Traveling

People often wonder how far are doulas willing to travel?  Every doula is different.  As for me I am pretty much willing to go from Ogden down to South Salt Lake areas.  If you are close to those areas but not in them I am still willing to meet with you to see if that would be a possibility for me to take you on as a client.  I hope that this helps to know the areas that I serve.

Happy Father's Day

To all the father's out there I hope you have had a wonderful day!  Fathers are a wonderful support to the mother's of children. Thanks to all the great dads out there!

Honey Bump Maternity Layton, Utah

Honey Bump Maternity is hosting this wonderful event here in Layton!  It's a great way to meet more than one Doula at a time.  I hope to meet some of you there!

Meet the Doulas Q&A Saturday, June 1st, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Come and meet some local Doulas! Learn how you can have a better birth. Ask questions and get answers. What is a Doula and how can you benefit from having one present at your birth? Come and find out!

Honey Bump Maternity

1155 N. Main Street, Layton, Utah 84014

View Map · Get Directions

Emotions of a birth

I can usually keep  me emotions in check while attending a birth.  Though sometimes I get caught up in the wonderful moment of seeing a family be born.  One of my most recent births did this to me.  The pure joy that was in the room once baby got earth side, and seeing my clients become parents together.

It is interesting looking back at the births I have attended and recognizing all the emotions going on in the room.  It always amazes me that a mental road block can cause labor or progress to stop.  I love being able to help moms work through those road blocks and to take in the positive and release the negative.  Or that one person in the room can put mom on edge or calm her down.

I believe that maintaining a clam and relaxed environment is a big key to helping mom stay in the zone.  Being in tune with her and following her lead on what she needs and wants.  It is important to be as constant and continuously changing with what the mother needs.  Not a task I take lightly.  I want to do the best I can to support the families I am privileged to work for, and make their birth the best it can be.

On Call

As my clients are getting closer to their guess dates and excitement hits the bursting point.  I am on call for them 24/7 until the arrival of their baby.  Mammas aren't the only one getting ready for the big day.  I too am getting ready.  I put my kids sitter on call.  (She rocks! And is willing to take them at a moments notice for how ever long she needs to!  Couldn't do this with out her!)  I go through my doula bag and make sure I have restocked from my last birth.  I make sure that I have my snacks and energy drinks.  I make sure that my scrubs are clean and ready to go, and that my spare outfit is also ready.  I make sure that me birth ball has been re-inflated and is ready to go, with the pump put back in the bag.

I go through kind of a nesting phase as well.  I try to make sure my house stays clean, at least dishes and laundry done.  I don't want to leave them with out things to eat and clean clothes to wear.  I try to pick up the toys every chance I get, but my boys are right behind me getting them back out.  Oh well for that part.  My dear husband just laughs and reminds me to let him know when the time comes, so he knows where the boys are.  It is so much fun to be waiting for new life to come into this world.  And then to be able to help families be born!

Dads and the Doula

I have had several people wonder why get a doula when their husband is going to be there?  Here is some great information concerning this.

When it comes to pregnancy, birth, and parenting, today's father may want to share everything with his partner. He may want to be actively involved; ease his partner’s labor pain, welcome his baby at the moment of birth and help care for his newborn at home. A birth doula can help a father experience this special time with confidence.

Studies show that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter labors, fewer medical interventions, fewer cesareans and healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when a doula provides labor support, women are more satisfied with their experience and the mother-infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With doula support, fathers tend to stay more involved with their partner rather than pull away in times of stress.

Today, a father's participation in birth preparation classes or his presence at prenatal visits and in the birth suite is a familiar occurrence. Yet, we sometimes forget that the expectations of his role as a labor coach may be difficult to fulfill. Sometimes it is also culturally inappropriate for an expectant father to be so intimately involved in the process of labor and birth.

The father-to-be is expected, among other things, to become familiar with the process and language of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and to advocate for his partner in an environment and culture he may be unfamiliar with. A doula can provide the information to help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the birthing woman, her partner and medical care providers.

At times a father may not understand a woman’s instinctive behavior during birth and may react anxiously to what a doula knows to be the normal process of birth. He may witness his partner in pain and understandably become distressed. The doula can be reassuring and skillfully help the mother to cope with labor pain in her unique way. The father-to-be may be asked to accompany his partner during surgery should a cesarean become necessary. Not all fathers can realistically be expected to coach at this intense level.

Many fathers are eager to be involved during labor and birth. Others, no less loving or committed to their partners' well being, find it difficult to navigate in uncharted waters. With a doula, a father can share in the birth at level at which he feels most comfortable. The doula’s skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed. If the father wants to provide physical comfort, such as back massage and change of positions, and help his partner to stay focused during contractions, the doula can provide that guidance and make suggestions for what may work best.

So how is a doula different from a labor and delivery nurse or partner/spouse?

The most important thing a woman needs during labor is continuous support. This means that you have someone by your side continuously from start to finish. A doula never leaves your side. Nurses have many other responsibilities other than you. Aside from helping care for you, the nurse is communicating with your care provider, taking care of other patients, documenting care, taking breaks, and taking care of other responsibilities. A nurse’s support ends when her shift does. The doula only has one obligation the whole time she is with you—and that is YOU!  Sometimes people think that they don’t need a doula because their partner will be with them continuously throughout labor. Your partner is an essential support person for you to have by your side. However, your partner will need to eat and use the bathroom at times. Also, most partners have limited knowledge about birth, medical procedures, or what goes on in a hospital.Doulas and partners can work together to make up a labor support team. To read a husband’s perspective on hiring a doula, read this article from Bloom in Spokane, Washington.  http://www.bloomspokane.com/2009/07/05/hiring-a-doula-a-husbands-perspective/  

I hope that this helps you on your path in choosing what is best for you and your family.

Info taken from these sites, they have more information on this topic as well.  

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

http://www.dona.org/mothers/dads_and_doulas.php

C-Section Experience

I have been asked if doulas are even necessary when a c-section is going to take place.  My answer is yes!  I believe that the mother needs even more support when a c-section is going to happen.  Many people look over the fact that it is major abdominal surgery!  It you were having any other surgery you would have lots of support through that.  I believe that the same is more true for moms having to go through this too.  After surgery is very important for support as well.  They are recovering from surgery and have a new baby to care for.
My first experience with a c-section was very interesting for me.  I was called by labor and deliver to come help them with this patient.  I go there and was informed of what was going on.  Unplanned c-section due to several unfavorable factors.  Mom wanted to have as natural an experience as possible, so this was not in her game plan at all.  Both her and her husband were very nervous about this.  I was allowed to go back into the OR with mom while she got her spinal and was prepared for surgery.  They started, and then brought dad in.  Mom was nauseated and throwing up a little.  She wanted to know what was going on the whole time.  The Dr did a great job of telling her what he was doing.  Dad kept peeking over the screen and telling mom as well.  I was holding her hand and reassuring her that things were going well.  The Dr lowered the screen for the birth of the baby.  Mom was so excited to see her baby.
Dad went with the baby to the nursery unit.  The Dr's then went about stitching mom back up.  I was able to see the baby from where I was standing.  I told mom everything that they were doing from taking babies temperature, to the pediatrician listening to babies heart and lungs.  She was very glad to be able to know what was going on with her baby.  Dad brought baby back over to mom shortly after they were done checking baby out.  Mom was then able to give kisses and loves to her new baby.
We headed to recovery where mom was able to breastfeed with some help.  It was amazing to see the love this family had for their new baby.  I left them once they were ready to rest.
I had a chance to run into the Dr shortly after that and he informed me that it was wonderful to have a support person there to help keep mom calm and informed of everything that was going on during delivery and shortly after.  He told me that it meant a lot to the mom to have someone telling her what was going on with her baby.
I loved being able to help this mom and dad out during this very important time in their lives.