Faithful Hands Birth Services

28/06/2023

A really special birth! Every moment of labor and birth is precious!! Empowering women is my heart for being a doula!!

02/06/2022

Rain this morning brought a 40.3 week sweet baby girl in 30 minutes of us getting to the hospital!
Love early morning births!

17/07/2019

29/06/2019

It’s your choice who you have at your birth! What I tell my clients is keep your options open, because you could change at the last minute what you want.

Giving birth is not a party. It sounds stupid to even say it, but it seems like people have forgotten what birth is really about.

08/05/2019

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had planned to give birth at home. That's not so unusual in Britain.

28/03/2019

Well sweet baby girl arrived today at 11:33am. 22 inches long! Definitely was a venti coffee night!! Back home and preparing for hubby’s family birthday dinner. So grateful for the faithfulness of God always. He is always my strength in these long nights!

24/03/2019

So thankful we learn over the years. All the hospitals I deliver at lately leave the vernix and delay the bath. ❤️

Have you ever wondered what that thick, white layer on a fresh, new baby is.....?

Well, this waxy substance is called Vernix Caseosa - and it is a result of an important secretion - of a special oil - created in baby’s sebaceous glands.

Vernix typically begins to accumulate in the last trimester of pregnancy and is thought to not only protect the baby in utero, but it also serves as a mechanism of defense after baby is born.

In the past, as soon as baby emerged from its protective womb, it was quickly whisked away from its mother - to have that “gunk” wiped off, be given its first bath, have a whole series of tests taken, procedures done, and injections given.

Luckily, research has shown that (beyond leaving the baby alone with its mother) delaying baby’s first bath- and allowing that vernix to reside on the skin - has a number of health benefits!

•It has antimicrobial properties.
Recent studies have shown that vernix contains antimicrobial amino acids that block invasive bacteria present in the amniotic fluid from meconium contamination. After baby is born, these amino acids work to protect against harmful bacteria such as: B. streptococcus, E. coli, Staph aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Listeria monocytogenes, Serratia marcescens, and Klebsiella pneumonia.

•Vernix has wound healing properties.
It has been shown to help with the quick regeneration of skin following a wound. In fact, the use of vernix with skin grafting on burn victims is currently being investigated!

•It moisturizes and hydrates baby’s skin.
The newborn’s integumentary system undergoes immediate changes following birth, including dehydration. Because of its high water content, vernix acts as a natural moisturizer for your baby, protecting its skin from dryness and environmental exposure.

•It can help regulate baby’s body temperature.
There is only very rarely a need for a warmer and lights! Babies almost always do better skin to skin on their mother (even tiny preemies). Studies show that infants who have it washed off have a significantly higher rate of heat loss.

As the movement toward evidence-based practice has become standard, more hospitals are no longer bathing infants.✨

So, when you deliver your baby, don’t be surprised if they arrive with a thick coat of vernix. It is there for a reason! Instead of washing it off, use that time to snuggle up to your baby and enjoy the magic of skin-to-skin..... celebrating this perfection in its entirety.

*And if you are a friend or a family member of someone who chooses not to bathe their baby after birth, make sure you support - and even celebrate them - for working so hard to keep their new baby healthy. ✨💛

To get free diapers and other baby goods visit: http://pennypinchingmomma.com

24/03/2019

These moms never cease to amaze me!! Strength is gained one moment at a time! Wyatt, your momma was so strong and determined!! She rocked your birth naturally on pitocin after being up all night long! Superwoman! 🙌🏽

16/03/2019

What a beautiful gift to this Wonder Woman of a mom! She had TWELVE hours of contractions EVERY TWO minutes without letting up! She believed she could and she did! I’m so proud of her determination and grit when she thought it wouldn’t be possible!!

Congratulations, Hannah Reaves

04/03/2019

"Look at that beautiful umbilical cord!
When a baby is born, anywhere from 25-60% of their blood supply remains in the placenta. Waiting to clamp the umbilical cord, even for just 30-60 seconds after birth, allows the placenta to pulse this extra blood to the baby.
What does this mean for them? What are the benefits? This extra blood contains iron, mostly in the form of red blood cells. This grants babies up to an extra 6 months of precious iron stores and lowers their risk of anemia. Studies have also shown that having anemia early in life has been linked with later cognitive and motor delaya. These delays do not seem to completely reverse with subsequent iron supplementation.
For the maximum benefits, the ACOG recommends waiting the full 3 minutes to clamp/cut the cord!
& don't worry birth partners, you still get your moment to shine!! Just a few minutes down the line 💓
-Kristie Breakiron
"

02/03/2019

Pathways to Family Wellness magazine promotes holistic parenting and informed lifestyle choices from leading experts.