It's the time of year where I look around and think, look at how my surroundings have changed! All these trees had lush green leaves which turned into golden and red hues, and now everything looks bare. Sometimes this shift in landscape makes me feel settled, moving inward and craving activities that happen when you're "stuck inside". Other times I look and feel a little sadness over the loss of obvious life that we see in the growing seasons. 

But, here's the thing, those trees and plants are still alive. There's still this energy that flows from the ground to the plant to the air and back again. Only now, it takes looking at it differently to appreciate it. Does that resonate with you, the idea that sometimes you have to come at the stage of life you're in (or your child's stage) at a different angle in order to appreciate it and see the beauty? 

This is not one of those posts where I believe you have to love life and love your child's hardest days and golly gee, aren't we lucky and #blessed?! Instead, I'm suggesting that when I've taken a moment (or let the idea work on me all day) to see the energy in where I am in my life's journey, I see value in the moment or experience. 

Yes, it can feel super hard to transition from one stage of pregnancy or stage of development to the next. But for most, even in our hardest days and toughest moments, the energy of the experience brings value. I didn't say it brings joy or happiness, but instead I'm focusing on the value of the moment. It has worth and importance, and we can either use it or let it fall to the side. 

Being outside and letting it be what it is, nothing more nothing less, helps me in my journey. I may want the forest canopy to be lush and full, but it's not the stage of nature right now. Instead, look at what is visible with the absence of foliage. Look at the world as it is, instead of what you're missing or wanting. There's value to it, and next time you're outside, notice where you are in your life's journey. 

When I look back at the families with whom I've worked, there are some stories that I still wonder how things could have unfolded differently. This happens after a "straightforward" labor makes a detour and birth happens in a surgical setting instead of the labor and delivery room. This happens after a home birth transfers to the hospital. This happens after a baby remains breech, in spite of the mother trying different techniques to help baby flip head down. This happens after the transition stage of labor stretches on, longer than anticipated, and it's many hours before she's fully dilated. 

It's not that I think these stories are any less sacred and special. It's not that I believe unmedicated vaginal births are the only way to birth. It's not that I see myself as the gatekeeper to "good" births. 

Not at all. 

Instead, there are simply times where the anticipated journey veers off course, and everyone on the birth team has to take a step back and figure out "now what?".

In response to these feelings, I was deeply curious about ways to better support these journeys. I wanted to bring more to the birthing setting, supporting the laboring mother with suggestions, information, encouragement. I was thrilled when the opportunity arose, and I started to learn more about the "bigger picture". 

Melissa Larimer, Certified Massage Therapist (along with many other trainings and certifications) offered the birth community the opportunity to expand our knowledge base in order to better support the families with whom we work. She spent hours in afternoon trainings, helping us understand the different ways birth unfolds and ways we can support the birth process. 

One of the resources she referenced was the work by Gail Tully, of Spinning Babies. Spinning Babies looks at the mother's anatomy, the baby's positioning, the mother's movements and positions during pregnancy and labor, and the birth process and provides techniques and information to support healthy birth. 

Talking with Melissa and learning from her gifted me more "tools" to use during births. And I'm thrilled Melissa will be joining Mothers' Circle on Sunday, November 8, 3:30-5pm to share her expertise. This Circle is appropriate for expectant moms, moms healing from birth in the last year (vaginal or cesarean), and moms thinking about another pregnancy, regardless of age of older child(ren). 

Did you have a birth that maybe didn't unfold as anticipated, one where Baby was posterior, a rim of cervix remained for many hours, or you had a cesarean birth? Are you healing from birth and interested in learning ways to support your pelvic health? Or maybe you're just a little uncertain about what pelvic health entails and want to learn more about your body? 

Maybe you're a mom and interested in community, and Mothers' Circle calls out to you? 

Whatever the reason, register today for Mothers' Circle with Melissa Larimer. We'll have snacks, you'll meet other women, and you will spend time in a comfortable, supportive environment as you journey along in pregnancy or motherhood. 

Call or email to register. You can see more details in the "Other Services" section of this site. 

Melissa Larimer with local birth workers Anna Weigand, RN & Linnea Mugford, CD

Expectant parents prepare for their baby through various ways- reading books, checking out pregnancy and parenting websites, joining Facebook groups, talking with friends and family. Another way expectant parents may prepare is by attending childbirth education classes, an interactive way to learn about the stages of labor and options available to parents, in terms of coping techniques and medical intervention. 

I'm excited for Olive Tree Birthing's upcoming Childbirth Education series, happening Thursdays, October 29-November 19, 6:30-8:30pm. Having taught with Bloomington Area Birth Services and certified as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, I'm looking forward to teaching a 4-week series in my home, focusing on Lamaze International's Healthy Birth Practices. 

Not only will you be learning ways to support a healthy birth, but you'll also be learning about medical interventions, preparing for life with a baby, and breastfeeding. Learning and practicing ways to cope well and confidently during your baby's birth is helpful as you get ready to meet your baby. Considering using pain medications? You will find the classes helpful because pain medications are often times not available until active labor, so learning ways to relieve discomfort or pain prior to using pain medications may help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. 

You will also build your community as you meet other expectant parents here in Bloomington. Olive Tree Birthing offers a monthly Mothers' Circle, a perfect way to keep in touch with the other expectant women from your class. 

Make sure you call or email to register, as there's a limit of five registrants per class (each registrant may bring a support person). The deadline to register for the October 29th series is October 22nd. Cost for the series is $150, which covers materials, snacks, and support during the series and phone/email support throughout "the fourth trimester". 

Back in the fall of 2013, I joined together with three friends and embarked on a journey. We each bought a copy of The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life by Renée Peterson Trudeau and met monthly to work through the chapters. I can't emphasize enough just how timely this small group of friends and book was in my motherhood journey. 

For one of the first times, I was reading the words that felt like they were written specifically for me, and how I was feeling about my identity and my needs as mother, partner and woman. It was emotional, inspiring, at times overwhelming, and most of all, reassuring. What Renée wrote and what my friends and I shared spoke to the fact that we all felt at a loss at times and our cup empty. Giving everything we had to our children, often times our partner, and many times our school and work responsibilities meant we felt depleted and drained at the end of the day (or many times, the start of the day when we should have been feeling refreshed and ready for the day!). 

We worked through the chapters, broken down into a month's topic filled with journaling and assignments, coming back together to share intimately how we were feeling about life and our journey to feeling whole, healthy and renewed. 

What a gift it was to hear from other women in my life that they were feeling many of the same things I was experiencing! I wasn't alone, and my feelings were validated! It was okay to love my children but wonder why it felt so hard and challenging. I wasn't alone in feeling my emotional, physical, mental and spiritual needs were often neglected in order to tend to the needs of my growing family. 

This Sunday, September 13, Olive Tree Birthing and Molly Mendota are hosting Mothers' Circle. Molly will lead the Circle in conversation surrounding identity and self-care in pregnancy and motherhood. Expectant women and mothers will gather together in comfortable space, with room to say "this is really hard", "this is not what I expected", "I love being a mom, but I feel like I don't know who I am anymore," and so much more. Being with other women, in real life and not virtually, brings a different level of support in your journey. Join other women, find your community, and discover how to move through your journey feeling more supported, whole and healthy. 


To learn more or to register, contact me at 812-219-6177 or [email protected]

How many times have you encountered a situation where you've asked yourself, can I do this? 

Often times in my conversations with mothers prenatally, we talk about the different ways to work through the stages of labor. There are many ways a woman might respond to the discomfort or pain of labor, and as labor progresses, a woman may shift into different coping styles. During prenatal visits, we talk about pain medication, and I usually ask questions to learn more about why a woman prefers to use or to not use pain medication. 

One thing I like to include in our conversations is learning more about a woman's motivation to labor with or without the use of pain medication. We may have more conversations surrounding how she views other interventions, and when in labor she may be encouraged to consider interventions. 

Sometimes, a woman may say something along the lines of I'm not sure I can labor without an epidural. At which point, it's important for her birth team to learn more about this worry or anticipation. How can we learn more about her feelings? Using active listening skills is important, so restating what she says and waiting for her to share more (or saying, tell me more about that) can be useful. 

I try not to be quick to jump to conclusions, because I'm not sure I can labor without an epidural may be a way for a woman to give her birth team an opportunity to reassure her, it may be a way for a woman to see how her partner or birth doula responds to the possibility of her using an epidural during labor, or it may be a way for a woman to open the conversation about being afraid of giving birth. There may be countless more reasons a woman shares with her birth team her thoughts about laboring with or without pain medication, and the only way you'll learn about her feelings and thoughts is to give her the opportunity to share openly, honestly and without judgement. 

Perhaps you're pregnant and curious how to share with your sister that you hope to give birth with/without pain medication, because your sister chose exactly the opposite! Maybe you're concerned that if you share your preferences for an unmedicated labor that you will somehow let people down if you choose to use pain meds. Or maybe your daughter is having her first baby and you think she's ridiculous for abstaining from using drugs in labor. Whatever the case, communicating openly and without judgement will only help build the bonds of trust and feelings of safety. 

Olive Tree Birthing offers prenatal consultations to help facilitate, support and educate expectant families and their birth team. Call, email or visit the Contact Me page to submit a form and I'll be in touch with you soon. 

On Thursday, August 20 from 6-7:30pm, join other expectant women and mothers in their first year of motherhood as we hold our very first Mothers' Circle. 

What is Mothers' Circle? Well, I have some vision of what I think it might be, but what it becomes depends on you! First, Mothers' Circle is a time once a month for women to gather together. The first half of the Circle will be time talking with others, sharing what's happening (joys & challenges) in your life, listening, offering support. You'll get settled, with or without your baby, grab some snacks and later in the evening, we'll welcome MaryAnn Martin, IBCLC as she guides us through conversation regarding breastfeeding, working outside the home, and the related choices, decisions, expectations and concerns that come up during pregnancy and new motherhood. 


Mothers' Circle is taking the time for YOU, minus the guilt that you may feel in stepping away from your family for a couple hours. It's about being with others where you can honestly share how hard it may feel. Or, sharing how amazing you felt after sleeping for three hours uninterrupted and being met with "that's amazing! I totally understand! You must feel like a new woman!", rather than, "that's all?! Your baby is not sleeping longer stretches yet?!", as you may hear from parents that are far from the infant stage. 


Mothers' Circle is where we can acknowledge and support your feelings, and if you're interested, you can ask for ideas with challenges you may be facing. It's where you can be yourself, no strings attached. No one is perfect, we're all figuring out how to mother our children, regardless of age or stage, and Mothers' Circle simply gives you the time and space to give and receive support in your mothering journey. 


Please join us on Thursday, August 20 from 6-7:30pm. The fee is $10, which helps pay for our visiting community professional, snacks and the remainder will be donated onward or put aside to help make our Circle affordable for interested moms. You can register by contacting me (see Contact Me page on website), sending payment via PayPal (to [email protected]) or by check (made payable to Amy Beck, and mailed to 214 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401). 


Mothers' Circle is held at 214 East Hillside Drive, near the intersection of E. Hillside Dr./S. Walnut St. and near the cross streets of South Lincoln Street and South Washington Street. You may park on South Lincoln Street, as driveway parking is limited. Olive Tree Birthing loves dogs and cats (they'll be kept away from the Circle), but please be advised in case of allergies. 

Summer. 

It's a time for growth. We see flowers, fruits, vegetables and grasses growing quickly when there is plenty of rain, sun and warmth. And then before we know it, plants start to brown, wither and fall to the earth. It becomes time for the soil to settle into its own, taking pause before the next growing season. 

There is so much about our seasons and time on this earth that comes to mind as I reflect on pregnancy and the parenting journey. This is just where we are, right now. Our challenges won't be our forever. There is beauty in each phase we enter. 


Whether you're growing a baby, helping your baby or child(ren) to grow strong or reflecting back on those times, feel the beauty in what happens when the right growing elements are present. When we have what we need, we grow; sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out just what it is that we NEED. And we have to be aware that these needs change. 

Take the time to consider those needs and what you may need to do to support those very needs. 

• Do you need to have a certain number of hours of rest to function well? To cope well through stressful times? To live the life you want? Maybe reaching that number means you don't get out of bed with your newborn until you've had a certain number of shut-eye. Maybe this is not possible? Consider what you may need to alter in your daily routine to add more sleep- less computer time, asking someone to help with the tasks that are keeping you from that afternoon nap, prioritizing your need for rest over the need to wash the dishes. 
• Do you feel renewed when you spend time in nature? Does the sun, wind, change of seasons bring you a sense of relaxation, renewal or peace? Think about how you can incorporate nature into your daily life. If you can't get out of the house, perhaps you can keep your house light-filled, lamps turned off, windows open. Houseplants, fresh cut flowers, or pictures of your favorite nature scenes may bring the outside in. Even sitting and talking about a favorite spot in nature with your child, describing the smells and sounds may be helpful when you feel like getting out of the house is not going to happen today. 
• Eating and drinking consumes our time, resources and energy. It's a must for all of us, and we're generally in charge of what we put in our bodies. So much of how we feel can be tied back to what we're eating and drinking. Do you eat whole foods much of the time? Stay hydrated? Do you purchase foods and drinks that will support your health? Do you find a balance between convenience and a healthy selection of the foods our bodies need? How can you improve this? 
• SUPPORT! Those tomato plants will topple over without the right structural support. Pea plants will thrive if they have a trellis to climb. Keeping plants spaced appropriately as to avoid overcrowding will yield more fruits and help prevent the plant from succumbing to disease and rot. Where is your support? Do you have it in place, just in case you should need to access it? Or do you find you're anxiously and hectically reaching for something after you've already started to feel lost, overwhelmed or needing more support? 

Today is the day to assess your needs and tap into your innate wisdom. You're not alone, there is support and you probably already know what you need. Now is the day to say it aloud and own it. 

This print comes from a special family. This very special family invited me to be their birth doula when I had absolutely zero experience attending births. Yes, I had been trained at a birth doula workshop and I read everything I could to build my knowledge. I was enthusiastic, ready to provide support, and I couldn't wait for that phone call asking me to join the laboring woman. That phone call came, the baby was born, and I left the birth setting completely blown away and in awe of the way birth unfolds. I was later hired by their friends, and I attended their baby's birth just a few short months later. This print brings me back to this moment in my doula work, and I celebrate the two babies (illustrated in the print) and their families as their birth months roll around each year. 

When I started practicing, it was very difficult to know how much to charge for my birth doula services. With my certification deadline looming, I was eager to market myself in a way that made hiring me (i.e, a new doula with little real experience) more attractive. I was highly motivated to wrap up my certification application by the deadline, which was less than six months, by the time I actually began attending births (we had moved from Vermont, I started teaching full time and I gave birth to our second child, all of which delayed me from completing the necessary steps towards certification). As a result, I charged a very low rate when I was just starting out. 

I quickly learned, however, that I wouldn't be able to continue charging such a low rate because I needed some income to pay for the contents of my birth doula bag, childcare and other expenses related to my work. I also felt, however, that my services felt only as valuable as my experience, skills and knowledge. A brand new teacher doesn't make what an experienced, tenured educator makes. An apprenticing plumber doesn't earn what his mentor charges. In essentially every profession, more experience and skill equals a higher income. I continued attending births, slowly increasing my fees by $50. 

The years passed, and I started feeling more confident about what I could contribute to a family's birth experience. I spent more time listening and watching, and in turn, providing support led by the mother's needs and my anticipation of her needs. This growth contributed to feeling that the years of experience and attendance at over 50 (then over 60, 70, 80...) births justified an increase to my birth doula fee. 

Now when I'm asked, "how much do you charge?", I confidently reply, "$800". 

Is $800 a high fee for birth doula services? In Bloomington, it's within the range of the fees charged by independent doulas. Out of my fee, approximately 15% pays taxes, as I am self-employed. The rest covers the expenses and hours of service provided. Part of my fee pays childcare, should I attend a birth during a time when my husband is at work. Part of my fee pays for client-related expenses (i.e., heating pad, essential oils, massage tools, birth balls) and part of it pays for my expenses while I'm working (i.e., food, drinks, travel costs). My fee is set at a price that covers the hours I provide for phone/email/text support, prenatal and postnatal visits, along with hours of support during labor, birth and immediately postpartum (average number of hours ranges 24). It also is set at a price that allows me to make birth doula work my main source of income; if I were to drastically reduce my fee, I'd probably need to supplement my income with a part-time job, which is difficult to have with the unpredictable lifestyle of birth doula work. Setting my fee at a higher amount gives my clients the peace of mind that I will be able to join them within an hour of requesting my presence, verses having to wait until my shift is over or until I can find someone to cover my part-time job responsibilities. 

Being a birth doula means living an on-call lifestyle when one of my clients is within weeks of her estimated due date. It means knowing that I may be called away just as I'm snuggling in with my son or reading with my daughter before bed. It means making plans, with the caveat that I may need to cancel or reschedule at the last minute. It means that dinner out with my husband might be cut short if one of my clients is in labor. Taking out-of-town excursions is definitely out of the picture, as I never want to be more than an hour away from one of my expectant families. My birth doula fee is set at a price that provides what feels like a fair compensation for the lifestyle that dictates what I do during the weeks before and after an estimated due date. 

I did not become a birth doula because it sounded like a lucrative career. The reasons for providing birth doula support originated because I know support matters and affects outcome. And through the years and many, many births I've been invited to support, my skills and experience have allowed me to raise my fee. 

Birth doula work comes with an attached fee, and your search for a birth doula will include the question, "how much do you charge?". Know that behind every doula's fee is a story and a journey, and it's hard to put a value on that. 

When you're looking for a birth doula, you're probably going to notice similarities on their websites or hear similar answers during interviews (i.e., we'll meet prenatally, I'll join you in labor and stay throughout the birth, I'll provide physical and emotional support during labor, etc.). But you'll also notice that each doula brings something different to her practice. 

Some doulas are also trained as massage therapists or placenta encapsulators. You may learn that some doulas provide an extra prenatal visit or perhaps her contract varies from another doula with whom you've met. 

Not every doula will be feel like a good fit for you, so it's important you interview more than one, especially if you're not feeling like you've clicked well with the first doula you met. And it's impossible to judge whether you'll mesh with a particular doula unless you meet with her in person, even if it's someone that you've heard raving reviews about. 

As someone who has been practicing for over six years, I feel more confident in my work and am thankful for the experiences I've shared with my clients. But, I also look back on Doula Amy when I first started and see a lot of value and positive attributes, even though I didn't have much experience. I am so grateful the families with whom I worked in the early years invited me to be part of their birth team. 

All that to say, a newer doula has many skills and would be a wonderful addition to your birth team. I still leave a birth room and am amazed at how much I continue to learn with each birth experience. I also am grateful for all that I've learned from each and every birth experience, because it only helps me to be a more thoughtful and responsive birth doula. 

When you're looking for a birth doula, take time to ask the questions that are pertinent to you and your partner (if applicable). Share, listen and let your intuition guide you in your decision to either move forward or continue looking for a birth doula. You'll find the one that is a good fit.