Full Well Midwifery

10/09/2026

Our first Full Well Moms Bible Study is this Saturday, and I would love for you to join us!

Saturday, October 10 at 9:30 AM
Touch of Grace Coffee Shop | Rocky Mount, VA

This monthly gathering is open to mothers of all ages and stages, and kiddos are welcome!

Our first study is “Come to Me: Finding Rest in a Season That Never Stops.” We’ll explore Matthew 11:28–30 and Luke 10:38–42, talking about finding rest in Christ when motherhood feels full and learning to depend on Him in our everyday lives.

You can find the study materials here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QTHDkwOFVxbOaahlrzpwN9ORPOkd–eRhVTxvc6tAGM/edit?usp=drivesdk

You do not need to have done any preparation to attend. No completed study or Bible study experience required. Bring your Bible if you have one, come grab a coffee, and spend time deepening your relationship with Christ and meeting other likeminded mamas.

Comment below if you’ll be there!

10/07/2026

If you'd had an extra two weeks to name your baby after birth, would you have chosen a different name?

So many of you have lived this. The hospital registrar has already come in twice to do the paperwork, and this time she tells you she'll be back in two hours to fill out the birth certificate, and you need to have a name chosen by then.

So you and your husband go back and forth. The clock is ticking. Choosing the right name suddenly feels SO important, and SO permanent. And the whole time, you're thinking: I just met this little person. I'm only starting to get to know them. How am I supposed to know their name already?

One of the most common questions I'm asked is this: "If we have our baby at home with you, how do we get a birth certificate and social security card?"

And I love this question, because the answer is so simple.

I take care of filing everything. You don't have to chase down paperwork or figure out where to send what. I handle it, and the families in my care receive their baby's birth certificate and social security card about 4-6 weeks after everything is filed.

It's a simple process. And here's the part I love most about it.

Because I'm not filing those documents the same day baby is born, you get a little extra breathing room. No registrar at your door. No two-hour deadline. Just time to look at that brand new face. Time to try a name out loud and see if it fits. Time to change your mind twice and land somewhere you truly love.

So tell me, mamas. What did you name your baby, and when did you choose? Was it settled from the very beginning of pregnancy, or a last minute decision with the clock ticking?

10/04/2026

Formula and breastmilk are not the same thing. And I think we can say that out loud without shaming a single mother.

Formula is food. Good food. It keeps babies alive and fed and growing, and thank God it exists.

But breastmilk is something else entirely. It's food, yes. But it's also medicine. It's comfort. It's biology doing something almost unbelievable.

Because breastmilk is a living substance.

Formula is the exact same thing in every bottle, every single day. Breastmilk is different from morning to night, from day one to day 600, shifting constantly to meet your baby exactly where they are.

Is it hot outside and your baby needs more hydration? Your milk adjusts to a higher water content. Is your baby going through a growth spurt? Your supply and your milk's makeup respond. Your body is reading your baby and rewriting the recipe in real time.

And here's the part that still takes my breath away. When your baby is exposed to a germ, their saliva actually sends signals back to your body through nursing. Your body reads that information and begins producing targeted antibodies against that specific illness, and sends them right back to your baby in your milk. The same thing happens when you're exposed to something yourself. It is, quite literally, custom-made, targeted healthcare, produced by your body, for your baby, on demand.

And the benefits don't stop there. Babies who are breastfed tend to have fewer illnesses in that first year, and lower rates of things like asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, ear infections, and SIDS. The list genuinely goes on and on.

And it protects you too, mama. Mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer, and a long list of other health benefits for their own bodies. This relationship is a two-way gift.

I share all of this for one reason: because being fully informed about the benefits of breastfeeding matters. Not to pressure you, but so that YOU can make a truly informed decision. So that when you're choosing whether to nurse, or deciding whether to keep pushing through on a hard night when everything in you wants to quit, you have the whole picture in front of you. Informed consent isn't just for procedures. It's for this too.

And also, hear me clearly: there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula feeding.

Whether you don't breastfeed because you didn't have enough support, because of past trauma, because you're returning to work, or because you're protecting your mental health, your reason is valid. Full stop.

I have formula fed one of my five children. And if you lined all my kids up today, you would never once be able to guess which one was formula fed. It is absolutely a safe decision, and one that deserves to be supported.

You are a good mama. How you feed your baby has nothing to do with that.

But here's what I won't do, even in my effort to make sure every formula feeding mama feels supported: I won't downplay the genuine, jaw-dropping science of breastmilk just because we've gotten so sensitive that we can't celebrate one thing without someone feeling judged.

Breastmilk is amazing. That is just true.

And it is completely okay to not breastfeed. That is also just true.

Both of those things can live in the same space. We're allowed to hold them together.

10/01/2026

The Baby Care & Breastfeeding Class the AAP did NOT approve is coming October 24th. The class that reinforces leaning into what feels right versus what everybody else is telling you is best.

And no, that doesn’t mean we’re throwing safety recommendations out the window.

It means we’re making space to talk about something that often gets lost in modern motherhood:

You were made to mother your baby.

God chose you to be this baby’s mother, and He did not accidentally forget to give you the ability to know, learn, respond to, and care for the child He entrusted to you.

But somewhere along the way, motherhood became very noisy.

There’s an app for everything.
A product for every problem.
A sleep expert telling you one thing.
An influencer telling you another.
A registry full of things you’re told you absolutely need.
And an algorithm constantly reminding you of everything you could be doing “better.”

That noise can make a brand-new mom feel like everyone knows her baby better than she does.

And, if we’re being honest, a lot of that pressure exists because an insecure mother is very easy to sell things to.

This class is for the mom who wants to quiet some of that noise and lean into her God-given intuition.

The mom who believes she was uniquely created to mother this baby.

The mom who wants good information and practical skills without feeling like she has to outsource every decision, buy every gadget, or follow every trend to be a good mother.

We’ll talk about things like:

-What if I want my baby close to me at night?

-How do I recognize my baby’s hunger and comfort cues instead of watching the clock?

-What does a good breastfeeding latch actually look and feel like?

-How do I know if my pump fl**ge fits?

-What baby gear is genuinely useful, and what can I skip?

-How do I babywear safely without feeling like I’m doing advanced origami? 😂

-What do I do when my newborn wants to be held constantly?

-What is normal newborn behavior, and when should I actually be concerned?

We’ll cover breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, safe sleep and the Safe Sleep 7, babywearing, soothing, diapering, bathing, newborn behavior, tongue ties, mastitis, clogged ducts, baby gear and more.

And this isn’t just a class where you sit and listen.

You’ll practice with baby dolls, try carriers, work through breastfeeding positions, learn how to set up your pump, and we’ll privately size you for the correct pump fl**ge.

More than anything, I want you to leave believing:

I can learn my baby.
I can trust the wisdom God gave me.
I don’t have to mother from fear.

October 24th
10 AM–3 PM
Lunch provided
Partners welcome

We’re intentionally keeping this first class small so everyone has plenty of time to ask questions, practice, and have real conversations.

If this sounds like the kind of motherhood you want to step into, I would love to have you there. 💚

Sign up here:
https://forms.gle/6RyrAjWwHs1GANCFA

Questions? [email protected]

Join us for a hands-on Holistic Infant Care & Breastfeeding class designed to send you home confident, not just informed. This is not the AAP following, 21st century modern class you may find elsewhere. We will cover bedsharing, breastfeeding through toddlerhood, diapering (including cloth), babywea...

10/01/2026

Nobody warns you that at some point during labor, your body might decide to shake like a Chihuahua at the vet. 😂

I'm talking teeth chattering. Legs trembling. Hands shaking. Sometimes your whole body is going so hard that you look at me like, "WHY AM I SHAKING?!"

And one of the first things I'll tell you is this: you're okay. You're safe. Don't fight it. Let yourself shake.

Because when everything else I'm seeing is reassuring, those shakes are very often a completely normal part of labor.

Funny enough, I used to think they came from the epidural. I'd seen women shake in labor before, and I just assumed it was a side effect of the anesthesia. Then I attended my first homebirth. No epidural. No anesthesia. And there she was, shaking like a Chihuahua at the vet right along with the rest of them. 😂

That's when I learned the "labor shakes" aren't an epidural thing at all.

Birth involves some pretty incredible shifts in your hormones and your nervous system. As labor intensifies, especially around transition, your body can get a surge of adrenaline and other stress hormones right alongside all the other enormous changes happening inside you. You're working harder than you ever have. Your nervous system is running full tilt. Your hormones are shifting by the minute. And sometimes the result is full-body trembling you simply cannot control.

You might shake after your baby is born too, as your body makes yet another huge transition out of pregnancy and labor. Totally normal.

Here's what I've noticed over the years. The more a woman tries to force herself to stop shaking, the more frightened she tends to become by it. So instead of "stop shaking," I'm usually saying, "let it happen." I'll get you warm. I'll wrap a blanket around you. I'll make sure you feel supported and safe.

And in the meantime, I'm still doing my job. I'm watching you. I'm checking your vitals when it's appropriate. I'm paying attention to your temperature. If your baby is already here, I'm watching your bleeding and how your uterus is responding. I'm taking in the whole picture.

Because not every shake is "just hormones." A fever, significant blood loss, low blood sugar, or a medication effect can cause trembling or chills too. Part of what you're paying a skilled provider for is someone who knows the difference between a normal, reassuring shake and one that needs a closer look.

But when everything else looks good? Sometimes your body is simply doing one of those wild, completely normal birth things nobody thought to warn you about.

So if you're in labor one day and suddenly find yourself trembling from head to toe, you don't have to panic. You don't necessarily have to make it stop. Sometimes you just need someone beside you who knows exactly what she's looking at to say, "You're safe. Let yourself shake. I'm right here." 🤍

Okay mamas, I want to hear it. Did YOU shake during transition? And did you know ahead of time that it could happen, or did your body suddenly going full Chihuahua take you completely by surprise? 😂

09/28/2026

"I can't do this anymore."

When you say those words in labor, you might mean:

I'm failing. I'm not strong enough. I can't take another contraction. I need this to stop.

But sometimes, when my laboring client looks at me and says, "I can't do this anymore," I hear something completely different.

I hear change.

Because I've been watching you. An hour ago, you were chatting with me between contractions. Now your eyes stay closed. You've stopped caring who's in the room. Your breathing has shifted. Your sounds have gotten lower.

Maybe your legs are starting to shake. Maybe you're suddenly hot, then cold. Maybe you're nauseous. Maybe there's a new pressure you didn't feel before. And maybe, right at the very peak of a contraction, I hear it. That tiny grunty quality. Your body beginning to bear down all on its own.

And then you look at me with that expression I've seen so many times. "I can't."

And sometimes I have to smile a little. Not because I don't believe you. Not because what you're feeling isn't incredibly hard. But because from where I'm sitting, I can see something you can't quite see yet.

You aren't failing. Your labor is changing. Your body is doing something enormous, and you are standing so close to it that you can't see the whole picture.

Now, "I can't do this anymore" isn't a cervical exam. It doesn't automatically mean you're in transition or that your baby will be here in ten minutes. Sometimes a woman says it because she's exhausted. Sometimes she needs hydration, food, rest, a new position, reassurance, or a change in the plan.

So I don't hear those words and make assumptions. I pay attention. I listen to you. I look at the whole picture.

And sometimes what you need from me in that moment isn't another suggestion. It isn't someone telling you to breathe differently. It isn't a room full of people saying, "You've got this!"

Sometimes you just need me to come close, look you in the eyes, and remind you:

You don't have to do the rest of labor right now. You don't have to do the next three hours. You don't even have to do the next ten contractions.

You only have to do this one. And then we'll do the next one together.

Because here's something I've learned from sitting beside women in labor. More often than not, "I can't do this anymore" is the very thing a woman says just before she gets to meet her baby. It's not the sound of the end of her strength. It's the sound of the finish line.

Sometimes "I can't do this anymore" comes right before she realizes she already is.

And those are some of my very favorite moments to witness. 🤍

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Want any changes before I make it a document?

09/26/2026

Only about 5% of babies are actually born on their due date.

Which makes you wonder why we put so much emotional weight on one little square on the calendar.

From the moment you're given a due date, it becomes THE date.

"When are you due?"

"October 12th."

Then October 12th arrives. No baby. And suddenly everyone is texting: "Any baby yet???"

No, Aunt Mary. I promise we will tell you. 😂

Here's what I wish we talked about more: it's an estimated due date. Not an expiration date. Not an eviction notice. And definitely not an appointment your baby forgot to put on their calendar.

Pregnancy dating is incredibly useful. We need an estimated gestational age to guide prenatal care, interpret testing, monitor growth, and make clinical decisions. But even with excellent dating, we cannot predict the exact day spontaneous labor will begin. Babies have very little respect for our calendars. Some are ready before 40 weeks, some after, and your due date is simply our best estimate of when you'll reach 40 weeks, not a prediction of the day you'll give birth.

That distinction matters. Because I see women hit 40+0 and suddenly feel like something has gone wrong. Yesterday they were happily pregnant. Today they're "OVERDUE." Family is calling. Friends are checking in. They're analyzing every cramp, Googling how to induce labor, bouncing on a ball, eating dates, walking sideways up the stairs, and giving that bottle of castor oil a suspicious look. 😂

Meanwhile, baby is like: I literally live here.

Gestational age does matter, and there are absolutely circumstances where delivery is recommended rather than continuing to wait. But reaching your estimated due date doesn't mean your body failed to go into labor "on time." Your due date is useful information. It just isn't a deadline.

Okay, now I want to see how accurate everyone's was. 👇🏼 Tell me your baby's due date and the date they were actually born. If you have multiple babies, give me all of them.

09/25/2026

Have you ever seen such a cute little midwifery apprentice? 😅❤️

09/20/2026

"My last ultrasound told me my baby was 10 pounds. And when she was born a week later, she wasn't even 7."

I cannot tell you how many times I've heard some version of this from a new client.

"They told me he was already 9 pounds, so they recommended an induction."

"They said her head was huge."

"They told me if I waited any longer, the baby would be too big for me to deliver."

And just like that, a woman who felt completely confident in her ability to give birth is suddenly terrified of the giant baby she's been told is living inside her. 😅

So let's talk about something I wish every pregnant woman understood.

An ultrasound does not put your baby on a scale.

It measures things like baby's head, abdomen, and femur, and plugs those numbers into a formula to estimate weight. And especially toward the end of pregnancy, there can be a real margin of error, sometimes a pound or more in either direction.

So when someone tells you "your baby is measuring 9 pounds," what you actually have is an estimated weight. Not a birth weight. Your baby might be bigger. Your baby might be smaller. And yes, sometimes the estimate is impressively close.

This doesn't mean ultrasound is useless. Ultrasound gives us genuinely valuable information, and there are situations where a baby's growth, or suspected macrosomia, absolutely deserves a thoughtful conversation.

But I get uncomfortable when an estimate starts being talked about like a certainty. Because those numbers can completely change how a woman sees her body.

Suddenly she's afraid her pelvis is too small. She's afraid to wait for labor. She's afraid of shoulder dystocia. She's afraid her baby is getting "too big." And sometimes big decisions about induction or cesarean start entering the conversation.

Those decisions deserve so much more than "the ultrasound says your baby is huge."

They deserve context. How accurate is this estimate likely to be? What are the actual risks in my specific situation? Do I have gestational diabetes? Is my baby otherwise doing well? What are the risks and benefits of waiting? Of inducing? At what estimated weight would a cesarean even be considered, and why?

Those are informed consent questions. And here's what I want you to hear: you are allowed to ask how certain we actually are before making a major decision based on an estimate.

Sometimes that estimate will turn out pretty close. Sometimes you'll birth that "10-pound baby" and everyone will stare at the scale when it reads 7-something. 😂 And sometimes you really will have a beautifully chunky 10-pound baby, and your body will bring that baby earthside exactly as it was designed to.

The point isn't that big babies don't exist. The point is that estimated weight and actual birth weight are not the same thing.

And here's what I believe down to my bones: your body will grow a baby it can birth. It was designed with intention, by a God who does not make mistakes. Your pelvis and your baby were made to work together, to move and shift and navigate their way earthside the way they've done since the beginning of time.

You deserve to understand the difference before you decide what happens next. And you deserve to walk into your birth trusting your body, not fearing it. 💚

09/18/2026

Can't wait to see so many of you tomorrow at our Nurturing Motherhood Meetup! 10-12 at Starkey Park South. If you haven't commented yet, no worries, just show up! Bring the kiddos, bring a chair or blanket, and let's talk nursing toddlers and all the beautifully messy parts of mothering together.

I'll have some light refreshments on hand. Feel free to bring something to share too, but no pressure at all if you don't.

See you there, mamas!❤️