Birth Plans

Did you know that Pitocin is the most commonly used drug for inductions in the US?  Did you also know that it is classified as a “high-alert” drug, and half of all paid legal claims involve pitocin? So why is … Read More

Positive affirmations are short, positive statements that can be used during labor by the mother or the support person as a way of creating a positive attitude toward birth and labor pain. Sometimes negative thoughts hinder the body from progressing … Read More

In my course, I teach a different way of making birth plans.  These  birth plans allow for planning as well as flexibility.  It is also not just a list of things the mom wants, but a plan for both the … Read More

We realize that not everyone will be celebrating the Christian world’s most beloved holiday of the year. Yet perhaps we might ask for your indulgence for just a moment. I invite you to consider the great birth story at the … Read More

One of our students prepared a birth plan for a client who would be dealing with anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells typically resulting in weariness) during her labor. With our student’s permission we are reproducing her plan on … Read More

In one of our assignment in the main doula course, we ask our students to take into consideration the medical diagnosis of their patient while developing a personalized birth plan.  What follows is the response that we got from one … Read More

As doulas, helpers often immersed in a medical field, it is important to continue our education about the people we are supporting and keep up with changes that need to be made. I personally love writing these blogs, because I … Read More

Is it safe to eat and drink in labor?  Current research says yes, it is!  Nourishing mothers during labor is very important. However, the medical model of care and the midwifery model of care differ greatly in their practices on … Read More

The more I work with women in birth, the more I realize that spirituality plays a role in many people’s births.  This may include a simple prayer or long meditations the mother uses to connect herself to the divine with … Read More

In childbirth and motherhood there are inevitably losses of many kinds. I’ve mentioned my own loss when I had a miscarriage. What was the most difficult for me at the time was the many unanswered questions. Why did it happen? … Read More