Category Archives: Doula Blog

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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!

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VBAC

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I had the opportunity to shadow another Doula for experience just last week.  The birth was utterly amazing.  This incredible momma went for her VBAC and was successful! As Doulas, we used comfort measures, essential oils, rebozo, acupuncture, TENS units, the shower and tub, cool wash cloth, etc. to help this momma through active labor, transition and birth.  VBAC are becoming very more common in this country.  There are evidence based articles on achieving successful VBACs.  If you are thinking about having a VBAC as your next birth, lets talk!