What is the Maternity Conveyor Belt?
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! I’m Kayla, and I am a childbirth enthusiast who partners with families desiring to experience Peaceful & Powerful birth.
What started as a curiosity in my young adult years—talking to anyone and everyone about childbirth—quickly turned into a calling with each passing year. I wanted to unravel the mystery of birth, and that curiosity laid the foundation for my business: My Birth Choices, where I support women like you in making empowered decisions throughout their individualized journey.
Prior to establishing myself in birth work I kept hearing the same themes from women around me: labor is painful, birth is terrifying, and most are just glad it’s over. Yet, occasionally, I’d meet someone whose experience was different—her eyes would light up as she described birth with joy and triumph. She’d talk about labor as a journey she navigated with focus, perseverance, and strength. These stories always caught my attention, making me wonder: how can some women find peace and power in birth, while so many miss it?
The Conveyor Belt Maternity Experience
As I dove deeper into birth work, the answer became clear. Many women feel disempowered because modern-day maternity care often follows a one-size-fits-all path, perpetuating our cultural disconnection from the experiences and possibilities within childbirth. I call this the Maternity Conveyor Belt, and it goes like this:
Positive pregnancy test, call the clinic/hospital
Routine appointments/labs/care plan
Hospital-provided education book and birth ed class
Labor starts: call for permission to come in
Labor & deliver within specific policy/procedure, which are often not evidence-based
Told when to push
Delivery
Discharge home, solo, with a follow-up once in 6 weeks.
Does this sound familiar? Maybe it’s reflective of your own story, or one you’ve heard before. This is the standard script for maternity care in our culture—one that often leaves women feeling disconnected from one of the most impactful experiences of a woman’s life—the process of birth itself.
Birthing Differently
Let’s use Amy’s journey as one example of birthing differently (notice it starts in the first trimester!):
When Amy and her partner John found out they were expecting, they reached out to a local doula—someone they had connected with through My Birth Choices. Instead of following the conveyor belt, they chose to explore their options, interviewing care providers who resonated with their values. They selected a provider who offered them choices at every visit, from testing options to appointment schedules.
When labor began, they felt confident and prepared, recognizing the stages of labor and knowing when to call their provider. They labored peacefully, surrounded by their doula’s support and the respect of their care team. Amy’s body knew when to push, and everyone, including Amy herself, followed labor’s lead. After their baby was born, they weren’t sent home solo. Instead, Amy, John, and baby had follow-up appointments on day 1, day 3, day 7, at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and six weeks. They also had direct access to their provider and doula throughout their first six weeks of adjusting to life with baby.
Do you see the difference? Amy’s journey was personalized and intentional, shaped by preparation and support.
This intentional journey is for YOU, too, mama! I founded MBC because I know that you are incredibly equipped to make empowering, personalized choices for one of the most transformational experiences of your life, but only when you have the full scope of choices!
Greater preparation and greater personalization are directly correlated with the level of peace and power throughout labor, delivery, and postpartum. I’ve seen it again and again, even when the actual birth story diverged from the original plan.
My Birth Choices: Personalization and Preparation for Your Unique Journey
Your story doesn’t have to look exactly like Amy’s to be powerful and peaceful, but it can be just as personal. At My Birth Choices, I help you build a journey that’s tailored to you—focusing on personalized care and preparation for pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Here’s how we can partner together through each trimester:
First Trimester: Join My Birth Choices and start by exploring the resources available through my blogs. I also offer 90-minute one-on-one consultations, where we’ll discuss care models, providers, insurance options, and more. If you want ongoing support, consider my Pregnancy Partnership program (currently in beta-phase!). This gives you personalized guidance from a birth doula at an affordable price, with the option to add in-person doula services later on.
Second Trimester: Continue with individualized consultations, shifting the focus toward advocacy and birth preparation. The second trimester is also a great time to book Pregnancy Partnership. Remember, with this option you are paired with an experienced birth doula who is connected to the birth world, the process of birth, and who desires to know you and your partner as you plan for your individual birth experience. Your Pregnancy Partner also provides a postpartum visit to process your birth experience with you, and she remains in communication with you for up to two months after baby’s birthdate.
Third Trimester: In these final weeks, individualized consultations can help fine-tune your birth plan and get you ready for postpartum. While in-person doula services may be limited if you haven’t booked in earlier trimesters, my goal is to ensure every expectant mother has the support she needs, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Mama, your birth experience doesn’t have to feel like something that happens to you. You have the power to make choices that resonate with your values, support your needs, and guide you toward a birth experience filled with peace and power. Let’s walk this journey together.
Here for you,
