Victory Birth Doula Services

06/01/2023

“Normalize letting them grow until they're done.

Let the Creator finish His knitting.

Silence the outsider who guesses their weight and deems your body incapable of birthing it.

Ignore the arbitrary date calculated as one size fits all for the woman who has 28 day cycles and ovulates on day 14.

Keep them in even if you're tired and done and over it.

Fight for their health and safety at 41 weeks like you would at 8 weeks.

Let them operate on their clock, for babies know nothing of holidays and doctors leaving town.

Cherish your full belly, as heavy and uncomfortable and cumbersome as it may be.

Be in awe of the dance between your baby, your body, and their Author.

Rest assured there is a reason they haven't arrived yet.

And enjoy the last tired moments before your heart grows to love another again.”
_____________________________
Writer unknown

04/18/2023

I think a baby being born is as close to a miracle as I have ever seen.

08/24/2022

Keep burning those calories ladies!

Milk production requires a lot of energy. Your body burns calories to produce breastmilk. But can you lose weight while breastfeeding?

08/09/2022

Coconut oil as lubricant really helps.
Spoken as an exclusively pumping mom.

Want be mind blown? ⬇️
The fl**ge sizes that come with most pumps (24mm and 28mm) are NOT the average size most women need. Those are really big sizes. It’s possible, but not likely!

Fl**ge size is soOoOoO important.
Getting sized for your correct fl**ge size should be #1 on your list before you start pumping. The wrong size can cause pain, damage, and decreased output.

Sizing for fl**ges today is a little different than the past. We have learned that we WANT our ni***es to rub against the tunnel of the fl**ge. We want it to be snug. Why?... HORMONES. Think about when you nurse a baby directly on the breast. Your ni**le rubs against their oral pallet and tongue causing those milk making hormones to release and milk to flow.

In the past, it was said you wanted space between your ni**le and the fl**ge. That was proven to be false. Breastfeeding studies and research are helping us understand more and provide better help to mamas. The more we know, the better!

Babies in Common has this guide to help you visualize what a proper fl**ge fit should look like.

I offer pumping sessions which include fl**ge sizing.
https://www.mamasmilk.net/services

07/18/2022

Know the signs. Watch out for your new mom friends.

New moms often want to know if what they’re experiencing in the postpartum period is in the range of “normal.” Here is a chart to help distinguish what is less likely a cause for concern, and when you should seek outside support. Reach out if you need help! www.guidedhopecounseling.com
(Original post source: Ramonita O'Maille https://www.facebook.com/arenewedmomma)

06/14/2022

Sorry it's been quiet over here. I'm in training for how to assist overdue moms... 40 weeks 4 days and counting. Hurry up baby girl!

01/26/2022

Does this describe your birth?
Having a doula at your birth can provide this comfort.

01/10/2022

I love feeling the baby move.

What is or was your most favorite thing about pregnancy?

01/09/2022

At birth, ⅓ (or more) of your baby’s blood is still in the placenta.

That means if you immediately cut the cord, your baby is missing A LOT of blood.

If you were missing ⅓ (33%) of your blood, your heart and respiratory rates would increase, your blood pressure would drop, and you would become anxious and confused. If you lost 40% of your blood, all those symptoms would be worse and you would become lethargic.

If you lost more than 40% you would die.

So how long should you wait after birth to clamp the cord?

Ideally you would “wait for white”. This means the cord isn’t clamped until it has stopped pulsing and turned white because all of the blood is now inside the baby. This is usually over 5 minutes (I’ve waited until the birth of the placenta with my two homebirths [about an hour]).

But delaying cord clamping for even 60 seconds has been shown to have benefits including:

🔆 Increased hemoglobin
🔆 Increased iron
🔆 Increased blood pressure (early clamping means BP can be too low)
🔆 Increased urinary output
🔆 Increased body temperature (early clamping babies are colder)

If baby is having a slower transition to breathing outside the womb upon their birth, keeping them attached to the cord will also continue to provide them with oxygen until they begin breathing on their own.

01/04/2022

Cravings!

What are you craving during pregnancy?
This time around I have wanted lots of salt and protein.
With my boys I had heartburn so I ate lots of vanilla cones from QT.

01/04/2022

Hey Expectant Mama!
Did you know that baby can get cold even though you are toasty warm?
Baby may be keeping you hot in the winter but a belly with only one layer can allow baby to get cold. Take that discarded scarf and wrap it around your tummy to keep baby happy.

12/29/2021

Lots of babies coming in the new year! I’m ready to help!

12/22/2021

Tips and tricks for labor

12/02/2021

We have drifted so far from giving birth the way God designed. I don’t rule out that some moms have medical reasons for needing assistance, but most women do not need extra interventions.

It’s true.

Every once in a while I like to re-share this post to make sure you’ve all seen it.

Lying on your back to give birth closes down your pelvis and almost always increases pain. So why is this the most commonly used position for birth in the world today?

Because of King Louis XIV & Dr. Françios Mauriceau.

At a time when only women attended births, it's reported that King Louis XIV insisted on watching his offspring be born. He didn't like the obstructed view caused by a birthing stool (most common position at the time), so he insisted his wife or mistress give birth on her back with her legs in stirrups.

Once word got out that this is how royalty gave birth, the new position began to gain popularity.

At the same time, French doctor Mauriceau, who treated pregnancy as a pathology (which continues today) thought women would breathe more easily and have reduced pain when lying in bed for birth. His view of pregnancy as a disease had a hand in the change from midwife-attended birth to the primarily surgeon-attended birth that we see today.

Though this position is usually the worst option for the woman giving birth, it is still the easiest & most comfortable for those attending the birth. The doctor/midwife/nurse can simply sit on a stool and have a perfect visual, which is a good part of why it is still used today.

Many women are told this is the only position "allowed", when in fact positions that allow gravity to assist (standing, hands-and-knees, squatting) are usually better choices, and are always options. Even if you have an epidural you can still get into some of these positions with assistance.

Were you told you had to give birth on your back?

11/25/2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/06/2021

What is your ideal birth atmosphere like?

11/02/2021

Aren’t babies so cute?!

10/08/2021

PSA: Your HSA may pay for your doula!!