January Yoga Schedule

c/o daughter of the sun

Mothers and mothers-to-be join together for a 75 minute practice to prepare for labor and birth.  We focus on strengthening key muscles,  relaxation techniques that are helpful during labor, and yoga poses to promote optimal fetal positioning.  We also focus on alleviating common ailments during pregnancy for happier and healthier mamas and babies.

Class meets Sunday mornings at 10, January 12, 19 and 26 at Restore,  401 N. 23rd Street.

Space is limited. To reserve email rachaelgtaylor@gmail.com.

Donations welcome.

For Parents: A Guide to Interviewing Doulas

Finding, interviewing and choosing the perfect doula can be time consuming and tricky!  To all parents, and especially first-time parents, the process can seem overwhelming because who you choose to be present at your child's birth can literally make-or-break the situation.  Having the perfect team: a loving partner, a midwife or doctor you trust, and a doula who provides unconditional comfort and support is key to having a satisfying birth experience.

If you decide to go the doula route (and I might be biased, but everyone should!) you have find, interview and hire a stranger to provide you comfort during a beautiful but vulnerable period of you and your partner's lives.  Finding the right person is paramount, and during a short interview, it can be hard to get to know someone well enough to make an informed decision.  Here are a few talking points  and tips to help open conversation so that you can really get to know your potential doulas and find your perfect doula match!

1. Describe your birth doula philosophy.

Understanding a doula's birth philosophy will help you understand how she will care for you.  A good doula understands it is her job to support you and your partner's decisions whether they are in line with the decisions she would make herself.  

 

2.  How would you describe your relationship with local providers?

This cues you in on how she sees her role as a doula.  If a doula has positive relationships with care providers, then the chances of having a peaceful birthing room are greater.  A good doula has mastered the art of facilitating communication between you, your partner and your provider, and should add ease to the situation, not tension.  

 

4.  Tell me about a challenging birth you have experienced and what you did to better the situation?

As a doula, challenging births have been points of professional growth.  Knowing how she has supported families through challenging situations may inform you how she will support you and your partner if something complicated or unexpected arises.

5.  How long have you been a doula and what certifications do you hold?

This one is pretty straight forward.  Many doulas base their fees on experience, and it is helpful to know how long someone has been in the industry.

6.  What special services set you apart from other doulas?

Every doula has a unique outlook and skill set to offer her families.  Some offer Reiki, yoga, birth photography and other services, so find out what is included or can be added on to their birth doula services.

Facts aside, it is most important to find the doula you love.  Kind of cheesy, I know, but with every one of my clients, I have felt a genuine sense of comfort and natural ease.  We just worked well together. I truly believe that there is the right doula for every mother and father-to-be, and that you just have to interview a good number of candidates and trust your intuition to find your perfect doula match.

To find doulas in your area check out www.dona.org, www.doulamatch.net, or search for local doula groups.

Prenatal Yoga in Church Hill

Come one, come all! Join together with other mothers-to-be (or send your clients) to prepare your body for labor and birth. Donations will be graciously accepted! 

So You're Meeting With a Potential Client...

In the early days of doulahood, meeting with new clients can be nerve-wracking! You have to take all the things you've learned and articulate professionally to a mother-to-be (and potentially a dad-to-be) why having a skilled labor companion is of value to them during labor and birth. So, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the guidelines I found work for me.

• Listen.  When meeting with a client, it is more important to listen than to fill the space asking questions. More than likely they will answer the questions you would ask anyway in natural conversation.  If you are doing most of the talking, you won't be able to sense how they feel, after all, the meeting serves for you both to become more acquainted with each other and for you to learn how you can be of service to her during a very vulnerable but beautiful process of her life.
• Be present for the meeting. This seems like an obvious one, but you would be surprised how many mothers-to-be have brought up the fact that a potential doula's use of technology (texting, etc.) changed their mind about hiring said doula.  If you aren't present during the meeting, how can they expect you to be fully present during birth?
• Ask key questions.  Asking key questions works to facilitate conversation.  Remember, even though some things seem obvious, it is better to ask and talk about them so everyone is on the same page.  It is better than being blindsided during labor!  A few questions I return to are:

Who are you delivering with and what is your estimated due date?

How do you envision your birth?

What are you most afraid of in terms of your birth?

How do you feel about interventions, and how strong are those feelings?

When you are feeling sick/anxious/tired what helps you feel better?

What are your pet peeves?

What do you think I can do to help you have your best birth?



• And remember, these questions are points of conversation.  Sometimes moms are still figuring out exactly what their hopes and wishes are for labor and birth. Some moms work out the details of their birth best by talking through different options with their doula and partner.
• Include her partner. When asking questions, it is really important to include her partner in on the conversation since they will be able to offer a different perspective.  Remember, a father's fears during labor can transfer to the mother, so it is vital to understand what everyone's fears and hopes are for their baby's entrance to the world.

I hope this helps other doulas work out their client meeting process!  I find that it works well for me to have two meetings prior to birth.  One to get to know one another and become familiar with their birth hopes and another to talk more specific comfort measures and how her partner and I can be of service throughout the different stages of labor.  If this first meeting is also serving as an informal interview, I find it handy to keep a copy of my birth agreement tucked away so that if they ask for details on fees and services they are able to see exactly what I am able to provide for them, and sometimes if you're lucky they want to sign right away to block off the space in your calendar!