 Good thing we are a team of experienced Doulas! We are used to practicing patience as we wait for babies. That being said, never in our wildest dreams did we imagine practicing our "pause" for COVID-19.
Since mid March our profession has been on quite a rollercoaster! Pre-COVID Birth Doulas were welcome in all area hospitals, with all the unknowns of the novel coronavirus we were out, and currently we are back in! If you have been considering Birth Doula support but weren't sure of our status here's what you need to know about in hospital support.
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Summary posted by Erin Moyen, Director of Chavah Childbirth Services Inc.
Special thanks to Gianella Pana, local birth doula + researcher, for turning our annual stats into this amazing infographic! Lactation Cookies
It has been said for many generations, and around the world, that herbal remedies can increase milk supply.
Does it work for all women? I don't imagine it does because we are not all created equal! But why not give it a try and YOU tell us! We'd love to hear from you! As an experienced Lactation Specialist + Educator I have assisted many women that have used this do no harm Lactation Cookies recipe. Want to try it too? Here's our FREE recipe download. Happy Baking! xx 
 Did you know you can begin collecting colostrum in pregnancy? Around 37 weeks is the perfect time for most mothers-to-be to begin. Disclaimer: It is always best to check with your health care provider prior to beginning. Prenatal colostrum collection is most beneficial when families are/will experience these circumstances:
As you begin, please remember that 2-7ml of colostrum is an adequate feed for a newborn baby. You do not need to remove much from the breast to feed your baby well. Colostrum is nutrient dense and the PERFECT food for a new baby! Learning how to hand express is a "triple P skill" best mastered with practice, patience and perseverance. Colostrum is thick and sticky, like syrup, it is best removed with hand expression, not a breast pump. Before you get started you will require the following supplies:
Dr. Jane Morton's video will assist your learning how to effectively hand express: https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html Another resource to print + review prior to beginning hand expression is the PDF below.2 Sources: 1 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/191624
Defining the professions
It’s safe to say that Alberta is booming, as many couples start or expand their families! However, not all women know how midwives and birth doulas can care for and support them in their birthing experience. As a birth doula, I have realized that the roles of these professionals need defining. Both the midwifery and the doula models of care trust in and promote birth as normal. Registered midwives and birth doulas are experienced, trained professionals. However, the specific roles they play differ. Midwives, considered experts in normal pregnancy and birth, provide care to mothers and babies during the prenatal, birth and postpartum periods. Midwifery care has been fully funded by Alberta Health Services since 2009. In addition to delivering babies, midwives can perform other clinical tasks, including screening their patients’ physical and emotional health, ordering tests and making referrals to specialists when needed. Their care is based on evidence and is woman centred. Midwives collaborate with each other, often working in teams, and with other health professionals. In contrast, birth doulas do not undertake medical tasks or deliver babies. As part of a woman’s birthing team, which may include a midwife, doctor and nurses, birth doulas offer continuity of care to the mother and her partner by providing information and emotional and physical support before, during and just after the birth. The unbiased information they give enables women to make informed choices about their care. A birth doula stays with the mother throughout her labour, providing nonmedical physical and emotional comfort, and, if needed, facilitates communication with her other care providers. The fact that the doula focuses on the needs of the mother can be especially helpful in a busy hospital environment. The doula can also encourage the woman’s partner to be as involved in the birth experience as desired. Some partners report enjoying the birth experience more because they don’t feel solely responsible for coaching and supporting the mother. Studies have shown that having a professional birth doula present during labour and birth provides the following benefits: • 50% reduction in the cesarean rate • 25% shorter labour times • 60% reduction in epidural requests • 40% reduction in Pitocin use • 30% reduction in pain medication use • 40% reduction in forceps deliveries In addition, research has shown that parents who receive care from a doula can have fewer negative feelings about their birth experience; feel more cared for, secure and self-confident; experience greater success in adapting after the birth and in breastfeeding; and have lower incidences of postpartum depression and abuse. Their babies tend to require shorter hospital stays. As support professionals, doulas recognize that birth is a transformative experience for women, as well as for their families. They aim to provide compassion, support and informed guidance to help their clients through this transformation. Because each situation is different, they tailor their care to the unique needs of each woman and her family. As a professional birth doula and prenatal childbirth educator, I strive to promote and preserve maternal and infant safety during childbirth. I recognize that in areas without a practicing registered midwife, the safest option is hospital birth. I am hopeful that the Alberta Association of Midwives will grow and that an increase in registered midwives, in both urban and rural settings, will offer families safe alternatives for prenatal care and birth. Editor's Note: This piece was originally written for Guided Synergy Magazine in 2014  Our society has robbed us all! The saddest part, it's been replaced with fear.
Fear of pain in childbirth. So how do we get our power, peace and confidence back? Honestly, it's simple. Get educated! The best place to begin is reading Healthy Birth Practice #2, walk, move around and change positions, from Lamaze. An alternative is to watch this short video. Here is an acronym to help put things into perspective. P - purposeful (helps move baby down and out) A - anticipated (contractions get longer, stronger and closer together as labour progresses) I - intermittent (our body gives us a break, in healthy birth contractions are not continuous) N - normal (nothing is wrong, discomfort can be a healthy response to labour and birth) Healthy mothers-to-be need reassurance that their body is designed to give birth. It's imperative to understand pain does not always mean suffering. If you require additional information please do not hesitate to connect. Happy Birthing! ~Erin  Are we really a generation full of broken women? With a cesarean birth rate of 1 in 3 (Alberta) one might think so!
As an educator and advocate of safe, natural, and healthy birth my simple answer is "NO". The true challenge exists because birthing women, and their families, are often uneducated. I've been in private practice supporting pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and early parenthood since 2006. Although technology abounds women still rely heavily on the opinions and personal experience of others rather than evidence. In the birth world deciphering between opinions, myths and facts is always easier said than done. I encourage you to do your own research and choose what YOUR best birth looks like. To simplify things I have listed a few reputable sites for you to explore: 6 Healthy Birth Practices - Lamaze http://www.lamazeinternational.org/HealthyBirthPractices Evidence Based Birth http://evidencebasedbirth.com/topics/ Cochrane Review http://pregnancy.cochrane.org/our-reviews Now that you've clicked on the links (or even if you haven't) you likely have new questions. My best advice to you - invest your time and money into independent childbirth education. Doing so will guarantee your questions are answered with evidence and all of your birth options presented in an unbiased manner, Learn more about our classes here. You and your baby are worth it! |
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