Health of a Doula

Hello all, 

ME

  I have neglected keeping this blog up, after my announcement in 2009 that I would not be able to work as a birth doula any longer, but have kept up my Doula Surround Facebook page, if you want to mosey on over there to find some great resources and stay up to date on this doula's world!  
  I am managing my Fibromyalgia (diagnosed last year) and have attended some beautiful births, even though I said I could not.  They were for friends, but still put a lot of work into them.  Three altogether, making my total of births attended 15.  
  I am still an active Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, also and have created a new page on FB for that, too. 
Thank you!


Kelly K, CD (CBI)

Article I enjoyed for its thoroughness in listing remedies for "as needed" in labor & childbirth & even for benefits to baby. As a birth doula, I cannot recommend any form of medicine, including homeopathy. Suggestions? Maybe, but cannot dispense it. We have to be careful how we mention these things.
Alternative Medicine

Homeopathy for Labor and Childbirth

By: Melanie Grimes

Homeopathy provides many remedies for pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Homeopathic remedies can provide great healing for both mothers and newborns. In 1900, James Tyler Kent wrote, “No woman at the present day is well enough to go through labor without some symptoms calling for a remedy.” This same sentiment is true today.



Kelly K, CD (CBI)

How to Choose a Birth Doula

Taken from this article online .

1. Know how a doula can benefit you & your partner in pregnancy & in the birth of your child.
2. Learn the common misconceptions.
3. Contact the Certifying Organizations of Doulas. Childbirth International, for instance. Dona is one of the most popular though.
4. Search the internet, as most doulas are NOT listed in the Yellow Pages.
5. Contact your local La Leche League chapter.
   
6. Ask your care provider. Most have a list of local doulas.
7. At the interview, ask lots of questions & don't hold back.
8. Make sure your personalities mesh well together, as she will be involved in one of the most intimate environments ever.
9. Make sure you know her philosophies & biases. This DOES matter.
   

Kelly K, CD (CBI)

Birth Story Mad Libs

Fill in this Birth Story Mad Libs...
should prove to be fun, fun!

Kelly K, CD (CBI)

Orgasmic Birth on 20/20 TONIGHT!

Some women even say that instead of agony, childbirth can be ecstasy.

"...the goal is not necessarily an actual orgasm."
"I hope women watching and men watching don't feel that what we're saying is, every woman should have an orgasmic birth," she said. "Our message is that women can journey through labor and birth in all different ways. And there are a lot more options out there, to make this a positive and pleasurable experience."

Watch the story Friday on "20/20" at 10 p.m. ET

Orgasmic Birth, January 2nd, 2009... that's tonight!

Virtual Labor

Only one who believes in women's bodies to birth & who may or may not be pregnant would enjoy this, but I thoroughly did. This tool is based on natural birth.

I love this Virtual Labor online of "what-to-do" and of what you CAN do when labor starts.
At each stop in the labor you will be required to make a decision about how to respond. The next part of your labor will be randomly selected based on the way you choose to handle the current situation. There is no right or wrong answer.

Cheatin' at Birth Classes...

How to cheat & NOT take a birth class; not generally recommended, but I have attended more than one set of parents that had never taken a class & was happy with the outcome at the birth of their child.

• First, look into birth doula support during labor. I’ve met women who had no birth know-how going into their birth; who didn’t read books, who did not take classes, and still had a great birth because they had doula support.


• Read one or two of these:
  Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: the Revised Edition
  Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
  Mothering Magazine’s Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
  Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
  Watch these videos:
  Birth As We Know It
  A large collection of natural birth DVDs
  


• If you are interested in childbirth in general, but not sure that totally natural is right for you, try these resources:
  The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth - this is my favorite general childbirth and pregnancy book. This book is not only about natural childbirth, but you should be aware of all your options. Knowing about medical interventions in labor and birth is very important,even if you want a natural birth. The author, Kitzinger errs on the side of natural is best when possible, but always shows you all your options.
  The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth
  Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide
  


• Watch this video:
  Laugh and Learn About Childbirth - covers Lamaze based childbirth technique.

Welcome New Baby, Andrew!

This is to welcome a new baby, Andrew.

He weighed in at 8 lbs. 4 ozs.

I attended the birth of him on Thursday of last week.

Yes, it was on the American holiday, Thanksgiving!

He is a precious blonde. He was born happy and alert- nursed beautifully, too!

Good job, mommy!

Doulas are for DADS, too!

Doulas are for Dads, too!


As a doula, part of the work that I do is fostering the relationship that the couple has.

Part of the beauty of this work is that we can really help the dads to have a better birth experience too and also give them the opportunity to support his partner is his own way, whether that be right in there in the thick of it all, or in a more back of the scenes way.

The moms don't have to get upset at their partners when he just doesn't seem to know what to do because we are there guiding him while we serve both of them.

I don't think the dads are giving over their role at all. I do find, however, that at some point during labor even the most actively supportive dads step back just a bit into a more protective role and allow the "women's work of birth" to take over. Most of the time when this happens it is as labor becomes very active, just before full dilation when it can get very intense. They always come right back to it when she is pushing.

There was some study done, maybe by Klaus and Kennell showing that moms who have doulas and their spouses with them feel closer to their spouses after the birth than those who don't have doulas.
A good doula makes the dad look like a hero!

Doppler More Powerful than Ultrasound Exams

According to Anne Frye, midwife and author of "Understanding Lab Work in the Childbearing Year" (4th Ed.)p. 405:

Doppler Devices: Many women do not realize that doppler fetoscopes are ultrasound devices. (apparently, neither do many care providers. Time after time, women are assured by doctors and even some nurse midwives that a doppler is not an ultrasound device.) . . . .
Not well publicized for obvious reasons, doppler devices expose the fetus to more powerful ultrasound than real time (imaging) ultrasound exams. One minute of doppler exposure is equal to 35 minutes of real time ultrasound. This is an important point for women to consider when deciding between an ultrasound exam and listening with a doppler to determine viability in early pregnancy. . . . .
If you have a doppler, put it aside and make a concerted effort to learn to listen yourself! Save your doppler for those rare occasions when you cannot hear the heart rate late into pushing or to further investigate suspected fetal death. " copyright l990, Anne Frye, B.H. Holistic Midwifery.

Personally, after 23 years of attending births, I would not permit a doppler in my house if I were pregnant. You always know that something is ultrasound because there will be "jelly" involved. If you want a cheap listening device for the baby's heart just save the core from a roll of toilet paper. Put one end on the lower belly and the other on hubby's ear.

If you want to know your baby is doing well, count the fetal movements in a day. Starting at 9 a.m. count each time the baby kicks. There should be l0 distinct movements by 3 p.m. http://gentlebirth.org/archives/preScreen.html#USResources

Difference Between Doulas and Midwives

A common misconception is that we, as doulas, can do what a midwife does. That is NOT true. Our roles seem the same, but in the midst of the laboring mother's world, the roles are different, yet both lead to raising the chances of having a normal birth.

Why have a Doula?

♥ Great testimony that rings true in most births with a doula attending. ♥

Birth Circle next Monday!

Come together to explore this significant time in your life.

Pregnant Women at any stage and New Moms

and anyone interested in Birth in general!

This Birth Circle will give you the opportunity to

focus on your pregnancy and transition into Motherhood.

There will be time to ask questions and to share

experiences with other Mothers and Mothers to be.

I host a Birth Circle at my home in Staunton, VA- every 3rd Monday at 7p.m. Please join us, if possible. We would love to have you!

Email me here for more info & directions: kelly@doulasurround.com

Children are welcome & we will have light refreshments!

Pelvic Types- 4 Different Kinds!!

Many women do not realize that they can have one of four different TYPES of PELVISES. Some women's pelvises are a mixture of two or three or four though!
I learned it in my 'doula training'. Not Surprisingly so...as it was like a mini-midwifery course!


The 4 Basic Types of Pelvis' are: Round, oval, triangular and flat .
They are different shapes in different women.



Why it matters: Rotation and descent of baby varies between the different shapes!!
Some women cannot 'squat' because of the certain shape they have, some women have naturally flat bellies, when not pregnant, because of their specific shape, some women have "boyish'' hips because of their pelvis shape...


So, you see??


Why it does not matter: Because NO MATTER WHAT PELVIS YOU HAVE, you can birth your baby vaginally!!
I would love to share a site called spinningbabies.com that can give you more info on this.

6th Birth Attended

I attended a birth on 8-21-08. One day shy of being 2 weeks overdue! It went fabulous.
Mommy wanted to labor at home as long as possible, but seeing as her cervix was not ripe enough for labor to begin, she used an inserted "helper", having to STAY at the hosp. then.

It worked within 12 hours... she had contractions that made her 'stop talking' through each one, starting around 9 - 10 a.m.

I arrived at the hospital around 11 a.m. She was working through them easily, as they were on the mild side.... just 'showing themselves'. She was still laughing then.
After a couple of hours of intense labor, from about 1-3, she was about 9cm. No more laughing.

She hit 10cm & baby was born around 3:45p.m.

The cord was around his neck, so the midwife cut it before he was fully born... he was born, turned pink & was making everyone in the room cry tears of joy. He weighed 7.5 pounds & is nursing beautifully.

Virtual Labor

Only one who believes in women's bodies to birth & who may or may not be pregnant would enjoy this, but I thoroughly did. This tool is based on natural birth.

I love this Virtual Labor online of "what-to-do" and of what you CAN do when labor starts.

At each stop in the labor you will be required to make a decision about how to respond. The next part of your labor will be randomly selected based on the way you choose to handle the current situation. There is no right or wrong answer.

Fun, fun for all my Birth Junkie Friends!

YAY!

Using a Rebozo in Labor

I have a doula client due in August that loves the "hip squeeze". I was hoping to utilize a rebozo in helping her in labor. My doula-friend has one at her home that she made. I am hoping she will allow me to use it.

Here are some ways to help a mother in labor, to use a rebozo for management of pressure.

• Have the mother sit in an upright position. Place the rebozo so that it is under the mother's arms and goes over her chest. The coach stands behind the mother, holding the ends of the rebozo to support the mother's weight. The coach can gently sway the mother from this position.
  
• Have the mother get in a hands and knees position. Wrap the rebozo under the mother's belly and around her thighs so that the coach can hold the ends above her. The coach will gently sway the rebozo side to side.
  
• Wrap the rebozo around the mother's eyes and ears, blocking and muffling incoming sights and sounds to help the mother relax.

Here is a link to more info on using a Rebozo .

Prevent Cesarean Surgery

"...real quotes spoken by women who have had both cesarean and vaginal births, it presents invaluable information that is researched based. All women of childbearing age will benefit from this educational movie. It is a must see!"

Please inform yourself, so as to avoid any unecessary pain, including emotional pain.

Preparing for Labor: Exercises you can do

Preparing for labor
During the final months of pregnancy,
a few simple exercises can help prepare your muscles for labor.

Kegels
For example, Kegel exercises help tone your pelvic floor muscles. Simply tighten your pelvic muscles as if you're stopping your stream of urine. Try it for five seconds at a time, four or five times in a row. Repeat throughout the day.
Various other exercises target the muscles that will receive the most stress during labor and delivery.

Tailor sitting
The tailor sitting position stretches the muscles in your thighs and pelvis. It also improves your posture, keeps your pelvic joints flexible and increases blood flow to your lower body.
Sit on the floor with your back straight. Bring the bottoms of your feet together, pull your heels toward your groin and gently drop your knees. You'll feel a stretch in your inner thighs. Try tailor sitting anytime you're able to sit on the floor.
If it's difficult to sit in this position, use a wall to support your back or place cushions under each thigh. Remember to keep your back straight.

Pelvic rock
The pelvic rock stretches the muscles in the lower back, which helps relieve backaches.
Rest on your hands and knees with your head in line with your back. Pull in your stomach, rounding your back slightly. Hold the position for several seconds. Then relax your stomach and back, keeping your back as flat as possible. Repeat several times. Gradually work up to 10 repetitions.
You can do a similar exercise leaning against a wall. Simply stand up straight and push the small of your back against a wall.

Wall slide
Squatting during labor can help open the pelvic outlet, which gives your baby more room to descend through the birth canal. But squatting is tiring. It may help to practice ahead of time.
Try the wall slide. Stand with your back against a wall, your feet shoulder-width apart. Slide down the wall until you're in a sitting position. Hold the position for a few seconds and then slide back up. Repeat several times. Gradually work up to 10 repetitions.
For less stress on your knees, try the wall slide with an exercise ball behind your back. You can also squat without the wall. Keep your back straight and your feet shoulder-width apart.

May is International DOULA Month!

The month of the Doula has arrived! May is International Doula Month!

Doulas provide much support for women in pregnancy, in labor & afterwards.

Emotional, physical & informational support is their focus, for ALL mothers & their families.

Here are some questions to ask when choosing a Labor Doula for your birth:

Choosing a labor doula: Answers to your most-asked questions