Labor Doula 2

Applying the Foundational Attitudes of Mindfulness to Your Doula Practice

April 13, 2020 (EDT) / 6 minutes of reading / Doula, Labor Doula, Parenthood, Self-Care / 1 Comment

Mindfulness meditation is one of the fastest-growing health trends in the United States, according to the CDC. But what is mindfulness, and why might it be helpful for your work as a professional doula? Mindfulness is “The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, in Purser, 2015). …

Applying the Foundational Attitudes of Mindfulness to Your Doula Practice Continue reading »

Supporting Labor Clients During COVID-19 Pandemic

March 17, 2020 (EDT) / 5 minutes of reading / Labor Doula, News

Your CAPPA Labor Doula Faculty team would like to share some ideas for supporting your clients if hospitals are not allowing doulas to provide support during labor. Please remember that it is your professional responsibility to follow CDC recommendations including staying home if you have any type of illness symptoms, following proper hand washing protocols, …

Supporting Labor Clients During COVID-19 Pandemic Continue reading »

Your Badge of Honor

March 9, 2020 (EDT) / 3 minutes of reading / Labor Doula / 1 Comment

How many births have you attended? Your badge of honor. The one piece of information that proves to your clients that you know what you are doing as a birth doula. I have been reflecting on this maxim, do the number of births a doula has attended equal her value as a professional? And how …

Your Badge of Honor Continue reading »

Our Heads, Our Hearts, and Our Hands Need Support Too

February 18, 2020 (EST) / 5 minutes of reading / Labor Doula

As labor doulas, we often say that our favorite and essential things we bring to births are our heads, our hearts, and our hands. We bring our heads which are full of wisdom, information, and knowledge pertaining to birth to help in each unique birth setting. We bring our hearts as caring advocates for our …

Our Heads, Our Hearts, and Our Hands Need Support Too Continue reading »

25 Tips for Labor Doulas from Hospital Nurses

January 13, 2020 (EST) / 6 minutes of reading / Labor Doula / 1 Comment

I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with hundreds of nurses during my career as a labor doula. Whenever we have a blend of professions like Labor & Delivery Nurses and Labor Doulas, it can be a tricky situation to navigate. I truly believe everyone has the client’s best interests in mind, however sometimes …

25 Tips for Labor Doulas from Hospital Nurses Continue reading »

Running in Pregnancy

January 6, 2020 (EST) / 5 minutes of reading / Labor Doula / 1 Comment

The number of people who run is continuing to climb, so more and more we find our clients are asking if it is ok to continue to run during pregnancy. The answer to that is twofold. As a pregnancy fitness educator, personal trainer, running coach and birth professional the basic answer is yes; however… In …

Running in Pregnancy Continue reading »

Cord Clamping: Patience Pays Off

August 26, 2019 (EDT) / 3 minutes of reading / Educating, Labor Doula / 1 Comment

Did you know that when your baby is born, 30% of his or her blood will still be in the placenta? Waiting to clamp and cut the cord will allow your baby to receive this vital blood. Babies who get delayed cord clamping, or as it is now being called, appropriately timed cord clamping, have …

Cord Clamping: Patience Pays Off Continue reading »

What We Know About Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

April 22, 2019 (EDT) / 10 minutes of reading / Educating, Labor Doula, Lactation, Postpartum / 1 Comment

I have spent the last two decades as a birth worker, doula trainer, and labor & delivery and maternal child health nurse. I have been able to support families from prenatal education and yoga, labor and delivery, to watching children and families grow in so many directions. I have been hearing the same question tossed …

What We Know About Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Continue reading »

Helping Clients Embrace Medical Intervention

April 22, 2019 (EDT) / 9 minutes of reading / Home Birth, Labor Doula / 5 Comments

I am betting THAT got your attention! As labor doulas, as childbirth educators, we spend much of our time helping clients who have asked us to help them avoid routine medical intervention. Not every couple who attends childbirth classes or hires a doula wants an unmedicated birth, but it has been my experience that most …

Helping Clients Embrace Medical Intervention Continue reading »

5 Tips for Supporting a Home Birth Labor Doula Client

January 23, 2019 (EST) / 6 minutes of reading / Home Birth, Labor Doula

I came into doula work shortly after the birth of my first son who was a #borderbaby. I was one of the few Alabama woman who choose to birth across the state line to Tennessee to receive care from a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and have an out-of-hospital (OOH) birth. This choice was easy for …

5 Tips for Supporting a Home Birth Labor Doula Client Continue reading »