Heber Valley Doula, Birth Doula

01/30/2018

Love this visual!

Cervical dilation. It’s often believed that that once you’ve reached full dilation, your caregiver will instruct you to start pushing with all your might. But it's actually best to avoid "coached pushing" by anyone attending your birth. During the final stages of (unmedicated) labor a birthing woman will experience the Fetel Ejection Reflex. By working with your body and only pushing when YOU feel the urge, you’re able to better utilize your energy and work with your breath. Your tissues can stretch more slowly and you drastically reduce the risk of tearing. Birth is very intricate series of events with each one triggering the next. Imagine if someone started screaming at you to “PUSH-PUUUSH” as soon as you sat on the toilet for a bowel movement. It wouldn’t be helpful... because sometimes you just need a moment to get things moving, right? So even if your cervix has reached 10cms, it’s not uncommon to need a moment of rest before you “get the urge”. Only your body possesses the intrinsic wisdom of knowing when everything within you is perfectly aligned to finally push your baby into the world.
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11/03/2017

What a great visual on what the cervix is doing during labor. Love this! Thank you, Angela May Beesley!

09/15/2017

Did you know I work as a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and a sibling doula? Oh, and I am applying for nursing school for next semester! Doula today, Certified Nurse Midwife . . . in seven years.

On a side note, and maybe I asked this before:
Have you or would you consider taking castor oil to induce labor? I want to hear your story.

P.S. I took it once, against the advice of my midwife. She thought it would just make me super uncomfortable, and she was right. I was super uncomfortable, but I also had a baby that night! Now tell me your story please.

03/06/2017

Postpartum depression is real and can be manageable with the right tools. Here is a self assessment to help you decide if a visit to the doctor for some extra help is best for you.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.angelfire.com/moon2/jkluchar1995/Docs/Self_Assmt_After_Difficult_Birth.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwiG7ML_jMLSAhVW4GMKHSsOBsYQFggfMAA&usg=AFQjCNH4MkfOhXyc8C-W8cWsAkPIptQ8aw&sig2=eid3iPL2tojkyaqtuuzt7w

11/06/2016

Breastfeeding can be wonderfully rewarding, but it can also be super tough to figure out sometimes. Here is a great resource when dealing with flat or inverted ni***es.

http://breastfeeding.support/breastfeeding-inverted-ni***es-flat-ni***es/

Breastfeeding with inverted ni***es or flat ni***es can pose several challenges to the breastfed infant. A discussion of ways to help your baby breastfeed.

11/06/2016

Many, many, many people will give you advice during your pregnancy. My advice is, "Do your research and then go with your gut." Nobody else knows what is best for you and your baby. Here is some information to consider when your baby is in a breech position in utero.

http://www.betterbirthblog.org/breech/breech

Get all the questions about your breech baby answered. Learn ways to turn your baby to head-down position and find research about vaginal breech birth.