Mikayla Moua Doula Services

Teacher friends! You are appreciated and important

If you've had a cesarean, did you realize that you're likely a candidate for VBAC? I believe that the misinformation out there is what makes our vbac rate so low. A few things about VBAC:
👉 Your birth team matters. Find a provider who will support your desire to VBAC and who will give you the facts. Hire a doula who can walk alongside you.
👉 The rate of uterine rupture is low. Over 98% of women will not experience uterine rupture.
👉 There are risks that come with repeat cesareans. This includes placenta accreta, increased need for a hysterectomy, blood loss, and major complications associated with the surgery.
👉 You don't have to have a VBAC, but you deserve informed consent. Make sure your provider explains the risks and benefits of VBAC and RCS.

It's world doula week starting today. I won't pretend that I have a huge following, like I do more than I really do, or like I'm all booked this summer, but I want to share what led me to pursue this.

I was pregnant in the height of the pandemic, and because I have type 1 diabetes, I was labeled high risk. I had so much fear in my pregnancy and so many unknowns. I never worked with a nutritionist, never was told really how type 1 can impact pregnancy, but was told that I would be delivering my baby via induction at 37 weeks. Period. "That's just what we do with moms who have type 1," was the reason I was given. My gut told me that my body wouldn't be ready but I didn't know that I had options. I didn't know who to ask for help. I had a cesarean birth after a long induction, then my son was in the NICU for 4 days. My whole pregnancy and first few days postpartum, I was encouraged to do things that didn't feel right to me as a mom but I did them for the sake of survival. And I was going to be darned if I couldn't breastfeed my baby. After being told, once again, that I couldn't do something that I desired to do as a mom due to my autoimmune conditions, I finally listened to my gut. By the way y'all, our intuition is POWERFUL.

I booked an appointment with Meredith at and was told that I was doing a great job, that my body was doing what it was supposed to be doing, and I finally felt like I was being heard. Like someone was supporting me and encouraging me to be the mom I wanted to be. From there, I learned more about birth and what a doula was. A woman who gives support, comforts moms, and provides education. I never want another mom to feel unsupported like I did, or like they have no options. Being a doula allows me to do so many things I feel gifted in, like teaching. I am so thankful that I have the opportunities I do and I look forward to what I will continue to learn.

Just the presence of a doula can change your birth experience. 💙💗

I've been kind of quiet for a month or so. Not really a great strategy for business, but I have had to do a lot of reflection on what I really want out of my work as a doula and what I can do with the time I have.

I was never much of a goals person until I started grad school. Then I realized that setting goals gave me direction and allowed me to make a plan.

Do you have any goals for this year?