Wednesday 13 April 2016
PAR (aka Parenting A Rainbow) by A Rainbow Doula
PAR - Parenting A Rainbow
This program combines 2 of my qualifications. I am a trained postpartum doula and a trained bereavement doula, together with these skills I have created PAR.
PAR is different from my usual postpartum work because this focuses on pregnancy and/or bringing home a baby after loss.
I myself am a Rainbow Parent (I have living children after the death of a child) so I also have experience in some of the insecurities expecting rainbow parents can be feeling.
PAR will be mainly be focusing on postpartum help within the home, helping parents adjust to a new baby. If you feel you would like extra support with your pregnancy and birth please discuss our birth packages which I can provide extra support for anyone who needs it.
We often feel guilt that a new baby is replacing a baby we have lost, this isn't true but is a common feeling.
We feel mixed emotions that the nursery is being used by a new baby.
Parenting a new baby after a loss can be an emotional time, the most common feelings reported by mums with a new baby after a previous loss are:
- insecurities about parenting
- fear (for baby, for the future)
- worry (about baby, parenting etc)
- guilt
- sadness (especially when new baby meets milestones)
- hurt (when others focus on new baby and "forget" the baby that was lost)
- physical/emotional discomfort
Having a rainbow baby can also be very overwhelming in general, not just emotionally, my job will be to help you through what can be difficult times, be a sounding board and willing ear for your feelings/emotions/fears, to help you physically with your new baby, assist in bonding with your new baby and help with the housework as well as you begin this new journey with your rainbow baby.
Our packages can be found on our website, PAR packages can be found below too, please note these may change in time as we adjust to the needs of Parenting who are raising rainbows.
Package #1
3 prenatal visits to discuss your needs/wants and for me to get a general idea of what support you will need or what could benefit you the most.
20 hours (these can be broken up into blocks of your choice) of postpartum visits
4 x homemade freezer meals
A gift basket
24 hour phone support
$420
Package #2
3 prenatal visits
30 hours postpartum visits
6 x freezer meals
1 x lactation cookies
A gift basket
24 hour phone support
$640
Package #3
4 prenatal visits
40 hours postpartum visits
7 x freezer meals
2 x lactation cookies
A gift basket
24 hour phone support
$880
Extras
Maternity photo shoot: $
Newborn photo shoot: $
Cleaner: $
Additional postpartum hours: $24 per hour
For more information on how a postpartum doula can help you please follow this link http://arainbowdoula.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/why-is-postpartum-doula-valuable.html?m=1
Saturday 26 March 2016
Our Cuddle Cot Mission
As a loss mama I cannot help but think about how our grieving process may have been made easier if we weren't on the clock, if we got to say goodbye in our own time. This is where cuddle cots come in to play. A cot with a built in cooling system that allows bereaved families more time with baby.
The problem however is that these cots are expensive (over $5000) and not every hospital has one. I want that to change, I want every family to be able to have access to a cuddle cot if they need or want one.
Willow's Touch Ballarat Doula is a branch of A Rainbow Doula and we are working together with Emerikus Land Foundation to raise the funds for at least one cuddle cot. On April 8th we are having a charity auction over at The Crafty Butterfly in an effort to raise a good chunk of the funds. Businesses are coming together to donate which is a fabulous thing to see. We still need more donations and more likers over at The Crafty Butterfly.
I really cannot express in words just how much a cuddle cot can change a families life. They get to create more memories with their precious angel. Maybe a heartfelt photographer is a couple of hours away, sometimes they may miss out on the opportunity or the photos need more editing, with a cuddle cot this helps to eliminate those issues that can occur.
Family may live a few hours away and want to meet baby, there are so many scenarios that a cuddle cot can make the world of difference.
Please head on over, please donate if you can, please bid, have fun, share and know you are helping a family say goodbye in their own time.
https://www.facebook.com/Lovethecraftybutterfly/
https://www.mycause.com.au/page/118147/willows-touch-helping-families-say-goodbye-in-their-own-time
The problem however is that these cots are expensive (over $5000) and not every hospital has one. I want that to change, I want every family to be able to have access to a cuddle cot if they need or want one.
Willow's Touch Ballarat Doula is a branch of A Rainbow Doula and we are working together with Emerikus Land Foundation to raise the funds for at least one cuddle cot. On April 8th we are having a charity auction over at The Crafty Butterfly in an effort to raise a good chunk of the funds. Businesses are coming together to donate which is a fabulous thing to see. We still need more donations and more likers over at The Crafty Butterfly.
I really cannot express in words just how much a cuddle cot can change a families life. They get to create more memories with their precious angel. Maybe a heartfelt photographer is a couple of hours away, sometimes they may miss out on the opportunity or the photos need more editing, with a cuddle cot this helps to eliminate those issues that can occur.
Family may live a few hours away and want to meet baby, there are so many scenarios that a cuddle cot can make the world of difference.
Please head on over, please donate if you can, please bid, have fun, share and know you are helping a family say goodbye in their own time.
https://www.facebook.com/Lovethecraftybutterfly/
https://www.mycause.com.au/page/118147/willows-touch-helping-families-say-goodbye-in-their-own-time
Friday 22 January 2016
Can I still encapsulate if we choose a lotus birth?
I will begin by explaining what a Lotus birth is just for those who have not heard of it before.
Lotus birth is the practice of leaving the cord and placenta attached to the baby until it naturally breaks away. This happens usually within 3-10 days and can be practiced in many different birthing situations such as a hospital birth, home birth, water birth even a cesarean section.
The name Lotus birth comes from the first recorded human, Clair Lotus Day, to have a Lotus birth in 1974, a practice before then only commonly known for by Chimpanzees.
What benefits does a lotus birth have?
The baby will receive all of the placental blood from the cord
Baby is less likely to be passed around in those first few days (this also helps baby in being more protected from illness in those first few days)
Parents who have had a lotus birth claim their baby was much calmer compared to babies who had not had a lotus birth
Some believe this helps baby transition into the world
So can you encapsulate and have a lotus birth?
Generally no, unfortunately because the placenta can only be refrigerated for 72 hour max before needing freezing, encapsulation generally happens withing the first 24 hours after birth, the sooner the better. However there may be a solution, though this would depend on how long the cord took to separate, if practiced properly and can still be a gamble. The solution can be found at Wise women way of birth
If you would like to share your lotus birth experiences to be featured in an upcoming article and on our website please email Nicole@arainbowdoula.com.au
Lotus birth is the practice of leaving the cord and placenta attached to the baby until it naturally breaks away. This happens usually within 3-10 days and can be practiced in many different birthing situations such as a hospital birth, home birth, water birth even a cesarean section.
The name Lotus birth comes from the first recorded human, Clair Lotus Day, to have a Lotus birth in 1974, a practice before then only commonly known for by Chimpanzees.
What benefits does a lotus birth have?
The baby will receive all of the placental blood from the cord
Baby is less likely to be passed around in those first few days (this also helps baby in being more protected from illness in those first few days)
Parents who have had a lotus birth claim their baby was much calmer compared to babies who had not had a lotus birth
Some believe this helps baby transition into the world
So can you encapsulate and have a lotus birth?
Generally no, unfortunately because the placenta can only be refrigerated for 72 hour max before needing freezing, encapsulation generally happens withing the first 24 hours after birth, the sooner the better. However there may be a solution, though this would depend on how long the cord took to separate, if practiced properly and can still be a gamble. The solution can be found at Wise women way of birth
If you would like to share your lotus birth experiences to be featured in an upcoming article and on our website please email Nicole@arainbowdoula.com.au
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