#birth doula

[prolifeproliberty]

Hi, I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my first. I'm very healthy, and my pregnancy has been extremely low risk. I'm starting to get nervous, as labor will be any day now. What is your opinion on an epidural? Having something inserted in my spine scares me; I have a high pain tolerance, but the idea of tearing/episiotomy is almost as scary as the epidural. Generally, I'm leaning towards having a natural birth. Any advice would be appreciated ❤️

Hi!

That’s so exciting - you’re almost there! :D

I know many moms who got their epidural and loved it, and I know others who didn’t have such a great experience or had side effects/complications. There’s no easy answer here!

Epidural doesn’t lower your risk of tearing (in fact, sometimes it raises it if you aren’t feeling the urge to push and have to do directed pushing). There are a lot of things you can do with the help of your nurses/midwife to avoid or minimize tearing, like using warm compresses and doing perineal massage (the latter you can start doing now before you go into labor!). It’s becoming much less common for doctors to do episiotomies except in extreme emergency situations, but definitely ask your OB their policy. The research shows that episiotomies do not prevent tearing (in fact, they may increase the risk), so there’s no real reason to do them routinely.

There are a lot of ways to cope with labor pain without an epidural, such as using movement, different labor positions, massage, counter pressure, aromatherapy, breathing techniques, a warm bath/shower, and so on.

If possible, consider getting a doula for your birth. DoulaMatch.net is a good place to start. If you can’t get a doula (or even if you can), it’s a good idea to let the nurses at your birth location know that you are trying to avoid pain medication and need their support with comfort measures. At a recent birth I attended, because the mom came with a birth plan focused on a natural childbirth, they assigned the nurse who is really passionate about natural childbirth to her, and that nurse was awesome, almost like having a second doula!

The two biggest things to remember:

1. Don’t go to the hospital too early! With your first, labor tends to last longer, and without the context of prior births many moms think they are closer to delivery time than they are. When you get into early labor (sporadic contractions that don’t stop you from talking/focusing on other things), try to take your mind off the contractions by taking a nap, eating a good meal (definitely eat a good meal before going to the hospital!), watching TV, taking a walk, or some other activity. Don’t go until it’s really time, or you’ll spend more time than you need to getting poked and prodded by nurses.

2. When you do go to the hospital, remember that women are not designed to labor laying on their backs! Gravity is your friend, as is movement. The two together will help your baby descend and engage in the pelvis. Walking, sitting on a birth ball, slow dancing with baby’s dad, and getting on hands and knees can all help baby move while also reducing the tension in your body. I recommend changing positions every 30 minutes or so (but if a position isn’t working for you, don’t wait!)

A great book to get (probably if you can get quick shipping or find it locally) is The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. Lots of great info about pain medication options and comfort measures to cope with pain naturally!

#childbirth #pregnancy #labor and delivery #doula #birth doula #epidural #natural childbirth

[denovo4me]

DOULA - At Your Cervix T-Shirt

DOULA - At Your Cervix flowery design.

https://www.zazzle.com/

#doula #birth doula #childbirth #pregnant #pregnancy #cervix #giving birth #zazzle

[mamaangiwine]

The more I read about folk medicine the more angry I am with how modern day health care trains doctors to interact with patients. There are multiple words in different cultures that all at once address the mental, physical and spiritual distress being experienced by an individual. Words that can only be understood from the view point, and lived experience, of someone who was raised in that culture...but most modern medicine is not equipped to handle these kind of cultural concepts of "illness" and therefore at best tries to place them into categories they don't fit in or, at worst, outright disregards them as backwards; thus completely invalidating both the patient's distress and culture in the process.

In essence, the experience of illness is informed by culture.

In essence, poets have understood for centuries what modern medicine cannot.

We all sit and talk about the beauty of language and culture and how the word for 'love' does not have the same root, or direct meaning from one nation to another- and yet, we expect the world to have the same understanding of "pain"?

#angry #traditional medicine #ethnomedicine #folk magic #folk medicine #folk practitioner #curandeiro #bruxa #herbalsim #birth doula #doula #spirituality #i just think our healthcare could keep in mind individual experience and viewpoint as it affects both illness and suffering #you should still go see your doctor if youre sick tho

[tenaciousmoneymuffinzine]

It's my birthday today. Also, I finally got around to changing the phone number on my doula decal on the back of my car 🙌

I changed my phone number back in August lol

Give me 5 months, I can do anything 😄

#birthday #happy birthday #it's my birthday #birth doula #midwife #future midwife

[doulakatie]

There are so many benefits to hiring yourself a doula for your birth. Studies have shown that having a doula not only decreases your risk of a cesarean by 50% but decreases your length of labor by 25%, you are 40% less likely to get pitocin, and 60% less likely to ask for an epidural. Doulas help you to change positions, use touch and massage to help you relieve pain, and researchers believe that the simple presence of a doula in the birthing space decreases the chances of a provider even suggesting a c section.

It it worth mentioning that c section births are beautiful and valid. If you've had a birth with an epidural, pitocin, or c section, these numbers are not to make you feel like your birth is "less than" however there are risks associated with interventions. Hiring a doula is a good way to help minimize those risks because their expertise will decrease the likelihood of intervention occurrence.

#doula #doula life #birth doula #giving birth #mom life #support #birth support

[kayandthegoldendays]

Back in the concrete jungle, the summer session is in full swing and my psych courses have me pumped even though I missed entry into one developmental course I was dying to get into because they told me I was off the waist list DURING a birth I was attending 😒

ANYWAYS, four babies in less than two weeks. I was like why am I so tired? Then I realized ahh it hasn’t even been two weeks! So far Three boys, one girl. I’m going to start one of those birth jars to keep track!

I moved into my new apartment and Manhattan has never looked so clean in my new neighborhood plus I’m less than a 15min walk to Central Park, it’s quiet, and my neighbors have massive pups that they let me pet!

I’m supposed to be planning, there’s things to be done with the ongoing swing of life but the only thing I have planned so far is — I think I want to take a pause from births at years end. Maybe head on a trip to see the Christmas markets finally. I was supposed to be in Germany last year before the crash landed me in the ICU and I’ve been a bit nervous to plan the trip again (PTSD isn’t fun).

But I want to! It’s on my list and I feel like I deserve it. I don’t plan to attend my own graduation and it will ruffle feathers once I tell my family but I’d much rather be far away than stuck in an auditorium.

I feel so grateful, tired but grateful. The golden days indeed and I pray they continue. Some days I get overwhelmed with the goodness, and then I settle my heart by reminding myself of everything I’ve survived in less than a year. I deserve this season.

I have spinach filled ravioli cooking on the stove and on my first full day off tomorrow I might get really wild and go buy an instapot!!!

#personal #studyblr #light academia #study inspo #psychblr #runblr #kayrunsamarathonparttwo #new york city #nyc #marathoner #marathon diaries #doula to midwife #full spectrum doula #doula life #postpartum doula #birth doula #birth stories #happiest human

[loveblackculture]

#birth doula #doulas

[daycare4doulas]

So I was apart of my first childbirth as a doula!

Was such a blessing to witness.

It all aligned so perfectly. Yesterday we were taking photos and singing songs and the next morning we welcome the little one to the family unit. I am forever grateful for the experience.

It is a major choice for me to choose to hold space to become a doula. I am needing to educate myself on areas I never thought much about before in order to sustain my hope and dream to do everything and more that I did today.

But for now I take this moment, and so many more moments to come of mindfulness , to appreciate the beautiful blessing which is today.

03/31/24 - DOULA DELIVERY

#douladiary #blackdoulasmatter #doula in training #birth doula

[hellomegedwards]

Death Doula

I have twice thought about being a doula, once for births and once for deaths. What ‘job’ could be more meaningful? Birth and death are big events with lots of emotion swirling around where a calm practical doula can offer useful tips and emotional support. I have twice thought I could be that steady, sturdy person. I had two beautiful home births in my thirties and attended two births. I…

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#birth doula #death #death doula #labour #mothering #parenting #personal care work #writing

[lokilysolbitch]

is there a death/birth doula who calls themselves doula peep yet

#dua lipa #dula peep #doula #death doula #birth doula #handmadeorganicpost

[prolifeproliberty]

Any advice on how to start as a doula? I took a training course, but I don't know where to start as far as organizations to potentially work for, how to get experience, how to advertise my skills

Definitely check for a local doula group in your area. There are a growing number of nonprofits that provide free doula services, and they need volunteers! Some will be woke - in my case, I volunteered with a woke group just long enough to get some experience, and then quit them when they started asking if we would provide "abortion doula" services :/

If there isn't a group like that, consider talking to local pregnancy centers and offering free services for their clients. And of course, let your pregnant friends and relatives know that you're happy to be their doula! I make it a policy that my close friends never pay for doula services from me. I get experience, I get to be there for them and their babies, and they get a free doula! Win-win-win.

As far as advertising, I'm on DoulaMatch.net. It's $15 a year, which is pretty reasonable. I have yet to get a booking through that site, but my availability calendar on there is very limited (since I still teach full time). All of my clients so far have been word-of-mouth, and most have been close friends.

You can also use DoulaMatch to see how other doulas are pricing their services - try to find a few who are close to your level of experience (years, # of births) and match what they're charging.

Also, as you are getting set up, take some time to make sure you have all the paperwork you need - some kind of service agreement for clients to sign (which says what they're paying and what you're providing, when/how they pay, what happens if you can't get to the birth in time, etc), a standard list of resource referrals (lactation support, postpartum support, etc, pregnancy centers, etc), and a simple birth plan template.

I hope this helps! I'm still navigating a lot of this. My most recent client was my first "full price" client, and so it was also the first time I had to think about managing a payment plan. Definitely a learning experience!

#doula #childbirth #birth doula

[denovo4me]

Doulas Make Childbirth Easy Sticker

Several sticker sizes are available.

#birth doula #doula #childbirth #pregnancy #pregnant #midwifery #doulas #stickers #decal #car decals #window decal

[take-a-dip-in-the-deadpool]

Doulas when they see a pregnant lady 

#doula #birth doula #yugioh #its time to doul

[tenaciousmoneymuffinzine]

Today is Day 2 of the 3 day class that I am taking to get doula certified!!

My mom's friend, who is a doula and a midwife, is teaching the class, and I'm learning so much! It's so much fun, worth the money, and I'll be a certified doula by tomorrow evening!

I'm so excited!

#doula #birth doula #doula training #midwife #midwifery

[doulakatie]

Birth, especially in our country, is treated like it’s a very unnatural process. It’s dangerous, we can easily “hurt our babies”, everything we do could effect the outcome negatively. It’s never treated like a natural process. Like our bodies were literally built for this. Our bodies have hormones like progesterone, oxytocin, and relaxin that help us to naturally birth our babies. It’s very unlikely that medical intervention of any kind is necessary. Doulas will help you navigate those waters. Reach out if you ever have a question about this process.

#doula life #doulalife #doula #giving birth #birth #birth doula #natural

[kayandthegoldendays]

sky blues.

We are patiently awaiting arrival of baby M, walking, foraging and bird watching, it’s in my nature to propel forward (NYC has engrained something horrific in me).

And remembering to slow down is the greatest gift this season has brought. I hike, I run, but I also pray and observe. E, holds the steadiness and patience of a reincarnated angel. I wonder how many lifetimes it takes to craft a spirit of gentleness in moments of unknown. Once baby arrives I may only have a few days left before hugging them all goodbye, the thought makes my heart thump in a heavy way but I’ve told myself it’s temporary.

I made bone broth, called the resources to find a postpartum doula to come once I depart and I keep praying my hands remember the skills they hold. I was in meditation yesterday and felt the oddest surge, and I know early labor is nearing. It always brings the same hum, the quiet transition as two worlds start to unfold preparing to merge.

Today I might sit in the sun, the days have tainted my lips deep red and my skin a golden copper, I don’t mind. I think I look more like my grandmother. I saw a wild fox, some horses and a eagles on my last hike. So this time I’m packing a few more snacks and sitting, I (embarrassingly) took my iPad last time (I can’t believe I did that) and 3 miles into the hike I said screw the email. Look at the mountains. Plus I’m my own boss, and I’m supposed to be hiring an admin type and a PA but again….I’m the boss. And it can wait.

#personal #awaiting M #studyblr #student midwife #doula #doula life #softcore #soft core #doulalife #birth #birthwork #birth story #midwifery #birth doula #full spectrum doula #postpartum doula #colorado #mountains #mountain life