Need a Doula in San Antonio?

What is a doula’s role?

1.    A doula’s main role is to help her client have (as much as possible) the kind of birth she desires.
2.    A doula does not take over the role of the birth partner (usually the husband), but supports them both in whatever ways they need.
3.    A doula can give the partner a break if necessary.
4.    A doula helps the couple to apply what they have learned in childbirth classes.
5.    A doula helps with suggesting many different comfort measures during labor.
6.    A doula will advocate between the client and caregiver to help her to have the kind of birth she desires.  A doula will NOT make decisions for the client, but rather make sure they are informed of their options.
7.    A doula will encourage the client to help her reach her goals of a natural birth (if that is the goal).
8.    A doula will explain the stages of labor, help the client understand the various options she has in a difficult situation, and support her completely in whatever she ultimately chooses.
9.    A doula will be constantly present for support, not coming and going like many other caregivers do.

Author: Brenda Minica, CD (CBI) – All Rights Reserved

Below are many of the ways that your doula may serve you during your pregnancy, birth, and first few weeks postpartum. They are not intended to be exhaustive, as a doula’s role is extremely flexible and designed to change to meet each individual client’s needs.

During pregnancy, your doula can:

• Meet with you for a free interview to answer questions and determine if you are a good match.

• Tailor your prenatal visits to provide you with the information you need and desire. A doula’s prenatal visits are a mini-childbirth education course in many ways, which helps you review everything that you have already learned, sorting through and making the best choices for your family.

• Provide many sources of information for your further education, such as articles, books, websites, DVD’s, etc.

• Loan books or other items to you from her own personal collection for your use during your pregnancy.

• Communicate by phone or e-mail to answer questions and provide resources.

• Be a listening and sympathetic ear when things are not going well, you are feeling stressed, or you have received negative feedback from others.

• Help you understand what your doctor is telling you, and walk you through the process of making truly informed decisions about your care.

• Answer questions that you may not have had time to ask your doctor during your appointments.

• Assist in writing your “Birth Preferences” (Birth Plan). Your doula will explain the most common interventions that may be offered to you, talk about the risks and benefits, and encourage you and/or help you to get them written down so that everyone involved in your care will be aware of your wishes.

• Make a list of comfort measures that are most attractive to you, and practice them with you ahead of time.

• Assist you in dealing with any fears that you may have about your upcoming birth. Facing your fears and talking about them are some of the best ways to get control and not allow them to overwhelm you.

• Get to know both you and your partner so that there is a mutual trust and friendship existing that will allow you to feel completely comfortable when your doula is with you during labor.

• Answer your partner’s questions and talk about ways that he can support you during labor. Remember – a doula’s role is not to take over for the partner, but to support both Mom and Dad during this exciting time.

• Attend a prenatal visit with you so that Doula and Doctor are acquainted.

• Attend a childbirth class with you.

• Tour your chosen place of birth with you.

• Help you become prepared for newborn care, breastfeeding, etc., making sure you have the supplies you need and are going to have support during the first few weeks postpartum.

• Provide referrals to other local professionals depending on your needs. A doula is trained to recognize when additional help is needed, and has a vast collection of resources to help you obtain that help.

• Be available for you 24 hours a day starting 2 weeks before your estimated due date. You can and should call your doula anytime you have questions or are feeling uneasy about what you are experiencing. Your doula is prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice to assist you when you go into labor.

During labor, your doula will assist you in many ways. Here are some possibilities:

Physical Comfort Techniques – Your doula is dedicated to helping your labor and birth be as comfortable as possible. Most women do have some level of pain during their births, but many of these comfort measures can greatly reduce the pain you experience and help you manage your pain so that it does not become suffering.

• Positioning techniques to help you be more comfortable and encourage baby’s correct positioning for birth.

• Encouragement to keep you moving and active as much as possible during your labor.

• Reminders to stay hydrated and also to empty your bladder regularly (you may forget some of these things during labor, so it is very helpful to have your doula there to remind you)

• Counterpressure, massage, and other forms of touch – whatever feels good to you at the time.

• Hydrotherapy – using the bathtub or shower for labor support if they are available.

• Use of heat and cold combined with other comfort measures

• Rhythmic rituals – your doula can help you find a rhythm which will help you to keep control and not lose focus during your contractions.

• Birth ball, rebozo, vibrating massager, etc.

• Breathing techniques

• Awareness of tension in different parts of your body – tension increases pain and your doula can help you be aware of where you are holding tension so that you can release it.

• Vocalizations – repeating important words or phrases, singing, moaning, etc.

• Environmental comforts – your doula can do such things as making sure the lights stay dim when possible, playing relaxation or other music, showing you a special photo to look at, diffusing essential oils or using scented lotions, etc.

Emotional Comfort Techniques – Your doula may be the only continuous presence throughout your labor. Doctors, nurses, and other caregivers may come and go, many of whom you may have never met. But your doula will be with you the whole time, even laboring with you at home during early labor if you wish. She is with you for the long haul, and can support you emotionally through the whole experience in a way that other professionals cannot. Your doula’s sole focus is on you and your emotional and physical comfort.

• Your doula can protect the emotional atmosphere of your birthing room. As a professional, she can gently but firmly make sure that only the people who you are most comfortable with are allowed to be present in the room with you.

• Focal points, visualizations, distractions, mental activities, rituals, etc.

• Verbal encouragement and feedback – your doula is your cheerleader and will encourage you every step of the way.

• Your doula knows what the pain of labor feels like, and will acknowledge what you are feeling, go through every contraction with you, and encourage you that you can do it.

• Help work through fears that may come up during labor, communicating about issues (past or present) that may be causing the fear. Your doula can help you reframe your doubts and fears into positive statements that will allow you to progress and feel encouraged.

• Partner support – your doula can support your partner in many different ways. She can suggest and model ideas for your partner to use in supporting you. She can answer questions about things that are happening. During a long labor, your partner may appreciate a short break and will not need to worry about your being left alone during that time. At times you may appreciate 2 sets of hands to physically support you in moving around, massage, counterpressure, etc.

Informational Support – During labor, you may be offered various procedures and interventions by your caregivers for many different reasons. You may have already thought through these issues and have a preference for what you wish to do, or you may need to be educated about them on the spot. On the other hand, sometimes moms who are in active labor and transition can have trouble collecting their thoughts enough to thoroughly think through an option and make an informed decision. Your doula can act as an information source for you during these times, clarifying any questions you may have about the procedures that are being offered or suggested. Your doula can also help remind you of what you had previously decided, and help you remember what questions that you can ask your caregiver in order to gain the information you need to make a decision. Remember that there is almost never a situation where you do not have the time to think through your options and discuss them before making a decision. Your doula will not speak to your caregiver for you, but she may help you by whispering in your ear or asking a question to clarify an issue if she senses that you need any assistance.

Immediately after the birth, your doula can:

• Encourage immediate skin-to-skin contact and uninterrupted time during the first few minutes for bonding with the baby.

• Assist with your first breastfeeding session, helping to make sure that the position and latch of the baby are correct.

• Help you relax through any other procedures that occur, such as the delivery of the placenta or stitching the perineum.

• Take photos of the baby and new family.

• Make sure you and your partner are comfortable in every way possible.

During the postpartum weeks, your doula can:

• Visit you in your home shortly after the baby is born.

• Answer questions and give assistance with any breastfeeding issues that may arise. Your doula is not a professional lactation consultant, but she can recognize if any problems are occurring that need outside assistance.

• Talk with you about how you are feeling, and help you process your emotions about your birth.

• Answer questions about basic baby care and what to expect from a newborn.

• Answer questions about basic postpartum issues such as amount of bleeding to expect, etc. Again, your doula can recognize an abnormality and will be able to refer you to your doctor if needed.

• Write a keepsake birth story for you to include in your baby’s memorabilia.

• Assist in making sure that you are receiving enough support for the postpartum period – your doula can ask you questions to make sure that you are not doing too much and are getting plenty of rest.

• Referrals to various outside organizations – your doula can be a resource for various things such as breastfeeding support, local moms groups, postpartum issues, government assistance programs, etc.

Author: Brenda Minica, CD (CBI) – all rights reserved.

The best ways to take advantage of everything your doula has to offer.

During Pregnancy:
During your pregnancy you may have a lot of non-medical questions that you may not necessarily remember to ask your health care providers. This is when you can consult your doula. Your doula is like pregnancy Google. If she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find it or give you the resources to do it yourself.
During prenatal visit’s, your doula gets to know you and your hopes for birth. What makes your doula special, is that she takes on the same amount of enthusiasm about your birth plan as you and your partner. Your birth is taken as seriously as her own.

During Labor:
During your labor, you should consider your doula an extension of yourself. Chances are, if your thinking it, she should know it. Fears and inhibitions can hinder labor progress. This is the reason it is important to choose the right doula for you. You should feel like you can tell her anything. A doula is a professional and she does not judge.

Postpartum:
After your baby is born, your doula can help you in a number of ways. She helps with basic breastfeeding issues. She can entertain older siblings. Your doula is a calming presence in your home while you make the transition with your new baby. To best use your doula, you cannot be shy about telling her what you need or don’t need. She is there to help. How she helps is custom to YOUR needs.
Your doula is aware of all of your local resources. Whether it’s breastfeeding support, local mom groups, or government assistance. She wants to make sure you have everything you need to mother with confidence.

Author: Kim Stewart, Just Yours Birth Service

Used with permission.

My Commitments as Your Doula

· Two to three prenatal visits in your home or other location of your choice. These visits may include birth plan options and assistance, how I can help you as your doula, physiology of labor, breathing and relaxtion, breastfeeding preparation, etc. Each visit will be tailored to your specific needs and will include time to answer any questions you have.

 · I am the person that you first contact when you are in labor. If for any reason you are unable to contact me or due to an emergency, I will provide contact details for a backup doula. I will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning two weeks before your estimated due date up until labor begins. This mean that I will carry my cell phone with me at all times, and will not leave town without advising you unless it is an emergency or an event not known about at the time of the contract signing.

· I will provide early labor support as requested, including in your home. I will remain with you once active labor has begun until one to two hours after your baby is born. I may take short breaks for meals and rest if time allows – this will be discussed with you at the time and I will not leave you if it is inappropriate.

· I will draw on my knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort (relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort), and communicate with the medical staff to make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions during labor.

·  The presence of a doula lifts the sole responsibility of the labor off the shoulders of your partner, allowing him to enjoy the whole birth process. I can help your partner to feel calm and informed, giving him ideas to continue support from beginning to end. At no time will I “take over” or deliberately exclude your partner. I am there to provide support to both of you at all times. Sometimes a partner likes to stay by the mother’s side during the whole of labor, while others prefer to take a break. This is your birth experience and it is important that you feel free to decide on what you want at the time.

· As a doula, I can advocate for you at a time when it is sometimes difficult for you to advocate for yourself. However, I will not and can not make decisions for you. In a situation where medical decisions must be made, my role is to quietly remind you what your wishes are, assist you in asking questions and gaining information about other options, and then look to you and your partner for the final decision.

· I will assist in providing information and supplying emotional support by telephone on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care after the birth, as requested. Please contact me if you have any concerns. If I cannot help, I will be able to find the appropriate person who can. I will help to initiate the breastfeeding process, if that is what you choose to do. If you wish to bottle feed your baby, I will help you with the first feeding.

 · Within the first 5 days after the birth of your baby, I will visit you at home or in the hospital. I will answer any questions or give you a referral to the appropriate professional that can meet your needs. I will meet with you for at least two postpartum visits, and more depending on your needs.

Have questions? Please feel free to contact me at any time, I am happy to talk with you about my services and any questions you may have. Click here to send me an e-mail or call me at (210)635-8728 and leave a message.

For hundreds of thousands of years before the advent of the epidural and pharmaceutical pain products, women gave birth naturally and without the use of medications or interventions. Yet for modern women, the thought of giving birth without an epidural can be a frightening concept, no matter how much a woman desires natural childbirth. A lot of information out there seems to claim that if you just think happy thoughts and believe childbirth doesn’t have to be painful…it won’t be.

I’m sorry to say I fell into that trap. I read a few books about childbirth that argued that it doesn’t have to be painful. And I believed it. I wasn’t worried in the least. I mean it’s a natural process your body has to go through, how hard could it be? As it turns out it was really, really hard. I went into labor on a Tuesday morning. My daughter was born on a Friday. What happened between those days is a little fuzzy but basically involves pain way more intense than I had imagined, hours and hours and hours of enduring contraction after painful contraction, only to find out I was barely making progress. I had basically no tools to cope with the pain (that wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place!) All of this eventually led to many unwanted interventions and good deal of emotional trauma on everyone’s part. After enduring all those contractions, “naturally”, I ended up with pitocin, an epidural and a vacuum delivery.

So what’s the one thing I would do over again if I had the chance? (Besides actually complete my Hypnosis Course instead of just falling asleep…) I would hire a doula. The word ‘doula’ comes from the Greek word for servant. For centuries before modern medical birth, women helped each other give birth using techniques passed down through generation after generation. Today pregnant women can hire a doula to provide emotional and physical support during labor and delivery. Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth and can provide a wide range of non-medical pain relief measures.

Surprisingly, science seems to overwhelmingly support the benefits of using a Doula. A 1997 study found that laboring women who were supported by a doula experienced the same levels of pain as those who had received an epidural. Additionally, women who used a doula were able to cope with their pain equally well to those who used an epidural.

Additionally, while epidurals do lead to less pain, they also tend to lead to more interventions, often times ending with caesarian deliveries, which are a greater risk to both the mother and baby’s health. Doula support, on the other hand, lowers the risk of c-section. A university study found that women whose labors were induced and used a doula had a 20 percent c-section rate, while those who did not use a doula, had shocking 63% c-section delivery rate. Another study found mothers who were supported by a doula or labor companion during birth had more positive interactions with their newborns after birth. Women who use doula support during labor have been shown to have 1/2 as many c-section as those who do not use a doula. They have also been shown to have large reductions in the need for interventions such as forceps and vacuum. Many women also experience shorter labors.

I was advised to hire a doula when I got pregnant, and I’m very sad to say I didn’t do it. I really believe my labor and delivery would have been a more positive, natural experience had I taken that advice. Please consider hiring a doula and sharing information about doulas with any pregnant women you know. And of course, doulas and epidurals are not mutually exclusive. Doulas can be beneficial to your labor experience even if you choose to use medication.

Author: Tara N Smith

To find a doula in your area visit The Doula Network

Tara Smith is a mom, perennial researcher, reader and author of growbabygreen.com, a website that helps parents “go green” for their baby and family.To learn more green, organic and natural living ideas and tips visit http://www.growbabygreen.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tara_N_Smith

5 Reasons Why You Need A Doula

A doula is a labor support professional who can assist you when going through childbirth. Traditionally, women were always attended by other experienced women to help them get through this difficult life transition. In the modern day hospital setting, women are generally unattended until it is time to actually deliver. This means a first time mom could spend 16-18 hours feeling completely alone. The nurses will hook you to the monitor, and check on you about once an hour.

A doula is a professional, trained to handle the non-clinical aspects of labor. She is familiar with the process of childbirth and how to guide you through the progression of labor with effectiveness. This is the only experienced professional who stays with the mother from the time her labor is active, until after the baby is born.

Here are 5 reasons a mom will want a doula by her side:

1.The mother will have professional help in developing a birth plan, as a doula assists the new parents in understanding all the available options

2.The mother will have an experienced professional by her side continuously during labor

3.The mother will be physically comforted by the doulas comfort measures, including warm compresses, massage, relaxation and breathing techniques

4.The partner will have support and guidance in how to help the mother during labor

5.The couple will have a beautiful account of what happened during labor, as a doula will keep a record and many mothers lose focus of the time

These are just a few things that a doula can do for you! Here is what Jacksonville moms are saying about having a doula for their birth:

‘She [our doula] provided us with important prenatal information and
practice relaxation techniques that assisted my husband and me to feel prepared for the birth.’

‘The positive outcome of our labor was directly impacted by our doula’s birthing expertise and her ability to assist me in managing my labor. We would not have been able to have a natural, non-medicated delivery without our doula!’

‘This was the best money we spent when preparing for our new baby!’

"Thank God for my Doula. I could never have done a natural birth without her guidance and coaching. She was totally amazing and I will definitely be seeing her again when it is time for baby number two."

Educate yourself and hire and doula to help you have a shorter, easier birth and a wonderful birth experience.

By: Sita Payne Romero

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sita Payne Romero, LMT, CD Sita specializes in preparing expectant mothers to have a comfortable pregnancy, and achieve their ideal birth experience. She is a certified doula, a licensed and certified pregnancy massage therapist and a prenatal yoga teacher. She owns a private practice in Jacksonville, FL. For more information, and helpful articles please visit www.lotusinbloom.net

The Truth about Childbirth and Labor
 by: Suzanne Doyle-Ingram

Labor and childbirth was an amazing, positive experience for me, both times. I am very fortunate, I know. But I do believe that if you prepare yourself through education (reading books, reading websites like this one, taking prenatal classes, etc) and taking good care of yourself while you are pregnant, you will have a far greater chance of a pleasant birth experience.

There are many things you can do to increase your chances of an empowering childbirth experience. These are the things I did:

Pregnancy yoga classes

Regular Chiropractic care

Chose a Midwife instead of a doctor

Hired a doula to be with me through the labor and birth

Took high quality vitamins, folic acid and natural iron supplements (made by Flora, derived from natural sources, not metal)

Took a 18 hour prenatal class from a former midwife (NOT at a hospital)

Lastly, I believed, truly believed that my body knew what it was doing. I was not scared at all. I knew in my heart of hearts that pregnancy is a healthy state of being, and that my body would know exactly what to do when the time came. And it did!

So many people seem to enjoy telling stories of excruciating pain during childbirth. Others will tell you their labor was 87 hours long! I do not know why women do this to each other. Yes, I will grant you, labor is painful. But it is also powerful and incredible what your body can achieve!

One important note: I am Canadian, and our medical system is much different than the United States. But I am aware that most visitors to my website are American, so that is why I often try to include American statistics and information. One major difference between our two countries is that midwives in most parts of Canada have hospital privileges, i.e. they are allowed to deliver babies in hospitals. They perform essentially the same procedures as doctors, except they do not perform surgery. Whereas doctors view childbirth in terms of what can go wrong, midwives see childbirth as a natural process and medical intervention is only necessary in the event of an emergency.

I had many questions before I gave birth the first time, and the following onformation is what I leaned about labor and child birth. I am not a doctor, and I have no medical training whatsoever, so please ask your own doctor for clarification or more information.

Am I going to be pregnant forever?

In terms of when the average woman gives birth, a woman’s due date is determined to be 40 weeks after her last menstrual period, which is about 280 days. Most women deliver very near their due date, but anywhere from 38 weeks to 42 weeks is normal. You know you are in labor when you have strong (generally more painful than period cramps) contractions, five minutes apart, which last for a full minute. The first stage of labor is the longest and that is when your cervix dilates from 0 to 10 centimetres and becomes thinned out (or “effaced”). The second stage of labor is the pushing stage, which begins after you are fully dilated. The third stage of labor is after your baby is born and you deliver the placenta.

I was worried that my water would break in the supermarket and I would be mortified. However, the bag of water, (the membrane that surrounds the fetus and protects it during your whole pregnancy), contains amniotic fluid and it only breaks at the beginning of labor (mine did) 10% of the time. It does not hurt. You may not even know it has happened, but you may feel warm water on your legs. You feel a tiny “Pop!” and then a little fluid trickles out. It’s not a huge gush – I think this is because the baby’s head is acting like a cork. Most commonly, about 90% of the time, your water breaks when your cervix is fully dilated. Sometimes your midwife or doctor may break it. When that happens, prostaglandins are released, and contractions become stronger and more regular, and the progress of labor speeds up.

Many women also wonder when they should go to the hospital. Your doctor or midwife will educate you about what they want you to do. Some may want you to phone the hospital as soon as anything happens. A midwife usually comes to your house, so you don’t have to plan so much as you would with a doctor. When you get to the hospital, you will need to register at the Maternity Department. Usually you can do this a few months prior – call the hospital where you will deliver and find out. Depending, again, on whether you have a doctor or midwife, a lot of different scenarios can take place. Also what kind of doctor you have: is he or she someone who believes that your body knows what to do? Or will he or she insist that you are given an IV and hooked up to a monitor constantly? You do NOT have to labor this way, but you need to decide before you choose a doctor what is important to you and how you want your experience to be. (A birth plan would be a good option. If you present your birth plan to your doctor and he or she laughs at you – reconsider using that doctor!)

How long does it take?

Every labor is so different, but generally speaking, first labors take about 12 to 24 hours. My first labor was about 10 hours but my midwife said that I was only in “active” labor for 5 hours, which I disagree with because the first 7 hours were not spent sitting around comfortably!

What about the pain? Is it really that bad?

I am not going to lie about it, it is painful, but your body is an amazing machine. I did not take anything for the pain during my labors, but I was very fortunate to have a wonderful doula and husband who supported me throughout. Studies have shown that continuous support during labor decreases the need for pain relief by 60%. See my article entitled “What would I do without my Doula?” here http://www.pregnancy-leads-to-new-babies.com/doula.html.

What’s wrong with having an epidural? Why go through the pain if you don’t have to?

This is simply my opinion – I am not a doctor, but I have done the research. For me, I was not trying to be a martyr. I just wanted my baby to have the very best chance of being healthy. Generally, it is true to say that epidurals are a safe and effective method of relieving pain in labor, but safe does not mean risk free. There are risks; I would be lying to say there are none. See Thorp, J.A. & Breedlove, G (1996) Epidural Analgesia in Labour: An evaluation of Risks and Benefits 23(2) 63-83.

In terms of risks for your baby, epidurals can cause maternal fever and this can potentially harm your baby. Newborns sometimes also exhibit poor nursing behavior for up to one month. Many newborns exposed to epidural anaesthesia in labor are very sleepy and they would rather sleep than nurse, which can be problematic because the more you nurse at the beginning, the faster your milk will come in and the better your experience will be. It’s shocking to me that most women take such exceptional care of their babies while they are pregnant, i.e. no alcohol, no Tylenol, etc., but they willingly expose their babies to drugs during childbirth without fully educating themselves of the risks.

Here’s something you want not want to know: Hospital-employed childbirth educators WANT you to have an epidural. Hospitals make a lot of money from epidurals. The nurse often comes into your room and says, ‘Are you ready for your epidural now?’ In the U.S.A, an epidural costs from $500 to $2500, depending on the hospital. The United States spends more money on birth ($50 Billion a year!) than any other nation in the world, without necessarily getting the best results. The average hospital birth costs $8,000 – $10,000 and that doubles for caesareans, providing very nice profits for obstetricians, anaesthesiologists and drug companies. Hospital policies are routinely set based on financial goals. This is a fact, and if you don’t believe it, you are being duped.

Just hear me out on this one: It makes sense, doesn’t it? Since midwifery care and doula care reduces the rates of intervention, they also reduce the profit for doctors and hospitals. Of course, they will try to convince you that midwives are dangerous. They want your money!!! That is why, in Canada, where we have arguably the best government-run medical insurance system in the world, governments realised that by allowing midwives to deliver in hospitlas, they are saving millions of dollars.

Back to epidurals (which I am not completely against, by the way! I do believe they are warranted in some cases)If you have an epidural, you must also have a urinary catheter inserted to empty your bladder. Epidurals can cause your blood pressure to decrease, so a nurse will check your blood pressure very often. The nurse or doctor will also periodically rub your abdomen to make sure there is enough paralysis but not so much that your breathing becomes impaired.

There is also a domino effect that plays into it as well – once you have one intervention, you are more at risk for more and more. For example, a woman who has an epidural is FOUR times as likely to have to have a caesarean section. Sometimes it relaxes the pelvis so much that you cannot push out your baby, so the use of Vacuum and forceps are significantly increased. This means you also have to have an episiotomy (where they cut your skin from your vagina to your rectum) in order to get the forceps into your vagina. Sometimes there are complications from episiotomies, as you can well imagine, such as bowel incontinence and urinary incontinence. Note: According to Childbirth practices researcher Katherine Hartmann, MD, PhD, close to 1 million unnecessary episiotomies are performed in the U.S. each year. She says episiotomies are probably medically warranted in fewer than 10% of cases. Currently 1 in 3 American women get episiotomies. Hartmann is director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The biggest risk of epidural is death – if the anaesthesiologist injects the wrong dose, or makes a mistake, you’re in trouble. You can also be paralysed (in very rare cases, permanently) due to nerve damage. Let me repeat, MOST epidurals are safe, but these are some of the risks you need to be aware of. The evidence of epidural risks is well documented, but it is not readily available.

Don’t you think it is easier for the doctor to be able to “control” their patient if they are lying still and quiet in the bed, paralysed and unable to move around? Ask your doctor what percentage of their patients receive an epidural. Can you go one step further and ask them how much money they make if they give an epidural? Or of it makes their job easier if their patient has an epidural? I think that would be very interesting! If he or she has an alarming rate of epidurals, I would seriously consider changing doctors.

If you are still thinking, “I don’t care what anybody says, there is no way I am going to go through that pain like some freaky natural childbirth nut”, I am here to say that I thought exactly the same way when I was pregnant – at first. But once I did some reading, I thought, wait a second, maybe I could at least try to do it naturally. In my birth plan I wrote that I wanted to try to do it naturally, but if I ask for an epidural, give me one. (Where we live, Midwives can order epidurals.) I also want to say that I do believe that in some cases, epidurals are a really good idea. For example, if you have been laboring a very long time and you need to rest a few hours so that you can gather your energy to push the baby out. I was present at my friend’s birth as her support person, and she was not making any progress after about 10 hours. We tried all sorts of positions and everything, but finally her doctor suggested an epidural and I agreed. She was able to rest, and calm down, and then it wore off and she was able to push out her baby without any problems. It was beautiful. (Note: she did not experience any of the above complications.)

Please educate yourself by reading some of the books I recommend on my website. You will feel much better about yourself knowing that you did your research and made the right decision for you. Finally, please take a GOOD prenatal class (not one offered at a hospital) and read as much as you can so that you are prepared and educated. It’s your body and your baby!

 About The Author

Suzanne Doyle-Ingram is mother of two girls, Hana and Alexa, and married to her best friend James, who is a stay-at-home dad. Suzanne is also the creator of the Pregnancy Leads to New Babies.com website (http://www.pregnancy-leads-to-new-babies.com), an informative site for pregnant women and new Moms, which provides information on pregnancy, labor, and how to take care of your new baby. As a family, Suzanne, James, and the girls enjoy kite flying, swimming at the beach, and visiting new restaurants. Visit her website at www.pregnancy-leads-to-new-babies.com for more of Suzanne’s articles.

This article was posted on September 12, 2005

How to Use a Birth Ball For Pregnancy And Labor: Finding Comfort …

This is a great article and video about some of the ways that you can use a birth ball during your pregnancy and labor.  Practicing ahead of time on your own, with your partner, and with your doula will help tremendously in preparation and helping you to feel comfortable with the ball.

On Thursday, May 15th I woke up and within an hour started having a bloody show and could tell that the contractions were different than before. I was so excited that things were finally starting to happen! I decided to go ahead with my plans for the day, and asked Mom to accompany me in taking the children to the library and grocery store. We got back home around 1:30 PM. I had been having sporadic contractions that felt different than usual, but nothing regular. The bloody show came and went all day long. I tried to take a nap that afternoon but couldn’t sleep, every time I dozed off a contraction would wake me up. Nelson came home at the normal time and we had a typical evening at home with the children. I walked for about 1 mile with Mom at about 7:30-8:00 PM, then came home and got the children in bed. I took a shower, then organized a few things around the bedroom in advance preparation for the birth. I was still having contractions and knew it would happen sometime soon, but I had never had a labor that was “slow to start” like this one before.

At 11:00, right after my shower, I asked Nelson to check my cervix. He was actually the only one who did this for me during my entire pregnancy and birth! We had measured his finger, and he had already enjoyed being able to feel the baby’s head a few days beforehand. This time he said he could definitely feel a change from the night before (which was the last time he had checked), and his best guess was that I was 4 cm dilated and at least 75% effaced. I called my midwife to give her the report, and she said that she was going to try and get some sleep but to call her back when anything changed.

Somewhere around 11:30 or so I started feeling tense and could tell that I was also getting anxious about what was coming. I had been working hard on not allowing my fears to overwhelm me, and knew that I needed to relax and try to sleep – not knowing when labor would really get started or how much sleep I would get that night. So right before midnight I laid down and turned on my Hypnobirthing CD, it was 22 minutes long. I did not watch the clock during that time, but I counted 5 contractions – with another one immediately following. They weren’t too strong yet, but the relaxation helped a lot and I had to stop and breathe through the contraction that happened after I got up and went downstairs. Looking back, I am convinced that the relaxation I did at that time was very instrumental in helping my body go into active labor when it did.

Nelson was working on the computer when I told him that the contractions had started getting closer together. I decided to write them down for awhile, and between contractions I unloaded the dishwasher and did some other cleaning. I wrote down contractions for about 30 minutes starting at about 12:20, and they were quickly progressing from 3-4 minutes apart down to 2-3 minutes apart.  Nelson was very calm about it and said that he thought it would be fine to call our midwife now, since my labor seemed to have established itself. I didn’t want to call her too soon, but remembering how fast Philip’s labor was helped me to decide to go ahead and have her let the other midwife know and start on their way. So I called her at 12:45 AM on May 16th and asked her to go ahead and come.

I was feeling ready to go upstairs and lie down at that point, but Nelson made the comment that he was looking forward to eating my “labor project” cookies, so I decided to at least get the cookies started so that he could have his wish. I had previously come up with several ideas to keep me busy and distracted during my labor, and all week long I had been looking forward to making my favorite oatmeal cookies when the big day came. At that particular moment I could have cared less about eating cookies, but they did keep me busy and active for awhile longer. I got them all mixed up in the mixer, and Mom was just arriving as I was putting the first batch into the oven. I was so glad to see her so that I could give her the rest of the job – my back was really starting to hurt during the contractions and I wanted nothing more than to go upstairs and lie down! Nelson tried to encourage me to stay up awhile longer, but I had already had enough and didn’t listen to him any more.

I laid back down in my favorite side-lying position on my bed at about 1:20 AM and turned on my hypnobirthing CD again. It was less than 5 minutes or so when my midwife arrived and came upstairs to greet me. I was much more comfortable lying down, and although the contractions were getting very intense – I was able to relax by listening to the CD instructions and lots of deep breathing. I could hear things going on around me – people arriving, people talking, the birth pool being filled, the front door opening and closing, and in the background – the sound of rain from outside of our open bedroom window. My midwife listened to the baby’s heart rate shortly after she arrived, and said it was “perfect.” This gave me a lot of peace and helped me to remember why I was in labor – I would be meeting me new baby very soon!

After the hypnobirthing CD was over, I asked my midwife to start the tape of Nelson reading scriptures to me with music in the background. She did that, but I didn’t really listen to it because I started listening to her voice instead. She said that she wouldn’t have thought that I needed to be talked through the contractions, but because I was able to tell her that I liked it, she kept doing it. She was also running her hand lightly up and down my back with each breath, and I was doing really well focusing on the sound of her voice and the feel of her hand. The “balloon breathing” technique that I had practiced with hypnobirthing didn’t take away any of the pain, but it did help with keeping me relaxed and focused on the opening of my cervix. At one point I asked her to put some frankincense on my lower belly and back, and another time they used a warm washcloth with an essential oil mixture on it of jasmine, geranium, and lavender.

Nelson also took a more active role in supporting me during this birth, because I had previously asked him to do so. He talked to me a lot more, reassuring me and reminding me that we would be meeting our baby soon. Nelson and my midwife together were a huge support for me in being able to stay calm, relaxed, and in overcoming my fears. One thing I kept saying to myself over and over again the whole time was “perfect peace.” God had given me the scripture just that day from Isaiah which says “He will keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” I just continued praying for that perfect peace to be in my heart and in my body, so that my body could do the job it needed to do and bring my baby to me.

I’m not sure what time it was – maybe about 2:15 AM, that Nelson told me that the pool was ready for me to get into anytime I wanted. The contractions were getting harder to handle, and I was going through an inner struggle to remain relaxed. I felt very comfortable on the bed (all things considered) at that point, and didn’t want to ruin my relaxation by getting up. But I kept thinking about the fact that the bed hadn’t been prepared for the birth yet (no plastic under the sheets) and my midwife also reminded me that I should empty my bladder once more before the birth. So I forced myself to get up and into the bathroom. At this point I realized that the other midwife was in the room, sitting in my rocking chair, and I felt very relieved and glad that everyone was there who I needed to be there at that moment. Just as I thought, the contractions immediately intensified and I had a very hard time dealing with the next one that came while I was sitting on the toilet. Nelson came and talked me through it. While I was there, my midwife brought me several drops of myrrh oil to rub on my perineum. We had read that this would help with the pain of crowning, and looking back – I hardly felt anything at all during the moment the baby was coming out – so I guess it worked!

I had about 2-3 contractions on the toilet, and then decided I needed to get into the pool. I had another contraction on the way to the pool and then felt so relieved to be able to lie back and relax again in the water. I knew things were progressing pretty fast so I asked my midwife to go and wake up the girls, they wanted to be there during my labor so that they could be my doulas. They both came and stood on either side of me, rubbing my hands. At this point I was working hard keeping my goal in mind, visualizing myself lying back down on the bed in a while with my new baby in my arms and suckling her at my breast.

I don’t remember exactly how long I was in the pool before the birth, my best guess is only about 15 minutes or so. I did not want anyone to yell at me this time to get me to stop pushing, I just wanted to let it happen. I think I had resigned myself to the fact that my babies just like to come out fast, and there isn’t anything I can do about it. I felt the baby moving down with each contraction, and my lower back started hurting terribly. I actually felt a little bit of warning before the pushing urge came, and I consciously decided to say it aloud “I want to push the baby out now” so as to let them know that the baby would be coming soon. I heard my midwife open up her gloves, and then everything was quiet again between my contractions. I felt the baby moving down again, and with the next contraction I pushed hard. I felt a pop (which was the water breaking – we had all forgotten that it hadn’t happened yet) followed by two big lumps of something – the baby’s head and body. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to feel any pain associated with the actual birth, only the contractions were still hurting. I heard someone say my name to calm me down, but it was already too late – the baby was in the water and it was over. Nelson caught her (with the midwife’s assistance) and he brought her up to me and we both held her with our hands. I almost immediately looked between her legs and said “it’s a girl!” I had to look again a couple of minutes later just to make sure I had seen it right.

Summer’s birth was peaceful and I was able to let go of my fears, just like I had been praying for. She weighed 7 lbs. exactly and is a beautiful blessing to our family!