11 | Being Present - Simone Toomer

When Simone and her husband began planning to add to their family, they knew they wanted to have a home birth. Choosing this choice as Simone wanted full body autonomy and wanted to make sure she surrounded herself with a team to support her in that.As you listen to Simone's story, you realize that even when we prepare to the fullest extent, pregnancy and birth can still cause anxiety. As a doula, Simone had to remind herself to get out of her head constantly. Trusting the process of birth and being entirely in touch with her body and baby. The day that her son was born, she did that, as she states, her knowledge and experience couldn't prep her for everything yet when she was present in what was happening "she felt labor, she felt the birth" of her son.A big piece of Simone's story we feel should be a take away for everyone is postpartum planning. We love that Simone share's that families should create a postpartum plan, the same way they would their birth plans. Standing firm in their community and no matter what asking for help!Resources:Doula Trainings International (DTI) | doula training and childbirth education trainingSakina Midwifery | midwifery services in NYJust for You Doula | birth and postpartum doula services in NY