This is just a short one as my little man is not too well but if you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Myth: You cannot have a doula when you are having a cesarean
Fact: Yes you can!
A cesarean is still your birth! You still deserve a doula! A cesarean can even to some extent be a gentle experience.
I never had a doula present at my cesarean births although I did have a fantastic doula due to it being very rushed (turned into an emergency) and I never got a chance to even call her (or my husband) before being whisked off - thankfully nurses at least called my husband and he made it in - just! Anyway back to topic. The point of the last section was that I cannot speak from my own experience in this article only from my experience as a doula.
Lets begin:
What is a gentle cesarean?
A gentle cesarean is a more natural approach to a c-section, we cannot change the fact that it is major surgery but we can make it a more pleasant experience, especially if this was something you were not originally hoping for.
What I love about a gentle c-section is that mirrors are placed so that mum can watch the baby be born and not feel seperated from her own birthing experience by the sheet they usually hang up.
Music is in the room, it is peaceful, it is different from your average operating theatre.
Delayed clamping! The clamp is not immediately cut if you do not wish for it to be.
With a gentle c-section everyone on your birthing team will try to make it as much of a natural birth as possible or immitate where possible such as not pulling baby out straight away, sometimes the head is born and then baby is allowed to rest for a minute before the body is born, much like a vaginal birth.
Mum actually gets skin to skin contact immediately after birth and is allowed to breastfeed as soon as she wants.
Why have a doula at a cesarean birth?The same reasons you would at a vaginal birth! For support, encouragement, guidance etc. Many doulas even take photos of the birth for you so that the birth partner can be right by your side.
Will my hospital allow it?This is where I would LOVE to say yes of course they will! But sadly not all do. This is something to be discussed with caregiver, doula and expectant parents. As hospitals and doulas are coming together more and the way we birth is changing having a doula present at a c-section is becoming less frowned upon and more accepted especially in a gentle cesearean setting.
Wednesday 5 November 2014
Saturday 21 June 2014
Why is a postpartum doula valuable?
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is usually hired to help the family adjust to life with a new baby, to help siblings adjust and make sure the family are coping well.
The last thing new parents want to do is the grocery shopping or cooking meals. A postpartum doula can do your errands and chores for you.
We can also provide breastfeeding support (I am also a breastfeeding counsellor), occupy siblings as you feed baby or bond with baby or even take a shower or a nap.
It is hard to say exactly what a postpartum doula does because it changes with every families needs.
What qualifications do I have to help your family?
I have a number of qualifications to assist with helping families.
I am a birth doula, breastfeeding counsellor, placenta encapsulation specialist, bereavement doula and also a trainee postpartum doula (with current working with children's check) and am only 1 client away from qualifying and I am also a trainee childbirth educator.
What can I offer your family?
I provide meals for families with new babies, I also do light housework and laundry.
I can run errands such as go the post office, pick up groceries and organise referrals to other health care providers.
I have knowledge on breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth nappies, multiples, circumcision, extended rear facing of car seats, natural parenting and remedies and much more.
Why do I believe a postpartum doula is important?
A postpartum doula is there to mother the mother, make sure she is well fed, relaxed and enjoying being a mother. It is also my job to make sure dad is not overwhelmed and feels involved and comfortable in his role. My job is also to educate families about things such as breastfeeding, baby care, helping a sibling cope with a new addition. Instead of mothering the mother however I like to refer to it as nurturing the family, I believe it is very important to include all family members.
I am there to look out for signs that mum may not be coping and help to make things easier and refer to a GP or health nurse is postpartum depression is suspected.
An entire difference to a families day can be made by knowing a healthy meal is made or prepared, mum has showered and rested and baby is fed and relaxed.
A postpartum doula is also fantastic because we provide in home care and one on one support.
Who might use a postpartum doula?
Absolutely ANY family with a new baby can use a postpartum doula, many people assume since I am also a breastfeeding counsellor and often mention breastfeeding support that only breastfeeding families can use my services, this is NOT true at all. Our services are more common with:
First time parents
Parents with other small children
Families with little or no other support
Families who have just had or expecting multiples (twins, triplets etc)
Families prone to depression
Families who want to learn more
Why dads love postpartum doulas
Dads have mentioned that they love postpartum doulas because:
- The pressure is taken off of them to do everything while mum recovers and bonds
- They too have time to bond with someone there to help out
- They can return to work guilt free knowing they aren't leaving mum alone to cope of with a family member she maybe uncomfortable with
There are many more reasons but these are the most frequent responses.
So what are you waiting for? Book a postpartum doula for yourself or a friend today!
Thursday 13 March 2014
Uses for breast milk other than breastfeeding
We all know liquid
gold, mommy milk, boob juice or whatever your family calls it is precious and has
so many benefits for your baby. But did you know it has other uses too?
The list of things breast milk can be used for gets longer as time goes by and people learn more and more about how truly magical breast milk is.
Breast milk can be healing because it contains immunologic agents which help to fight various parasites and viruses and because breast milk is sterile and anti-bacterial it can even help to heal wounds!
What else can breast milk do?
Do you or a family member have a cold or sinus problems?
Stuffy noses – Squirt a few drops or breast milk up the nose instead of saline to clear up a blocked nose.
Puffy eyes – dab breast milk onto the puffy area using a cotton ball.
Sore throat – rinse and gargle with breast milk to soothe a sore throat.
Other common complaints
Pink eye/Conjunctivitis – A few drops of breast milk in the affected family members eye will start cleaning and healing the eye, since breast milk is natural you can do this as often as needed unlike many eye drops.
Eczema/Dry skin – Apply a layer of breast milk on the affected area and allow it to air dry.
Ear infections – Squirt a few drops of breast milk into the ear to relieve pain and begin the healing process.
Nappy/diaper rash – Use breast milk to prevent and heal the rash.
Cradle cap – Apply to baby’s head a few times a day to reduce cradle cap.
Cracked/sore nipples – Applying breast milk to sore and cracked nipples is the best thing to heal them quickly and safely, it is also great to use when nipples aren’t cracked to keep them supple.
This one is just for the parents *wink, wink* for the nights parenthood gives you a break and you feel the need for a bit of passion breast milk makes a wonderful sexual lubricant!
You can also cook with breast milk, where you would usually add formula or cow’s milk add some breast milk to the family meals or just your child’s if you’d prefer! It can also be used to thin a puree you have frozen.
Another great use when consuming breast milk is breast milk ice lollies/icy poles.
The list of things breast milk can be used for gets longer as time goes by and people learn more and more about how truly magical breast milk is.
Breast milk can be healing because it contains immunologic agents which help to fight various parasites and viruses and because breast milk is sterile and anti-bacterial it can even help to heal wounds!
What else can breast milk do?
Do you or a family member have a cold or sinus problems?
Stuffy noses – Squirt a few drops or breast milk up the nose instead of saline to clear up a blocked nose.
Puffy eyes – dab breast milk onto the puffy area using a cotton ball.
Sore throat – rinse and gargle with breast milk to soothe a sore throat.
Other common complaints
Pink eye/Conjunctivitis – A few drops of breast milk in the affected family members eye will start cleaning and healing the eye, since breast milk is natural you can do this as often as needed unlike many eye drops.
Eczema/Dry skin – Apply a layer of breast milk on the affected area and allow it to air dry.
Ear infections – Squirt a few drops of breast milk into the ear to relieve pain and begin the healing process.
Nappy/diaper rash – Use breast milk to prevent and heal the rash.
Cradle cap – Apply to baby’s head a few times a day to reduce cradle cap.
Cracked/sore nipples – Applying breast milk to sore and cracked nipples is the best thing to heal them quickly and safely, it is also great to use when nipples aren’t cracked to keep them supple.
This one is just for the parents *wink, wink* for the nights parenthood gives you a break and you feel the need for a bit of passion breast milk makes a wonderful sexual lubricant!
You can also cook with breast milk, where you would usually add formula or cow’s milk add some breast milk to the family meals or just your child’s if you’d prefer! It can also be used to thin a puree you have frozen.
Another great use when consuming breast milk is breast milk ice lollies/icy poles.
A recipe example that my babies love to this day even is:
Popsicle moulds
Expressed breast milk
Simply pour breast milk into the moulds and freeze, these are GREAT for teething babies
Relaxation
You can make soaps and shampoos from breast milk too!
You can make body lotions and creams.
Breast milk can also be poured into a bath to smooth and soften the skin.
These are just a small handful of alternate uses for breast milk. Maybe you’d like to comment with some of the things you have used breast milk for.
Popsicle moulds
Expressed breast milk
Simply pour breast milk into the moulds and freeze, these are GREAT for teething babies
Relaxation
You can make soaps and shampoos from breast milk too!
You can make body lotions and creams.
Breast milk can also be poured into a bath to smooth and soften the skin.
These are just a small handful of alternate uses for breast milk. Maybe you’d like to comment with some of the things you have used breast milk for.
Friday 31 January 2014
What Placenta Encapsulation Can Do For You
Placenta
Encapsulation – What is it and how can it help you?
Nicole Seamons CLD(CBI), PBI
Nicole Seamons CLD(CBI), PBI
Placenta has been consumed by women
for centuries. Some cultures even hold rituals. Most western cultures now
however frown upon it or consider the placenta medical waste. A lot of birthing
women won’t even look at the placenta after birth let alone consume it. Should
you reconsider that? I believe so!
Let me tell you how the placenta can benefit you AFTER you have had your baby.
s Helps rebalance your hormones & increase energy ~ If you’ve had a baby before you may remember around day 3-5 what is known as the baby blues, those periods of crying or being angry at everyone around you. There are 8 hormones said to impact a woman during the postpartum period (Thyriod T3 & T4, Prolactin, Cortisol, CRH, Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Progesterone and Estrogen) because the levels of these hormones drop significantly after the delivery of the placenta. By consuming the placenta you are adding these hormones back to your body reducing the risks of negative feeling and even postpartum depression which is linked to these hormones.
sReduce postpartum bleeding & shrinking of the uterus ~ The shrinking of the uterus is stimulated by a high level of Prostaglandins which are a group of biologically active compounds, it also helps slow down postpartum bleeding and reduces the risk of postpartum anemia.
sPostpartum anemia ~ During childbirth (vaginal or caesarean) we lose blood and continue to lose blood for a few weeks after, the placenta is filled with iron being a blood filled organ by consuming the placenta the iron levels won’t drop so dramatically if at all.
sPain relief ~ The placenta is filled with natural opioid enhancing factors which act as a natural pain reliever, amniotic fluid is even greater and can provide more of a pain relief than the placenta. The advantage to a natural pain reliever like amniotic fluid and the placenta is that the mother isn’t effected by any side effects that many synthetic pain relievers have.
sIncreases milk supply ~ In a study conducted by Soykova 210 women who were struggling with milk supply were given dried placenta in test conditions and an amazing 86% noticed fast improvements in the amounts of milk they were producing, some results were so great that they had increased production of up to 70g per feed!
Let me tell you how the placenta can benefit you AFTER you have had your baby.
s Helps rebalance your hormones & increase energy ~ If you’ve had a baby before you may remember around day 3-5 what is known as the baby blues, those periods of crying or being angry at everyone around you. There are 8 hormones said to impact a woman during the postpartum period (Thyriod T3 & T4, Prolactin, Cortisol, CRH, Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Progesterone and Estrogen) because the levels of these hormones drop significantly after the delivery of the placenta. By consuming the placenta you are adding these hormones back to your body reducing the risks of negative feeling and even postpartum depression which is linked to these hormones.
sReduce postpartum bleeding & shrinking of the uterus ~ The shrinking of the uterus is stimulated by a high level of Prostaglandins which are a group of biologically active compounds, it also helps slow down postpartum bleeding and reduces the risk of postpartum anemia.
sPostpartum anemia ~ During childbirth (vaginal or caesarean) we lose blood and continue to lose blood for a few weeks after, the placenta is filled with iron being a blood filled organ by consuming the placenta the iron levels won’t drop so dramatically if at all.
sPain relief ~ The placenta is filled with natural opioid enhancing factors which act as a natural pain reliever, amniotic fluid is even greater and can provide more of a pain relief than the placenta. The advantage to a natural pain reliever like amniotic fluid and the placenta is that the mother isn’t effected by any side effects that many synthetic pain relievers have.
sIncreases milk supply ~ In a study conducted by Soykova 210 women who were struggling with milk supply were given dried placenta in test conditions and an amazing 86% noticed fast improvements in the amounts of milk they were producing, some results were so great that they had increased production of up to 70g per feed!
The placenta doesn’t stop benefiting
you after the postpartum period, the capsules can be frozen and taken during
hard time or leading up to and during menstruation when hormones are raging.
So now you know the benefits how is
the placenta encapsulated? A placenta encapsulation specialist will do this
either in your home or a special workspace of their own. If you birth in a
hospital it is most likely it will be encapsulated at the specialists house or
workplace so you can have the capsules before you are discharged (based on the
average 3 day stay) where as a homebirth is entirely up to you where you’d
prefer the specialist to encapsulate the placenta.
Once the placenta is in the hands of the specialist they will rinse and remove membranes and the cord (this is after doing placenta prints if you’d like them) what happens now depends on which method you choose;
Traditional Chinese Medicine Method - The oldest method and also the most commonly used. Labour is considered to be Yin which means cold, it is believed the process of labour and birth leaves a lot of open and empty space. The TCM of encapsulation is Yang which means warm because of the spices, herbs and steaming involved in the encapsulation process. By adding warm energy it is believed to help postpartum healing even further and for longer since some believe that since the raw method is considered cold it isn't suitable for longer term use (when period returns, menopause etc)
Traditionally used ingredients such as lemongrass (or lemon when this is not available), ginger and peppers all add a warm energy then the placenta is steamed, the steamed placenta is then dehydrated, ground and placed into capsules, the result is an energy balanced placenta remedy that is nourishing and warm.
Raw Method - This method is based on the more modern beliefs that heat destroys vital enzymes. When using this method most specialists will not go above 50°C as many believe that the heat would kill lots of nutrients and the hormones we are trying to add back to the body. The placenta is then sliced and dehydrated then ground and put in capsules.
What else can be done with your placenta? Yes there is more! A placenta balm can be made (HIGHLY recommended for c-section mothers) simply open up a capsule and mix with a natural oil such as coconut oil and rub on nappy rash, eczema, c-section scars *should not be used on viral or bacterial infections*
A tincture can also be made which is where a slice or raw placenta is placed into alcohol and steeped for 6 weeks it is very beneficial during PMS and menopause as it is used for emotional, mental and physiological instability but should not be used instead of seeking medical advice with signs of depression or mental illness.
It is time the world saw what a beautiful organ the placenta is and the amazing thing it can do for women all around the world.
Sources: My own learnings from studying with PBi (Placenta Benefits info)
A rainbow doula
www.arainbowdoula.com.au
www.arainbowdoula.blogspot.com.au
www.facebook.com/arainbowdoula
Once the placenta is in the hands of the specialist they will rinse and remove membranes and the cord (this is after doing placenta prints if you’d like them) what happens now depends on which method you choose;
Traditional Chinese Medicine Method - The oldest method and also the most commonly used. Labour is considered to be Yin which means cold, it is believed the process of labour and birth leaves a lot of open and empty space. The TCM of encapsulation is Yang which means warm because of the spices, herbs and steaming involved in the encapsulation process. By adding warm energy it is believed to help postpartum healing even further and for longer since some believe that since the raw method is considered cold it isn't suitable for longer term use (when period returns, menopause etc)
Traditionally used ingredients such as lemongrass (or lemon when this is not available), ginger and peppers all add a warm energy then the placenta is steamed, the steamed placenta is then dehydrated, ground and placed into capsules, the result is an energy balanced placenta remedy that is nourishing and warm.
Raw Method - This method is based on the more modern beliefs that heat destroys vital enzymes. When using this method most specialists will not go above 50°C as many believe that the heat would kill lots of nutrients and the hormones we are trying to add back to the body. The placenta is then sliced and dehydrated then ground and put in capsules.
What else can be done with your placenta? Yes there is more! A placenta balm can be made (HIGHLY recommended for c-section mothers) simply open up a capsule and mix with a natural oil such as coconut oil and rub on nappy rash, eczema, c-section scars *should not be used on viral or bacterial infections*
A tincture can also be made which is where a slice or raw placenta is placed into alcohol and steeped for 6 weeks it is very beneficial during PMS and menopause as it is used for emotional, mental and physiological instability but should not be used instead of seeking medical advice with signs of depression or mental illness.
It is time the world saw what a beautiful organ the placenta is and the amazing thing it can do for women all around the world.
Sources: My own learnings from studying with PBi (Placenta Benefits info)
A rainbow doula
www.arainbowdoula.com.au
www.arainbowdoula.blogspot.com.au
www.facebook.com/arainbowdoula
Thursday 30 January 2014
Certification
It is with great pleasure I can show you this certificate.
I completed my course with very high marks (majority of exams were completed with a 96% mark or above a number even 100%) and I did my qualifying birth some time ago. My certificate arrived in the mail last week and I am so very proud of it.
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