The 19th Annual UDA Spring Conference

One of the things I love so much about the Utah Doula Association is the annual conference that is put on every spring. The first time I attended was three years ago and as a brand spanking new doula I felt a little awkward and out of place being surrounded by so many experienced and…

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LGBT-Friendly Provider Spotlight: Dr. Rixt Luikenaar

Guest blog by Tobie Spears Rixt A. Luikenaar, M.D., FACOG board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, has been providing exceptional healthcare both locally and abroad for over 15 years. She holds numerous awards and continues to receive significant recognition for her work with people of color and the LGBT+ community. Dr. Luikenaar began offering transgender healthcare…

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What I’ve Learned As A Postpartum Doula

Our guest this week is Kristy Avery Huber. Kristy has been a doula for over 23 years and has attended hundreds upon hundreds of births. She is not primarily a postpartum doula in Salt Lake. She teaches birth doula training at SLCC and a postpartum doula training at MCU. Hidden talents? Going on game shows…look…

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Secondary Infertility

***This week’s post is written by a woman in our community that has chosen to remain anonymous. It is real and honest and may be triggering for some readers.*** Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant, or to carry a pregnancy to term, following the birth of one or more biological children.…

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Podcasts for the Doula and Her Clients

When I first started out as a doula, I was, quite frankly, overwhelmed.  I knew what I wanted to do, how many births I wanted to take per month, and the type of clients I was drawn to.  But, I’ll admit, I am not the best person at staying motivated over a period of time.…

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International Postpartum Traditions

Our guest blogger this week is Melissa Ann Pistorius, owner of The Empowered Mother. Melissa serves primarily the Salt Lake and Utah valleys as birth and postpartum doula. She has training in massage, hydrotherapy and visualization to help mothers in labor. Her passion is to help mothers have a truly empowering birth experience.    Many…

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Birth Story Time

Three weeks ago on February 17th I woke up feeling totally normal. My parents had just arrived home from Europe the night before so my whole pregnancy we kept saying that this baby couldn’t come until the 17th. A little after 10 I noticed some cramping but attributed it to having my midwife check my…

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How to Use Birth & Peanut Balls

Our guest blogger this week is Charity Wheeler. Charity owns Pure Love Doula and serves Utah and Salt Lake Counties, as well as surrounding areas. She joined the UDA in 2016 and is currently serving on the Board as the Utah County Representative. She loves supporting families and helping parents feel confident and empowered during their birth…

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