Silver Lining Doulas

09/05/2020

How many of you have sat on a doctor’s exam table, when your doctor asks you to “just scoot down a little for me,” “turn to the side for me,” “take a deep breath ”for me”?How many of you heard something like this during labor - “Okay now just give one good push for me”?⁠
⁠
The ways in which we are infantilized by medical providers is subtle, and this way of talking to women is an institutionalized relic of a time, not too long ago, when medicine was overtly paternalistic. Not only does this type of rhetoric perpetuate a potentially dangerous doctor-patient dynamic in which the doctor maintains authority over your body, but what starts as asking you to do something simple “for me” quickly turns into a set of labs + tests being ordered that you don’t think you need, or a “little snip” being performed without your consent during birth - that you feel obligated to do for the doctor!⁠
⁠
Medical misogyny shows up in the language that is used, the subtle coercions that happen, and the usurping of our power in sometimes small but insidious ways.⁠
⁠
What happens in a medical encounter should be for you. With your confident informed consent. When you hear this type of language, learn to recognize it so you can stay in your power and authority. You never have to do anything with your body for anyone else. You never have to agree to procedures that you do not think are best for you. You are in charge.⁠
⁠
Your body, your rules.⁠
⁠
For more info on how being a "good girl" in the doctor's office can actually be hazardous to your health sometimes, head to the link below:

https://avivaromm.com/good-girl-health-hazard/

⁠
📷: - thank you for sharing these words and important conversations

04/21/2020

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Did you know, since the Covid-19 lockdown began in the UK, mums and midwives across the country have seen an increase in the number of babies coming back up to their birth weight by day 5! - Something that has not been seen in decades!

It is totally normal for your baby's weight to decrease post birth, however in recent years, it's been known to take up to day 10, or longer, for babies to get back up to their birth weight. This meant, extra measures were advised if your baby's day 5 weigh-in didn’t reach the expected amount.

Interestingly, what the lockdown and self-isolation has shown us is that without a constant stream of visitors, mum and baby have had a better opportunity for uninterrupted bonding which seems to have hugely helped mums and babies to establish breastfeeding and feed for longer, helping them regain their weight far quicker!

Whilst this evidence from midwives and other professionals is only anecdotal, at this stage, we hope that, once the NHS workload has returned to normal, formal research can look into this data in greater detail as this could have a huge impact on how women and their partners prepare for bringing home their baby and breastfeeding.

📸-ashjustine

04/17/2020

This is the love of a doula.

04/17/2020

03/30/2020

In response to some private hospitals’ decision to bar partners, New York will order all hospitals to allow partners in delivery rooms, despite the coronavirus risk.

03/25/2020

In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and in doing our part to help keep everyone safe and healthy, we are currently only offering Virtual Classes and Support online including:

Prenatal Preparation for Labor and Birth
Private Childbirth Education
Birth Support
Postpartum Support
New Parent Coaching
Private Breastfeeding Classes
Lactation Consultations
Sleep Support
Online Classes
​
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact Amy Johnson at info@SilverLiningDoulas.com or 508-768-5286

02/28/2020

First line of defense. Especially important if you are in contact with a new mom and baby.

When people ask how to protect themselves against the alarming spread of coronavirus COVID-19, one of the first suggestions from doctors is a common-sense one: Wash your hands – but do it the right way.

01/12/2020