When to call your Doula

Your doula spends her entire life being on call, ready to drop everything at any time to assist you during labor.  Let her know when labor first begins, or seems to begin and when things change for you.  She can offer you suggestions on the phone and help you know...

When to Go to the Hospital

After labor begins, when is a good time to go to the hospital?  Should you go at the first twinge of a contraction?  Likely you will be excited but if you rush to the hospital too early you may get sent home.  The early stage of labor can be long and quite boring. ...

Mantras

Rhythm is important during labor.  Many women sway.  Some chant.  While it is not necessary, having a mantra can be powerful and help maintain rhythm during each contraction.  I have seen many women naturally and quickly discover a mantra as they are in labor.  Others...

Who will deliver my baby?

Who will deliver your baby?  Many couples carefully choose their doctor, spend months visiting with this person and getting to know them, only to find that when they go to the hospital in labor their doctor is not on call and won’t be delivering their baby.  It is...

Keeping Hydrated

Giving birth is a demanding physical feat.  If you were running a race or climbing a mountain peak it would be important to keep yourself nourished and hydrated.  The same is true during labor.  Many hospitals are in the habit of telling laboring women they cannot eat...

Positive Birth Experience

The way a woman is made to feel during her birth experience will stay with her for the rest of her life and shape a part of who she is and how she views herself.  It is important to gain a positive birth experience.  Even if things don’t go totally as planned,...

Taking Notes

The day your baby is born is a pretty big day—one of the biggest of your life!  You may think you’ll never forget a single minute of it.  Time during labor is an interesting thing.  It’s as if you enter a time warp.  Minutes may seem to drag on forever, especially...

Why Use a Birth Plan?

A birth plan or a list of your birth preferences can help the staff at the birthing facility be able to meet your individual needs.  It also allows you to discover and communicate aspects that are important to you.   A birth plan shows two simple but powerful truths...

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