Pregnancy Support & Resources
TRUTH BOMB:
a hint of encouragement
Mama, you CAN do this! You ARE doing this! You are growing and carrying life inside your womb! How amazing is that?! You are doing something so miraculous - you were chosen and created to do it. This is a beautiful gift women have been given. Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is exhausting. But sweet mama, you can get through this. One second at a time. One minute at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. You are stronger than your weakest moments. When you're feeling weak and believe that this will never end, remind yourself of the gift you are about to receive. Birth is a normal, physiological process - you were made for this!
“To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and distressingly inhabited. Soul and spirit are stretched – along with body – making pregnancy a time of transition, growth, and profound beginnings.”
– Anne Christian Buchanan
A doula is a labor support person who works with the mother and her partner during pregnancy all the way through labor and birth with the goal of ensuring the mother has the most desirable birth experience possible. This is achieved by providing physical, mental, and emotional support throughout labor and birth.
why a doula
39%
decrease in
c-section
15%
10%
decrease in pain medication
41 mins
increase in vaginal delivery
decrease in
labor time
31%
38%
decrease in dissatisfied birth experience
decrease in low apgar score
When many pregnant mothers think of childbirth they are met with fear because of the institutional feel that hospitals have. Unfamiliarity with hospital staff, interruptions, fear of needles, lack of privacy, and bright lights are examples of the "harsh environment theory" which can have negative influences on a labouring mother. A doula brings a sense of familiarity, understanding, and trust to the mother.
Another reason why doulas are effective is because they may help increase the secretion of oxytocin - the hormone that is responsible for labor starting and continuing on its own. It is the "love" hormone. When we are feeling loved and safe, the amount oxytocin released is greater. Mother's create an attachment to their doula throughout pregnancy that naturally presents itself during labor. Because of this attachment and feeling of safety, more oxytocin is secreted.
A third reason why doulas are found to be effective is because they are natural pain relievers. It has been found that mothers who have a doula experience less pain in labor. When a mother experiences less pain, she is in a more calm state of mind. The likelihood of her needing pain relief is decreased, thus decreasing the need for Pitocin augmentation and other interventions as they often go hand in hand.
Why doulas are effective
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Do you feel like you could use some extra support during pregnancy? Someone to listen to your fears, answer your questions, help prepare you for birth, give you some assistance with writing your birth preferences, and encourage you along the way? That's why I created The Birth Preparation Experience! This unique, one hour appointment will help you prepare for the birth you desire to have. Let's chat!
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