Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for your kindness and compassion, support, professionalism, etc., etc., etc. Because of you, we were able to be fully present & involved & appreciative of our granddaughter's birth.
Thank You!
With awesome respect & love,
Linda & Tony
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Jenny's Thoughts After Birth Number Two Together
Dear Jennifer,
I wanted to thank you for all the energy, time, and thoughtfulness you put into helping Rob and I achieve the birth we wanted! You have a wonderful gift to nurture. I know my birth journeys (Both Brayden & Ruby) were long and eventful. However you always provided EVERYTHING my family needed. I have & will continue to recommend you to my friends and family.
Many Thanks!
Love,
Jenny, Rob, Brayden & Ruby
I wanted to thank you for all the energy, time, and thoughtfulness you put into helping Rob and I achieve the birth we wanted! You have a wonderful gift to nurture. I know my birth journeys (Both Brayden & Ruby) were long and eventful. However you always provided EVERYTHING my family needed. I have & will continue to recommend you to my friends and family.
Many Thanks!
Love,
Jenny, Rob, Brayden & Ruby
Monday, November 2, 2009
Women's Press Article: Birth & Baby Resource Network
There is an organization of tireless volunteers working in our community who, like those in many other “women’s” organizations, receive little recognition or fanfare as they strive to educate, support and empower young women starting families. What drives these women’s passion to reach out and share their wisdom about pregnancy, birth and early parenting? Why do they feel it is necessary to continue to struggle against the tide of our current culture?
In 1992 a group of women interested in becoming midwifery assistants and doulas met at a workshop. They shared a common goal: to make women’s birth experiences better, less medicalized and more woman-centered; more self-empowered. This meeting sparked an organization that has changed names, changed members, and changed locations over the years but has never changed its core beliefs that pregnancy and birth are normal, healthy processes that women are uniquely equipped to perform, and that women should have access to quality evidence-based care wherever they choose to birth; hospital, home or freestanding birth centers. They believe that an educated woman will make her own best choices for herself and her family and that these choices should not be made for her or taken away from her. This group is the Birth & Baby Resource Network or BBRN.
As in many other “women’s” groups, there is a coming and going of members as women try to balance the needs of their families, their lives, their work and their passions. It is always a blend of birth professionals, such as birth educators and doulas, and women young and old who were touched deeply by a birth experience and wish to reach out to others. Some had a beautiful, positive birth which touched them profoundly as women and mothers and they wish to help other women achieve the same. Some had births that left deep wounds on their female psyche from which they are still recovering and hope to spare other women. Some have never experienced giving birth but are drawn to the process as a calling; a deep, abiding woman-to-woman, sister-to-sister experience in our core.
As in many other areas of our female lives, these women are coming to see our current set of cultural beliefs about birth as being a fraud perpetrated on women by the male- dominated world of medicine and litigation. Women are drawn into the system by offers to take away their pain and promises of perceived safety. No one tells them about the risks inherent in the system or gives them an honest choice. No one really shares how empowering birth can be for a woman. This is a pivotal rite of passage for a woman and should not be directed by outside interests, such as the threat of a lawsuit, or someone else’s personal time schedule. Birth can’t be quantified, regulated, put on a timeline or boxed into someone else’s preconceived notion of how women should birth. Every woman is unique, and so are her births.
If you are interested in learning more about birth in our community or becoming a member of the Birth & Baby Resource Network visit them in Mission Plaza at their annual Birth & Baby Fair Saturday May 9 or on the BBRN website at www.bbrn.org.
Jennifer Stover
Birth Educator & Doula
Founding member & Current President of BBRN
In 1992 a group of women interested in becoming midwifery assistants and doulas met at a workshop. They shared a common goal: to make women’s birth experiences better, less medicalized and more woman-centered; more self-empowered. This meeting sparked an organization that has changed names, changed members, and changed locations over the years but has never changed its core beliefs that pregnancy and birth are normal, healthy processes that women are uniquely equipped to perform, and that women should have access to quality evidence-based care wherever they choose to birth; hospital, home or freestanding birth centers. They believe that an educated woman will make her own best choices for herself and her family and that these choices should not be made for her or taken away from her. This group is the Birth & Baby Resource Network or BBRN.
As in many other “women’s” groups, there is a coming and going of members as women try to balance the needs of their families, their lives, their work and their passions. It is always a blend of birth professionals, such as birth educators and doulas, and women young and old who were touched deeply by a birth experience and wish to reach out to others. Some had a beautiful, positive birth which touched them profoundly as women and mothers and they wish to help other women achieve the same. Some had births that left deep wounds on their female psyche from which they are still recovering and hope to spare other women. Some have never experienced giving birth but are drawn to the process as a calling; a deep, abiding woman-to-woman, sister-to-sister experience in our core.
As in many other areas of our female lives, these women are coming to see our current set of cultural beliefs about birth as being a fraud perpetrated on women by the male- dominated world of medicine and litigation. Women are drawn into the system by offers to take away their pain and promises of perceived safety. No one tells them about the risks inherent in the system or gives them an honest choice. No one really shares how empowering birth can be for a woman. This is a pivotal rite of passage for a woman and should not be directed by outside interests, such as the threat of a lawsuit, or someone else’s personal time schedule. Birth can’t be quantified, regulated, put on a timeline or boxed into someone else’s preconceived notion of how women should birth. Every woman is unique, and so are her births.
If you are interested in learning more about birth in our community or becoming a member of the Birth & Baby Resource Network visit them in Mission Plaza at their annual Birth & Baby Fair Saturday May 9 or on the BBRN website at www.bbrn.org.
Jennifer Stover
Birth Educator & Doula
Founding member & Current President of BBRN
My Birth Statistics for Doula Clients
March 1993 - September 2009
Total Births attended 78
Home Births 6
Hospital Births 72
Hospital Water Births 3
Hospital Births 72
Hospital Water Births 3
Unmedicated Vaginal Birth of Twins 2 sets
VBAC Attempts 8
Hospitals Worked In 7
VBAC Attempts 8
Hospitals Worked In 7
All of my doula client's births are included in my statistics. Recently I learned that the hospitals exclude breech babies, premature babies, herpes outbreak in mom and twins in their statisitcs. To compare my rate using this criteria please read: Local Hospitals Cesarean Section Rates vs. My Doula Clients.
http://slolaboroflovedoula.blogspot.com/2009/11/local-hospitals-cesarean-section-rates.html
Total Vaginal Birth Rate 86%
This rate includes V-BAC attempts, herpes outbreak, breeches & twins
Total Without Pain Medication 89%
Total Epidural Rate 9%
Epidural for normal labor 3%
Epidural confined to Bed 1%
Epidural with Pitocin 4%
Epidural with Pitocin &
confined to Bed 1%
Total IV Pain Medication Rate 6%
IV Medication for normal labor 3%
IV Medication with Pitocin 3%
Total Pitocin Rate 14%
Induction Rate 7%
Augmentation Rate 7%
Total Cesarean Section Rate 14%
This rate includes V-BAC attempts, herpes outbreak & breeches
Total Cesarean Rate with Labor 7%
First time moms with spontaneous labor 1%
First time moms with induction 1%
First time moms with induction 1%
Second time moms with induction 1%
Second time moms with spontaneous labor 0%
VBAC moms with spontaneous labor 3%
VBAC moms with induction 1%
Total Cesarean Rate with No Labor 8%
VBAC moms with no labor 3%
First time moms with no labor 5%
Reasons: Breeches, baby size, post dates, herpes outbreak
VBAC Rates
Successful Vaginal Births
Spontaneous labor 37%
Induced labor 0%
Second Cesarean Birth
Spontaneous Labor 25%
Induced Labor 12%
No Labor Repeat Section Chosen 25%
VBAC Rates
Successful Vaginal Births
Spontaneous labor 37%
Induced labor 0%
Second Cesarean Birth
Spontaneous Labor 25%
Induced Labor 12%
No Labor Repeat Section Chosen 25%
Reasons: blood pressure, positioning, baby over 10 lbs.
San Luis Obispo Hospitals' Cesarean Section Rates vs. My Doula Clients
These rates are for first time cesareans performed on low risk women.
It does not include V-BAC attempts or repeat sections.
They do not include sections performed for breech babies, herpes outbreak, premature births, twins and fetal death.
FRENCH HOSPITAL 19.6%
SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL 28.8%
TWIN CITIES HOSPITAL 31.2%
MARIAN HOSPITAL 31.4%
MY DOULA CLIENTS 3%
The total percentage of cesareans performed in each hospital is higher if you include repeat sections, high risk moms, twins, breeches, and VBAC attempts.
The most recent information collected was for 2006.
It does not include V-BAC attempts or repeat sections.
They do not include sections performed for breech babies, herpes outbreak, premature births, twins and fetal death.
FRENCH HOSPITAL 19.6%
SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL 28.8%
TWIN CITIES HOSPITAL 31.2%
MARIAN HOSPITAL 31.4%
MY DOULA CLIENTS 3%
The total percentage of cesareans performed in each hospital is higher if you include repeat sections, high risk moms, twins, breeches, and VBAC attempts.
The most recent information collected was for 2006.
My Role as Your Doula
First I want to thank you for considering including me in your special day. My wish is to help you create as positive a birth experience as possible. Birthing is an incredibly intimate moment. It should be shared only with people that you trust.
My role begins during your pregnancy. My first responsibility is to foster a trusting relationship by getting to know you, your personal and medical history, and your hopes and fears for this birth. Creating trust extends beyond my relationship with you. It includes all the people on your birth team, doctor or midwife, friends and relations planning to attend the birth. I am a communication facilitator with all potential parties during pregnancy, labor and birth. I will ask questions for you, give you questions to ask, and give you things to think about. Additionally I will help you craft a birth plan which has clarity and will be well received by the people you have chosen to work with on this amazing journey.
It is critical to how you feel about your birth experience that you feel emotionally supported and respected as a person throughout the process. Team building is essential. Prenatally I will help you become clearer on what the most important issues surrounding this unique experience are for you. I will help you reach out to the resources in our community to create a team you feel confident matches your vision for your birth.
During pregnancy, labor and birth I will be a physical guide and emotional support for you and your entire team; offering suggestions to you or your primary support person on ways to create a healthy pregnancy, a productive labor and ease your journey. During pregnancy these may include; utilizing alternative health care providers, providing nutritional guidance, explaining how herbs, homeopathy and essential oils can safely ease pregnancy issues. Once labor begins I may guide you into physical positions or new attitudes, and possibly encourage you to utilize an alternative suggested by your medical care provider that you have reservations about. It is always your choice which, if any, of these suggestions you accept or act upon.
It is important to me that you understand the range of options available to you concerning your pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. As your doula it is my responsibility to educate you to the best of my abilities, to encourage dialogue between you and the medical staff and to foster good communication between birth partners. As the laboring woman and parents of the baby, it is your responsibility to make your own choices. Ultimately you are the only ones who know what is best for you and your baby. You are the ones who are going through the experience, and will need to feel OK about your choices and their outcomes, when the birth is over. Please be assured that you will not hurt my feelings or lose my respect no matter what course you choose to take, and I will be there to support you. I trust you to know what is best for you.
I am not a medical professional; therefore there are things I do not do. I do not perform any of the tasks a trained nurse would typically perform, such as; checking labor progress through vaginal examinations, checking on the laboring woman’s health by taking her blood pressure or temperature, or checking on the baby’s health by taking heart tones. It is not appropriate for me to speak for you at your birth. I will support you in asking questions, getting information about risks and benefits, and understanding how this might change your overall birth experience. All decisions relating to the health of the mom and baby, and choices that arise during labor that pertain to how the labor will be “managed” are the responsibility of the laboring woman, and her partner.
After your birth I will help you create, from the immediate postpartum period into the first few weeks, an environment that is optimal for breastfeeding. I will continue to be available to you for support in this area until weaning has occurred. I will check on your postpartum recovery, physical and emotional, giving you guidance and resources for weathering this exhausting time. Together in your home we will review your birth experience. I will answer your questions; fill in any missing pieces to your puzzle. My hope is to bring you clarity and peace. Birth can not be planned. We must learn to live in the moment, work with what we are given, and accept what we can not change.
Every birth I witness is a blessing in my life. I look forward to getting to know you and sharing this life-altering moment with you.
My role begins during your pregnancy. My first responsibility is to foster a trusting relationship by getting to know you, your personal and medical history, and your hopes and fears for this birth. Creating trust extends beyond my relationship with you. It includes all the people on your birth team, doctor or midwife, friends and relations planning to attend the birth. I am a communication facilitator with all potential parties during pregnancy, labor and birth. I will ask questions for you, give you questions to ask, and give you things to think about. Additionally I will help you craft a birth plan which has clarity and will be well received by the people you have chosen to work with on this amazing journey.
It is critical to how you feel about your birth experience that you feel emotionally supported and respected as a person throughout the process. Team building is essential. Prenatally I will help you become clearer on what the most important issues surrounding this unique experience are for you. I will help you reach out to the resources in our community to create a team you feel confident matches your vision for your birth.
During pregnancy, labor and birth I will be a physical guide and emotional support for you and your entire team; offering suggestions to you or your primary support person on ways to create a healthy pregnancy, a productive labor and ease your journey. During pregnancy these may include; utilizing alternative health care providers, providing nutritional guidance, explaining how herbs, homeopathy and essential oils can safely ease pregnancy issues. Once labor begins I may guide you into physical positions or new attitudes, and possibly encourage you to utilize an alternative suggested by your medical care provider that you have reservations about. It is always your choice which, if any, of these suggestions you accept or act upon.
It is important to me that you understand the range of options available to you concerning your pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. As your doula it is my responsibility to educate you to the best of my abilities, to encourage dialogue between you and the medical staff and to foster good communication between birth partners. As the laboring woman and parents of the baby, it is your responsibility to make your own choices. Ultimately you are the only ones who know what is best for you and your baby. You are the ones who are going through the experience, and will need to feel OK about your choices and their outcomes, when the birth is over. Please be assured that you will not hurt my feelings or lose my respect no matter what course you choose to take, and I will be there to support you. I trust you to know what is best for you.
I am not a medical professional; therefore there are things I do not do. I do not perform any of the tasks a trained nurse would typically perform, such as; checking labor progress through vaginal examinations, checking on the laboring woman’s health by taking her blood pressure or temperature, or checking on the baby’s health by taking heart tones. It is not appropriate for me to speak for you at your birth. I will support you in asking questions, getting information about risks and benefits, and understanding how this might change your overall birth experience. All decisions relating to the health of the mom and baby, and choices that arise during labor that pertain to how the labor will be “managed” are the responsibility of the laboring woman, and her partner.
After your birth I will help you create, from the immediate postpartum period into the first few weeks, an environment that is optimal for breastfeeding. I will continue to be available to you for support in this area until weaning has occurred. I will check on your postpartum recovery, physical and emotional, giving you guidance and resources for weathering this exhausting time. Together in your home we will review your birth experience. I will answer your questions; fill in any missing pieces to your puzzle. My hope is to bring you clarity and peace. Birth can not be planned. We must learn to live in the moment, work with what we are given, and accept what we can not change.
Every birth I witness is a blessing in my life. I look forward to getting to know you and sharing this life-altering moment with you.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Inspiration & Wisdom for Labor, Birth & Motherhood
Quotes of the Day"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened and I am not afraid to look behind them." - Elizabeth Taylor
"Today is my opportunity to be what I have been becoming. I chose my path and walk it, with no one else to blame for my choices, but everything to share with my strengths. I have joy, love and peace that is of my own choosing, this will be an awesome day"... Rand Gholson
"It's not just the making of babies, but the making of mothers that midwives see as the miracle of birth."- Barbara Katz Rothman ♥
 |
| "It takes both great strength and great flexibility of mind and body to give birth." Jennifer Stover |
"We suffer from a tyranny of the intellect over the emotions. A dictatorship of the head over the heart instead of an integration of these complementary aspects of our being."
Billy Ray Boyd
Circumcision deaths: "an unrecognized sacrifice of innocents."
Thymos: Journal of Boyhood Studies
"Whatever the heart says is right, is right. The soul's emphasis is always true." Emerson"In the end all that really matters is - how often did you laugh? how deeply did you love? how fully did you learn to let go?" ~Author Unknown
Watch this You Tube video: "You Can Do Anything" Way to go girl!!!
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" Neale Donald Walsh
"Excellent nutrition includes pure water, controlled breath, abundant light, loving and respectful relationships, beauty and harmony in daily life, joyous thoughts and vital foodstuffs." Susan Weed
When thinking about the people you have asked to help you at your birth:
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou"One study in the Netherlands looked at almost 530,000 low-risk planned births and found that with the proper services in place (such as a well-trained midwife and good transportation), home births are just as safe as hospital births. In fact, home birth may even be safer."
-Dr. Christiane Northrup OB-Gyn Author
This you tube video about motherhood made my eyes well with tears: Video : "Reflections of Motherhood"
"My grandmother later commented babies don't read books. Really all I needed to do was "read" my baby."
-Claire Niala
You Tube video: Maya Angelou recites her poem of the unextingishable flame of the human spirit, "Still I Rise".
One to inspire women planning to V-BAC: "You are building new pathways in your brain now, preparing a home for the you who is emerging. The new you isn't the arrival of someone other than you; she's the emergence of whom you've always been but have long kept hidden. Your need is not to replace some defective self, but to invoke into operation once more the perfect you that is the truth of who you are." Marianne Williamson
"Of course there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings." Arthur Rubinstein
Friday, January 23, 2009
My Doula Service
 |
| First hospital water birth in the county! |
Local Hospitals C-Section Rates vs. My Doula Clients: 1993-2009
My Doula Client's Birth Statistics: First 78 Births
My Doula Client's Birth Statistics: 2010-2012
 |
| A triumphantly joyous second birth heals the trauma of her first. |
 |
| Lovely vaginal birth after a cesarean. |
Why You Want to Hire a Doula
Finding Your Path; two women's stories
 |
| Supporting the family no matter where their path leads. |
My Greatest Challenge as a Hospital Doula
.jpg) |
| Guiding a family through the choice to birth in a birth center. |
The Pendulum Swings
Meet Me at BBRN's Free Information Nights!
Meet Me at BBRN's Free Information Nights!
 |
| Experienced breastfeeding support. |
.jpg) |
| A satisfied repeat client. |
Welcome
After 17 years of educating pregnant couples and supporting nearly 80 women in labor I decided I wanted to connect with women in a new way to share the wisdom I had gleaned; my new baby, a doula blog, was born. Read, enjoy, empower yourself!My Journey: A Simple Question
Learn how one question propeled me onto the path to being a doula. read moreStarting Your Doula Search: My Role as Your Doula
My wish is to help you create as positive a birth experience as possible. Birthing is an incredibly intimate moment and should be shared only with people you trust... read moreThe Politics of Birth: A Sign on a Door
Hospital is upfront about their belief that natural birth is less safe,parents don't have the right to make choices during birth, or have a doula attend their birth. read moreGetting Educated: Parenting 101
Sitting in Colby & John's livingroom, sharing food, sharing, friendship, sharing stories...birth classes, your ticket to the greatest adventure of your lives... read moreCommunity Outreach
Listen to My Recent Local Radio Appearance: Dave Congalton Midwifery Discussion. listenLet's Communicate!
Send me an email. I'll send you email about community events and news, upcoming classes, new resources, and my writings.Your Birth Rights
INFORMED CONSENT; what it is and what it isn't
************************************
In the Spirit of Informed Consent: Making an Informed Decision. A frank discussion about risk using the H1N1 vaccine as an example.
Why you need to Question Authority!: Understanding U.S. Birth Trends & How They Might Effect You
An example of why pregnant or birthing mothers must be vigilant protecting their right to informed consent: More on Why Women Need to Question Authority
A Positive Cesarean Birth (with video): You have a right to as natural & positive cesarean birth as possible!
Understanding off label drugs used by your OB on you: Let's Talk About Off Label Use, Cytotec and You
More on understanding off label drug use: Popular Antidepressant Linked to Major Birth Defects
A Sign on a Door: Utah Hospital Objects to Doulas, Bradley and Birth Plans. Find out what's happening in our community.
Informed Consent: Local Woman Given Medication Without Her Knowledge. Read about one of my many hospital experiences concerning this topic.
Shocking Article in Huffington Post: Can a Laboring Woman's State of Mind be Used to Force Her to Have a Surgical Birth? Can Her Refusal to Undergo Major Abdominal Surgery be Used to Remove Her Child from Her Care? Read about this tragic New Jersey Case.
Kangaroo Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Wonderful story of how one woman stood up for her rights in the midst of a very difficult situations.
CESAREAN ISSUES
******************
New Guidelines Aim to Reduce Repeated C-Sections: Putting this national story into local, historical, political and doula perspective.
Why you should think twice before saying yes to a repeat cesarean section: Good Newsweek Article on V-BACS
Rise in California Maternal Death Rate Linked to Cesarean Sections. Learn why you might want to skip that induction or planned C-section.
A Safe Place: Our International Cesarean Awareness Network(ICAN). Why is the need for this important organization re-emerging in our community?
One Cesarean Story: Bodie's Birth; an example of how our system should work.
Check out this great new site with lots of vbac info.
BIRTH OPTIONS
***************
Health-care Legislation Increases Birth Options: Women Covered by Medicaid are Insured for Delivery at Birth Centers as well as Hospitals. Read my commentary published in the New Times.
The Day President Obama Signed the Health Care Bill: Read my viewpoint published in The Tribune about how this will benifit women across America.
A Victory for Mothers and Babies. Hear what the Mama Campaign has to say about passage of the Health Care Bill.
More Great News about the Health Care Legislation. Hear what Childbirth Connection has to say about the Bill.
E-mail Correspondence with Congresswoman Lois Capps. Hear what she says about her role in expanding women's birth choices.
Ina May's thoughts: Comparing the medical view of women's bodies and birth to the midwifery model.
More wisdom from Ina May: Why Homebirth is Necessary.
Have you checked out the Birth Survey to learn what other moms have to say?
MIDWIFERY*********
Hear my speech at historic Midwifery Celebration.
Speaking for Midwives: My thoughts on why midwives and midwifery are important.
Midwifery; a David and Goliath Tale: Learn about the struggle midwives and birthing women have had over the centuries.
How One Midwife Has Made a Difference in Our Community: Sandy Rodriguez has Touched the Lives of thousands of Women in Our Community. Learn about the dollars and cents impact of midwifery care.
A Good Midwife: My thoughts on some of the things I believe makes a good midwife, no matter where she practices.
Community Activist & Personal Doula Journey Writings
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTMy Articles in Print: Women's Press
My Articles in Print: Central Coast Families
My Articles in Print: New Times
My Articles in Print: The Tribune
Guest Lecturer: Cal Poly
MY DOULA JOURNEY
A Simple Question: How a Friend's Question Began my Doula Journey. Starting a new life.
The First Simple Question: If Not This Then What? How changes in my life propelled me on my birth path.
My Son's Birth: Listen to my speech at the International Day of the Midwife Celebration to hear about my son's birth.
Sisterhood: A Mother Valuing her Daughter. Read about honoring our daughters as they become women.
Birthing a Blog: How Did this Whole Thing Start.
Birth Thoughts: The Transformational Power of Birth. A Poem
The Seamstress: dedicated to all the women who have suffered grief over their birth experience. A Poem
The Wisdom of Mares Series: How my doula journey began in pastures, arenas and barns.
The Sisters of My Heart Collection: Meet the Women who Enrich my Life with Meaning and Purpose.
My Classes & Pregnancy Topics
"Excellent nutrition includes pure water, controlled breath, abundant light, loving and respectful relationships, beauty and harmony in daily life, joyous thoughts and vital foodstuffs."
Susan Weed
MY CLASSES
Why Should I Bother with Birth Classes?: See how a good birth preparation series can help you and your partner.
Pregnancy Class: Getting Your Pregnancy Off to a Great Start!
Mind, Heart & Body Birth Preparation Class Outline: See What I Teach
Childbirth Classes: Basic Information
Intro to Parenting 101 a Prerequisite to Parenting 102: Your Ticket to the Greatest Adventure of Your Lives. See what a typical class is like.
Class Client Testatmonials: Hear What Clients Have to Say.
Pregnancy Class: Getting Your Pregnancy Off to a Great Start!
Mind, Heart & Body Birth Preparation Class Outline: See What I Teach
Childbirth Classes: Basic Information
Intro to Parenting 101 a Prerequisite to Parenting 102: Your Ticket to the Greatest Adventure of Your Lives. See what a typical class is like.
Class Client Testatmonials: Hear What Clients Have to Say.
TOPICS OF INTEREST TO PREGNANT COUPLES
Ideas for Creating a Healthy Pregnancy: Info on various local wellness resources and why they are important for your pregnancy.
Your Nutritional Path: I Grew Up on Wonder Bread Sugar Butter Sandwiches; confessions of a birth educator
Finding Your Path: two women's stories
Why Does Birth Feel Like This?: Wonderful quote on the process of becoming a mother and mothering.
To Clamp or Not to Clamp? That is the Question!: Video demonstration of the importance of waiting to cut the cord.
Your Baby's First Latch: video of initiating breastfeeding via breast crawl.
Baby's First Bath: rethinking this bonding tradition.
What My Husband Didn't Do: How a dad can make all the difference when it comes to breastfeeding.
New Research into Bonding with Your Baby: Latest info backs up what our hearts have been telling us.
More Good News About Breastfeeding: Latest studies on health benefits for mom and baby & it's financial impact.
Deciding about Giving Vitamin K to Your Newborn?: Learn the pros and cons, why, when and how.
Family Bed: Learn About the Latest Information on the Benefits vs. Risks of Sleeping with Your Baby.
Mothering as a Spritual Quest: Something to think about as you are about to embark on the most incredible experience of your life: motherhood.
Making a Baby Shower Special: Advice on Creating a Heartfelt Experience.
Making the Decision about Where to Birth; Hospital or Home: Read one woman's story.
Deciding about Circumcision: Hear what a pediatric urologist has to say.
If Your Baby is Breech: Turning your baby, new research on safety, & decisions to make.
Why African Babies Don't Cry: A Kenyan woman shares her grandmother's wisom on mothering.
Prenatal Water Massage: Help for the aches and pains of pregnancy, as well as, high blood pressure & sciatica. A blissful way to learn deep relaxation, breathing & movement for birth.
Why You Need to Create a Healthy Balanced Pregnancy: How your choices can effect your child's health the rest of their lives.
New Mothers Grow Bigger Brains: Study shows significant brain development in women after giving birth
Massage Therapy-More Than Just Pampering: Learn how prenatal massage can promote a healthy pregnancy and support women experiencing difficulties.
New Research into Bonding with Your Baby: Latest info backs up what our hearts have been telling us.
More Good News About Breastfeeding: Latest studies on health benefits for mom and baby & it's financial impact.
Deciding about Giving Vitamin K to Your Newborn?: Learn the pros and cons, why, when and how.
Family Bed: Learn About the Latest Information on the Benefits vs. Risks of Sleeping with Your Baby.
Mothering as a Spritual Quest: Something to think about as you are about to embark on the most incredible experience of your life: motherhood.
Making a Baby Shower Special: Advice on Creating a Heartfelt Experience.
Making the Decision about Where to Birth; Hospital or Home: Read one woman's story.
Deciding about Circumcision: Hear what a pediatric urologist has to say.
If Your Baby is Breech: Turning your baby, new research on safety, & decisions to make.
Why African Babies Don't Cry: A Kenyan woman shares her grandmother's wisom on mothering.
Prenatal Water Massage: Help for the aches and pains of pregnancy, as well as, high blood pressure & sciatica. A blissful way to learn deep relaxation, breathing & movement for birth.
Why You Need to Create a Healthy Balanced Pregnancy: How your choices can effect your child's health the rest of their lives.
New Mothers Grow Bigger Brains: Study shows significant brain development in women after giving birth
Massage Therapy-More Than Just Pampering: Learn how prenatal massage can promote a healthy pregnancy and support women experiencing difficulties.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Old Welcome
After 17 years of educating pregnant couples and supporting nearly 80 women in labor I decided I wanted to connect with women in a new way to share the wisdom I had gleaned; my new baby, a doula blog, was born. It is dedicated to all the women who have come before; a gift from them to you. Please use it to help create the birth you want. Read, enjoy, empower yourself!My Journey: A Simple Question
Learn how one question propeled me onto the path to being a doula. Read moreStarting Your Doula Search: My Role as Your Doula
My wish is to help you create as positive a birth experience as possible. Birthing is an incredibly intimate moment and should be shared only with people you trust. Read moreThe Politics of Birth: A Sign on a Door
Hospital is upfront about their belief that natural birth is less safe,parents don't have the right to make choices during birth, or have a doula attend their birth. Read moreGetting Educated: Parenting 101
Sitting in Colby & John's livingroom, sharing food, sharing, friendship, sharing stories...birth classes, your ticket to the greatest adventure of your lives. Read moreCommunity Outreach
Listen to My Recent Local Radio Appearance: Dave Congalton Midwifery Discussion. ListenLet's Communicate!
Send me an email. I'll send you email about community events and news, upcoming classes, new resources, and my writings.Thursday, January 24, 2008
Come Meet Me at BBRN's Free Information Nights!
Come meet me! I am the current President of the BBRN and one of the founding members of this community based volunteer organization. If you have enjoyed my blog here is a way to let me know.
The Birth & Baby Resource Network sponsors monthly public education nights on the last Tuesday of each month, 7:00p.m., at the San Luis Obispo YMCA . BBRN's monthly information nights are free and provided as part of their ongoing community outreach. Go to http://www.bbrn.org/monthly-events.html to find out about future topics.
This month's topic is "What Can a Doula Do For You?" Did you know that studies show having a doula with you during labor lowers your risk of having a c-section, lessens your need for pain medication, and many other benefits? Come learn more about it, meet local doulas and hear them talk about how doulas support women and their partners through the labor process. Ask questions and get answers in an informal setting.
Please share this information with other women; coworkers, friends and relatives. Post this link on Facebook or send it out to your personal e-mail list. It is very important that we all help women learn about the local resources available to support them in creating the birth that they want.
The BBRN is a non-profit, community based, volunteer organization that helps educate, empower and support childbearing women and their families during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. To learn more about BBRN, the Birth & Baby Fair, volunteering or becoming a member go to their web site at www.bbrn.org.
The Birth & Baby Resource Network sponsors monthly public education nights on the last Tuesday of each month, 7:00p.m., at the San Luis Obispo YMCA . BBRN's monthly information nights are free and provided as part of their ongoing community outreach. Go to http://www.bbrn.org/monthly-events.html to find out about future topics.
This month's topic is "What Can a Doula Do For You?" Did you know that studies show having a doula with you during labor lowers your risk of having a c-section, lessens your need for pain medication, and many other benefits? Come learn more about it, meet local doulas and hear them talk about how doulas support women and their partners through the labor process. Ask questions and get answers in an informal setting.
Please share this information with other women; coworkers, friends and relatives. Post this link on Facebook or send it out to your personal e-mail list. It is very important that we all help women learn about the local resources available to support them in creating the birth that they want.
The BBRN is a non-profit, community based, volunteer organization that helps educate, empower and support childbearing women and their families during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. To learn more about BBRN, the Birth & Baby Fair, volunteering or becoming a member go to their web site at www.bbrn.org.
What Does Evidenced-Based Maternity Care Organization Say About Labor Support
Childbirth connection was founded in 1918. They are a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. They promote safe, effective and satisfying evidenced-based maternity care.
What is the bottom line about labor support?
Several systematic reviews summarizing many randomized controlled trials provide information about the effects of labor support by a trained or experienced woman. These studies have been carried out in many different countries in a variety of maternity care systems, with different types of labor support providers. They have involved women with different social backgrounds. Virtually all studies have found positive impact on the mother's emotional experience and/or her labor, without finding disadvantages. This claim probably cannot be made for any medical procedure, drug, or restriction used in labor management.
The most recent systematic review of continuous labor support is available in full right on this website, along with a brief overview of the review. It summarizes the experiences of nearly 13,000 women who participated in 15 randomized controlled trials.
The authors conclude:
Continuous support during labour should be the norm, rather than the exception. All women should be allowed and encouraged to have support people with them continuously during labour (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
What factors most contribute to women's satisfaction in childbirth?
In considering whether to make arrangements for labor support, it may be helpful to consider results of research about satisfaction in childbirth. A systematic review of the best available research (Hodnett 2002) finds that the following four factors make the greatest contribution to women's satisfaction in childbirth:
• having good support from caregivers
• having a high-quality relationship with caregivers
• being involved in decision-making about care
• having better-than-expected experiences, or having high expectations.
Arranging for labor support may make a big difference in your satisfaction!
What is the best evidence about the benefits of continuous support during labor?
This largest and most recent systematic found that when compared to women who did not receive continuous support, those who received continuous support were:
• less likely to have an epidural or other "regional" analgesia
• less likely to use any type of pain medication (including narcotics)
• less likely to give birth by cesarean section
• less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• less likely to be dissatisfied with or give a negative rating to their childbirth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
What appears to influence the impact of labor support?
Various systematic reviews have looked at the impact of continuous labor support under different conditions.
Several reviews have found that the type of person providing the care appears to make a difference.
Labor support provided by caregivers who come to the labor setting expressly to provide this care appears to offer women more benefits than labor support provided by nurses or other clinical caregivers from that setting.
(Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002, Scott and colleagues 1999).
In the most recent and largest review, when compared to women who did not receive continuous support, those who received continuous labor support from someone present just for this purpose were
• 26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
• 41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• 28% less likely to use any pain medications and
• 33% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
The reviews identified several other factors that seem to make a difference. Benefits of continuous labor support appear to be greater when women receive it
• beginning earlier rather later in labor (Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002)
• in settings that do not allow them to bring companions of choice (versus settings that do allow husbands, friends, etc.) (Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002)
• in settings where epidural analgesia is not routine (versus settings where epidural is routine) (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
These patterns suggest that the more labor support a woman receives and the better its quality, the greater is its favorable impact. Because of this, women who work with a trained doula in usual (non-study) conditions may experience even greater benefits than the studies show. Usual conditions include choosing a compatible labor companion, meeting with her during pregnancy to develop a relationship and discuss preferences and concerns, working together continuously from early labor onward, and - in many cases - having face-to-face and/or phone contact after the birth.
References
Hodnett ED. Pain and women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186,5 (2002) S160-72.
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G J, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth [PDF]. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.
Scott KD, Berkowitz G, and Klaus M. A comparison of intermittent and continuous support during labor: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 180,5 (1999) 1054-1059.
Simkin PP and O'Hara MA. Nonpharmacologic relief of pain during labor: systematic reviews of five methods. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186,5 (2002) S131-59.
CHILDBIRTH CONNECTION www.childbirthconnection.org
What is the bottom line about labor support?
Several systematic reviews summarizing many randomized controlled trials provide information about the effects of labor support by a trained or experienced woman. These studies have been carried out in many different countries in a variety of maternity care systems, with different types of labor support providers. They have involved women with different social backgrounds. Virtually all studies have found positive impact on the mother's emotional experience and/or her labor, without finding disadvantages. This claim probably cannot be made for any medical procedure, drug, or restriction used in labor management.
The most recent systematic review of continuous labor support is available in full right on this website, along with a brief overview of the review. It summarizes the experiences of nearly 13,000 women who participated in 15 randomized controlled trials.
The authors conclude:
Continuous support during labour should be the norm, rather than the exception. All women should be allowed and encouraged to have support people with them continuously during labour (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
What factors most contribute to women's satisfaction in childbirth?
In considering whether to make arrangements for labor support, it may be helpful to consider results of research about satisfaction in childbirth. A systematic review of the best available research (Hodnett 2002) finds that the following four factors make the greatest contribution to women's satisfaction in childbirth:
• having good support from caregivers
• having a high-quality relationship with caregivers
• being involved in decision-making about care
• having better-than-expected experiences, or having high expectations.
Arranging for labor support may make a big difference in your satisfaction!
What is the best evidence about the benefits of continuous support during labor?
This largest and most recent systematic found that when compared to women who did not receive continuous support, those who received continuous support were:
• less likely to have an epidural or other "regional" analgesia
• less likely to use any type of pain medication (including narcotics)
• less likely to give birth by cesarean section
• less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• less likely to be dissatisfied with or give a negative rating to their childbirth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
What appears to influence the impact of labor support?
Various systematic reviews have looked at the impact of continuous labor support under different conditions.
Several reviews have found that the type of person providing the care appears to make a difference.
Labor support provided by caregivers who come to the labor setting expressly to provide this care appears to offer women more benefits than labor support provided by nurses or other clinical caregivers from that setting.
(Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002, Scott and colleagues 1999).
In the most recent and largest review, when compared to women who did not receive continuous support, those who received continuous labor support from someone present just for this purpose were
• 26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
• 41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• 28% less likely to use any pain medications and
• 33% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
The reviews identified several other factors that seem to make a difference. Benefits of continuous labor support appear to be greater when women receive it
• beginning earlier rather later in labor (Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002)
• in settings that do not allow them to bring companions of choice (versus settings that do allow husbands, friends, etc.) (Hodnett and colleagues 2004, Simkin and O'Hara 2002)
• in settings where epidural analgesia is not routine (versus settings where epidural is routine) (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).
These patterns suggest that the more labor support a woman receives and the better its quality, the greater is its favorable impact. Because of this, women who work with a trained doula in usual (non-study) conditions may experience even greater benefits than the studies show. Usual conditions include choosing a compatible labor companion, meeting with her during pregnancy to develop a relationship and discuss preferences and concerns, working together continuously from early labor onward, and - in many cases - having face-to-face and/or phone contact after the birth.
References
Hodnett ED. Pain and women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186,5 (2002) S160-72.
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G J, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth [PDF]. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.
Scott KD, Berkowitz G, and Klaus M. A comparison of intermittent and continuous support during labor: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 180,5 (1999) 1054-1059.
Simkin PP and O'Hara MA. Nonpharmacologic relief of pain during labor: systematic reviews of five methods. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186,5 (2002) S131-59.
CHILDBIRTH CONNECTION www.childbirthconnection.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)