Sacred Spirit Doula Care- Jennie Dalgas

05/05/2022

Happy International Midwives Day! Blessed be the midwives! "Having one midwife giving care from pregnancy through to birth and baby is not just a great experience. According to the Cochrane collaboration, which summarises the best medical evidence, continuity of midwifery care reduces the chance of early pregnancy loss, as well as lessening women’s need for pain relief in labour, and enhancing her satisfaction with the birth, with no extra risks for mother or baby....
Whether you are planning a hospital, birth centre, or home birth, remember that midwifery care is the gold standard. Blessed be the midwives" https://sarahbuckley.com/in-praise-of-midwives/

05/18/2021

It's Tip Tuesday! Every Tuesday a CDP doula will share a pro tip.

04/15/2021

03/24/2021

"Peace on Earth begins at birth."

03/11/2021

https://slate.com/technology/2021/03/home-birth-obstetrician-stigma.html

I personally was born on a table in a dining room.

09/10/2020

What about when things don't go as "planned"? How can a Doula help?

"Hi, my name is Jennifer Spiegel and I have 2 daughters. I have a gentle, supportive, and caring husband, Daniel, who wanted to be my primary support person for the births. After taking a birthing class, we were introduced to the idea of having a doula for our birth.

We were advised to interview multiple doulas, but after only one interview we chose her right away. We decided to have a doula for multiple reasons. We realized that I may want another female's support/insight, and if Daniel needed a break or advice himself, he would have someone there he trusted and who was not emotionally involved.

Our first labor and delivery experience was about 30+ hours active labor, which ended in an urgent C Section and transferred baby. Daniel benefited from the doula most on this one because she allowed him to take a break and sleep at times. She also helped facilitate a quiet time for us to decide on whether to do the C section or try to labor longer. Daniel DID end up being my primary support person. He did a great job...but it was HARD on him, and in the end, he was REALLY dreading another labor and delivery in the future. He said he would definitely NOT want to do the next delivery without a doula.

The second labor and delivery experience was about 8 hours of active labor. We decided ahead of time to let our doula be the primary support person so that Daniel could have the opportunity to enjoy the process. This was a very good choice for us. She was respectful of my wishes and helped me physically through the contractions. Daniel was able to support me in other ways (like making sure I had food/water, a hand to hold, rested/smiling eyes to look into, and made sure I had a great lunch after delivery (which the doula went and got!!). My husband and myself both agree that the money spent on a doula was WELL WORTH it.

If I were to pick one thing as to why I appreciated having a doula it would be this: She allowed both me and husband to be in a more rested and emotionally stable place to enjoy our newborns once they arrived."

Doula support can take many forms and will even remain fluid throughout the journey, as needs change. Every birthing family should have access to Doula support, if they so choose, and you can help make that a reality by supporting the Community Doula Program.
https://www.communitydoulaprogram.org/birthingcommunitydoulas/

09/08/2020

How is a doula attended birth different, you ask? Do doulas really make a difference?

"The experience of birthing children should be a magical miracle of tremendous effort ending in a tiny perfect life. That is exactly what I experienced with the birth of my second child, Evie. I was fortunate enough to be referenced to a magnificent doula who set the stage for this event to be as beautifully supported as possible. The birth of my first child was without a doula and I realized how immeasurably vital Doula services can be. My son Owens delivery was long, anguishing and exhausting on every level. I was so tired and the nurses were so busy that we had a very hard time breastfeeding at first. We got the hang of it, but it was nearly as painful as the birth itself! The doula care provided included before, during and post partum care to support our family and little Evie with whatever questions we had. At the hospital on delivery day, our doula was able to coordinate with the nurses so my husband could hold my hand without distraction. She took lots of photos, brought Benny’s donuts for the nurses and brought an adorable stuffed toy for our three year old son! She always returned my calls and offered her extensive experience and insight as a Doula. The experience of having a doula was truly a night and day experience for us!"

Doulas can't change any outcomes, reduce complications or make anything magical happen. But often times when a family feels safe and supported by the presence and care of a doula, the experience of the birth is effected in a positive way. Every birthing family should have access to this type of birth experience because how we care for the family impacts the family over time!

09/08/2020

I heard it once said that doulas are in the "Experience Business". A doula can help create a feeling of safety, relay information and we support the entire family. Here is a client testimonial of their birth experience...

"My husband and I were so blessed to work with a caring and skilled birth doula as we welcomed our second child, a daughter who arrived a little over three years after her big brother. Our birth experience with our first baby was long and difficult, but overall incredibly positive. However, having experienced how exhausting and mind-blurring 20+ hours of labor can be, we knew we wanted the support of a doula the second time around.

Our doula started meeting with us several months before my due date so that she could learn our previous birth story, as well as our wants and needs for the upcoming birth. She helped me become more comfortable approaching the labor process from my own unique perspective, and brought a constant calm to the birth experience.

One of my fondest memories of that night (other than meeting my beautiful and strong daughter, of course!), was waking from a little snooze right after I chose to get the epidural. Our doula was sitting quietly near the foot of the bed, but her expectant facial expression and little gesture toward the monitors revealed the inner work that was occurring during my rest. Sure enough, it was a matter of minutes later that our daughter was born. But being able to have a moment of calm, resting in the knowledge that we had a supporter and ally with us, was an incredible gift that allowed us to be fully present to welcome our baby."

09/07/2020

This is so exciting! Happy Labor Day!

We believe that all families deserve to have doula support before, during, and after giving birth.

And we believe that it matters that a doula is individually matched to each person's unique needs and preferences.

Thanks to the amazing Community Doula Program doulas, families in our area that receive Medicaid can access doula care, free of charge. Doulas - who are recruited from the communities they serve - deliver comprehensive care in eight different languages.

This Labor Day, you can help expand the number of culturally- and linguistically-matched doulas in our community. If you can, please consider giving today:

www.communitydoulaprogram.org/birthingcommunitydoulas

09/06/2020

https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/

Birth and postpartum doulas support new families through the life-changing experience of having a baby. They provide information, emotional support, and physical comfort.

09/05/2020

Have you heard about the Community Doula Program?

I feel so honored to be a part of this amazing Community. I am inspired by all of these birth workers and human rights advocates!

If you haven't heard about the Community Doula Program, here's the basics...
🤍 CDP works to provide culturally matched doulas with underserved families
🤍 CDP has provided trainings for individuals to join the pool of qualified Doulas, especially in underserved communities.
🤍 CDP is proving the effectiveness of doula care on birth outcomes and has gained the trust of providers.

Check out their page for more information!
https://www.facebook.com/communitydoulaprogram