Orchid & Olive Perinatal and my approach to the childbearing year
Hi there, I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Fanny, the founder of Orchid & Olive Perinatal and I’m passionate about supporting families through the childbearing year (i.e, pregnancy, birth and postpartum). Before anything else, I thought I would introduce myself and explain why you should keep coming back to this blog!
In this post, you'll discover who I am and why I’m so passionate about my work, how I blend research with the beautiful messiness of real life, and what you can expect from this blog as your companion through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Happy reading!
My Journey to Doula and Babywearing Support: Two Countries, Two Births, One Mission
My story began in 2016, in Nîmes, France. After a positive experience of a high-risk vaginal breech birth, I was struggling postpartum despite the medical care I received. I was exhausted from sleepless nights and overwhelmed with body changes, breastfeeding challenges, and emotions. I was confused about my baby's needs and my expectations of "bouncing back" and returning to my regular life, with a baby fitting in, somehow. After some encouragement from friends and family and more out of despair than anything else, I tried babywearing, and my world shifted a 2nd time. I felt like living again and I actually LOVED those snuggly moments. It’s also when I realized that parents need more than medical care. How wonderful it would have been to have real-life support during that time, someone to normalize the transformation, help me understand my baby, tune out the noise and trust myself again!
Fast forward to 2019, we just moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the US and found out I was pregnant. I had to figure out how to navigate the US healthcare system, prepare to welcome a new life while losing my bearings and not being able to communicate in my native language. The birth was low risk and straightforward, but the staff kept interrupting with charting questions and pushing interventions. My wishes were overlooked. I felt rushed and dismissed.
And I started to wonder. I wish someone were there to walk me through the process, a comforting and trusting person who knew the system and had my best interests in mind. And also, how come this 2nd postpartum felt easier despite less medical and family support, a toddler to care for and a “needier” baby? That’s when I discovered the word “doula” and it all clicked in. There IS a gentler way to welcome a new life into this world! A way to be that real-life person, helping prepare new parents and walking alongside them, building confidence and giving them the space to be listened and respected in their choices. That’s how and why I became a doula and a babywearing consultant.
Evidence Meets Human Experience: My Approach to Doula and Babywearing Support
I come from a science and research background, so I deeply value data and evidence-based care. I pursued training and certification as a doula not because it's required (it's not, doula work is unregulated), but because education matters to me. I want to offer my clients the best, most informed support possible, and I continuously seek out additional training to expand my skills and tools.
But the childbearing year is so much more than numbers and statistics. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are profoundly human experiences. Every family is different. Every baby is unique. Every birth story unfolds in its own way. Yes, evidence is important, but I believe our intuition and personal journey matter just as much.
That's why my approach blends research with the fluidity of real life. I'll share the latest evidence on topics like optimal birth positions, postpartum care, babywearing and infant development, and I'll also honor your instincts, your family's values, and the beautiful complexity of your lived experience. You're not a number. You're a whole person navigating one of life's biggest transitions, and you deserve support that sees you that way.
What to Expect from This Blog: Education, Support, and Answers about the Childbearing Year
This blog is here to make pregnancy, birth and postpartum feel more familiar and more manageable. I know that moms and dads are navigating a flood of information, much of it conflicting, some of it fearmongering. It can be hard to cut through the noise and make a choice for yourself.
Here, you can expect:
Evidence-based education on pregnancy, birth, postpartum and babywearing topics. I'll talk about the data, explain your options, help you ask questions to your care providers and make informed decisions.
Practical tips and tools you can actually use. From labor comfort measures to postpartum recovery strategies to babywearing techniques, I'll share real-life solutions that have helped my clients (and me).
Answers to the questions you're actually asking. What's normal? What's not? How do I navigate decisions that feel overwhelming? I'm here to address your concerns with honesty, compassion, and clarity.
You're Not Alone in This
My experiences in France and the US shaped my approach to the childbearing year and showed me that parents need nurturing to be able to grow their family and thrive. I’ve become a doula and a babywearing consultant because I've been where you are, and I know how transformative it is to have the right support at the right time. Here you’ll find education around pregnancy, birth and postpartum, and real-life experience. A place, that doesn’t have all the answers but I hope, will help you find YOUR answers, the ones that feel right to you.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for trusting me with your time. I can't wait to share this journey with you.
Love and strength to you!
Ready to learn more? Visit my website at www.orchidoliveperinatal.com to explore my services, and follow along on Instagram @orchidoliveperinatal and LinkedIn for tips, evidence-based insights, and encouragement as you navigate your childbearing year.
