Author: Doulamay

Why hire a doula?

~ Doulamay ~ 1 Comment

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What is a doula?

DOULA : from the ancient greek “A woman who serves”.
DOULA : a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth.
Today we use the word doula to refer to a person educated and experienced in supporting women in childbirth and parenting. Many doulas offer prenatal classes and breast feeding support. Some doulas specialize in postpartum care, and others work with infertile couples. The primary purpose of a doula is to inform and reassure the expectant family, providing them with unbiased information to help them make informed choices along their journey to parenthood.

Why hire a doula?
Numerous clinical studies have shown that women supported by a doula have shorter labours with less interventions. They are half as likely to have a C-section and less likely to use an epidural. They have more success with breast feeding and more positive memories of their birth experience.

What about my partner?

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Your doula can help support your partner while you are concentrating on birthing your baby. It is difficult to see your loved one in pain but your doula can reassure your partner that labour is progressing normally and that you are coping well. Your doula can show your partner massage techniques that will soothe you and can stay with you during meal and bathroom breaks.

A Baby Ready doula can be your support during this most important time. Let your doula help you write a birth plan and stick to it (as much as baby allows!) Your doula will help you and your partner remember what you learned during childbirth class, and provide you with information and coping techniques to help you labour in confidence. Your doula will encourage you to ask questions of your medical team so that you move through your labour and birthing informed and empowered. Think of your doula as your cheat sheet for the biggest exam of your life!

5 steps to an awesome induction.

~ Doulamay ~ Leave a comment

251814_10151795813205514_1168844160_nI know what you’re thinking: “aren’t inductions always awful?” “Don’t you hire a doula to avoid an induction?” “aren’t doulas all anti-intervention at all costs?” The answers to these questions are no, yes and not at all. Sometimes inductions are necessary. Doulas are not magicians. Interventions have their place. Last month I was privileged to attend the birth of a sweet-faced little girl. Her Mother had developed complications and the decision was made to induce at 38 weeks. Here is what my client taught me about how to have an awesome induction.

Step 1. Keep a positive attitude. So your birth plan was to have a water birth at home with midwives, and you find yourself checking in to the hospital for an early induction. Oh well. It’s still your birth and your baby, let’s make the best of it.

Step 2. Take one step at a time. The OB is most likely to offer you gel, AROM, Pitocin, and an epidural as a welcome package. Try to space out these interventions. See if the gel will work by itself. Try to relax, sleep, and let your cervix do its thing. Put off the next intervention for as long as possible.

Step 3. Walk walk walk. Try and move around as much as possible. The longer you can stay mobile, the better position your baby will slip into for an easier birth. Remember, gravity is your friend. There are many upright positions for labouring even if you want to rest in bed. A portable fetal monitor even allows you to shower or get in the bath. You can still move around with ruptured membranes and a Pitocin drip if you are determined to do so.

Step 4. Don’t be a martyr. You don’t have to suffer. Pitocin induced contractions are much harder and stronger than the natural kind. Very few women can manage them without pain relief. Getting an epidural does not mean you’re a failure, it means you can enjoy some pain-free time to rest up for step 5.

Step 5. Wait till you feel pressure on your rectum and push that baby out like a boss. That’s what the epidural does best – gets you through transition without batting an eyelid. If you stop pressing the top up button when you begin to feel pressure in your bum you should have enough sensation to push effectively when the time comes. Slow steady pushing is the way to go.

That’s it, my 5 steps for an awesome induction. Remember, it’s still your birth and your baby and you are the one in charge.

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Hello world!

~ Doulamay ~ Leave a comment

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Welcome to Baby Ready.

Is your baby lucky enough to have his or her own room, or will they be rooming with you? Have you got a crib or bassinet ready to go, or is it still flatpacked and making you anxious? Have you been pinning nursery ideas for months, but have no crafting skills?

Let Baby Ready help!

We can set up that crib and assemble that rocker for you.  We can paint and decorate your baby’s room so you don’t have to. We can help you make that pom-pom mobile that looks so cute in that design magazine, or make it for you!

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