Kari Elaine Birth Services

10/25/2022

Its with a heavy heart that I must finally give into the lord’s will and I will be stepping down as a doula. As many of you know I am a venue/event manager Star Ranch - Stars on the Concho and we have been so busy this year! Between our business and taking care of my family I can’t in good conscience take on any doula clients until further notice. I will still be available for education classes, postpartum support, and lactation consulting! Blessings to all! 💕

06/24/2020

Please consider all your options and just know if at all possible out of hospital birth is an option. Just contact me! I can give you any information you need and contacts to help in this crazy time we are living!!

We have just heard of another hospital violating rights of birthing families by taking babies away after a positive COVID test, and not returning them until the family receives a negative test result. PLEASE consider putting an attorney on retainer for your birth. Policies are NOT laws.

You can find a sample form for refusal to separate birthing parent and infant, here: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19/

Birth Rights Bar Association

06/23/2020

You do have options in the hospital and you shouldn’t be told otherwise!

Ever thought about how giving birth lying down is kinda...counterproductive? The birth canal curves upwards when you lie down, so you're going against gravity. Birthing on your back can make labor last longer because the body has to work much harder to eject the baby. It constricts blood vessels, meaning baby and mother won't receive the optimum levels of blood & oxygen. It also makes you more prone to tearing, and is typically more painful than birthing in an intuitive position. Your pelvis isn’t given the opportunity to open to its fullest capacity, and makes it harder for babies in non-optimal birthing positions to rotate or switch to better positions - which can lead to a need for medical intervention.
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There are a number of positions to give birth in that are better for both mommy and baby. Unfortunately, hospitals sometimes have a habit of telling birthers that they “can’t” deliver a baby in any position besides on their backs. DON’T LISTEN. Request the squat bar. Adjust the bed to your liking. Switch to a side-lying position. Do what feels COMFORTABLE and - most importantly - follow your body’s lead.
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06/22/2020

You can absolutely say no!

During my first pregnancy, I went along with most tests and procedures that were suggested. But now, with this second little peanut, I have learned so much about health and nutrition I am doing a bit more research! I am going back to my medical schooling where I learned about a patients right to refuse. It’s so important to do your research ladies! Don’t just go about refusing things just because you feel like it. You need to understand WHY these interventions are suggested and WHY you're choosing to refuse them.

As I got closer to my glucose test about a month ago, I did some research and decided to talk to my doctor (who is wonderful by the way!) about refusing the glucose drink which checks for gestational diabetes. Of course, it is very important to test for gestational diabetes (reason for the test) but I knew, from my research, that there were other options better for me and my health.

Really though, WHY did I want to opt out of drinking this drink? Not only does the drink contain GMO’s, dyes, and other chemical additives, I try staying away from sugar all together. It causes inflammation which causes my lupus to act up! Something I DO NOT want to happen. Especially during pregnancy!

So I simply asked my doctor what else I could do and he suggested I check my own sugars twice daily for 2 weeks. And that is what I did! He prescribed me a glucometer (little machine that you can check your blood sugar levels with). I picked it up at my pharmacy and only had to pay about $30 out of pocket. I wrote my results down and presented them to my doc. Easy peasy!

Other suggestions are foods that could be consumed that contain the same amount of sugar (50 grams) as the glucose drink. For instance, 1/4 cup of PURE maple syrup is actually about 50g of sugar. That was going to be my other suggestion if he wasn’t game for the glucometer testing.

I am so grateful for my medical background as an RN in this journey with lupus and of course medical interventions when needed and the medical community.

But...I do know that we can refuse treatments we don’t feel are necessary or ones that could cause more harm than good. Just like in my case with the lovely glucose test.


Glucose photo credit: Food Babe

05/10/2020

To all the mama’s with their loves here or in heaven, today is your day. You are a mom and you are amazing!

05/08/2020

What can can your birth support say to you in labor? Here are just a few examples! Which of these do you feel the most? I have partners tell these to the mama to be and hi-light or circle the ones with the most meaning to her!

05/05/2020

I’m excited to announce I will be rebranding in the next day or two! I will also be offering more services including educational classes!

04/01/2020

This morning I helped welcome a beautiful baby girl into the world!
She’s looking at her midwife Kelly Miller with so much love!
Congratulations Amber Flores you are a rockstar!

**shared with permission**

03/22/2020

Understanding that hospitals are ground zero for this virus, home birth (or birth centers) have started to look more appealing to couples. If you are low risk, I absolutely encourage you to explore these options. They are also the only ones who currently allow doula support. We are not allowed in hospitals at the moment.

As pregnant women across the country wrestle with anxieties about hospital deliveries during the pandemic, midwifery practices are reporting a significant uptick in requests for help with home births.

02/21/2020

I just wanted to take a minute to share my birth story from my first little one! This amazing experience is what led me on my path of birth work! 💕

FacebookTwitterGoogle+Pinterest Kari gave birth to a beautiful baby boy at home a few days after her own birthday! She took a Birth Boot Camp class with Regina Woodley and said, “I loved knowing that I had options! I thought I had to have a hospital birth and I got to have an AMAZING home birth!.....

01/23/2020

Perspective: A Wedding Planner helps organize, prepare, support, and manage the Special Day. A Birth Doula helps organize prepare, support, and manage the SPECIAL DAY! Why be willing to pay one an average of $4000, but say a Birth Doula is too expensive when they're an 8th of the cost!? The birth of a child and a mother is a special day, that deserves the care, support, planning, and education of a Birth Doula ❤️

09/16/2019

Contact me for your free consultation!

07/20/2019

Happily honoring the families of those who serve.

07/07/2019

Perfectly accurate!

A doula does not replace a dad...
Here are a few things that doulas do to support fathers during birth:.

1. Show them simple positions or techniques to help the birthing person (massage, pressure points, etc.).

2. Make sure the dad has what he needs to keep his energy up, snacks, water, (make sure he is breathing too! And not scared or freaked out).

3. Allow dad to do what the doula cannot, encourage him to create the loving / safe energy that helps moms feel loved and in turn boosts 💫OXYTOCIN 💫...
Doulas + Dads = potential for a great birth team...

06/23/2019

Adding a doula to your check list is a must! Let me tell you why!
Photography by Flashpool Productions

06/16/2019

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there! There wouldn’t be doulas without dads!