MILWAUKEE DOULA MARTHA (262 902 8714) AT DOULA WOMAN POST ON INDUCTION MANTRAS

 

WHEN YOU AGREE TO INDUCTION

This is based on my education and what I have learned first hand during birth work and life in general. This is not medical advise or a substitute for medical advise.

You may use all, some, or none of these suggestions. YOU do know from a primal place what is best for your body-baby unit. Look within.

• Create your mantra of self trust. You consented to a labor induction for a reason. Whatever that reason is remind yourself that you consented, so from that place of decision you maintain authority over your body and your baby. For some people an actual mantra such as “I allow these chemicals in my body because they will help myself and my baby” or “This labor is caused by means outside of me, yet my body is responding to this and opening for my baby to come to me” or “This is the right way for this baby to come earthside and I open freely for him/her to move down and out of my capable and strong body. I release all doubt.”

• Open communication with your medical manager(s) about the details of your induction. EXAMPLE 1 Some induction agents such as cytotec cannot be turned off and can cause long-non-stopping contractions which are very dangerous and create a medical emergency. You may choose to discuss alternatives to cytotec such as cervadil or a foley cathater. EXAMPLE 2 AROM carries both potential help and potential harm. You may choose to discuss how AROM will effect the chance of a vaginal birth, specific to your situation (as opposed to general statistics). The above are examples. When your medical manager listens to you, you will be given options in a fair and honest way.

• Skip or minimize cervical exams. The pitocin will be turned up steadily until you show hospital protocol for a labor pattern according to the monitor, about 3 minutes from start to start and lasting about one minute. So how fast you are dilating rarely effects the Pitocin dose anyway. Frequent cervical exams, as with spontaneous labor, are not-predictive of when you will fully dilate. So, to maximize staying primal, to minimize emotional dystocia and to minimize infection you may choose to say “no” to these exams. When you have an epidural, you may choose to say “no” as well and consent to directed pushing (if you do consent) when you can reach into your body and feel your baby’s head. When you are epidural-free you may say “no” entirely and allow your body to take over.(Some providers will want you to have an exam to avoid “premature” pushing. Again, you may choose to say “no” based on if you can’t help it anyway, what is the point?) If you allow cervical exams, you may want to know the timeclock from dilation to birth and you may choose to say “no” based on that time clock. Or, you may be more open to radical position changes to move baby down when you visualize the time clock and may then consent to exams.

• Request alternative options when deadlines presented. EXAMPLE 1 You have consented to cervical exams and your cervix is swollen so you are given 1 hour to fully dilate or go to csection. You could request the Pit be turned down and that you be given help to reduce the swelling and perhaps have the epidural turned off to facilitate spontaneous movement. EXAMPLE 2 Baby has non-reassuring heart tones and you are given one hour to birth vaginally prior to csection. You could request the Pitocin be turned off and your body given a re-set. .EXAMPLE 3 You initially said “yes” to Pitocin and “no” to AROM and now you are told labor not progressing fast enough so you you need a csection. You could then agree to the AROM, knowing that at that point it could help facilitate a vaginal birth. These are examples. When you have open communication with your medical managers, these discussion will flow freely.

• Spontaneous movement. With physiologic labor your body moves spontaneously in the way that is healthiest for your mom-baby unit. When you are induced, you may go in the direction of spontaneous movement. You keep moving and moving. You get out of bed: walk, lean, birth ball, hands-knees. Let your body lead you as baby makes the delicate moves to come down to you! Look within. Talk to your baby. Let your body move and release your baby as you make any sounds or swearing needed and as you release bodily fluids free from apology, then baby comes down to you. When you get an epidural, you may choose to keep this up: frequent position changes including hand-knees will help descent.

• TRUST YOURSELF. LOVE YOURSELF. CELEBRATE THIS BIRTH. THE POWER IS WITHIN YOU, LET IT RELEASE!

Milwaukee doula Martha at doulawoman.com posting on csections and hospital births.

I got officially into the “birth world” fast and I love this!  I am a full-spectrum doula. I learn so much every day.  I see now even more clearly, the importance of continuity of  presence in the doula scope.  This means as many visits as needed while you are pregnant, presence at your birth no matter what is involved and, as much postpartum support as you need.

I have attended csection births where my doula role was much more intense than at some vaginal births.

So, yes I attend csections .  What have I done at planned  csections (different from a long labor and then birth by csection):  emotional support, translation of medical speak, help lay out your options, oils, massage, reminder of plans such as to see or not see birth, religious/spiritual preferences, help with pain relief, telling you what is happening where you do not see,  lactation support, bridge to provider/family, processing, a presence, and more.   I  am usually in the O.R. with you-this always up to YOU and anesthesiologist of the day.

Which brings me to hospital birth in general. For sure I attend hospital births-vast majority of my clients birth in hospital!

Sincerely,
Martha at Doula Woman

doulawoman@gmail.com or 262-902-8714.

Doulas and Partners by Martha at Doulawoman.com in Milwaukee, WI. Doulas southeast Wi.

As your doula I am here for you unconditionally.  So if you are single or your partner is not into this then it’s about you and your doula.

When the rhythm of partnership is such that  he/she is involved then during the pregnancy visits we outline how your partner can best support you within the honesty of your relationship.

And, as your doula I support your partner too. Examples of this:

• Postpartum planning to include your partner in baby care including feeding baby.
• Ways to help your partner with emotions including depression.
• A bridge to care-providers as your partner stays present for you.
• Guidance of how to support you during labor.
• Referrals.
• Interpretation of medical speak.
• Much more!

 

 

 

 

Doulas southeast Wisconsin Doulas hospital birth

Birth doulas support women physically, emotionally, and spiritually during pregnancy, labor, birth, and post-birth. In Wisconsin about 99% of births happen in-hospital. So, YES DOULAS ARE HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU BIRTH IN A HOSPITAL. We work for you. As your doula, I learn your cues, offer education and bring my knowledge of birth and medical management to you. You labor and birth as you know best for you.  The vast majority of doula attended births are in hospital. Sincerely, Martha at doulawoman.com.

Doulas in near Milwaukee Doulas in near southeast Wisconsin Doula Woman Martha doulawoman.com post: Women supporting Women

A doula by definition is a woman who supports a woman.

You may ask, why should I pay someone to “stand by me” at my birth when I have a partner and medical staff doing just that?

Answer:  Your partner (if you have one present) is there for you with love and emotion. The medical staff is there for you medically.  Your doula is there for you with body-mind-spirit support, primal instinct, judgment-free, and is skilled and trained and/or certified to make your birth a positive experience:  a place where you are safe, your voice is heard, and you transition to parenting in tact with self-love and self-trust.

As always, call or text any time. Sincerely, Martha at doulawoman.com, 262-902-8714, doulawoman@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Doulas Milwaukee Doulas southeast Wi Martha at Doula Woman on: Birth without Fear. Email for free consult or to schedule reiki: doulawoman@gmail.com.

Many of you are familiar with the Birth Without Fear movement and that releasing your fear of childbirth can likely lead to a less painful, healthier, smoother and safer birth.

You  keep moving, focus on your health and strength, take in positive birth stories only, refuse to hear horror stories and advise, skip Facebook posts, TV, etc…that show birth as scary and show women being rescued from their own bodies (usually just in time) by medical staff. You can use this “positive replacement” thinking in every day life too.

Repeat to yourself only positive affirmations such as “My body and baby know just what to do” or “I trust myself” or “My body is just the right size for my baby and my baby will come at just the right time” or “I am strong enough for this.”

Consider that women have done this forever and that while hospital births in the U.S.  became relatively safe around the 1950’s that with medical interventions soaring the rate of fetal and maternal mortality is about the same as when the c-section rate was  10%.  High-risk mom is a relatively new term and prior to this these women birthed spontaneously and vaginally the vast majority of the time.

Women all over the world are with you in this and you can draw on that primal love and energy.

Ways positive lifestyle and self-affirming thinking help you:

• Movement and healthy eating during pregnancy mean you are more likely to be healthy in general and more likely that baby will gravitate to optimal fetal positions.
• When you trust yourself your stress-hormone levels decrease meaning increased steady  blood flow to yourself and baby.
• As a self-advocate you trust yourself to find and keep a care provider who listens to you and who trusts women.
• You follow your instinct as to aim for a physiologic birth, medically managed birth or one with elements of both.
• Knowing that you can trust yourself to birth  your body-mind connection works in your favor. So you “release” when your baby’s hormones change as he/she is ready. This causes spontaneous labor,  and the love hormone oxytocin which decreases your pain sensations and causes your uterus to contract efficiently.
• Listen to your body and know when to say yes or no to tests. As you know the more tests the more interventions.  When you say “yes” to a test do so knowing this is the best choice for you.
• Know that your pregnancy, birth and role as a mom are about you and not something being done to you.

Sincerely, Doula Woman at doulawoman.com.

 

Doulas near Milwaukee: Milwaukee doulas at Doula Woman post about due date.

A first full-term pregnancy naturally is about 41.4 weeks on average.

I looked up some studies and learned the way “due dates” are prescribed does not quite add up. Apparently some guy…a hundred plus years ago devised the “your period” plus seven days method. It was unclear, however, if that meant from start  of period (used now) or end of your period. 

Day of sexual intercourse and day of conception are not always equal either. Sperm can easily live up to 5 days or so meaning conception could be close to a week after sex.

And some women ovulate before or after mid-cycle or before or after 14 days from start of last menstrual period.

Put all of the above plus what you intuitively know together and two women with the same due date could easily be  two weeks apart in gestation.

Why is this important you may ask? The reason is most women get many tests during pregnancy and these tests cause more tests and often interventions such as induced labor and c-section. The tests cause the interventions and medical reasons for the interventions are usually given.  Many of these tests in full or in part are based on the premise of due date and on the premise that all fetuses and women should follow a predetermined course of development.

Just to consider…should you care to.

Sincerely

Martha at doulawomen.com or 262-902-8714 or doulawoman@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doulas in Milwaukee: Milwaukee doula at Doulawoman.com post on motherhood.

Now that I am a seasoned and spunky doula at age 50 “some” I share that I still remember the births, first few days, and the first few weeks and months of parenting each of my children.  To say something is “so unique” is redundant but applicable here. As a new mom to your baby, this particular baby, your emotions, highs, lows, bodily appearance and functions, mental state (if you can de-fog enough to find your mental state), etc. all smoosh and slosh and blend and diffuse and combat in ways never known before.

What this means is  the plans you made, the classes you took, the stories you heard a, the you-tube videos…well it may be that little or none of those apply.

So, it’s up to you. You can just go with it. You can do what ever is needed to  maintain basic sanity. Or you may  just crash. In any event  remember that you you are not alone. If you feel to be alone then reach out…reach out to a stranger if you need to. YOU are important: for yourself alone and for your baby.

Doulas near Milwaukee: Doula on politics and doulas in Milwaukee by Doula Woman Martha

Today I cross the taboo that doulas cannot talk politics. I can and I do.

I do this because so many (actually all and others too) of my clients are on the spectrum of frazzled to clinically depressed about bringing a baby into the world in this political climate of 2/1/17.

Mamas, you have so much power. Your love to your baby, the strength of that love and your knowledge that YES, women have birthed in tough times before and our collective maternal love and maternal strength has made the world turn forever IS enough.

Love is stronger than hate and I quote this cliche mindfully.

Sincerely, Martha at Doulawoman.com. 262-902-8714.

 

 

 

Doula in Milwaukee: Milwaukee Doula Martha posting on partner support

Birth doula clients often ask “what do you do for my partner?” The answer is many things and very circumstance dependent. Examples

• talk during prenatals to inform your partner and build his/her advocacy role.
• step in part-time or full-time if your partner is not into labor and birth stuff.
• suggest ways for your partner to help you during pregnancy and labor.
• acknowledge and work with the the dynamics of you and your partner as a couple.
• stay with you while your partner takes a break.
• magnify the energy of your partners support.
• pick up your partners’ cues as I pick your own cues….and more.