11/11/2020 0 Comments Selecting a Doctor for Your Newborn![]() One of your very first parenting tasks might be selecting a doctor for your unborn child. I suggest you interview at least 2, and choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Below is a list of interview questions to ask. What are your hours? What happens if my baby is sick after hours/weekend? Is there a 24-hour nurse's line? Is there a fee to use the 24-hour service? Are you open on weekends? Do you offer same-day sick appointments? Do you have hospital privileges? If so, which hospitals? What are your views on antibiotic use? Vaccinations? Breastfeeding beyond 1 year? Co-sleeping? Do you have a lactation consultant on staff? Are there separate waiting rooms for sick and well children? Questions to ask yourself: How did the staff treat you? Were they receptive to doing an interview? Did the doctor roll his/her eyes at any of your interview questions? Were you rushed?
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9/7/2020 1 Comment The Placenta![]() Shortly after an egg is fertilized, the placenta begins to grow and attach to the uterine wall. It delivers nutrients, elminates waste and sustains your baby's life until your baby is safely delivered into your arms. It is truly an incredible organ! Some cultures even consider this organ to be sacred. During the birth planning process, our doulas discuss your options and preferences for your placenta. One option is to consume your placenta after delivery. There are many ways for ingesting the placenta. Some practitioners mix frozen pieces into a smoothie for consumption. Some people cook and ingest their placentas. Our placenta encapsulation specialists prepare and encapsulate the placenta into pills. There is not enough science to support or oppose the consumption of the placenta. We have anecdotal evidence that reports some of the benefits of placenta consumption include: stabilization of mood and anxiety during the initial postpartum period, increased energy, lactation promotion, increased iron absorption, improved sleep, decrease postpartum hair loss, improved overall mood. Like most supplements, results will vary among individuals. Our placenta encapsulation specialists will pick up your placenta, prepare it, and deliver it to you in pill form. If consuming your placenta is not your cup of tea, there are other options for your placenta as well. Some cultures believe that the placenta is a gift that should be returned to the earth after delivery. Life is intertwined with death. As your baby is born, the placenta begins to die. Its job is complete. Our doula will help you honor your placenta by assisting with finding a suitable burial location. You can learn what I did with my baby's placenta here. Placenta art, lotus birth, and allowing the birth facility to incinerate and dispose of the placenta with other medical waste are also options. Our team does not judge your choices. Our goal is to make sure you understand all of your options so that you are capable of making informed decisions about your care. Sources: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/06/14/placenta-facts_n_10398438.html https://womensenews.org/2013/07/placenta-spiritually-revered-not-in-the-west/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/why-some-mothers-choose-to-eat-their-placentas/273988/?action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click&contentId=&mediaId=&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&priority=true&referrer=&version=meter+at+6 ![]() The Plus Mommy Podcast launched in May of 2018. It is hosted by Jen McClellan, the founder of PlusSizeBirth.com In this episode, Jen interviews a midwife who beautifully describes the midwifery model of care and how it differs from the obstetric model of care. She clears up common misconceptions like midwives only attend home births, that they are only for pregnancy, and they aren't for people choosing an epidural. Please enjoy this episode of the Plus Mommy Podcast! "Do midwives have BMI restrictions? Can a midwife care for me if I decide I want an epidural? If you’re considering working with a midwife, Certified Nurse Midwife and author Aubre Tompkins answers these questions and so much more about the midwifery model of care." https://plusmommy.com/working-with-a-midwife/ 6/28/2020 2 Comments Postpartum Belly Binding![]() Our bodies are amazing. They stretch and grow to accommodate the life growing within. Our bodies nourish and protect our babies. When we forget our belly has grown in size and misjudge the width of a doorway, we have lots of fluids and tissue to protect our babies from those minor bumps. (I know I'm not the only one who has forgotten the belly and walked into a door frame or two!) If the baby needs more room, our stomach and kidneys will scoot over a little bit and our diaphragm squishes up a little higher. Everything makes room for baby! After our babies are born, we are left with an empty womb, a mushy space. Our organs will eventually return to their pre-pregnancy positions, and we will regain our sense of balance. But what happens until then? How can we honor the empty space where our babies once grew? Postpartum belly binding provides 360 degrees of support while our bodies heal. Binding supports the back and abdominal muscles while preventing slouching. This ancient art is practiced in a variety of ways throughout the world. Many cultures use fabric to support the midsection and assist with postpartum recovery. MINE-R-T Doulas are trained in Bengkung Belly Binding, commonly practiced in Malaysia. Using cotton, muslin, or batik fabric, our doulas wrap your midsection and tie a series of knots to assist with postpartum healing. Binding helps the muscles to heal together rather than apart, reducing diastasis recti. Belly binding may improve posture and provide additional support to loosened ligaments as they regain their strength following pregnancy. ![]() It is very important to be intentional about building a birth team. You want to surround yourself with skill and people you trust. Ask questions that are important to you. If you don't know which questions are important, you're in luck! Here is a list of essential questions to ask a midwife: * Tell me about your experience and training. Did you attend midwifery school and complete a certification? Did you learn through an apprentice model? * How do you handle complications during pregnancy or birth? What kinds of complications would risk me out of home birth? * What happens if I am no longer a good candidate for homebirth? What is your refund policy? * Can you handle emergencies? In the event of an emergency, what would be your role? Do you remain with me if I need to transfer to a hospital? * What kind of medical equipment do you bring with you? Are you trained in the use of the equipment? * Do you have an assistant? Will I meet your assistant(s)? Who would be present for my child's birth? * Do you have backup? What happens if you're injured, ill, at another birth, out of town, or otherwise not available? * How do you handle unexpected events like preterm labor or breech presentation? * What are your fees? How are those fees structured? Do you have a cancellation/refund policy? * What is included in your fee? Labs? Tests? Pool? Birth kit? I suggest you interview 2-4 midwives before making a decision. Home birth is a safe choice for low risk pregnancies. To discuss how our team of doulas can help you plan for a home birth in the Charlotte area, please schedule a free consultation. |
AuthorKira Kimble is a doula trainer, certified doula and doula mentor. She is the owner of MINE-R-T Doula Company in Charlotte, NC Archives
March 2022
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