Delaware Doula

Delaware Doula Your guide to a joy-filled birth. As a dedicated labor doula and a childbirth educator, I provide personal and professional care to all of my clients.

I am a certified Lamaze childbirth educator and DONA birth doula with over 20 years of experience. Whether you are seeking to have a natural birth experience, a medically managed birth, home-birth, VBAC, or planned cesarean a professional labor doula can help you to navigate your pregnancy journey in a calm, supportive, and honest manner. I give people the information they need to make their own choices around pregnancy and birth while giving them guidance and a hand to hold along the way.

01/20/2025
12/04/2024

Hello Doulas. I'm looking for a couple of doulas who are actively taking clients and who would be willing to be interviewed for the newspaper. Comment below đź’™ with your phone number of DM it to međź’™

It's okay to sit and treat yourself. ♥️
06/06/2024

It's okay to sit and treat yourself. ♥️

So many new moms ask me about connection and health. This class Child Inspired looks great.
06/03/2024

So many new moms ask me about connection and health. This class Child Inspired looks great.

"About 30-33% of the world’s males 15 years or older are circumcised. Of these circumcised males, about 69% are Muslim, ...
05/14/2024

"About 30-33% of the world’s males 15 years or older are circumcised. Of these circumcised males, about 69% are Muslim, 1% are Jewish, and 30% are circumcised for non-religious reasons. The U.S., where 71% of men are circumcised, is unusual in its preference for non-religious circumcision. However, the rate of newborn circumcision is going down. When last reported in 2010, 58% of male newborns were circumcised before hospital discharge, and 42% were not. The Western states have the lowest rate of circumcision, with a low of 31% in 2003.” By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN of EvidenceBasedBirth.com

👶 Circumcision for Newborns 🤔

Circumcision, the surgical removal of the fo****in, is a topic that often sparks debate and raises important questions for parents. For some, it is a cultural or religious choice. For many years in the US it has been considered a routine newborn procedure for boys. As we navigate the conversation around circumcision for newborns, it's crucial to approach it with empathy, respect differing viewpoints, and prioritize informed decision-making. Here are some things to consider.

Potential Health Benefits: Some studies suggest that circumcision may reduce the risk of certain infections, such as urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Proponents argue that circumcision may make ge***al hygiene easier and reduce the risk of certain conditions.

Pain and Risk of Complications: Circumcision is a surgical procedure that carries risks such as infection, bleeding, and pain. It's important to weigh these risks carefully.

Ethical Considerations: Some argue that circumcision raises ethical concerns, as it involves altering a newborn's body without their consent. 🌟

🌸 Honoring Motherhood: Mother's Day 2024 🌼On this special day dedicated to celebrating mothers and motherhood, we acknow...
05/12/2024

🌸 Honoring Motherhood: Mother's Day 2024 🌼

On this special day dedicated to celebrating mothers and motherhood, we acknowledge the profound joys and blessings that come with the incredible role of being a mother, but also the hard. From unconditional love to endless sacrifices and unwavering support, mothers play an irreplaceable role in shaping our lives and nurturing our hearts.

As we celebrate the joy of motherhood, we also hold space for those who carry the pain of loss. To those who have lost their mothers, who have experienced the heartache of losing pregnancies and children, we offer our deepest empathy and compassion. Mother’s Day can be a difficult day. Your strength and resilience are a testament to the bonds that transcend time and space.

Today, we celebrate all mothers—those who are with us, those who watch over us from above, and those who hold a special place in our hearts. This is my first Mother’s Day without my mom and none of my children at home. I am deep in my feels y'all.

May your hearts be filled with love, joy, and gratitude on this Mother's Day and always.

🌷 "A mother's love is like no other. It is the purest form of affection, the greatest source of strength, and the most enduring bond that connects us all." 🌺Thank you for being the heart and soul of our families. 💖

Studies show that only 10% of women who have a primary cesarean will attempt a VBAC, even though an attempted VBAC typic...
05/04/2024

Studies show that only 10% of women who have a primary cesarean will attempt a VBAC, even though an attempted VBAC typically has a 74% success rate. If you want your best chance at a successful VBAC, these things can help:
-Use the VBAC risk calculator.
-Seek out and attend an ICAN support group.
-Take Lamaze classes.
-Hire private doula support.

Avoiding a cesarean with your first baby heavily impacts any future births you might have. Along with the risks of recov...
05/02/2024

Avoiding a cesarean with your first baby heavily impacts any future births you might have. Along with the risks of recovery from surgery, the primary cesarean increases the chances of future complications such as infertility, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, or placenta accreta.

While the cesarean section is the most common surgery in the US, that doesn’t make it the safest choice. The current US cesarean rate hovers around 32%. The World Health Organization states the cesarean rate should be between 10% and 15%. They even go so far as to say, “Cesarean section rates higher than 10% are not associated with reductions in maternal and newborn mortality rates.”

Some medical information and recommendations are only explained after the cesarean birth has happened; medical recommendations including waiting one to two years before getting pregnant again or delivering future babies by cesarean at 38 weeks. Many families are shocked to learn post-surgery about legislation preventing home births in some states or how many hospitals or OBs limit access to VBACs. Some women experience lifelong scar pain or discomfort. Cesarean birth increases your likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression. Yes, there are many occasions where a cesarean birth is needed, but we shouldn’t treat it like it’s a small decision. Birth matters.

Want to learn more? Check out this great podcast: https://avivaromm.com/dr-neel-shah/

Babies typically get most of the microbes that form their microbiome from their mother during a va**nal birth. These typ...
04/30/2024

Babies typically get most of the microbes that form their microbiome from their mother during a va**nal birth. These types of bacteria help keep babies healthy and fight disease. If your baby is born by cesarean, they don’t receive the va**nal flora during delivery. You may choose va**nal seeding to help your baby get these bacteria and grow their microbiome.

Vaginal seeding refers to the practice of placing a cotton gauze or a cotton swab in the va**na pre-cesarean and then wiping the va**nal fluids on the mouth, nose, or skin of a newborn infant to transfer the va**nal flora. The intended purpose of va**nal seeding is to transfer maternal va**nal bacteria to the newborn.

Microbiome is the name for all the microbes that work together to help keep you healthy and fight disease. Some bacteria and other organisms (microbes) that live in our bodies and skin can help keep us healthy. Vaginal seeding exposes babies born by cesarean section to microbes that live inside their mother’s va**na.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a national group of providers who care for women and babies, doesn’t recommend va**nal seeding because they are unsure of the benefits and risks, but that could change in the future. Researchers are studying the practice in a clinical trial of babies to see if va**nal seeding improves immune development, obesity rates, and microbiome development. Harmful bacteria that can be spread to your baby during a va**nal birth or va**nal seeding, if present, include chlamydia, ge***al herpes, gonorrhea, and group B streptococcus.

sources: CDC, leapfroggroup.org
04/28/2024

sources: CDC, leapfroggroup.org

Have you been afraid to attempt a VBAC because you have been told about the risks of uterine rupture? Uterine rupture af...
04/27/2024

Have you been afraid to attempt a VBAC because you have been told about the risks of uterine rupture? Uterine rupture after a cesarean happens 0.5% of the time (World Health Organization). That is true. Know what else is true? 99.5%of the time, it doesn’t.

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Whether you are seeking a natural birth, pain medication, water birth, home-birth, VBAC, or a planned cesarean, a professional labor attendant can help you navigate the labor process in a nonjudgmental, unattached, honest way. I hope to give moms the power to make their own choices while having a hand to hold along the way.