You’re Planning for Postpartum… But What About the Birth?
Top 4 Tips from a Postpartum Doula to Achieve a Natural Birth
You already know that planning for postpartum is essential. You’ve got breastfeeding goals, you’re thinking about sleep, support, recovery—but let’s talk about the huge elephant in the room: BIRTH.
How can you possibly focus on the fourth trimester when the idea of labor still feels so overwhelming?
As a postpartum doula and the owner of Sand and Sage Postpartum Care, I also help my clients prepare for birth—because the way your birth unfolds can deeply shape your postpartum experience and breastfeeding journey.
If you’re aiming for a natural, empowered birth, here are my top 4 essential tips to help you prepare for the experience you desire—and deserve.
1. Take the Childbirth Education Class
Especially for first-time moms (and anyone who hasn’t experienced an unmedicated birth before), the #1 most impactful thing you can do is take a childbirth education course. Understanding what’s happening in your body, what’s normal, and what to expect changes everything.
I highly recommend Kelli Blinn’s Online Childbirth Education Course. It’s:
Self-paced
Virtual (so you can do it from anywhere)
Designed with hospital births in mind (yes, even natural births!).
She covers common interventions and how to navigate them, so you’ll feel confident and prepared when decisions need to be made during labor.
👶 Want to stack the deck in your favor for a positive birth? Start here with Kelli’s class.
2. Choose the Right Birth Team
The people you surround yourself with during labor matter. A lot.
Every single person who enters your birth space brings energy and influence. Choose:
A provider who respects your preferences
A birthing location where you feel safe
Support people who believe in your ability to birth your baby.
When you feel safe, respected, and in control, your chances of having a positive, natural birth increase significantly.
Need help finding someone local to the Tri Cities, WA? Schedule a Postpartum Planning Session with me and we can work together to find the perfect team for you.
3. Get Your Mind in the Game
Yes, birth is physical. But the mental game? It’s even bigger.
If your body is the car, your mind is the driver. You’ll need it fully on board to make this journey.
Here’s how to prep your mindset:
Listen: The Birth Hour podcast
Search: “Positive unmedicated birth stories” on YouTube or Spotify.
Consuming stories of empowered, natural births conditions your mind to expect success, not fear the unknown.
4. Hire a Doula (Virtual or In-Person)
Finally—hire a birth doula.
Research shows that having continuous labor support results in:
15% higher rate of spontaneous vaginal birth
39% lower chance of C-section
A birth doula provides support, advocacy, and encouragement throughout labor—but let’s be real: doulas aren’t saviors. Their impact is most powerful when you’ve done the prenatal prep work (education, mental prep, birth team selection).
💻 Not local or don’t want someone in-person? My Virtual Birth Support service offers 1:1 emotional and informational support, text check-ins, labor prep calls, and real-time support during labor—wherever you are.
Yes, You Can Have it All: Let’s Set You Up for a Positive Birth and a Peaceful Postpartum
At Sand and Sage Postpartum Care, I believe that how you're supported during birth can shape how you're supported postpartum. My goal is to walk with you through both.
If you're ready to:
Understand your options in labor
Avoid unnecessary interventions
Build a strong postpartum plan
Feel confident in birth and beyond
Start with Kelli’s childbirth education course and explore how we can work together with virtual birth doula support. And don’t forget to check out your local doula options if you’re in the Tri-Cities, WA.
You can absolutely have the birth you want.
Let’s get you prepared, supported, and ready to thrive in this new season of life.