Learn more about Align’s coordinator and birth/postpartum doula Emily K by reading her spotlight interview!
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If you’re learning how to juggle having a new baby and a toddler, you’re not alone. Most of us go through it at some point. And while we expect a bit of a bumpy ride, what most of us don’t think about is how having an infant will affect our children’s routine, especially on days when you can’t pack the baby up and head to the park.
Read on for mom-approved advice on how to make the most of days when fall and winter make their presence known.
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You may have heard that writing a birth plan, or summary of your birth preferences can help you to have a more positive birth experience. I couldn’t agree more; however, in my opinion that’s not the first, only, or even most important part of preparing for your birth. Here are my 5 top tips for planning for a positive birth experience…
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A lot of families we support as doulas aren't aware that they'll likely have a choice when it comes to how their baby’s heart rate is monitored during labor, and don't realize how large an impact this choice can have on how a birth unfolds. So, what are the different types of monitoring, and which is best for you? Read on for a little background info that may help when discussing this important decision with your provider…
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In our culture, many of us grew up watching tv and movies that portray labor coping as limited to a woman panting and screaming for drugs. Remember The One Where Rachel Has a Baby? The truth is, it doesn't have to be this way. If you do decide to use pain meds (a completely valid choice) you still have options you can learn about and prepare for ahead of time. There are also non-pharmaceutical alternatives that can be very effective, and benefits to holding off until later in labor to have meds, if you decide to go that route. Read on for additional information on narcotic options and the lesser-known natural coping techniques you may want to include in your birth plan…
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Packing a hospital bag for the day you go into labor ahead of time can feel a little like packing for a surprise trip when you don’t know the destination. Here are a few things you may want but haven’t yet thought of…
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Most people know that on the journey to having a baby, vaginal exams will be part of the equation. But do you know the purpose of these exams? What they're checking for? Possible risks? What your options are in this area? If not, read on.
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Exercise may not be high on the list of things you feel like doing while battling morning sickness, fatigue, or other pregnancy related discomforts, but it may be worth it for both you and your baby. After all, exercise may be the very thing you need in order to feel less nauseous, more energized, or more comfortable. It may help you to get better rest, have an easier labor, and recover more quickly postpartum as well. In addition, exercise could have a significant impact on your mental health, which is known to affect fetal neurobehavioral development, and consequently, child outcomes.
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If you have a healthcare provider who you trust is capable of recommending the best treatment for you and your baby, who are you to question their advice?
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The ins and outs of feeding baby is such a huge focus during the postpartum period for many new parents, and can be a major source of stress. For those who plan to breastfeed, having an idea of what you can expect during the first month can help a lot in getting off to a good start. From how to navigate first latch to pumping, read on for a quick overview of what may lay ahead.
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You may have heard of something called the “birth plan curse”, or something along those lines. The basic idea being that the more detailed a birth plan, the more likely a woman is to end up with a c-section. I’ve heard this idea tossed around, encountered it in online labor and delivery nurse forums, and I’ve even had a client report that a nurse told her after her Cesarean birth that it was essentially her detailed plan that caused it. Today I’d like to call this ideology out for what I believe it is. Complete and utter BS…
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I’ve been a practicing birth doula for the past four years, supporting births of all kinds- mostly in hospital, a few home births, medicated, unmedicated, hypno-births, cesarean, vacuum assisted, some short, some really long. I’ve also gone through the pregnancy and birth experience twice personally- once before and once after training as a doula, once with a doula and once without. Somewhere along the way, a spark was ignited, a deep desire to to spread information far and wide in order to help others have positive birth experiences too. Because YES, a healthy mom and baby are always at the top of the list, AND how a family feels about their experience matters DEEPLY. You do not get a do-over on your baby’s birth story. So here’s my advice on how to prepare for a positive experience…
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As society as we knew it seems to come to a screeching halt, babies are still being born. A recent client of mine just posted the most adorable photo of her baby wearing a onesie that said “Stay Home” as she remarked that she wished everyone had a baby to snuggle with during this time. While the reward will most certainly be a bright spot for growing families during this strange and scary time, getting to that destination is becoming increasingly anxiety provoking for many. Group birthing and breastfeeding classes have been canceled, you may be worried about who will be allowed to join you at the hospital due to changing visitor policies, and of course there are extra health concerns for yourselves, your babies and your partners to consider. So what’s a pregnant person to do right now? Here are 3 suggestions:
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What do you think of when you think of hypnosis? Swinging shiny objects, snapping fingers, a low-rent comedian making people quack like ducks? I'm willing to bet whatever comes to mind is absolutely nothing like modern childbirth hypnosis. I know this first hand, as I am a Hypnobabies trained Hypno-doula, I've used it personally for the birth of my two daughters, as well as supported many doula clients in using it to successfully achieve easier, more comfortable birth experiences…
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Epidural use during labor is on the rise. According to a Stanford study published in Anesthesiology in 2018, there was a 10% rise in use since 2008. And according to this article, the researchers were “blown away” by the findings. Said Alexander Butwick, MD, an associate professor of anesthesiology, "We were really surprised the rates were so high."
Using pain medication during your labor is a very common and completely valid choice. Why, if you decide to get drugs, would you also want to hire a doula? Aren't doulas just for those that want an unmedicated labor- crunchy types who want to go "all natural?" Not at all. And here's why…
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Every birth is different, and it can feel hard to prepare for the big day when there are bound to be aspects beyond your control. Focusing on what you CAN control will help. Here are the top 3 things you can do to help achieve the kind of birth experience you want…
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DONA International published an article in 2018 celebrating Mother’s Day in which the kids of doulas told what they thought doulas do… “Something with vaginas. You help babies,” said Uriah, age 9. “Doulas just sit there,” said Lyndi, also 9. “Mom, seriously. Don’t make me try to explain it,” said Aidan, age 18.
Some doulas even debate what we should “do”, saying we should aim to be more of a “be-la” than a “do-la”. That it’s not our place to advocate or give advice.
I believe being a good doula is about striking a nice balance…
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I'm absolutely thrilled to share this question and answer with Ingrid Andersson, RN, CNM, MS. Not only is she, as a friend put it, "just an amazing human," she is the Founder and President of Mothers' Milk Alliance, Inc., a Board member of Women's Medical Fund, Inc., member of the Dane County Public Health Fetal and Infant Mortality Review team and former Steering Committee member of Wisconsin Environmental Health Network. She has been a regular guest speaker in the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and Department of Gender and Women's Studies, as well as at Edgewood College, Madison College and Dane County Emergency Services. Prior to midwifery, she worked as a volunteer family crisis intervention counselor and later as a doula. For 8 years, she worked as an RN in high-risk antepartum, postpartum, newborn and breastfeeding care at St Mary's Hospital (SSM Health) in Madison. While a nurse, she travelled to Kenya to learn from traditional birth attendants and British-trained midwives. Read on to hear directly from Ingrid.
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A fresh start, a clean slate, an opportunity to learn and grow. New beginnings can be filled with excitement, challenge, and yes, a period of adjustment. But who doesn’t love a new beginning?
We, the doulas of Align are excited about the next chapter unfolding in 2020, and are committed to bringing high quality doula services to even more Madison area families this year, because we know that a doula supported beginning is often a smoother one…
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