by Leslie Lytle | May 30, 2017 | Community
Giving birth is only the start. I’ve known this for some time now. In my previous professional “chapters” as a prenatal massage therapist, yoga teacher, and doula, daily interactions with my clients and students afforded me insight into the needs of RVA’s prenatal...
by Leslie Lytle | Sep 14, 2015 | Birth, Breastfeeding, Community, Nonprofit Development, Postpartum, Pregnancy
When I speak with pregnant or postpartum women about Nurture’s goal of opening a nonprofit resource center to support RVA’s childbearing families, they typically nod their heads in agreement saying “Oh yeah!” Their relief at the idea of a “home of their own” is...
by Leslie Lytle | May 22, 2015 | Birth, Community, Postpartum, Pregnancy
May is International Doula Month, so we partnered with doula teacher Thérèse Hak-Kun to talk about the integral role doulas play in guiding expectant families into parenthood.* For the past 18 years, I’ve facilitated doula training workshops all over North America...
by Leslie Lytle | Apr 30, 2015 | Birth, Breastfeeding, Postpartum, Pregnancy
Nearly one in three women is sexually assaulted in their lifetime — and the experience of pregnancy and birth can be a minefield of triggers. Here, a 30 year old woman recalls disassociating during labor and having flashbacks to a sexual assault at age 7: “All I...
by Leslie Lytle | Jun 4, 2014 | Birth, Early Parenting, Uncategorized
Pregnancy marks many women’s first significant introduction to the healthcare system. Suddenly you are making all kinds of health-related decisions for yourself and your baby, from whether or not to undergo a diagnostic test, to figuring out what pain management...