Poiema Doula Services

06/17/2023

03/14/2023

Good news! ✨ If you've had two Cesareans, you can still be a great candidate for a VBAC! A lot of people think it's riskier to have a VBA2C, but here are some interesting facts you can consider while weighing your options.

See link for more details: thevbaclink.com/vba2c/

02/15/2023

Delayed cord clamping!

01/06/2023

12/21/2022

I often think about the births of Eve and Mary. What were they like? Were they assisted? I love this picture, and I hope you enjoy it too!

12/21/2022

“Midwife Delivery Death Trial” judge comments: Home birth is a constitutional right by Jen KamelDec 16, 2022Home birth, Hospital birth, Infant Outcomes, Legal Issues, Legislation, Maternal Outcomes, VBAC3 comments Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like Correction December 18, 2022 9:05am PST: I initiall...

12/21/2022

It's that time of year again - when holiday schedules lead to greater numbers of coerced inductions and preventable cesareans. Out of hospital births occur fairly evenly spaced throughout the day and night. In the hospital, the greatest number of cesareans happen at 8am, and the overnight shift sees the lowest number of births in general.



"For example, the hour with the most births per week, 8 to 9 A.M. on Mondays, is mostly driven by C-sections. C-sections are up by 3.7 times average whereas natural births are just above average and inductions actually slightly less common than average during that hour. In total, births are up by 1.9 times compared with average.

In the early afternoons, from 2 to 3 P.M. on weekdays, the overall rate is up to 1.4 times the average rate. During this hour all types of deliveries are elevated: C-sections are 1.4 times the average; induction is twice average; and birth without intervention is 1.2 times the average. All three delivery methods are also less common at night than during the day, although the difference is biggest for inductions and C-sections." https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198183

12/21/2022

Of course we offer patient education when we think it's helpful, but what about the education that might cause problems for us later?

In a unit culture where supine, even lithotomy position is expected in the second stage, nurses are going to be less likely to offer an alternative.

😬 Even though ANY other position while pushing is evidence based best practice.
😬 Even though there are more risks for harm in lithotomy.
😬 Even though your patient has NEVER asked to be in lithotomy as a comfortable or productive labor position while you've known them.

This care practice is indicative of a unit culture that prioritizes provider preference over best practices and person-centered care.

When we can identify a problematic unit culture, we can take the first steps toward shifting those power dynamics and centering our patients in every way.

What do you think about teaching pushing positions prior to the second stage?

12/08/2022

thank you for this!

12/06/2022

Welcome, sweet baby boy! I am so blessed to have supported your family last week. 🥰

*picture posted with permission*

12/05/2022

✨ If you’ve done any research at all about childbirth, you’ve probably heard about skin-to-skin. But why is skin-to-skin contact so important? And why do we stress “immediate and uninterrupted”? Here is the magic of skin-to-skin:
• keeps baby’s body temperature warm
• regulates baby’s heart rate
• regulates baby’s breathing
• exposes baby to the amazing microbiome of their parent
• encourages feeding at the breast
• lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels in parent and baby
• raises oxytocin (bonding hormone) levels in parent and baby, which subsequently leads to milk ejection and the clamping down of the uterus to prevent excessive bleeding
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These are amazing and protective biological processes that often get interrupted in the hospital setting. Here are a few ways to ensure this essential bonding time is honored in any setting:
1.) Lower the gown, bra, or anything covering the chest/belly as baby is being born.
2.) Have baby placed immediately tummy-to-tummy, and covered with a warm, dry towel.
3.) Talk to your baby, and rub their back to encourage them to cry and clear their lungs without suctioning.
4.) Ask the staff to perform any *necessary* interventions on your chest and to save any other procedures for a later time.
5.) Bonus points for allowing the placenta to stay attached and the cord not clamped as the placenta finishes pumping all the blood to the baby.
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Did we miss anything? What other skin-to-skin benefits do you love?!
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12/05/2022

12/05/2022

Just a few reasons to consider a birth doula. Learn how to work with you body and baby during this time can lead to shorter labor and less needs for intervention. Your body is made to birth, medical intervention is often unnecessary and can lengthen labor time. Get yourself a doula to educate, coach, and support you and your partner through this amazing journey.

12/01/2022

11/30/2022

If there's an intervention, there is a choice.

11/28/2022

11/28/2022

Happy Halloween! 🎃 What else should be included? 🤰🏽