Hands & Heart Birth Services

12/10/2020

https://www.mamanatural.com/fetal-heart-monitor-10-reasons-to-stay-away/

It is MAGICAL to hear your baby's heartbeat! A home fetal heart monitor lets you listen in whenever you like. But that's a really bad idea. Here’s why...

09/16/2020

Placenta appreciation post! Just because these awesome organs don’t get enough praise. This disposable organ usually gets tossed away without a second thought, (except by those who choose to keep it-encapsulate,consume etc) BUT have you ever stopped to think about this organ and how amazing it is?!? Like, your body literally created this organ from scratch to nurture your baby. The placenta provided nourishment and oxygen to your baby in utero, it was the main thing connecting your baby to you. It’s so important that it has its own stage of labor and it’s the very last stage! Emotions are high and baby is earthside, so the placenta doesn’t get much attention (except from the midwife or Dr inspecting it) It’s the last thing you birth. You birthed a baby, but you also birthed the placenta, the organ that your body put so much effort into making for your little baby, though it knows it’s only a temporary organ. If you have birthed a baby, take a minute to think about the amazing things the placenta did for you and baby. If you are expecting, research the functions of the placenta, (Wharton’s jelly is so cool!) check out some cool pictures and think on how much appreciation this little organ deserves and how little it actually gets. Maybe have your placenta made into a print to hang in your home or look into encapsulation. Thank your baby’s placenta, people. *applause for all the amazing placentas> 👏🏻 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿 📸: Placenta courtesy of a strong a$$ first time mom who rocked her natural birth

08/27/2020

Welcome Baby!

05/08/2020

An episiotomy is a cut made to the va**na during pushing to create more room for the babies head.

It’s important to remember that even though tearing is a common and sometimes normal part of childbirth, tearing is not always serious and does not always require stitches.

With an episiotomy, however, stitches are always required.

An episiotomy cuts through skin, muscle tissue, fascia, nerve endings, and more.

I have heard many mothers and professionals say that an an episiotomy helps reduce the chances of tearing in a mother.

Instead of the goal being no tearing, the goal should be no stitches needed.

A tear does not always require stitches, but an episiotomy does.

If I attempt to tear a piece of paper, it tears more easily if a cut has already been made. The same goes for va**nal tearing and an episiotomy.

One way to avoid tearing is to maintain an upright position during pushing which lets gravity help the baby to come down and out.

You should also avoid forceful pushing during normal labors, and push gently, letting the fetal ejection reflex do most of the work of delivery.

An episiotomy is not a routine or normal part of childbirth.

03/30/2020

03/24/2020

Keep on breastfeeding!

03/22/2020

So, now most hospitals are allowing one support person and many are starting to allow none. If you have any questions or need support via video chat, I’m still here for you! Let’s make this work! Birth is already such a trying process and to be stripped of your wishes and access to support so suddenly, I can’t even imagine. If you need to talk, message me, call me. Whatever. I’m here and have an incredible network of doulas ready to hold virtual space and help you make the best of this difficult time. 💜

03/15/2020

And I’ll be following suit from my sweet friend at heart+bloom!

I’ve been seeing posts all morning about hospitals not allowing doulas and partners to be present for Birth in cities affected by quarantines.

If you are planning for a birth in the next 30 to 60 days, and you are concerned about access to your birthing space or about birthing while quarantined, I will be offering discounted local Doula services, as well as discounted virtual services.

I’m also available for discounted lactation services, both local and virtual.

Services are ONLY being discounted for those in affected areas, by PM only.

 I understand that everyone’s funds are probably really tight right now with the panic of trying to stock up, and I do not want women being unsupported in their birthing time.

We are in this together!! There are ways to socially distance ourselves and still support our communities. Be kind to one another 💖

03/09/2020

Doulas are the thing you never knew you needed! And worth their weight in gold! I have no immediate plans of ttc but you know I have my doula on standby to book at any minute. 😂💜

This was just shared in a group of brithworkers that I am in.

*shared with permission.

Thank you for your support