Category Archives: Doula Blog

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Pitocin

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I was doing some research for a momma on induction of labor (starting contractions when they have not yet started on their own) with Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) .  I ran across this article from the Evidence Based Birth website that caught my interest.  I had no idea that Pitocin is not approved by the FDA and has its own black box warning.  [Black box warning definition: being or containing a warning of a serious or life-threatening side effect (as stroke, muscle damage, or suicidal tendencies) that is highlighted by a black border.]  So if you are considering induction of labor with Pitocin you might want to check out this link: http://evidencebasedbirth.com/crank-up-the-pit-2/.  I can also provide you with other links on this subject if you email me at serenitylifedoula@gmail.com.

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

 

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Water Birth

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I had my first water birth experience this weekend as a Doula.  I was completely blown away by the wonderful effects the water had on the birthing experience.  The water was pure comfort for the birthing mom and provided relaxing environment in between contractions.   Watching the baby be born from a warm cozy in utero environment to a nice warm water environment was simply amazing! After helping this momma through her water birth experience I highly recommend a water birth for any momma who is willing to give it a go!

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

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Date Night

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Want to keep your partner for life? DATE NIGHT is a MUST!!! It is important in a marriage to keep the flames burning, the romance hot and heavy and the love brewing at all times.  When 2 people introduced kids into their lives, the attention gets shifted from the 2 of them to the kids.  Its all about the kids all the time.  The romance and love decreases between the 2 of you and can eventually fall completely out. My husband and I have been married for 18 years and have had kids for over 15 years now.  We have had a “date night” at least once a week.  Your “date night” can be a breakfast date, a lunch date, an afternoon date, etc. It is what ever the 2 of you make it.  You can go out, you can stay in, it can be 30 mins or a full weekend, just make sure you have a sitter for the kids so you have some uninterrupted time together. This has been a very successful action for my marriage, as well as, other couples.  Try it once, you will be hooked because the love and romance between the 2 of you will strengthen exponentially!

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

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Labor Pains

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Labor pains can vary a great deal from woman to woman. A baby that is posterior can add intense back labor pain on top of normal labor pains. A wide variety of other physical symptoms can also turn on while in labor such as, nausea, feeling hot and cold, tiredness, aching legs, pubic pain, cramps, muscle tension, etc.  Mental emotions such as fear and anxiety can add to the labor pains as well.  It is important for each mother to be and partner to educate themselves on how to cope through labor.  Educating yourself is simple, read books on the stages of labor, hire a Doula to help educate you and take birthing classes, like birth boot camp. Going into labor educated, will give you strength and awareness of what comes next as  you go along through labor.  There are also different techniques that can be used to help a woman through labor.  There is no guarantee to remove all the pain, but will give you the opportunity stay on top of your contractions and birth your baby naturally.  A Doula can help educate you and your partner on comfort measures, essential oils, acupressure, TENS, Rebozo, etc to help reduced the labor pains.  She will also support your decisions to achieve your ideal birth plan.  When you make that decision to birth your baby naturally, find a support team that is like minded. This will greatly increase your chance of achieving your ideal birth plan!

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

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Create

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When 2 people decide to create a child, their pathway for life changes significantly.  It becomes 2 people doing whatever it takes to take care of another person.  They do what it takes with sleepless nights, meals being skipped, passing on entertainment with friends, the house constantly being a wreck, laundry piled up, lack of date nights, etc.  Parents sacrifice a lot to create the family they want to create.  As the time passes on, your love for your child will increase tremendously.  You are so proud when they take their first steps, say their first words, share with another child, walk through the doors of their first school, perform in their first program, pass their first test, make new friends, play their first sport, help another in need, graduate from high school, graduate from college, marry their spouse and create their first child.  Your love for them never ends.  Be proud, you created that beautiful child.  Hug your babies tight, kiss them countless each day, enjoy ever moment you can.  Remember, you and your partner created that child.  It was the 2 of you before they were born, it is the 2 of you rearing the child and it will be the 2 of you after the child moves away to start a new life on their own.  Hug your partner tight, kiss your partner endlessly each day.  It starts with the 2 of you and will end with the 2 of you.  Create your family, be happy, loving, have fun and be brilliant! XOXO

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

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Acupressure

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I am now DONA certified in Acupressure for laboring women.  I took the class a few weeks ago with some of my fellow Doulas.  I was totally amazed how Acupressure can aid a momma in labor.  Acupressure is a technique applied by your thumbs or index fingers on specific areas of the body to minimize any physical or emotional discomfort a person may be experiencing. This technique can aid in the relief of morning sickness, low back pain, hemorrhoids, pain during labor, OP baby position, fear, anxiety, anger, etc. Acupressure is safe, effective and non-invasive for momma and baby. For more information, please contact me at 512-801-2900512-801-2900 or serenitylifedoula@gmail.com.

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Ideal Birth Plan

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This past week I had 2 of my mommas achieve their ideal birth plan.  They wanted drug free All Natural births with their second child.  They both arrived at the hospital, 2 different days of course, at 7cm dilated.  They both labored well at home and had the goal of arriving at the hospital at a 7.  Very Well Done ladies! Their labors progress very similarly, one having a girl and the other having a boy, both in the 8lb range.  These 2 women with strong intention and determination went after their goal and achieved it..  I am so happy to have been apart of these mommas birth experience! I am looking forward to helping many more mommas achieve their ideal birth plan!

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

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“Hormone of Love”

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Oxytocin is a natural hormone the body produces known as the hormone of love. This hormone is released in large quantities during labor from the brain into the bloodstream.  Oxytocin has many functions like protecting the baby’s brain during birth, causes uterine contractions, gives a feeling on calmness and aids in breastfeeding. Stimulating your nipples can cause you to start labor or increase contractions of the uterus.  Once the Oxytocin is released it causes the uterus to contract, which helps to dilate the cervix, delivery of the baby and placenta expulsion.  Skin to skin contact with your baby after birth helps regulate the Oxytocin levels, keep the baby warm and aids in breastfeeding.  Birth interventions like induction with Pitocin can interfere with the natural way that your body produces and uses Oxytocin.

Serenity Life Doula

Birth Doula

 

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TENS

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What is TENS? It stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It sends mild electrical impulses through your skin where the nerve fibers are stimulated.  The TENS unit is a handheld battery operated device that has leads and stimulating pads that are placed on the mothers back in certain areas, which is controlled by the mother while in use.  The purpose of the TENS is to reduce labor pains, control over pains, freedom to move and walk around while in use and postponement of request for epidural. Best results of effective pain control by this device is when then TENS is started in early labor and used through out until after birth.  TENS is safe and a non-pharmacological method of pain control in labor.  Successes reported by women who used the TENS during labor were, it works well for back labor and either made an epidural unnecessary or was able to labor longer before actually requesting an epidural.  TENS is not a method of stopping the pain, just reducing it.  The amount of pain reduction will vary from woman to woman.

I am now DONA certified on using the TENS on a laboring mother and will have TENS for rent.  You can request more information from me if using a TENS in labor sounds like something that may benefit you.  We will need written consent from your midwife or OBGYN to use the unit during your labor.  This method of pain control is upcoming and rising in the birthing community.  I have seen the helpful benefits to mothers while they labored and controlled the TENS themselves.

 

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Squats & Kegels

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Are you strengthening your pelvic floor?  I just attended an seminar given by the Tarrant County Birth Network, presented by Marie Warner, a Board Certified Women’s Health Therapist located here in the DFW area. She said the magic number for Kegels each day is 80!  You can do a combination of quick squeeze relax, repeat or 10 second holds.  You can do Kegels at any point during the day and no one knows you are doing them.  Easy to fit in while sitting at a red light, talking on the phone, waiting to pick your kid up from school, etc.  Squats are recommended as well, but Kegels are the easy way out. Having a strong pelvic floor can prevent women from having bladder leakage issues or prolapsed uterus at an older age.  Kegels all the way!  Keep Kegeling!