There was a time when partners were not allowed in the birth room. Things started to change several decades ago when partners expressed a desire to be more involved in the process and thus, began the shift to an expectation that the dad/husband/partner would always be in the birth room. The reality, however, is that … Continue reading Witness, Teammate or Coach – What Role Will You Play?
Category: Childbirth
Maybe you’ve been taking the hospital childbirth education class and as part of the last session they take you on a tour of the labor and delivery floor and the postpartum unit. Or maybe you took an outside class but still want to see where you will be giving birth. It’s time for the Hospital … Continue reading Let’s Take a Tour
If you can it’s a good idea to interview your OB or midwife before you get pregnant, but even if you’re already expecting, you can still take some time to search for the right provider for you. Often, when someone gets pregnant, they continue to go to the same person who has been providing their … Continue reading Give Your Provider a Job Interview
Is your doctor listening to you? Is she really answering your questions? Is he giving you all the information you need? Is your birthing facility telling you what you are “allowed” and “not allowed” to do? Are you feeling like an object instead of an active participant? Do you feel like you are being “steered” … Continue reading Informed Decision Making – Is Anyone Listening?
Let me start by saying that as a doula, I am here to support you in your birth no matter what your choices are. I do not have an agenda for your birth and I am not here to steer you in a particular direction. When I do a birth planning session with my clients, … Continue reading Just Do It – Because You Can!
I often see this question in pregnancy and parenting groups. It seems that people may think that if they have a midwife, they don’t need a doula. But maybe they don’t really understand the difference between a midwife and a doula. Typically an obstetrician practices using the medical model of birth (which is focused more … Continue reading Should I Hire an OB and a Doula, or a Midwife?
My husband has played golf on and off for many years, but this past summer he had the opportunity to get out on the links quite a few times. I am definitely a beginner, never having actually been on a golf course, but I was able to join him on the driving range several times. … Continue reading Can’t My Golf Instructor Be My Doula?
What comes to mind when you think about a birth plan? Lists of things you want to happen? Lists of things you want to avoid? Both of those are important. I believe it’s a great idea to go over all the options you have available and all the possible interventions that might be presented to … Continue reading Birth Plan – Try Looking at it Another Way
The postpartum period can be an amazing time of bonding with your new baby. It can also be a very difficult transition. While the baby blues are very common, intense feelings that go beyond 2 weeks might mean a call to your health care provider is a good idea. Here are a few questions to … Continue reading 5 Questions to Ask During Postpartum
Usually lots of time and thought goes into planning for the birth of your baby. But usually not near as much thought goes into planning for the postpartum period. Instead, you may find yourself coming home from the hospital with a tiny human thinking, “What the heck?” Sometimes you can’t believe they let you take … Continue reading 5 Ways to Prepare for Postpartum
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