Have you thought about the kind of birth you want? The birth of your baby is one of
the most important and memorable days in your life! We can’t plan a good outcome, but we
can certainly plan a good process. A birth plan should be a one-page list mapping out your
preferences, easy to read with bullet points. Talking to your care provider beforehand, about
your desires during your labor and birth, will help you open the lines of communication between
you, your partner and your doctor or midwife.
Did you know you have a choice about what position to be in during childbirth? Well,
you do! You can choose to birth in a squatting position, on all fours, flat on your back, sitting
up, laying on your side, even in a tub of water.
Did you know you have a choice about whether to keep your baby with you at all times after he/she arrives? Yes, you do!
Did you know youhave a choice to have intermittent fetal monitoring versus constant fetal monitoring? You do!
Did you know you have a choice to be mobile during your labor? You absolutely do!
Preparing a birth plan will help you consider and choose from among these options and many more.
As a laboring mother, remember that it’s your body and more importantly your baby.
Do your research and figure out what’s most important to you and write a plan. You won’t be
sorry!
-Lacy Henderson, CLD
Lumina Birth Director
Note: Check out The Lumina Birth Course or our Birth Plan Workshop, or ask your doula, for more guidance on birth plan preferences.
Posted in
Uncategorized at July 19th, 2010.
Every doula carries a bag of supplies and tools to birth that can be of help to the laboring mother. Here’s a sample of what we’ve got to support both mom and dad:
-massager tools (rollers, rolling pin, tennis ball, cold can of soda)
-essential oils (for aromatherapy)
-massage oil or lotion
-garden kneeler pad (for mom on hands/knees position, or support person kneeling beside mom/bed/tub)
-snacks (for doula or dad)
-change of clothes (birth involves body fluids!)
-jacket (hospital rooms can be freezing even in July, especially if mom is hot and wants the AC cranking)
-cash (parking, snack machines, food)
-hot packs
-rice sock
-reference book (a good book for looking up info for parents as needed, like “The Birth Partner”)
-straws & spoons (it’s much easier to drink from a straw or take ice from a spoon than to tip the cup up)
-note paper & client file (our info about you and a way to take notes during your birth)
-camera (couples’ cameras can run out of memory or battery power at the worst times!)
-rebozo (a long cloth for helping mom with comfort measures during labor)
-gum (bad breath at 2am is not good when dad or doula need to be close to mom’s face!)
-ginger tea (helps mom with nausea)
-EmergenC (for if mom or birth team need a pick-me-up during labor)
-lolly pops (great for some sugar stimulus and for that roof-of-the-mouth labor pressure point)
Your doula remembers to bring these tools so you don’t have to! Your job is to let go and let labor happen. Turn your thoughts off and go into “labor land,” trusting the birth team, preparation, and planning you’ve worked to build. Enjoy the special time of bonding with your baby through your labor and birth together!
~ Jenn Purdy, CLD, CCCE (CAPPA)
birth doula & childbirth educator
Posted in
Uncategorized at June 15th, 2010.
A pregnant friend is now empowered for birth because of our web site. That’s why we do what we do!
Posted in
Uncategorized at June 6th, 2010.
RT @mercola: My latest on @huffingtonpost – Why You Shouldn’t Drink Pasteurized Milk http://ow.ly/1TU6v #milk #dairy#milkallergy
Posted in
Uncategorized at June 4th, 2010.
