DoulaWise
Offering experienced doula and lactation support for your pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Tag: labor
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Delaying Cord Clamping
Cutting the cord of a newborn baby has been a hot topic for about 50 years now. There are those in the camp of clamping immediately after vs those who want to wait a minute, a few minutes, or until the pulsing has stopped, and even waiting for the placenta to fall away from the…
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What to Write on a Birth Plan
Have you heard nurses laughing at birth plans? Have you encountered OB’s tossing them to the side and saying, “No,” to them? Or gone over your ideal birth with a group of pregnant people and had your ideal plan picked apart? But you want to make certain that some things do or do not happen…
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Who is the Right Doula for You?
There’s an interesting article written last week on CNN where they interviewed a labor and delivery nurse. The article talks about advocating for yourself in labor and mentions hiring “the right doula for you.” The nurse has a phenomenal approach to individual birth spaces, and I loved her candor when she spoke about having the…
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Variation of Normal
There are too many stigmas, way too many ways to judge, and far too many families feeling alone and under qualified, under prepared, and underappreciated. It’s time that we see every healthy, informed choice, not as good or bad, but as a variation of normal. It’s time to learn from one another. It’s time to…
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A Thought from a Pediatrician
Dr. Kennell is a pediatrician who saw the changes in birth outcomes, the difference in how births unfold, how babies respond to a supported birther, and decided not only to endorse doulas at births, but to go on to help build an organization to train people in the art of support. The slogan of the…
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Birth is Birth
When most doulas get hired for attending a birth, our thoughts are on the birth of a beautiful baby. We don’t anticipate anything other than that. But too often that’s not the case. Some doulas are hired specifically because they have grief and loss training. Other doulas stumble into the role. Still others become doulas…
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Odd Labor Tools: The Toilet
Welcome back to the series! This is our fifth and final series of odd labor tools you have around the house that can help with labor! Thanks to a wonderful doula friend at A Caring Doula, TaKiesha Smith, who helped me when I was stumped on what to write about, giving me the idea for…
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Odd Labor Tools: Flaxseed Sachet
For these past few weeks, we’ve been discussing unusual labor tools. Household items that you may not immediately associate with coping tools during pregnancy, labor and birth. Installment four is all about the sachet filled with flaxseed! (The reason we’re discussing flaxseed and not rice, or dried corn is that flaxseed retains temperature longer and…
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Odd Labor Tools: Twin Sheet
For a few weeks now we’ve been covering the topic of household items made into labor tools. This week’s edition is all about the twin size bedsheet. What does a sheet have to do with pain management? It’s not to mop up the watery mess from your amniotic sac breaking. Let’s get into it! Scenario…
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Odd Labor Tools: Combs and Brushes
Starting last week, and continuing for the next few weeks, we’re discussing odd labor tools. Household items that you may not immediately associate with coping tools during labor. This week is combs and brushes! So how do you use a comb or brush? Scenario 1: you’re having an induction and things are slow at progressing.…
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