Doula Bri, Maine Birth Services

05/01/2018

When I was pregnant with my first baby 8 years ago, my doula was a personal friend, someone whose children I frequently babysat, and a great source of information throughout my pregnancy. I remember the moment I told her I was having a boy. I had gone in for an ultrasound to determine the s*x of my....

03/20/2018

Are you interested in becoming a doula?

What other new doula topics do you want to hear more about? Thanks for watching! You're the actual best. IG:

11/23/2017

Wow!

11/21/2017

A very clear and well written explanation about pain felt during infant circumcision by an association of doctors. Must read!

08/03/2017

Yesterday, I was wow'd by this mama as she, with an unequivocal amount of strength, gave birth to her second daughter! Congratulations, Mary, Spencer, Harper and baby Avery! Thank you for letting me be apart of your experience.

07/06/2017

Oh my gosh.

This. Is. The. Best! 😝
・・・
This big brother (and Babymoon baby) hopped in the tub to help his mom labor through some intense contractions. His face... 😍😍

04/21/2017

Wow!

From Atlanta Birth Center. A VBA2C with TRIPLETS?!!! An honest and amazing story!

"I forced the fear from my thoughts and allowed my husband’s and mom’s excitement and confidence to flow into the spaces in my heart that fear once occupied. Monitors were repositioned; all babies were on and heart rates were wonderful.

“OH MY GOD BABE, YOU’RE DOING IT! HE’S RIGHT THERE!!!” out popped Joshua with the 2nd. The sensation was strange; I felt a plop-plop-plop feeling and then he was out! Doc T held him all slimy and gooey up to my face and I gave him huge kiss and head hug and off he went to the neonatal team – I had a lot more work ahead of me!!!

As more contractions came, more yelling to “PUSH” came, and more cheering from my mom and Josh spurred me on. James was here, 8 minutes after Joshua! Another gooey kiss and onto the work ahead. Either Doc T or the resident was feeling around inside my uterus for John William’s feet. They could not be reached. Then I heard the neonatal teams calling out weights – 5lbs 11oz for Joshua! Hell yeah! Big ol’ triplet! Then James’ weight was called – 6lbs 9oz! Are you serious right now?!! AMAZING!!!

Then it’s time to push John William out; Doc T used the vacuum to extract by the head since the feet could not be reached. After a few pushes I began to feel lightheaded and asked for a pushing break. I rested through the next contraction and then it was time to push again. Finally, I felt the final plop-plop-plop sensation – 5 minutes after James was born, John was out! I had done it! They were all out and my abdomen was still intact! John William was 5lbs 12oz!"

Full story: {http://www.atlantabirthcenter.org/2012/04/my-birth-story-michelles-triplet-vba2c/}

02/18/2017

I've been quiet since starting nursing school this past fall, and I apologize. I've been working hard to spread the good news: baby boys are born perfect too! If you have any questions about boys, fo****in and human rights, feel free to reach out to me!

08/25/2016

What do you think? First I was like 😮 and then I was like 😊

A unique way to educate on birth and breastfeeding!

"Are You Kidding?" Plush, nursing Momma Goat with 2 Kids INSIDE playset and Hardcover Children's Book share life on the farm and normalize birth and nursing. These toys and books from Gardenagerie, an indie toy-maker in Northern Minnesota, are innovative, adorable and educational. Did you know that "kidding" is what you call it when a goat has babies? This sweet, easy-reader storybook and cuddly-soft playset gently introduces the wonder of birth by telling the story of Margo the goat and of the excitement on the farm when her animal friends learn she is kidding. The plush momma goat has a pouch inside with a velcro closure where the babies come out. The kids have snaps on their mouths to latch onto the momma goat for nursing. Kids can play along with the story and help Margo kidding and nursing her kids. "Are You Kidding?" Book and Playset is available online at www.gardenagerie.com for $35.00 plus $5.00 shipping.

08/19/2016

Yes! I don't replace dad, but I do support him in supporting you!

Sometimes when meeting with families, they express a concern about having a Doula "replaces" the Dad. They are worried that the Dad will not be involved and that the Doula will "take over."

Honestly this could not be farther from the truth. Doulas and Dads work as a team. Dad is an expert on the Mom to be, and a Doula is knowledgeable in all things pregnancy, birth and beyond. Together they support mom as best as they possibly can.

As a Doula I am here to ensure that the entire family is taken care of, and many times this may involve helping dad find ways that HE can best support mom, after all this is their birth.

This was a beautiful moment that I was able to capture at Crystal Majury and Rob Majury birth of little Rudy. You can see so clearly how much mom is leaning on dad and how much he is holding and supporting her.

They are a team, and I am there to help support them both.

08/15/2016

100%

Two years ago, this very day on the way to my 40 week check up...my water broke ALL OVER THE CAR SEAT. I had been have hard contractions, but ignored them as I had so many braxton hicks. And with that we turned around and went home.

"My body shook. My nerves. As the contractions came and went, and the fluid continued to gush, my body physically was showing signs of working … and at moments I was still in disbelief. This experience seemed so foreign to me. So new. So different. Again, I felt outside of myself, trying to comprehend this was the moment I had worked for and trained for in all aspects. The dreaming, wishing, visualizing was bearing fruit. It was my present. It was my now," (excerpt from the book).

I was afraid. The day had to come. I would finally meet my baby. And have that opportunity to birth the way I wanted to. Could I do it? I cried. I cried a lot.

Maybe you felt the same. Maybe you feel the same. Can you really do it. After researching, planning, and preparing when the time comes do you have what it takes?

I am willing to say you do. You may have never been given the opportunity before to really show it. But when the times arrives and you are in labor, truly in labor, you will find a strength inside of yourself that's always been there. You have always had it, you might just not have had the chance to use it. But you will. And VBAC or not, at the end of the day whether you felt it or not. You were strong. You gave your all. You did it all for you and your baby. You put your body into it. You put your heart into it. And you, dear reader are really, quite strong.❤️

08/08/2016

You're doing it right.

That's what we're talking about. The life. 💫 ENJOY IT. Don't feel guilty. Add snacks and naps too. Your body needs rest and your baby needs you. ❤️ image via sabrina.winn