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Why I Have A Doula

We’ve written a little bit before about doulas on the site, but we’ve never been able to share personal experiences with one until now.  Back when I first found out I was pregnant, I wanted a midwife but couldn’t find one.  I thought at least I might be able to find a doula, because that would be better than nothing.  I wanted someone, other than my at-times too logical husband, who would definitely be all on my side during labor. It took me a while, and I actually ended up finding a midwife first, but I was able to find … Continue reading →

What Is A Doula?

You may have heard one or more people talking about using the services of a doula during and after childbirth. If you are wondering what a doula is, you have come to the right place. Today I am going to offer a brief explanation of what doulas do, so that you can decide whether you would like to find one to help you out. A doula is a trained professional who provides useful information as well as physical and emotional support for a pregnant woman during and for some period of time after the birth of the baby. There are … Continue reading →

Natural Remedies to Aid in Postpartum Healing

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, approximately one in three women having a vaginal delivery also have an episiotomy. Even without the episiotomy, women may experience bruising or tearing in the perineum. This is the most common source of discomfort in the days after giving birth. You may be given ice packs or anesthetic spray in the hospital to help with the discomfort. In addition, there are natural remedies that can aid in healing the perineum after your baby is born. Essential Oils are thought to be effective for postpartum healing. Some of the oils you may … Continue reading →

Pregnancy Blog Review for October 12 – 25

Welcome to the Pregnancy Blog Review. In this section, I summarize the recent posts in the blog with a short description of the topic. Links are provided for you to easily click to read the rest of the story. The review is a good place to view the recent blogs in one place. The conclusive tests for chromosomal disorders, including Down’s syndrome are often invasive and carry risks to the baby. Women may soon have another option for a less invasive method of getting the same information found in an amnio or chorionic villi sampling. Read more in A New … Continue reading →

What is a Postpartum Doula?

Whether you have had a baby before or this is your first, you have probably heard of a doula. In general, the role of the doula during labor and birth is to support the mother and her partner, advocate for the woman with health care staff and help keep the birth moving according to the mother’s birth plan and personal wishes for her birth experience. But, have you heard of a postpartum doula? This group of doulas specializes in offering care for new mothers and their families after the baby is born. The general idea isn’t new. Nurses have been … Continue reading →

Preparing for Your First Week as a Mom

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As your due date approaches, concerns about how life will be after the baby comes are perfectly normal. Even if you have had a lot of experience babysitting other children, handling a newborn 24/7 and juggling motherhood with everything else can be a big challenge. Here are some things you can do to prepare: 1. Get plenty of rest. Resist the urge to stay up cleaning your house and sleep as much as possible during your last days of pregnancy. 2. Cook meals ahead of time. Prepare and freeze enough dinners to last you a solid week. You’ll be much … Continue reading →

Post Partum Hemorrhage

Post partum hemorrhage is estimated to affect approximately four percent of mothers after the births of their babies. This is a very serious and potentially life threatening complication of child birth. Post partum hemorrhage (PPH) can happen after either a vaginal birth or a c section. There are some potentially serious complications that can result from post partum hemorrhage, some with long term ramifications. PPH can result in the need for blood transfusion, surgery to stop the bleeding, and in very serious cases, the need for a hysterectomy to get the bleeding under control. Of course, the most serious complication … Continue reading →

Post Partum Anemia

Post partum anemia is a relatively common problem. According to research by the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 27 percent of women experience post partum anemia. The condition may be diagnosed shortly after your baby’s birth or later at the post partum visit. Fatigue is the most common symptom of post partum anemia. All new mothers are tired, but most are feeling better by the post partum checkup. Women with post partum anemia are still exhausted at the six week mark. If you are still experiencing extreme tiredness and it is affecting your ability to go about your daily routine, mention it … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Who to Include at Your Homebirth

Giving birth is no doubt a personal and intimate time for a woman. Perhaps you already have an idea of whom you would like present at the birth of your child. Even more important is to decide whom you do not want present, for your comfort is the most important factor to consider. Sometimes there are people that are very eager to be present, but you aren’t comfortable with them being there. You will have to determine the best way to explain this to them, and remember that it is ultimately your decision who is there. If there are certain … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk Interview – With the Midwife

I conducted an interview with Eileen Denomme, a local homebirth midwife, to get an idea of what midwifery is all about. Here is what she had to say: Me: What led you to midwifery? Eileen: I think it was a combination of having 4 children born at home, and noticing the huge contrast between those and the hospital births my friends and family members were having. Eventually, people were asking me to attend their home births, and after 3 years of observing the senior midwife’s role during prenatals and home births, putting in my college studies and reading midwifery text … Continue reading →