Dyamonds Doulas Journeys

07/15/2024

After successfully expanding our family, we are now fully equipped to resume our services and provide exceptional virtual birth doula support. We eagerly await the opportunity to serve you.

As a caring Doula, I provide all the emotional, educational and physical support you need during pregnancy, labor and beyond. Whether you’re interested in a birthing class, labor support or breastfeeding advice and even virtual support . I’m here for you. For more detailed packages fill out a co...

04/07/2024

This is my labor and delivery vlog This is for educational purposes only I was induced on January 9 at 9:30 at night but they didn’t start Pitocin until one ...

06/17/2023

Prolactin

noun: a hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates milk production

Prolactin stimulates breast growth and makes milk during pregnancy and birth.

The prolactin level is highest about 30-45 minutes after the beginning of the feed, so its most important effect is to make milk for the next feed.

The more a baby suckles and stimulates the breast, the more prolactin is produced, and the more milk is made.

Base levels of prolactin increase the most in the immediate postnatal period, but rise and fall in response to the frequency, intensity and duration of ni**le stimulation.

After the first week base levels of prolactin fall about 50% in lactating people, but return to non-lactating rate by about 1 week if they are not breastfeeding.

Prolactin levels also follow a circadian rhythm. Levels are higher at night than they are in the daytime. This is why night feeds are so important for establishing milk production.

The more feeding, the higher levels of prolactin. More than eight breastfeeds in 24 hours prevents the decline in prolactin levels before the next feed is due.

Pumping also increases prolactin levels but it is worth noting that levels are less than when baby nurses directly. This is one of the reasons it can be more challenging to establish and maintain milk production if exclusively pumping is necessary.

Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, Wambach and Spencer, 2019

Mug available at hmfgifts.com
donations going to The Human Milk Foundation

06/17/2023

Nope 👇

Some facts about nuchal cords:

🔆 Nuchal cords are incredibly common, occurring in an estimated 1 of 3 births.

🔆 They are very rarely dangerous.

🔆 Fetuses receive oxygen through the umbilical cord, not by breathing through the mouth or nose, so a cord around the neck is not cutting off their air like it would for you or me. If the cord is left in tact, the baby can still be receiving oxygen from the placenta for several minutes after birth.

🔆 Most babies with a nuchal cord have one that is very loose and it can be simply slipped over the head after birth. There is usually no indication of the nuchal cord at all.

🔆 The main way for a nuchal cord to be harmful (if the cord is healthy) is if it is wrapped multiple times and is so tight that it compresses itself, thereby decreasing blood flow inside, or if there is a true knot so tight that it does the same (rare). The cord would have to be extremely tight to cut off blood flow between the body and brain.

🔆 Nuchal cord is very difficult to identify before birth, even with ultrasound.

🔆 You do not need to have a c-section solely due to a suspected nuchal cord.

🔆 Medications given during a birth induction/augmentation can cause erratic & extra strong contractions, causing heart decelerations in the fetus. If a c-section is performed and a nuchal cord is discovered, it is frequently blamed (though the cause was more likely the induction meds). This can lead the mother to feel her baby was "saved" by the hospital staff, when they may have actually been the ones to CAUSE the issues the baby was "saved" from.

🔆 A healthy umbilical cord is filled with a gelatinous substance called Wharton's Jelly that protects the cord vessels as a fetus twists and turns its way inside the uterus.

If you want to read up on the evidence on nuchal cord, visit my Instagram account () and scroll back to my post of that name.

06/17/2023

A great reminder from one of my teachers Michelle Emanuel… if you just went through a frenectomy with your baby…and several of my clients recently have or will do soon… this is excellent advice!
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