What is a doula?

What is a DOULA?

The Greek word doula means woman caregiver. We now use the word to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who provides the woman and her husband or partner continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and assistance in obtaining information before, during, and just after childbirth.

A postpartum doula provides care to a family with a newborn baby.

A birth doula…

…recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life…

…understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor…

…assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth…

…stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor…

…provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions…

…facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers…

…perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.

The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.

Source: DONA Birth Doula Workshop Manual/Introduction to Labor Support/What is a Doula/2008
This is one of the handouts we like to give out at our first visit with new doula clients.

Doula myths debunked

I was searching online for some handouts I wanted to print out, and I came across this blog post on
"Doula Myths Debunked." This may help some of you answer some of those mother-in-law, partner, bestie questions.

Psst....and Karli will LOVE the last one. :-)

The Essential Ingredient: Doula

The Wikipedia version

Shall we see what wikipedia has to say? Just for fun...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbilical_cord

Immediate vs. Delayed Cord Clamping

Here are some links to get you started researching delayed umbilical cord clamping!

Why Delayed Cord Clamping Should be Standard Practice:
http://academicobgyn.com/2009/12/03/delayed-cord-clamping-should-be-standard-practice-in-obstetrics/

RHL WHO Reproductive Health Library -
Early versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants
http://apps.who.int/rhl/pregnancy_childbirth/childbirth/3rd_stage/jccom/en/index.html

Science Daily - Health Risks, Benefits to Delaying Cord Clamping
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194222.htm

AAP article - The Effect of Timing of Cord Clamping on Neonatal Venous Hematocrit Values and Clinical Outcome at Term: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/117/4/e779.full

I hope these help! ;-) Enjoy!

Inspirational Quote

"How one is born seems to be closely related to one's general attitude toward life, the ratio of optimism to pessimism, how one relates to other people, and one's ability to confront challenges." ~ Pschiatrist Stanislav Grof, as quoted in the book Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper, R.N.

Delayed Cord Clamping

Thinking delaying cord clamping? Want a really intellectual conversation about it?! Have a chat with the Academic OBGYN!

Inspirational Quotes

"There's a HUGE difference in making a decision and making an INFORMED decision! Many times in childbirth women make decisions based on what someone else told them, what they view birth as, fear of the unknown, thinking that ____ is the only option, not having the information needed to make the decision, ..." ~ Birth Without Fear

16 and Pregnant

OK, this probably falls in the "just for fun" category, but the show 16 and Pregnant really disrupts my chi! And when I read BWF's blog post about it, I had to share. Oh, and I got teary in the end. But I do that!

Birth By the Numbers

Here is a sobering look at Birth By the Numbers in our country.

U.S. Newborn Death Rate

The U.S. newborn death rate is higher than the rate in 40 other nations, said the World Health Organization in this study released Tuesday. Babies under 4 weeks account for 41% of childhood deaths worldwide, according to the United Nations.

I hope our medical community is paying attention, because something has to be done about this.

What is the difference between pitocin and oxytocin?

This article shares 5 important ways that the artificial hormone "Pitocin" which is used for labor induction and augmentation - is very different from the naturally occurring hormone "Oxytocin".

5 Ways Pitocin is Different from Oxytocin

Prenatal Depression

A quick easy to read article on Prenatal Depression

Eating to Prevent Heartburn?

Might as well give it a try!


Pregnancy Nutrition

The Beautiful Birth of Josephine - told through photography! (surrogacy)

This is simply beautiful! Please go look!!  Josephine's Birth

Chiropractics for Birth?

Can a chiropractor be helpful in pregnancy and childbirth? Learn More!

Birth is a Human Rights Issue!

www.midwiferytoday.com

What are YOU doing about it?

An easy way to prevent Pre-Eclampsia?!

Could there really be an easy, inexpensive way to help prevent pre-eclampsia?? Read on!

WebMD

Birth Advice from two RN's! Please Read!

This is a great article from two Labor and Delivery Nurses - what they would like their birthing moms to know before coming to the hospital!

Birth Advice

Doulas in Action

A nice visual on how many ways a doula can assist at your birth!

Study Seeking Pregnant Women and New Moms

Childbirth Connection and the Foundation for Informed Decision Making are seeking to learn more about how women use the internet to find pregnancy and birth information and support decision making. They have developed a brief online survey and would like women who are planning pregnancy, are currently pregnant, or have given birth in the last two years. The survey closes August 31.

Mother and Infant Loss in Birth: Hospital and Home

As you probably already know if you read our blog, Birth Without Fear is an amazing place for education and support for the expectant mama.
In this blog post from BWF, she talks about mother and infant loss in both hospital and home births. While it is not the norm, it does happen, and it is a significant and devastating event in the lives of all involved. BWF encourages mamas to get educated on their choices, and find the right care provider for them.

If you have experienced loss and need someone to talk to, or need support going through a loss, visit the Cyber Doulas Miscarriage Support page or Stillbirthday.com - Karli and I are listed there as Pregnancy Loss Doulas.

How to be the Best Birth Partner

Just a quick little something for your birth partners (i.e. Mom of the woman in labor, Dad of the new baby, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, Mother-in-laws, etc.)! Not sure what you can do to be the best birth partner or support person you can be? This blog post from Clinical Hypnotherapist and Doula Lucy Symons could help.

Rebozo in Labor: Hip Squeeze

We have rebozos in our doula bags and love techniques like this one! If you are interested in learning more about the rebozo or trying it out at a prenatal appointment, let us know.

Have a Natural Childbirth

Have a Natural Childbirth is a fantastic blog created by a coalition of doulas, midwives and other natural childbirth advocates to help you explore and discover the joys of natural childbirth. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Magnesium therapy for preeclempsia

Preeclampsia usually occurs in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or in the middle to late pregnancy. Patient may experience sudden elevated blood pressure and also have excess protein in the urine. Some of the more noticeable symptoms of Preeclampsia are:

• Swelling of the hands and face/eyes (edema)
• Weight gain of over 2 pounds per week or a sudden weight gain over a couple of days

We have found that more serious swelling in the feet and ankles is also a common symptom. Have you ever noticed your OB or midwife pressing their fingers against your shin or sort of "pinching" your ankle? They are likely checking for preeclempsia (among other issues).

Preeclempsia can feel pretty helpless, but you may be able to do something to control it ahead of time if you have risk factors. Check out this article outlining a study in the UK on the use of magnesium as a therapy/preventative measure.

Magnesium has other great benefits, too!

Top Five Health Benefits of Magnesium and Health Benefits of Magnesium are good sources on some of those. Crysta's husband and daughter take it daily to ward of eye twitching, and say they can definitely tell if they forget to take it.

Overcoming fear

Overcoming Fear Associated with Childbirth is a great post from the Mother's Advocate Blog. There are a lot of scary myths surrounding childbirth, and fear leads to all kinds of issues that can shutdown the birthing process or making it more difficult or painful. If moms-to-be can manage to overcome even some of those fears and find their way with less fear, their birth experience will be far, far more positive.

Babies Don't Keep

This poem is a great reminder of the important things in life when there is a baby in the house, and it's my theory on life!

North Dakota Baby Boom!

The North Dakota census data was released Wednesday, and there's a baby boom!

Children under 5 years old in Williams County – located in the heart of oil country – jumped from 1,135 in 2000 to 1,546 in 2010. The largest city in the county, Williston, had 764 children under 5 in 2000; there are now 1,103. Other 20 percent-plus jumps in western counties came in Billings, Bottineau, Burke, Burleigh, Divide and McKenzie and counties.

Who knew? Um, us! But it is an exciting time to be from the area!

Belly Art

This is really fun! Belly Art has become popular lately, check out these fun spins on it.

What They Didn't Tell Me in Lamaze Class

This piece from new mom Lindsay Pyfer at Huffington Post made me cry (warning!), but it is an important piece about a journey and a difference. Birth doesn't have to be the way her first was. The final sentence was revolutionary - I hope you will read to the end!

While we don't have the option of a birth center here in the MonDak, a doula can help you to make your hospital or home birth more like the experience you hope for. (Oh, and I'm going to have to buy a piano CD - that part made me feel peaceful.)

Support is Key for Continued Breastfeeding

Queensland University of Technology in Australia has done a study on the "boobytraps" of breastfeeding in the UK, and released the results here. The best support to help moms continue to breastfeed? Support from friends and family, not healthcare providers.

This doesn't mean healthcare providers don't have an important place. Here is a handout that can be shared with physicians on how to support breastfeeding moms.

Looking for some resources? This article talks about a few different options. Also watch for a breastfeeding support group starting soon in Williston. The Cyber Doulas are on the case! Ha!

Hypnobirthing

We have had lots of moms ask about Hypnobirthing and/or Hypnobabies. The concept is really interesting!

Recently we added this "cliff notes" version of Hypnobirthing to our bag of tricks, and we'd love to try it out at a prenatal visit. We haven't had the training and don't claim any expertise, but we're happy to work with moms to see if it is a good fit for you.

Stress in Pregnancy

"Don't stress" is what pregnant mothers hear but what if you have the kind of stress you can't pear down anymore? Here is some excellent advice from Mother's Advocate.

New doc in Sidney

There is some possible good news on the horizon for our mommies-in-waiting in Sidney, Mont. Sidney Health Center has announced the arrival of a new OB/GYN. Dr. Shari Twigg, MD is expected to start practicing at the hospital and clinic this month.

DoulaMatch.net profiles

Did you know we are listed on DoulaMatch.net? That means your friends and family can use it to find us, and you can use it to share your doula testimonials!

Here is Karli's profile, and here is Crysta's profile.

Crysta is also listed with doulas.com (but for some reason, I can't get their search function to work, so not sure how effectice that is!)

ACOG says post dates are after 42 weeks

You've heard it a thousand times. The standard pregnancy is 40 weeks, so if that baby isn't popping out exactly on its due date (or well before, thank you very much), then something must be wrong.

But years (decades, millenia...) of experience tells us that babies are really "due" somewhere around that 40 week mark, usually between 38 and 42 weeks. But every mama is different, and every baby is different, so we like to see mamas wait for their bodies and their little buns in the oven to be ready.

Guess what? The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has put out information saying they agree. You know, the medical community? So next time you hear about an OB wanting to induce because it is "time," you can reference this one!