Uganda Trip Preparation Update

At this point, the reality of my trip has set in yet I stay on the same roller coaster of emotions ranging from super excited to super anxious. Today, I'm somewhere in between so I thought I'd post a little update on what's been happening.

Last week I found out that Mercy for Mamas is applying for non-profit status. That means that all donations made payable to them (and earmarked for me) will be tax-deductible for you. Yay!

Mercy for Mamas  |  1604 Prairie Run Circle  |  Mulvane, KS 67110 

As many of you know, the only reason I even know where Uganda sits on the map is thanks to my Birmingham Bestie who adopted her little one from there in 2010.

Guess what.

Wait for it.....

She's going on the trip too!!!!!!!!!! How crazy awesome is it that I'm getting to visit Uganda for the first time with the person who introduced me to this country? God sure has a way of making good things even better! This trip has sweet memories already and I haven't even left yet.

Up next is renewing my passport that is currently expired. That's going to require a trip to the passport office, also known as the post office, so I'm sure you understand my delay. I never know what I'm going to get, so I'm hoping I catch them on a good day. ;)

I appreciate each and every one of you who have been excited right along with me and for those who have offered to pray for me. It warms my heart! For those who have already made donations, please know that each one has caused me to squeal with glee (or do the ugly cry) because I'm just so grateful! Every little bit puts me one step closer to helping mothers and babies in Uganda in a unique way. Thank you!

Maritza Pedroza

nYn is excited to welcome Maritza Pedroza to our team!

Maritza Pedroza

Certified Doula 
Birth Doula Package: $600

Contact Me

Training:

• Childbirth International (CBI)  |  Certified November 2008
• Doulas for North America (DONA)  |  Certification Pending

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Hi. I'm Maritza Pedroza. I have been happily married for 20 years and have a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. I believe I was a doula before I even knew doulas existed. Let me tell you how it happened.

First off, I love babies... all things baby! So, I started working in an OB practice. I learned a lot but never as much as when I started working with a midwife. I also had a friend expecting her first baby and she asked if I would attend her birth. I was a little nervous, but thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to see what I was learning in action. Well, it was that and more. Much more! Then and there I realized how much support moms really do need at a time like this. That was my first "doula baby" and that baby is now 15 years old!

I slowly learned that there is a great deal to be done to help moms during one of the most important times of their lives: the birth of a baby. I started researching and learning, and that led me to doula certification. It has been one of the best decisions I have made and the most rewarding as well.

We all have an idea of how we would like our birth experience to be. However, many women do not realize that they have a voice in what happens to them and their baby. This is what I try to instill in moms.

"You have a voice and a choice of what to do and not do during your unique experience."

If you are not sure of what you want, I am here to help inform you of all of the options available. Whatever your experience may be, I will try to help you achieve it. We are all different so it makes sense that what we want is different, but I am here to help you get it. Having my children later in life has been such a great experience as well. I know I was much more prepared for it and loved both experiences just as much.

I'd love the opportunity to serve you during your important moment! Contact me today for a complimentary consultation or click here to learn more about my birth doula package.

[RECAP] Empowering Fearless Birth Conference

This past weekend Rachael and I were able to attend the Empowering Fearless Birth Conference. These are just a few of my observations and take aways from the event.

1. In EVERY session, the speakers strongly recommended that expecting families hire a doula. Even parents on the discussion panels said it was the best money they've ever spent. Research shows that having a doula improves outcomes and they had personal examples to back it up!
2. There were TONS of babies there. Most were being worn and their mommies nursed on demand. I was there for 13 hours and I only heard a baby cry once. ONCE! Attachment parenting works!
3. My favorite vendor was the Project Breastfeeding booth. They had a small photo studio set up and were taking pictures of moms nursing their babies. It was awesome to see them pose so beautifully and proudly with their babies. 
4. My favorite speaker was, hands down, Stacie Hunt. She's one of the midwives at the farm and spoke on how fear affects birth and how we can overcome that negativity in our American culture. It starts with us empowering each other and, furthermore, our children to believe in the beautiful and natural process that it is. 
5. The most important thing I heard all day is what I try to instill in my clients. "The better you take care of your body during pregnancy, the more choices you have during labor." You have to nourish and exercise and prepare your body. If you don't, certain opportunities will not be available to you, plain and simple. Labor takes a lot of physical and mental strength. 
6. Attachment and bonding are crucial for our children to thrive. The easiest way to achieve this is through touch with skin-to-skin contact and it's never too late to start. 
7. Birthy people are awesome! Yesterday was such a love fest. We were all so excited to be under the same roof at the same time. It was great to visit with folks I haven't seen in a while and meet new people as well. We may all have a different niche but we are all passionate about serving mothers!
8. Seeing the Birth Story film was just as good the second time around. I am so fascinated by the history of the farm and midwifery in general. Oh how I wish there was a way to bottle up all the knowledge and energy that Ina May has. 

I helped out as a volunteer yesterday and was really excited about that opportunity. It was a lot of fun too! You see, conferences are my day job. Planning and executing 1-day or week-long conferences is what I do on a daily basis. Now, if I could only figure out a way to plan birth conferences. THAT would be the perfect job for me! 

All in all, it was a really great event for parents, for birth professionals, and for the Nashville birth community as a whole. I hope we have more events like this in the future. 

FREE Gifts for Mom & Baby!

I just love Mother's Lounge products! See below for the AWESOME deal they are offering all nYn readers. 

When my daughter was a baby, I was obsessed in love with leggings. It's shameful fascinating how many pair we owned. ;) They are just so cute on chubby little legs, plus they protect those sweet little knees. 

This company now offers a variety of baby products including nursing covers and pillows as well as pouch slings and carseat canopies. The best part is that they all come in awesome patterns from classy to modern to funky! They have something for every style. 

Click on any of the images below and use code NYN4BABY at checkout to receive a FREE product. You will only be responsible for shipping costs. What a deal! 

Staci Bishop

As the owner of nYn, I'm excited to be a part of our Nashville doula team. 

Staci Bishop, Owner

Certified Birth Doula & Hypnodoula

Now accepting new and repeat clients.  

Contact Me

**NOTE: My rates are increasing on January 1st. 

Book now to secure my current rate for your 2016 birth.

• Complete BIRTH Package: Perfect for 1st time parents or couples not planning to take a childbirth education class. $600
• Basic BIRTH Package: Great for couples already taking a comprehensive childbirth class or moms with a previous vaginal delivery. $525 
• BIRTH Only Package: Excellent choice for repeat clients or last-minute clients who have had a childbirth education course or previous birth. $450

• POSTPARTUM Rate: Support for mom/dad/siblings, baby care, breastfeeding help, household chores, cooking, errands. $25 per hour* 
• Overnight POSTPARTUM Rate: Baby care and breastfeeding support from 10p-6a. $125 per evening* 
• 24-Hour Immediate POSTPARTUM Care: Great for clients who have given birth at home or a birth center. Includes monitoring of mom & baby in addition to regular postpartum care. $500
• *Discounts offered for birth doula clients

Training:

• Childbirth International Birth Doula  |  Certified June 2012
• HypnoBabies Hypno-Doula  |  Certified February 2013
• Aromahead Institute: Introduction to Essential Oils  |  Completed April 2013
• Vintage Remedies Herbalism for the Birth Professional  |  February 2013

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My name is Staci Bishop and I reside in Nashville, TN near Opryland. I'm a wife and mother to an 8-year-old daughter. I also have a passion for all things pregnancy, birth, and babies. Here's a little bit about my story of how I became a doula.

When I first became pregnant I assumed I would have a run-of-the-mill birth. You know, use my same OB/GYN that I had been seeing yearly, have a hospital birth, get an epidural, maybe breastfeed if it worked out. You know, the usual.

Luckily, I had managed (unbeknownst to me) to surround myself with some naturally-thinking folks along the way. In conversation, I was asked how I felt about "routine" prenatal measures and labor & delivery techniques. I didn't know. I didn't realize I had a choice in the matter so I looked into it. Just a touch of research led me to question the essence of what everyone else in the world calls "normal." Turns out that I didn't trust "normal." I couldn't find any good evidence to support what Mainstream America was selling me about maternity care. In fact, I kind of became skeptical about most things so I researched some more. I started making educated decisions rather than just doing something because that's the way everyone else was doing it. My new "normal" revolved around doing the most natural things possible because they were getting the best results with fewer side effects. I simply did what made sense.


I learned a lot through my pregnancy and delivery. However, after months of research and preparation, I still didn't feel like I had a voice and felt I missed out on the positive birth experience I craved so much. I've come a long way since then by educating myself even more, putting it into practice, and seeing positive results from the things I believe in. I wish I'd known then what I know now. This is the number one reason I decided to become a doula. I want women to know that they have options. I want them to feel empowered and knowledgeable about pregnancy & birth.

As a doula, it is my goal to aid you in getting the outcome YOU desire. My job is to support you in the journey from pregnancy to labor & delivery and through the postpartum period. A positive outcome is in the eye of the beholder. We are all different, so you have to do what makes sense to YOU.  I'm just a facilitator of information who also provides support. 

Contact me today for a complimentary consultation or click here to learn more about birth doula packages.