First Steps Doula Services

16/07/2019

Birth is supposed to be filled with happiness and joy. However sometimes the universe has other plans. This story is told through the eyes of my clients Jayne Street and her husband Simon. It’s beautifully written and whilst I sit under a palm tree on the island of Batu Batu, the same place they went as a family to celebrate their daughter, I am moved to tears by Jayne’s courage to speak up openly and honestly about her grief. I am enormously proud of this family and Jayne’s determination to continue moving forward not only for Simon, Jax and Emi but for herself and importantly for Summer.

I lost my third baby when I was five months pregnant. When you lose a baby, you also lose all the hopes and dreams that you had for them.

30/06/2019

At the Himba of Namibia in Southern Africa, the date of birth of a child is fixed, not at the time of its arrival in the world, nor in its design, but much earlier: since the day the child is thought in His Mother's mind.⠀
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When a woman decides she's going to have a child, she settle down and rests under a tree, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child who wants to be born. And after she heard this child's song, she comes back to the man who will be the father of the child to teach him that song. And then, when they make love to physically design the child, they sing the song of the child, to invite him.⠀
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When the mother is pregnant, she teaches the singing of this child to the midwives and older women of the village. So, when the child is born, old women and people around him sing his song to welcome him.⠀
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As the child grows, the other villagers learn his song. So if the child falls, or gets hurt, he always finds someone to pick him up and sing his song. Similarly, if the child does something wonderful, or successfully passes through the rites of passage, the people of the village sing his song to honor him.⠀
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In the tribe, there is another opportunity where villagers sing for the child. If, at any time during his life, the person commits an aberrant crime or social act, the individual is called in the center of the village and the people of the community form a circle around him. Then they sing his song.⠀
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The tribe recognizes that the correction of antisocial behavior does not pass through punishment, it is by love and reminder of identity. When you recognize your own song, you don't want or need to do anything that would harm the other.⠀
And the same way through their lives. In Marriage, songs are sung together.⠀
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And when, getting old, this kid is lying in his bed, ready to die, all the villagers know his song, and they sing, for the last time, his song. 🎶💞

Via Robby Bellastoria.

02/02/2019

Am so proud to be a Trainer with this CBI and to have certified with them. This Accreditation is so well deserved.

We are excited to announce that Childbirth International Training is accredited with distinction as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).

CBI is the only doula training organization globally to have been awarded an accreditation with distinction. The rigorous ANCC accreditation process recognizes excellence in training and we are proud that they have found our courses to be exemplary.

All CBI courses are now accredited by the ANCC. Certificates provided at the completion of a course will include the ANCC Accredited with Distinction logo. From January 28th, 2019, every CBI course (full certification programs AND professional development) will be awarded continuing education credits (number of credits differs with each course). These can be used towards American Nursing Association certification or recertification.

You can learn more about accreditation here: https://childbirthinternational.com/story/accreditation

In addition to our full certification programs, you can read more about our professional development courses in pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding here:

https://childbirthinternational.com/portfolio/professional-development/

https://childbirthinternational.com/portfolio/breastfeeding-professional-development/

29/01/2019

Whilst I’m not a fan of mustard, I have slurped up some spilled red wine off my baby.

Parents share hilarious thoughts about welcoming a new baby.

26/01/2019

I was talking about this very thing today in our Parenting & Breastfeeding class.

16/01/2019

So beautiful!

A powerful reminder that love defines families.

11/01/2019

This is great news!

SINGAPORE - Infant formula firms will soon be barred from providing both financial and in-kind inducements to hospitals to promote their brands to mothers, under changes to guidelines that govern the sale of infant foods in Singapore.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

05/01/2019

So many times I have sat and listened to my clients as they express guilt because they feel they haven’t focussed enough on their second or subsequent pregnancy.
If I can quote that famous line that many of your toddlers may be singing around the house at the moment ....
“Let it go, let it go”
It doesn’t indicate neglect or bad parenting. On the contrary, it shows that you just don’t sweat the small stuff, your focus has shifted and your wisdom is growing.
So whilst Elsa’s words may emanate through your house, in your car, or even whilst your toddler is on the potty, take it as a gentle reminder to go easy on yourselves.

03/01/2019

As it should be!

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing a disturbingly high rate of maternal mortality among black women.

04/12/2018

A practice that has been mandatory in most states of the US for the last 120 years. Yet other countries don’t do it at all or may only treat those babies who are at high risk or if there is a maternal history of STIs. Yet the US will assume that every birthing person has been exposed to an STI during their pregnancy and will routinely administer. Some caregivers (including nurses) threaten to call Family Services if a family declines citing child neglect. It’s so sad that as a newborn adapts quickly to the new environment to which it’s born, it’s eyelids are forced open and an ointment is placed. What is even more devastating is that it is done “just in case” with no medical indication whatsoever.
If anyone hasn’t ever had antibiotic eye drops, it’s not pleasant. Yet the US think it’s ok to treat EVERY newborn regardless.
So sad.

Canadian pediatricians and midwives want changes to what they consider an ineffective medical treatment for newborn babies: antibiotic eye drops to guard against STIs from their mothers.

29/11/2018

Good for Meghan!

Meghan Markle does not want to go to the Lindo Wing.