Posts Tagged ‘doula’
Continuous Labor Support Was Left Behind When Birth Moved Into Hospitals.
The support of a continuous labor support person. As human beings, we fare better, especially in new or stressful situations, when we are surrounded by those we have a trusted and loving relationship with. Historically, labor and birth support persons were friends and family members who had gone through childbirth themselves, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters.…
Read MoreMy baby, my body, my birth preferences!
YOU are the boss of your birth! Not your friend, not your cousin, not your parents, and not even your care provider. Am I arguing that you shouldn’t listen to their input? No. Am I arguing not to listen to your provider, especially in an urgent situation? Absolutely not! What I am saying is you know…
Read MoreBirthing Matters Doula Services is Sponsoring 2017 Somerville IFED!
I am so excited to announce that Birthing Matters Doula Services will be sponsoring the Somerville International Family Equality Day celebration in 2017 (and hopefully many years to come)! “On May 7th, 2017, LGBTQ families and their supporters in Somerville, Massachusetts and around the world will be participating in the 6th annual International Family Equality…
Read MoreWorkshop for Birth Professionals!
Dear fellow birth professionals, I am excited to announce that registration is now open for the Acupressure for Birth Professionals Workshop that I have helped organize at Om Births in Watertown. Ali Vander Baan, L. Ac. of Yintuition Wellness (http://yintuitionwellness.com/ with locations in the Back Bay and South End) will guide attendees in the proper…
Read MoreTeen parenting
I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into when I decided to start offering volunteer services for expectant teens. All I knew was that teens are amongst those who may be lacking support from friends and family, and thus may benefit the most from having a doula. I also knew that I like…
Read MoreBenefits of continuous support in labor
Source: Amorim MMR and Katz L. Continuous support for women during childbirth: RHL commentary (last revised: 1 May 2012). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization. Compared with usual care, the provision of continuous support to women during labour increases the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, reduces the duration of labour and use of…
Read MoreDoulas may be valuable member of any birth team
Much of the work of being a doula involves leaving our assumptions at the door. We find ourselves constantly humbled by the varieties of birth outcomes and the routes that lead there. Good doula work does not allow for an agenda- not a physical one, not an emotional one, and surely not one that is…
Read MoreNew research shows doulas reduce cesarean rate by 60-80%- benefit mostly occurring in wealthy, white demographic.
The American Journal of Managed Care recently released a study that shows hiring a doula can decrease the likelihood of giving birth by cesarean by up to 60-80%! That is truly an incredible effect! However promising this statistic, 40% of the participants were not even aware of doulas. The report also states Black and publicly…
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