Birth Energy

05/08/2021

Happy ! May you achieve your breastfeeding goals, whatever they may be.

04/03/2021

16/02/2021

These are beautiful birth photos that specifically demonstrate what we, doulas, do to help parents give birth to their precious babies.

Thinking about hiring a doula? Reach out to me for more info! Limited spots left from now until June!

"These doulas are giving their clients the gift of judgment-free support."

04/02/2021

This is a great breakdown of a new study on caffein consumption during pregnancy. Oftentimes, mass and docial media strive for attention by using sensational headlines that cause stress, anxiety, and shame in new mothers or parents, especially relating to hot topics, like caffein, alcohol, gestational diabetes, home birth, epidural, and many others. However, before drawing any conclusions, it is importsnt to look into the study and understand what it is actually showing.
People who consume more caffeine *sometimes* have a slightly increased risk of stillbirth and miscarriage. Does it mean caffeine CAUSES them? Not necessarily. In early pregnancy, caffein consumption is more common in those not experiencing nausea, and nausea or morning sickness is linked to decrased risk of misscariage. So caffeine could be simply a connection, not a cause. And in later pregnancy the question is why people consume caffeine? Could stress, overtiredness, workload and other factors be making these moms drink more coffee? Also how aware are the heavy caffeine drinkers of healthy lifestyles? The study shows that stillbirth increase is seen in those with less healthy caffeine consumption habits, demonstrating that maybe this association has nothing to do with caffeine as a substance but more with other lifestyle aspects..

03/02/2021

In recent years we (as a society) became mire aware of postnatal mental health - most people have heard of the postantal depression by now (though fewer have heard of other conditions like postnatal anxiety, ocd, ptsd; and postnatal psychosis makes it into the news headlines). We have learned that this is a real problem, not an imaginary condition that new moms just moan about.
However, prenatal depression is still almost unheard of. It occurs often in "happy moms", those that want a child and have great or at least relatively normal lives. When such pregnant moms start to experience symptoms, they are often told that there is nothing to be sad about, it's all in their head (which, though true, is not a great thing to say), they are making things up and harder than they are, and many more different dismissive replics.
Prenatal depression is a real thing and is more common that we may think. While professional help may be the best option in certain cases, understanding and empathy are ctitical.

25/01/2021

It is very common amongst the birth workers to compare birth to a marathon - it is an important and rare event, which requires long preparation both physically and mentally preferably with a coach, etc. The comparison is fair, but it does not cover all the grounds.
So I like to compare birth with the wedding day:
No matter is you are planning a huge beautiful white wedding or no ceremony at all, you and your partner have thought it through and made this decision together.
It is a beginning of the marriage, not a "final" event of something
It is a rite of passage
If it sucks, you will remember that no matter how great your actual marriage is
There could be many unexpected things but that does not stop you from planning it and, often, for planning for contingencies
It does not sound weird to anyone to invest time, money, and emotions into wedfing planning. Professional help is often hired for various stages of it.
We all wsnt a different wedding, "perfect" is unique for each couple, and others normally accept that.

In my view, birth is just the same in all these aspects. What do you think?
Would you like to plan your prefect birth? Let's chat!

19/01/2021

This a wonderful article explaining the benefits of delayed cord clamping in newborns and explaining all different myths associated with it. It also talks about the importance of having adequate iron at birth.
Delayed cord clamping is revommended now by the WHO, ACOG and other major institutes. Unfortunately, many gynecologists still follow the old standards and er on "safe" side and clamp the cord the very second baby has emerged (or even while baby is still partially inside!) going against substential research.
Can you have delayed clamping if youbhave a c-section? Absolutely! Though not for as long as with vaginal birth, but even a minute or two is better than nothing!
What about cord blood banking? Well, if you still decide on proceding with it even when knowing of all the benefits your baby would get with receiving his or her full blood volume, you can still have a slightly delayed clamping while leaving enough for banking!
And most newborn procedures, such as suctioning, exam, oxygen supplementation can be done on mom's chest, hence not interfering with the baby still being attached by the cord.
Do discuss this with your doctor before birth and have a plan ready for various scenarios.

by Mark Sloan M.D. Today's guest post is written by Dr. Mark Sloan, pediatrician and author of Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History and the Wonder of Childbirth. Dr. Sloan shares information and current research on delayed cord clamping after birth, in a helpful Q&A style form...

09/01/2021

Last year was incredibly tough, but I (somehow) managed to closed most of my open courses and receive a number of exciting certificate. The latest one to come on New Year's Eve is Birth Coach! I can now (officially) help you discover your goals and motivations for your pregnancy, birth, and parenting experience, and together we can work on achieving those! Message me for more details!
And check out my listing on the Birth Coach Method directory:
https://birthcoachmethod.com/birth-professional-training/meet-our-certified-coaches/

03/01/2021

Sleeping through the night - myth or reality?

28/12/2020

Have you heardof shoulder dystocia during birth? Does it sound scarry? Have you been told by a provider that it is a common occurance especially in "big babies" and a cesarean should be considered to avoid it?
This is a fantastic article that describes what it is an how (un)common it is (0.6 to 1.9% of vaginal births) and how little baby size has to do with it..
Always check the facts and gather your information if you feel that your provider is not giving you a full picture. Have an open discussion to understand the risks.

What is shoulder dystocia? How common is it? Does having a big baby mean this will happen? Were you told your baby was “stuck” after the head was born? Lets talk some facts! I would like to preface by saying, often times situations are labeled a dystocia, when it truly is not a dystocia but rath...