Independence 

I thought I could handle it alone. It had been seven and a half years since I last gave birth to my only child, and this time I had really put in all the prep. I had spent months even before getting pregnant becoming the healthiest version of myself given my advanced maternal age of 40: a solid year of strength training five times a week with Evlo Fitness (a fitness app taught by doctors of physical therapy) and a keen focus on nutritious whole foods. Throughout pregnancy, I continued this dedicated adherence. I followed the Evlo prenatal program up until the day before I gave birth and ate well throughout. I also practiced mindfulness and worked with Dr. Laurel Sexton, an incredible Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, where we focused on proper breathing, pushing, and pelvic friendly labor positions. I thought I had it all figured out. Until I didn’t. 

Nerves

As the birth approached, I became more and more nervous about how I would handle the pain of my planned natural labor. What coping strategies could I use? How would I avoid interventions, particularly an epidural or c-section? My older daughter had been born vaginally without pain medication, so all these years I thought it had been relatively successful. But as the birth of my second daughter came closer, I remembered all the things that hadn’t gone well. I remembered being rushed from the birth center to the hospital due to the baby’s heart deceleration. I remembered lying on my back, legs in the stirrups, not grasping how to properly push the baby out, then she was stuck and we had to use a vacuum. The vacuum caused abrasions on her head and jaundice. Long after I forgot the pain of birth, I still remember thinking right after, “I will never do this again.”

Fast forward to baby number two’s impending birth, I realized that I was getting scared. I remained committed to natural labor, but this time there was not a birth center; I would be delivering in a hospital. As the final weeks approached, I reconnected with a friend from a few years back who was also pregnant, and she recommended her doula. 

Maternal Wellness

I didn’t need education on what a doula is. As an Assistant Research Professor at Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) at the University of Arkansas, I had been engaged in maternal health research in Arkansas. I was well aware of our maternal health crisis in the state and of the improvements in maternal health seen globally when doulas and midwives are more accessible to women. Yet I hadn’t secured one myself because I thought I could handle it alone. But as my fears started to grow, I contacted my friend’s doula. I let her know I was only a few weeks out from delivery, and I needed her help. 

When Robin (an Arkansas Doula trained by Ujima Maternity Network and UAMS’ doula program) and I met, I was already 37 weeks pregnant. I had handled the pregnancy on my own to that point, although I know if I had met her earlier or been a first time mom and needed it, she would have helped me with all the tricks and wisdom of pregnancy related issues along the way. But what Robin gave me was more crucial to me than anything else she could have done: she gave me confidence. 

Be Brave, Be Bold

Listening to Robin and hearing the way that she spoke about birth reminded me of my own mother’s fond memories of birth. So different from my first experience, after the birth of my older brother my mother had said “I’ll have another one!” Robin’s kind, comforting words helped me to realize that I had felt out of control with my first birth. The system took care of me medically, but I didn’t deliver in an ideal position for labor nor did I know how to handle contractions nor push, and the baby lodged in the birth canal, causing trauma to her and wrecking my pelvic floor for months after. 

Meeting Robin was a true turning point for me from feeling scared of the birth to feeling brave and powerful. 

She helped me to write down my birth preferences (commonly known as a birth plan) so I understood what my options were in a hospital delivery room. And she didn’t just guide me; her prenatal meeting with my husband and I empowered him to help me through contractions, and gave me the knowledge of what to ask him to do. Having a doula didn’t replace my partner—it helped him to be a critical part of my coping strategies on delivery day. 

Reflections 

In the days leading up to birth, Robin was only a text away, giving me a sounding board for all the signs of impending labor. She was there for me despite the 4^th of July holiday when I went into labor. And her postpartum visit is imprinted in my memories as a highlight of the recuperation period. More than anyone, she was eager to reflect on the birth story with me and my family. In fact, she had meticulously written down the whole story in a commemorative document! And she brought me the most delicious postpartum healing goodies and a cookbook. We all laughed about the birth experience and how smoothly it had gone this time! It was only minutes from when I entered the delivery room to time of delivery. Baby Anneliese was born with a clean slide through the birth canal with my face and hands against the bedrest, not lying on my back. There were zero tears, and no complications. She was born with my husband and Robin by my side, coaching me through it. This labor story was something to be proud of. This time, I was empowered to give birth in the natural way that women around the world have for centuries, and it is something that I will treasure. 

Let Us Introduce Ourselves!

Hello Doulas of Arkansas! 

As the Doula Alliance of Arkansas (DA-AR) grows and expands, we want to provide this community with regular blog posts. Our goal at the DA-AR blog is to bring you state and local information applicable to doula practice, practical information, personal stories and perspectives from all kinds of folks involved in birth work, and promoting community well-being.

As the blog gets rolling, we, as your regular bloggers, would like to introduce ourselves!

Desiree Girard-Baxter is a birthworker in Central Arkansas. She’s a full-spectrum doula, advanced lactation counselor, yoga teacher, babywearing instructor, craft enthusiast… and now a happy blogger for the Doula Alliance of Arkansas. She is one of the doulas at Balanced Mama in Little Rock, and runs their yoga and postpartum programs, as well as serving as the executive director of Balanced Mama’s non-profit, Everyone Deserves a Doula. In her personal life, she’s got two mostly grown children, a few elderly dogs, and is married to her favorite person. She’s particularly attached to her large extended family and her lively bunch of nieces and nephews! She’s always ready to encourage and lend her enthusiastic support to the people around her!

Robin Mero Butler is a birth doula and breastfeeding counselor in Carroll County/NWA, She is a former journalist, a grandmother to 4 boys, and runs the gift shop for Mercy Hospital Berryville as an auxiliary volunteer. She is married to Kevin and they live in the woods with their animals, lots of flowers and a creek.

We, Robin and Desiree, had the pleasure of meeting in person for the first time at a community event open to DA-AR members, on Aug. 30. A group of doulas and clients met at the office of Balanced Mama for a day of learning, building community, and gathering resources!

The non-profit arm of Balanced Mama, Everyone Deserves a Doula, has been working for the past year on a childbirth education project, and opened their doors to share what they’ve created with their sister doulas of the Doula Alliance. 

A few pictures from the day…

Desiree (creator of the curriculum) being VERY excited about the project!

Everybody gets comfy by the end of the day! 

Desiree introducing the curriculum.

Everyone Deserves a Doula exists to connect growing families in Central Arkansas with resources, supplies, and support. Thanks to a grant from the Blue & You Foundation, Everyone Deserves a Doula created a Mobile Childbirth Education childbirth class in a box! The purpose  of the MCE is to support doulas across Arkansas to bring comprehensive, evidence-based childbirth and postpartum education to the people of their communities. Transportation, cost, availability, and awareness are all major barriers to pregnant folks in Arkansas. Everyone Deserves a Doula hopes that this class will help overcome some of those barriers.

The Mobile Childbirth Education box comes with everything you need to teach a childbirth class. Tactile teaching aids, slides, videos, take-home booklets with information, resources, and tools like birth and postpartum plan templates for participants. Everyone Deserves a Doula has also created a teacher edition of their Mobile Childbirth Education box to make teaching as easy as possible. The teacher edition includes instructions for using the teaching aids, suggested class discussion questions, and even snack and class set-up suggestions. The Mobile Childbirth Education box also includes things like nametags, pens, AV cords, and sign-in sheets. 

The Mobile Childbirth Education box is currently available for doulas in Arkansas to checkout at no cost! If you’re interested in bringing this class to your community, reach out to Everyone Deserves a Doula at EDaDoula@gmail.com or to Desiree directly at 501-952-8241.

Every year during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), we pause to reflect on the feeding journeys families take, and how our communities can do more to support them. This year’s theme, “Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future,” comes at a particularly meaningful time here in Arkansas.

Because this year, we’re celebrating more than awareness, we’re celebrating action.

Earlier this year, Arkansas passed a new law (ACT 627) that will require Medicaid to cover lactation services starting January 1, 2026. It’s a landmark win for families across the state, and especially for the many parents who’ve long been shut out of the care they need simply because of how they’re insured.

For those of us in private practice lactation care, this moment feels deeply personal. We’ve watched families struggle to pay out-of-pocket. We’ve heard the stories of feeding challenges that could have been eased with just a little more support. And we’ve worked tirelessly to fill in the gaps left by underfunded systems.

Now, Arkansas is finally stepping up to close one of those gaps. And it matters.

Beyond Slogans: What Families Really Need

As we honor this week, it’s also a time to reflect on how we talk about infant feeding in general, and how much language really does matter.

We often hear phrases like ‘breast is best’ or ‘fed is best,’ but both can miss the mark in meaningful ways. For some families, these slogans can feel dismissive, guilt-inducing, or overly simplistic in the face of complex feeding journeys. The truth is, feeding our babies isn’t about what’s best or ideal, it’s about what’s necessary. Babies need nourishment, full stop. 

How that happens will look different for every family. For some, it’s breastfeeding. For others, it’s pumping, donor milk, formula, or a combination of many approaches. And all of it is valid.

Let’s move away from ranking feeding methods and instead focus on supporting families with what they need, not just physically, but emotionally and logistically. Fed is necessary reminds us that no matter how we feed our babies, what matters most is that they are nourished, loved, and thriving; and that the people caring for them are supported, not shamed.

What the New Law Changes, and What It Doesn’t (Yet)

Starting in January 2026, Arkansas Medicaid will reimburse for outpatient lactation care meaning families can finally access private practice IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and CLC’s (Certified Lactation Counselors) without the financial strain. This is especially important in rural and underserved areas where hospital-based lactation care may be unavailable or hard to reach after birth.

But coverage alone isn’t the finish line.

As a mother who was on Medicaid in Arkansas with my sons, I know firsthand how hard it can be to access lactation support. I remember calling my local hospital, leaving message after message, desperately trying to get help. I had no idea what I was doing, and that helplessness stayed with me. That’s when I learned how few lactation consultants there were in our state, and it’s what inspired me to become one myself.

Starting a lactation practice outside of a hospital setting came with its own set of challenges. For years, insurance companies wouldn’t work directly with lactation consultants, which meant most of our patients had to pay out of pocket. Many couldn’t afford to, so we saw them pro bono, but that’s not sustainable when you’re trying to support your own family too. That’s why this new coverage is such a game-changer. It will make a real, lasting impact.

But coverage is just the beginning. We still need:

• Awareness — so families know this care exists
  
  

• Referrals — from pediatricians, OBs, doulas, and midwives to lactation experts in the community
  
  

• Workplace protections and paid leave — so feeding goals aren’t crushed by logistical barriers
  
  

• Cultural change — where every feeding choice is met with support, not shame
  
  

A Culture of Support, Not Shame

In private practice, we often work with families well after those first few postpartum days, when hospital support has ended, and reality has set in. We see the late-night Google searches, the tears, the confusion, and the fierce love behind every decision.

Whether a family is trying to re-latch after a rough start, navigate pumping at work, or wean in a way that feels right for them, the need is the same: they deserve informed, compassionate care.

What You Can Do This Week

Even though the Medicaid coverage doesn’t kick in until 2026, this is the perfect time to prepare:

• If you’re a provider, start building referral relationships with community-based IBCLCs.

• If you’re a parent, reach out early and ask questions. There’s no wrong time to get support.

• If you’re a community leader or policymaker, keep the momentum going: expand coverage, improve access, and protect time and space for feeding and pumping.

• And no matter who you are, be a soft place to land for the families in your life.

Mark the Moment with Us

 World Breastfeeding Week 2025
️ August 1–7
 Theme: Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future
 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #ArkansasBreastfeeds #MedicaidMatters #HopefulFutures

Let’s celebrate this milestone. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s remember that feeding journeys are never one-size-fits-all, but support should be.

And come January 1, 2026, Arkansas will be one step closer to making that a reality. 

Authored By: Sondra Rodocker, IBCLC - Owner of Arkansas Breastfeeding Clinic