re: Maternal Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Preterm Birth 

Did you know Pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) is a risk factor for preterm birth (PTB)? Mamas with anxiety during the prenatal period, specifically concerns such as fear regarding the pregnancy, delivery, and health of the child, have a higher risk of delivering their baby before 37 weeks gestational age.

Just like how births are all different, research studies also have their own differences. Different processes and different outcomes. The study my research team worked on was a Systematic Review and Meta Analysis on studies that looked at anxiety in the prenatal period and the outcome of preterm birth (PTB).

We took these studies and their results and not only compared them but also combined them to determine if the relationship between PSA and PTB remained statistically significant, and it did.

While working on this research project and during the process of writing the manuscript to be published in a scientific journal, I was not aware of the work of Doulas. My research does not look at Doulas and their work impacting PSA, however, with my knowledge and experience since that time I can see that Doulas really matter!

The prenatal visits, continuous support, the ability to provide information to the client, and suggestions for prenatal classes and a Birth Doulas knowledge of childbirth gives pregnant Mamas the confidence they require to care for themselves and their babies during the prenatal period.

There are many risk factors that can cause preterm birth (PTB), but in helping alleviate pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) we may have a hand in decreasing their risk for PTB, and in turn preventing health issues that plague babies born too early.
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Contributor:
Gianella Pana is a Birth Doula serving Chestermere, Calgary and Airdrie families. To read her published research paper <<click here>>

​Who knew? In fact, if someone would have told me this would be my life, I undoubtedly would've laughed out loud.

As a small child I was "sick" if I had to speak or perform in front of any one. In high school, I skipped every class that I needed to present something in. Just the very thought of standing at the front of a classroom made my knees weak, my palms sweat and my heart race. Frankly said, it was crippling!

Fast forward to today... NEVER, I repeat.. NEVER in a million years did I imagine I'd be the one educating parents-to-be in group childbirth education classes, training aspiring doulas as a DONA-approved Birth Doula Trainer or most recently, that I'd be called on by peers to apply for a Board of Directors position with DONA International the world's premier doula organization.

I know, I know! How did this happen? Honestly, my answer is straight forward. I am living my dream and sharing my passion. When we are called, we go! It's just that simple.

It was my summer off work, yet my brain was stuck on repeat reciting the Canadian breastfeeding statistics and our local challenges over and over and over again...

I lay on my camp bunk, my 3 children sleeping around me. "Lights out" seemed like forever ago, what time was it? Why wouldn't my brain just shut-off?

Like a ninja, trying not to wake children, I reach for my phone. Knowing Melissa is just as passionate about maternal-infant health I type my thoughts and hit send.

That night she did more than understand my late-night madness, she jumped on board and together we "birthed" a Breastfeeding Circle via text message! You can meet Melissa and learn more about the original Breastfeeding Circle here

Since then, we have both relocated and the original Breastfeeding Circle of Grande Prairie is no longer.

However I am still committed to providing breastfeeding support to mothers and mothers-to-be.

I facilitate the Breastfeeding Circle, in Cochrane, on Friday mornings at the Parent Link Centre  and offer private Breastfeeding Support on Tuesdays from the Shifra Centre for Wellness.