Baby C- It's a boy

This is the first birth I witnessed where momma did yoga as a way to calm her during the contractions and it worked.  I was called early in the morning as the Contractions had started but were very irregular.  By 6pm when I went over to their place I knew it was time for me to stay and start working with mom and dad.  So I packed my bag, picked up my camera and began working with mom to make the contractions effective.

Speaking from experience no first time mother can ever truly know what it feels like to go through labour until you experience it.  You can imagine how you will react but nothing can truly prepare you.  Well nothing except maybe having a Doula by your side.  *insert smile here hee hee*.

When I arrived after 6 the contractions were further than 10 minutes apart and irregular.  We began working with her body.  Using positioning, hydro therapy and massage as a way to help her contractions become more regular.  Though my client refused to eat her husband and I managed to convince her to eat something.  Lucky for us she listened as 10 hours later she was starving!

So we worked at home keeping mom as comfortable as we could manage.  When it was time to leave we took the 10 minute walk to the hospital.  Needless to say that 10 minute walk seemed to take a life time.

Upon arrival the Dr. questioned my client's desire for a natural birth despite her birth plan stating she wanted no offer for meds.  Her husband was able to convince the Dr. they were competent to make the decision and at this time they were not interested.  I sat quietly fuming inside... I hate when Dr's push meds when a client is confident they do not want them.

So after a good hour or so they finally moved us upstairs where we continued to use positions, water and yoga as a way to progress.  Mom was getting exhausted, Dad was sympathetic to his wifes pain.  So we continued on doing things our way.  We were left to labour on our own.

As the night progressed it was showing signs it was time.  I stepped out got the dr and nurse... not quiet there they say.  Maybe 30 minutes later mom sounds like she wants to push so again I get the nurse who promptly tells me if she is not ready to push they will have to medicate her.

Well it was time for mom to push.... they scrambled around to get things ready and then finally after 12 hours of labour Mom was able to push baby boy out in 2-3 pushes.  He came out so quick, dad was so proud, mom was amazed at her strength to endure it all.

And can I say nothing beats the Dr's face when he came in to see mom had dilated as well and quick as she had, with no need for the meds he was offering.   It was priceless!

Results... a Happy Healthy baby boy!

Congrats to family C

Low Milk flow- Homeopathic tips

For anyone with a low milk flow please read the tips below.  Note these are from a homeopathic practitioner in India so I would advise you check with your local health store ie. Thompsons to verify tinctures.

ALL FEEDING MOTHERS : Normally to increase mothers milk, the following can be used, safely. ALFALFA-Q (Homeopathic Mother tincture). 30 drops in half cup water = one dose. Atleast 3 times / doses a day, for the entire period till the mother is feeding the child. ALONGWITH above : Cal.Phos.3X plus Ferr.Phos.3X, 4 tablets of each or equivalent powder is = one dose. Take four such doses daily till the mother is feeding the child. FOR THE CHILD : Mag.Phos.6X, two tablets or equivalent powder. 3-4 times a day. Takes care of all gases and discomfort of the child. Incidentally, Mag.Phos. is a consitituent of Milk and compensates for inappropriate quantity and quality of milk provided by the mother. Also consider reading : http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/35254

January birth complete Baby B_eautiful

So my second birth was a success for mom and dad.  They were very overjoyed with the experience which makes me extremely happy.

A short version of the long birth story :0)

It was boxing day when I got the call that baby was making her way into the world.  We met at the hospital because mom wanted to check to see how far along she was.  At that point she was only 1cm and had some time to go.  We returned home after picking up some pizza and contented to labour at home.   After a few hours we packed up the car and headed to the hospital again as mommy wanted to check the progress.  This time she was 2-3 CM and they offered her drugs.  I asked the nurse to give her some more time, maybe settle us into a room with a shower.  She looked annoyingly at me and gave it to us.

I can't imagine birthing on your own without a Doula and this isn't because I am one it is because I see the pressure out there for the instant fix.  You walk in and they pretty much tap your arm for the IV.  I am surprised they don't offer you a cocktail when you get to the parking garage.  Anyway a few hours later mom's progress wasn't moving along.  She took the epidural and tried to rest.  At this point she was both mentally and physically exhausted.

The next morning around 6am the doctors gave her some pitocin to speed up the labour and that is when the baby's heart rate started soaring up and down. They came into the room talked C-section and gave mom some time to continue to labour.  Mom was trying to sleep but I got her to take in deep breaths with each contraction *which she still was not feeling*.  After about 30 minutes baby's heart rate went back to normal and mom was able to continue as planned.  They backed off the pitocin to give mom more time in between contractions.  well not really mom more baby than mom.

Just before 11am Baby B came into the world with mom only having to push for 30 minutes.  She did an amazing job and was able to feel the urge to push because we got her to back off the epidural.  Mom, dad, grandma and me witnessed the birth of a beautiful baby girl weighing in at 6pounds 4 ounces.

Welcome to the world baby B ;0)

Lending Library coming along

My Lending library has begun being built so far I have only a dozen or so books but it is a start.  It is amazing how much we need as a new doula.  So much to get so little money :0) isn't that the way it always is.  I put out a request for donations and so far the response has been great.  A few were purchased, but most came to me free.

It will take me forever to read every book but that is my intention.  I am even going to read the book most doulas do not like, what to expect when you are expecting.  I feel it is important to know what the rest of the world is reading and hearing about pregnancy and birth.

Here is the list

A Healthy Pregnancy
The Fussy Baby book
The complete book of Pregnancy and Childbirth
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful
Spiritual Midwifery
What to expect when you're expecting
Moving beyond A.D.D. (this one more for parents who have other children)
Breastfeeding made simple
The Birth Partner 2nd and 3rd edition
Defining your own success Breast feeding after a reduction
Hypnobirthing
Baby Talk
The mother of all pregnancy books
The baby name bible
Herbal for the childbearing years
the labour progress handbook


well that is it for now ciao

Placenta Encapsulation!

Ok so here goes I have decided to offer Placenta Encapsulation as a service available to my clients.  I have done a lot of research on the matter and truly it's benefits outweigh the "ick factor".  I know most people would find it absolutely appalling to think about ingesting their Placenta but really it isn't that uncommon.

So here is they why and the how :0)


Why Placenta Encapsulation?

Placenta pills may help to:
• Increase general energy
• Allow a quicker return to health after birth
• Increase production of breast milk
• Decrease likelihood of baby blues and post natal depression
• Decrease likelihood of iron deficiency
• Decrease likelihood of insomnia or sleep disorders

Services I offer

Placenta Encapsulation - TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has historically honored placenta medicine to remedy milk supply issues and to balance Qi (life energy) after a woman's birth. The TCM method dates back many thousands of years and involves steaming the placenta with a unique mix of herbs and foods designed to help the placenta be absorbed deeper into the system and to enhance its healing properties. We will discuss your birth and choose the additional agents together. $150.00


Placenta Encapsulation - RAW
In this method it is believed that the hormones found in overwhelming supply in the placenta at birth are most readily usable by the body post-partum if the placenta is processed without being subjected to cooking or high heat. Although no scientific studies can prove or disprove this assumption it follows with raw food medicine that cooking degrades some or all of the most beneficial qualities of food. 

Raw encapsulation is not available if there is suspicion of infection (maternal or fetal) or if meconium if present in the amniotic fluid.

150.00

Or a mixture of Raw and TCM method 150.00

I will come to the place of birth and pick up the placenta, keeping it on ice transport it to my home where I will prepare the placenta and return the completed pills to you within 2 days of receiving the placenta. Please contact me for more info.
please add 50.00 travel expense if out of the downtown core.

My next Client January

My next client is due in January, though she was the 4rth one I booked she will join my first client shortly on my birth completed list.  So far my first client has been amazing with being open to new clients calling her up for references.  With a new baby and all the adjustments to her new life it will be good to get potentials  another set of people to chat with.

I am super excited for her and her husband whom might I add seems to be wonderful.  This is such a great time, waiting for your son/daughter to be born.  Especially surrounding the holiday season.  Even if you aren't someone who celebrates seeing all the ads with children on them have to tug at your pregnant heart!

It has been great working with them, so far we have completed the birth plan and now are simply waiting for the time to come.

I'm also working on my "doula" binder.  This is taking me a long time but it is well worth it.  It is more for information regarding the entire business of being born but will have some interesting things in it for the day of labour.  Hopefully it gets completed in time.  I find I am being really meticulous with it, fine tuning it over and over again.  Not to mention the upcoming seminar I am co-hosting with Samantha Spencley of In The House Homeopathy. We've been working on a few things one is the seminar where we will go into What A Doula is, How a Doula can help you, and how she and I can work together during pregnancy and birth.

My partner has been very supportive during this time.  I have been really busy this past week between new client phone calls, appointments and working on websites, binders and homework for my certification.  It takes a lot of time to start up a business and I am luck to have a partner who understands this.  Not to mention my being on-call over Christmas and New years for my upcoming birth.  Which I am thrilled about!  I used to dread being on-call with my former work but this one.... I know that when I get called it will be for one of the most amazing moments of a persons life.  The entry of a new spirit into the world, the introduction of a son or daughter!

The Business of Being Born

Let us talk about it for a moment shall we. The movie was amazing if you haven't yet already seen it.  It is called "The Business of Being Born" it opens your mind as well as your eyes.  It truly looks into the world of birth in a way no one else has done yet.

I could write about the movie but I would rather you go out watch it for yourself and comment here.  Like it, Love it or Hate it, write about it so we can open the dialogue.  

This past week has been a difficult one, I have been setting up meetings, writing up contracts, filling out forms for certification, working on my website, facebook page, blog, advertising myself, reading books on fibromyaglia for an upcoming client of mine suffering from it as well as networking in hopes to gain more clients.  That all in one weeks time.  If anyone doubts the value of the money they are spending guess again.  If you have a good or great Doula they are really in tuned to your needs and will do everything in their power to ensure your needs will be met during your birth.

However I am not complaining just talking about what the life of a Doula is.  I love my work, I love the research, I love the networking, and I love most of all feeling like I am helping make a difference.  It has charged me beyond words.  I only wish I was covered by good old OHIP so that I did not have to worry about the financial aspect so much.  Most Doula's have a second career or something they specialize in.  Right now all I have is my Doula and a part time job.  I am working towards getting my Childbirth Educator certification so that I can teach that and possibly pre-natal Yoga.  For now though, this is it.

Hopefully one day it won't be only the parents to be that see the value in Doula's, hopefully OHIP, private health care and the lot of them will see that hiring a Doula saves everyone in the end.  Saves the parents grief, saves the healthcare industry money on un-neccessary procedures, and saves on the nursing staff's demands.  Think about it with a Doula most people Labour at home which means less people in the hospital and for shorter times.

In the end we can only hope they see that Doula's are good for Business!