Verve Coach

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12/24/2023

Happy holidays to you all! Wishing you a season of peace and love as we head into 2024.

11/28/2023

This drawing touched me today. 💞
“Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” -Elizabeth Stone

Drawing by

11/06/2023

Have you ever heard of “birthday frosting” or a “cheesy baby”? This is a great photo of a newborn covered in vernix. Vernix coats your baby while in the womb and serves as a form of skin protection while they develop surrounded by water. While some babies may look more “clean” when they are born, they all have vernix. Sometimes you can even see it in the amniotic fluid after one’s water breaks. The amount of vernix decreases as one gets closer to their due date (although it’s still there doing its job!)

Beyond protecting your baby’s skin from potential breakdown while in the amniotic fluid, it reduces friction during birth.
It also has antioxidant properties. Birth can be stressful, and vernix is thought to have a role in offsetting that. In turn, it can help regulate blood sugar and temperature after delivery.
Newborn immune systems leave them more susceptible to infection and a variety of illnesses. Vernix naturally has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to develop their gut microbiome (healthy bacteria).

Delaying your baby’s first bath by 6-24 hours and allowing the vernix to stay on the skin for a longer period of time is a great option to consider after your delivery.

I’m curious to know.. Did you delay your baby’s first bath? 🛁

Photo credit

10/10/2023

Precious moments when siblings meet each other for the first time 💞

Photo credit:

10/02/2023

Nature impacts our well-being in many ways. Even if just for a few minutes, I encourage you to spend some time outside today. 🌳

09/22/2023

Ah, boundaries. Something most of us believe are essential, yet many of us have a hard time implementing in our lives. Some may view boundaries as divisive or cruel, like they are being selfish or pushing another away. If this is something you struggle with, I encourage you to shift your mindset.

A lack of boundaries can quickly lead to self-abandonment, inauthenticity, burnout, feeling violated, and resentment. Boundaries are acts of love, both for yourself and the other person involved. It allows relationships to feel safe and respectful. Prentis Hemphill described boundaries as “the distance at which I can live both you and me simultaneously”, and I think this is the best description I’ve seen yet.

Do you struggle with boundaries, or is this an area that you have mastered? 💫

09/18/2023

What a clear shot of the anterior fontanelle and sutures! Did you know that the newborn skull is actually six different bones?

The anterior fontanelle is the large diamond-shaped area seen on the top of this baby’s head. If you’ve ever heard someone use the term “a baby’s soft spot”, they’re often referring to the fontanelles. These protect the baby’s brain and the soft tissues that lie underneath them. After birth, they allow for growth. Over time, they harden and become solid areas.

The sutures are the straight lines seen branching off of the fontanelle. Sutures allow the bones of the skull to move and overlap during birth, protecting the brain while the head passes through the birth canal. During labor, your provider or nurse can feel these areas to get an idea of what position your baby is in. After birth, the sutures allow the skull to expand as your baby’s brain grows. In time, the sutures will fuse to create the skull that we normally think of. 💀

Thanks for sharing this cool photo of your little one .mother.well!

08/16/2023

Pure BLISS. That newborn phase is over quickly - eat it up, momma!💞

Photo credit: 📸

08/11/2023

Birth is a beautifully transformative event. Becoming a parent changes you in complex ways. Even on a cellular level, science proves this to be true.

Early in pregnancy, a baby and mother share cells that are transferred via the placenta. This process, known as microchimerism, has been observed in many mammalian species, including in humans. These cells have been found to be present in the other’s body for many decades. Fetal cells have been found to improve the mother’s health - aiding in wound healing, forming new blood vessels, improving the immune system, repairing tissue damage, and decreasing the risks of Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.

How precious to think that the two of you are carrying pieces of the other long after the pregnancy is complete. 💞

08/02/2023

The BRAIN acronym is a super helpful aid when it comes to shared decision making. In all circumstances, you should be fully informed as you navigate the available options and recommendations from your team. I like utilizing this acronym because it’s simple and applies both logic and intuition. 🧠

• Benefits - What are the benefits of this choice?
• Risks - If I move forward with this choice, what are potential risks?
• Alternatives - Are there any alternatives to the proposed choice? If so, what are they?
• Intuition/instinct - What is your gut telling you? How does this choice feel in your body?
• No/not now - What if I choose to do nothing for now and revisit this later?

Have you heard of or used this tool before? Let me know in the comments below if you’d like to see some examples of how this acronym can be applied in real-life settings.

07/31/2023

A raving review for the Empowered Birth ebook, available now as an instant digital download on our website. 🌟 This ebook covers the last month of pregnancy through postpartum. It’s filled with over 60 pages of medically accurate information, tips, and worksheets designed to help you feel confidant about birth and beyond.

This is an excellent tool to take with you to the hospital as a quick reference during your labor and would make an excellent gift for an expecting loved one.

Purchase at www.verve-coach.com 🤰

07/27/2023

Hey to all the new followers! 👋🏻

I’m Amanda. I’m a Certified Nurse Midwife, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a women’s health and empowerment coach.

I’ve been in healthcare for 15 years with a focus on women’s health. I’ve been practicing in the US as a full-scope midwife for 8 years.

I’ve had the opportunity to see and do A LOT in the OBGYN world:
• High-risk pregnancies
• Physiologic birth
• Water birth
• VBACs with a high success rate
• Assisting with Cesareans
• Homebirth backup
• Precepting RN and APRN students
• Lead midwife in a private practice
• Teaching doulas about midwifery and hospital birth
• Doing legislative work on behalf of CNMs in my state
• Doctoral-level quality improvement work focused on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
• Serving on the APRN committee for my state’s Board of Nursing

I founded Verve Coach this summer based on two viewpoints:
1. As a midwife, based on the needs and knowledge gaps I’m seeing in my patients.
2. As a mother, based on what I wish I’d had when I was pregnant, getting ready for birth, and in the postpartum phase.

I currently offer private coaching and birth plan creation, and have released the Empowered Birth ebook. I have so many great ideas for this space and am working on some online classes that will be released soon. If there’s anything you’d particularly like to see addressed or offered, let me know! My DMs are always open. I’m here for you! 🤝🏻

07/21/2023

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with the Top Hat Moms about racial disparities in healthcare, particularly surrounding maternal mortality, which is an absolute crisis in our American healthcare system. The topic is heavy and pressing but so very important.

The Top Hat Moms podcast is available on Apple and Spotify.
Direct episode link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-hat-moms/id1697346543?i=1000621886085

07/18/2023

Mom life, am I right? 😴

07/11/2023

The umbilical cord is such an interesting thing. A few years ago, I had 11 (!) deliveries over the summer with true knots. Statistically, they only occur in about 1% of pregnancies. While they can be dangerous if tight, they’re considered a sign of good luck if all is well. 🍀

07/06/2023

There’s something incredibly potent about living a life of gratitude. Being in a state of gratitude has been shown to have positive effects on both physical and mental health. Beyond this, it opens the door for more goodness to pour into your life. 💫

07/05/2023

Now available for purchase as an immediate digital download! This ebook contains over 60 pages of medically accurate information, worksheets, mindfulness strategies, & guidance.

•The last month of pregnancy: What to expect & how to prepare
•Labor: Medical terms, physical & mental processes, & coping mechanisms
•Delivery: Vaginal delivery, Cesarean sections, & the recovery period
•Postpartum: Adjusting during the first several weeks & how to care for yourself as you heal
•Lactation: Expectations & additional tips for those choosing to breastfeed

Click the link in bio to purchase, or DM with questions. 🤰

06/29/2023

That feeling of relief when 🌟YOU DID IT🌟 and hold your baby in your arms.

This beautiful shot is by

06/27/2023

Labor and birth are unpredictable experiences. Treat yourself with gentleness through this process. A great way to mentally prepare is to remember what is within your control and what is outside of your direct control.

This is a little sneak peek from something I’ve been working on as I make some final tweaks and edits. This will be released next week! 👀

06/23/2023

Yes, it’s beautiful. Precious. Emotional. Life-altering. Tender. Empowering. It’s also really freaking hard at times. I think that sometimes the weight of parenthood is minimized by society. Some days, you will feel like you are absolutely killing it. Others, you may feel overwhelmed and defeated. Feel your feelings; it’s healthy to do so. Let them move through you, and then let them pass.

Recognize that you are strong, because you are. 💥

06/20/2023

“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” -George Takei

The LGBTQIA+ community is valued, respected, and welcomed here. This is a safe space. Happy Pride! Celebrating with you all! 🥳🌈💥🎉

06/19/2023

As parents, we are way too hard on ourselves. There is often a pressure to always know the correct action to take, to never feel uncertain, and to do everything perfectly at all times. This mindset is not only unrealistic, but it can be deeply harmful to your sense of self-worth. It’s often said that self-criticism is the most harmful form of criticism that there is. It’s okay to be frustrated, to cry, to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, or to need some alone time.

Being a parent has tough seasons! We are growing and learning alongside our children. Take a breath and give yourself some grace. We are exactly who they need. 💗

06/16/2023

Because visuals can be so helpful, I wanted to share this dilation tool. A cervix starts out closed, long, and thick but dilates to a full 10cm and becomes paper thin to allow for the passage of a baby. How cool is the female body?! 🤰

Thanks for sharing, !

06/13/2023

Has anyone else felt like they were just a number in their doctor’s office? Like you were just a box to be checked so they could move on to the next person? I know I have - MANY times!

As a provider, the demands of our healthcare system are forever increasing. We need to see more patients, cut the times of our appointment slots so we can fit more in, bill more codes, and get patients out so another can come in. I cannot tell you my level of frustration with this. There is so much work to be done.

I want each of you to know that you are not a scheduled appointment. You are not just a task to be completed in someone’s day. You are not a bother. You are a living, breathing human whose values, thoughts, and quality of life matter. You are important.

If there was one phrase to capture the essence of Verve Coach, it would be this: You are not a number. And you will never be a number with me. 🧡

06/12/2023

The heart of what I do. 💞

06/09/2023

Let’s talk about Shared Decision Making! 🤝

Do your providers utilize this important process? Share with someone who would love this model of care.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtR7qT0p6ed/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

06/09/2023

Just a little appreciation post for these IUD earrings made from a 3D printer. I am a big fan of having access to a variety of reliable contraception options.

06/07/2023

The thought of childbirth can be overwhelming and scary, right? 😨 What if I told you that it doesn’t need to be? Really!

Research has shown many benefits of childbirth classes:
• Better outcomes for BOTH mom and baby
• Lower risk of Cesarean section
• Improved communication with your healthcare team
• Helps your support person stay informed and involved
• Avoiding inaccurate information from the internet (some that can be blatantly harmful)
• A sense of community with other attendees going through the same stage of life
• A more satisfying birth experience
• More confidence and less anxiety

While the labor and birthing processes are unpredictable, they don’t have to be frightening. Being educated beforehand allows you to walk into this experience prepared.

Something exciting is coming! Be sure to follow so you don’t miss the announcement. 🤗

06/01/2023

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” -Michelle Obama

Have a great Thursday!

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http://www.verve-coach.com/

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Black Friday is here! Use the code “SAVE50” for 50% off ALL coaching services and the Empowered Birth ebook! 💥 This discount is effective until Wednesday, November 29th at 11:59pm EST.

It’s finished! 🥳 This course has been a labor of love, revised and tweaked for comprehension. This course has been inspired by the things I wish for all of my patients to know, spurred by the knowledge gaps and points of anxiety that I’ve seen in practice. We will cover the last month of pregnancy, labor, delivery, recovery, the initial postpartum period, lactation, and newborn care with a focus on mindset throughout. An on-demand option will be released soon as well that allows you to complete the course at your own pace. Enrollment for our first live cohort in December opens this weekend. The live option comes with community and direct access to myself for questions. Be sure to follow and sign up for our email list to be the first to know when enrollment opens. 🤰

Oxytocin is a hormone that is quite useful during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Known as “the love hormone”, it is responsible for stimulating uterine contractions during labor and trigger the letdown of breast milk after delivery. But you know that oxytocin has several roles within the body for overall wellness throughout our lifespan? •Sexual arousal & orgasm •Selective social bonding, particularly with romantic relationships & the bonding between parent & child •Thought to increase social functioning & leads people to seek contact with others •Protective aspect demonstrated in rats that prevents the nervous system from “freezing” in dangerous or very stressful situations •Empathy •Trust & recognition •Depression & anxiety •Reduces fear responses •Decreasing blood pressure & cortisol levels •Influences positive communication •Defends against trauma & illness We can naturally increase our oxytocin levels by exercising, listening to music, spending time with loved ones, yoga, meditation, laughing, making eye contact, petting animals, gifting, & through intimacy. Foods that can increase our levels include fatty fish, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, peppers, & avocados. Cheers to this wonderful hormone! 💗

As the patient, you have the final say! You should always have the option to be as involved in your care as you wish to be, and you have the right to accept OR decline the options you are given. (And yes, your care team should be presenting options that are safe and reasonable for your specific situation.) So often, I talk to people who felt pressured or coerced into something they weren’t comfortable with, and they went along with it because they didn’t realize they could say no. The world of women’s health has always been deeply patriarchal, although it seems that this way of thinking is slowly changing. Even if you have a care team whom you trust and feel supported by (which I hope everyone does!), you should still feel comfortable to have a conversation, voice any concerns or questions, and be able to own the ability to make a decision as an autonomous individual. Did you know this was not only an option, but one of your rights as a patient?