13 Questions for Expectant Moms

As a labour doula, I’ve learned a lot about childbirth that I didn’t know when I had my three. Therefore, I thought I’d compile a list for my clients of questions they might have and where to find the answers. Below are some of the questions I will be including. Do you know the answers?

1. What is the difference between practice surges (aka Braxton-Hicks) and actual labour?

2. What is actually happening during labour?

3. When should you call your midwife or doctor?

4. If you are giving birth in the hospital, when should you head there?

5. What are the pros and cons of internal exams?

6. What is fetal monitoring and is it necessary?

7. What are the advantages of frequently changing position while in labour?

8. What are the pros and cons of getting an epidural?

9. Are there other ways to manage the growing intensity of contractions?

10. Is it safe to labour in water? Is it safe to give birth in water?

11. What are the advantages of immediate skin to skin contact with your baby after birth?

12. What signs indicate you should get immediate medical attention?

And of course . . .

13. What are the advantages of having a labour doula?

Over the next few days, I will briefly answer the questions above and recommend resources for more thorough research on these and other subjects pertaining to pregnancy and childbirth. Remember, these are only generalizations. If you have questions or concerns, follow up with medical professionals.

12 Ways a Doula Can Help

According to studies , statistically speaking, hiring a doula has many benefits. Here are a dozen ways I have had the honour of helping “my moms”:

1. developed a rapport before the baby arrived; it’s important to connect with your doula.

2. provided a list of resources so Mom could research and make informed choices before B Day (Baby Day)

3. made myself available by email, phone, and home visits

4. brushed Mom’s hair and massaged her shoulders in early labour

5. walked with Mom to get/keep labour moving . . . through the hospital hallways or through the park

6. spent a weekend with an expectant mom whose labour had slowed down by the time I arrived (This mom is a personal friend who lives a couple of hours away. It didn’t make sense to come home again until after her wee one had arrived.)

7. assured Mom that the choice to have an epidural was hers alone to make, saying, “No, I will not be disappointed in you for requesting one.”

8. rubbed Mom’s lower back, sometimes quite forcefully (Many labouring moms feel discomfort/pain in their lower back.)

9. worked with another person to perform a double hip squeeze for a prolonged time

10. given Mom sips of water

11. physically supported Mom during the last few contractions

12. follow-up visits, some of which developed into cherished friendships

If you are a doula, know a doula, or had one at the birth of your baby, I’d love to know how you benefited.

6 Reasons I Love Being a Doula

As I’ve said before, being a birth doula is a.ma.zing.

Here are six reasons I love it so much:

1.  As I read and researched for my certification, I learned a lot. Learning more and more about pregnancy and childbirth and related topics will, of course, be ongoing.

2. An expectant mom who is seriously considering hiring me would like me to be there to educate not only her about what is going on during labour but her mother and mother-in-law as well. I love sharing what I’ve learned. This sounds like an exciting opportunity.

3. There is no such thing as too much encouragement or too much support. If a mom has a great network of family and friends, it’s a privilege to come alongside them. If she is on her own, it’s an honour to make myself available to her.

4. I’m connected to a great group, CAPPA Canada. I am so looking forward to the conference in October.

5. I’ve also begun to interact, in person and online, with others who seek to make pregnancy and childbirth the best possible experience it can be. I was especially honoured to meet Toni and Alex of One World Birth when they were in Niagara Falls at a conference for midwives. Very cool!

6. Being a doula can be emotionally and physically draining. Being a “woman of a certain age” (grin), it’s especially encouraging to know that I’m physically able to keep going for well over 24 hours. FYI, it is possible to fall asleep standing up. It is, however, important not to do so when you are offering comfort measures to a labouring mom.

7 Reasons I’d Hire a Doula

I don’t know if there were any doulas around when I was having children – 28, 24, and 22 years ago. I do know, however, that I would have hired a labour doula if I could.

Why?

1. I read many parenting books, but I don’t think I read anything about birth options. I was like many of my generation, trusting that my doctors knew best. A doula could have rounded out my education. (Don’t get me wrong. I’m very thankful for medical professionals. My first son was born by Cesarean section. The umbilical cord had prolapsed and surgery was necessary. Thankfully, I was able to have two subsequent VBACs.)

2. A doula can help us wade through the vast amounts of conflicting information out there. Especially now, in the Cyber Age, we can feel completely overwhelmed and lost.

3. In no way does pinching her arm prepare a woman for birthing. That’s what partners were encouraged to do at prenatal classes in days gone by to help moms relax through the pain. Yeah, sure! Doulas can help explain the purpose of the contractions before the time comes and can help the labouring woman focus in the midst of it.

4. Doulas have an entire bag of tricks to help the labouring mom cope. What works at one point may not work at another. A doula is flexible and will try a variety of comfort measures as birth draws closer. Sometimes, Mom just needs a reassuring presence. At other times, she may need a very hands-on, physically demanding measure.

5. And who doesn’t like to be the centre of attention, at least when going through something so intense?

6. While labour doulas are primarily present for the benefit of the mom, their presence also benefits family members and friends who may be in attendance. As the doula does her job, she can free up loved ones just to offer encouragement and support in a way they’re comfortable with. Plus, the doula can reassure them that what the mom is going through is nothing to worry about – barring medical issues of course. Even then, the doula can offer encouragement.

7. I had a wonderful nurse who helped with breastfeeding, but if I hadn’t been in the hospital for six days with my first, I might have given up. A doula’s encouragement and knowledge would have been indispensable.

5 Doula Do’s and Don’ts

The following points refer to a labour/birth doula. There are also antenatal and postpartum doulas whose roles are different.

Also, this is an ideal scenario. For instance, just recently, I realized, while I seek to offer balanced information, even this is dependent on the materials I’ve read to date.

These are simply generalities. Feel free to interview a number of doulas to find the best match for you.

1. A doula educates you as to your birth options. She does not try to influence you to choose the option she thinks is best.

2. A doula researches your questions regarding pregnancy and childbirth that are beyond her knowledge base. She does not claim to have all the answers.

3. A doula makes herself available increasingly as the “birth day” approaches. She does not go on vacation the week before your EDD (estimated due date) . . . not without telling you well in advance and referring you to her back-up at least.

4. A doula offers encouragement and comfort measures. She does not expect you to worry about her feelings as you are labouring. (Tell your doula what is and what isn’t helping. That’s why she’s there.)

5. A doula will help you get established during the first week or two as a new family. Again, she will not try to influence you to do things her way.

If you have any questions or comments about the role of a labour doula, please feel free to share.

Parenting Resources

The following suggests focus primarily on pregnancy and childbirth, but are great sources of information even if you are not currently pregnant or planning to have children in the future.

http://www.health-e-learning.com/resources/free-lectures

The above is a series of free online lectures. I haven’t listened to all of them yet, but I highly recommend Brian Palmers: The Anatomy of Breastfeeding. Don’t be put off by the subtitle you’ll find on the first page. This lecture is far from dry or boring. Whether or not you are currently considering breastfeeding, I recommend you listen to this lecture.

If I had access to The Other Baby Book when I was having my children years ago, I would have done many things differently. I highly recommend it. You can read my review here.

Here are some Facebook pages you might want to explore:

The Birthing Site

MammaDoula

Midwifery Today and their online magazine

And if you’re in the southwestern Ontario area, I suggest…

The Vesta Parenting Centre

The Vesta Shop

And no list of resources I compile on the subject would be complete without a link to One World Birth.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. I want to encourage you ~ if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are simply interested in learning more ~ to explore these and other resources.

Type in “pregnancy,” “childbirth,” and/or “natural childbirth” into your search engine and begin to explore.

Just a word of warning: Be careful to check out the credentials of the author(s) of the material. Just because it sounds convincing, doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for you and your family. Gather adequate information (on both sides of any controversial topic) to make a truly informed decision.

If you want to learn more, look for doulas in your area. A big part of what we do is educate our clients so they can come to a decision they feel is best for them.

…Guide to Breastfeeding

Dr. Jack Newman is a well-know authority on the subject of breastfeeding. I would very much like to attend a clinic where he is assisting moms who are learning to breastfeed effectively. Reading the book, Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, does not, however, provide the same kind of learning experience – nor would I expect it to.

That said, Dr. Newman covers topics such as “Why Breastfeeding is Important,” “Common Problems and Solutions,” “Special Situations: Adoption, Breast Surgeries, Relactation,” “Sleep: Yours and Your Baby’s,” and “Breastfeeding and Family Relationships.”

The book is written in easy-to-understand language and includes a number of pictures. Dr. Newman does not shy away from the controversial topics either. He covers subjects such as “Breastfeeding While on Medication” and “Breastfeeding the Toddler.”

I successfully breastfed all three of my now-grown children and am definitely a proponent of breastfeeding. I believe the decision is up to the individual mom, but I also believe she should make the decision after fully researching the topic.

Dr. Newman’s book would be good for those considering breastfeeding, those who have encountered difficulties, those who lack encouragement and support, and those who just want to learn more. It is a great text for those who want to pick and choose topics that are relevant to them. There is no need to read the guide cover to cover. In fact…

While the book contains a lot of great information, I find it very redundant. Granted, repetition is important to learning and an author might want to repeat the most important points – or summarize them at the end of the book. However, I found the redundancies bogged me down. This might also be the case for those who choose to read the entire text. However, if readers want to pick and choose what is of interest to them, they will definitely find this style of writing helpful, not having to go back and read several chapters in order to understand what they are reading.

If you are thinking about breastfeeding, I encourage you to check it out. Also check out other breastfeeding books and your local La Leche League.

Childbirth Quiz

Where do natural childbirths take place?

A. In the middle of nowhere with no access to doctors and hospitals?

B. At home?

C. In birth centres?

D. In hospitals?

Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes…though far less frequently.

Where do wonderful childbirths take place…natural or otherwise?

A, B, C, D, or E. all of the above?

You guessed it. The correct answer is E.

Who should research childbirth options?

A. Expectant moms?

B. Expectant dads?

C. Those who hope to have children in the future?

D. Those who know someone who’s going to have a baby?

E. Those who want to pursue a career as a doula or midwife, labour and delivery nurses, OBs…?

Again the answer is “all of the above”…and anyone else who is interested in this amazing part of the human life cycle.

Birth is as individual as you are. And each birth, even for the same woman, can be unique.

I would encourage you to do your research, make the choice that is right for you, and enjoy the precious gift of your new son or daughter.

If you have any questions about pregnancy, childbirth, or how a doula can make it a better experience, please feel free to ask.

The Doula! Film

The Doula! film is a great introduction to the role of birth/labour doulas and postpartum doulas.

“What’s a doula?” you ask. It’s from a Greek word that means “servant.” And what a wonderful description! Doulas have the privilege of serving expectant and new moms.

Before birth, doulas supply information and resources so clients can make the right decisions for them. (It is not our job to give medical advice or persuade someone to do something with which she is not comfortable.)

Birth doulas arrive at a predetermined time during a woman’s labour. She stays with the mom from that time until an hour or two after the baby is born, whether at home, in a birth centre, or at a hospital. (Many hospitals are becoming open to the idea of having a doula present.) The doula will do anything from quietly sitting in the corner offering moral support to actively engaging in comfort measures to help the mom deal physically with the process of bringing a new life into the world.

Postpartum doulas offer a wide variety of services for new moms, from helping with breastfeeding to walking the dog, from picking up other children from school to light housework. (Until I saw the film, I didn’t think this would interest me, but I’ve reconsidered – although, for now, I have enough other things on my plate.)

So, if you are interested in viewing the film at a free screening during World Doula Week and you live in the St. Thomas, ON area, you will want to R.S.V.P. the Vesta Shop. The event is being held on March 23 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Space is limited, so sign up today.

As you might expect, there is some nudity in this film. I know some of you will want to take that into consideration.

For more information, check our the teaser and order info here.

One World Birth Interview

I first connected with Toni Harman online. When she was in Canada at the midwives’ conference in Niagara Falls, I had the privilege of meeting her in person. Toni and her partner, Alex Wakeford, began One World Birth to educate and empower mothers-to-be, their loved ones, and all those concerned about pregnancy and childbirth. They are looking to start a revolution, and I am wholeheartedly on board.

Toni, how long have you been interested in pregnancy and childbirth?

Like most people, I only got really interested in pregnancy and birth when I was pregnant myself. And I only thought about making films about it after the birth of my daughter four years ago. My daughter’s birth (breech birth…then at the last minute she turned…then a failed induction…then a c-section) was frustrating because I felt “left out” of the decision-making process. I didn’t realise that I had choices, and consequently, I felt disempowered and scared. My main motivation for making films about birth is that I don’t want other parents to feel the way I did. I want to make the experience of birth better for people around the world. And through making films and utilising the power of the Internet, suddenly, I realised that I might be able to do just that.

When did you first consider starting a worldwide revolution?

While making the DOULA! documentary film, I had a lightbulb moment. I knew there was a natural birth movement happening across the globe, a movement spurred on by the work of amazing people like Sheila Kitzinger, Ina May Gaskin, and Michel Odent. But the mainstream population isn’t aware of this movement. Most people aren’t even aware there is even a problem with the obstetric model of childbirth today. My lightbulb moment was realising that we could use the latest social networking tools and the power of the Internet to help galvanise this movement to create a worldwide revolution. Our goal is to widen the discussions to involve more people and propel the issues surrounding birth into the mainstream, so that together we can create a tipping point to deliver real change.

What can readers expect to find at the new and improved One World Birth website?

Sorry, I can’t tell you that just yet because we’re about to release an exciting new video trailer that will reveal the features of the new and improved One World Birth site. But I’m so excited! It’s the next generation of the One World Birth revolution.

(Toni should write suspense, don’t you think? Now I’m even more eager for the launch. I suppose that’s the whole idea.)

When will it go live?

Sorry, I can’t give you a date just yet. All will be revealed in the trailer that will be released in the next couple of weeks.

(Suspense author in the making, I tell you.)

Until then, where can readers find the information previously posted on your site?

All the information and videos will still be on the One World Birth site, although we’ll be putting up “construction hoardings” on some parts of the site as we will build it. http://oneworldbirth.net

All the videos we have posted so far can also be found on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/realbirthstories

Tell us a little about the DOULA! film.

DOULA! is a 60-minute documentary about the work of birth and postpartum doulas. Filmed in the UK, the film shows the amazing difference having a doula can make to a mother’s birth experience, wherever they are in the world. DOULA! features three beautiful positive doula-supported births in close-up intimate detail; two of the births are home waterbirths with a third birth progressing to a hospital c-section, still shown as a positive experience for the parents. There is a separate section on the work of postpartum doulas. As the filmmaker behind DOULA!, I am incredibly proud of this film as it captures the incredible, powerful, beautiful emotions of birth. For more info or to watch the trailer, go to the film’s website: http://doulafilm.com 

I’m excited to be participating in the free screening week. Can you tell us a little about it?

I believe there’s a simple equation to do with doulas saving the world.

Here’s my theory: More people watch the DOULA! film = more people know about doulas = more people hire doulas = more people have better births = the world will be a better place.

Acting on my theory, I would love as many people as possible to watch the DOULA! film to make the world a better place. So anyone can have a screening of the DOULA! film for FREE March 22-28 as part of World Doula Week, a week designed to promote awareness of doulas. To host a free screening and to receive a free screening pack, anyone can email me at info@altofilms.com

What is one of your favourite childbirth-related quotes?

Professor of Midwifery Soo Downe says, “If we get birth right, we get the  world right. I fundamentally believe that.”

And so do I.

What is the most important piece of advice you would give an expectant mom or a woman hoping to have a baby in the near future?

Take back your birth. Be fully informed and have the best possible support, ideally a doula and a midwife.

Thank you again, Toni. And all the best with One World Birth and all your future endeavours.