A Mother's Strength Birth Services

05/04/2020

This is what having a virtual doula would be like! Still there with you even if I can't be in the room.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 episode 3. Meredith has been fired from the hospital and can’t physically participate in a patient’s surgery.

Jo brings Meredith into the OR via video chat to guide her through the surgery and to oversee the process.

This is what virtual support for labor and childbirth education looks like in real life during this time of social distancing.

We pour every ounce of information, direction and guidance into you live, face to face. We help you navigate the twists and turns of labor and birth as they come.

Reach out today to learn more!

24/03/2020

During these uncertain times it is more important than ever to make sure you have a strong support system in place to help you have an amazing birth experience. While it is vital for us all to continue to practice social distancing I want to let you all know I am still available to support you, as a virtual doula.

If you'd like to know more about how this works send me a private message and we can discuss any questions you have!

04/03/2020

15/02/2020

I'm open in November 😉

11/02/2020

😮❤️

347192 views and 5098 votes on Imgur

10/02/2020

FEEDING ON DEMAND. Yep. I used cereal and blueberries to see the difference between expectations and reality of many breastfeeding moms.
📷 inspo from .ie
Were you told your baby should breastfeed every 2-3 hours? I was. Did you know that only came from figuring out how often feeding was needed for a baby to feed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period...
So yes we APPROXIMATELY would like babies to feed AT LEAST 8-12 times, but the way it all plays out in a 24 hour period is very different for each baby.
Reality: babies feed like the blueberries. Lots of feedings. Some small. Some big. Some close together. Some far apart.
Babies do not feed like clockwork where every cereal (ahem.. feed) is spaced equally apart and the same size. You can relax if your otherwise healthy baby goes longer than 3 hours between a feed. You don’t need to think “you can’t still be hungry” and delay a feed if they are showing signs they want to feed earlier than 2 hours.
Listen to your baby. Trust your instincts. Let go of the cookie cutter “ideal” and develop your own relationship that works for you and your baby.
Do you feed on demand? What works for you and your baby?

09/02/2020

As a young, uninformed mother this was something I was terrified of, until my midwife informed me of just how common and unconcerning it is.

Did you know...?

About 1 in 3 babies have the cord wrapped around their neck (called nuchal cord)

The cord contains a jelly substance (Wharton’s jelly) so the cord won’t compress and blood and oxygen are still getting to the baby

Even if there is a knot in the cord, the knot is mobile and can slide up and down the cord and won’t cause any restrictions

Sometimes healthcare providers will use use this to justify a c-section that they called emergent, but in most cases, the baby was fine... so they say “It’s a good thing we did anyway, the cord was around the neck...”

Baby being blue-Ish is normal, regardless of cord around the neck or not.

In some very rare cases this CAN cause issues and even death if the cord is very very short or there is some other underlying risk factor. Take into consideration any health, genetic, or other risk factors and know your options.

Did your baby have the cord wrapped?

More info: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/nuchal-cord-9-facts-cord-around-the-neck/

05/02/2020

Heather was my midwife and she is incredible! If you're on the hunt for a midwife I highly recommend her! ❤️

My connection to birth and midwifery is deeply rooted in the Biodynamic Birth model of care, and informed decision making. The Biodynamic Birth works with the natural rhythms, hormones, and physiology of birth to help bring about the optimal health and experience for mother and baby. I began working as a doula in 2001, which lead me down the path of midwifery. In 2019 I became a mother and I'm enjoying putting myself in those shoes.

I attended Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Midwifery. I fulfilled my lifelong dream and moved to Alaska in 2013. My free time is spent cooking, gardening, practicing yoga, hiking, camping, paddling, wildcrafting natural medicines and spending quality time with my family.

I strongly believe families have the right to:

-evidence based care
-the ability to make informed choices, and
-to receive compassionate individualized care

There is a midwife for every person. If you don't feel that 'just right' connection to me I'm more than happy to recommend a fellow midwife to you.

📷 Narrow Road Productions

28/01/2020

"Truth is, she’s labored NAKED in front of an audience of nurses and doctors. She's had eyes and hands all over her lady bits. ⁣She literally just expelled another human being from her body through her va**na or from being cut open. She carried this little being for 9 long months and probably isn’t eager to have others just come in and sweep him/her away as soon as they take their first breath. If you are a friend or family member of a new mom, don’t just EXPECT to pop in at YOUR convenience."

"Truth is, she’s labored NAKED in front of an audience of nurses and doctors. She's had eyes and hands all over her lady bits. ⁣She literally just expelled another human being from her body through her va**na or from being cut open. She carried this little being for 9 long months and probably is...

26/01/2020

So beautiful! An experience big sis will never forget! ❤️

25/01/2020

😂

YUP

22/01/2020

Managing labor pain without medication is apart of many women’s birth plan. Making sure you are equipped with the necessary tools to help comfort, relax, soothe, ground, reassure, and keep you on the path towards your desired birth is important!

Each labor is different just as each laboring person is different, so prepare to try out multiple comfort measures before you find what works for you!

What was your favorite form of comfort techniques during labor? What do you plan on implementing in your labor?

22/01/2020

18/01/2020

“We think in pictures and we should be painting accurate pictures. The cervix nor the va**na bloom. The cervix is not a zip lock bag. The purpose of labor is NOT the creation of an opening or a hole... The purpose of labor contractions and retractions is to BUILD the fundus, which will, when it is ready, EJECT the baby, like a piston. Without a nice thick fundus there is no power to get baby out....the cervix does not dilate out....it dilates UP as a result of the effort to pull muscles up into the uterus to push muscles up to the fundus. The cervical dilation is secondary to that. The cervix is pulled up as a result of the building of the fundus. Assigning a number to cervical dilation is of little consequence and we make a huge mistake by interpreting progress or predicting time of birth to that number. Any experienced midwife or OB can tell you that the cervix can be manipulated and that a woman whose cervix is at 7 could have the baby in a few minutes or a few hours.
If more providers and educators knew the truth about birth physiology, we could make a huge difference for mothers. What is important is to keep her well supported for the purpose of the appropriate chemistry, to keep her well hydrated and nourished for muscle strength, and to believe in her. We should be supporting her so that her physiology and that of her baby are unhindered, so they can finish what they started.
We should not be measuring, poking, or interpreting her labor. THIS CHANGE in teaching about labor could make such a difference for women who are imagining what is happening in their bodies during labor. How much more strength might they have if they have an accurate picture?" -Carla Hartley

http://www.indybirthservices.com/blog/nova-birth-services

17/01/2020

So true

09/01/2020

Yes!

Read that again. ⁠
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⁣ ⁣⁠
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06/01/2020

❤️

31/12/2019

Love! ❤️

20/12/2019

Short read, but interesting.... If you've got a super colicky baby could be worth mentioning to your babies care provider.

A new study shows that breastfed infants who are fed probiotics for colic have reduced symptoms and episodes of crying.

16/12/2019

Much to the surprise of the medical community, a recent study showed that pitocin is linked to postpartum depression. The mothers aren't surprised.

08/12/2019

22/11/2019

And it’s oxygenation blood.

21/11/2019

This! Don't feel pressured to stay with just any provider, find someone that you are lost compatible with. This is your birth, your choice.

Women who are wanting to TOLAC aka have a Vaginal Birth after Cesarean often find themselves searching for what sometimes feels like a needle in a haystack. We hope to see VBAC supportive providers continue to come forward as evidence based info continues to spread.

So many times we hear women saying “I’m 38 weeks now so I’ll just stay with this provider, even though I’m not feeling supported and I’ll hope for the best”. don’t let anything stop you even 40 weeks pregnant from getting the best support you deserve. YOU matter, YOUR feelings matter, YOUR birth matters!

When we get the question how do I find a supportive provider we suggest a few things ... find out if you have a local ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) group! They are amazing and will most likely be very connected in your community and know who those truly supportive providers are. Ask in your local birth forums or doula groups, OR reach out on our Facebook Community group (The VBAC Link Community) and ask if someone in your area knows a supportive provider, and call around your local birthing locations. Don’t settle for “tolerant” get the support you need for your .-

Find more tips on how to find a supportive provider on our blog https://www.thevbaclink.com/post/vbac-provider

20/11/2019

A good visual to post before baby arrives.

17/11/2019

Beautiful! ❤️

In a zoo in Ohio, a female gorilla was born and raised in captivity, got pregnant and had a baby gorilla. On the day she had her baby, she didn't know what to do. She had never seen another gorilla nurse, and she had no concept of breastfeeding. Sadly, the baby gorilla died.

When she became pregnant again the gorilla's keeper called La Leche League and volunteer nursing mums went to the zoo to nurse their babies in front of the pregnant gorilla. At first the gorilla ignored them, but as her delivery date grew closer she became very interested. When the baby gorilla was born the mother gorilla forgot all that she'd learned and started to freak out. The keeper quickly called the La Leche League and another volunteer rushed over and slowly showed the momma gorilla what to do. The gorilla watched, mimicking the moves step by step until, with a nearly audible sigh of relief, the gorilla looked down at her chest and saw her baby feeding happily for the first time.

We are no different - breastfeeding is a skill, and sometimes it just helps to watch another mom breastfeed. Thank you to LLLN.I. for this post.

07/11/2019

05/11/2019

Fetal exposure to acetaminophen in pregnancy could increase a child’s risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published Wednesday.