I have been on a pregnancy and birth journey. I’m sorry to have been missing for so very long. The journey has been marked by hills, along with their coinciding valleys, which culminated in the birth of a beautiful baby girl, Olive Wren. Our journey began almost exactly a year ago, on Labor Day 2010, when two lines appeared on a home pregnancy test! The fall and winter were exciting, yet also marked by severe all day sickness. I took comfort knowing that my hormones were very strong with the pregnancy, but also wondered at how much sicker I felt with this pregnancy than with my first. February was tumultuous in that I came down with appendicitis, and underwent surgery to have the offender removed. At 25 weeks pregnant, it was quite a roller coaster. Most often people want to know if I was scared. I was scared, but painkillers certainly dulled my emotions. Our friends and family surrounded us with love and prayer, and thankfully we both came out safe on the other side of surgery, just appendix-less. All day sickness continued throughout the duration of pregnancy, and I really focused on spending time as our family of three, as I knew that our daughter’s arrival would change everything.

We had a beautiful, uplifting labor that we spent together as a family of three, and Olive arrived early on a Sunday in May at Infinity Birthing Center. Our family is a little larger, but not large, and we are absolutely on cloud nine watching our children grow, learn, and love.

I hope to incorporate posts from our personal pregnancy journey in the next few months, so stay tuned. And for now, August 2011, I am not able to serve as a doula. Breastfeeding a three month old and doula-ing are not compatible for me. However, I have some wonderful doulas I can refer you to, and I hope to continue to bring you information about healthy pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn-ness during this doula hiatus. Thank you for being a friend.

No matter how hard our society and popular culture try to tell us that THE way to have a baby is by lying flat on your back with ten people yelling in your face ‘Push!!! 2… 3… 4… ,’ I am here to tell you that there are organizations pushing back on your behalf. Lamaze International (they’re not just your mother’s Lamaze any more) has made it’s way as mothers’ advocates, and as part of their 6 Healthy Birth Practices (more to come on all of these), Lamaze advocates for you to ‘avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urges to push.’ read all »

Alpha is a faith-based comprehensive childbirth class to prepare you for the birth of your child whether it is at home, a hospital, or a birth center. Registering now! Check out the website: alphachildbirth.com.

This YouTube video by Birth Matters Virginia discusses the roles of doulas during childbirth. Hear from care providers, doulas, and couples who have used doulas.

Watch here:

DoYouDoula?

Classes held in Sumner County, open to anyone

4 week series (2 hours per week) beginning March 1^st

Learn faith based techniques to reduce pain, decrease anxiety, and increase a positive birthing experience.

Learn how to use scripture to decrease fear and become more confident.

Comprehensive childbirth class teaches you what to expect in a hospital, understanding interventions and the benefits and risks of each one, labor and delivery terminology, how to stay low risk, relaxation techniques, the mechanics of labor, how to become your own advocate, how to write a birth plan, how your partner can best support you, breastfeeding basics, and newborn care.

Small group setting with lots of one on one time w/ instructor available. Taught by Certified Doulas.

Please email me through my contact form if you are interested in this class and I will send you more information.

I would not put it past myself to tell every pregnant woman I meet these things, as it’s the doula heart within me, but am also attune to social boundaries, and telling a nearly perfect stranger these things may be considered overstepping. So I write it here instead.

1) You are beautiful.

2) It’s overstated by some, but take care of yourself.  You will not regret it.  Stay active and eat balanced meals.

3) Seek the company of people that support you.

4) Be an educated consumer when it comes to your care provider.  Determine their style of care by asking questions about their percentages of intervention.  If you’re ok with having the 1 in 3 chance of x intervention (fill in the blank), then you’re fine.  If you’re not, hire a new care provider.  I know it’s hard, but you will move past the sentimentality when you know that you’ve made the best decisions you can.

5) 10 months may seem like a long time to nourish a being inside you, but it will fly by.  Treasure your quiet moments and give yourself space.

6) Trust your intuition.  Learn to trust yourself now, and you will be well-practiced when it comes to caring for your new little one. No one has your mother’s instinct.

This article is compelling and includes comprehensive facts about childbirth in the US in just two easy to read pages.  Be sure to read their 8 steps to reform maternity care.  Have questions? Let’s talk.

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10584

Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs anyone can do, and having a mood disorder can make a hard job feel impossible. Many women experience some form of postpartum mood disorders. Having a mental illness is not a measure of your worth, social status, race or religion. Getting treatment is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and bravery. Mental health in many societies is still often surrounded by misinformation and stigma.

Asking for help is hard, and being able to recognize that you don’t feel right, and then being able to reach out of yourself and ask for help is the hardest part.  You can do it.  Call me.  Call a friend.  Look online for help.  We are here. http://www.ppdsupportpage.com/

http://www.depressionafterdelivery.com/

From now on, when a woman tells me she is pregnant, or is planning on getting pregnant, my first question is, ‘how are you feeling?’ and my second question is ‘have you read “Your Best Birth?”‘  Ricki Lake and Abbi Epstein wrote this book as a response to their documentary, “The Business of Being Born.”  “Your Best Birth” is the perfect follow-up to the documentary that causes many women and their partners, after having watched it, to say “I could have a home birth.”  “Your Best Birth” undertakes all the emotions, questions, and frustrations with our culture’s maternity ward and puts them to good use.  It is a comprehensive, deep, yet not too in-depth, look at what your best birth could be and how to achieve it.  It is the perfect answer to the questions they prod out of you while watching “The Business of Being Born.”  Get it, read it, and call me when you have questions.