As labor doulas and childbirth educators, we prepare our clients with information about routine interventions. We go over the benefits, risks and alternatives to these interventions, equipping parents to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies. But no one has to place a needle in an arm to alter the course of a …
As a labor and postpartum doula, I have supported a number of single moms by choice, helping them navigate the challenges of birthing and parenting without the benefit of a partner. The unique needs of these clients can sometimes be challenging both emotionally and physically for anyone supporting them during this life changing time. First …
Early in my doula career, I remember working with a family who knew they wanted a doula to support them through their pregnancy and birth. This particular mother had a previous birth that she felt didn’t go well and felt like she was pressured into unnecessary interventions. She was nervous about going back to the …
When a person gets pregnant, they unconsciously develop an internal vision about how they expect their birth will unfold. Their personal history and beliefs, their birth team, their coworkers, friends and family, and the media all influence this expectation—which causes the birthing person to make assumptions about what is true. This is especially so with …
Reframing Cesarean Birth ( Submitted by CAPPA Member Colleen Goidel ) Continue reading »
Why do families preserve newborn stem cells? Both cord blood and cord tissue are rich sources of newborn stem cells. Stem cells are the body’s “master cells,” helping to build organ tissues, blood, and the immune system. Cord blood predominantly contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which form the blood and immune systems. Mesenchymal stem cells …
Newborn Stem Cell Preservation FAQs for CAPPA Continue reading »
Parents face many decisions while planning for the birth of a baby. Deciding whether to delay cord clamping – and for how long – can be a tough decision because medical recommendations are evolving, and it’s easy to find contradicting information about the risks and benefits for both mom and baby. No wonder parents are …
We all know we have to have a social media presence these days to market ourselves. It is a great way tell the world about us and the services and support we offer. There are many experts that will attest to this and please listen to them to get your presence felt. If you are …
5 Ways Postpartum Doulas Can Achieve Marketing Success Without Instagram Continue reading »
Lactation education is in higher demand than ever. Social media has allowed for mass promotion of breastfeeding. This visible acceptance and saturation on the web, coupled with continued public health agencies echoing the importance of breastfeeding has families searching for high-quality, available classes in their areas. Breastfeeding can be the great equalizer. It is imperative …
One BILLION users! That is the number of people using Instagram. Approximately 60% of those users are aged 18-29 and are heavily influenced by businesses on Instagram. About 58% of users identify as women. With the average age of birthing persons being 26, this gives us a clue as to why this platform can be useful for birth workers. …
Traditionally the scope of practice for doula support whether prenatal, labor or postpartum has been emotional, physical and educational support for mom and her family. “Mothering the mother” is an outstanding obligation giving women among other things a voice, empowerment and education assisting them in having the best birth outcomes possible. How would birth outcomes change …
Shifting the Philosophy of Care to Support Dad and the Non-Birthing Parent Continue reading »