Jessica Burrage Birth Services

09/12/2021

❓What is a doula?
A: a doula is a birth professional who guides, educates and advocates for the birthing person and their family. The doula strives to be unbiased and bases advocacy on the choices of the mother/birthing family. A doula ensures the client knows ALL their choices and options. A doula knows how to make labor and birth go smoothly, with comfort measures and pain relieving techniques. A doula is the ultimate birth support.

❓Are there different types of doulas?
A: there are many types of doulas. Birth doula- a doula who supports you through pregnancy and into postpartum. (Description above)
Postpartum doula- a doula who supports the mother throughout there postpartum journey. This doula specializes in healing the womb and the mother emotionally/spiritually/physically.
The title "doula" is continuously being reinvented with new knowledge and changing of times. Each individual doula represents their self and they typically do not work for anyone but the client. Many doulas are experts in creating a doula plan that fits the individual needs of each client. There is never just one way to support.

❓Does a doula replace family and visitors?
A: a doula does not replace anyone. A doula is a birth expert and support expert. Typically doulas support the whole family through this birth journey. A doula is talented at showing partners how to give comfort and pain relief or even suggest an incredibly helpful book or tool for the partner to feel incredibly included.

❓How often will I have appointments with a doula?
A: a birth doula will have at least two prenatal visits packed full of information, guiding and support. They are OnCall for your birth for two weeks before and after the guess date. They will be there as much as you need them throughout. They will be supportive and informative postpartum, giving tips and a lending ear to process the birth journey. This typically happens at the postpartum visit.

❓How much does a birth doula cost?
A: it varies depending on location, expertise, and the doulas personal beliefs on money. Average cost for everything included is $800-$1500.

✨And some of us make memes✨

09/05/2021

😂

Wash your sheets and buy some snackies because you officially have plans. 🛏

(via RachRiot )

08/16/2021

What an eventful 24 hours it’s been as I witnessed a new mama bring her little one earth side, I feel like I say this constantly but man, women are tough as hell, that is all.
As I was preparing to recharge the old batteries before the next birth I thought I’d pop on and show you one of my favourite stress reduction techniques and how you can use it in the delivery room! All you need is a shower, some soft music (or no music if you’d prefer more of a sensory deprivation experience) and the lights off. Darkness helps the hormones necessary for birth like oxytocin to flow unhindered, the warm water relaxes and provides pain management, and the time alone even if it’s just behind a shower door allows you to mentally regroup and connect with yourself and your intuition. Your partner or doula can sit outside ready to assist you if needed ☺️

08/06/2021

No words for how happy reading recommendations from past clients makes me ❤️❤️

08/04/2021

The 2021 fishing season has ended and with that so does my yearly hiatus 🥳 I will have the honour of witnessing two little ones make their way Earth side this month and I’m so excited! Some other big things are on the way and I can’t wait to share them all with you in the coming months ✨

06/28/2021

This.

It's for convenience, but not yours.

Next week is July 4th (Independence Day) in the US, and loads of unnecessary inductions and c-sections are about to happen right before the holiday.

Every year there is a HUGE decrease in births on (and around)...

🔆 Christmas
🔆 New Year’s Eve/Day
🔆 Easter (changes yearly - first Sunday after the full moon in April)
🔆 Memorial Day (changes yearly - last Monday in May)
🔆 Independence Day (4th of July)
🔆 Thanksgiving (changes yearly - last Thursday in November)

And it’s not just the United States - it's everywhere.

How could it be that all of these holidays have lower birth rates year after year?

It’s not a coincidence - it’s about convenience.

And not YOUR convenience. The convenience of providers.

No one wants to work on holidays, and hospital birth providers have a way to make sure (for the most part) that they don’t have to.

Inductions & c-sections are rarely scheduled ON holidays, but they ARE frequently scheduled in the days leading up to, or just after, a holiday.

If you are due around a holiday, and your provider suggests an induction or c-section, it’s a good idea to question why (remember that you always have the right to decline). If there is NOT a legitimate medical reason, they may be more concerned with being home in time for a holiday dinner than your well being.

For more info and references on this topic, you can download my PDF on Holiday Births from my website (coming soon).  

06/09/2021

Doulas are back in 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

Starting today (June 9) Nova Scotia Health will begin easing restrictions to allow more opportunities for family caregivers and primary support persons to visit patients. http://www.nshealth.ca/news/nova-scotia-health-ease-visitor-restrictions-phases


Effective, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, we will ease visitor restrictions to allow:
TWO family/support people for intensive care units (ICU), for critically ill patients in the emergency department and for labour and birth.
During Phase 2 (earliest date June 16), visitor restrictions will ease further to allow:
ONE designated family/support person for all inpatients.
ONE designated family/support person for patients in emergency departments.
THREE designated support people at a time for palliative patients and others nearing end-of-life.

During Phase 3 (earliest date June 30), restrictions would ease further to allow:
TWO designated family/support person for inpatients.
FOUR designated support people at a time for palliative patients and others nearing end-of-life (private room and at the discretion of healthcare team).
During Phase 4, (starting when the province moves to Phase 4 of the reopening plan), restrictions would ease further to allow:
ONE designated family/support person for ambulatory appointments.
Details for each phase could change and will be confirmed at the time of implementation.

Nova Scotia Health sincerely thanks Nova Scotians for their patience throughout the pandemic and as we work to safely welcome more family members and caregivers back to our facilities.

05/03/2021

Upcoming classes for expectant parents 👩‍🍼🧑‍🍼

05/02/2021

❤️

Truth.

04/19/2021

Fyi 💕✨

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