Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences. For the majority of birthing women, these needs are not met. Most women today birth in the hospital where they are attended by nurse. The nurse meets the couple that day, typically knowing little to nothing about their birthing wishes, goals and past. The nurse is attending many other couples as well, and may go off the clock during your birth, meaning you will get a new nurse and have to start forming a relationship all over again. Doulas can fill this gap that is missing in modern birth but they are only utilized by 3% of birthing women! When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a:

31% decrease in the use of Pitocin
28% decrease in the risk of C-section
12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
25% decrease in length of labor
40% decrease in forceps deliveries
60% decrease in use of epidural pain medication
Reduced incidences of maternal fever
Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression


Why are doulas so effective?
There are 3 main reasons why we think doulas are so effective. The first reason is the “harsh environment” theory. In most developed countries, ever since birth moved out of the home and into the hospital, women have been giving birth in conditions that can often be described as harsh. In the hospital, laboring women are frequently submitted to institutional routines, high intervention rates, personnel who are strangers, lack of privacy, bright lighting, and needles. Most of us would have a hard time dealing with these conditions when we’re feeling our best. But women in labor to deal with these harsh conditions when they are in their most vulnerable state. These harsh conditions may slow down a woman’s labor and decrease the woman’s self-confidence. It is thought that a doula “buffers” this harsh environment by providing continuous support and companionship which promotes the mother’s self-esteem.

The third reason that doulas are effective is because doulas are a form of pain relief. With continuous support, women are less likely to request epidurals or pain medication. Why are women with doulas less likely to request pain medications? Well, women are less likely to request pain medications when they have a doula because they just don’t need an epidural as much! Women who have a doula are statistically more likely to feel less pain when a doula is present. Furthermore, by avoiding epidural anesthesia, women may avoid many medical interventions that often go along with an epidural, including Pitocin augmentation and continuous electronic fetal monitoring.

Hodnett, E. D. (2002). “Pain and women’s satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 186(5 Suppl Nature): S160-172.
Hodnett, E. D., S. Gates, et al. (2012). “Continuous support for women during childbirth.” Cochrane database of systematic reviews: CD003766.
Hofmeyr, G. J., V. C. Nikodem, et al. (1991). “Companionship to modify the clinical birth environment: effects on progress and perceptions of labour, and breastfeeding.” British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 98(8): 756-764.

I am so excited to announce I will hosting a free childbirth class at the Norman Public Library Central! It will be Saturday May 14th 1:30-4:30 PM in room A/B. I am partnering with some lactation consultants and midwives in the metro area to bring Norman a fantastic FREE class covering all aspects of childbirth. Participants are welcome to bring along one support person who will learn how best to support their laboring partner. Spots are limited! If you would like to attend please register by calling 405-928-1967 or emailing me at [email protected]!

Looking for a place to take your date on valentines day? Here are a few date ideas in the metro area.

1. Boulevard Steakhouse - Edmond OK
If you are looking for a great steakhouse, Boulevard has you covered. Everything is delicious but I recommend the filet and green chile mac. And don't skip the cheesecake for dessert!

2. Koto Japanese Steakhouse- Norman OK
From the outside it doesn't look like much, but I promise you will not find a better hibachi restaurant in Oklahoma. It's a fun dining experience because the food is cooked in front of you, and the cooks are funny and entertaining. The food though is amazing. The fried rice is the best I've ever had and their sushi is great too!

3. Whodunit Dinner Theater "Final Idol" at Cattlemen's Steakhouse and Ted's Escondido North (1309 S Agnew & 6900 N May) - OKC
An exciting voice & talent show with a murder mystery twist. I wont give away any more of the details, but its fun! I recommend attending the show at Cattlemen's! 

4. Wine & Chocolate Pairing Class at Myriad Botanical Gardens Terrace Room - OKC
Features an exploration of the many flavors of wine and chocolate led by Joshua Yates, manager of Broadway Wine Merchants.

5. Cheevers Cafe- OKC 
Cheevers boasts a commitment to loacl and seasonal ingredients, and boy is it evident in their yummy food! To start, try the homemade rosemary-and-thyme-scented dinner rolls and roasted chicken and pepper jack strudel drizzled with a balsamic reduction. The Cheever’s chicken-fried steak is an Oklahoma staple. Make sure to get dessert, I highly recommend the zesty strawberry rhubarb "pot pie". Or since valentines is on a Sunday this year, try Cheevers Sunday brunch! It has all of the weekday favorites along with omelettes and croissant french toast.

Most importantly of all, have an oxytocin filled weekend! We will see you in November, Oklahoma!

I've been keeping some big news under wraps and I am finally ready to unveil it!

Miranda Jones Birth Services is now.... Sooner State Doula!

I really wanted a name that represented my home of Oklahoma. Unfortunately many of the great Oklahoma name options are already taken by other doulas in the area. One day while brainstorming I thought of Sooner State Doula. Since I am based out of Norman, I thought it was a perfect fit!

Thanks for all of your support. I look forward to serving you in 2016!

As many of you already know, I am a co-director of Oklahomans for Vaccine and Health Choice (OVHC-PAC). As a parent and a doula, the issue of parental freedom is very important to me. Yesterday was a big day for parental freedom in Oklahoma! 

Back in 2015, Senator Ervin Yen introduced SB830, SB830 is a bill that would take away Oklahoma's religious AND personal vaccine exemptions, leaving only medical exemptions This bill would extend not only to public schools, but charter and private schools as well.. Parents would be forced to vaccinate their children or home school. Because of SB830, OVHC-PAC was born, 

SB830 was assigned to the health and human services committee but Senator Standridge, the committee chair, publicly said he would not allow the bill to be heard.

Just a week ago Senator Yen tried again to take away parents rights with a new bill, SB1478. This bill would only take away personal exemptions. Make no mistake, Yen has not changed his mind. He is just adopting a new strategy.  Instead of trying to knock out both exemptions at once, he is trying to get rid of them one at a time. He thinks maybe he can remove personal exemptions first and in a few years OVHC might die down and he will be able to take away religious as well. Too bad because we are not going anywhere, and we are taking the offense..

Here we are holding OUR new bill, House Bill 3016 (HB3016). This bill is an informed consent bill. It requires that health care providers who administer vaccines obtain full informed consent. They must tell parents about the benefits, the risks, and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It is called the "Parental Rights Immunization Act". The bill was authored by Representative Grau and Senator Dahm will serve as the Senate Author. HB3016 will be heard in the Public Health Commitee next Wednesday.

Yesterday we unveiled this legislation at our first Health Liberty Rally. This was held at the state capital. We spent about an hour listening to speakers, including OVHC co-director Liza Greve, Representative Grau and Senator Dahm, John Birch society member Bob Donnahoo, and president of the Oklahoma Conservative PAC John Michener. 

Liza gave an incredibly powerful speech which summarized our 2016 email campaign where we sent hundreds of emails each week to every Oklahoma legislator educating on many faucets of vaccine education, She ended by showing the vaccine package inserts vs the vaccine information sheets that are passed out at the doctors office. Then, they tossed them in the trash, to represent the documents Senior CDC scientist William Thompson testified the CDC threw in the trash to cover up a significant correlation between autism and vaccination in African American boys. 

After the rally portion, we split into teams. Each team visited 5 legislators to discuss concerns and introduce our bill. If you missed out on the rally, you can still watch what happened above.

​Thank you to all who came out to support parental freedoms!

BIG THANK YOU to Senator Dahm, and Representative Grau for being such amazing warriors for our cause! The support and guidance you are giving our leadership team is so deeply appreciated!
Oklahoma is making history!

I believe that parents are divinely appointed the sole responsibility and knowledge needed to care for their children. Because of this, my goal as a doula is to give you the necesarry informed consent needed to make decisions regarding your pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.


I believe that a partners role is invaluable to the laboring woman. The intimate relationship they share is very important to birth.


I believe that the mind body connection during labor is so much deeper than we will ever realize. Because of this a woman needs to feel totally comfortable wherever she is laboring.


I believe that prenatal preparations, labor, and the postpartum period are all three equally important.


I believe that above all else, the laboring woman must feel respected, in control, and supported.