The Ins and Outs of Being a Doula
The Ins and Outs of Being a Doula
A doula is a Greek word meaning "woman servant." Doulas are trained professionals helping and guiding a woman and her partner through childbirth. A doula provides a continuous presence during labor and delivery as she takes care of a mother's emotional and non-medical needs.ARE YOU DOULA MATERIAL?Do you pick up childbirth magazines, immediately turning to the labor section, and you aren't even pregnant? Do you long to talk to anyone who is pregnant? I was this way before I became a doula or labor assistant. When I was looking for a new career path after the birth of my second child, I came across a doula when I was waiting in line to register my son for preschool. I was in a certified doula training class a month later and have never looked back. Now, I want to help other women who are passionate about childbirth and want to pursue a life change into the doula world. Once you decide that you want to become a doula, you will never be the same person again.ALL NIGHTERS AND SHORT DELIVERIESNo one can prepare you for the all nighters. This is the hardest part of being a doula. You are consistently offering massage, suggestions on positioning and explanations of medical procedures throughout the night. You do all this with a smile on your face and a positive attitude. Some labors will take you through two whole nights. Try doing this when you are not a coffee drinker.Some deliveries are long, some are short. This helps balance your doula practice. Thirty-six hours or 4 hours, either way you walk away from the delivery on a natural high. You feel on top of the world because you were apart of an extraordinary experience. You were able to provide assistance to a laboring mother and serve in a unique way.WHAT'S NEXT?The first thing you have to do is check into a certified doula program with CAPPA, Doulas of North America(DONA) and Lamaze International for local trainings. Get involved with local doula groups for support and friendship. Read everything you can get your hands on and talk to every pregnant woman you find.Julie L. Johnson is a wife and mother of three who has experienced every pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding situation there is and has lived to tell about. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Doula and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant practicing in Southern California. Her website http://www.birth-angel.com provides services and products to help ease transition through motherhood. The products also make great doula "Thank You" gifts or for a baby shower.
Maintaining Balance During Your Pregnancy
Maintaining Balance During Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful time. And it is also a time for
out-of-control hormones which can get a little stressful and
chaotic. But there is good news for women who are
planning
to become or already are pregnant. A variety of wonderful
hormone-balancing treatments are available today. You
don't
even need a prescription to obtain such pregnancy hormone
medication.If you're uncertain as to what treatments are effective and
safe, it is always advisable to speak to your doctor.
As a secondary option you can also refer to the internet as
there are many websites that provide information on
pregnancy treatments as well as the treatments
themselves.
Pregnancy is a wonderful experience providing your
hormones
stay in check and you can keep the morning sickness to a
minimum. With the proper hormone treatment, your
experience
can be as joyous as ever.Pregnancy supplements are also very important during the
course of pregnancy and these can sometimes be used to
manage hormones and other pregnancy issues such as
the
proper vitamins and nutrients. When you're pregnant, you
are
not only working to provide nutrition for yourself, but for
your unborn baby inside. You might not be getting all the
nutrients you need through your diet and you certainly can
use all the help available when it comes to making sure
you baby is healthy and well.Many women still have no idea how important supplements
are
during pregnancy. You need to make sure that both you and
your unborn child are getting all of the iron, folic acid
and vitamin B6 you both need. Of course, that's only a small
portion of all the nutrients you need for a healthy
pregnancy and healthy baby. It is advisable that you just
do not rely on the food you eat. When you're pregnant, your
body craves all sorts of things. Those particular meals may
lack the certain nutrients you desperately need.Don't leave anything to chance, by taking pregnancy
supplements. It is a safe and healthy way to be sure you
and your baby are taken care of. When it comes to a child,
nothing should be taken for granted - especially your
nutrition. Make sure your diet is balanced with the proper
supplements. Your body, your hormones and your baby will
thank you.During your entire pregnancy, you also need to be sure you
keep regular appointments with a doctor or OB nurse
practitioner to be sure both the baby and you are healthy.Happy Birthing!Claudia Roselli has been involved in the womens health
field for over 20 years, and has assisted many mothers with
her knowledge. She is enthusiastic about pregnancy and
is the originator of See Pregnancy
Why Pregnant Women Get Stressed and Depressed?
Why Pregnant Women Get Stressed and Depressed?
If you are a pregnant mother or soon will be, this is the most important reality you going to face. You will get stress and depress. Why? The physical and mental changes of a pregnant woman can affect her stress levels-especially since she is forced to see herself in a new light. The woman who was once the prettiest girl at the dance may have turned into a sluggish, chubby grouch seemingly overnight. In her mind, she sees herself as ugly and dumpy, even though others just see her beautiful motherly glow.Five Common Stress and Depress Among Pregnant Women1. Pregnant women face an almost endless list of concerns-some valid and others not so. One of the most valid worries is that of miscarriage, which is a big fear for women in their first trimester, especially if they have experienced past miscarriages or problem pregnancies. Miscarriage is a sad, unfortunate event for which many women blame themselves (Is it something I did? If I had done anything differently, would my baby have lived?). Anyone who has experienced this horrible loss knows that Mom is not to blame no matter what she may think.2. Women also naturally worry if their babies will be healthy, so they fret over whether or not they are eating the right foods, taking the right vitamins and getting enough exercise. Worry stretches into excess though when an expectant mom frets over everything from whether or not to eat the skin of an apple to how long she should wait to take her vitamin after lunch. As many silly worries as moms concoct, though, there are valid issues of concern. They affect some women to greater degrees than others.3. It isn't rare for expecting moms to ask themselves, "Will I love my baby enough?" and "Will I know what to do when my baby cries or gets sick?" The answer is yes, or it will be after a little experience. But, when you enter a job you've never held before with no guide book, it can be very intimidating (especially for those expectant moms who have issues with their own mothers).4. Other issues that creep up include finances and daycare. Most mothers take a maternity leave from work after their babies are born, but finding the right daycare where baby will be happy and Mom will feel reassured in leaving her little one can be a challenge.5. There is also the issue of what will happen at work while a woman is on maternity leave. Will she lose the esteem and respect of others for putting family first? Or will her someone else snatch her spot as team leader while she is out on leave?Of course, these issues are just a synopsis of the concerns and worries pregnant women face. Naturally, every woman has her own specific circumstances that make some of these concerns less important, while others are more so. There are also concerns each woman has that are unique to her.But relative to all expecting moms is that they face a number of worries and potential stressors. In extreme situations, these stressors lead into depression. Women feeling overwhelming and/or debilitating feelings of sadness or hopelessness should consult an OBGYN or counselor ASAP.About the Author: Sara Jameson succeeded and writes her experiences in "The Very Happy Pregnancy: Avoiding Stress and Depression." Read her secrets and truths about having a happy, healthy pregnancy in her Website http://www.pregnancywithoutstress.com