like the willow strong and unbreaking, women must also transform during childbirth and surrender to each surge as they birth both themselves and their child.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. My soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14

Do you dream of having the autonomous birth YOU desire? A warm postpartum experience that focuses on your healing and recovery? Candid memories of your motherhood journey captured through documentary photography?

 

If any of these resonate with your hope for this sacred transformation into motherhood, you've come to the right place! Meaningful Christ centered doula support in Lexington, Kentucky and surrounding areas.

As a doula of two years, soon to be home birth midwife, and documentary motherhood photographer I have a deep understanding of how to help guide mamas to have better experiences that honor this special transition.

I’m so glad you’re here!

Hi! I’m Kendra, a Christian doula and documentary photographer.

I have always had a deep appreciation for the childbearing process, as there are few things more beautiful to me than a woman becoming a mother. After my own pregnancy and birth experiences, I gained an even deeper love and understanding of what the transition into motherhood could look like when a woman is surrounded by unconditional love and support. 

I believe birth is less about making babies and more about making mothers. As a mother myself, and current midwifery student, I have learned the importance of empowering women to believe in their own strength and to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies. Walking alongside other women and offering them the love and support they need during this very significant time in their lives is a great passion of mine!

what mamas have to say about working with me

“Kendra was so caring and helpful in my postpartum journey. She was able to offer me advice and hope as I went through those first few weeks after giving birth to my firstborn son. Kendra is so down to earth and compassionate. She was easy to talk to and because she is a mom herself it was easy for us to relate. A postpartum doula is a great way to relieve the anxiety of planning for life after delivery. I highly recommend it as a “push gift” for any momma who feels overwhelmed. Bending willow is rooted in holistic care; totally focusing on caring for the whole person and I would recommend them for anyone looking to add a doula to their team."

Grace Laufenburger

“Kendra has been so helpful, and such a source of wisdom throughout my pregnancy
She always communicates, and has a passion that is inspiring, I wouldn’t have anyone else as my supporting doula as long as she’s around,
Her caring spirit and kindness is always a comfort and I love having her around!
I highly recommend her services!!!!” 

Sevyn Shock

FREE CHECKLIST

Know all of your options for birth with our extensive birth preferences checklist with labor and birth options every expecting mama should explore 

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offerings created with intention

community

A sacred gathering place for mothers to connect, share, and support one another on the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Here, you’ll find a nurturing space filled with wisdom, encouragement, and a sisterhood that honors every step of motherhood. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of this transformative season together.

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postpartum doula support + overnight care 

Our postpartum doula care is rooted in the knowing that postpartum is a physiologic process with a specific design for women’s needs after birth. It is our goal to turn away from societal norms and back to traditions that create sacred postpartum experiences.

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birth doula support

Doulas are knowledgeable in all things childbirth providing emotional, physical, and informational support during the transformation into motherhood. If you’re looking for a sister to walk alongside you on this sacred journey, help you explore your options, take the time to listen, and connect deeply with you—you need a doula!

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documentary photography

Unposed timeless images captured through candid moments along with irth documentation through photography and film.

Our passion is in capturing the raw beauty and strength of your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. What an honor to tell such meaningful stories through documentary photography.

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birth documentation

We specialize in capturing the raw, authentic moments of labor, birth, and the first hours of your new little one’s life. Our style ensures that intimate and powerful moments are documented while the undisturbed birth space is preserved, allowing you to relive the beauty and strength of your birthing experience for years to come. Trust us to document this sacred chapter with sensitivity and artistry, creating a timeless treasure for your family.

learn more

postpartum belly binding

Postpartum belly binding is a practice in many different cultures that is found to be very beneficial for women who have just given birth. Pregnancy and birth make many changes to a mother's body.

learn more

community

A sacred, nurturing space where mothers come together to share, learn, and support one another through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Here, you are seen, heard, and held in the beauty of motherhood.

the transformation

Step into a community where you’ll go from feeling uncertain and alone to deeply supported and empowered. Through shared wisdom, heartfelt conversations, and unwavering encouragement, you’ll gain confidence, trust in your intuition, and the connection you’ve been craving on this sacred journey.
our journey together

Our community is designed for mothers to gather, share, and embrace the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum together.

By joining our list, you'll receive updates on upcoming community events, circles, and gatherings—both virtual and in-person—where you can find encouragement, wisdom, and meaningful connections with like-minded mothers.

Sign up today and be part of a nurturing space where your journey is honored and celebrated.

postpartum doula care | night nanny services

Like pregnancy and birth, postpartum is a transition that should be full of warmth, love and meaningful support. Although we are experienced and knowledgeable in all things newborn, we focus on holding mother’s through deeply nourishing practices that honor the process of healing and recovery.

the transformation

Postpartum doula support helps families have a smooth transition into parenthood​. Offering day-time and overnight support to ensure this delicate phase of your journey is filled with nourishment, warmth and understanding, traditional practices that help facilitate a smooth recovery, support that focuses on the mother during a time when the attention is often on the baby, and experienced care for your new little one so you can tend to your healing body and rest. 

Women have a physiological design for postpartum. When we work with women during this vulnerable time our focus is on the mother's recovery through practices that support what our bodies truly need after giving birth. Postpartum should be a time that is centered around rest, warmth, and nourishment. Our goal is to hold mothers during this transition so they can hold their baby and heal. Through postpartum doula support you can have a helping hand that understands what the postpartum experience entails and who cares deeply for the mother's wellbeing while carrying knowledge and experience surrounding all things newborn.
our journey together

Overnight doula support or night nannying, is an invaluable service that helps families get the rest they desperately need during the postpartum period. This offering provides new parents with experienced overnight care for their newborn, allowing them to recharge and recover during those first few months when sleep is scarce. Rest is vital for mental and physical well-being, as it helps reduce the risk of postpartum depression, aids in the mothers recovery, supports better bonding with your newborn, enables parents to respond more effectively to their baby’s needs, and positively impacts relationships when welcoming a new addition. This support can be for both bottle and breastfeeding mamas, offering peace of mind knowing your baby is cared for while you sleep. Available from the early days after birth up to three months, overnight doula support makes a huge difference—don’t miss out on this essential resource.

Daytime postpartum doula support offers a holistic approach to healing by focusing on the mother while still caring for the newborn when needed. Our thoughtfully curated packages are designed to nurture women as they recover from their birth journey, offering a range of services such as light housekeeping, meal prep, breastfeeding support, and more. The emotional support we provide is equally important—having someone to be a listening ear, hear your birth story, and hold space for your feelings during this vulnerable time. Our goal is to support the mother as a whole, ensuring she feels cared for, empowered, and nourished as she transitions into this new chapter of life.

schedule your meet and great

birth doula support

We believe that birth is a sacred and transformative experience. That pregnancy is a time when women deserve to be honored and held through intentional support. Our birth doula support offering is meaningfully created to love and serve women along their journey into motherhood.  

the transformation

We hold a deep understanding for a woman's needs during the motherhood continuum. Too often societal norms get in the way of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum being peaceful experiences. Our hearts are centered around helping women embrace their pregnancy as a special time that focuses on the mother and her journey as a whole. As birth unfolds our role is in ensuring your space is filled with love, encouragement, information for decision making, and gentle hands-on support. Our goal is in helping you prepare for a postpartum experience that is focused on the mother's healing through a unique approach to 4th trimester care. When you work with us, you will experience the shift from fear to confidence as you get ready to welcome new life.

our journey together

Birth doula support begins with prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy journey. These visits will include discussions around nourishment, your dream for birth, the role of the doula, exploring all of your options, processing any past experiences, topics that are coming up for you, and ways of celebrating this transformative journey for the mother. The doulas presence during birth providing physical and informational support as you birth your baby. Professional documentary photography of birth and those first postpartum moments as you meet your little one. Support in the early hours of postpartum until your family is ready for quiet time as well as a postpartum visit with your doula to close your circle of care.

 Research studies have shown that having a doula on your birth support team reduces the risk on cesarean sections, shortens the length of labor, reduces the need for pain medications such as the epidural, improves communication, leads to better breastfeeding outcomes, less mental health issues, and takes pressure away from birth partners helping them enjoy the experience more.

schedule your meet and great

birth documentation

birth photography helps you remember the little moments during your birth that you spend in your partners arms and meeting your little one for the first time. these moments will be one of the most special days, don’t let these memories fade.

the transformation

We specialize in capturing the raw, authentic moments of labor, birth, and the first hours of your new little one’s life. Our style ensures that intimate and powerful moments are documented while the undisturbed birth space is preserved, allowing you to relive the beauty and strength of your birthing experience for years to come. Trust us to document this sacred chapter with sensitivity and artistry, creating a timeless treasure for your family.our journey together

our journey together

Birth documentation is an intimate journey that begins with thoughtful communication as you near your due date. Throughout this time, the photographer works closely with you, ensuring they understand your vision and preferences for your birth experience. When the time comes, they honor the sacred space of your birth, blending into the background while capturing the raw, powerful moments leading up to the birth of your baby. The result is a collection of stunning, timeless memories that tell the unique story of your birth, preserving the emotion, love, and strength of the moment for years to come.

schedule your meet and great

documentary photography

Our passion is in capturing the raw beauty and strength of motherhood through unposed moments. It is our mission to take beautiful timeless candid photos. What an honor to tell such meaningful stories of love through documentary photography. 

 

the transformation

Unposed timeless images captured through candid moments. Our passion is in capturing the raw beauty and strength of your motherhood journey. What an honor to tell such meaningful stories through documentary photography. We focus on documenting pregnancy, postpartum, and family photography. We use prompts to create real authentic memories that can be documented and cherished for a lifetime. 

 our journey together

 A documentary photography session is all about capturing the essence of your life in a relaxed and authentic way. We specialize in documenting motherhood through maternity, newborn, and family. We use prompts to create real authentic memories that can be documented and cherished for a lifetime. These lifestyle sessions take place in the comfort of your home or outdoors, allowing the photographer to document real, unscripted moments that tell your unique story. 

investment $175

includes your beautiful family, one hour session (in home or at an outdoor location), candid moments, 75 hand edited images, private online gallery, and access to high resolution images for prints

Schedule your 1-hour documentary photography session. You will be able to choose the day and time that works for you and complete your booking once the session is scheduled. Would you like to secure your session before your baby is born? Simply book a date close to your estimated due date and complete booking. We will confirm the session and change days as needed. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to get in touch!

book your session

postpartum belly binding

Postpartum belly binding is a practice in many different cultures that is found to be very beneficial for women who have just given birth. Pregnancy and birth make many changes to a mother's body. Binding is comfortable, supportive, and helps everything go back to its pre-pregnancy state as it recovers.

the transformation

Traditional binding helps your uterus and belly shrink back to pre-pregnancy size, supports and accommodates for relaxed muscles, holds the mother during such a vulnerable transition, promotes proper body alignment, pulls in separated abdominal muscles (helping in the healing of diastasis recti), gives the mother time to focus and reflect on how she is feeling, the long traditional wrap is tailored to your body, supports postpartum organs as they heal, helps relieve pain, and it feels good!

our journey together

When you book postpartum belly binding you are investing in a nourishing visit where you have the opportunity to relax, tend to yourself, return to warmth, and begin a new daily practice that will radically benefit your postpartum experience. During your session we will chat about binding, answering any questions you may have followed by a womb massage. We will then spend time wrapping your abdomen as you learn how to use this simple yet transformative practice.

investment $175

includes binding session, organic muslin bind, womb massage, and tutorial videos

 

“It was so much help learning how to do the binding and the massage was amazing and relaxing."

- Crystal

 Schedule your belly binding session below. You will be able to choose the day and time that works for you and complete your booking once the session is booked! Would you like to secure belly binding before your baby is born? Simply book a date close to your estimated due date and complete booking. We will confirm the session and change days as needed.  If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to get in touch!

book postpartum belly binding

we have been called to walk with women along their journey into motherhood.

for this is a sacred transformation in which women deserve to be held and celebrated. we will help guide you through a deeply nourishing experience that is centered in trusting your ability, intuition, and the divinity of it all. 

 

blog: under the willow

Honoring the sacredness + divinity from pregnancy to postpartum.

In this space, we celebrate the sacredness of every birthing experience, recognizing the immense power that resides within each mother and her unique path.

embracing birth: overcoming fear and welcoming joy

Dec 16, 2024

honoring the first moments of breastfeeding

Dec 12, 2024

rice congee + returning to warmth

Sep 16, 2024