06 December 2010
11 November 2010
05 November 2010
Mother's Advocate Blog
Really great blog to check out....lots of information on birth.
http://mothersadvocate.wordpress.com/
http://mothersadvocate.wordpress.com/
11 August 2010
13 July 2010
09 July 2010
Thank You For Touching Me
A lovely article on the power of touch. http://www.themidwifenextdoor.com/?p=882
17 June 2010
16 June 2010
15 June 2010
02 June 2010
Welcome Jack!
Labor Begins:
On May 13 (16 days before birth guess date) at 3:00 am, Tiffany called me; she had awoken at 2:00 am experiencing contractions that were taking her breath away. Tiffany’s husband, Kyle, was out of town and I didn’t want her to be alone so I suggested for her to get in the bath/shower and I got ready to go to her house. I arrived at 4:30 am and started timing contractions, which were consistently 7 minutes apart lasting a full minute. By 7:00 am contractions were 5 minutes apart. Tiffany ate and drank and coped well with the contractions. By 9:00 am her husband arrived and was very supportive. Approximately 10:30 am contractions were 4-1-1 and we were ready to go to the hospital. Right as we were leaving, her water broke. We arrived at the hospital at 11:15 am. Tiffany was dilated to 5+ and 80% effaced and baby was low and ready. Tiffany’s labor pains got intense quickly and she had little or no time in between contractions. She chose not to have medication of any kind, intermittent monitoring, and no IV. At 1:16 pm, baby boy Jack was born. She had no tears or stitches. Jack was placed skin to skin on Tiffany’s chest. He did not take that initial breath so doctors had to take him and work to wake him up and get him to breathe to open up his sticky lungs. After about 20 minutes, baby was placed back on Tiffany and after another 15 minutes, he latched and began to nurse.
As the Doula:
My role at this birth was to offer continuous care to Tiffany, to help with her toddler while Tiff labored at home, and to offer support and encouragement to her husband. During labor we used the birth ball, double hip squeeze, massage, walking, and changing positions; she especially found comfort on her hands and knees. The use of lavender oil on a tissue helped with her nausea. Kyle gets all the credit for regulating Tiffany’s breathing; he was an amazing, controlled comfort for her.
Tiffany’s Reaction to Labor and Birth:
Tiffany coped really well throughout the labor pains at home. I think she was surprised at the quick intensity of the contractions almost immediately after arriving at the hospital. I reassured her she was in the quickest phase of labor and that it would not last long. She had moments of panic and didn’t want to use the visualization, massage, or breathing techniques we had practiced beforehand. Only once did she look in to my eyes and say she could not handle the pain. She was very tired and just wanted rest. Tiffany probably would have been more focused if she had had childbirth classes to prepare her for transition but overall, I think she was extremely happy that she DID IT and stuck to her birth plan perfectly!
I Learned:
I was amazed at how storybook Tiffany’s labor and delivery were. I felt calm even though it was my first birth. I relied on instinct and trusted the process of labor and delivery. I used the techniques I learned but didn’t feel the need to pull out all my bag of tricks and potions. I also learned I am part of the birth team and not the sole supporter. I went in to the hospital birth slightly apprehensive of how the hospital staff would treat me as a doula and if they would respect my client’s wishes without an attitude. I needn’t have worried; they were very supportive of Tiffany’s birth plan and did not waiver. It was a beautiful, perfect labor and birth. I feel honored and very blessed to have witnessed the miracle of birth. xo C~
22 May 2010
16 May 2010
08 May 2010
06 May 2010
Using Squat Bar Or Doula To Birth
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/childbirth-squat-bar.html#top
I think not using stirrups and not being draped is a much warmer environment for birth. Squatting is how it's been done for ages-it's a natural position. What do you think?
It's Doula Appreciation Month
Go here for a sweet giveaway http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/ . I would love any of the slings or the sling scale. Visit Emily's Etsy shop and see what you'd like http://www.etsy.com/shop/lullabyslings
23 April 2010
20 April 2010
12 April 2010
11 April 2010
07 April 2010
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Fast forward 2010. Tiff and Kyle are adding to their family and are expecting a baby BOY at the end of May! TIFF: I need to find a doula. ME: I'll be your doula....and off I went on my usual obsessive, all-or-nothing path to find my "doula-ship". Training, training, and a little more training to go and I'll get certified.
I'd better ask Tiffany if she wants me to be her doula cause I'm really into this now!
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