Why Full Spectrum Doula Work?

So last week I sat in on a seminar on how to support the LGBTQ community during pregnancy. This was something I had been wanting to do for sometime. Not because I am gay but because I support equal rights. I believe that we should love whoever we love and that we are all different and should have equal rights.

Years ago, before really knowing what a doula is, I was doing research on pregnancy and I stumbled upon this blog called the Radical Doula It showed me a different side to supporting people in all steps of pregnancy. It also showed me the need for support in areas that most people don't get support ie. Still births, abortions, adoptions, and surrogacy. All of these different situations need support. They have different challenges that need emotional and sometimes physical support. 

So here I am on this journey to become a birth doula. It's an amazing passion. I get to help people bring life into this world. But my heart felt I needed to do more. But how? I am just starting this journey. I started to network with other local area doulas. I started attending birth network meetings. I also started to form my own "Community" of like-minded doulas. I live in Dallas and sometimes feel like I am a anomaly in the birth community. Most D/FW metroplex doulas are faith based. (please note that I am not against this in the least) For me this does not work. I have my faith but I do not find comfort in a church. I also have ideas outside the norm for where I want to head my doula business.  I want to serve people in need. People that would normally feel ostracized in a society that doesn't understand them. People who feel lost and hopeless. Those are the people I want to help.

I want to provide services to communities that normally couldn't  afford a doula. People who are recovering drug addicts, people who are single, people who are choosing abortion. Because THEY are the ones that could really benefit from have a person who is loving and understanding. Someone who is there supporting them without judgment.

So here I am with my heart on my sleeve trying to research other full service doulas in my area. So far no luck. Until I started networking. I met this really awesome doula who refers herself as the Jewish Doula. She is an orthodox Jew with a passion for full spectrum doula work. We had a very long coffee meeting talking about ways to start a non profit for a full spectrum doula co-op. We went over the needs for this. She was amazing to talk to and really got my brain going. She brought to light and interesting point. Through her work she met may women who had abortions at a clinic because it was cheaper than doing a d&c at a hospital for a still born. All these poor people having to go through this situation alone and scared. No one there to hold their hand or offering a kind smile. What an awful time to be alone.

Then I got an invite to attend the LGBTQ birth meeting. It really open my eyes to the inequality the LGBTQ community experience in the medical profession. You see most people have no idea how ostracized this community feels. Did you know 1 out of every 3 trans people are a parent. Now That's a decent number. So lets take a step back and look at how our society views birth. That birth is for a women and by a women and made between a women and a man. Correct? So how do you think someone from the LGBTQ community feels when they decide to start a family. Simple task like finding a care provider or filling out paperwork in the doctors officer. How about trying to file for a birth certificate. All these scenarios cause the LGBTQ community to feel like they are less than equal. Many of these situations forces them to explain their identity and essentially forces them to "Come out" Then on top of that most providers do not know how to provide quality care. Here is a great video on some of the LGBTQ birth community struggles  So where does a doula come into all of this. One client at a time. 

I am going to continue to learn how to better serve the minority so I can better serve the majority. We are all people with different backgrounds that all deserves quality care. That is what I am working towards. To provide unbiased support to ALL laboring people.   

Thanks for all the support and sorry if this may of seem all over the place! LOL

PEACE and LOVE!!!

Busy Busy Busy!!!

So I know that I have not been here for a while. I kind of hit a writers block. But I have been super busy since my last blog post....

I recently decided to push myself to start my doula business. I mean I started doing doula work already but now I really wanted to get it going. First things first. I signed up for my doula training course through WWW.DONA.ORG. I attended a 3 day labor intensive course. It was amazing all the tip and tricks I learned on how to support moms and family's during labor. The group of girls were so knowledgeable and our instructor was truly an amazing and kind hearted women...

So one step down towards my certification. Now I need to attend 3 birth totaling 17 hours in order to gain my certification. My wonderful instructor emailed me asking me if I was ready to attend births. Of course my reply was ABSOULTY. She went ahead and referred me a sweet momma who was expecting her first child. We decided to meet over coffee and totally hit it off. I was so glad that she chose me to be her birth doula. She was funny and quick witted. It was like we were long lost best friends. She truly prepared herself for birth and was willing to work hard for her baby.

Since then I have gained another client by a referral from a friend. She is a young first time single mom. She is so sweet with a kind heart. We are currently working on her birth plan. I can't wait to help her achieve the birth she so desires. 

I have also been introduced to this amazing network of birth workers. It is a truly invaluable source of information and support. Though this community I have been able to meet with other like minded doulas who really want to focus on servicing women that are at risk. Women from low income families, teen mom's, women shelters, recovering drug addicts that are expecting. These mom's wouldn't normally be able to afford doula care. So we are teaming up and trying to find a way to offer services to them. I think the future might hold starting a non profit to service the DFW area. There is such a need to help women feel connected to their birth. I truly believe it would put them on the right path to being a successful parent. To feel empowered and strong in a time that might make them feel alone and scared!!! 

So tons of work ahead, but all for the better. If you have some suggestions that might help out your birth community please let me know. I love hearing new ideas and having new recourses....    

Introduction to My Family

So I realized that I have told you my birth story and my passion for birth empowerment. However I never formally introduced myself. So I thought it might be a good idea to share a little more on my interesting Family dynamic. 

I am a 31 year old Wife, daughter, Mother of 3 kids. I grew up between Long Beach, CA and Las Vegas, NV. I love music it gets me through the day! I love the outdoors. I grew up riding motorcycles in the winter and going to the river and lake in the summer. The ocean is my sanctuary. I find peace with the ocean. I love the outdoors. I love the sun and don't really care for the cold. I really believe that I belong on a tropical Island... I absolutely love to cook. I find nothing more gratifying then feeding people and seeing them stuck on my couch cause they ate too much! I believe that people should live there life the way that makes them most happy, as long as it doesn't cause harm to another then ride on with it. 

I have been married to my husband for 5 years now and together for 8 years. He is a tattoo artist of 15 years.  To some that seems like a very unconventional life. I like to think of ourselves as an oxymoron. We live a very unconventional lifestyle. We do not work for corporate America, but we believe in conventional family practices. I am sure you might not understand that. SO what I mean is that we believe that you should follow your heart in all that you do. Even if it is against the norm. But with our kids we believe that education is crucial, discipline and structure will help to shape positive futures for our kids. We also feel that art and music can heal the soul. 

I am that PTA, football/basketball/girl scout mom, covered in tattoos and has colored hair.  Not what most people are use to seeing. I have an amazing relationship with mt children's school. I volunteer and participate in all of my children's extra curricular activities. We strive to ensure that our kids are successful in whatever they choose to do in life. 

I had my oldest son when I was 19. I ended up being a single teen mom. He has given me so much strenght. He is a very active A/B student. He plays baseball, football, and basketball. He loves BMX, music, sports, and girls. He is very quick witted and super funny. However he is very sensitive at the same time. 

My daughter is me in mini form! She is EXTREMELY strong willed. She is also very emotional! She loves dancing, painting, animals, and shopping. She is the top cookie seller for her girl scout troop. As well as my social butterfly. 

Then my toddler. He is the one that is going to break all the bones. He believes that he is spiderman! He tries to climb up my walls and jump off my couch! He has a smile that will melt your heart and  a vocabulary that will blow your mind. He also loves music. 

We are very family oriented people. We have always had an open door policy and feed half the neighborhood. We enjoy the community of family and friends and feel most at home surround by the people we love! 

So even though we may look odd to most with all our tattoos and whatnot! We really are just like anyone else. Except we play our music a little loud!! LOL 

 I love hair color and silly faces!

We can't take a normal family pic! I was 37 weeks pregnant with my now toddler! 

See what I mean! No normal photos! 

Baseball season! I just had my toddler as well as two kids in baseball! 4 practices and 3-4 games a week. Plus nursing a newborn! Go MOM!!! 

My now toddler on the right and his friend on the left at a baseball game! 

AWHHH sweet family! 

My kids baby-wear as well! 

Yes I tattoo sometimes also! 

Kinda normal photo! 

My toddler and his silly faces! 

My daughter showing school spirit during Football season! 

Our girl scout troop!! 

My Mr. Spiderman! 

We love Mud Baths! 

                                                       Girl Scout Community Service Project!

Art is an everyday part of our lives! 

My daughter pretending to tattoo Daddy! 

My husband and the famous Lyle Tuttle at the Hawaii tattoo convention! It was such an honor to meet him! 

Family love and support always!! 

Thanks for looking. As always I enjoy all the positive feedback! I hope this explains a little more of who I am outside the birthing community! Till next time! 

What to do when a baby turns Breech

Sorry again for the delay in a new entry. Life is crazy as always! Kids sure know how to take all your time.. HAHAHA 

So my long time best friend and sister from another mister just had her 3rd baby almost a week ago. She is my "person." I bounce all my ideas on life off of her. She has just as much passion as I do for the birthing community. Her last birth gave me the Inspiration for this entry. 

So a little back history on her. Her first birth ended in a C-section after several hours of forced pushes due to an epidural and caused her cervix to swell. Her second birth was a hospital supported VBAC. Now baby #3 was going going to be another VBAC but baby boy had other ideas! See at 36 weeks she had an ultrasound and everything looked great. Baby was in perfect position. At her 40 week check up they did another ultrasound and found that baby had turned. Not only did he turn he was a double footling breech. 

They told her that  external cephalic version was not an option due to a previous c-section. They sent her home and told her she had 2 days to try to naturally turn the baby. So now we were on the phone with eachother bouncing suggestions and ideas on how to get this baby to turn. Well I got a phone call in the middle of the night saying she was in labor and on the way to the hospital. Fingers crossed that baby had turned! However once they did an ultrasound baby had not turned. So a c-secton it was. Once in the O.R. it took 8 minutes to get the baby out. Apparently he was standing on her cervix with his head in her ribcage! Silly baby... Mom and baby are doing great. He is healthy and a nursing monster...

So I though that maybe it would be a good idea to write this blog for other Mommas and give some natural tips to help get a baby to turn.. 

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique that is helpful in allowing babies to get into a proper position. Many people know of it as a "breech turning technique" but it really is about balancing the joints and ligaments of the pelvis to allow the uterus, and therefore the baby, to be in a proper position. A chiropractor who is certified in the Webster Technique will evaluate the woman's sacrum for a subluxation (misalignment) and adjust as necessary. Next, the chiropractor will gently release any tension being held in the round ligaments of the uterus with a gentle pressure at any tight areas. The technique is very gentle and usually very comfortable.

Acupuncture is another option to use to help turn breech babies. Small, thin needles are placed in specific areas to facilitate the turning of the baby. Acupuncture treatments for turning breech babies are typically started between weeks 32 and 34 of pregnancy. Studies have shown that acupuncture alone has about a 70% success rate in turning a breech baby.

Moxibustion is a third option and is often used in conjunction with acupuncture. Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine practice which involves the use of burning a mugwort stick near a specific place on the pregnant woman's little toe. The moxibustion stimulation of this point (Bladder 67) helps to relax the uterine wall and increase fetal activity. Studies have shown it to have a success rate between 69% and 85%. Patients are often given these sticks to continue the treatment at home multiple times per day.

Other conservative and gentle options for turning a breech baby include pelvic tilts, placing a cold compress (such as a cold bag of peas) at the top of the stomach (fetuses are sensitive to cold too), and swimming.Hope that some of these suggestions can help. If your baby is stubborn and you have to get a c-section just know that you still can have an empowering birth. Just talk to your provider on ways that can have you being present and apart of your birth. Ask to have the baby get skin to skin ASAP!!! Good luck to you mommas.... Till next time

Sources:

International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association (www.icpa4kids.org)

Breech Babies: Breech Birth (http://www.pregnancy.com.au/breech_babies_breech_birth.htm)

Can Acupuncture Help to Turn a Breech Baby? (http://yinovacenter.com/blog/archives/714)

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/025972_baby_natural_babies.html#ixzz2CoNvlyA5

What does a Doula do?

Sorry I haven't posted lately. Life has been busy. My oldest son is at the end of football season and my daughter has been super busy with girl scouts. So finding time lately has been hard.

However I have been thinking a lot about what to write for my next blog entry. I was kind of all over the place with ideas. That was until I had a parent teacher conference for my oldest son. One of his teachers told me that my son tried to explain what it is that I do. She had never heard of a doula and ended up googling it to find out more information. At the conference she asked me if I could come in and talk to her more about it. It was then that I realize how many people don't really know what a Doula is.

There are a lot of people that get a doula mixed up with a midwife. So I thought that it might be good to explain. The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

As a birth doula we have key things we focus on. Here are a few: Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life. Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth. Stays with the woman throughout the labor. Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision. Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers. Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience. Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level.

Studies have shown that the presence of a doula improves birth in the following ways:

• 50% reduction in cesarean birth
• 30% reduction in requests for pain medication
• 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
• 25% decrease in the length of labor
• Lower post partum rate for mothers
• Increased breast feeding success
• Greater overall satisfaction from the mother about her birth

More significantly, women and their partners feel more in control, better informed, educated, more at ease and confident in the birth process when an effective labor support person is nearby.
Postpartum Support Statistics
Research shows that families who received support during the fourth trimester - after the birth of the baby - had a reduction in the following areas:

• Postpartum Mood Disorders such as Postpartum Depression
• problems associated with breastfeeding such as latch (regardless of nipple type), milk production, breast infections and other unforeseen issues
• problems with older sibling adjustment
• feeling of disorder or feeling "out of control" during the postpartum period

So I hope that this can give you some insite as do what a doula does. If you have any questions please get in touch with me. A doula can really make a huge difference in your birth experience.

 

My Process to Empowerment

I first want to start out by saying thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog and share amazing words of encouragement. You have no idea how much I appreciate the support. Some of you that are reading this now know me personally and know how passionate I am about making women feel empowered however they choose to birth. My goal for this blog is to inspire, even just one women, to trust their bodies to give birth. To give them strength to go against the societal norm. You don't have to lay on your back during a normal labor, you don't need to be hooked up to a bunch of machines during a normal labor, and you can have a birth that is spiritual and empowering. You just need to have the knowledge and the support system in place.

With each one of my births I gained more knowledge and more strength as a women. I felt a deeper connection with my inner motherly goddess if you will. But with my last baby I felt that I needed to arm myself with as much knowledge and inspiration as possible.

So I set out and googled everything. From different labor positions to natural birth stories. I had never wanted something more in my life. I wanted a natural birth. I wanted to believe in my body. I knew that I was a strong person with a high tolerance for pain. I knew that I could do this. I watched so many natural births on YouTube. I would look at these "average" women next door type and would think to myself "If they could do it then why can't I."

So here I was huge and pregnant powered with knowledge. Ready to put my 9 months of studying to the test. Would I be able to achieve my goal to have a natural birth?

My water broke in the middle of the night. I called my midwife, then woke my husband. I paced my house eager for labor to start. My Mom and brother arrived around 5am. We decided to head to the hospital. There was no resting for me. I was so ready and eager to have this baby. I walked the halls, bounced on the ball. Squatted, pelvic tilts, the works. Nothing happened. Frustrating so frustrating. After about 8-9 hours after my water broke and no signs of contractions we decided that maybe my body needed a boost. So we started that awful pit drip.

So here I am again hooked up to machines with not much freedom, I am feeling defeated. But this time it was different. This time I had my support system. I had my daughter, who was only 5 at the time, encouraging me to keep moving. My mom staying positive. My husband, oldest son, and by brother all there for me to encourage me.

After 8 hours of pit and everything I could possibly do to get labor going nothing. My contractions would start but never got strong or stayed constant. It was hard for me emotionally to stay positive. In the back of my mind all I could think about was if something didn't happen soon they would make me have a c-section. I DID not want that. I knew I could birth a baby. My midwife decided to take me off of pit and let me get some rest. However I started doing marathon laps around labor and delivery. Breaking down often from fear and exhaustion. My husband looks at me and reminds me that I can do this and that my baby will come when he is ready. So I decided that I would get some sleep.

About 6am they came in for the second round of pit. I slept most of the morning waking fully around 9:30 am. The o/b that my midwife works under wanted to come in and check me. He told me that he just wanted peace of mind and that as long as mommy and baby looked good he was ok with allowing this to happen naturally. Once he checked me my baby moved just enough for him to find a second water sac. He looks at me and tells me that I will feel much better and should be having a baby soon.

Well things moved very quickly. Almost to quickly for me to comprehend and process this. 30 min after that water sac I was really really uncomfortable. I called  the nurse and told her I needed in the tub now!!! My midwife rushed in and checked me and I was at an 8cm. Off came the monitors and they tuned off the pit. Once in the tub I felt much better but not for long. I had a hard time trying to find a comfortable position. I felt so much pressure in my back. I hurt and I and was scared. I didn't know if I could do this. I didn't know if I could handle it. I started to panic , I felt like I was going to throw up. Everyone there reminded me that I could do this. I was ment to birth this baby. My husband, who was in the tub with me reminded me that I was the strongest person he knows. But I didn't believe it. I was scared that if the pain got worse I wouldn't be able to push my baby out. I begged for an epi. They told me that it was to late for that. I was so scared but no one gave up on me. They believed in me.

Every contraction got stronger and stronger. I felt the need to push. As I tried to fight it and tense my body up this sweet sweet voice was in my ear reminding to breath and release my tension. Soft sweet words from my nurse. Followed by words of encouragement from my midwife. Then it was like a light switch went on and I took control. I was no longer scared. I was determined. I felt like I needed to push. Not long hard pushes but short pushes. With each push came more reminders to breath and release the tensions  from my face. Reminders that I am doing great. Support from everyone .

I can't remember how long u pushed for. I know that it wasn't that long maybe 10 min. While my baby crowned my daughter who was right next to the tub the whole time, told me she could see his head.  She told me that I was doing great and to push him out. I could feel his head. One more push and he was here in my arms and perfect. I had done it. WE had done it. I couldn't believe it. So much emotion was running through my body. I was holding my baby that I fought for 2 days to give birth to was finally here. I had him in the tub with my family there. I asked my son if he wanted to cut the cord but he was to excited he said no. But my daughter was more than excited to do it.

I am so glad that we as a family were able to experience this together. I look back and wonder what was different with this birth. Why was I able to birth my biggest baby and longest labor naturally? The only change was I had empowered myself with as much positive knowledge and positive support. I had providers that were so positive and reassuring. I had family that didn't give up on me and that wouldn't let me give up on myself.

This is what every women deserves. Every women deserves to have that support. Unconditional emotional and physical support. They need their birth team. This is why I believe every women deserves a doula. This is why it is my mission to give that to as many women as I can. They need to be empowered and reminded that they are powerful and amazing. They need reassurance. Sometimes we as women don't have that support that why I am a doula in training. So they can have that support to have that empowering birth they deserve.

From the Beginning

I started this journey as a scared teen mom. I became pregnant at 18 and delivered my amazing son on my 19th birthday. The whole process of pregnancy and delivery were very unfamiliar to me. I didn't really have any friends that had babies that I could bounce ideas off of or even talk about what made me scared. All I knew is that I wanted an all natural birth and I new that I wanted to breastfeed. 

So the amazing day came when I was in labor. It was my 19th birthday and I was visiting my Mom in the hospital. I had no idea I was in labor, my Mom informed me that my contractions were about 4 minutes apart. A few hours later I was admitted to the hospital and instantly hooked up to pitocin. Everything moved very quickly and all I remember was asking for an epidural. Everyone knew I didn't want one but no one encouraged me not to get it. I laid on my back hooked up to all these things and everything just seemed so fast and sudden. Next thing I knew my doctor was there and 15 minutes of coached pushes I had a 7lb 5oz perfect baby boy. I held him for about 20 min. Then he was whisked away. 

i just remember everyone telling he was perfect yet I hadn't seen him in 2 hours. I was so full of anxiety not having my baby right there. Once they finally brought him to me I was informed that if I fell asleep with him in my bed they would take him away to the nursery. Now I had even more anxiety. Then came breastfeeding, it hurt and was awkward, I had no idea if I was doing it right. I never saw a lactation consultant. Oh and they let me go home less then 24 hours after giving birth. It was like giving birth in a drive thru. Thank you come again! 

So about 4 years later I was in school to be a L&D nurse I knew I needed to be apart of this birth process and I knew that there was a huge need for compassion and understanding for moms! I found out that I was having another baby! This time I was adamant that I would do things different. I had chosen a smaller hospital under the care of a midwife. I did more research and was still determined to have a natural delivery. 

Well my baby girl was stubborn. My water broke sometime in the mid afternoon. I went to the hospital thinking that it was going to be a fast labor like my last one. Boy was I wrong. After 12 hours of nothing they decided to give me pitocin to start labor. However now that I think about it never did my midwife encourage me to move around to help jump start my labor. 

Finally my labor was going and I was once again stuck laying in bed hooked up to more machines. My back was hurting so bad that I decided to once again get an epidural. No protest once again from anyone. Another round of couched pushes and my beautiful baby girl was born weighing 7lbs. 

After this I decided there needed to be more women in this field with compassion and understanding. So I looked into becoming a midwife. However I put things on hold to be a mom and help my husband with his career. 

It wasn't until another 4 years when I got pregnant with baby number 3 that I finally realized what my life's calling is. See I was bound and determined to have this baby natural. I wanted it so much. Thank god for the internet cause I stayed up late so many nights reading and watching videos. I searched for the best hospital and best midwife in my area. I informed her at every visit  how bad I wanted this. She was so supportive and encouraging. 

So the faithful day came. My water broke in the middle of the night. I called my midwife and let her know. I paced and paced through my house. I couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to head to the hospital. I walked the halls, bounced on the ball, squatted, tilted, and everything you could think of to get this labor going. Nothing would stay consistent. We decided that maybe a jump start with pitocin would help. After 8 hours of inconsistent contractions they took me off of it and told me to get some sleep. I felt defeated. I paced and paced the halls trying so hard to get my body to do it. Finally I decided that maybe I just needed sleep. Bright and early in the morning came another round of pitocin. After a few hours of pretty steady contractions the O/B my midwife works under wanted to check my progress. Well he was able to find a second water sack. Once that was broken things were fast and intense. They took me off of the pitocin and had me in the bath. I was surrounded by my kids, my mom, my brother, my husband, and my midwife and nurses... I armed myself with knowledge and I was going to trust my body to give birth to this baby naturally.

Man oh man did I get scared. I lost focus and caved and asked for medicine. I was scared and tired. But this time they didn't give it to me. Instead everyone in the room encouraged me and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They calmed me down and refocused my attention. I was able to embrace my body and pushed my baby out on my own! My 8lb 1.5oz baby boy. No drugs in the water sounded by family and love! 

It was after that birth that I realized what changed. It was the support system. I had surrounded myself with people who knew what I wanted and didnt give up on me. They encouraged me when I needed it and knew when to back off. It was then that I realized what my calling was. I wanted to give that to other moms. I want them to feel that support and love and encouragement they so need during the most vulnerable time in their lives. 

So I set out and decided to become a doula! I just attended my first birth and it was awe inspiring. It was total conformation that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing! 

Thanks for reading until next week......