doulajulia.aho

doulajulia.aho Birth Doula I am based in Cokato MN, and I provide birth doula services to families in the Buffalo - Litchfield - Hutchinson - Waconia areas.

The day you welcome your little one is a day you will remember forever. I would be honored to help you prepare for the arrival, support you through your entire labor and delivery, and help you settle with confidence into your postpartum recovery. Call me to get started - I can't wait to hear from you!

06/17/2022

Lily Nichols is the number one resource for prenatal nutrition and gestational diabetes.

I've got some fun news, a way for you to get your body ready for delivery or recover afterward, and a coupon that will s...
12/10/2021

I've got some fun news, a way for you to get your body ready for delivery or recover afterward, and a coupon that will save you money!

These past few months, I've been learning the science and practical applications behind a fantastic prenatal and postpartum fitness program called One Strong Mama.

So what's the news? I've become an affiliate for One Strong Mama! I can't recommend this program enough. When we prepare for birth, we need to be working on stability, strength, and mobility, and this program does it all. I love that the classes are sprinkled with positive messages around pregnancy and birth. Your portal will give you classes to do based on your week of pregnancy. There's also a postpartum program available, and that takes you through early and gentle rehab after you give birth. Once you make a purchase, the program is yours forever including any upgrades added in the future.

You can use my link (copy the text below) to buy the program and it sends me a small percentage:

https://onestrongmama.com?osm=340

DM me for a coupon code to save $10 when you buy!

If you have more questions, I'd love to hear them!

12/06/2021

Nutritional needs are so important in pregnancy! What you eat sustains your body and provides the things your baby needs to grow. Make sure you are getting in lots of nutritious, whole foods. Your baby will benefit, and so will you!

11/26/2021

One of the best things you can do for yourself during pregnancy is keep your body moving. Not sure how? Start with this program! It's on sale this weekend! Once you buy it, it's yours forever including any updates and changes that may come later.

PSA: if it's something you care about, it is worth it to spend the money!I've been studying pregnancy and childbirth for...
11/09/2021

PSA: if it's something you care about, it is worth it to spend the money!

I've been studying pregnancy and childbirth for a while now. I've been a practicing doula for almost 3 years. During this time, I've learned a lot and the way I teach clients has changed a lot. But one thing has definitely stayed consistent. I get more value out of the things I pay for than the things I consume for free. This current training I'm taking (The Body Ready Method) is adding in so many practical ideas that I can bring to you! The initial doula training I paid for set me up for success right away, far more than watching free videos on YouTube ever could. Spending my own money on appointments with a pelvic floor PT taught me much more effectively than Instagram reels why pelvic PT is important.

There is a ton of free content out there. And a lot of it is really good, and can teach you useful things. But when it really matters, vet your options and then pay a trained professional to help you through. I think you'll be glad you did.

1. Keep your body healthy to the best of your ability. Exercise every day. Go for a walk, read up on daily activities f...
11/07/2021

1. Keep your body healthy to the best of your ability. Exercise every day. Go for a walk, read up on daily activities for pregnancy, purchase exercise prep for labor and delivery and follow the recommended exercises, or find another form of movement, but do something. In addition, eat nutritious foods for yourself and your baby. What we put into our bodies becomes the baseline for then health of our bodies. Include animal fats and lots of protein to grow your baby, build your blood volume, and maintain healthy function of the placenta. See a chiropractor and a pelvic floor physical therapist to make sure your pelvis/spine/pelvic floor are strong and aligned to support your baby, and to facilitate an easier delivery when the time comes. If you need recommendations, call or message me!

2. Preparing the mind may be the trickiest part of this. You need to know what your options are, and how to choose what's best for you. Start reading books on childbirth. Listen to positive birth podcasts. Take a birth class. If hypnosis isn't for you, try instead. Don't take to heart someone else's negative birth experience- remember, they are not you, and their baby is not your baby. You are choosing to understand that birth is a normal and healthy process, and women's bodies are perfectly designed for the process.

3. Choosing your birth team means learning who is most capable of supporting the type of birth you want. If you want to give birth without an epidural, you are fully capable of doing that. Ask your care provider what percentage of births they attend are unmedicated mothers. Is the percentage high enough that you trust their ability to help you? If not, find another provider. If you want to labor and/or deliver in the water (for its pain relieving and relaxing properties), ask your care provider what percentage of births they attend are waterbirths or involve labor in the water. Hire a doula. Set yourself up for success ahead of time, so you don't have to fight for what you want when you're in labor.

Lay the groundwork and then surrender. I hope you have an amazing birth experience 💓

If you want to eat, you should eat.
10/30/2021

If you want to eat, you should eat.

10/20/2021

Do you know why eye ointment (Erythromycin) is given at birth?

It is offered because there were babies being born with ophthalmia neonatorum, which is a strain of pink eye caused by ghonnorea and chlamydia.
⁣
Pink eye.... we’re pre-treating every single baby for pink eye.
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If mom doesn't have either of those, the ointment is basically pointless and nonbeneficial with potential of dangerous side effects...
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Most expecting mothers are tested at their first prenatal appointment for either of the aforementioned STDs.
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Did you know they also give it to C-Section babies that NEVER come in contact with their mother’s potential STD?
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🛑 Risks of erythromycin: eye irritation, CLOGGED TEAR DUCTS, prevents oxygen from getting to baby's eyes, JAUNDICE, chemical conjunctivitis (pink eye), blurred vision that may interfere with bonding (super important in the first moments/hours), contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has a 20% failure rate, possibility of allergic reaction.
⁣
🛑 Risks of refusing erythromycin: should mother have an undetected STD then baby has possibility of developing TREATABLE pink eye.
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Giving the ointment routinely contributes to over-prescription of antibiotics. This "just in case" medical routine is a reason why we have so many strains of resistant bacteria.
⁣
Many new moms have been told at the hospital that their child could go blind if they didn’t give their new baby the ointment.



(This was a credit to someone. A doula I believe. I did a pre post and it looks like it didn’t save. If you know where you saw it let me know so I can give credit ❤️) birth and beyond LLC

10/08/2021

This is such a great visual!

You cannot know for sure how your birth will go - that's part of the magic and the mystery of it. You have to come to it...
09/29/2021

You cannot know for sure how your birth will go - that's part of the magic and the mystery of it. You have to come to it from a place of both confidence and surrender. How can you do that?

You can stack the cards in your favor ahead of time, as my current teacher likes to say. Three great ways to do that are:

1. Prepare your body
2. Prepare your mind
3. Choose your care team carefully

When you have done these things, you can relax knowing you've prepared all you can, and the rest is not up to you. You will have given yourself the best chance you can to have a satisfying labor and delivery experience. You will have your cards stacked.

What are my top three tips for getting your pregnancy off to a good start?1. Focus on nutrition. Getting in lots of qual...
08/19/2021

What are my top three tips for getting your pregnancy off to a good start?

1. Focus on nutrition. Getting in lots of quality food helps establish your pregnancy and grow a functional placenta. You need lots of protein, salt and fat, healthy whole foods, and liquid. Eating enough and often enough helps reduce nausea and sickness while also preventing/reducing certain pregnancy risks like gestational diabetes, intra uterine growth restriction, and pre eclampsia.
Recommendations:
- The Brewers Diet (books and online resources available to learn about this)
- Real Food for Pregnancy (by Lily Nichols)

2. Get your body balanced. Find a great chiropractor to help you learn about alignment and how pregnancy changes your body. Work with a pelvic floor physical therapist to release restricions. You need your pelvis and sacrum to be mobile, as well as your uterus and pelvic floor balanced to facilitate an erestrictions. I also suggest finding a craniosacral or myofascial therapist to further benefit you. Keep seeing these practitioners throughout your pregnancy.
Recommendations:
- Dr Jen at Preferred Choice Chiropractic (Dassel and Howard Lake)
- Talia at Phenomenal Rehabilitation (Dassel)
- If you know someone who does great soft tissue work in the area, let me know! I'm still searching:)

3. Rest and move. Set good boundaries so you can get quality sleep. Growing a baby is a big job to add on to your normal daily responsibilities and it's tiring. Make sure you're taking good care of yourself and sleeping when your body is tired, and getting in some exercise to keep your body in motion.

In addition to these things, shop for a care provider. Interview different ones until you find someone you are totally comfortable with. Start watching birth videos and learn what options are available to you. There's a lot to learn and a lot do, but you have 9 months to learn it in. You have plenty of time to set yourself up the best you can for a great experience!

I want to help you find the voice that saysBut what if I can?
07/23/2021

I want to help you find the voice that says
But what if I can?

When you have done your research and you've made a birth plan that reflects your wishes, you are more likely to have a s...
07/07/2021

When you have done your research and you've made a birth plan that reflects your wishes, you are more likely to have a satisfying birth experience. This mom used program to prepare her for her birthing time. In this method, you use key words like "peace" and "special safe place" to keep you in a calm head space. You practice for months, training your brain to remain calm and centered in joy and relaxation. You avoid certain language that isn't conducive to ease, and use "pressure wave" and "birthing time" instead of "contraction" and "labor."

The program also includes comprehensive birth education, hypno tracks for each stage/scenario, and tracks for your birth partner. It teaches you how to create a safe and protected environment for yourself and your baby. I would highly recommend this program as preparation for your birth.

Did you do something special to prepare for your birth? What program would you recommend?

How do we change the birth experience for the better? We trust the process. We get great education on how the physiology...
07/02/2021

How do we change the birth experience for the better? We trust the process. We get great education on how the physiology works, and how to help facilitate that process. We watch the laboring mother to assess where she is at and what's happening with her baby. We change position to create maximum room in the pelvis and birth canal so the baby can navigate its way to the outside. And when the baby is born and assured to be okay, we step back. Hands off. ✋ We give the new family time to meet each other, and transition peacefully.

Now this isn't saying to forgo the medical care. Of course we want moms and their babies to be monitored for health and safety. But when all is found to be well and going smoothly, let's let nature do what it's designed to! The vast majority of moms can have an uncomplicated birth. We just need to give them a chance to do it.

I have a couple of spots open for clients from September through the end of the year. If your baby will be joining you and you're interested in professional labor support and education, let's talk!

Recently, I got to spend a day helping parents as they worked hard to meet their baby, and was greeted with this view at...
06/29/2021

Recently, I got to spend a day helping parents as they worked hard to meet their baby, and was greeted with this view at the end of the day! Life is so good 🥰 There are miracles everywhere.

Happy Father's Day! To those of you who have children here on earth, those whose babies wait for you in Heaven, and thos...
06/20/2021

Happy Father's Day! To those of you who have children here on earth, those whose babies wait for you in Heaven, and those who want to become a father one day - I hope your day is special. Raising up little ones is the sweetest and most important job. I love this pic of a daddy meeting his little one for the first time, it's such an amazing thing to witness 😍

Screen grab from a mini 3 day training I attended recently. It covered identifying a stall in labor, pelvic anatomy, and...
06/20/2021

Screen grab from a mini 3 day training I attended recently. It covered identifying a stall in labor, pelvic anatomy, and creating maximum space for baby's descent.

I am learning all of these things so that you don't have to!

You do not need to be an expert in all things birth. Of course the more you learn, the better prepared you will be. But at the same time, doulas are professionally trained to help you through the process and fill the gaps in your knowledge.

I'm so excited for what's next - a 15 week class that will deep dive into these topics and more! There is always so much more to learn, and the more education I can get, the better I can serve you.

If your baby will be joining you anytime this fall, I have openings for you! Call me to set up your free consult!

Who did you choose to be with you specifically to help facilitate ease during your birth? Did you think about it ahead o...
06/17/2021

Who did you choose to be with you specifically to help facilitate ease during your birth? Did you think about it ahead of time? Looking back, would you prepare differently for the next time?

Sometimes the answer is the baby's father. Or a doula. Or mothers, sisters, and friends. But you should have a capable hand to hold during your birth. A calm and gentle voice encouraging you and a person who is unshakable in your corner.

If you don't want a doula, I hope you are well informed and have solid support you can count on. And if you do want an educated professional who can help ease the transition that brings your baby into your arms, let's talk.

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Cokato, MN

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+16123581556

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