Ordinary Miracles |
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Breastfeeding Classes & Support About Local Hospitals & Birth Places
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Frequently Asked Questions What are your qualifications? & How did you come to be a childbirth educator & Doula?
When should I take childbirth classes? I give an Early Pregnancy Class that should be taken ASAP, the earlier the better (even pre-pregnancy), but you can gain benefits of that class at any stage of pregnancy. The Informed Birth Class is a comprehensive class designed for those thinking about natural birth and those that wish to be well informed. It should be taken during your second or third trimester. If you are thinking about taking it please give me a call during your second trimester, so I can work out scheduleing. What are the benefits of a doula? Sixteen studies (randomized controlled trials) on the effects of professional labor support have been done. They showed such outstanding results that one researcher stated “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to provide it.”* Benefits include: Shorter labors, less need for pain medications, less chance of cesarean surgery, Higher maternal & paternal satisfaction with the birth, Lower incicence of postpartum depression, Mothers are more affectionate to their babies post partum, Reduced chances of health complications and hospitalizations of baby, Increased chance of successful breastfeeding. You can learn more about the benefits by doing a google search or read "The Doula Book". *Reference: Klaus, Kennell and Klaus "Mothering the Mother", Addison-Wesley, 1993, ISBN 0-201-56797-0 I know that I want medication during labor. Do I still need to take childbirth classes? Childbirth classes are for everyone. Discussing the option of medications and their advantages and disadvantages can help you make informed choices. It is also a great help to know the appropriate time the various medications can be taken for best effectiveness and to reduce the risks. There are also many other choices you will need to make for your care and the care of your baby. Like should you consent to an episiotomy & newborn procedures. How can you prevent tearing or a cesarean? Would you like your partner to learn the skills to help you through labor? I want an epidural, Can I have a doula? Sure! Doula's are there to support your informed choices. Doula's can help a mom with an epidural tremendously before you get the epidural, help you get it when you want it, help you manage contractions while it is being administered and taking effect, or if it doesn't work well. A doula can help you mitigate the side effects, quide you through the pushing phase, soothe mom's partner, help you deal with the unexpected, initiate breastfeeding etc... providing that continuity of care to the family throughout the postpartum period just like she would with an unmedicated mom. Do you teach a particular method? No, I draw the most helpful things from a lot from different sources, such as the Bradley method, Lamaze, Birthing From Within and the works of Shiela Kitzinger, Dr. Dick-Read, and Dr. Odent as well as the various trainings I have had. I teach in a holistic manner including emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of pregnancy birth and postpartum. This flexibility is the reason I chose to train with ALACE over the Bradley method. My husband/partner/mother/Doctor think's a Doula will "take over." A good doula respects your family's bond
above all else. A doula does not replace a woman’s
supporters but works with the whole family to promote the
best birth experience possible. As one childbirth
educator explains, “Asking your husband to be your
sole guide through labor is like asking him to lead the
way the on a climb of Mt. Everest. He may be smart and
trustworthy, you may love him, but in the Himalayas
you’d both be a lot better off with a Sherpa!”.
A recent study showed that fathers actually were more
involved in supporting their wives in labor when a doula
was present. A doula helps to relieve the partner's
anxiety, provides reassurance and sugesstions for mom's
support. Doulas do not interfere with medical care. Doulas offer you evidence based information to complement information you get from other sources to help you make informed decisions for your care. A good provider will welcome the chance to work with an educated patient. If you want labor support you should have it, willingly, and not have to fight for it. It's your baby & your labor and birth. Put together the best birth team for the type of birth you want. Are your classes consumer oriented or provider oriented? Definitely consumer oriented, I believe parents have the right and responsibility to choose what they want for their care. The effect of those decisions can profoundly affect the rest of your lives. You are the ones that will be raising the baby, dealing with postpartum pain, scar tissue etc... One size does not fit all in maternity care! In contrast, provider oriented classes tend to inform you as to the care and procedures you can expect from the birth place and your caregiver during childbirth, with little emphasis on choices. My job is to let you know all the possibilities. You pick. I'm scared of giving birth! I can honestly say, I know! that's why I include a lot of work on this issue. Women have been having babies since the beginning of time. This may be new to you. Anytime we do something new there is some level of anxiety or uncertainty. Understanding the natural process, learning the interventions & medications available, hearing positive stories, and seeing videos of normal birth can help tremendously. How can I keep ________ from happening again? Well that depends upon what your particular concern is. Often couples find out too late that they did not actually have all the information they needed to make decisions to increase the chance of their birth going the way they wanted to. In birth there are never any guarantees but, with knowledge and emotional preparation, you can stack the odds in your favor. Why should I take classes at all? It's fun, you meet other pregnant parents, scheduled classes make sure you have some time in your busy lives to emotionally prepare for birth and parenthood, you will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to create the birth you desire, and you'll know what your options are if something unexpected happens. Still not convinced?... An interesting study investigated the relationship between perception of pain during active labor. Of nine variables only confidence in ability to handle labor, the frequency of contractions, childbirth preparation classes and contributed significantly to the explaination of the variance in active labor pain. (Research in Nursing and Health 12:237-245). There's not much you can do about the frequency of your contractions, but classes definitely increase your confidence too. How do I sign up? Click the contact me link at the top of the page and tell me what you are interested in and I will send you an information or registration packet or we can set up a free get to know me interview for Doula services.
"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it." -Sheryl Feldman |
After my first child was
born my OB actually said; "Now you've done it. You
could teach it." I thought "Me?" but I
guess the idea stuck. I was obsessed with birth. Some
call it a passion... I read all I could, I observed other
childbirth educators, I saw all the documentaries, videos
etc... that I could get my hands on. I have a background
in biology so I am fascinated by the physical processes
of pregancy and birth. More so, I had now experienced the
overwhelming emotional/spiritual power of birth and was
transformed by it. After I had my second child I knew I
had to persue this. After much thought and self study, I
chose to go through the ALACE (Association of Labor
Assistants And Childbirth Educators) Childbirth Educator
Program to become a Certified Childbirth Educator (CCE)
and DONA for Birth Doula certification. I then completed a 40 hr course to become a Certificated Lactation Educator/Counselor program through UC San Diego. I strive to
present scientifically accurate, evidence based
information blended with a healthy respect for the
spiritual and emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth.