This Startup Is Helping Make Life Easier for New Working Parents

Popular Irish Baby Names For Boys

• Daniel — Whether you choose this as your son's first or middle name, it's sure to have a lasting impression on anyone who knows him. It's powerful meaning makes it one of the most popular Irish baby names for boys!
• Aiden — Literally meaning "born of fire," Aiden is another strong name for a little boy! Since we know boys usually have bursts of powerful energy, we think this is a great choice to name your bundle of joy. (Pronounced Ay-den)
• Liam — We're so not thinking about the actor Liam Hemsworth, but we do love the sound of this name for a little boy. (Pronounced Li-am)
• Dylan — Raise your hand if you went to school with someone named Dylan and can remember their electric personality? With a name that means either "flash of lightening" or "loyal," your little boy will grow up to be a fun friend to all. (Pronounced Dil-an)
• Sean — I'm personally biased about Sean because my youngest nephew's name is spelled 'Shaun' and he's been nothing short of a gift to my sister. He's got the deepest dimples ever and his charming ways are too cute to resist. While I can't guarantee that your little one will have deep dimples, he's sure to put a smile on everyone's face. (Pronounced Shawn)

More Irish Baby Names For Boys

• Cillian — In the case of this name, we're so thinking about the talented actor Cillian Murphy. He stole our hearts with his magnetic performance in as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer so we're positive your little one do the same. (Pronounced Kil-e-an)
• Colman — We love actor Colman Domingo too so we're really biased about this name. Colman rolls off the tongue and means "little dove." How precious is that?? (Pronounced Cole-man)
• Davin — Find yourself drawn to deer lately? It could be because your little one is letting you know he'd like for his name to be Davin.

Popular Irish Names For Girls

• Siobhan — Siobhan means "God is gracious" and we can imagine that's how you felt when you first found out you were having a girl! (Pronounced Shiv-awn)
• Anna — Give your baby girl a name that celebrates her "radiance" with the name Anna!
• Saoirse — We can't help but think about actress Saoirse Ronan when we see this name! Given the roles she seems to play, we can imagine that her name — Saoirse means "freedom, liberty" — is unconsciously guiding her. If you want to your little girl a strong Irish baby name, we recommend you choose this for her! (Pronounced Sear-sha)
• Ciara — If your little girl was born with brown eyes and brunette hair, naming her Ciara is extremely fitting! (Pronounced Si-erra)
• Maeve — If your little girl stole your heart as soon as you heard her heartbeat for the first time, she's placed you under her loving spell. It'll make sense to name her Maeve as a result. (Pronounced May-v)

More Irish Baby Names For Girls

• Cara — Remove an 'i' from Ciara and you have Cara! She'll be a friend to all, and that's a comforting thought! (Pronounced Car-a)
• Fiona — Despite Fiona's curse in Shrek, she proved to have a beautiful spirit inside and out. It's one of the reasons we think you should consider it for your little girl!
• Nora — While Nora is one of the more classic Irish baby names, it actually has Latin roots! It means "honor" and is a bold name that people will love saying.

So, what is a doula?

Dr. Inglis said, "A doula assists in providing education, emotional, and physical support before, during, and after childbirth. They can also offer pain management techniques during labor." However, she wants to be clear that doulas are not medical professionals who can give you medical advice.

Lonix said, "A doula's job is to act as a barrier between moms and their providers. We're actually trying to develop relationships with them so we're considered a part of a mom's care team team instead of being listed as visitors." She said The Doula Network has professional referrals for the provider so everyone is able to be on the same page should mom need additional resources to navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

You can easily come across people who've shared their experiences with having a doula present during delivery, but it doesn't always mean you understand how one would fit into your own life. There could be several reasons why this is true for you, but Dr. Inglis explained that the medical industry contributes to that. She said, "We've been focused on physical, social, and behavioral health [in the medial industry]. We haven't always done a great job about diving into other areas of maternal health."

One of the ways Lonix helps moms who have doubts or concerns about working with a doula is to talk to them in person. She said, "We meet a lot of people who know what a doula is but have apprehension about it. The first thing I say to a mom is, 'Well, let’s meet.' A lot of doubt can be eliminated when they see you and feel the care we have for them."

According to a report by Elevance Health, moms who work with a doula have a lower prevalence of c-sections, higher chance of delivering vaginally after receiving a c-section (VBAC), and are shown to have a better postpartum experience.

How can moms find reputable doulas in their area?

It goes without saying that finding a reputable doula isn't always a stress-free or inexpensive task. In fact, Dr. Inglis said there's a reason for this. "Most doulas have never worked with an insurance company before. They’re not always working with the doctors either," she said. Elevance Health shared that this means only 6% of women in the U.S. receive doula care while another 40% are still unaware that doula care is beneficial. Sadly, this is because only 13 states reimburse for doula services.

However, Dr. Inglis said they are working hard to close the gap. "What we’ve done is build a lot more tools to help push the conversation forward. We try to put more information at people’s fingertips — including video and written content." This education looks like helping moms build a checklist of how to talk to their healthcare providers, how to look for a reputable doula in their areas, and how to see if they're eligible to work with one. "We're trying to empower people to feel like they're allowed to question their providers and ask for the support they want," stressed Dr. Inglis.

How does a doula help a mom and her partner prepare for labor?

Everyone's labor experience differs from the next person, or even their own prior births if they have more than one child. Lonix said, "It’s a lot of prep work beforehand and some clients are apprehensive if they’ve never done it before." Doulas, she said, are also there to help mom find her voice. " I tell my clients all the time, 'You have the right to tell your provider when you don't like or want something. You can even tell them if you need more clarity about something they've explained," continued Lonix.

When it comes to actual labor, doulas can help moms and their partners understand every aspect of it. "Doulas are there to say, 'Hey, it's okay. Breath' or we can help with body care,'" said Lonix. Something that she personally does is try to make sure a mom's partner will be with her during her prenatal appointments. "I let them know they can ask if it something is normal or not. Dads always take me up on that. During one mom's labor, I actually had to tell one dad 'Let’s take a walk and get some water' because he was nervous about what was going on. At the same time, we [The Doula Network] always try to remind our doulas it's about the clients when they're in the room," she said.

Like Dr. Inglis mentioned earlier, a doula's support can extend to postpartum care. Lonix said, "We can help make sure a client has support after she's given birth. Maybe mom needs a mental health referral. Whatever it is, we try to make sure she has access to it."

The Final Takeaway From Working With a Doula

Despite the barriers that don't always lead to a clear path between doulas and their clients, Dr. Inglis said she's extremely proud of the work The Doula Network is doing. Aside from that, she wants to highlight something not every mom is aware of. She said, "A lot of moms don't know they can receive benefits that cover everything from transportation to diapers! We're really working hard to create a line of sight for them so people can see that help is available if they need it."

Kirsten Dunst — Torrance Shipman

Kirsten Dunst made us believe that "cheer is life" with her portrayal of Torrance Shipman in Bring It On, but her acting credits didn't end there. She went on to star in the earlier Spiderman franchises, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Marie Antoinette, Hidden Figures, and more! During a video interview with Variety, she fondly talked about starring in Bring It On. She said, "We did extensive dance rehearsal which I loved. I was a cheerleader in 8th grade — that's why I did the movie." Although she was a base in middle school, she got to do a little bit of flying in the movie. She was nervous because her best friend broke her arm doing so, but it seems everything turned out just fine! The best thing she said is, "That movie was a surprise to all of us — the success. We were just off in San Diego...having fun."

In another recent interview with E!, she described where she thinks Torrance Shipman would be today. "Good question. Coaching, maybe," she said with a smile.

Her latest project is the upcoming film Civil War that's set to revolve around an erupting civil war in America. She plays Lee, a celebrated war photojournalist who travels to different cities to document what's going on.

Eliza Dushku — Missy Pantone

Before she was Missy Pantone in Bring It On, Eliza Dushku was in the film True Lies with Arnold Schwarznegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. She also starred in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, That 70's Show, Ugly Betty, and a slew of other movies. Although she hasn't been acting lately, she did produce Mapplethorpe in 2018 via her production company, Boston Diva Productions.

Jesse Bradford — Cliff Pantone

Did we have a crush on Jesse Bradford at one point? The correct answer is of course we did! Not only was he a part of the Bring It On cast, but he appeared in other fun teen movies like Cherry Falls with the late actress Brittany Murphy, Swimfan and Clockstoppers.

These days you can find him living his best life on Instagram.

Lindsay Sloane — Big Red

"Big Red" was played by none other than actress Lindsay Sloane. Her comedic timing has secured her spot as a comedian who's appeared in Nancy Drew, The Other Guys, and Horrible Bosses 1 and 2. Her last occurring role was as Judy on the updated version of The Wonder Years.

Gabrielle Union-Wade — Isis

Gabrielle Union-Wade has had a long acting career and has appeared in some of favorite coming-of-age movies. From being a part of the Bring It On cast to playing the lead character in Being Mary Jane, she's done more than make her mark in the entertainment industry. When she's not busy with family life, it's not unusual to see the actress secure brand partnerships.

Gabrielle's most recent appearance was at the 55th NAACP Image Awards with her husband Dwyane Wade on March 16.

Shamari Devoe — Lava

Shamari Devoe was one of Isis' right-hand girls in Bring It On, but she mostly known being the lead vocalist of former R&B group Blaque. She briefly appeared on season 11 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but Yahoo reports she decided to part ways with the reality TV show.

She's married to Ronnie Devoe, a member of the R&B group New Edition, and they've appeared on Seasons 2 and 3 of Couples Retreat.

Natina Reed — Jenelope

​Natina Reed was also among the ​Bring It On​ cast and was known for her melodic rapping in the girl group Blaque. However, she passed away in 2012 after being hit by a car. The Hollywood Reporter says she was attempting to cross the street. 

Clare Kramer — Courtney

Clare Kramer may have played "Courtney" in Bring It On, but she was also known for playing the villain Glory on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also was a part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch cast! Her last role was Ms. Persephone in a movie called The Dead Ones.

Huntley Ritter — Les

Ah, good ole Les! We can't forget his memorable character in Bring It On. However, he's also had a role in The Wedding Planner and We Are Marshall. Nowadays, Huntley is the Co-President/CCO of STFRD (Strafford), marketing company based out California.