What is the connection between birth and fear? Why is fear such a common component of birth? Why are we afraid of something that billions of people have done (and every one of us has experienced – even if we don’t remember it?) And what effect does that fear have on labor and delivery? When … Continue reading Fear of Birth
Category: Doulas
This year's theme for World Doula Week is #doulasbenefiteveryone. World Doula Week's Facebook page posts a challenge for each day of the week, which celebrates doulas all over the world as they empower families during childbirth. One of the challenges is to tell a brief story about how being a doula has benefited me in … Continue reading World Doula Week
Going on vacation is something that you look forward to all year. You decide on the time frame you want to be gone, you choose a place to go, you research hotels and book airfare, you find restaurants to eat at, and you plan excursions. All of these things are so that you can get … Continue reading Vacation? Staycation? – Babycation!
I recently came across a great article about attuning to your baby. It is an interesting look at the science behind how your baby communicates with you in the early weeks and months, and how you can learn to pay attention to her cues. You can read the post here. It's a good reminder that … Continue reading Attuning To Your Baby
During the birth planning session, I often hear from clients about their desire to be able to move around during labor. A common fear about hospital births is the potential to be confined to the bed. Most women don't feel empowered if they are told to stay put, especially when they are uncomfortable or in … Continue reading Ambulation During Labor — is it Really That Big of a Deal??
Recently this question was posed: use one word to describe what your clients get when they hire you Of course, there are many words I could choose, but the first one that came to mind was SUPPORT As a doula, this support takes many forms. You can read about what that support looks like during labor … Continue reading One Word
What does non-judgmental support really look like? When I became pregnant and entered the world of motherhood, I had lots of ideas about how I wanted my birth to go and how I wanted to parent my child. My husband and I spent lots of time thinking and talking about those details. Little did I … Continue reading Non-judgmental Support
"Our thoughts create our experiences." -- Louise Hay I came across this quote in a book I'm reading and I thought it was very fitting for the work I do as a doula. Whatever the outcome of a birth, it is the parents' perception of that birth that will form the memory and therefore the … Continue reading Circumstance vs. Experience
I have a particular passion for the postpartum period. I remember coming home with my first-born and sitting in the rocking chair thinking, "Now what?" I remember having the questions of when do I put him down, is it time to feed him, when do I change his clothes, do I even need to change … Continue reading The Postpartum Visit
There is no shortage of information about dads and birth. Of course, most of the information is about how dads can support their partners. There are lots of blog posts about how to time contractions, count during pushing, verbally encourage, be an advocate, take pictures and cut the cord. While these are all really great … Continue reading Partners Need Doulas Too
journeyforwardbirthandparenting.com 