A Day in The Life of A Doula

Article in the Herald-Mail !

imc — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:09:25 +0000

I made it in our friday issue of the local Herald Mail (newspaper in Hagerstown, MD)! Its a wonderful article on Doula’s and how we empower women. I am very proud of this article and the recognition it has given me in my community! Take a look and let me know what you think

Happy International Doula Month!

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=193360&format=html

“The memory of pain recedes, the memory of triumph does not”

imc — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:02:31 +0000

A wonderful, wonderful article on Ani DiFranco’s thoughts on birthing in America today from Venus Zine:

http://www.venuszin e.com/articles/ art_and_culture/ call_and_ response/ 2624/Call_ _Response_ with_Ani_ DiFranco

“I would definitely choose a homebirth again despite the fear
mongering of this patriarchal society, which convinces women that they
are incapable of having babies without the intervention of men and
their machines. I look at societies where women are marginalized and
oppressed their whole lives (even covered head to toe in tarps!) but
are still in control of birthing practice, in a whole new way now. I
mean, who is really more advanced?

To take birthing out of women’s hands and deny us the continuum of
eons of wisdom and experience is to eject us from the very seat of our
power. I believe that women in hospitals are prevented from being able
to have normal, healthy birthing experiences because of the
intimidation of being on the clock, being pressured to take drugs to
make it quicker, being inhibited in their movement and activities, and
alienated by a sterile, fluorescent lit, feet-in-the- air type
environment. You know the classic “performance anxiety” of not being
able to pee or poo because somebody’s watching you? Multiply that by a
million! A cervix is a sphincter after all! Then to add tragic insult
to injury women are numbed through their great moment of revelation.

I believe the act of giving birth to be the single most miraculous
thing a human being can do and it is surely the moment when a lot of
women finally understand the depth of their power and connection to
all of nature. You think it can’t possibly be done, you think you
can’t possibly take the pain, and then you do — and afterward you look
at yourself in a whole new way. If you can do that, you can do
anything. Check out the books on this subject by Ina May Gaskin. She’s
one of my great heroes.

P.S. I was in labor for 43 hours. Pushed for five hours. It was brutal
and scary and prolonged, and if I was in a hospital, they would have
definitely cut the baby out of me. I thank the goddesses that I was at
home with patient midwives who knew how to go the distance. The memory
of pain always recedes. The memory of triumph does not.“

Coffee and Women’s Health During Pregnancy

imc — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:09:58 +0000

Did you know that caffeine:

- Decreases a womans abillity to become pregnant?

- Affect fetal development?

-Interfers with mineral absorption?

-Associated with irregular heart rate during pregnancy?

- Affects breastfeeding babies?

-Increases symptoms of PMS?

-Increases breast pain and fybrocystic breasts in susceptible women?

Removing or reducing your caffeine intake can GREATLY improve your health and well being and protect you and your unborn baby

Try drinking herbal teas instead. A NEW personal fav of mine had been Teecino Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee. My favorite flavor is the Vanilla Hazelnut (the grounds smell sooo good!). I have to say that i actually enjoy the taste MORE than coffee, plus i like knowing that every morning that I DONT have a cup of caffeinated coffee i am increasing my chances of conceiving! Dont worry, Teecino isnt paying me to say this. I am just trully satisfiesd and amazed with their product, and I try to educate myself , my family and my clients on the effects of coffee, especially during childbearing years.

For more information on the effects of caffeine check out the info on the Teecino site at www.teecino.com/caffeineeffects.aspx.

Baylin’s Two!

imc — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:38:52 +0000

Today my little man turned two! I used to think it was so cliche when people would say “Cherish every minute…because they grow up so fast”. (sigh) I am here to say that it is so very very true These past two years went by so fast.

We had a wonderful birthday party for Baylin. It was an Eco-Friendly Birthday…complete with handmade decorations, hand sewn party flags, organic foods and drinks. My favorite was when we let all the kids paint their own flower pots and plant flower seeds! What a wonderful, green party favor that his friends can enjoy all spring and summer long!

He got some wonderful and thoughtful gifts from friends and family. His Aunt Jes got him a bird feeder that he can paint (he LOVES to paint!) , his Aunt Teal and Uncle R. made him a BEAUTIFUL bench that had his name engraved and comes complete with a cushion that Teal upholstered herself. His Aunt Caty donated $50 in his name to a childrens foundation, and his Granpa painted a rocking chair with his name on it (he has already been sitting in it reading his books).

It was such a personal and special party without all the unnecessary extras. The table cloth were decorated newspaper that we recycled, the plates were biodegradable that we can actually put right into our compost, and napkins were made from recycled paper

We had so much fun planning this party, and I look forward to making every birthday from here on out a very special and personal event, while being conscious of how it will affect our environment.

P.S enjoy the montage I made of Baylin’s Second Year!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=4c1311167778a759ad8017&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

imc — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:58:47 +0000

Getting the word out…on wheels!

imc — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:17:28 +0000

My car magnet came today, along with my new business cards, shirt, and postcards. With all the marketing I have been doing and all the personalized products I have been ordering, the magnet is what I have been most excited about. Now I can advertise my doula services while driving around town! Some people may not know what a doula is, or does….but I am sure that my magnet with spark an interest to look into it. Just educating women about their birthing options is a GIANT step in the right direction. And with only about three doulas in my town, any press on doulas is good press, even if its a magnet on a car.

And yes, I was THAT excited about my magnet that I even took a pic

I am going to order another one for the passenger side door. Think that there is any chance that my husband would put one on his door?

P.S My Teeccino samples came in today for my clients and I am so excited to curl up with a cup and write about it tomorrow! (Have I mentioned how much I love getting samples of wonderful products for my mommas!)

What is a Doula?

imc — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:43:42 +0000

The word “Nascita” is Italian for birth. A birth doula is a woman who is knowledgable and experienced in the birth process and provides continous emotional, physical, and informational support to a mother before, during and after childbirth. The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “women’s servant”.

Many studies have shown thata doula present during labor has resulted in reductions in ceseareans, shorter labor, reduction in epidural requests, reduction in Oxytocin (pitocin) use, reduction in analgesia due, and a reduction in the use of forceps during labor.

Birth Doulas are equipped with the tools, training and experience to use natural pain relieving techniques such as massage, aromatherapy, counterpressue, acupresseure, birthing ball and hydrotherapy. This training and know how allows the mother to apply these techniques to her labor in place of pain medication.

The doula provides support and suggestions for the birth partners that can enhance their experience of the birth as well.

Postpartum doulas continue the valuable emotional support and guidance to help a family ease into new family dynamics by providing breastfeeding assictance, light house keeping, child care, potpartum depression help and provide references to support groups in the community.

To find out more about doulas go to www.dona.org (Doulas of North America) for more information.

Also check the calender often for upcoming “Meet the Doula” nights