Birth Doula Training

Cyber Doulas is excited to announce we will be hosting a DONA Doula training April 25-27.

in MINOT, ND

Completion of this workshop will provide you with the knowledge and tools to become a doula in our area, and set you on the path to becoming certified through DONA International.

Topics covered will include:

• Anatomy and Physiology of Childbirth

• The Stages of Labour

• Labour – a Physical and Emotional Process

• Common Medical Interventions in Childbirth

• Labour Support Techniques – How to Help a Woman in Labour

• Hands-on Practice of Comfort Measures

• Listening and Communication Skills

• Pre and Post-natal Visits – What a Doula Covers when Meeting with a Client

• Breastfeeding – A Partnership between the Mother, the Baby, the Breast and the Doula

• Your Doula Business – how to get clients and what to do when you get them!

• Meet the Doulas – established local doulas will come and talk about their experiences working in Victoria

• How to achieve certification with DONA International – the World’s Premier Doula Association

Pay in full by January 25th $300 (90 days prior)
Our instructor is the amazing Ann Grauer. You can learn more about her here: http://www.storknet.com/experts/obgyn/exag.htm
The workshop is the first step on the path to certification through DONA International. The rest of the steps can be found here: http://www.dona.org/develop/birth_cert.php
We are also considering a second workshop in Williston. If you are interested in that, let us know!

Here is the full cost info:

Pay in full by February 25th $325 (60 days prior)
Pay in full by March 10th $350 (45 days prior)
Pay in full by March 25th $375 (30 days prior)




For questions, comment below, message us at our FB page, or drop Crysta an email at cjpdigitalmedia@gmail.com -- excited to see a new crop of doulas in our area!

Ten Reasons I Share My Birth Stories with My Adolescent Daughters

~Crysta

1. There is great value in oral history. Oral history has benefits no other form of history can quite match. The rich intricacies of a story told person-to-person have been the method of passing information for generations. This first-person account contains an emotion that is lost in many other methods.

2. Through stories, our children will reclaim their power, control, and courage. Knowledge of birth was once passed down exclusively orally, and midwives learned by watching, helping, and doing. It is my opinion our culture is in dire need of a return to these stories. In our time, a generation of women are finding themselves without the strength of birth stories to draw from when they give birth.

3. Choosing the message. I don’t want the uber-medicalized, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” version of birth – or the sanitized, made-for-TV version – to be the only story my daughters hear. There is so much more to it, and if I don’t tell them, chances are no one will. Sharing real-life birth stories may be just the thing to offset the medical model as the ideal.

4. To help them KNOW “16 and Pregnant” is not cooler than 18 and Backpacking through Europe. Enough said, really. What better way to counteract a little bit of imagined baby fever than with a dose of reality? No illusions here.

5. Breaking down fear of the unknown. So much of the pain in childbirth comes from fear of the unknown. I am planting the seeds early to gift my daughters the knowledge to trust their bodies as they become mothers. Removing the unknown is also about removing the giggle factor. My daughters are not the sort to giggle about private parts, because they aren’t secrets, they are part of everyday conversations.

6. So they can tell others. Now and as mothers. My middle daughter had a pregnant teacher in the fifth grade. Did that poor woman ever get an education! E frequently came home telling stories of her discussions with the teacher about doulas, midwives, water birth, and so much more. This freedom with birth information will continue when my daughters are mothers themselves, as they pass along their own birth stories, and the cycle continues.

7. Birth is beautiful. Honestly and truly. The process of becoming a mother for the first time or the tenth time is the most awesome, incredible experience any woman can tap into. That is worth sharing.

8. Guess what? I talk to them about sex, too. I am raising smart, worldly girls who will be armed with the information they need to take on the difficult situations that come up in teen life. Being a teenager is hard enough without being uninformed, too!

9. Feminism aside, motherhood is their legacy. According to U.S. Census data, more than 80% of women become mothers by age 40. I don’t want my daughters to be blindsided by motherhood.

10. Because they need to hear it from ME. Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky stressed the importance of cultural and social contexts through his work in the 1970s. “The more significant and powerful the storyteller, the more significant and powerful the story,” he wrote in 1978. What woman is more significant in the life of an adolescent girl than her mother? I am the right messenger for this story to resonate with them, now and later in life.

Not sure how to share your story? Check out my upcoming free call to learn how! http://storydoulapreview.eventbrite.com/

Spring doula training in Williston

Thank you for your interest in my upcoming DONA International Birth Doula  Workshop. This email should give you the necessary information about the weekend, as well as how to register. If you have any questions please email Ann Grauer at annidoula@gmail.com.

 

DONA INTERNATIONAL
 BIRTH DOULA TRAINING WORKSHOP
Exploring How the Doula's Heart, Mind and Spirit
Can Help to Create
Special Birth Memories

Friday, April 19th

Saturday, April 20th

Sunday, April 21st
2012

in
Williston, North Dakota

An educational offering which meets one of the requirements
 for certification by
 DONA International
  

The Workshop
If you are feeling called to work with birthing families this workshop may be what you have been looking for. We have designed it to be interactive and enjoyable, as well as to help you feel confident as you begin your journey as a doula.

During this intensive 2 1/2 day workshop students discuss the emotions and psychological processes associated with labor and the role of the doula prenatally, during labor and birth and postpartum followup. The course emphasizes the importance of appropriate, culturally-sensitive support.

The doula's scope of practice and ethical standards are emphasized, as are the realities of what being a doula entails. The workshop does not include training in clinical skills, since those are outside the doula's scope of practice.

The course is designed to help participants prepare to become expert labor support providers and utilizes texts and supplementary literature, videos and role play to build theoretical knowledge and practice skills.


Preparing to Attend

We want each participant to come into the training with enough background information to fully participate in the weekend. Our experience is that if a participant has not done the prerequisites then they will not feel as if the workshop has met their expectations. To best prepare we encourage you to do the following:


1. Attendance at a full series of childbirth preparation classes for first-time parents (12 hours, minimum) as a non-pregnant person. DONA
certification requires that this be done prior to certifying. We have started having participants take the childbirth classes prior to the workshop so that they feel as prepared as possible for the weekend. If you have questions about this, please let me know. (Please note: if you are a childbirth educator, nurse with labor and delivery experience or midwife this requirement will be waived)


2. Read the following two books: (all are most current editions)
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, 4th edition
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin, 3rd edition

NOTE: You MUST have a copy of The Birth Partner, 3rd Edition and bring it to class


Schedule for the Workshop

Friday, April 19th

Registration 12:45-1PM
Class 1-6PM

Saturday, April 20th
Class 8:30AM-6:00PM

Sunday, April 21st

Class 8:30AM-5:30PM


Topics Covered During the Workshop Include:

Significance of Birth
DONA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
Ideal Birth
Doulas in Action videos
Prenatal Contact
Art and Practice of Labor Support Throughout the Stages of Labor
Doula-supported Birth with an Epidural
Touch
Positioning and Comfort Measures
What if Labor Started Now
Difficult Labors
Induced Labors
Unexpected Outcomes
Cesarean Birth
VBAC Birth
The Amazing Newborn
Postpartum Contact
Role Play



YOUR INSTRUCTOR
A little over 17 years ago Penny Simkin told us that we should teach together. We love spending time with women who are exploring the doula profession and feel that we bring that passion to the workshop. Also, Carolyn's background as a nurse and Ann's as a layperson allow us to bring two very important and distinctive viewpoints to the workshop. Past participants tell us that this has enriched the experience for them. We love teaching together and hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you into our workshop.


Ann Grauer, LCCE, FACCE, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), IBCLC 

A Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators, Ann is certified as a childbirth educator with Lamaze International and ICEA and has been teaching pregnancy, birth and parenting classes since 1989. She has also been a doula for that length of time and is certified both as a birth and postpartum doula through DONA International. In addition to being a DONA-approved birth and postpartum doula trainer, Ann was President of DONA from 2003-05. She is also a board-certified lactation consultant.
 

She coordinates the first hospital-based doula program in Wisconsin at Columbia Center and is a member of the Family Education and Support team there. She has created parent and breastfeeding support groups in two states and has been a consultant to other hospital-based doula programs.  Ann is the 2007 recipient of Lamaze International's prestigious Elisabeth Bing Award.

Tuition Cost
I want to make attending the workshop financially do-able for everyone. If you have questions about the options below, please let me know.
Tuition cost for the workshop can be lowered by registering early and/or registering with a friend!

1. Early Bird Registration
Register by January 19th  $300 (90 days prior)
Register by February 19th  $325 (60 days prior)
Register by March 4th  $350 (45 days prior)
Register by March 19th  $375 (30 days prior)
*Because class size is limited, early registration is encouraged.


2. Attend with a friend
There is a discount for each person who registers with a buddy. Just send in your registration forms and payment together and you'll receive a discount of:
$20/each for two people
$30/each for three people
$40/each for four people
$50/each for five or more people
*These discounts can be taken in addition to Earlybird sign-up


One final note: As an instructor, I recognize that there are many wonderful potential doulas whose life circumstances are such that they cannot afford full payment in one lump sum. Payment plans are available in cases of true need and occasionally partial scholarships may be available. Please contact me for more information. Also, please note that the registration form contains information on cancellation policies. All tuition payment is non-refundable, however, a qualified participant may attend in your place or you may choose to attend a future birth doula worshop (in which there is space available) taught by Ann Grauer.

Registration

To register, please send the following:

1. The registration form below
2. A description of yourself and your interest in childbirth
3. Check made out to Ann Grauer

Please mail all of the above to:
Ann Grauer
620 N. 60th St.
Wauwatosa, WI 53213

Registration Form


Please print:


Name_____________________________________________


Address___________________________________________


City ______________________________________________


State, Zip Code__________________________ ___________


Home Phone_________________________ _______________


Email Address______________________________________


Current Profession___________________________________

Please make payment out to "Ann Grauer" and mail to 620 N. 60th St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213.
Class size is limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. Payment must accompany your registration form.
CANCELLATION POLICY:Cancellations received more than 30 days prior to training will be refunded, minus a $100 processing fee. Less than 30 days prior to the training there will be no refunds, but the applicant may apply her fee to a later training taught and sponsored by the instructor.
*************************************************************************************************************************************

I have read and understand the cancellation policy for the workshop.
Signature of Registrant

Belly Casting

Crysta and Kim did belly casts at the Minot mall today. It was a blast! This mama was only 18 weeks along, super adorable cast came out of this one, and we'll definitely have to do another one when baby gets closer.

Erykah Badu - from singer to birth doula

Read more here.... http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20531368,00.html

Evidence Based Birth on Routine Practices

You can see the detailed list of references here: http://evidencebasedbirth.com/updated-table-on-the-state-of-maternity-care-in-the-u-s/ and here http://www.improvingbirth.org/2012/11/state-of-maternity-care/

90 Seconds to Change a Life

"The stakes couldn't get any higher than this for children's health."

Wow, Dr. Greene on cord clamping. Worth the time!

From You Tube:
In 2010, Dr. Greene founded the WhiteOut Now movement aimed at changing how babies are fed starting with their first bite of solid food. In 2012 he launched a worldwide campaign aimed at changing the practice of Immediate Cord Camping To Optimal Cord Clamping or TICC TOCC. He is the author of Feeding Baby Green, Raising Baby Green and, From First Kicks to First Steps.

Raw Foods in Pregnancy

Curious about raw foods in pregnancy?

When a Facebook friend asked which raw foods she should avoid in pregnancy, I decided to do some research. Raw foods diets are popular in crunchy circles, is there any reason they can't be continued in pregnancy?

There are a lot of mamas out there doing it! I found three especially interesting blog posts on happiness and success with raw foods pregnancy diets.

The Raw Food Effect shares stories from mothers

The Raw Food Family includes great videos

Tera Warner has some beautiful posts on the topic

The consensus is that women who follow a raw diet pre-pregnancy should feel free to continue to do so once expecting.

If you're wondering what foods you should avoid, the American Pregnancy Association has the following thoughts...

Foods to Avoid:

*Raw meat
*Deli meat
*Fish with mercury
*Smoked seafood
*Raw shellfish
*Raw eggs
*Soft cheeses
*Unpasteurized milk
*Pate
*Unwashed vegetables

See their website for more information.

What are your thoughts? Have any of you eaten a raw foods diet while pregnant? We'd love to hear!

Pelvic Pain and Lecithin

This is a really interesting article! Thank you, Anna, for sharing!

http://birthfaith.org/do-it-yourself/got-lecithin

Sacred Pregnancy classes coming this January in Williston and Minot

Your Sacred Pregnancy is a journey.

Our classes hold space for pregnant women to connect with one another and their pregnancy experiences in meaningful and personal ways. Sacred Pregnancy groups are being held all around the world and are the new wave of the pregnancy + birthing future. We are hell bent on changing the birth conversation as Sacred Pregnancy classes bring back the age old tradition of women sitting with one another during pregnancy and birth, getting empowered, witnessing each other's proce

ss and BEING there for one another during an incredibly power-FULL rite of passage...becoming mothers.

Sacred Pregnancy classes are a special place for pregnant women to gather together, for 8 weeks early on in their pregnancy journeys. Each week is spent exploring pertinent topics that naturally arise for most women as they walk down their pregnancy paths and encourage deep sharing, exploring art, expression, laughter, honoring and celebration.

Pregnancy is one of the deepest drinks life has to offer. Each woman's pregnancy pot gets stirred with various emotions and we all need a safe place to process those tides and sip some sanity from the community cauldron. We want you to come and sit with us and explore your pregnancy journey in a meaning-FULL way and hope that you will reach out to find a class going on around you.

The class will begin January 7 in Williston and continue each Monday evening for eight weeks. In Minot, classes begin January 10. I am excited to share this journey with you!

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sacred Pregnancy Workshop

I was blessed and honored to be a part of the first Sacred Pregnancy Retreat in Ojai, California this weekend, and to become a certified Sacred Pregnancy instructor.

The strong and beautiful women that gathered for the retreat could not have been a more lovely mix of energies and experiences. As we came together in a circle and looked around the first morning, we knew something special had drawn us all together. This was not your average collection of birth workers! Women came from all over California, the United States, and other countries to gather under the Sacred Pregnancy banner. There were yoga instructors and doulas, midwives and chiropractors. There were shop owners and childbirth educators, writers and readers. This aspect was one of many things that made it different from any experience I have had in the past, as the breadth of experience was so much wider!

Sacred Pregnancy writer and founder, Anni Daulter, has an energy that radiates from her in ways words can’t describe. You just want to be there to soak it up, to draw anything from it you can.

As an added bonus, the retreat site (Ojai Foundation) was beautiful and inspirational, and the opportunity to commune with nature was one I don’t take as often as I should.

The retreat itself equips women with the tools to teach the Sacred Pregnancy classes, which honor expectant mothers and help them to find a sisterhood to be with them through birth and the journey of motherhood. I can barely contain my excitement to share this beautiful program with the women of my community. I know I will be channeling the energy of this weekend every time I bring this experience to a new group of women.

For birth workers called to facilitating these workshops, I could not recommend it enough. I am so honored to have been a part of the first group, and can’t wait to participate in future retreats as a level two! Hope to see you there!

Learn more at www.sacredpregnancy.com of visit Sacred Pregnancy on Facebook.

What's all this talk about placentas?

It’s a super common question in my birth work. What’s all this talk about placentas? Do people really eat them? How? Why?!?

The baby blues and health

Approximately 70-80% of all new mothers experience some negative feelings or mood swings after the birth of their child, so taking proactive measures without the use of medications is a real draw for many women. Ingesting the placenta after birth, or placentophagy, is known as an ancient remedy for the blues. Other health benefits are also touted, including:

• less bleeding during the postpartum period
• speeding the return of the uterus to its original state
• replenishing depleted iron levels
• energy - especially raw methods
• support milk production in breastfeeding
• helping to even out moods and happiness

It's not just an old wive's tale, either. There is scientific research out there on the benefits of placenta during the postpartum period. Over and over again, iron deficiency has been addressed with placentophagy, with positive results. ACOG does not currently have an opinion on the topic.

So, if you want to experience the potential benefits in your own life, how would you go about it? There are a few options to consider.

Encapsulation

For many moms who are interested in trying placenta for their postpartum health, encapsulation is an option that allows them the benefits without having to consider the ick factor. A birth professional will take the organ and prepare it (in mom's home or far from it, depending on her preference), then present here with a neatly packaged jar of pills to ingest at will.

Here is a news story featuring our friend and fellow doula Anne Ferguson, talking about the benefits of encapsulation. I appreciate this story not only because it is giving attention to the topic, but because it addresses the opposing view, as well. New parents should know there are two sides to every issue, and make the decision themselves.

There are so many great stories and resources out there on the trend. Here is a blog post from The Feminist Breeder, who always makes me smile and think, on her own plans for placenta encapsulation. ("And I'm not even a hippy," she proclaims.) 

For the visual and auditory learners among us, this is a pretty thorough explanation of the benefits of encapsulation for fending off the baby blues.

Here is another story from MSNBC, which includes a conversation with a mom who was where many of us have been -- riding the crazy wave of emotions following childbirth -- when she decided to try ingesting her placenta.

Cyber Doulas does offer placenta encapsulation as a service for our clients. Speak to your doula or send an email to referrals@cyberdoulas.com for additional information on this service.

How about a smoothie?

Another option is to blend the placenta up in a smoothie. Some dedicated parents have even been known to bring a blender in their hospital bag to get the benefits as soon after birth as possible.

Dionna at Code Name: Mama used both the smoothie and capsule methods, and talks about her experience on her blog.

The New Yorker addressed this one, too, in their article "The Placenta Cookbook," which also includes some fantastic history on the topic.

Feeling really adventurous? Cook that bad boy up!

The idea of ingesting the placenta is definitely not a new one. Mothering Magazine published a list of recipes in 1983. While they are not currently available on the Mothering website, you can find them here. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. You will find more recipes here, and here.

And of course there is the one I always hear, "Do people really make placenta pizza?" I can't say I have ever known anyone to do so, but it is certainly an option. Maybe you'll want to add some other healthy toppings for flavor.

Not just for home birth

If you have made the choice to have your baby in a hospital or birth center, you should not feel as though placentophagy is for someone else. Every day, mamas take their placentas home from the hospital, and you can, too! Be sure to mention it to your healthcare provider ahead of time, though, because the facility will need to make some arrangements for you.

Film Screenings

Cyber Doulas is hosting two screenings of the new film Birth Story: Ina May, and we would love to have you join us!

Tickets are available for the screenings, which will be in Williston on October 26 and Minot on October 27 here:

http://cyberdoulas.eventbrite.com/

Join us!!!!

If you would like to support the screening but won't be able to make it, we are happy to accept donations via paypal. Contact Crysta at crysta@cyberdoulas.com for details.

November Childbirth Education Class

Register now for the next childbirth education class presented by the Cyber Doulas! The class will be held November 7 and 8, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at James Memorial Art Center.

The class will cover a wide variety of topics important to the expectant couple. Included will be anatomy and physiology, stages of labor, medical interventions, cesarean birth, coping techniques, and recovery from birth. There will also be great tips for daddy, so we hope he can join us, too!

To register, visit our FB page.

Attachment Parenting Rules?!

Great piece from Bring Birth Home on Attachment Parenting.

BirthPlace at Mercy ~ Grand Opening

The Cyber Doulas just got back from a tour of the new BirthPlace at Mercy Medical Center during today's open house. We know many of you weren't able to make it, so we wanted to share our thoughts!

Let's start by saying the facility is aesthetically pleasing. It is big and open, and has an inviting feel. Because we know feeling at ease is very important in a smooth childbirth, we were happy to see a less "hospital-like" feel from the building.

Once the doors open, all laboring moms will go to the new facility, employees told us. This means if you plan to have a vaginal birth - not a scheduled cesarean - you will check into one of the six new rooms. (There are actually eight rooms in the facility, but they are opening with six, and will roll the other two out later.)

The Rooms

The rooms are larger than those on the old Mercy Labor and Delivery floor, and have that new car smell lots of moms will like. But honestly, if you were expecting them to live up to the "freestanding birth center" label in a traditional sense, you may need to readjust your expectations. The rooms were nice, with a fireplace flickering in the wall and a big window.

To give you an idea what you are looking at, if you have ever had a baby in a hospital that had LDRP rooms (labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum), these are very similar. One difference, at least from the rooms we have personal experience with, is that c-section moms will not recover in them.

Dads/partners will have the benefit of a sleeper sofa (thank you!) to make their stay more comfortable, but Mom will be in a traditional labor and delivery hospital bed. If you have seen More Business of Being Born and were hoping for a double bed for the new family to snuggle up in, sorry to disappoint!

Moms will have access to all of the same pain medications and medical procedures as in the current facility. In fact, the brochure notes the center will have the "latest technology in medical equipment." And the rooms are definitely modern. Those looking for the latest in technology will be pleased with what they find, at least if initial appearances are correct.

A lot of attention was paid to the view from the rooms - and from the conference room one floor up - so if it bothered you to labor in the closed off rooms of the old ward, you are in luck.

The number one question we have heard as members of our community watched the building go up has been about the tubs! Well, we can tell you the tubs are deep and jetted (yay), but fairly short (boo). And no, there will not be water births in this facility.

The BirthPlace at Mercy is on the second floor of the new building. On the first floor is the new Outpatient Surgery Center, where roomy new state-of-the-art surgical suites are available. At this point, the surgical manager told us, the suites are not approved for cesareans. He said approval was being sought for that use in the future.

Cesareans

So what happens if you are having a cesarean, whether scheduled or not? Here's what we were told.

If you are having a scheduled cesarean, you will check into the old labor and delivery floor in the main part of Mercy Medical Center. The procedure for your stay will be largely the same as it is now.

But what if you are laboring in the new BirthPlace and your provider decides it is time to switch gears and head off to surgery? At this time, you will be taken from the new center, through the hallway connecting it to the main hospital, and into the old surgery suites. You would then spend your recovery time in the main hospital.

This information will all change, of course, if approval is granted for cesareans to happen in the new facility.

Time

One note we want to make here is that a lot of emphasis was made during the tour on TIME. We heard over and over again about time limits on how long moms could stay in the facility. Basically the consensus seemed to be that mothers would labor there, and once baby arrived, a 24-hour discharge clock would start. We're not sure if this was just talking points from people who don't actually work in the department, but judging by the number of times we heard it repeated, we thought it was worth pointing out.

While many new families are happy to head home as soon as they can, not all are, and we feel that arbitrary time limits could be harmful. It brought to mind the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, which tells group health insurance providers they must allow 48 hours for a vaginal birth and 96 hours for a cesarean. According to one study we read, the average hospital stay for a vaginal birth in 1970 was four days, allowing moms and babies time to work through all those early issues (PKU, jaundice, breastfeeding bumps, etc.).

These new time limits may or may not be in place as the facility opens. Either way, we encourage mothers to talk with their health care providers about what is right for them, and be open to change as your feelings and situation changes.

Opening

The BirthPlace at Mercy is set to open October 19.

Dilation Visual

Here is a dilation visual from Raising Natural Kids. Hope it helps the next time you are wondering what it MEANS when the nurse says you are "at a four."

Perinatal Pitocin as an early ADHD biomarker

Here is yet another study on Pitocin, and why you should do your homework before consenting. It can't be informed consent if you don't know the questions to ask!

Perinatal Pitocin as an early ADHD biomarker: neurodevelopmental risk?

Play list for labor

Need help coming up with ideas for your labor play list? Try this!

Erica McCauley, Birth Photographer

Erica McCauley is a fantastic birth photographer we love working with.

Check out her album on Facebook of doulas at work (featuring the Cyber Doulas)!