Birth Care Package

 All Hospitals

Every mom wants to know that her wishes regarding her birth will be respected. Every mom wants to do what's right for her baby, and many feel that some routine interventions are not actually necessary. With a trained negotiator at your side, you don't have to worry about anything being done to you without your permission. I work with your healthcare team to help them get to know you and your wishes. I strive to be a respected member of your birth team, and make allies on the staff, not enemies. I know how to negotiate peacefully with staff and we can never predict which careprovider will attend your birth anyway, so it's more important to feel comfortable being able to negotiate with any staff member. I can help you understand the staff's suggestions, and help you have the kind of experience you want.

All Birth Centers

Some families prefer to give birth out of hospital, but not quite at home. A birth center provides the expectant family with the perfect meeting point, halfway between a homebirth and a hospital birth. I enjoy birth center births as the middle point between hospital and home. I usually go to Simona's center in Whittier, or Lorri's center in Irvine, as they are closest to my geographical service area.

Any Home Birth

I love homebirths! I grew up in a hippie commune and only saw homebirths during childhood. Some reasons I love them: there are no routine interventions so moms are more relaxed, and able to really let go in their own environment. Plus, you can definitely take a bath or shower, and push in any position you want wherever you want to be! We don't have to think about when to transfer, because the midwife comes to you! Homebirths are the most comfortable setting for me and for you! Bonus: a full kitchen for us all to get fed anytime we're hungry!

 My job is to help your partner be the best partner possible. I will guide your partner to support you, comfort you, and reassure you. I will coach both of you through this amazing time. We will meet together to figure out how to help your partner recognize your needs during birth, and discuss some ways to meet those needs. If there is anything your partner cannot handle (needles, blood, etc.), I will make sure to mention when those things are likely to occur so there are no surprises. Since I'll be taking photographs, your partner will be IN your birth photos, instead of behind the camera. A whispered suggestion here or there can make a world of difference in letting your partner know how to help you at each stage of your birth.

When you ask me to join you.  Some moms want support at home, some moms want me to meet them at the hospital.  It's a very personal decision.  It depends on so many factors - how fast your contractions get up to speed (if they start out at every 6 minutes, or they start out every 30 minutes), whether your partner is being useful to you, whether your baby is facing up or down (sunny side up, or OP, occiput posterior), etc.  There is no wrong time to ask me to join you in labor.  

Studies show that early support is better than too late.  I have never understood other doulas and their "rules" for when you can call them.  Aren't you paying me to support you during your birth?  You might need my emotional support from the very beginning!

It depends on the mom, and the position of the baby.  Some things that usually help:

• Massage
• Hot and cold compresses
• Baths and showers
• Changing positions, using props (birth balls, birthing stools)
• Hypnosis, guided imagery (I highly recommend a hypnosis for childbirth class or home study course)
• Vocalizing/verbalizing (sighing, moaning)
• Deep pressure on your low back and hips (I know some pressure points, not a lot, but some)
• Epidural (sometimes an epidural is the answer to everything!)

The most important thing is to keep trying until we find out what works for you!

I loved my epidural!  On the other hand, some moms hire me specifically to help them achieve an all natural birth.  If that's your goal, I have a huge bag of tricks to help you cope.  I have a lot of experience with drug-free births because I was born and raised in a hippie commune (true story!), but I personally had an epidural and I'm skilled at helping you give birth vaginally even with an epidural.  I maintain records of every birth I've attended and I am happy to share the information I calculated:  54% occurred without an epidural.   So you see, the choice is really up to you.

Many moms hire me planning on an epidural, and that is great!  I will still meet you at home and help you know when your labor has progressed to the point you can get admitted to the hospital and get your epidural.  Many first time moms come into the hospital triage unit and get turned away because they aren't in "enough" labor.  I can save you that wasted trip, and later on I can help you get the baby into a good position even while lying in bed by positioning your body so as to help your baby pass through your pelvis.  

Some moms think they won't need a doula if they use an epidural, but does an epidural answer questions or talk you through difficult situations?  No, it does not!  Also, your nurse will not stay with you continuously until you start pushing, and your doctor won't come until you are pushing.  The epidural will take care of your physical sensations, but it won't necessarily help keep you calm about anything else that is happening.

What matters is how you feel about epidurals, not how I feel! If you want to delay the epidural, skip it, or get it right away, what matters to me is what matters to you.  

One last thing is important - how I feel about western medicine, doctors, and hospitals.  I think we are lucky to live in a country with so much scientific knowledge and access to improvements in care.  I also think we have to be careful about intervening in an essentially normal process.  Every intervention has possible benefits and risks.  As long as you know them, you should be free to make choices from a wide range of options. 

I keep track of my birth statistics so I can know if I am meeting my clients' goals for themselves.  Many mamas ask me how many of my clients went "all natural" (and by this they mean no epidural).  So far, about half my clients have given birth without epidural anesthesia.  It is important to realize that this is not an important goal for some women, and understand that my job is to support your choices, not change them for you! I certified in hypnosis for childbirth in two different styles so I could help women who want to use self hypnosis to help them cope with birth.

If it is your intention to seek an "all natural" vaginal birth, my track record is excellent and I would be delighted to help you achieve your own goals.  If you are "open" to the idea of an epidural, prenatally I will double check to make sure you are aware of the possible risks to yourself and your baby, and when you get the epidural, my most important job will be to help you have a vaginal birth by overcoming any possible side effects or complications.  That is where my experience and my training come in very handy!