Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Birth Story: Marathon Labor
Posted on January 23, 2015 at 9:45 AM |
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Christine & BJ Bollier Bradley Method© Birth Story This story is a great example of making your wishes known,
persevering through a long labor that stalled (The Bradley Method® calls “the stall”, aka
“failure to progress”, a “Natural Alignment Plateau” or "NAP"), and making decisions as the labor progressed for a Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby birth experience. Even with
an intervention they did not initially want or anticipate, they were able to have the vaginal,
unmedicated birth they had prepared for. One of my favorite quotes from the video is Christine’s
statement, “I was tired, but I was never scared, because I knew what to
expect.”
Here is a quick summary of their labor: She started with contractions around 15 minutes
apart on a Thursday morning. They went
to their doctor’s appointment that afternoon and decided to go home and let their
labor progress. On Friday, they were timing contractions throughout the
day. When they got to five minutes apart,
they decided to go to the hospital because of the impending blizzard (they live
in Payson, AZ). By the time they were
all checked into their room, it was 2:30 am on Saturday. By Saturday evening at 6:00 pm, they hit a NAP
at around 8 cm dilation. They made the
decision to accept an amniotomy (breaking the bag of waters) at 10:00 pm. Their son was born on Sunday morning at 3:30
am. When the Bollier's time their labor, they call it 36 hours from the
contractions that were 6 minute apart on Friday afternoon to the time when he was born on Sunday morning. They both stayed awake for the whole of that time, save a few cat naps that happened between contractions when they were both exhausted. It is good to note that they did sleep on Thursday night when contractions were still in the "putsy-putsy" stage. I am so glad she talks about how she experienced contractions
– that’s a big question mark for first-time moms. Christine says she felt them as rhythmic and
internalized them – she says she could have painted you a picture of the
contractions. I love that perspective! HIGHLIGHTS Birth plan
Changing the Plan
Christine’s Insight: Q: What did BJ do as a Coach that helped you the most? A: He kept me from freaking out when it had gone on for so
long. As she explains, he kept her on track through the
exhaustion. BJ kept her calm with reassurance; he also pointed out the progress they had made. Loosely paraphrasing: [The hard part] wasn’t the pain – it was the exhaustion. I knew the pain was purposeful because
I was getting a baby. [Contractions] came in bursts and they were
not constant - it wasn’t miserable pain or constant pain from an injury that hurts all the time. Looking back a year later, [a contraction] was such a short period of time. BJ’s nuggets of wisdom Education & knowledge quell fear – having notes at
my fingertips kept me from getting scatterbrained while I was watching
(coaching) my wife through labor. Postpartum advice for the husbands: Don’t be proud – just say
yes. Don’t be too proud to accept help –
it’s a gift. On the lighter side, you’ll hear the inauguration of the
term “The Splash Zone” – now that we know our student’s perception of watching
all the birth videos from the first row of chairs, it’s what we call that front
line when we show birth videos in class - lol. QUESTIONS FROM THE CLASS: Q: Were you both awake the whole [36 hours of progressive
labor]? A: Yes…If I had it to do over again – we would rest throughout
labor. You’ll hear it in class that you
should rest. Seriously – REST. After the baby is born, you are playing
catch-up with sleep. Q: What can you tell us about breastfeeding a newborn? A: Get your hands on reading material, borrow books, have phone
numbers of support people you can call, have a good structure around you to
encourage, inspire, and inform you. Invest in good bras – wear a tank top with shirt underneath
at this age (son is about 11 months old in this video), after the infant stage
the nursing cover is not staying on! Did you have a long labor?
What labor management tips would you share with first-time parents? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Birth Story: Penelope
Posted on January 9, 2015 at 9:12 AM |
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It’s birth story day!!
This week I am sharing a birth story from our Fall 2012 class. In today's video, Courtney is talking about her family's birth journey
with our Winter 2012-13 class. Jake was working, so Courtney shares his words of wisdom for coaches, too. Here is their
backstory:
How their birth journey progressed:
In Courtney's own words: You Tube link: http://youtu.be/TePr1aqKezg Video Highlights: Note: Looking back, Courtney was so grateful she advocated for a longer pregnancy. One of the biggest concerns about gestational diabetes is that babies are larger than average. At birth (40 weeks gestation), their baby weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 21 inches long. This is clearly *not* a baby that would be called “large for gestational age” when you consider the average birth weight for a term baby is about 7.5 pounds. Which labor tools worked for you to manage the intensity?
What would Jake (husband) say if he were here?
Some images from their birth:
PostScript: Courtney and her husband Jake were the last couple that
enrolled in that class series with a last-minute phone call, “We really need to
get into this class!” You would be
hard-pressed to find a birth worker who would say no to them!! It is so humbling to hear that saying yes to
them when we had a full class already made a big difference for their birth. I
praise God for His wisdom and His incredible design. What did you learn from your birth journey? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Wordless Wednesday: Men In Our Lives
Posted on June 25, 2014 at 7:33 AM |
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Let Go and Give In
Posted on May 20, 2014 at 9:27 PM |
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There is one concept that has become so clear to me – it has
taken me almost four years of teaching The Bradley Method® to really “get” the beauty
of the method we teach. The catch-phrase of Bradley™ classes is: Relaxation is the Key
to Labor. Why: Relaxation is
the tool The Bradley Method® teaches to allow a mother to immerse herself in
her limbic brain center – the one that deals with her emotions. What she is feeling is crucial to the
progression of labor. She must let go, give in, and allow her baby to come out. A mother must feel safe enough to allow herself to be vulnerable. In order for labor to progress, a woman must SURRENDER to the process happening within her without trying to control it. What she feels influences her endocrine system, which in
turn will make the hormones she needs for labor to progress *or* the hormones
to inhibit labor until mother feels that she is in a “safe” place. The brain receptors will accept either oxytocin to promote labor or adrenaline to inhibit labor - never both at the same time. Her feelings also influences the autonomic
system, meaning all the things that happen without conscious effort: heart
beat, breathing, digestion, etc. If she
feels safe, her heart rate and breathing will be calm and allow her to enter a
state of deep relaxation and embrace the sensations of labor and work with her
bofy. If she feels frightened or
defensive, her heart rate and breathing increase, inhibiting her ability to
relax and give herself over to the process of birth, and she will fall into the
fear-tension-pain cycle. Dr. Sears says it another way: “In a satisfying birth you must surrender to your body,
yield to your urges, tune in to yourself, open up, and let baby come out” ~The Birth Book, page 137 So how do we get to the maximum state of deep relaxation? Dr.Bradley identified six factors that were common among the
mammals he observed in labor. (Husband-Coached Childbirth, 5th Edition, Pages 57-61) A good foundation in methods and techniques for physical, mental and emotional relaxation is part and parcel of applying the six needs for a natural childbirth. Do take the time to practice relaxation techniques every day as you prepare for your birth. A course in The Bradley Method® will offer couples 11 different relaxation tools for their toolbox to address physical, mental and emotional relaxation. As much as you are spending time to plan Sweet Pea’s nursery, finding the best gear for them, and taking care to find the best care pediatrician, invest time in preparing yourself for their Birth-Day. Barring any true complications [1], your ability to relax and embrace your labor will allow them to have a healthy, low-risk start in life. Need more convincing?
Here are some excerpts from a position paper printed in the New Zealand
College of Midwives Journal [2] that makes a case for the importance of an
empowered birth experience in which a mother is allowed to labor according to
nature’s physiological design. About the hormonal process of birth:
On the rite of passage encompassed by pregnancy and
birth:
Do you have a favorite relaxation technique that helped you during pregnancy and/or birth? Please leave a comment - it will be moderated and posted. [1] There are true complications of pregnancy and childbirth. When the benefits outweigh the risks, those are the times when medical intervention is desirable and appropriate for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. A comprehensive childbirth course like the Bradley Method can help you have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy and learn the communication skills to navigate those situations. It is possible to have a healthy start in spite of complications. [2]Dixon, L., Skinner, J., Foureur, M. (2013). The emotional
and hormonal pathways of labour and birth: integrating mind, body and behaviour.
New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 48, 15-23.
http://dx.doi.org/10.12784/nzcomjnl48.2013.3.15-23 The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Info Sheet: Choices in Childbirth Education
Posted on May 16, 2014 at 6:00 AM |
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What! A Bradley Method® teacher writing about other kinds of
childbirth education?? Yes, absolutely! Why would I do an information sheet on this topic and allow other educators to "brag on" their classes?? It is because I believe that there is no “one size fits all” childbirth education class. If one method were perfect, there wouldn’t be so many options out there. Each method speaks to the people who are attracted to the principles offered in that course. When we do presentations about natural childbirth and our classes, we offer an evaluation guide so that families can weigh any method against their own values and desires for their birth. Just like individuals are unique, they must find the education that fits their personality, timeline and budget. HISTORY: Once upon a time, birth was a community event. Children were born at home; families and neighbors experienced birth with all of it's beauty, goopiness, noise (or lack thereof) and rare complications (most complications of birth happen at a rate of 2% or less). Birth happened to us and around us - it was part of life and living. Then birth started to move to the hospital. Parents went away to have babies, and came back with siblings. Children were no longer privy to what happened during birth. And birth changed - it became medically managed because true, uncomplicated childbirth has a very hard time showing up when you take a mother to a place where she has to birth with an audience of strangers. We began to lose our knowledge and trust in birth - many of us have never experienced a live birth until it happened to us. Hence, the "birth" of childbirth education classes: to teach mothers and their partners how birth looks, sounds, and is likely to proceed if it is allowed to happen as nature intended. Little by little, hospitals and care providers in the hospital setting are open to the idea that interfering with birth is the problem, not the process of birth itself. PROS Most courses will cover provide some, if not all, of these benefits:
CONS
A closer look at the choices in childbirth education Note: this section will be updated as I receive first-hand descriptions of the courses from educators in our area who teach these classes. In our area (Phoenix, AZ), most childbirth education courses run between
$250 - $350, regardless of length. Most
courses are 3-6 weeks long. If you do
the math to figure out the cost per hour, that makes our 12-week Bradley™
course the best value for the money! However, budget is only one factor when
considering a childbirth education course.
Here are some questions you can ask when you are considering
which class is best for you:
To ensure the best quality
of instruction, it might be important to know if the childbirth educator you
are considering is a current affiliate with the certifying organization, or if
they were just trained and never completed their certification. For example, we must carry our most recent affiliation certificate with us when we teach. We are required to re-certify every year. Someone thinking about Bradley™ classes would want to know if the class is a Bradley Method®
class, providing the most current workbook and updated information (our
organization publishes updates to our course outline every year), or is it a
class “just like Bradley™” taught by a former instructor who no longer has
access to the most current information and might only be teaching their
favorite parts of what the method offered them? Here are descriptions of the most common childbirth education methods. Each of the websites listed below has links to find an
affiliated instructor in your area for that “brand” of childbirth instruction.
The bottom line is that there are several options in childbirth
education and preparation. Choose the
method that speaks to your heart – and get the information from the people that
are passionate about and currently affiliated with the method that they teach. We wish you all the best as you do the research to find the best method of education for your Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby Birth-Day. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
A Visit with Rhondda Hartman
Posted on March 28, 2014 at 7:30 AM |
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I first "met" Rhondda Evans Hartman after the publication of her second book, "Natural Childbirth Exercises for the Best Birth Ever". As with many meetings these days, our first interactions were via email, Twitter and Facebook. Through the course of correspondence, it was arranged for her to come visit Phoenix, Arizona. That visit finally happened last weekend. It was such a treat to meet her in person! As it turns out, my suspicion that her personality is the "real deal" was more than true. In person, Rhondda is every bit as lovely as I expected. In addition, she is a wealth of information about breastfeeding, the birth of the natural childbirth movement here in the US, and life in general. As a mother to five and grandmother to nine, she is a Wise Woman with more than one book left in her if you ask me! I really hope she and her "book shepherd" will turn her memories and experiences in the natural birth community into her next publication. And she probably has a parenting/relationship book tucked away somewhere, too! Here are some of the pictures from our weekend and time together. We packed A LOT into our brief visit. I definitely made a new friend and learned so much. Our Bradley Method® students going forward will definitely benefit from the training sessions we had with her on the Bradley™ exercises and her lesson on mental relaxation. Saturday, March 22, 2014 Teacher training Meet+Greet+Book Signing Bruss's cousin Ernie, who was a Husband-Coach back in 1964 Pictured here with Rachel Davis of Birth & Earth Rachel, Anne (one of Rachel's students), and Rhondda with Baby L. Anne, her mom, and Rhondda with Baby L. Ann is a big fan - she birthed her posterior baby naturally thanks in part to the inspiration from Rhondda's newest book. Read her birth story HERE. Rhondda autographs her award-winning book at Saturday's event Sunday, March 23, 2014 Meeting a fan of her first book at church Chihuly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens Reuniting with Bruss' cousin Barbara (Ernie's wife) who took Rhondda's classes as one of Dr. Bradley's patients in 1964 Fall 2013 SPB Class Reunion Teaching the postpartum exercises to some of our alumni students Monday, March 24, 2014 Lunch Date Rhondda's friend Schotze, Bradley™ mom of 4, was personally trained by Dr. Bradley to help other couples achieve a natural birth Two more area instructors take advantage of Rhondda's visit to receive information from the creator of The Bradley Method® exercise program Leading the "Relaxation" portion of our class on Monday evening: The Bradley Method® instructors personally trained by Rhondda:
It was such an amazing weekend. Thank you, Rhondda! We are so pleased to announce that Rhondda has agreed to come back in November to be our Keynote Speaker for Bradley Day 2014! You are welcome to contact me if you would like an autographed copy of Rhondda's newest book. We have a limited amount available at the weekend's special price! Do you have a favorite "natural birth how-to" book? If so, what is it? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
5 Step Plan for Labor
Posted on December 10, 2013 at 4:28 PM |
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If you follow these steps, you
can figure out if you are in “real” labor.
If you are not, somewhere along these steps, your contractions will fizzle
out. And if they do, mama has eaten
well, slept, and hopefully had a good nap so that you are rested for the next round
of contractions when they begin again. If you are in labor, you will go through these five steps and discover that despite the change in activity and positions, your contractions are progressing. Now you can get excited because you will be meeting your baby sooner than later. And then, settle down to "work", because labor is definitely an athletic event, albeit one of the most rewarding ones ever! Eat
Drink
Walk
Shower
Nap
You can definitely follow this labor pattern over and over, until the mother is unable to sleep anymore because she is going through transition, and/or having the urge to push. It is definitely a way to manage labor without additional pain relief. The love and support of an invested coach, replenishing energy, and rest can go a long way for a family to have a natural birth. If you liked the way you labored, what was your recipe for success? Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Wishes For Your Birth Journey
Posted on December 6, 2013 at 4:20 PM |
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Tonight is the first night of our Winter 2013-14 series. It is always exciting for us to welcome a new set of students. We love sharing our passion for healthy pregnancy and natural birth with families who want the best starts for their babies. Even though there are many options for birthing families, we are still committed to sharing The Bradley Method® because we like being able to offer a birthing class that honors the loving partner as the mother's best coach. Our Birth-Journey Wishes for all our new students:
We wish all birthing families preparing for their Spring babies the very best class experience! What wishes do you have for parents embarking on their Birth Journey? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Dr. Bradley's Nutrition Tips
Posted on October 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM |
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In reading about nutrition in Chapter 8 (How To Live With A Pregnant Wife) of his book, "Husband-Coached Childbirth", I am reminded again why we teach these childbirth classes. He has a no-nonsense, practical explanation to help mamas avoid heartburn in pregnancy by eating slowly and eating more frequent, smaller meals.
Besides asking your care-provider for antacid suggestions, the book goes on to suggest the natural remedy of eating papaya as a natural antacid (that also counts as an orange-yellow fruit/vegetable for their Bradley class nutrition tracking!). What did you do to help you avoid heartburn in pregnancy? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. Disclaimer: It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Meet the Doula: Zabrina
Posted on May 1, 2013 at 6:56 AM |
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When was the first time you heard the word, “doula”? The first time I heard the word "doula" was in my Bradley Method® Childbirth Training. I didn't pay any attention to it and wasn't convinced of the the importance. After all... Bradley Method® teaches DADS to be the coach. Why do we need another? I have since learned that I was wrong! Don't get me wrong, dads are WONDERFUL coaches. But there are times when the coach needs an assistant! How did you decide that becoming a doula was part of your journey? One of the great joys of teaching childbirth is classes is hearing the birth stories afterward. I LOVE birth stories. I started noticing frequently the need for help. With today's hospital environment especially, there is a need for someone there who not only looks out for the emotional, physical and informational well being of the mom but someone there who's "got dad's back." Having someone there who can continually support both partners is SO beneficial. I had always been available via phone for my couples. But that wasn't quite enough for some. Are you a birth and/or a postpartum doula? At this time I am solely a BIRTH doula. How long have you been a doula? I have been working officially as a doula for four years now. I have been a certified Bradley doula for 7 years. I did go through all the DONA training, but never submitted the paperwork. So I am not certified as a DONA doula, but do have the training. What do you enjoy the most about being a doula? I love empowering couples. I love helping them birth their baby in the way that THEY want. Helping mom's to discover her inner strength and ability is the best! What is your philosophy when you go to a birth space? My philosophy... hmm. I have never put it into words. When I arrive at a birth space I quietly observe and evaluate what is going on and how I can best help. I do not blast through the door like a bull charging, but rather quietly and respectfully enter hoping to have the least impact on the moment. How do you work with and involve the Coach? Before the birth we clearly define their expectations of me, and I work to live up to this. I make sure to see to the needs of the mother's birth partner, making sure he stays hydrated and fed through out the birth as well as mom. In most cases its important for him to be the main source of physical comfort for mom. When suggesting positions, counter pressure, and comfort measures I will talk to him and explain the benefits to him first and then we (or he) will suggest it for mom. I will assist him in finding new comfort measures/positions as needed. There is LOTS of communication between the birth partner and myself, both verbal and nonverbal. I clue him in when there are things going on with birthing staff that he needs to be aware of with simple gestures and glances. What is the toughest situation you have ever dealt with? How did you handle it? Its important that the birthing room be a peaceful environment, and sometimes that means NOT saying anything when the room is filled with high pressure doctors and nurses. It’s very hard to say nothing. This is when it’s especially important to have developed the nonverbal communication cues with dad. I have becoming very skilled at maintaining a peaceful relationship with staff even if I completely disagree with everything they have set out to have mama do. This may be consistently the hardest thing for me. Most recently I was with a mother who labored beautifully. She had a fantastic completely intervention free birth peaceful birth. After the birth she was bleeding very heavily. The bleeding continued for quite some time. Mom was not open to accepting intervention. The staff was getting very nervous as bleeding was extreme. I am by nature a very anti-intervention person as well, and I understood how she was feeling. Things were getting tense as mom stood her ground and staff was getting afraid and frustrated. As I observed the scene the nurses had mom in the bathroom and baby was with dad. Blood was pouring and doctor and left the room feeling helpless and angry that mom wasn't bending. This was a time when I believe that the intervention was needed to prevent further complications and long-term problems. But protecting the mom and her beliefs, needs, and desires is an important part of my job. How did I handle this? I quietly knelt down beside her in the bathroom and simply asked her how she was feeling and what she was thinking. Had anyone done that yet? Nope. She was feeling bullied and unclear of what was going on. We were able to have a conversation about what the situation was and the risk and benefits to doing nothing and all the possible interventions and their risks and benefits. THANKFULLY the nurse gave us this time to have the quiet calm conversation. She did accept a shot of Pitocin and felt the decision was HERS. For this mom accepting an intervention would have been very traumatic if she felt pushed or bullied, even if it truly was needed. I know you may be thinking "breastfeeding could have solved this." In most cases this is true! She did have baby at the breast for a long time. There was a lot more blood than normal. This truly was an unusual case. What keeps you working as a doula? That is an excellent question. Sometimes at the end of long, emotionally draining birth when I haven't seen my kids (often for days), I ask myself that very same question as I drag my tired behind home feeling battered and bruised with arms so sore from doing counter pressure or from hours of continual massage that I can hardly lift them. Then I check in with the family with their new bundle of joy. I hear how empowered they feel, how safe they felt, how happy they are and how my presence positively impacted them during this irreplaceable time in their life. That is what keeps me going. What does your fee cover – how many visits or hours? Is there a different charge for a shorter labor or longer labor? I charge a flat rate fee that covers your birth whether it lasts 3 hours or 30 hours. I do offer a $100 discount to Bradley trained couples. With this fee you get two prenatal appointments (more if you feel its needed), continual support through email, phone calls and texts. I go on call two week prior to the birth and stay on-call 24 hours a day until you have your baby. I come to you when you are ready, whether at home or at your birth location. That choice is yours. I stay with you until you have successfully breastfed your baby for the first time. After the birth I check in with you a few days after the birth and come and help anytime you need it during that first week. Do you offer any other services to your clients? I am a certified lactation educator and can assist with breastfeeding issues. Just for fun, what do you do when you are not doula-ing? I am a busy work-at-home mom of 5 kids. Well, kind of work at home. I teach Bradley childbirth classes, and am a student midwife as well. I also vacuum a gymnastic studio several hours a week to help pay for my children's tuition. My children are homeschooled and range from preschool to 7th grade. They are active in many clubs and activities and keep me hopping! How to contact Zabrina: (602) 743-9890 [email protected] http://familybirthdoula.vpweb.com |
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