-
Sad State of Postpartum Care in the U.S.
Why am I writing about the uniquely U.S. state of postpartum care and recuperation? When a woman carries a baby and gives birth, her body undergoes great changes. There are visible signs of those changes, but that only shows a very small part of what her body has done. Her blood vessels have changed in order to accommodate twice the blood volume. Her lung capacity has changed, and it will take most of a year for it to return pre-pregnancy way of operation. Her muscles separated for the expansion of her womb, joints and connective tissue all became looser in preparation for delivery. All of her abdominal organs were…
-
After Birth – The Golden Hour
The Golden Hour – What it is, what it is not Many changes for the better have been happening in the labor and delivery ward. New terms such as Baby Friendly Hospital and the Golden Hour are becoming a part of the new jargon. What do they mean? We have written an article describing Baby Friendly Hospital designation. Briefly, it encourages polices that support the mother-baby dyad, promotes policies that support breastfeeding and remove policies that interfere with breastfeeding and the mother-baby relationship. The article is available here. One of the policies that is part of the baby friendly designation is honoring the Golden Hour following birth. The Golden Hour…
-
Birth – The design is not broken
This has been on my heart a good bit lately. I hope it will that not only encourage, but also empower the belief that indeed your body was designed not only to grow a baby but to birth a baby. The design is not broken. For the mothers who birthed through c-section: your body works. You birthed, recovered, and cared for newborn while recovering from surgery. You are so strong. Dear Mama and Supporters of Mamas, About birth – The design is not broken. Medicalized birth can give a very subtle, covert message to women that the design of birth is broken. It is much more powerful than many women preparing…
-
Doula Gift Certificate – A Perfect Gift
A Doula Gift Certificate for every expectant family. Adding a new baby to a family is a wonderful time yet a time full of exhaustion. Would you like to give a gift of support to an expectant family for their transition with new baby? We offer gift certificates that may be customized just for their needs. Postpartum: Every new family needs support after birth. No exception. More studies are coming out showing that postpartum recovery takes much longer than most realize: 1 to 2 years! Sibling Doula: Other families worry about who will care for their other children when they are at the hospital or during labor. Birth Doula: Birth…
-
Choosing Your Birth Place
Today, many expectant mothers are able to choose their birth place between hospital, home, or birth center. Being informed about these options will help you have the birth experience you desire. Hospital Setting: A hospital is the most common birth option. You have access to doctors who specialize in obstetrics. They are most experienced with high risk pregnancy and birth situations. If you wish to schedule routine tests to reach your comfort level, an obstetric care provider can furnish you with a variety during your pregnancy. You will also have access to epidural anesthesia and sedatives on demand during your labor. Some hospital settings may also provide you with CNMs…
-
Postpartum Recovery: It’s serious business.
Postpartum Recovery: Healing through Rest *My sweet friend and doula sister, Lauren Tate, shared this post on facebook. Because of the importance and seriousness of postpartum recovery, she has graciously given us permission to share it with you. We invite you to gather a warm cup of coffee or your favorite tea and be still. “A mother and doula on Postpartum healing not so much from an educational side but from an experienced side – With my first and second child, I was so eager to get life after being pregnant going, that I forgot to take care of myself. 4 days after having Ellie, I went to the mall…
-
Mother Friendly Initiative, pt. 2
Houston, we have a problem. While many countries around the world are seeing a decrease in maternal mortality, we are seeing an alarming increase in the United States. The Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative seeks to improve the health of mothers and babies holistically. Baby Friendly and Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiatives can be confusing, and this causes the terms to be misused interchangeably. Here is a very simple explanation: Baby Friendly Policies that support breastfeeding and mother/baby bond (link here) Mother Friendly Policies that support the normalcy of birth, the empowerment of women during pregnancy and birth, a woman’s autonomy, doing no harm, and responsibility in each sphere of care. Mother…
-
The Power of the Continuous Presence
The loss of continuous presence It goes without saying a huge part of the role of a doula is her ability to patiently abide in the presence of a laboring mom. The doula’s sympathetic presence alone unlocks a treasure chest of comfort and strength for a mother experiencing childbirth. But why is this so? What is the psychology behind the phenomenon of a continuous presence? Let’s look at history. From the beginning of time we see from art depictions and historical texts women attended by other women during birth – often a midwife along with female attendants – most likely the birthing woman’s friends. When birth moved into the hospitals…
-
Baby Friendly – Mother Friendly
Baby Friendly? Mother Friendly? Have you heard of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative? Are these terms confusing? What do these terms actually mean for mothers and babies? What are their differences? Baby Friendly The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) desires to promote breastfeeding and the health of babies through evidence based practices for successful breastfeeding, and mother/baby bonding. It is an international program initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991. The program is voluntary and if a hospital pursues the designation, they can be awarded the coveted Baby Friendly Hospital status. Mother Friendly The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative…
-
Relationship with an Expectant Mom- The Doula’s Role
WHO Recommendations: A Doula’s Role Birth is so much more than a change of address for baby. It affects mothers holistically and mothers deserve holistic care. The World Health Organization recently recognized this need through their Safe Childbirth Checklist. A doula’s role for every woman giving birth is part of their healthy practice recommendations. The research for doulas has concluded that continuous support provided during labor significantly improves birth outcomes for both mother and baby. The benefits of having a doula present include: an increased apgar score for baby a decreased chance of the mother undergoing a c-section a decrease in the mother’s request for pain-relieving medication an increase…
