Five Activities for the Final Weeks (or days) of Your Pregnancy

The last weeks of pregnancy can be filled with anxiety, excitement and frustration waiting for labor to start and to meet your baby.  For first time moms especially, waiting it out can be a challenge because they might not have the distraction of other children.  As a doula, I've learned that supporting a mama through her last few weeks and days of being pregnant can be as challenging as supporting her through the labor itself because your mental state leading up to birth affects how prepared and calm you will be during labor. 

I encourage my clients to keep busy and perform activities that will be helpful during her postpartum period, as well as things they enjoy that will help them relax.  Here are a few things that are "must dos" for the final weeks:

1.  Walk the dog.  Walking is great for opening the pelvis and encouraging the baby to engage.  Fresh air never hurt anyone, and it is an enjoyable way to pass time.

2.  Make lots of meals and freeze them.  It is always lovely when neighbors and friends bring you delicious homemade meals, but it will be nice to have familiar, comforting food you love.  You will be glad you made six quarts of butternut squash soup or your favorite chili!

3.  Craft your own postpartum padsicles.  YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY YOU DID THIS!  My favorite recipe is here:  postpartum padsicles.

4.  Go to prenatal yoga.  What better way to prepare for birth, spend time with other expectant mamas and send labor love (or a friendly eviction notice) to your baby?

5.  Take a bath.  Relaxing in the tub is a wonderful way to soothe aching muscles and cherish your last few weeks or days of "me" time.  Practice relaxing your inner thighs and pelvic floor... and it doesn't hurt to throw in a few kegels!

Meet the Doulas

Come visit us tonight from 6-7 at the Ellwood's community room!

For Parents: How to Write a Birth Plan

If you have been to a childbirth education class, more than likely you have heard talk of the importance of writing your birth plan.  You've probably learned the pros and cons of various interventions and spent time thinking about what's right for you.  The place where you sum it all up is your birth plan, or on a document more softly titled, Birth Wishes, which I prefer because it acknowledges that everything may not go according to plan.

It should be simple.  This is the document for the busy nursing staff and care providers that describes how you would like to be cared for during labor and birth, and subsequently how you would like your baby to be cared for after he or she is born. 

When helping my clients structure their birth preferences, I encourage them to think of it in three parts:

1.  Introduction
This part sets the tone of your birth preferences.  It is important to introduce yourself and state the general feel of how you would like your birth. For example, it could start something like this:

Hello, we are Jess and John Doe and are so happy to be giving birth today at XYZ Birth Place.  We understand that our birth wishes may not go according to plan, however, we appreciate your support to help us achieve a positive and happy birth experience.

2.  State your wishes
I suggest using bullet points because they are simple, clear and effective for communicating your desires.

• I would like to labor naturally.
• We would like to delay cord clamping.
• We wish to have immediate skin-to-skin with baby.

The list can go on and on!  Get to know your provider's and birth place's policies to that you aren't listing things they will already be doing, which will help your birth wish list be short and sweet.  It is important for the staff to know how you'd like to be cared for, but if the document is five pages long, you run the risk of the staff not remembering or not reading it.  I suggest keeping your wishes to one page for simplicity.

3.  Thank the staff for caring for you and your loved ones
An awesome birth team is an essential part of having a positive birth experience, so thank them in advance for supporting your wishes.   It also helps to remind them of the mood you'd like to have in your birthing room:

We hope to have a peaceful, quiet birth and are thankful for your kindness and support.

Ending with a thank you helps create a positive tone to your preferences so that they will be more willing to support you in having the birth that you desire.

Lastly, talk over you birth preferences with your provider to make sure he or she is on board!

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.

Looking for a doula?