Doula Little Dance

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Let’s talk about optimal positions for birth 🕺As a Labor & Delivery nurse, one of most common positions I see women give...
08/29/2023

Let’s talk about optimal positions for birth 🕺

As a Labor & Delivery nurse, one of most common positions I see women give birth in is the lithotomy position, where mom is lying on her back with both her legs held up by stirrups. Although this position can be the most convenient for doctors & midwives, it is not always the best for mom and their babies.

That’s because this position fundamentally works against ✨PHYSIOLOGICAL BIRTH!✨ It goes against gravity - making it more difficult for baby to descend & make their way through the birth canal.

Some positions that can help better open up the pelvis include squatting, hands & knees, or even just standing! If mom has an epidural - movement may be limited, but know there are still options. Mom can lie on either side & hold her top leg up (or have her support person assist with this). Another option is for mom to sit up right by adjusting the head of the bed completely up with the foot of the bed lowered, and her legs positioned in a natural squatting position. Mom can also kneel at the foot of the bed & lean forward.

Another key reason to avoid birthing on the back is to promote blood flow & avoid compression of major vessels - this can reduce blood flow to the uterus and placenta & in turn affect baby’s oxygen supply, whereas being upright or forward-leaning can improve blood circulation!

Lying on your back can also hinder contractions as the pressure on your lower spine can slow down & stall labor. When we choose positions that encourage movement such as rocking or swaying - this will help keep contractions steady & strong. Increased movement may also increase comfort, ease pain, and reduce the need for medical interventions.

Every woman, body, and birth is unique but it’s important to know there are always options & adjustments to be made. The best thing you can do in the process is to stay informed and advocate for yourself! After all it is YOUR birth, YOUR body and YOUR right.

A birth can never be perfectly planned but it can always be better prepared for!Somethings I will always pack for a birt...
03/09/2023

A birth can never be perfectly planned but it can always be better prepared for!

Somethings I will always pack for a birth include:
•heat packs — helps muscles relax & reduces cramping/discomfort
•ice packs & fan — helps keep cool during hormonal surges & soothe vaginal/perineal pain
•honey sticks — provides quick energy & nutrition that’s easy to digest
•massage balls & massage cream — for counter pressure, relaxation, stimulation, distraction
•affirmation cards — can provide positive reinforcement & remind you of their power
•essential oils such as clary sage & lavender + cotton balls to dab the oil on and hold by mom’s nose
•handheld mirror — to self motivate women as they see their baby crowning & visualize their progression as they push
•bluetooth speaker — I love encouraging moms to create 2 playlists: one that pumps them up & one that relaxes them
•battery powered tea lights — helps set the mood & fosters a calming environment
•rebozo — an indigenous tradition and practice surrounding birth used for many reasons!

Music to a Doula’s ears! 🥲
03/09/2023

Music to a Doula’s ears! 🥲

During pregnancy, using a birth ball increases blood flow to uterus, placenta & your baby. It can give counter-pressure ...
02/17/2023

During pregnancy, using a birth ball increases blood flow to uterus, placenta & your baby. It can give counter-pressure to your perineum & thighs. It can encourage the descent of your baby and increase your pelvic outlet. It helps your baby get into best position for birth.

The use of a birth ball during labor can shorten the length of the first stage, and has been shown to lessen the likelihood of an epidural.

In the postpartum stage, you can deflate the ball a little to make it sifter when your perineum is sore after birth. You can bounce with your baby when they are fussy, and continue to strengthen your pelvic floor! ✨

Throughout pregnancy, women undergo several anatomical & physiological changes. These shifts are crucial to support, nur...
02/08/2023

Throughout pregnancy, women undergo several anatomical & physiological changes. These shifts are crucial to support, nurture & accommodate the fetus and the baby she is growing! ✨

Although at times it’s rather uncomfortable, try to take pride in the beautiful process that is pregnancy. Soften into the idea that your body knows exactly what it is doing. Lighten by the thought that you are the very vesicle that has the power to bring forth the miracle that is life.

You did not come this far to only come this far. You are strong. You are capable. You are woman.
You are magic. 🪄

💌

such an honor. 💘
11/10/2021

such an honor. 💘

I owe everything to this little bean right here. My passion for birth, nursing, and this unexpected path I have taken — ...
10/05/2021

I owe everything to this little bean right here. My passion for birth, nursing, and this unexpected path I have taken — it is all because of this tiny, yet big, star-seed.

My journey as a doula began the day that I witnessed my sister's birth back in July, 2019. Ever since that day, I have completely shifted my time, energy, and spirit towards supporting women and families throughout their journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. and since then, I have broadened my care scope beyond this — still with a central focus of client care, client advocacy, and client choice — but with an open heart & mind that surrounds all aspects of the health field.

I know what I have yet to learn is endless, and my role as a student is eternal.
But I love how it all feels so far.

For now, I am not able to take clients as a doula, due to the everyday demand of an accelerated nursing program. But I know it’s for the greater good of my role as as a birth worker, and a care provider as a whole.

I am looking forward to the future, but trying to stay humble and present. Always, I am grateful.
.and so it goes… 🙏🏼🌱🌸💫

The placenta — the mother of the mother — the tree of life — the protecter — the regulator — the bridge between earth an...
10/05/2021

The placenta — the mother of the mother — the tree of life — the protecter — the regulator — the bridge between earth and spirit — the irreplaceable host of oxygen, nutrients, and comfort — the placenta.

In ’s book, she describes the placenta as ‘The Forgotten Chakra’ ~ The placental chakra is known as ‘Apara’ in Sanskrit, which translates to boundless beginnings. It guides us through unity versus separation and the mother-child matrix. It’s colors are red, indigo, violet and crystal.
The Apara chakra represents the bridge between earth and spirit, a conduit of our earthly connection to the divine.

The placenta is the only organ that is created and discarded by the body. This temporary organ links the mother & fetus. It brings nutrients and oxygen to the baby, and moves harms waste and materials away.

Performing multiple functions, it acts as the lungs, kidneys, and liver, and the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems for the fetus. It produces hormones to help maintain pregnancy and support fetal development. It protects the fetus from the mother’s immune system.

Vital for pregnancy, it plays a big role in pregnancy outcomes. Problems with the placenta can result in conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, prematurity, and stillbirth. In general, it can influence lifelong health. Problems with the placenta can be a marker, maybe even a cause, of later disease of mother and child.

As Martian de Jong says — the placenta is our second mother. it is mother nature nurturing us with her perfection. 🌹

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One of my favorite positions to suggest in labor is slow dancing/swaying with your partner ✨ This intimate position is i...
07/01/2021

One of my favorite positions to suggest in labor is slow dancing/swaying with your partner ✨ This intimate position is incredibly bonding and can facilitate an increase of oxytocin production ~ one of the key hormones in labor.

This position can be used in any stage of labor ~ from early labor all the way up through transition and pushing. It can be a great opportunity for the mom to rest as her partner provides physical support, and allows the partner to hold her close during a contraction.

Slow dancing allows you to move your hips in rhythm with your contractions or music. This can aid in relaxation and moving your hips can increase your comfort and help baby descend. Plus with this position, gravity is on your side also helping bring that baby down 🤍

A partner’s presence and support plays a huge role throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum! 🤍Throughout the journey, ...
06/03/2021

A partner’s presence and support plays a huge role throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum! 🤍

Throughout the journey, the partner may feel overwhelmed and unaware of how to assist the birthing person. They may feel disconnected and have trouble understanding what the mother is going through.

The best thing a partner can do, is educate themselves about pregnancy, become familiar with their partners birth preferences, and attempt to better understand the process of birth and postpartum as a whole.

Labor can be intense, but those who surround the birthing woman have a huge impact on how she experiences labor. As a partner, try your best to be prepared and remain compassionate. Offer unconditional support and be her advocate when she’s unable to verbalize her preferences. Choose encouragement, not sympathy. Massage, reassure her, support her. Offer her snacks and remind her to hydrate. Be patient. Take a few quick breaks to recharge. Remind her of why she’s doing this hard work and the great reward that will come. Support mama after the baby arrives, and don’t forget to take care of yourself, too! No one can pour from an empty cup 🌙☕️

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