Bird & Bee Birth Services

03/31/2020

Good Morning! In light of Covid19 I just want to update everybody on online offerings I’m providing via Zoom, Doxy.me, and FaceTime.
California Only:
-Online psychotherapy for anyone in the state of California, including those temporarily residing in the state and in need of mental health services.
-Online psychological evaluations for certain immigration cases: extreme hardship, asylum, domestic violence, and VAWA. State of California only. Expedited service available.
National Services I’m offering on virtual platforms:
-Childbirth education classes
-Cloth diapering education classes
-Holistic Newborn Care classes
-Pre-birth counseling and fear release
-Postpartum prep classes
-Birth processing workshop
-Virtual Birth Concierge Services in lieu of Birth Doula Services
I’m also free to answer questions about birthing in this hectic time and discuss alternative options for those considering in home prenatal care and switching to an out of hospital birth due to Covid19.
Feel free to share this with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues as I know this is an intense time for many pregnant people and their families, and those in need of mental health services. I can be contacted through either of my websites or at therapy@jessica.lu
jessicalulcsw.com
Birdandbeedoula.com
Be well, everyone!

08/12/2019

The company that revolutionized the ickier moments of childcare now services an equally important sector: the millions of women going through childbirth.

08/01/2019

Rebecca Dekker PhD, RN Evidence and Ethics on: Circumcision Written by Rebecca Dekker PhD, RN and Anna Bertone, MPH on July 19, 2019. © Evidence Based Birth®, All Rights Reserved. Please read our Disclaimer and Terms of Use. For a printer-friendly PDF, become a Professional Member to access our co...

07/08/2019

After giving birth, I felt confused, abandoned, and scared.This is a call to action for increased postpartum care.

05/30/2019

😱 An amazing story. I’m so happy this mama wasn’t forced to stay pregnant. She and her baby would never have survived. They would have been added to our devastating list of infant and maternal demise cases. (We have the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the developed world) But, look at the amazingness that can happen when women and their doctors are allowed to make their own medical decisions. Two lives saved. A beautiful story. Congratulations to this family and this amazing medical team!

At 8.6 ounces, or 245 grams, the newborn known as Saybie weighed 7 grams less than the world's previous smallest surviving baby.

11/18/2018

🤢Nausea in pregnancy fave tricks🤢
Some recent research showed some not exactly surprising news - sniffing an alcohol swab is actually more effective for acute nausea than IV Zofran (big gun nausea medicine). This has always been a favorite trick of mine - right in that moment when you see their face blanch white, hand them an open alcohol swab & watch them calm right down.
The absolute most important thing is to keep something in your stomach at all times. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to put something in your mouth at least every 2 hours. It doesn’t have to be a lot and it doesn’t have to be the most healthy (you have 9 more months to eat kale - if the only think you can stomach is potato chips & soda, eat potato chips & soda).
Peppermint essential oil also works great for sniffing - if you’re vomiting into the toilet, shake a few drops into the toilet bowl so you have something better to smell. Carry it around in your bag for stuffy subway cars or swervy cab rides.
Vit B6 & doxylamine before bed will make you sleepy, but it will also prevent nausea the next day. You can get this prescribed as diclegis or take the ingredients separately as bought over the counter.
Ginger, of course, as tea, candy, cookie, powdered in a capsule, or even just munching right on the root, is excellent.
Some herbs work by stimulating appetite and some by stimulating digestion, keeping things moving in a downward (rather than upward) direction, such as milk thistle tea and anise & fennel tea.
Acupuncture, of course, is magical for nausea.
What are your favorite tricks???

11/12/2018

🚫STOP! DON’T WASH THAT BABY🚫

Ever wondered what that white cheesy substance is on your fresh baby? It’s called Vernix! It starts to form on your baby’s skin around 20 weeks. What’s exactly in vernix?🤔 Scientists have identified lipids, amino acids, proteins, antibacterial, and antimicrobial compounds such as:

wax and sterol esters
ceramides
squalene
cholesterol
triglycerides
phospholipids
and amino acids, asparagine and glutamine

61% of these proteins can only be found in vernix 🤗

What are the uses of Vernix? 📚
📌it acts as antibacterial agent to protect baby inside and outside the womb
📌protective covering while going through the birth canal
📌allows baby to pick up good back bacteria and leave behind overgrowth of bad bacteria
📌protects baby from meconium exposure(baby’s first p**p)
📌it acts as insulation by maintaining your baby’s body temperature. Infants who are immediately washed have a significantly higher rate of heat loss
📌acts as a lubricant and decreases friction during birth and reducing infant trauma
📌it smells like mama and helps keep baby calm after birth
📌your baby swallows Vernix in the womb. The same proteins found in vernix are the same as those in breastmilk. This helps baby’s digestive tract to be ready to breastfeed.
📌keeps baby’s skin soft and subtle

Why do nurses rub it off? 🤔
Many policies in the hospital system are outdated but still practiced. We were taught that Vernix was a risk of germs. You can ask staff to please reduce rubbing of baby to preserve Vernix on baby’s skin! When baby has his first skin to skin contact with you, this is the perfect time to rub it in, not rub it off.

MAJORITY OF VERNIX IS ABSORBED 24 HOURS AFTER BIRTH BUT ISNT FULLY ABSORBED TILL 5-6 DAYS AFTER BIRTH! LETS GIVE OUR BABIES TIME ABSORB THIS DELICIOUS CREAM THAT SCIENTISTS ARE SO DESPERATELY TRYING TO DUPLICATE BUT CANNOT!



Photocred: Birth Becomes Her

10/04/2018

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Why a growing number of U.S. mothers are turning to midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and delivery

09/17/2018

Shout it from the roof tops!

“I didn’t know I was allowed to say no.”

09/13/2018

Dr. Michelle Minikel thought home birth was crazy, until she got pregnant. Turns out she's not alone. Through intimate footage, experience the challenges and...