10 ways you can benefit from hiring a Doula

10 ways you can benefit from hiring Doula

I remember when I was pregnant I thought I had it all under control. I completed my DONA Doula training and 2 weeks later I was pregnant after trying for several years and recovering from an ectopic 1 year prior. Yay!! Right??

I sat down and discussed with the Hubby that it only makes since to have a Doula. The Doula needs a Doula. Well, my Husband and lovely Mother convinced me that they could work as a great power house team and help me to achieve all my Birthing goals. I labored at home while my husband slept for a while. I felt that if I allow him to rest he will have the necessary energy during the big show. Plus Macks our wonderful Golden Retriever walked with me and stayed with me the entire time I labored at home. Needless to say my Husband was wonderful but not as effective as I needed him to be.

I labored for 22 hours and pushed for 3 hours with wonderful family support. How ever not the necessary support to prevent me from over working, not finding comfort on the contractions and not preventing the epidural.

Yes, the doula had an epidural. I hate to say it but “If I would have had a doula she would have kept me focused, relaxed and managing my level of discomfort as well as reminding me to change position because my daughter was OP and that’s why I had such uncomfortable back labor. I think I could have managed without the epidural”.

Many do not see the importance of having a doula.  We are a necessary part of the birthing community.

There are some who need it more that others and we are needed by families for various reasons.

Here is 10 ways you benefit from having a doula:

1.      You receive consistence non-judgmental support during pregnancy.

2.      You receive unlimited continuous support during labor & delivery

3.      Take the feeling of being overwhelmed assist in Feel more secure & cared for

4.      Results in shorter labor with fewer complications

5.      Reduces the need for Pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction, episiotomy & cesarean.

6.      Reduces mother’s request for pain medications & or epidural

7.      Have greater success with breastfeeding

8.      Necessary resources to assist in making sound decisions.

9.      Assistance with creating your birth plan

10.   Assistance navigating the birthing system

As a Doula, I work with the mother. Most do not realize we also work with the Dad as well. It really depends on Dad comfort leave dealing with managing experiences like delivery. I work with Dad in many ways. I am there to remind dad tell mom she is beautiful, you Love her and she is doing a great job. I also remind Dad to eat, sleep you have to keep your energy up. Give family updates. I also take picture of those wonderful and powerful moments you don’t even realize you have.

 I have had dad’s stay at the head of the bed and just hold moms hand the entire time. If you’re a Mom who need more interaction then a Doula would be great.

 If dad is one who is not a very affectionate person and not one for many words and you need verbal encouragement, words of affirmation and physical touch to help get you through then hiring a Doula is a great path to venture.

If your partner is everything and you just simply do not want him doing anything else just stay by your side the Doula can make sure your other needs are taking care of. Reminding you to breath, change position if you are experience certain contractions or if you need to remind dad when to take charge when staff is coming around and decisions are needed and you just don’t understand what choices you have.

The Doula isn’t there to take anybody place. We are there to help your experience be as close to your birth plan as possible. We are you enforcer, task master, coordinator and your source of caring and compassion. We are who you need us to be in addition to being your Doula.

If you have been considering a Doula feel free to schedule a consultation with me and see if we will be a good fit for one another. www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com

Tunisia Macklin
Peaceful Birthing Doula
Educate, Encourage, Empower and Serving Women
http://www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com
peacefulbirthingdoula@gmail.com
(630)481-6079

www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com

www.facebook.com/peacefulbirthingdoula

www.twitter.com/peacefulbdoula

www.instagram.com/peacefulbdoula

Email peacefulbirthingdoula@gmail.com  

Birthing your little one is a beautiful experience make sure you enjoy it. You will never forget. Make sure your memories are as precious as your little one.

For information on fact based information on hiring a doula

http://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

http://dona.org

http://doulamatch.net  

to review testimonies from Mom’s I’ve worked with

http://doulamatch.net/profile/6185/tunisia-macklin

It takes a village

Not for just the Crunchy

Have you been told your Crunch? Well if you agree with more than half of this you maybe a Crunchy Mom to be. There is no shame in it. Natural is great and if your borderline to not at all Crunchy I know you will still benefit from this post. Enjoy …

Throughout my life I have heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child”. In fact it does; but what about preparing for the conception and delivery of the child? You need to work on putting a great pregnancy, labor and delivery support team.

 Far too many times I have spoken with families that are not sure about their confidence in their provider for their wishes in their laboring or delivery. Most families haven’t considered what their idea of birth is. This can pose a bit of confusion when you’re intending to communicate with a provider.    

Whether you are considering having a baby or already pregnant there are a few things that should be addressed. Start to build your village (Support team). Conception can be a fun time or a daunting task that can be stressful depending on who you have in your village.

Most women would use their Obstetrician that has been treating them prior to considering conceiving. There is nothing to consider when just doing an annual pap smear.  However there are several things to consider when preparing for your new addition.

Most would think it all start with the easy part. The great part. The practice sessions. Great right? Now you’re using your Obstetrician through your prenatal. No one ever ask the Obstetrician the big and hard questions.

List below are a few questions to spark up conversation with your provider. These are also question you and your partner need to consider.

1.       Is this the Obstetrician for me during pregnancy and delivery?

2.       How do you know if this is the provider for you?

(a) You will need to consider whether their open to fewer interventions and more alternatives unless you’re okay with them.

(Such as: epidural, cervidil, cytotec, narcotics, vacuum, forceps and cesarean)

3.       Will they support me in my birth plan?

4.       Do they have midwives?

5.       What choices do I have in delivery?

6.        What hospital do they do deliveries?

7.       What is their cesarean rate?

8.       What’s their procedure on episiotomies?

9.       What’s the procedure for pregnancy past due date?

10.   What’s the procedure for if your water break while at home?

All these questions are valid questions and your provider should have an answer to and be willing to have a conversation with you about.

I am a firm believer of not waiting till you’re pregnant. Build your Birthing Team/ Village now. You are a customer your Obstetrician  should be someone you trust and they respect your wishes long as they are within reason.

Who should your birthing Team/ village consist of you ask? I’m glad you asked.

1.       Obstetrician /Midwife- ensures that you have a healthy birth. They are there to make sure that you and baby are experiencing a safe delivery.

2.       Doula (Doula options Antepartum doula, Labor doula and postpartum doulas)

www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com

3.       Chiropractor

4.       Massage therapist www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com

5.       Women’s health physical therapist

6.       Pediatrician

Each of those listed are helpful in many ways before, during and after pregnancy.

Your Obstetrician  / Midwife will provide the best care for you and your precious baby during pregnancy and delivery. They are there to ensure your prenatal care create a healthy environment for you and baby.

 The Midwife is more natural in many areas unless you are fortunate enough to find an O.B. that practices are similar to a midwife.

 A doula  is there to create a safe environment one that the mother feels safe and comfortable being her natural self during labor and delivery. The labor Doula is there to make sure that the family has the information needed to make sound decisions as well as laboring effectively and safely.   

Your Chiropractor is there to make sure your spine is healthy. They make sure your structure is healthy and sound. Chiropractors have many practices that can help you for comfort throughout pregnancy especially if baby is malposition they have a technique named Webster and Logan technique that can help with either breached or posteriorly positioned which can cause additional discomfort during labor and can also cause longer laboring experience.

Your massage therapist can help provide relaxation, stress reduction, loose musculature and if needed there are massage techniques that can assist in natural labor induction.

A women health physical therapist can work with you before during and after child birth. They help you to make sure your pelvic floor is healthily functioning, this comes in handing especially after delivery for women or men that have incontinence issues, chronic hip pain and core stability issues.

And, last but not lest the pediatrician. Pediatrician should the first thing on your mind when you are considering conceiving. Please speak with your insurance, speak with mom’s in your area and take to social media to ask around. There are a host of questions to ask your possible pediatrician. This is not for just the Crunchy Mom.

1.       What is your overall philosophy?

2.       How do you feel about alternative care over medications if it’s a minor issue?

3.       What are your views on vaccines and adjusted scheduling?  

If you would like to add me to your Team/Village please feel free to go to www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com  and if you would like to see about others to add to your team/village go to my resources page and you will find plenty of wonderful people who will be more than happy to join your team.  Remember it takes a Village please build your village early.

Tunisia Macklin
Peaceful Birthing Doula
Educate, Encourage, Empower and Serving Women
http://www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com
peacefulbirthingdoula@gmail.com
(630)481-6079

www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com

www.facebook.com/peacefulbirthingdoula

www.twitter.com/peacefulbdoula

www.instagram.com/peacefulbdoula