In Bloom Doula Services

Unlike my blog, I never considered starting a YouTube channel. I didn’t even realize being a “youtuber” was a thing until I was about 25 weeks pregnant with Holden. I was searching Instagram for nursery decor inspiration and came upon the profile of a woman my exact same age and having a boy only two months before me. I started following her and then clicked on the link in her bio and found out she posted videos about her pregnancy. I started watching her videos regularly and then found Aaryn Williams’ channel through her, and more from there.

I was hooked. I started watching videos while I nursed, or pumped at work. I got lots of product ideas and tips from these videos and loved hearing other mom’s experiences. Almost a year into viewing I realized that these women although great moms and entitled to their own opinions and choices just don’t have that much in common with me.

I kept hearing the same things over and over that started to bother me. Few took child birth classes, or were educated about pregnancy and labor, none had midwives and were loyal disciples of the OBs they saw. They never questioned their doctor and even said things like, “I’m just going to do what my doctor says.” I come from the train of thought that doctors are too hands on when it comes to pregnancy and I question EVERYTHING. Needless to say we had very different birth experiences, and I wished I had more like minded women to watch videos of.

Many were afraid of their body. They were very pro epidural, often times mocking women who chose to go without them. They didn’t want their husbands to watch the birth and didn’t even want to see the placenta. I repeatedly heard women use any other word for female genitalia than vagina. I mean “down there,” “my area,” “the hole.” Why were women who were trying to be honest and open not saying the word vagina? I about lost it when I noticed the same trend for the word tampon.

I thought that it was scary for there to only be one kind of voice being heard so loudly on YouTube. It seemed to me that some moms were actually using YouTube as their free child birth education, and they may be getting biases or inaccurate, filtered information. Where were the women who were empowered and taking control of every aspect of their birth experience? Where were the women who weren’t consumed with “getting their body back” and wearing make up? Where were the moms who didn’t sleep train or convinced by a pediatrician to turn to formula? Where were the women unashamed of the “grossness” of the natural bodily functions? Where were the working moms?

So I figured I could be the mom I was wanting to see on YouTube in hopes that someone else wants to hear from someone like me. I decided I could do make a channel. I could make videos that document the ins and outs of a realistic, uncensored pregnancy. I could provide a down to earth point of view that isn’t consumed with appearances and doesn’t prioritize putting on makeup during labor. I debated this for a while. I think it would be a useful addition to my blog as another medium to reach people, but it also has a downside too. I worry about exposing my son on the internet and don’t ever want to exploit him for views. I will be very limited when it comes to the types of videos and content I choose to share. Like my blog everything will be directly related to topics pertaining to motherhood.

So here I am. Pregnant with baby #2 and launching a channel to coincide with my blog. This way you can follow my pregnancy updates without me blowing up all of my various social media accounts and I can give you an honest, open and matter of fact glimpse at pregnancy. postpartum and all its glory just without all the nonsense that ended up getting on my nerves. I hope to regularly update videos covering update, hauls, must haves, and a few vlogs as I prepare for my new addition.

Be sure to subscribe and follow along!

-Alexa