Prenatal mental health can significantly affect the unborn child and its future development. According to research, women experiencing depression or anxiety before or during pregnancy may be at greater risk of having a baby with cognitive, social, and behavioural problems later in life. It highlights the importance of perinatal mental health support for both parents during and after pregnancy (von Hinke, et al., 2022). Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) is one of the most common types of mental health disorders in pregnancy in the United States. These disorders include postpartum dep ..read more

Labor induction is such a common maternal care practice that it is almost considered to be a normal way of giving birth in the United States. And of course, there are benefits to moms and babies when reasons for induction are medically indicated, such as low amniotic fluid, IUGR and concerning pre-eclampsia symptoms. But with a 42.9% induction rate for first time deliveries [1], we might want to take a look at ways this common practice could influence a baby’s psychological makeup. Keep in mind that in 1990, there was an average induction rate in the US of 9.5%  [2]. We know that labor i ..read more

1. Your presence in the early hours and days postpartum places you in a key position to support nursing. By learning all you can about lactation and infant feeding, you can help parents and babies get off to a good start. “Doulas should understand they can help clients reach their breastfeeding goals by ensuring babies feed 10 to 12 times every 24 hours, avoiding supplements (unless medically necessary), and keeping baby close to avoid missing feeding cues,” says Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, CLE, CCCE, Doula. Jodi Utter, CLD, CPD, CBE, LE, NCS adds “I’m often the first person to recognize bre ..read more

Many clients hire doulas because they want to avoid unnecessary intervention, and we all know the best way to do this is to arrive at the hospital at the “right” time. A doula’s job is to balance the ever-evolving needs of the birthing family, their care provider, and our scope of practice. This includes taking care of ourselves as people and professionals navigating a complex system of conditions. Heading to the hospital is determined by three factors: contraction pattern, care provider recommendations, and most importantly when the birthing person feels ready to go.   Let’s look a ..read more

When I was a new doula, I remember being excited to apply all that I learned in training to support my clients in various birth settings. What I wasn’t prepared for was dealing with differences in birth location policies and working with different providers, who all seemed to have different policies as well. Why was one thing allowed in Hospital A while the complete opposite was the policy in Hospital B? In addition to feeling confused, I was also embarrassed thinking my clients didn’t know what I was doing. Some examples of the differences I saw were the following:  Is an IV required ..read more

The process of pregnancy and birth is truly fascinating. The body has a finely tuned, well-organized intricate system that initiates and drives labour and on through birth and later breastfeeding. These processes help to develop a deep connection and attachment with their infant, following the birth. At no other time in one’s life is the hormonal fluctuation as extreme as it is throughout pregnancy. Each hormonal system has a biological process that begins with pregnancy and continues through postpartum and the newborn period. Each system has distinct tasks throughout this journey ..read more

If you have patience and communication skills and a drive to fill an important role in supporting new parents, becoming a CAPPA Certified New Parent Educator (CNPE) might be your calling. Have you ever wondered how to become an educator for new parents? You don’t need to know everything about parenting to be a CNPE and work with parents in clinics, care providers’ offices and private consulting settings. CAPPA CNPEs are respected, resourceful professionals, because of the education and support CAPPA training provides. Some of the most important qualities for a would-be CNPE to possess are the ..read more

As we all know, newborn sleep is challenging for parents new and old! Dr Sears in his The Baby Book (2013) writes about “The tiring facts of infant sleep”. It’s not tiring for baby but the adults caring for them! And we all know that we are not at our best when we’re sleep-deprived and tired to boot! How can we as postpartum doulas help parents overcome these “tiring facts”? Newborns can sleep up to 16-18 hours in 24 hours (Turgeon and Wright, 2014) made up of frequent naps and stretches of nighttime sleep. Newborns do not sleep like adults and their sleep is somewhat erratic due to their imm ..read more

Let me tell you a little secret about the pelvic floor in the postpartum period…it’s an unsung hero! Issues with the pelvic floor are often dismissed as a “normal” part of having a baby, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Mommas are already dealing with so many changes during pregnancy and postpartum that preparing them for childbirth and the 4th trimester sets them up for success during a stressful period of life. Here are some steps to help your clients prepare for the postpartum period, healing during the postpartum period, and when to refer to a specialist. Step 1: Education and ..read more

The Black Community Black mamas are dying. Although the murder of George Floyd sparked a universal outcry fanned by the flames of Black Lives Matter, Black lives do not appear to matter. Legacies of slavery, racism, and segregation are aspects of historic injustice reflected in America today. The history of medical racism in the US deeply influences Black women’s medical encounters, and these encounters have been detrimental (Davis, 2019). Obstetric racism plays a significant threat to the birthing outcomes of Black women. Davis states neglect, lack of information, dismissiveness, disrespect ..read more