tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76098191952889123002024-03-21T09:52:22.127-07:00Your Best Birth:childbirth education, doula services & doula workshops. The adventures of Dorothy and Jessica, the founders of Your Best Birth. We love taking care of our families and we love helping women have great births. We live crazy lives juggling our families and our business and we love every minute of it. OK, not every minute, but most of them!Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-3662165360703559412015-03-12T09:53:00.000-07:002015-03-12T10:33:52.401-07:00What to Look For in a Doula Training<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having been in the birth biz for 13+ years I’ve attended my
fair share of trainings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I’ve
always received lots of great info, I’ve come to realize a successful in-person training is about more than content,
it’s about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i> the information was relayed.
Lecture alone won’t cut it. <em>What was my experience as a participant/learner?<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this in mind I
can confidently say, we’ve led another successful workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why? Because the participants…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Asked lots of great questions. They knew their questions
and comments were welcomed and encouraged. Learning should be interactive.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb5mswJZAN4LkqTvEaD3mZJEAEvVlr_-rdlNUsze3ll8SHueOcX23nXY7ILs_2NM3mDPkI92e3VOQXBtjyky3dlw5W5-t2E0ybwHhdgnaGmrf6E-frDo4ydzbW2Cp2ZDNnz7uE8Gu9nGX/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb5mswJZAN4LkqTvEaD3mZJEAEvVlr_-rdlNUsze3ll8SHueOcX23nXY7ILs_2NM3mDPkI92e3VOQXBtjyky3dlw5W5-t2E0ybwHhdgnaGmrf6E-frDo4ydzbW2Cp2ZDNnz7uE8Gu9nGX/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Were attentive and engaged. No one was scrolling through
their phones or off daydreaming. They weren’t bored with overly long lectures
but involved in lots of small group activities, role playing, problem solving “what
if?” scenarios, watching relevant DVD clips etc…</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvovWXx5m22CNjEjleHeJZMkp_zbbKw1L0TscGn0hBRfiYQUVSi2lswGo2BYFx45w9kB9D1a7Idijjaei_DddQLCKJYKHIY-IHKbunDYqmMgSSnZlHVf0-q2sKfE1n7bzXtUZn-iATUYv/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvovWXx5m22CNjEjleHeJZMkp_zbbKw1L0TscGn0hBRfiYQUVSi2lswGo2BYFx45w9kB9D1a7Idijjaei_DddQLCKJYKHIY-IHKbunDYqmMgSSnZlHVf0-q2sKfE1n7bzXtUZn-iATUYv/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QzdYNzROIxZeecsHXJTpNJClz8aXJRTpkbEmPiBaqeApzsv3IVV39W3PruMJLcbdFvp1-Umx0r-G7HPZSYWgfOumQaF1aliOMTPfdtzrIfeuAKNSrjpl6INJa9g2ETpKPWxgZNSgaPQ7/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QzdYNzROIxZeecsHXJTpNJClz8aXJRTpkbEmPiBaqeApzsv3IVV39W3PruMJLcbdFvp1-Umx0r-G7HPZSYWgfOumQaF1aliOMTPfdtzrIfeuAKNSrjpl6INJa9g2ETpKPWxgZNSgaPQ7/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyfpVIjUStEOoA_AAKviNJUE2giEMVnIPct73PLp3xL66JXGUQo1ZDiWAyyeejl7h3ZeW9u4zG4smRQNLOrO4_o-JYAVz64NKzpu3JUlf-dlT0MF6BDcVd0KP4dRbGVX3Adc4fOIEhie7/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyfpVIjUStEOoA_AAKviNJUE2giEMVnIPct73PLp3xL66JXGUQo1ZDiWAyyeejl7h3ZeW9u4zG4smRQNLOrO4_o-JYAVz64NKzpu3JUlf-dlT0MF6BDcVd0KP4dRbGVX3Adc4fOIEhie7/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Had connected with each other. When it was time to practice
hands-on comfort skills, they had already spent 10+hrs together –they weren’t
touching strangers, they were practicing with friends. When the workshop came
to an end they were sad to part and made plans to stay in touch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrpbTnpBhuAWRyp92TMmoEtmol8wUmDe1ox0V76BhuUZb1LMfyIs-LYNHD526mg1tYg4TO1XdoZOSdMZ0nAtvre20Pr30ALS5oCyzdiiq5EvGCU7QXxJW_pevY5aybMNfzJTr3uT-cyCj/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrpbTnpBhuAWRyp92TMmoEtmol8wUmDe1ox0V76BhuUZb1LMfyIs-LYNHD526mg1tYg4TO1XdoZOSdMZ0nAtvre20Pr30ALS5oCyzdiiq5EvGCU7QXxJW_pevY5aybMNfzJTr3uT-cyCj/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGPYiGn9H0XCrzH960Em11t239ss_RPzeeS0QMcsekPqUzxYazE3BPjcNbv8yoLsH3zdLzOqbkvCgNR_iQKHYUL3bDo237HTt9e5IONETkIQV-jotH8bfHQsn2EAIK82SravSOCHB30mm/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGPYiGn9H0XCrzH960Em11t239ss_RPzeeS0QMcsekPqUzxYazE3BPjcNbv8yoLsH3zdLzOqbkvCgNR_iQKHYUL3bDo237HTt9e5IONETkIQV-jotH8bfHQsn2EAIK82SravSOCHB30mm/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Shared their knowledge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far from feeling competitive, they want to see
each other succeed and were happy to share tips.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsXnnVl5o9CxDam6gWQIgBgwXf77w7dsDzdYAFBAeOmNhhQtxrvICClKN6OOmiCiJja4Lv6QG04Bmzposu-X3xuO4rvay0NCnFgp15NlodfzlHn0bt7e6QiG4-uwdw_T0DfNzunKUBjSP/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsXnnVl5o9CxDam6gWQIgBgwXf77w7dsDzdYAFBAeOmNhhQtxrvICClKN6OOmiCiJja4Lv6QG04Bmzposu-X3xuO4rvay0NCnFgp15NlodfzlHn0bt7e6QiG4-uwdw_T0DfNzunKUBjSP/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Left feeling confident, prepared and eager to get started!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ptj6G2z8QdnyWhu5uABQ5Qb6x7exDLFLVS0p31pABWbiOJI3qbfPvCGLtte6AjXRckCRkg151jxTCo7NoVBxRclI43JLLjSsPgu-OnXTUhxrO3j89dFTmn2vMlLgoohxCmR7pux2Flsn/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ptj6G2z8QdnyWhu5uABQ5Qb6x7exDLFLVS0p31pABWbiOJI3qbfPvCGLtte6AjXRckCRkg151jxTCo7NoVBxRclI43JLLjSsPgu-OnXTUhxrO3j89dFTmn2vMlLgoohxCmR7pux2Flsn/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for a few words about this wonderful group of women…I’m
always amazed at the diversity of those who are called to this work. Among our
participants we had: students (pre-med & nursing), aspiring midwives, a dancer,
a member of the military, and highly successful meditation coach-just to name a
few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all had one very important
doula quality in common-commitment! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the course of the training, their commitment was
challenged in at least 3 ways..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Challenge #1: Treacherous journey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day before the training, winter gifted us with one last snowstorm. Our participants had to travel icy roads with bouts of blinding sun glare. For some this drive took more than 2 hours. Several had to pull over multiple times to clear salt from their windshields and one unfortunate soul slid through a railway crossing as the gates were coming down! Still, everyone arrived. (And what doula hasn’t had to drive in less-than-pleasant conditions?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Challenge #2: Lack of sleep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 2 full days of learning, our participants had to wake extra early on the third day when the start daylight savings robbed them of
an hour of sleep. Regardless, everyone was on time. In fact, 1 arrived early
and managed a quick nap in her car before training started and another woke
even earlier to prepare some notes she wanted to share. (And what doula hasn’t
had to work while tired?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Challenge #3: Physical discomforts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless of how comfortable the surroundings, remaining in
the same room for 8+ hours per day takes its toll. Of our participants, 2 were
pregnant, 1 was lactating, and 2-3 were battling allergies-perhaps someone else
had a headache or backache? If so, it didn’t show. They changed positions
often, expressed milk, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and came armed
with plenty of tissues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And what doula
hasn’t experienced and worked through her own discomforts during a birth?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am proud and confident that these women will be reliable
and provide excellent support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>***For those of you who have taken in-person trainings, what was your favorite part of the experience?***</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-20916379341867873682015-02-27T08:13:00.000-08:002015-02-27T08:13:15.937-08:00Our Road to Trainer Certification, Part 2 <span style="font-family: inherit;">Our apologies for the 4 year cliffhanger...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like most things in life, our plans took longer than anticipated but the time
and effort was well worth it. We attended our training in Boston of 2011 where
we had the distinct honor to be trained by the original doula, and author of <u>The Birth Partner</u>, Penny Simkin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfeZ0H41SBiG_0-4rAcwI2k36TRq0QaKcc3HbZ3bo8hJAcRXBqyphoU2sAw3OUkpYgYeGFrla97IqP8FDOFZYqOzZIZ-YHnXMD28ashnuMiWc72eGW2Er55qaE4AcQ1HPHfsf6g2gGTCn/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfeZ0H41SBiG_0-4rAcwI2k36TRq0QaKcc3HbZ3bo8hJAcRXBqyphoU2sAw3OUkpYgYeGFrla97IqP8FDOFZYqOzZIZ-YHnXMD28ashnuMiWc72eGW2Er55qaE4AcQ1HPHfsf6g2gGTCn/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We came home
brimming with ideas and inspiration-and then came the overwhelming
task of creating 16 hours of curriculum, complete with: learner objectives,
modes/methods of teaching, session outlines, handouts, etc… but after many<em> many</em> hours, we did it!
We mailed in our curriculum <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and waited
to hear about the revisions we would need to make –as we had been forewarned that
the majority of submissions required some tweaks ,so you can imagine our joy and
surprise when, on December 18th, 2013 (my birthday!) we got the call…our
submission was accepted AS IS and we were officially BDTs (aka Birth Doula
Trainers).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Birth Ball
Blues…<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We planned
our training and decided to give each of our 12 students plenty of goodies to
get them started. This included a birth ball. The problem with planning to USE
12 birth balls for a training is having to INFLATE and STORE 12 birth balls. We’d
been ordering from the same company for years (as we provide them to every
childbirth education student), without a problem but as luck would have it this
last shipment was <em>off, </em>the included pumps didn't fit into the balls. After several unsuccessful purchases from Sports Authority and Home
Depot, we came to realize we had the Cinderella’s shoe version of a birth ball,
it seemed that only one pump would fit, if we could only find it! Thankfully my
husband came to rescue with a heavy, loud, but blessedly fast compression pump.
Finally the balls were inflated…and promptly took over the space: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUhLDFSElpMlXmBS7xfq1eSL0bDWq3zLJZi3sdzPxvyRE5_BN4V3UfYrD8-nKrFP0290PmsmM0xWZbHD_Fae8zynuTFFC4y2bUYatbn1uc3ihPwLzXiQGC39UNVP4OwywW5jssVrju2yt/s1600/cwvDm9asA3Lw9btnAfl5esWDJoI%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUhLDFSElpMlXmBS7xfq1eSL0bDWq3zLJZi3sdzPxvyRE5_BN4V3UfYrD8-nKrFP0290PmsmM0xWZbHD_Fae8zynuTFFC4y2bUYatbn1uc3ihPwLzXiQGC39UNVP4OwywW5jssVrju2yt/s1600/cwvDm9asA3Lw9btnAfl5esWDJoI%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Murphy’s Law
of Labor:<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If the weather
is bad, your child is ill or you have unbreakable plans, someone will go into
labor. The night before our training Dorothy received THE CALL; a client was in
labor. While Dorothy provided labor support all through the night and into the
morning, I woke early and set up for the day</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dlUkCaF00WnWu3GzBDDRSdFhu1rDtswIG3aITfqK906txlqrJQWxm2EQqxesb9rMC8JNrq-KT47ER3h5w7lYy7NJQNmhpowJa1CB5jFySRQdK1u1KbST3TEcPrKkcVDEC-cPbcQrl9mo/s1600/cwvDm9asA_Lw9YsGTQNy8vW7Zxw%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dlUkCaF00WnWu3GzBDDRSdFhu1rDtswIG3aITfqK906txlqrJQWxm2EQqxesb9rMC8JNrq-KT47ER3h5w7lYy7NJQNmhpowJa1CB5jFySRQdK1u1KbST3TEcPrKkcVDEC-cPbcQrl9mo/s1600/cwvDm9asA_Lw9YsGTQNy8vW7Zxw%5B1%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A precious baby entered the world
around 8:00am, the same time I welcomed 12 women to our very first training. I
hoped they wouldn’t notice my nerves, the way I was talking too fast, the way I
paused during the section that Dorothy was to do and then, at 9:30am, Dorothy
arrived! She was up all night and came to the training straight from the birth-now
THAT is dedication, a quality I was happy we were able to authentically model
for our students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </div>
<o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Our “Flying
Horses”</em> (the nickname chosen for this group)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QNMA8FDdsYrcZ1HLU7yTZ99w4z6vvstr6YbL-9qHDl8RY0ftdvkvMwxj3HUM-AywYuLO_7plg3F_4MZPePm4MYUaoQpSNkQwvjIVehS_7HerEJSLP-Z70Yn6BzGtvSzj427B_H_xLRLf/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QNMA8FDdsYrcZ1HLU7yTZ99w4z6vvstr6YbL-9qHDl8RY0ftdvkvMwxj3HUM-AywYuLO_7plg3F_4MZPePm4MYUaoQpSNkQwvjIVehS_7HerEJSLP-Z70Yn6BzGtvSzj427B_H_xLRLf/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dorothy and
I had the privilege of teaching and sharing with this diverse group of intelligent,
compassionate and enthusiastic women. It was an amazing 3 days, filled with
instruction, discussion, meaningful interactions, laughter and some tears (the
good kind that happen when you witness birth). It was such a rewarding
experience that we cannot wait to do again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p> </span> </span> </span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-9745181503872663052011-06-10T05:44:00.000-07:002011-06-10T05:44:21.957-07:00The Next Step...So what's the next step for Your Best Birth? <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Next Step:</span></strong><br />
<strong>Dorothy and Jessica will be attending the DONA Birth Doula Trainer Workshop being held in Boston in July 2011! This is the next step in our journey to becoming Birth Doula Trainers!</strong><br />
<br />
Here's a timeline of some events in YBB History leading up to this:<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<strong>November 2007</strong> - Dorothy and Jessica decide to become business partners. We brainstorm names and come up with Your Best Birth. We purchase a website and have a logo designed and register our business with the state of NJ.<br />
<br />
<strong>December 2007 -</strong> We both become certified as Lamaze educators! We also start this on-again/off-again blog.<br />
<br />
<strong>January 2008 -</strong> It's official - Your Best Birth is open for business! As we have for the past several years, we each take 1-2 doula clients per month.<br />
<br />
<strong>January - March 2008 -</strong> We develop our curriculum for our classes and start advertising.<br />
<br />
<strong>March 2008 -</strong> Our open house at Fair Haven Yoga, where we will be holding classes.<br />
<br />
<strong>April 2008 -</strong> Our first class series! We have two wonderful couples as well as two student doulas.<br />
<br />
<strong>October 2008 -</strong> We decide to offer classes in a second location closer to Middlesex county. Dr Tom of McGuire Chiropractic offers the use of his office space for teaching classes.<br />
<br />
<strong>February 2009 -</strong> Our first class series in Matawan with three great couples!<br />
<br />
<strong>August 2009 -</strong> We attend the DONA conference in Atlanta, GA and start seriously discussing working towards becoming doula trainers. When the location for the 2011 conference is announced to be Boston, we decide that our goal is to have all steps completed for the 2011 Doula Trainer Workshop, offered immediately after the DONA conference. There are a lot of steps involved to get approved to take the Doula Trainer Workshop, one of which is that we need to have at least 200 hours of teaching with at least 4 expectant moms in each class, so we start keeping track of which classes will actually qualify. <br />
<br />
<strong>January 2010 -</strong> We attend TENS training with Penny Bussell-Stansfield, who is also a doula trainer with DONA. While there, we discuss the logistics of becoming doula trainers with Penny, who encourages us to go for it!<br />
<br />
<strong>September 2010 -</strong> Fair Haven Yoga moves to a beautiful new location. We are happy to have this bright airy space to teach <br />
<br />
<strong>Spring 2011 -</strong> We assemble and submit our application for permission to attend the Birth Doula Trainer Workshop.<br />
<strong>June 8, 2011 -</strong> Dorothy and Jessica both receive this email:<br />
<br />
<em>Ladies,</em><br />
<em>I'd like to welcome you to take the birth doula training workshop in conjunction with the DONA International conference next month. I am notifying the office that you have been approved to attend.</em><br />
<em>Congratulations and I'll see you in July!</em><br />
<br />
<strong>June 8, 2011 (approximately 6 hours after receiving the above email) -</strong> We mail in our registration forms to attend the Doula Trainer Workshop, to be held in Boston in July 2011.<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
We are both excited about this next step for us and for Your Best Birth. We look forward to holding DONA birth doula workshops in the Central NJ area.<br />
<br />
What does this change mean? For our clients - not much will change. We will continue to take doula clients and teach childbirth classes, and our commitment to our clients will stay the same. One benefit to our doula clients is that by teaching the doulas trainings, that information will be fresh in our heads when we work with our own clients.<br />
<br />
For those who have taken our childbirth classes, you know that we make our classes fun and relevant, with lots of laughing and good practical information. We are looking to bring that same element to our doula training classes.<br />
<br />
We will both be blogging throughout our journey to becoming doula trainers. At this point, we expect to be offering our first DONA-Approved Birth Doula Workshop in the Central NJ area sometime in Spring 2012.<br />
<br />
We encourage you to follow us throughout our journey, and if you have ever thought about becoming a birth doula, consider joining us next spring!<br />
<br />
DorothyDorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-19806102933064227752010-08-01T15:54:00.000-07:002010-08-01T15:54:07.173-07:00A month of surprises!July was a busy month for Your Best Birth. Some surprising things that happened this month:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lots of Births!</i></span><br />
Between the two of us, we had six clients this month give birth - 2-3 births more than usual. We had 4 clients scheduled this month (a normal YBB workload) but add a June client and an August client whose babies decided to come in July, and there you go.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>An Early Baby!</i></span><br />
One of Dorothy's clients went into labor 5 weeks early. Surprise! This was their second baby and there were no risk factors for preterm labor. (Baby and mom are fine!)<br />
<br />
And going to the other extreme, we had...<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">A Baby Who Came At 42 weeks!</span></i><br />
One of Jessica's clients went 2 weeks past her due date. And although labor took a long time coming, once it started it didn't take long!<br />
<br />
The client who went to 42 weeks was also was in the next category:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Two Fast Babies!</i></span><br />
Dorothy and Jessica each had a client this month whose labor lasted less than two hours. <br />
<br />
Moving on to the other extreme, we also had...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Two Babies </i><i>Who Took Their Time!</i></span><br />
Dorothy had a client this month who was at 6-7 centimeters at 11:00 AM.....and 15 hours of active and transition contractions later, was still in labor. A long labor and an incredible mom who worked through an incredibly long unmedicated labor. <br />
<br />
Dorothy had another client thus month who started having contractions early Saturday morning...baby was born late Monday night. <br />
<br />
Some babies just take their time.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Two VBAC Births!</span></i><br />
Both of these clients worked hard to give themselves the best chance of success - and both had successful VBACs! <br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Two Clients in Labor on the Same Day!</span></i><br />
In the past 5 years, this is only the 4th time this has happened.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Three Births in One Week!</i></span><br />
Also known as "The Week Dorothy Barely Saw Her Family"<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
The unpredictable nature of birth is one of the things that I love about birth.<br />
<br />
The unpredictable nature of birth is also one of the things that I find to be most challenging about birth.<br />
<br />
I am incredibly proud of our July clients, who all worked hard through their unpredictable and sometimes challenging labors and births.<br />
<br />
Welcome July babies!Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-66256889535248059432010-07-23T05:36:00.000-07:002010-07-23T05:54:10.096-07:00More Good News for the Future of VBAC<style type="text/css"> BODY,.aolmailheader {font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:Arial;} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} </style><span id="role_document" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > <div><span style="font-size:130%;">The tide keeps turning...<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">In my blog post of March 11, 2010,<a href="http://yourbestbirth.blogspot.com/2010/03/vbac-in-news.html"> </a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://yourbestbirth.blogspot.com/2010/03/vbac-in-news.html">VBAC in the News</a></span>, I expressed hope that the tide was turning with respect to VBAC.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">This week ACOG, the organization that sets the policies that most obstetricians follow, has issued a statement calling for less restrictive policies for women attempting a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) This carries MUCH more weight with doctors than the previous statement issued by the NIH.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Here is the statement issued by ACOG:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr07-21-10-1.cfm">Ob-gyns Issue Less Restrictive VBAC Guidelines</a><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Now ACOG is not known for their progressive approach to birth. It is rare that we are giving them a shout-out and saying, "GO ACOG!"<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">So what do their recommendations mean for women who have had a previous cesarean and are considering a vaginal birth in a subsequent pregnancy?<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Recommendation #1:</strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong></strong> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">They have expanded the category of women who they feel are good candidates for VBAC to include:</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Women who have had two prior cesareans.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Women carrying twins.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Women who have an unknown type of uterine scar.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Good News!</strong> Women in the categories above are going to have an easier time finding a care provider that supports them in having a VBAC.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Yay!<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Recommendation #2:<br /><br /></strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">ACOG has also relaxed their recommendations for what type of emergency care needs to be immediately available for women attempting a VBAC. Their previous recommendation caused many hospitals to ban VBAC all together. My thinking is - emergencies can happen in any birth. The emergency care in place for any birth should be sufficient to support the rare emergency that arises during a VBAC - if not, then that hospital had better re-evaluate if they are in a position to handle any births at all.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">So Yay! to ACOG for realizing that the result of their previous recommendation wasn't better emergency care - the result was the massive banning of VBACs and women unable to find a hospital to support them in for their VBAC.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Good News! </strong>Women looking to have a VBAC will have more hospitals and care providers available who are willing to support a VBAC birth.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Yay! More choices for women in birth is a great thing.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Recommendation #3:<br /><br /></strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">If a hospital does have a restrictive VBAC policy, ACOG is recommending that it should not be used to force a woman to have an unwanted repeat cesarean.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Although individual doctors and hospitals can still decide to not support VBACs, if a woman shows up in labor at the hospital, ACOG is recommending that the hospital should support her in attempting a vaginal birth and should not force her to have a cesarean.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Good News! </strong> Women who don't have a supportive doctor/hospital have a much greater chance of their unsupportive hospital won't pressure her to have a repeat cesarean.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong></strong> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Recommendation #4:<br /><br /></strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">ACOG is encouraging doctors to give women with a previous cesarean the benefits and risks of both a VBAC AND a repeat cesarean. The policy specifically states:<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>A VBAC avoids major abdominal surgery, lowers a woman's risk of hemorrhage and infection, and shortens postpartum recovery. It may also help women avoid the possible future risks of having multiple cesareans such as hysterectomy, bowel and bladder injury, transfusion, infection, and abnormal placenta conditions (placenta previa and placenta accreta).<br /><br /></em></span> </div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em></em> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Good News!</strong> More women will be given the benefits and risks of both VBAC and repeat cesarean, instead of only being told the risks of VBAC. Women will be able to make more informed decisions, instead of picking repeat cesarean solely out of fear and not realizing it carries risks of its own.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Yay!<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Now ACOG is not law. These are not laws that doctors and hospitals have to follow. But ACOG is seriously listened to by obstetricians, and any statement from them carries a lot of weight and shifts the way many doctors and hospitals practice. The reason VBAC became so restricted in the first place was due to ACOG recommendations.<br /></span></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">So yes, this policy change is really only fixing something that ACOG messed up awhile ago. But they are moving in the right direction. I am confident that these new policies are going to result in women getting more support for their VBAC, which will ultimately result in a decrease in the cesarean rate.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">The most encouraging part of their statement is this comment:<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>"The current cesarean rate is undeniably high and absolutely concerns us as ob-gyns," said Richard N. Waldman, MD, president of The College. "These VBAC guidelines emphasize the need for thorough counseling of benefits and risks, shared patient-doctor decision making, and the importance of patient autonomy. Moving forward, we need to work collaboratively with our patients and our colleagues, hospitals, and insurers to swing the pendulum back to fewer cesareans and a more reasonable VBAC rate."<br /><br /></em></span> </div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Is there still room for more change - absolutely. But this is a step in the right direction. I am cautiously optimistic that these policy recommendations will ultimately result in a lowering of the cesarean rate.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">I am hopeful that we will see more loosening of restrictions from ACOG in the future - in my fantasy world, maybe they'll give guidelines for reducing the induction rate, or issue a strong statement that doctors shouldn't even consider induction for post-dates until 42 weeks or they'll encourage less continuous monitoring, less interventions, or they will encourage eating and drinking during labor, walking around and using water during labor, or maybe they will even encourage pregnant women to bring a doula to their birth...<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Hey, a girl can dream! </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div> </div> <div> </div><div> </div></span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-55265133840514834322010-05-13T10:36:00.000-07:002010-05-13T14:02:31.994-07:00What *NOT* to say to a laboring woman...<div align="left">Oxytocin. That wonderful hormone that causes contractions and bonds us to our partners and babies also makes us more trusting of everyone within our laboring space. Why is this an issue? Because careless comments that might otherwise be easily dismissed have a way of taking root in the laboring mind, thereby planting seeds of fear and doubt. Fear in labor is not a good thing. Those dreaded words "Failure to progress" can often be linked to "Fear->Tension->Pain"<br /><br />Unfortunately, over the past 8yrs, I've seen this too many times. Here are the most common offenders:<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-<em>You're not really in labor.</em></span></strong><br />This is often said to the woman whose contractions are strong enough that she cannot speak through them and close enough to prevent her from sleeping. She is looking for validation that all this hardwork has gotten her somewhere but instead an exam shows her to be less than 2cm dilated. In need of reassurance, she is told the above instead.<br /><em></em><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong>-Oh this is nothing, just wait.</strong></em><br /></span>This woman has just been admitted, they've asked her to rate her pain on a scale of 1-10. She says "8". The nurse replies...<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-How big did they say this baby will be ?!</span></strong></em><br />This comment is delivered with a furrowed brow as medical staff palpates the woman's belly. She sees their doubt, and starts to wonder if her baby is too big for her body to birth.<br /><em></em><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>-Must you breathe like that?</em><br /></strong></span>Helpful to her, her audible breathing is being perceived as exhausting or exaggerated. She becomes self-conscious.<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-What's the hold up?</span></strong></em><br />Often said with a smile, this gem can evoke concern-as in "Is there something wrong?" to the apologetic "Sorry to keep you waiting." or the defensive, "I'm doing my best here."<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-You think you're relaxed but you're not.</span></strong></em><br />Repeated when trying to convince a woman that she needs pain medication, this lure that the meds will help her relax so that her body will open much faster-unfortunately this is often said to women who are very vocal (yet relaxed pelvis-wise) Sounds very appealing-alas for these women, the meds often have the opposite effect, and contractions " s p a c e".<br /><em></em><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>-You'll have this baby by ______ o'clock.</em><br /></span></strong>Said after an internal exam. Unless the doctor/midwife/nurse has uncanny psychic abilities, this can only lead to trouble-if she progresses more quickly than anticipated she might perceive contractions as "too strong" to handle for X more hours and doubt her ability to cope, conversely if labor lasts longer she may become discouraged and worry that something's "not right".<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-You'll never have the energy/strength to push that baby out.</span></strong></em><br />Said to the perfectly healthy, unmedicated mom who's been listening to her body and moving with contractions. Now she worries-"Maybe I'm moving too much? Should I lie down?" Which is often more painful and leads to "Should I get medication?"<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-Now don't you just want to kick yourself for not getting that epidural sooner?</span></strong></em><br />Said to the woman who initially wanted to avoid medication and has requested/accepted it as a last resort. Gaining no recognition for her hardwork she feels chastised.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>-Poor baby, you must be exhausted.</em><br /></span></strong>Often said by well-intentioned loved ones. Unfortunately this kind of pity only further saps her strength.<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-Wow-those are some hemorrhoids!</span></strong></em><br />The very last thing a pushing woman wants to think about.<br /><em></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">-Decided to just "grow it out", huh?</span></strong></em><br />Said to woman between pushes, while waiting for next contraction to start. Now in addition to worrying about "pooping" she's feeling judged on her personal grooming habits.<br /><em></em><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">-You've got a really tight vagina.</span></em><br /></strong>Baby is moving down and starting to crown-very gradually. Nothing makes a woman tense her pelvic floor during pushing like the belief that she will do herself grievous injury during the birth.<br /><em></em><br />A laboring woman needs support, encouragement and for those around her to BELIEVE that her body is capable of having an easy birth.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>What my clients find most helpful....</strong><br /><br />-<em>Your body was designed for this.</em><br /><br /><em>-Listen to your body. It knows what to do. Move with it.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-Labor knows no time.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-You can do anything for a day.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-It might hurt but cannot harm you.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-Each one is one step closer to meeting your baby.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-You are so strong.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-I'm so proud of you.</em> </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br /></div><em></em></span><div align="center"><strong>**Speak with the intent to nuture and build confidence; you cannot go wrong.***</strong></div><em></em>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-15921001957572009322010-03-11T08:34:00.000-08:002010-03-11T09:31:25.422-08:00VBAC in the NewsThe VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) rate in the United States has been decreasing since the mid-90s while the cesarean rate has continued to climb:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc-i4ZLlgCftu9fmdDMOHrXcyobUW8jeqs4gF9cNepgLdqs0NM-PYQtL3kTF-tbgMJrPU_NvHvj3DXQwdZAvNQd5cTREu4D1KicEfn3VGlBy63ILQsQ_bT5YUOX6ZomwMqUDSYKqtAFc/s1600-h/cesarean-vbac-rate-graph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc-i4ZLlgCftu9fmdDMOHrXcyobUW8jeqs4gF9cNepgLdqs0NM-PYQtL3kTF-tbgMJrPU_NvHvj3DXQwdZAvNQd5cTREu4D1KicEfn3VGlBy63ILQsQ_bT5YUOX6ZomwMqUDSYKqtAFc/s320/cesarean-vbac-rate-graph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447417943649963170" border="0" /></a>In NJ in 2008, the cesarean rate continued to increase and has reached 40%. The number of women in NJ with a previous cesarean who had a successful VBAC continued to decrease in 2008 and was 7.5%.<br /><br />This week, there is news that makes me optimistic that the pendulum is going to start swinging in the opposite direction.<br /><br />What happened is that The National Institute of Health (NIH) came to this conclusion:<br /><a href="http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2010/od-10.htm"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Panel Questions "VBAC Bans," Advocates Expanded Delivery Options for Women</span></a><br /><br />Now I expected to see buzz about this in the birthing world - and I did! Lamaze, ICAN, and many birth advocates issued statements and wrote blog posts.<br /><br />But this news didn't stay in the birthing world. Major news organizations picked up the story as well, leading to seeing these headlines in the news:<br /><br />From Reuters: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62952Y20100310">Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Underused</a><br /><br />From Associated Press: <a href="panel:%20Women%20need%20chance%20to%20avoid%20repeat%20C-section">Women Need Chance to Avoid Repeat C-Section</a><br /><br />From MSNBC: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35802334/ns/health-pregnancy">Women Need Chance to Avoid 2nd C-Section</a><br /><br />From ABC: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/c-sections-common-nih-panel-cesarean-birth-rates/story?id=10051116">Are C-Sections Too Common? Panel Expected to Issue Recom</a><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/c-sections-common-nih-panel-cesarean-birth-rates/story?id=10051116">mendations on Ways to Lower Cesarean Rates</a><br /><br />From MedPage: <a href="http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/18933">Base VBAC Decision on Evidence, NIH Panel Urges</a><br /><br />From The Examiner:<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-40488-Baltimore-Pregnancy-Examiner%7Ey2010m3d10-NIH-concensus-panel-concludes-VBACs-should-be-available"> NIH Concensus Panel Concludes VBACs should be Available</a><br /><br />The NIH does not legislate policy, so their recommendations don't mean there will be any immediate change. But mark my words, change is coming - the pendulum is starting to swing the other way. And that is good news for pregnant women and their families. I am hopeful that the tide is turning, not just for VBAC births but for evidence-based care in other areas of maternity care as well.Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-31011684817794505682010-01-28T07:19:00.000-08:002010-03-06T17:39:32.674-08:00So what does a Webkinz have in common with Unmedicated Birth?On Christmas Eve, my family has a tradition that many families have - the kids all open one gift, and that gift is always pajamas. (for us, this started out as a way to make sure the kids were in new picture-worthy pajamas for Christmas morning pics):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOlRO4TKqpbEZzXaenFSmp2vKnTvtjTCmSabVNRR2hiyGELkgnaF2UbKSJx6LJEyH03Awi5MBvvKTN9Omn1nRo2_Ml_HQjz-ryQHWzwtYzcqUGPpkxG3i8nQzpqfD0roRBVbxYFnEFUk/s1600-h/pajamas+blog+pic.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 290px; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431812824041783538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOlRO4TKqpbEZzXaenFSmp2vKnTvtjTCmSabVNRR2hiyGELkgnaF2UbKSJx6LJEyH03Awi5MBvvKTN9Omn1nRo2_Ml_HQjz-ryQHWzwtYzcqUGPpkxG3i8nQzpqfD0roRBVbxYFnEFUk/s200/pajamas+blog+pic.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now those are not my kids. First of all, they would die if I posted pictures of them in their pajamas on my blog. Second of all, they would never wear matching pajamas past the age of oh...four. So even though my kids were not matchy-matchy on Christmas morning, they were at least not wearing the favored Little Mermaid summer nightgown with marker stains on the front.<br /><br />ANYWAY....the Christmas Eve Pajama Tradition has continued in our household. Last year, my five children (ranging in age from 20 down to 7) had their wrapped packages. My older kids were pretending that they had NO idea what these presents could be, and were speculating guesses: Was it an iTouch? A laptop? A video game? My 7 year old daughter Miriam then said, "I hope mine is a WEBKINZ! A reindeer webkinz!!!"<br /><br />What is a webkinz, you may ask....A webkinz is a stuffed animal<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFtUTKUFxMDQFyPdDvT9AySNUtU_e1hhZwG_ZoU5U7xb0Tbde8FFBlnziZOyVqveHyR6guUSLawrJPMD4KSIpv83fomk52iNQBKXD9lJALHeCILxwDafjuDmLxL1hb7B6XB55V0xBttk/s1600-h/webkinz.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 173px; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431815467094713986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFtUTKUFxMDQFyPdDvT9AySNUtU_e1hhZwG_ZoU5U7xb0Tbde8FFBlnziZOyVqveHyR6guUSLawrJPMD4KSIpv83fomk52iNQBKXD9lJALHeCILxwDafjuDmLxL1hb7B6XB55V0xBttk/s200/webkinz.jpg" /></a><br />that has an online persona<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxkYtK_Jk9yRPa4A0tDjxcg10jd6aoL9mCEddn7vZs2X3CS2-XJaS44VobRhozZf79YroEtAu7d9iwWkwOKhj4SUGnkeGbJLEHU60ahdBjjNI8h0ATzK_xZbUAJbMqNVkoS7DHek5yUM/s1600-h/Webkinz-Reindeer-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 100px; HEIGHT: 100px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431816272369257426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxkYtK_Jk9yRPa4A0tDjxcg10jd6aoL9mCEddn7vZs2X3CS2-XJaS44VobRhozZf79YroEtAu7d9iwWkwOKhj4SUGnkeGbJLEHU60ahdBjjNI8h0ATzK_xZbUAJbMqNVkoS7DHek5yUM/s200/Webkinz-Reindeer-1.jpg" /></a><br />, as well as performing the traditional duties of a stuffed animal. It was a Must Have Christmas Gift for the Age 7 set in 2008.<br /><br />So picture Miriam, holding her flat wrapped package, hoping against hope that her present was a Webkinz.<br /><br />My oldest child (age 20) opens her package...pajamas! She acts surprised - "Just what i always wanted!' Miriam shakes her package and says..."I hope mine is a Webkinz!!!!"<br /><br />And it continues...child #2...child #3...child #4 all open their gifts...all pajamas. After each one, Miriam said, "But mine is a webkinz...I just KNOW it!!"<br /><br />After my 4th child opened up her pajamas, my 20 year old said gently, "Miriam - we ALL had presents that looked the same. Everyone else has gotten pajamas. And your present is the wrong shape to be a webkinz. Plus - EVERY year we ALWAYS open pajamas on Christmas Eve. I think your present is probably pajamas too..." Miriam held her present and said with much confidence, "I know...but I really really REALLY want mine to be a webkinz!!! A REINDEER webkinz!!!"<br /><br />So now it's Miriam's turn. She opens it excitedly, exclaiming, "I think it's a WEBKINZ!!!!!!!!!" only to discover that it's....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m_BfpQ_9wo05VxiDXjL3x-fJO9AP4b2yNpfSo7Jnka3X8oPHmrYQFzQM7_g4LDM7K9d5mWBG_dfoFqj-j_bc4DKUpmWMEe4tMamBOG2slxfE0nm2vuug8alY34ThMidTiIaqyi3qNdM/s1600-h/Christmas-Pajamas-Flannel.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 159px; HEIGHT: 159px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431819944761419170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m_BfpQ_9wo05VxiDXjL3x-fJO9AP4b2yNpfSo7Jnka3X8oPHmrYQFzQM7_g4LDM7K9d5mWBG_dfoFqj-j_bc4DKUpmWMEe4tMamBOG2slxfE0nm2vuug8alY34ThMidTiIaqyi3qNdM/s200/Christmas-Pajamas-Flannel.jpg" /></a><br />(PS...she got her reindeer webkinz later that night)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb7D3NhiK12x3ekMtE0wBvB94EcrZ2JfsQgktGpMejakatK7d-axQNoHKY4A8783GdMDnvlOnr9eXubGUmHsmkHCb8jnAPZY_jbHkF7MNM9rD_egSEPdnMR9d3KBavsJbMTXKH2gH7N0/s1600-h/Christmas+2007+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445694998635786530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb7D3NhiK12x3ekMtE0wBvB94EcrZ2JfsQgktGpMejakatK7d-axQNoHKY4A8783GdMDnvlOnr9eXubGUmHsmkHCb8jnAPZY_jbHkF7MNM9rD_egSEPdnMR9d3KBavsJbMTXKH2gH7N0/s200/Christmas+2007+015.JPG" /></a><br /><br />What does this story have to do with birth?<br /><br />Some expectant moms remind me of Miriam - they want a certain kind of birth - lets call it a Webkinz birth. However, their doctor is a Pajamas doctor. Everyone they know who has used their doctor has gotten...Pajamas. The doctor himself (or herself) has said things that make it clear that they are expecting the birth to go down the Pajamas path. When you look at the whole "package" -all the information about this doctor and how they practice - it all points to Pajamas....yet the woman wants a Webkinz, and hopes against hope that if she just wants it badly enough, she'll get lucky and won't get Pajamas.<br /><br />If you are hoping for a Webkinz birth, you are a lot more likely to get what you want if you go to a doctor or midwife where you see these characteristics:<br /><br />1) many of their patients actually get a Webkinz birth<br />2) they support the idea of a Webkinz birth<br />3) they don't tell you that on Christmas Eve, what you'll really want is Pajamas<br />4) The "package" looks like it might actually contain a Webkinz<br /><br />Don't wait until Christmas Eve and only then find out that you have little to no chance of getting a Webkinz. Ask questions early your pregnancy (<a href="http://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/5-questions-to-ask-your-doctor-before-your-birth/">here are some suggested questions</a>)and if you need to switch your present to one that looks a lot more like a Webkinz, don't be afraid to do so.Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-68125322985905808132010-01-26T10:45:00.000-08:002010-01-30T07:01:04.777-08:00TENS anyone?<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Dorothy and I are proud to be among the first DONA doulas to receive training and be granted approval in bringing TENS back to birth in the U.S. TENS has been around for almost 50yrs and is frequently used in Canada, Great Britain and Australia as a comfort measure during labor. </span><div><br /><br /><em style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">So how does it work?</span></em></div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">A mild electrical energy is diffused through 4 strategically placed pads on the laboring woman's back. </span></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1GZiqyZcTqpLrC4gF6urq3Hy1bnXtCrpadgHXzHXkX5vb3qIJ4KipMIlafytWetDmhufr7e9cnQ7BPf8EHBLncyg6b8FdSciYBGJKmnKTXwInbnAwVPFGjY5zepagxrMsd32KmbI9Z6P/s1600-h/imagesCAM5T6X0.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 207px; HEIGHT: 175px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431824222398003650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1GZiqyZcTqpLrC4gF6urq3Hy1bnXtCrpadgHXzHXkX5vb3qIJ4KipMIlafytWetDmhufr7e9cnQ7BPf8EHBLncyg6b8FdSciYBGJKmnKTXwInbnAwVPFGjY5zepagxrMsd32KmbI9Z6P/s320/imagesCAM5T6X0.jpg" /></a></p><div><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">When used in early labor, the lower settings help stimulate endorphin production making the woman's intensifying contractions more manageable.</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"> As labor progresses, the higher settings help to block pain signals.</span></div><div><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How effective is it?</span></span></em></div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Like any type of pain management, there are varying levels of relief based on numerous factors. That said, in a 1998 study, women who used the TENS unit were 37-40% less likely to use pain medication and those that did, had progressed 2-4cm further before requesting it.</span></div><div><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How does this compare to narcotics and/or epidurals?</span><br /><br />Unlike these pharmacological options:<br /><br /></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">-TENS is started in early labor-while the woman is still at home.<br /><br /></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">-TENS is controlled BY THE WOMAN, giving her a sense of control.<br /><br /></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">-TENS does not impede mobility; it can be used in any position and in conjunction with other comfort measures-it will not slow labor.</span></em></div><div><br /><em><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">-TENS leaves you clear-minded.</span></em></div><div><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153); FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><em>Is TENS safe?</em></span></div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><strong>YES</strong>. There are no side effects and there have been no reports of harm to mother or baby.</span></div><div><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Dorothy and I each own a unit and are excited to be able to offer this option to our clients. To help facilitate acceptance among medical personnel, each client is to present her careprovider with a TENS information and consent form prior to her birth.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-33528932019468992632010-01-16T06:52:00.000-08:002010-01-16T08:06:45.676-08:00The Third Time's The Charm...So what's been going on with Your Best Birth since our last post on this blog 14 months ago? No, we didn't fall off the face of the earth. 2009 was a great year for Your Best Birth; here are some of the highlights:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Class Stuff:</span><br /><br />~We started teaching classes at a 2nd location in Matawan at McGuire Chiropractic. Thanks, Dr. Tom!<br /><br />~We taught 8 complete childbirth ed class series: 4 in Matawan and 4 in Fair Haven with a total of 34 couples.<br /><br />~We started a Pregnant and New Mom Support Group.<br /><br />~We invested in some BackJack portable chairs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3VRp061EBy_m3qLT6VA3kVwrfFMIaO-LjztUTocN094jfckbIkz598aDKhnLmtkYuSh0PSpjpyDaqEkghQZt9toWdRR2QYoelsyS4iZquGd6x6fCaeeMJ18gn6znPOeQP97UWCcy6cg/s1600-h/back+jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3VRp061EBy_m3qLT6VA3kVwrfFMIaO-LjztUTocN094jfckbIkz598aDKhnLmtkYuSh0PSpjpyDaqEkghQZt9toWdRR2QYoelsyS4iZquGd6x6fCaeeMJ18gn6znPOeQP97UWCcy6cg/s320/back+jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427362202880508274" border="0" /></a> which make seating in our classes much more comfortable.<br /><br />~We continued making modifications to our curriculum and methods to make classes more memorable and practical.<br /><br />~We started giving out birth balls to all class participants<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgT9N15EMRduXZBXnADqiWVqXCk-dUsXtwcRuH6x_I2sCasInNrzf2gA9K4nc1p7oM1TihOQujjGcnVE6N3IezsqXhTP9XtplcMkVZvZNYODpxDLdb6exuWfVDkZ6DqSYtufUeO9gPJM/s1600-h/birth+ball.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgT9N15EMRduXZBXnADqiWVqXCk-dUsXtwcRuH6x_I2sCasInNrzf2gA9K4nc1p7oM1TihOQujjGcnVE6N3IezsqXhTP9XtplcMkVZvZNYODpxDLdb6exuWfVDkZ6DqSYtufUeO9gPJM/s200/birth+ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427363508039368738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doula Stuff:</span></span><br /><br />~We attended 36 births as doulas.<br /><br />~Dorothy attended her 100th birth!<br /><br />~We attended five successful VBACs, a vaginal twin birth, and many unmedicated births.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Continuing Education (for us!)</span></span>:<br /><br />~We attended a VBAC seminar held by Henci Goer, author of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth</span>.<br /><br />~We attended the DONA Conference in Atlanta, GA in August.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous Stuff:</span></span><br /><br />~Jessica was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education.<br /><br />~Dorothy was published in International Doula magazine.<br /><br />~Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (Business of Being Born) came out with their book, which they titled...<span style="font-style: italic;">Your Best Birth</span>! (no relation to us or our business - but we like the title!) The publishers gave us five copies of their book to give out..and we had a sweepstakes drawing in April to give them away.<br /><br />~We were the featured speakers at the March 2009 Dar A Luz meeting where we spoke on "Comfort Measures and the Role of a Labor Doula"<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />ANYWAY...<br /><br />We have a lot of plans for 2010 (including getting this blog active again) but that's for another post!<br /><br /><br />2009 was a great year for us, and we are looking forward to the many couples and pregnant moms who we will have the privilege to help have better births in 2010!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-23820777955372249122008-11-04T17:24:00.000-08:002008-11-04T21:00:42.765-08:00We're Expanding!!<strong><span style="color:#000066;">As of 2009, we will have two locations for our childbirth classes!<br /><br />We are teaming up with </span></strong><a href="http://www.mcguirechiropractic.com/"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">McGuire Chiropractic</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color:#000066;"> and will be holding classes in their Matawan office, which is conveniently located on Route 34 on the border of Old Bridge and Matawan, and is easy to get to from Middlesex and Northern Monmouth counties. We are very excited about working with McGuire Chiropractic and want to thank them for allowing us to use their space. It is a great location for holding classes.<br /><br />We will also continue to hold classes at our Fair Haven location, at the </span></strong><a href="http://www.fairhavenyoga.com/"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Yoga Studio at Fair Haven</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color:#000066;">, convenient to those clients in the Southern Monmouth county/Northern Ocean county area. We have been at this location since last spring and we are thankful to Darry Guli for allowing us to use her location.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;"></span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;">You can check out the schedule for both locations at </span></strong><a href="http://www.yourbestbirth.org/My_Homepage_Files/Page2.html"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Your Best Birth Class Schedule</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color:#000066;">. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;">So now we need to figure out which posters, props, etc. we need to have at each location, and which ones will be making frequent trips between Matawan and Fair Haven.....</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Dorothy</span></strong>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-31166448685209551952008-08-30T10:01:00.000-07:002008-08-30T10:09:37.256-07:00Not On Call!<span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Last night I was up until 2:30 AM reading...and it was a wonderful wonderful thing.<br /><br />It's not something I can indulge in too often, because more often than not I am...<br /><br />On. Call.<br /><br />What does that mean? That means that one of my doula clients is within two weeks of her due date, and there is a possibility that I could be called to a birth. At anytime. So I need to be ready. All. The. Time.<br /><br />First of all, I need to make sure my doula bag is packed and ready to go. Ipod and camera battery charged. Extra batteries. Everything cleaned and sanitized from the last birth I attended.<br /><br />Then, for every day I'm on call I need to make sure that I have:<br /><br />(a) last-minute childcare available<br />(b) someone to transport my children to activities<br />(c) something easy in the freezer that my teens or husband can cook for dinner<br /><br />Then I think through my plans for the day. I need to make sure that I am not straying too far from home - if a client calls me, I need to be able to get there within a reasonable amount of time.<br /><br />Any appointments, meetings, plans, etc. need to be made with the caveat that "I might get called to a birth and need to cancel."<br /><br />If there is a birthday or holiday when I'm on call, there is always the possibility that I will miss it because I am at a birth.<br /><br />My birth supplies and birthball live in the back of my van. If my husband wants to take my van, he needs to make sure my supplies are taken out.<br /><br />I don't drink alcohol when I'm on call, because you never know when someone might go into labor.<br /><br />I can't take sleeping pills of any kind either.<br /><br />And the hardest part for me -<br /><br />I need to make sure I get to bed at a decent hour - it is a Bad Bad Thing when you stay up until 2:00 AM, and then get a phone call at 2:30 AM that someone is in labor, and need to leave and possibly not be back for 24 hours.<br /><br />This summer, I've had a lot of births. I've been on call constantly since early June. We even went away in the middle of June, making sure we didn't go very far and we took two cars, knowing I might have to come back for a birth....and I did.<br /><br />But NOW....my last August mom had her baby last week. My mid-September mom has already had her baby, and my late September mom is a couple of weeks away from me being on call for her.<br /><br />So in the meantime, I am staying up late and drinking wine and making plans that I know I probably won't have to change.<br /><br />In two weeks, I'll be on call again, and that's ok. If I were not on call much longer than that, I would be itching to get back....but in the meantime, I am so much enjoying the Not On Call Life.</span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-37791793435713593052008-08-23T05:52:00.000-07:002008-08-23T06:18:49.939-07:00Be part of "The Birth Survey":share your experiences to create a better birthing world.<span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">It seems for every consumer decision there is a resource available to rate and review options. However, when it comes to choosing a healthcare provider and facility for our births we are left only with a list from our insurance provider and the limited experiences of family and friends who may or may not have similar birth priorities. Many of us forget that as pregnant women we are consumers; we are being provided a service. It is our right to shop around for a careprovider and facility that suits our wants and needs. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">You wouldn’t request Chinese food at an Italian restuarant yet many women find themselves making incompatible requests when it comes to their births. For instance, a woman who feels strongly about avoiding episiotomy would do well in not choosing a doctor who performs them on 95% of first time moms. Similarly, a woman who wants freedom of movement through her labor will find herself frustrated and restricted at a facility that insists on continuous fetal monitoring. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Now thanks to CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services), you will be able to find reviews on all your local options. Have you given birth in the past 3 years? If so, please be part of building this amazing resource by taking the survey. By sharing your experience, you can help fellow mothers have their *best births* and also help providers and facilities improve their quality of care.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.thebirthsurvey.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">http://www.thebirthsurvey.com/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"> </span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-16620160542188947812008-08-14T15:39:00.000-07:002008-08-14T16:39:33.528-07:00Book Recommendation: Journey Into Motherhood by Sheri L Menelli<span style="font-size:130%;">Description: A collection of 48 positive, natural and varied birth stories including: first births, subsequent births, hospital births, home births, unassisted births, water births and VBACs as told by the mothers themselves. After each story, there is section titled: A Mother's Guidance where the woman relays what helped her most in achieving her positive birth as well as occasional notes from the author.<br /><br />Why all pregnant women should read this book...<br />The biggest obstacle the average woman must overcome in having a positive birth is not pain or unforseen complications but rather<em> fear</em>.Thanks to unsolicited horror stories, overly dramatic documentary shows and inaccurate birth portrayals in movies, women have lost confidence in their bodies' innate ability to give birth. This book is an antidote for fear as it casts birth in a different light-birth as a transforming, an exhilirating, and even a healing life event.<br /><br />In reading these stories women can build confidence and begin to prepare and look forward to one of the most memorable days of their lives.</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-60699696713139631812008-08-08T18:34:00.000-07:002008-08-16T18:16:46.387-07:00New Jersey's High Cesarean Rate<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">NJ has the dubious honor of having the highest cesarean rate in the country, at 39%.<br /><br />The following is a list of Central NJ hospitals. I have listed the 1997 cesarean rate for each of these hospitals, followed by the 2007 rate, as compiled by <a href="http://romancathanachronism.typepad.com/ican_somerset/new_jersey_birth_statistics/">Somerset County ICAN.</a> What a difference 10 years can make.....<br /><br /><br />CentraState 25% 48%<br /><br />Riverview 23% 43%<br /><br />JerseyShore 27% 42%<br /><br />St. Peter's 25% 39%<br /><br />Somerset 22% 39%<br /><br />Robert Wood Johnson 23% 37%<br /><br />JFK Medical Center 23% 37%<br /><br />Princeton Med Center 19% 33%<br /><br />Monmouth Med Center 24% 27%<br /><br /><br />Now what strikes me as interesting is that all of these hospitals have a similar socio-economic demographic for their patients. So what is so different about the moms at, for example, Centrastate, where they have almost twice the risk of delivering their babies surgically than the moms who deliver at Monmouth?? And with cesarean rates almost doubled from 10 years ago, what is the world is so different about women having babies now as opposed to 10 years ago? And the rise in the cesarean rate has not made birth any safer; it has not decreased infant or maternal mortality rates. Instead, it has increased the risks both to mother and baby.<br /><br />If you look online, you can find lists like this one:<br /></span><a href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,47mt-2,00.html" target="_self"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">19 Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean</span></a><a title="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,47mt-2,00.html" href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,47mt-2,00.html"></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;"><br /></span><a title="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,47mt-2,00.html" href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,47mt-2,00.html"></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">(which actually has some good suggestions and tips)<br /><br />However, if your doctor has a high cesarean rate, don't think that s/he is going to be all that comfortable with allowing your labor to continue if it deviates the slightest bit from what s/he feels is a "normal" labor.<br /><br />What can a mom looking to avoid an unnecessary cesarean do then? One very important thing to do, as Peggy O'Mara at Mothering magazine puts it, is to "ask your practitioner what his or her individual cesarean rate is. Ask what the rate is for the practice. Ask about other interventions and how they compare to evidence or federal guidelines. If the question is balked at or not taken seriously, be cautious. Don't become a statistic. Individuals or practices proud of their statistics will be familiar with them and tell them to you in an instant. "<br /><br />If a cesarean is suggested, a mom can ask any questions that she has, get any information that she needs, and take the time to make the decision (barring a medical emergency of course) so that if she decides to have a cesarean birth, she is comfortable with that decision.<br /><br />However, if a mom is NOT comfortable with that decision, and if mom and baby are not having any medical issues, and the mom wants to have a trial of labor or else give her labor more time (again, barring any medical emergencies of course) - why not give her the chance to either try to have a successful vaginal birth, or else come to the conclusion for herself that a cesarean is inevitable.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-70535140520129609812008-08-02T08:03:00.000-07:002008-12-11T00:20:06.922-08:00Confessions of a Doll-napper...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwtpBFFX7k-KlR1y-qNmyEg6bXob_Cz0D8GLf2mSAnpXE-rvvqNXkpx8AUWCVdzULLr5L04GeXiIhEQULVUcQRS2VsCPejtmYQRwzPG2-36ctDLY9JHRa8wvgT8NAoayCwNha7ly4jsw/s1600-h/July+2008+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229961840073261186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwtpBFFX7k-KlR1y-qNmyEg6bXob_Cz0D8GLf2mSAnpXE-rvvqNXkpx8AUWCVdzULLr5L04GeXiIhEQULVUcQRS2VsCPejtmYQRwzPG2-36ctDLY9JHRa8wvgT8NAoayCwNha7ly4jsw/s320/July+2008+019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It was never my intention to become a doll-napper just part of the job. It began quite innocently the day I brought home 3 20in dolls to use in our classes. I didn't expect my 4yo son, Tyler, to become attached. He promptly named them: Grace, Perry, and Harry. Grace and Perry were identical and the typical Gerber-baby fare but Harry stood out, with his mischievous squinty eyes and subtle smile. It was love at first sight.<br /><br />From that day on Harry was Tyler's baby. He came with us to the supermarket, birthday parties, Babies R Us (where I was persuaded to buy him a pair of sandals)...Tyler took excellent care of him-washing his face and hands, feeding him, always securing him with a seatbelt while in the car and changing him into pjs before tucking him in each night.<br /><br />Then came Class 6-the Parenting class..<br />There were 4 couples in the class-we needed all the dolls we could get, there was just no way around it. I had to "borrow" Harry-what choice did I have? Unfortunately Tyler didn't agree. Running late and expecting some resistance (I learned this back when I asked to borrow his lunchbox for our breastfeeding class), I thought I could perhaps borrow Harry without Tyler knowing. It was noon and Harry was still in bed, I'd bring him back in a few hours and Tyler would be none the wiser, right? Wrong.<br /><br />I scooped Harry out of bed, stripped him (in prep for class) and placed him with the others in my trunk. I was so close...but I had forgotten a poster and while I ran back into the house to get it Tyler (who had been playing with his sister infront of the house) walked by the open trunk and spotted Harry. There was his beloved Harry, naked in a huge ziplock bag with those other dolls...the horror! He promptly rescued him just as I came outside. A chase ensued. A chase through a sprinkler, in which Harry was dropped. Now naked Harry was also wet and streaked with mud.<br /><br />I begged, I bribed, but it was no use-Tyler would not let me have him. I am not proud of what happened next, but what choice did I have? I was running late, I had 4 couples, I *needed* that doll! So I hurried into the house, put on Flushed Away, handed him an ice cream cone, lifted the now-forgotten-Harry off the lawn and ran like he!! Into the car and away we went.<br /><br />I got quite the "talking to" when we arrived home and I have since purchased enough dolls that this shouldn't happen again. My doll-napping days are over.</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-26933719456757256272008-08-01T08:11:00.001-07:002008-08-01T12:06:00.711-07:00So is this blog active? Or what?<span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Jessica and I started this blog to talk about the "behind the scenes" of starting a new childbirth education/doula business. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">And business has been booming! Which is good! But our busyness has us putting this blog on the back burner, with both of us thinking, "Soon, I'll write a blog post" And then we blink and another month is gone.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">So what have we been up to since the last blog post, three months ago??</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">WELL...since April we have, among other things....</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Attended ten births between the two of us</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Taught 3 complete childbirth education series</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Bought so much foam posterboard and 3M adhesive squares at Staples that they go and grab it for us when they see us coming (not really....but they should!)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Updated the website approximately 6 times</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Scheduled out our childbirth classes for the rest of 2008</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Had 10 brainstorming meetings</span></li><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Talked on the phone to each other approximately 157 times</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">All this, plus raising our kids (did I mention we each have 5 kids??)</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">SO...this is the Official Announcement that The Blog is Back! You can look forward to hearing more about the interesting stuff that happens here at Your Best Birth!</span><br /><span style="color:#003333;"></span><br /></span><span style="color:#003333;"></span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-48372724955073808192008-04-26T16:15:00.000-07:002008-04-26T16:20:56.051-07:00We've Got a Face on Facebook!<span style="color:#000066;">Are you on Facebook? We are!! Check out our page:</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Best-Birth-Childbirth-Services/15067440836?ref=ts"><span style="color:#000066;">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Best-Birth-Childbirth-Services/15067440836?ref=ts</span></a><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">This is a great way for us to keep up with former clients and a great way for our present clients to get to know us a little bit. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I am excited about the possibilities!</span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-22196908343341448512008-02-13T06:40:00.000-08:002008-02-13T07:20:56.484-08:00Notes From the Underbelly<strong><span style="color:#330033;">The ABC comedy <em>Notes From the Underbelly </em>disappointed me the other night.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">I had previously read the book that the comedy is based on, and thought that the book was well-written and very funny, However, I did not like how the book handled her birth. I liked it even less in the tv version.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Now I know that tv is not reality, and that a comedy is going to exaggerate things, and not get things right. I get that. I can watch birth episodes of other comedies and yes I roll my eyes at the inaccuracies....but they're funny. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">This episode was neither accurate nor funny. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">In the episode Lauren is 37 weeks pregnant, seeing an OB, nearing the end of a normal healthy pregnancy. She is about 2 hours away from home with her husband and has some abdominal cramping. Her husband insists that they have it checked out at the nearest hospital. The OB tells her that her blood pressure is high, which is a sign of pre-eclampsia, and that she must have an emergency c-section. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">WHAT????</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">When Lauren expresses the desire to go and see her regular doctor, she is told that that is not an option. She is told she has no choice but to have a cesarean in a hospital 100 miles away from home, with a doctor she just met, with a baby who is on the edge of prematurity.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">They took ONE blood pressure reading, and called an emergency cesarean based on that. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Other inaccuracies:</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">In the surgery, Dad is seated by mom's stomach and there is no curtain. Riiiight.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">After the birth, the baby goes to the warmer, where the OB goes over and counts fingers and toes and wraps baby in a blanket. Somehow finishing up the surgery is done by someone else while the OB takes care of the baby, and by the time he has baby in a blanket, mom is all closed up, sitting up in bed, and ready to hold her baby. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">I wasn't expecting accuracy, but portraying a cesarean as a very minor surgical procedure, with mom able to sit up and hold her baby 10 minutes after the baby is born is so far from reality it isn't funny. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">And I'm sure that there are some pregnant women who watched this episode who are now wondering if one elevated blood pressure reading is all that stands between them and a cesarean birth.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">If ABC wanted to get some ideas on how to do a comedy birth, they should have watched Friends. Or Mad About You. Or even The Cosby Show. Their birth episodes had their inaccuracies as well, but at least they were funny.</span></strong>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-71021624069091916772008-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:002008-02-08T19:23:17.628-08:00Jackson's BirthI'm known for writing very detailed and incidentally long birth stories. Here's my attempt to describe my last child's birth in a much more condensed way....<br /><br />The Birth of Jackson Bryce (born 11/30/07)<br /><br />Warm, wet, gush.<br />Tick tock, tick tock<br />Contraction, expansion<br />Tick tock, tick tock<br />Husband, friends, midwives, mom<br />Tick tock, tick tock<br />Laughter, television, CD<br />Exam, disappointment<br />Lavender. Darkness.<br />Tick tock, tick tock<br />Rocking chair, Gatorade, hot pack<br />Standing. Swaying.<br />Closer, stronger, longer<br />Inward. Intense.<br />Giddy. Excited. Close…<br />Pressure? Apprehension.<br />Kneel, push. Squat, push.<br />Fear. Doubt. Tears.<br />Stand. Pressure. Exertion.<br />Back-POP<br />PUUUUSH<br />Gush. Drip. Splash.<br />Scent: Copper, bleach.<br />Shaking, trembling.<br />Downward.<br />Burn, pressure.<br />Open. Open. Open.<br />Head out.<br />RELIEF…..ahhhh<br />Shoulders, belly, legs.<br />Reach, grab, hold.<br />Warm, slippery, wet.<br />Baby. Here. Now.<br />Love. Joy. Exhilaration.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-18276237532688901432007-12-21T07:49:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:00:06.989-08:00A Doula's Week Before Christmas<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#663366;"><strong>Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house..<br />Not a creature was stirring, unless she was in labor in her house.<br /><br />I had three mamas due in the month of December<br />When Sunday night came, one of them was in labor<br /><br />Monday morning brought a baby as cute as can be<br />And a phone call - another laboring mom needed me!<br /><br />So after a shower, to the hospital I flew<br />With a bag of massage tools, music, and a hotpack too<br /><br />This labor was hard, but this mom she did fine<br />And pushed out her baby a bit after nine.<br /><br />Another message on my phone - now who could it be?<br />It was mom # 3 - and now she needed me!<br /><br />But lucky for me, it wasn't quite time<br />I was able to sleep in till a quarter to nine.<br /><br />The next day her labor continued all day<br />Then time for the midwives and doula to stay<br /><br />This birth was a homebirth and this mom she did great<br />Her labor progressed, she ate pizza at eight<br /><br />At midnight it was time to meet this new little one<br />A boy or a girl? Finding out would be fun<br />As dad helped catch the baby, mom said, "It's a son!"<br /><br />So three births in two days, three sweet little boys.<br />Three families that have some extra special Christmas joy.<br /><br />Three moms that worked hard; each had a beautiful birth<br />A Merry Christmas to all, and to all Peace on Earth.</strong></span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-50286475485924840752007-12-20T12:29:00.000-08:002007-12-20T13:10:18.008-08:00The "other half" speaks....My name is Jessica Koester, as the other half of Your Best Birth, I just wanted to thank Dorothy for all her enthusiasm, motivation and initiative-as new motherhood (ok this is my 5th baby and I have been a mom for 12yrs so I guess "new" doesn't really apply) or rather caring for a newborn and recovering from an eventful birth hasn't left me with much spare: time, energy or brain cells to devote to creating our new business. I am very excited to be launching this new venture in this new year with such a good friend. I consider myself lucky and blessed to have found my passion in life and such a great outlet for it. So bring on the mounds of paperwork, slew of office supplies, glossy brochures, crisp business cards, complicated schedules, lengthy course outlines-I'll be ready.<br /><br /> (FYI to any lurking family members-a gift card to Staples would make an excellent gift this year)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797948575156156795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609819195288912300.post-87119078937469686932007-12-15T05:47:00.000-08:002008-11-04T21:02:38.989-08:00Welcome to Our Blog<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#663366;"><strong>Welcome to the Your Best Birth blog!<br /><br />My name is Dorothy Haines, and I am one of the founders of Your Best Birth.<br /><br />Your Best Birth is a brand new business, but Jessica and I are not brand-new to the birthing world. We have both been working in the Central NJ area as birth doulas and childbirth educators for many years.<br /><br />We are excited to be starting group childbirth education classes in the spring in the Monmouth County area and many thanks to Darri Guli of </strong></span><a href="http://www.fairhavenyoga.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#663366;"><strong>FairHaven Yoga </strong></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#663366;"><strong>for allowing us to use her facility for our classes.<br /><br />This blog will detail the ups and downs of starting a new business and juggling that with the demands that we both have with our family lives. It will hopefully be interesting, amusing, and keep you coming back for more.</strong></span>Dorothy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02634988016334157046noreply@blogger.com1