Only Lazy People Need a Postpartum Doula

          What’s so hard about having a newborn? It eats and sleeps and really isn’t that much work. Especially if this is your first- it’s not like you have anything else to do, and everything you need to know can be found in a book. HA! If only it were that simple!

          Many new moms have a big trepidation about asking for and accepting help after they bring their baby home. They don't want to seem lazy or needy, but letting their body heal and bonding with their baby are very important to building their confidence as a mother. Friends and family can be great, but that’s not an option for every family, and even if you are blessed to have helping hands all around you, it may not be what you need at the time you need it. That’s where a postpartum doula comes in.

            I had my children 2 ½ years apart. My daughter was old enough to get me a diaper for the baby if I asked her to, so I thought transitioning from 1 to 2 would be a breeze: oh boy I was wrong! It never failed that they would both want or need me at the same moment and I couldn't do two things at once. I felt terrible ignoring one to take care of the other. I was overwhelmed and I didn't know where to turn. When my husband was home in the evening, everything was smooth as silk, but that was only about 1/3 of my day!

            My mom had my brother and I 18 months apart and was a single mother soon after that: she had no sympathy for my complaints. I felt so judged when I talked to her about my daily struggles. That was when a friend told me about postpartum doulas. She had hired one after bringing her twins home and raved about the experience. I was hesitant at first, but decided to go ahead and hire a postpartum doula anyway.  There’s something to be said for non-biased, compassionate care that addresses a mom’s emotional, physical and psychological needs as she transitions into motherhood.

            I'm so glad I hired a postpartum doula for those first few tough weeks after we came home from the hospital. She was a great companion and helping hand. She listened when I needed to vent, and made suggestions about how to better the situation. I was able to shower alone with no one yelling or crying for my attention. She went with me to the grocery store, which was terrifying to do alone. I tell all my pregnant friends why they need a postpartum doula as well-it saved my sanity and made me a better mom!

What is a Postpartum Doula?

            Postpartum doulas assist families who are bringing home a new baby. They facilitate family bonding and adaptation through education, companionship and nonjudgmental support. They help with newborn care, meal preparation and light household tidying.

What affects family bonding and adaptation?

·         Parental fatigue

·         Previous experience with a newborn

·         Parental expectations of a newborn

·         Knowledge of and confidence in providing for newborn needs

·         Temperament of a newborn

·         Temperament of parents

·         Age of parents

·         Available support system

·         Unexpected events

Who would benefit from a postpartum doula?

·         Every mom bringing home a new baby, even in cases of adoption or surrogacy

·         Families looking for a smoother transition during the postpartum period

·         First time mothers who need additional support transitioning into motherhood

·         Families with multiples

·         Families with limited or no family and friend support

·         Families with older children for new sibling transition

·         Women recovering from cesarean, complicated birth or prolonged bed rest during pregnancy

          The nice thing about most postpartum doulas is their ability to tailor what they do to suit their client’s needs. For some people, it’s more hands on and tactical – positioning support for breastfeeding, assisting with bathing the baby, preparing meals for mom, helping siblings with the transition to big brother or big sister. For others, it’s more emotional support—reassuring mom that she’s tending to baby properly, allowing her to go through the hormonal rollercoaster after birth, answering questions about caring for herself with a newborn. When you meet with a postpartum doula, talk about our expectations for how she can best help you and have an open dialog about what types of support will be best for your family.

            The most important thing you can do after bringing home a new baby is bonding, recovering and enjoying, and the support of a postpartum doula is meant to allow you to do just that! It’s not lazy, it’s smart.

Did your dog lick my placenta?

Are you the type of person who is extra sweet to your waitress because you fear what will happen if you aren't?! Have you considered having your placenta encapsulated but you're hesitant to commit because you can't ensure the process is up to your standards? Then, my dear, you are in the right place!

Most encapsulation specialists have a dedicated work space within their own home for preparation, but not me. I don't ever bring another persons internal organs into my home. What if I turn my back and my dog chews on it or my husband thinks its dinner and digs in? NO WAY! I only prepare placentas in your home.

Let me tell you why:

• You (or a family member) bring your placenta home from the hospital-- you have peace of mind that you won't be ingesting anyone else's placenta mistakenly!
• You have the option to watch and ask questions during the process
• Although my sanitation practices meet all food handlers safety guidelines, your body is used to the microorganisms living in your home. Therefore, it is less risk of contamination when the placenta is being prepared in your space. This ensures your safety!

My favorite part of preparing your placenta in your home is the interaction. Even the most uninterested, squeamish dads/family members inevitably end up in the kitchen with me at some point, asking questions and taking it all in! If this level on control appeals to you, then give us a call!

reflections of a VBAC mom

Before I even begin typing all of the things that are running through my head, I have to acknowledge a couple of things:

-I was lucky enough to have the complete support of my family as VBAC hopefuls.

-I was lucky enough to have access to a care provider and birth location that were supportive of our goals to VBAC.

-I was lucky enough to avoid conditions that would risk me out of TOLAC.

I recognize that these are not givens for every family and that many of the cards were stacked in our favor here. But this post is just a couple of reflections on my experience and maybe how it’s shaped my view as a mom and doula.

1.      I was scared….really scared. But of what? I wasn't scared that my uterus would blow up. I wasn't scared that my baby would die. I wasn't scared that my care provider would bait and switch me. I was scared that for whatever reason, my VBAC wouldn't be successful and that I would have to face family, friends and colleagues. While everyone was outright supportive, I knew there were some people who thought we were a little nuts and I didn't want to have to hear any “I told you so’s”.  It’s probably the silliest thing in the world to be afraid of, but it’s true…this was my hang up…

2.      I was determined. Really determined. Not in a bullheaded way, just in an “I’m doing this!” kind of way. Knowing that I was open to the idea of more kids in the future, I viewed this as a critical turning point in our reproductive future.  For anyone who may not be familiar with the research on the complications associated with cesarean sections, the most important thing to know is that the risk of many obstetrical complications increases with every cesarean. For example, the risk of placenta accreta in a first cesarean is about 0.24%, or one in 417 women; in a second cesarean, this increases to 0.31% or one in every 323 women; but by the 4th cesarean, the risk jumps to 2.13% or one in every 47 women! ICAN, the International Cesarean Network, is a fantastic resource for this kind of information, as is VBACFacts.

3.      I was confident. Maybe a little overly confident? I didn't see any reason why I couldn't do it. It just seemed logical to me that humans can birth humans without surgical intervention.  To be honest, I didn't even say I was having a VBAC, I was just planning a vaginal birth- no qualification of “after cesarean” even entered my mind.

4.      I wasn't ready for a battle. I didn't know every statistic, every study. I don’t even think I knew that I should stay away from Pitocin. There is no way I could have engaged in an intellectual discussion with my care provider about these things. Luckily, I didn't need to. But if I had to do it again, I’d be better armed to speak intelligently about my reservations and to propose alternatives that may help us compromise on care that we are both comfortable with.

5.      I didn't have any labor support. I’m a professional doula, so this isn't easy for me to say, but you don’t *need* anyone there to achieve your VBAC. To say that you must have someone there to advocate for you takes power away from you. Don’t make anyone else’s presence a prerequisite for VBAC success. (As a side note, our doula practice has a 97% VBAC success rate across the last 5 years, which is significantly ahead of the national and even local average!)

6.      A little help is ok. Some people think that the only way to achieve VBAC is to go completely natural with absolutely no medical intervention. That’s a great way to do it, but it’s not the only way. A little help can remain just that…a little help. Having fetal monitoring or a little pitocin or even an epidural aren't going to completely kibosh your VBAC dreams. All things in moderation, though. Be careful of the “cascade of interventions”, but recognize your needs in the moment and be kind to yourself.

7.      It was as awesome as I thought it would be. No, I don’t think that a woman should be defined by any biological process…we don’t take joys in any other of them…but there is something to be said for making a plan, working hard to accomplish it, and achieving it!

8.      I understand completely why some families chose a repeat cesarean. The decision was really easy for us, but I can see why it might not be such a clear cut choice for every family. There’s politics, there’s conflicting information about the safety, there’s “policy wars”, insurance concerns, the hunt for a supportive provider, fears about the unknown… And all of this when you’re literally trying to grow a human.

9.      No amount of preparation can guarantee VBAC success. Just like cesareans are sometimes 100% indicated in a first birth, the same holds true in a second or later birth. You can read every book on child birth, have all the research under your belt for preparing a safe VBAC, have an awesomely supportive provider, be accompanied by a fantastic doula, have the baby’s father on your side 100% of the way, (insert all the other things you think are necessary to achieve a vaginal birth), and things still may not work out as planned.  Refresh your knowledge of when a cesarean is indicated. Know which ones are immediate emergencies, and which ones you may be able to work to reverse or manage. This will help you to feel comfortable in the event that it is no longer safe to continue a trial of labor.

I have absolutely no regrets about my VBAC - well, except for the tragic song he had to be born to. It wasn't a short or easy labor; early labor began on Monday and didn't end until just after Wednesday turned into Thursday. After 50+ hours of intense but tolerable labor, my sister finally convinced me to go to the hospital as I was throwing up on my bathroom floor. I had been denying it was time to have the baby, despite his being many days (dare I say "weeks") past his estimated due date. From the time I got to the hospital to baby napping in my arms was 3 hours, and my Thanksgiving baby and I have been inseparable since. 

End note: For those of your reading from Eastern PA, we are also lucky to be living in an area that is becoming more supportive of VBAC, even VBA2C, VBAmC and special scar situations. When I had my VBAC, this wasn't the case and I was simply lucky to have had a care provider that was one of the few really supportive people in the area.  If you need information on VBAC supportive providers, we are happy to point you in the right direction!

Welcoming Dr. Genevieve Mercier, D.C.

We are pleased to announce that beginning in September, The Growing Place will become home to Premier Chiropractic and Dr. Genevieve Mercier. We are thrilled at this addition to our family and are certain Genevieve's passion for serving women and children will benefit our community and the families we serve!

Dr. Genevieve Mercier graduated from Parker University in Dallas, Texas with her Doctorate of Chiropractic and BS in Health and Wellness. Premier Chiropractic sets itself apart by focusing on Neuro-Spinal Correction. She has a passion for prenatal care and pediatrics. Dr. Mercier is certified in Webster's Technique from the ICPA, has additional training in prenatal and pediatric care through the ICPA, and is a proud partner of the American Pregnancy Association. She is looking forward to opening her new practice in Emmaus on September 8th and to serve her new community.

To learn more about Dr. Mercier or to schedule an appointment, visit her website at www.premierchiropa.com!

Early Labor: A Waiting Game

Something that every mom seems to remember about their birth is how long they were in labor. It’s a number that rolls off the tongue as easily as the baby’s birth day or what color his eyes are. But knowing when your labor started is not an exact science, and it usually has something to do with when it became obvious to you, whether that was because your water broke or contractions became harder to manage, or even the time you entered the hospital. In my experience as a doula, one of the biggest mistakes that moms make is paying attention to labor too soon – at the first sign of contractions (even if they are 15-20 minutes apart) or perhaps if your amniotic fluid starts to leak, even without other signs of labor.  It is also common for labor to go in spurts- starting and stopping; preparing the labor and the mother for when things gear up; allowing her to get some rest. The challenge with telling yourself you’re in labor at this point is that it can be hours, even days (yikes!) until the baby actually arrives. And as the hours tick by, a mother’s confidence can start to wane and she can tire of the idea of being in labor, even if she is not physically tired.

So how can you avoid getting stuck in the “I’ve been in labor forever" trap? Here are some ideas to help you get through early labor!

1.   Take a nap. If labor really is starting, you’ll be glad you got some extra rest.

2.      Read a book. It’s relaxing, it might take your mind off things, and if you’re close to the end of the book, you can keep encouraging yourself to go just.one.more.page.

3.      Go for a walk. Get your blood pumping, see the neighborhood sights for one last time in a way that you may not have the opportunity to in the future….After all, the next time you take that walk could be pushing a stroller or carrying a baby and may not have time to appreciate the little things like weeds growing in the sidewalk cracks, pavement pushed up by tree roots or little birds’ nests.

4.      Go shopping! Who doesn’t love to browse the racks, flip through the pages of books you’ll probably never buy, or people watch?!

5.      Have lunch with a friend. A supportive friend who won’t freak out when you stop to take a deep breath or close your eyes through a contraction. Bonus if the friend won’t make jokes about you potentially breaking your water.

6.      Call your mom, or better yet, your grandmother. If they are still around and won’t worry you to death with stories of a friend’s sister’s neighbor’s long lost cousin’s terrible labor, have a little chat, knowing it may be a couple weeks (months?) until you may have an uninterrupted moment.

7.      Daytime TV! Game shows! Lifetime movies! Trashy “he cheated on me” talk shows! Re-runs! Infomercials! So much good TV, so little time!

8.      Plant a garden. How cool would it be years down the road to tell your child about the garden – or tree! – you planted as you waited impatiently patiently for their arrival?

9.      Play a game with your older child/children. If you have older children, they may feel a little forgotten about or lonely after the new baby comes. Spend a little time with them, making them feel special and reassuring them how much you care for them.

10.  Bake some bread. Chances are, if you’re in early labor, you’re going to have some time on your hands, so baking bread may be a perfect, timely distraction! 

11.  Get creative! Grab a paint brush, charcoal, watercolors, whatever you have handy. Express your emotions through art. Paint your birth vision. Make a little memorial of your early labor that you can share with you babe in years to come. Lat that brush sway with you as you move your body in response to the contractions.

12.   Get lovey. Did you know that intimacy is a great way to get labor moving? Some people may not be up to full-fledged romance, but that’s ok – physical closeness in any form helps prepare the body (and mind!) for labor. Enjoy lying together, maybe some smoochin’ or whatever you’re up to (unless you’re on pelvic rest, and then you’ll have to go for a hard stop before things get too serious!).

13.  Clean. Having some anxiety about all the visitors you’ll likely be hosting after the little one arrives? Get ahead of it by doing a little tidying up. Already have a spotless house? Eh, move things around- rearrange, organize, toss some stuff out. “Nesting” is common as mothers take one last opportunity to get everything ready to the baby to arrive.

14.  Prepare the baby’s clothes. Have a superstition that prevents you from doing too much preparing too far in advance? Or are you just plain good at procrastinating? Either way….now that baby is almost here, maybe it’s a good time to get some of those adorable onesies scrubbied up.

15.  Soak up some sun. Everyone knows that a little splash of sun can lighten any mood, so get some rays to boost your spirit...

16.  What? It’s 3am? Well grab your baby daddy and go for a moonlit stroll. Gaze at those stars, breathe some cool crisp air and enjoy the sound of silence.

17.  Make lasagna. You’re going to need lots of yummy nutrition to help recover from birth, and to sustain your energy to care for your little one. Even more so if you’re breastfeeding. So grab some grub and cook up some meals that freeze well so you’ll have plenty to choose from in the coming weeks.

18.  Car Seat time. If you haven’t already installed the car seat, now may be a good time to do that. And if you really want to pass the time, read the manual cover to cover. It’s a good idea to do that anyway (tons of safety information that is too easily overlooked!)

19.  Journal. For the same reasons mentioned in number eleven. Every day that you move further away from an event, the less of the detail you will remember. Get all the details down on paper – your hopes and fears for your little bean sprout – so you’ll always remember how you’re feeling right now. You’ll thank yourself a year – or even 10 years – down the road.

20.  Angry birds. I was going to include this one as a joke, but then I got to thinking….a game as addictive as this could be a great way to pass the hours!

21.  Nosh. You’ll need lots of energy over the next couple of hours and days. Pack in some protein, some high energy carbs and some refreshing fruits and veggies. Having a hard time keeping things down? Go for a small bite every couple of minutes or go for liquids. And remember to hydrate, too.

22.  Wash the car. Feeling a little hot and flush? Get outside, turn on the hose and suds up the car. The up and down motion of sponging off the car will force you to squat and help engage the baby’s head against the cervix. Too cold out? Windexing the patio doors and shower doors will accomplish the same thing. And as a bonus, you’ll have something shiny to admire your glowing self in! (Yeah, I said it, you’ll look like a rock star in labor!)

23.  Cat! Cow! Pigeon! Warrior! That’s right, get your yoga on. Not only can going back to your tried and true poses in early labor take you to the same calm, meditative place you always get to when you’re practicing yoga, those that rotate and open up the pelvis can also help engage the baby.

24.  Go swimming. It’s refreshing, relaxing and can help keep your joints feeling nice and loose. Pools are also a great place to do some hip-opening stretches like lunges and squats since there’s less pressure on the knees and ankles. (Check with your care provider if your waters have already broken, as pools can be a breeding ground for less-than-pleasant germs.)

25.  Take some pictures! You’re embarking on a brand new journey, one whose beginning marks the distinct end of another (pregnancy!) Take this opportunity to snap some last minute memories of your beautiful belly and your family before baby comes. You may feel less than gorgeous, but everyone else thinks you’re stunning and radiant and you’ll love looking back at those photos later.

If you’re reading this because you are in early labor: Congratulations. We hope you have an awesome birth experience and that you’re little bundle of joy is as perfect as can be! If you’re with us remembering back to your labor, what were ways you kept distracted during early labor? 

Image courtesy of adamr, FreeDigitaPhotos.net

Zumbini

A couple of weeks ago we welcomed our first class for Zumbini. What's that, you ask? It's an interactive class for infants and their parents that combines upbeat music, dancing and tactile play for the little ones. We welcomed 21 families on that first day with babes ranging from 6 weeks to 3 years old. Nikki - a local and respected Zumba instructor who recently expanded her portfolio to include Zumbini, the newest rage in mom-and-me classes - opens and closes each class with song that names each child. You should see some of their faces light up when she gets to them and they hear their own names! It was 45 minutes of non-stop fun that included everyone getting a turn with drums and maracas and colorful scarves. Check out some of the photos below. 

Interested in joining the fun? Check out our Events page for upcoming classes.

Click on the pictures to scroll through.