This is amazing- The Contraction Song

Found on Patty Ramos's Blog, This video sings for itself:

Moms ROCK.

So, I'm home , and finally awake.

Was birthin' last night- a very sweet mom who was hoping for a VBAC*. I got the call around 9:30, and figured, since this was essentially a 1st baby, that we would have plenty of time. So I took my shower, and got my stuff together, and headed for their house. The plan was to stay home as long as she felt comfortable staying home. I was about 8 blocks from the house, when I got a second call: We're going to the hospital. I got to the house, helped them load the car, and off we went!

The HOSPITAL, bless them, had changed their policy since the last birth I attended: the front entrance is no longer avialable after 8 PM. So we had to find our way to Emergancy, only to discover that the PARKING for Emergancy is over a block away! Dad took Mom in and up to the floor, while I parked my car, and hiked over. I signed in, and headed up, to where Mom was in triage. Mom's contractions when we left home were >3 minutes apart, and long- by the time we got to the hospital, they were pretty much on top of each other, and she was working hard. They assessed her as being well into active labor, and we were assigned a room.

We were lucky- we got the ONLY tub available on the floor, and as soon as Mom was cleared to get in the water, she did. Our nurse was absolutely sweet- I need to remember to write her a note. Mom and dad were both able to climb into the tub, and we got some peace and quiet- I'd bought some LED candles (for some reason hospitals don't like open flame around all that oxygen) and we set them up, turned down the monitor, and turned on her music. She labored like that for a little over an hour, when Mom decided she was done being brave. She wanted the epidural, and she wanted it now. We called for the nurse, and got Mom out of the tub to be checked- It was too late for an epidural. Within another 20 minutes, Mom was ready to push, and all we were waiting on was her OB. whose timing was impeccable- she walked into the room as Mom was asking WHY they didn't want her to push yet!
This OB was great. She was patient, she encouraged mom to try pushing in different posititons, and after 2 1/2 hours, Baby Girl was born! She's Perfect in every way, with APGARS of 9 &9.

I'm so proud of Mom- she was certain that baby was never going to come out, and she DID it. Only another mom or doula understands what I mean, when I say : Moms ROCK.

*Vaginal Birth After Cesearean

Packing your hospital bag-

Just got a great tip from another Doula about Packing your bag for the hospital-

DON'T DO IT.

Ask you hubby or partner to do it. Lay out everything you want to take on the bed, and have your support person pack the actual bag. YOU are going to be too busy to be rooting around in the bag for what you want, so HE will need to know where to find it! The best way for that to happen, is for him (or her) to pack the bag.

Pack more than one bag- pack one for labor, one for postpartum, one for baby, one for support person.

Things to pack:

LABOR BAG:

• Birth Plan
• lip balm
• pillow cases (the smell of home)
• toilet paper (hospital parer is scratchy!)
• tooth paste and tooth brush
• hair brush , and ties or clips
• warm socks or slippers
• rice sock
• glasses or contacts and supplies
• books or videos
• music and player
• snacks
• juice, Popsicles
  
• money for incidentals (soda, cafeteria)

Partner's Bag

• Birth Plan
• Cellphone and Charger
• Camera and Charger
• clean clothes
• swim suit (in case she wants you in the shower or tub)
  
• toiletries
• books
• Contact list for after the baby is born

Mom's Postpartum Bag

• cosmetics and toiletries
• robe
  
• nightgown
• nursing bras
• underwear
• going home clothes
• breastfeeding video or books
• cell phone and charger
  

Baby's Bag

• clothes for baby
• Baby Blanket
• baby sling
• Diapers
  

Car seat

Could it be Spring? part 2

Next Friday is supposed to be a lovely day- so we're going to the ZOO!

You're welcome to join us- We're meeting in front of the penguins at 10 AM.

We'd love to have you there!

I'm disapointed

Our first Parent Workshop has been canceled due to lack of enrollment.

We're going to shoot for a new date in April.

Could it be Spring?

Weather above freezing, TWO DAYS IN A ROW! WOO HOOO!

I am SO sick of being cold all the time! The weather is lovely, the dog is filthy, the ground is mushy, and it might , just might, be SPRING!

Well Rounded Maternity Center is hosting a Baby Signs Parent Workshop next Saturday, March 14th.
Unfortunately, the Sign Say and Play class is being canceled due to lack of interest. We will attempt to hold another SS&P class in April.

In my copious spare time....

How do people keep up with all the blogging/myspace/facebook etc? I find I need all of these tools to promote my business, but as my business gets bussier, I have very little time to keep up with the details of keeping these things up to date!

What are YOUR tips for keeping up with the computer?

Postpartum work , Twins, and BABY SIGNS!

I've been insanely busy over the last month or so, between the holidays, working full time postpartum with a couple who had twins just before Christmas, meeting potential clients for spring, trying to make time for my family- and my dog isn't speaking to me, he sees me so little.

On top of all of that, I'm working on becoming certified as a Baby Signs Instructor. Classes will begin in March- at Well Rounded Maternity Center in Menomonee Falls.

THIS is what it's all about!

Run, don't walk, to check out Patti Ramos' blog today. LOVELY shots of birth up close.

http://doulapattiramos.blogspot.com/2008/11/birth-up-close.html

Birth up close is GRAPHIC- shows peri area, penis on baby and a nipple- but we're all grown-ups, and this miracle should not be missed!

GET OUT AND VOTE!

No matter who you vote for, it matters that you vote. Voting is a serious responsibility, and a few minutes or hours of your time is a small price to pay for the freedom provided you by a democratic society.

It's not the big elections that bother me, though... I worry about the small ones. Alderman, Councilwoman, county executive, judges, sheriffs... you need to get out to ALL of those elections, and you need to make certain you are informed about the candidates.

I'll be out on Tuesday morning, with my kid, standing in line to vote, and I'll write him an excuse if we're late to school because of it.

Your Body, Your Baby, Your Choices.

Someone recently asked me if, I as a doula would support a woman through an abortion. I've had to think seriously about that. Where do my personal beliefs have to end, to follow my calling? Do I support a woman having a birth related procedure that I do not believe is right? Does that include having an epidural? An elective c-section? An abortion? Not choosing to breast feed? Circumcising her son ... Or her daughter? Is my practice going to be "woman -centered" or "baby -centered" and are the two mutually exclusive?
I've decided to take the "Your Body, your baby, your choices" stance. As long as you have taken the time to inform yourself about your options, I will support you in your choices. I will help you to gather information, I will give you my opinion if you ask for it, and I will make sure you are prepared to defend unpopular decisions to others, if you wish. I won't sugar coat things for you, and I will try to make certain the articles that I refer you to are as unbiased as possible. Failing that, I will try to mace certain that you at least receive both sides of the issue.

The pro-lifers are right about one thing: Abortion kills babies. We cannot sugar coat this, it needs to be out there in black and white. That pregnancy, if allowed to reach it's natural conclusion, will result in a baby. Where we run into problems is at the point where people start putting the rights of a potential baby over the rights of an existing woman. Taken to an extreme, protecting "The rights of the fetus" could eventually compel every woman to be taken into custody the moment she tests positive for pregnancy, kept in custody until the pregnancy reaches full term, and delivered by a cesarean section.

For the record, I am firmly pro-choice. Your choices do not have to be the same as mine. I chose to disapprove of abortions as birth control. I believe that if your primary method of birth control fails, there is a reason for that. There are other options available to you if you choose not to raise a child that you have conceived and there are differences in choosing to abort a child who cannot survive outside the womb, and one who can. There are VALID reasons to want an abortion, and I do not need to know why you have made the choice you have made, only that you have explored all of the options open to you, before making your decision. (I will happily listen if you feel you need to explain your choice!)

That being said, if you have decided for whatever reason to terminate your pregnancy, I would be willing to be there to support you before, during and after your procedure.

Looking for volunteer models in the Milwaukee area.....

My business partner and I are thinking about adding belly casting to our repertoire of services.

Looking for pregnant moms who would be willing for us to use their bellies to practice on!

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! ARRRRR! And Happy Birthday Hermione Granger!

My favorite day of the year!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com

Talk like a Pirate Day song!

http://www.tomsmithonline.com/freestuff/oddio/TLAPD.mp3

and Another!(for Pirate and Potter fans!)

http://www.tomsmithonline.com/freest.../iT008_192.mp3

ARRR! have FUN ARRR!

Canceled

Unfortunately, due to lack of interest, the postpartum depression seminar has been canceled.

Picture Perfect.

Wanted: one Picture perfect Bradley birth.

I got my wish last night. Dad's home on leave from Afghanistan. He has 18 days before he has to return. On Sunday morning, mom's bag broke, spontaneously. After 21 hours of HARD labor (baby was posterior, and asynclitic) he's here. And Daddy still has 13 days of leave left, to get to know his son.

Grandma and great grandma were there- and were fantastic at anticipating mom's needs, from a sip of water, to freshening her makeup.

Mom and Dad were AMAZING. He was her rock, and she had a peaceful, mostly non interventitive birth. A little Pit, towards the end, because she was completely exhausted, but no pain medication at all, and none of the "thrashing about, screaming, sobbing" that you see on TV.

If mom had been less determined, or dad had wavered in supporting her, this would have been a c-section. It wasn't.

You know who you are.... I'm PROUD of you!

Mostly.. a doula WAITS

Waiting for a lot of things right now... a call from my client saying her hubby is home, a call from MY hubby saying he's coming home (at the cabin, they had an ADVENTURE...) another client..... morning....labor to start... labor to end.... the house to sell.... calls from friends....

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AWARENESS SEMINAR

Ok, folks, this one is REALLY important!

"Postpartum Depression Awareness Seminar"

Well-Rounded Maternity Center & C.A.R.E. Network are sponsoring this event to raise awareness about the postpartum depression epidemic that affects 10 - 20% of birthing women in the US. The seminar is a way for both birth professionals (nurses, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, etc.) and women in the childbearing years to get information from local experts about the causes, symptoms and treatments for postpartum mood disorders, including the growing number of women who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder resulting from a traumatic birth experience.

As part of the seminar, we will be presenting a segment of the "Safe Motherhood Quilt." Like the AIDS quilt of years ago, this quilt honors women who were lost due to childbirth-related causes. We will be adding a quilt square to remember Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling of Oak Creek who tragically and needlessly ended her life months following the birth of her son due to postpartum psychosis.

Best Western, Brookfield

Sunday, October 12th, 2008; 1-3 p.m. Cost is $10 per person.

Praying she holds off......

My newest client is an absolute sweetheart, and we're becoming good friends. Her only real worry about this birth (her first) is that baby waits till Daddy comes home.... He's overseas on Military duty, and due home at the end of this week.

We're all just praying that he gets home in time to meet his son on his birthday!

ARRRRGH!

I hate to admit it, but I am not the most organized person on the planet. It looks like,while preparing for our move, I shredded some documents I needed for certification.... Doc's I can't replace, because the family in question has moved.

Anyone need a doula?!

Prepping for Certification.... Finally!

I wasn't planning to take any clients this summer, because of the impending move, but when I got offered this one through The Doula Connection (a volunteer doula service for financially challenged women) my gut said to take her. And am I ever glad I did.

First of all , all of my clients up until now have been at one hospital in the city, and this client was at a different hospital. I REALLY like their model of care. No 4 hour nursing shifts in L&D. And despite the fact that it was a teaching hospital, and the students were a little annoying, they went to great pains to keep men out of my client's room. In fact the ONLY male besides family who was ever in her room was the Attending for the floor, and he was only there to supervise the actual delivery, he never touched her. (she is not American, and has a cultural thing about strange men)

In any case, this poor lady went through her whole labor with an urge to push. Baby was OP, and she stalled out at 5cm for nearly 8 hours, even after AROM. Once they hung the pit, my mind went to the "here we go again" place, I was certain that we were headed for a c-section, but lo and behold, in three hours she went from 5 to 10 and pushing. Only one dose of pain meds, too.

From this labor I learned that you have to have faith. Not just in God, but in birth. This mom and her husband spent most of her labor praying. They never lost their faith, even at the darkest times, even when she was tempted to give up, and to show for it that have a beautiful little princess, born just before midnight.

So I have my final birth, and In goes the paperwork for my DONA certification.

Thank God.