immediately suggest hands and knees, rocking, or another position.

But here's what I want you to understand:

Not every laboring body needs the same thing.

Sometimes firm sacral pressure provides relief. Sometimes supported movement feels better. Other times, rest, a position adjustment, or releasing tension can make a difference.

And back labor doesn't automatically tell us exactly how your baby is positioned.

The key is paying attention to how your body responds rather than cycling through positions hoping one will work.

Birth preparation isn't about memorizing positions.

It's about understanding movement, creating options, and knowing when to change your approach.

🌸 What helped you most if you experienced back labor?

NEPADoula

10/17/2026

🤰 Not every labor position serves the same purpose!

It's not just about changing positions. It's about understanding WHY.

In this photo, I'm demonstrating a hands-and-knees reach-up with internal hip rotation.

💜 What are we trying to accomplish?

Internal hip rotation can help increase side-to-side space at the pelvic outlet, while sacral nutation can increase space from front to back.

The reach-up encourages movement through the pelvis rather than simply staying in a static hands-and-knees position.

✨ It's not just the position. It's how we move within it that matters!

Were you encouraged to try different positions during labor?

10/16/2026

Your contractions are strong. They're coming regularly. You're doing everything you thought you were supposed to do.

But baby isn't moving down.

So what's happening?

We often hear that stronger contractions mean labor is progressing. But there's more to labor than the strength of your contractions or how many centimeters dilated you are.

**Sometimes the question isn't how hard your body is working, but what baby needs to navigate through your pelvis.**

Swipe through. Let's talk about what may be happening and why understanding your pelvis matters. 💜

10/15/2026

💜 This is what building a village looks like!

The Little Village hosted its very first meetup, bringing moms and their little ones together. 🌸

At The Happy Mama Place, I've always believed support shouldn't end after birth. Moms need community, connection, and a place where they belong.

That's why I'm so proud to support The Little Village.

One meetup, one connection, one friendship at a time. 💕

10/15/2026

Have you heard of the purple line in labor? 💜

This is something I see often while supporting moms. It appears between the buttocks and can extend upward as labor progresses. Here, mama was 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and baby was at 0 station.

Our bodies give us clues. This line is one of them, although it cannot tell us an exact dilation and may not be visible on everyone.

Cervical checks can provide helpful information, but they aren’t always necessary. Reaching and feeling the cervix can be uncomfortable, and being asked to change positions can interrupt your labor rhythm. Lying on your back isn’t the only option, so ask what works for your comfort.

Measurements are estimated by touch, which is why providers may give different numbers.

Before a check, ask: “Will this change what we do next?”

Your comfort and consent matter.

10/13/2026

Yesterday was Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and it had me reflecting on something personal that many people don't know about me.

I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. Most people would probably never guess that my paternal grandfather was Mexican and my paternal grandmother was Puerto Rican.

But there's a whole story behind how I came to learn more about my family and where I come from.

I wasn't raised with my biological family.

What I didn't know was that in 1992, my brother on my father's side began searching for me.

For 27 years, he never gave up.

In 2019, he finally found me through Ancestry.

Just imagine that. Someone spending 27 years searching for you. Someone who wanted to find you, know you, and reconnect with a part of his family.

Through him, I was able to learn more about generations of my family that I hadn't grown up knowing. Names, faces, photographs, and stories that are part of who I am.

My Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage connects me to cultures with deep Indigenous histories. I don't know all the details of my ancestry, and I'm still learning.

And that's part of why I wanted to share this.

We often look at someone and assume we know their background based on their appearance. But our family histories are so much deeper than the color of our skin, hair, or eyes.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is about honoring the original peoples of these lands, their resilience, their cultures, and the traditions they continue to carry forward.

For me, it also brought a reminder of how important it is to learn our family histories and preserve those stories for the next generation.

I didn't grow up knowing all of mine. But thanks to a brother who refused to give up searching, I now have pieces of my story that I can pass down to my daughters.

And that means more to me than I can put into words. ❤️