Mother the Mother: Pregnancy, birth, and baby support

Mother the Mother: Pregnancy, birth, and baby support

Discover how a doula can help you experience a positive birth  

IOWA CITY, Iowa – May 15, 2013– May is the time to celebrate Mother’s as well as the professionals who provide support during a woman’s pregnancy and birth journey, the doulas. To celebrate the International Month of the Doula, the Iowa City Doulas are hosting a Meet the Doulas event 7PM, Wednesday, May 15^th,  at Panera Bread in the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City. The public is invited to learn about what a doula can do and to connect with each doula, speed dating style.

 

Birth doulas help families prepare for their birth with information and prenatal meetings. During the birthing time, the doula accompanies the laboring woman and her birth partner. The doula provides emotional support, information and physical comfort. They facilitate communication with caregivers to help clients feel fully informed, and provide reassurance. The doula helps with labor coping skills, positioning and support techniques. Postpartum doulas help new mothers in the early weeks with their new baby. Parents find the additional help with breastfeeding, education related to newborn care, errand running, nighttime support and assistance with each families particular needs as invaluable.

 

The word doula comes from the Greek word meaning ‘a woman who serves.’ Studies have shown that a doula’s presence at births results in shorter labors with fewer complications, fewer requests for pain medications and/or epidurals, a reduction in the labor-enhancing drug, pitocin, and a reduction in assisted deliveries with forceps, vacuum extraction and cesareans. In addition, women who have worked with doulas are more satisfied with their birth experience, feel more confident in their ability to mother, bond faster with their newborn, are less likely to have Postpartum Depression, and are more likely to breastfeed. Postpartum doulas reduce the stress involved in being a new mom. ~ Klaus, Kennel, and Klaus 2001

Summed up, Doulas like to say that they "mother the mother."

Meet the Doulas May 15th, 2013

The weather is getting nicer and thoughts of Spring are in our minds: new beginnings, growth, and babies!  If you are expecting a baby or planning for a pregnancy, you are invited to our quarterly Meet the Doulas event May 15th, at Panera in Sycamore Mall from 7-9 pm.  Come and mingle with other expectant families and meet the Iowa City Doulas in a speed-dating style mini-interview.  Bring your questions, and use us as a resource: we are always happy to answer any questions or offer referrals. We hope to see you there!

A Healthy Baby Isn't All That Matters

We hear all the time, “a healthy baby is all that matters.”  That’s simply not true—especially when, all too often, “healthy” simply means “surviving birth,” for both moms and babies. That’s not nearly good enough. The truth is that in this day and age and place, a higher standard can and should exist: a healthy baby, a healthy mom, and a positive, respectful, family-centered birth experience for everyone. Why is that so important?  Because what we forget sometimes in merely “surviving” birth is that, for moms, giving birth isn’t just a day out of your life.  For most of us, birth is not just about having a fetus extracted from our uteruses in the most efficient way possible.

Birth is a life-defining experience that sticks with you.  Ask most moms about their birth stories, and you can see and hear the emotions rush back as they share.  These are stories—good or bad—that we vividly relive over and over, whether we want to or not.  And let’s not forget that our experiences can have major, lasting, and permanent health consequences. Our birth stories affect the postpartum period (baby blues, anyone?), our relationships with our babies and families, and our attitudes about ourselves and future births.

For babies, it’s their first introduction to the world and to their primary caregivers.  We’re communicating to our babies from Day One what the world is, how threatening or safe it is, and how we relate to it.  How much better can that care be when we are launched into parenthood strengthened in birth, confident, and supported? In the real world, of course, birth doesn’t follow a textbook pattern; there are complications and changes of plans and undesirable outcomes.  But even when these things happen, a woman can still be respected and supported. We may not be able to control nature, but we can control how we treat women in labor and birth.  Even in the worst-case scenario (especially in the worst-case scenario!), there’s no excuse for anything less than the utmost respect for, deference to, and compassion towards the birthing woman as she is making her choices.
Because what’s really telling about the “healthy baby” phrase is that, so often, it’s used to justify a disappointing, difficult, or traumatic birth experience.  It’s said to us by our providers, our friends, and our families as we’re reeling from the shock of what just happened: trying to wrap our heads around something that seemed to go unexpectedly out of control.  And, yes, we tell it to ourselves.
So what’s the key to a new standard?  It’s us!  It’s the moms whose business drives the industry that gives us that care.  Many of us don’t realize it yet, but we are in the catbird seat.  Imagine what could happen if we, millions of moms and dads and our friends, really took hold of that power and wielded it.

We can start by educating ourselves to know what great care looks like— respectful, evidence-based care—and actively seek it out by shopping providers.  We can tune in to the red flags—things like hearing “You aren’t allowed to” from your provider—and stop ignoring our gut instincts!  In my opinion, hearing something like “A healthy baby is all that matters” during prenatal care falls into that category.  It says to me, “Whatever happens in Labor & Delivery, you have no room to complain.  If we present you with a live baby, we’ve done our job.”

Finally, and probably most important: we can exercise our power by walking away from providers who don’t offer us healthy babies, healthy moms, and a positive, respectful, family-centered birth experience.

For moms and babies, surviving birth isn’t enough.  It’s only the beginning.

Article taken from: http://www.improvingbirth.org/2013/02/a-healthy-baby-isnt-enough/

Recognizing Infant Hunger Cues

This poster, put together by Women's and Newborn Services Royal Brisbane and Woman's Hospital, highlights the hunger signals of a newborn baby. These early signals are how your baby communicates her need to eat.

Early hunger signals are subtle, but as you grow connected with your baby you will begin to recognize these very quickly. When your baby begins stirring, opening his mouth, sticking her tongue out, and rooting/seeking she is communicating her hunger to you. This is the best time to start feeding.

Clenched hands, stretching, becoming agitated and sucking on his fist are signs that your baby is very hungry and needs to feed immediately. Once fussing and crying begins, your baby has become so hungry that it is physically painful for him and will need to be soothed before able to feed effectively. The stress of eating when famished like this leads to reflux, gas, and colic.

Don't wait for your baby to be in pain before nursing. Feed on-demand, at the earliest hunger cues, and you will both be much happier and healthier.

Storm Preparations: Birth and Babies

Winter Precautions: Birth and Babies

Storm preparations for pregnant women and families with babies

IOWA CITY, Iowa – February 21, 2013–With the impending blizzard warnings the grocery stores are bustling with Iowans bracing for the storm of the year. Pregnant women and care providers of our littlest babes must make extra precautions and preparations. If the power goes out what will a mother do who exclusively uses a breastpump to feed her infant? If the roads are closed what will a woman do if she goes into labor?

Here are a few winter reminders to keep you and your little ones safe.

· Take precautions when walking on ice/snow while pregnant or while carrying a child. Wear boots with good grip or add YakTraks for super traction.
· Double up socks and gloves for little ones. We put socks over the gloves and jacket all the way up to their elbow so that the gloves won’t fall off
· Protect little faces from wind and the elements with a barrier: Aquaphor or Vaseline
· Never, ever put the keys on the car door handle when buckling seatbelts or packing things into the car. ALWAYS keep the keys on your body AND check to confirm that you have the keys prior to closing the door. I used to put the keys on the door pocket and forgot once. When I closed the door the vibration triggered the key lock and my son was locked in the car.
· Make sure your gas tank is on the plus side of half so that you can keep the car warm during a wait. When my second son was a baby we were driving home and slipped into the car in front of us. Just a small fender bender but it was quite some time that we had to wait in freezing conditions for the accident report to be written.
· Keep extra blankets and food for both you and your little ones
· If you are feeding your baby via bottle, keep an extra bottle, water, and powder formula in the car. That way even if your baby is usually fed expressed breastmilk you will have something in an emergency. Or have a manual breastpump and an extra bottle in the car.
· Keep extra socks, gloves, hat for both you and baby in case they get wet
· Plus emergency supplies

If you are pregnant:
· If you fall you should report to your primary careprovider to be evaluated
· If you are close to your due date and a storm is predicted, consider staying with friends or family who live close to your planned hospital
· If you go into labor and there are winter storm conditions making travel hazardous, call for an ambulance to transport you. If even then the transport is too far, dangerous, or you are close to delivery, the EMT’s can support you at your home. Aim for a controlled environment rather than being out on the road.

Strom Preparations for all of us:
· With a storm predicted assume that your power will go out. Clean the dishes and laundry.
We boil water and keep it in a mega thermos to make tea, coffee, oatmeal, and Ramen.
· Have flashlights with working batteries and candles in an easily accessible place

· Have firewood ready to use as a heat source in case of a power outage. No fireplace? Prearrange a friend or family member's house or a shelter to which you can safely evacuate to.
· Do you have food that is easy to prepare and clean up?
· Diapers. If you cloth diaper, have an emergency supply of disposables, in case you are unable to wash the cloth diapers.
· If your baby receives formula or donor breast milk, stock up an emergency supply.
· If your baby is unable to latch on and you are expressing breastmilk, have a manual breastpump and or extra batteries for your breast pump.

Above all stay safe, warm and enjoy the beautiful calm that the snow brings.
Your doula,
Jun-Nicole
Bamboo Birth Services- Certified Birth Doula

 

Birth Movement Workshop: March 2, Sweet Feet Yoga Studio

Birth Movement Workshop

Saturday, March 2, 2013

1-3 PM Sweet Feet Yoga Studio at Robinson Family Wellness

2140 Norcor Ave., Ste D, Coralville, IA52241

Taught by author and certified birth doula,

Jun-Nicole Matsushita of Bamboo Birth Services

Attendees of the Birth Movement Workshop will:

Receive the Ebook of the 2011 instructional book,

Birth Movement: How to use the birth sling, squat bar, birth ball and positions for your no-to-low intervention hospital birth

Learn about the benefits of movement and mobility during birth

How to use movement, the birth sling, squat bar and birth ball

How to adjust positions through the stages of labor

Accommodations and appropriate positions for both unmedicated and medicated birth (epidural and narcotics)

The Birth Movement workshop is intended as a preparation for pregnant women and their birth partners, for doulas, nurses, midwives, obstetricians and others who are interested in learning how to use movement and low-tech methods to promote and support no-to-low intervention hospital births.

The workshop is intended to complement and not replace comprehensive childbirth education courses.

$50 fee per couple

Register online: www.BirthMovement.com

or with Sweet Feet Yoga: rdsrobinson@gmail.com

Note: Day of walk ins are welcome

SPECIALS:

Patients of Robinson Family Wellness and Sweet Feet Yoga students receive a 30% discount, $35

Conscious Birth Summit: Feb 2, 2013

2013 Schedule of Events

Events take place throughout the day at the Iowa City Public Library, Willowwind School, Heartland Yoga, and Eastwind Healing. All events are free and open to the public

The mission of the Conscious Birth Summit is to help new and expectant parents make informed choices about childbirth and the transformation to parenting. This family-friendly event combines film screenings, workshops, Q & A panels, practitioner networking, and community building. We bring many approaches to birth into one place for one day so that we can learn from each other and raise our consciousness about the importance of how we welcome new life. We believe that these collaborations can help us improve maternal and infant health care practices to "midwife" a healthier future.
www.consciousbirthiowa.com