This beautiful image is made by student, Jessica Christian, about natural movement during pregnancy. Natural-Movement-Handout-Jessica-ChristianDownload The post Natural Movement During Pregnancy appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

I don’t know about you, but I was ALWAYS hungry while nursing my children! Breast/Chest feeding uses 425 to 700 calories per day. According to the American Pregnancy Association you should increase your caloric intake, while nursing, by 500 healthy calories. These snacks should be low in sugar and high in protein to keep you full longer.  I know that while wrangling tiny humans you don’t always have time to make yourself a hearty meal every time you are hungry. That’s why I have created a no heat snack list! These snacks can be made quickly and taken on the go for a healthy snack to keep ..read more

The following is a handout made by a student about the most common pregnancy complaints. This visual was too good not to share! The post Common Pregnancy Discomforts appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

Our former and current students are some of the greatest minds, and sometimes the assignments they submit are too good not to share. Here is one assignment turned in by Greta Slabach. The assignment is covering Models of Care in birth experiences by finding examples of underlying philosophy and how the management fits within one model or another. Birth Experience One: The first birth I attended was a medically induced birth with a client. She was induced 6 weeks early because of possible preeclampsia and high blood pressure. After about 18 hours of steadily increasing Pitocin, her waters were ..read more

How do you support a client whose baby was whisked away to the Neonatal Care Unit? Whether it’s planned or unplanned having a baby in the neonatal care unit can be overwhelming and scary for parents. As doulas, we can help our clients either prepare for their baby’s stay or help them understand what’s going on if it happens suddenly after birth. Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr. from Pexels Reasons for baby to go There are many reasons why a baby would have to go to the NICU. Some need extra support after a difficult birth, induction, etc. Here are some more common reasons why a healt ..read more

What is the purpose of a doula?  Scope of Practice Editor’s Note: Jessica Cartwright is one of our incoming students to recently be awarded a merit-based scholarship. As a part of the scholarship application process, we request that candidates complete two interviews with local birth professionals. In the interview process, professionals are asked questions pertaining to their previous experiences with doulas and how to improve relationships between doulas and medical professionals. Jessica’s interviews illustrate the tension and the harmony that can exist, and the proper role of a doula ..read more

In the current situation of Covid-19, doulas are switching to supporting their clients remotely instead of in-person. This switch from physical aid does not negate the validity of providing emotional support for laboring women by doulas. Emotional support is a form of pain relief. “Pain is a good example of a mind-body connection. When the body feels pain, one’s thoughts and emotions are influenced by how much pain is felt. Depression and anxiety make pain worse, yet pain causes depression and anxiety. Stress makes pain worse, yet pain causes stress. Treatment for pain is education, helping p ..read more

(This post originated from an assignment submitted by one of our students.  It is reproduced here with her permission. ) The Five Social Structures that Are Missing from Western Culture – How a Doula Can Make a Difference There are so many ways these five social structures overlap in the ways a doula can provide for the mother and family. Distinct Postpartum Period – Before the baby is born, a doula can sit down with the parents and help determine the recovery timeframe they would like to set apart. During this time, it can be decided what activities will be delegated or eliminated for t ..read more

As a people (and especially those of us who are “white”), we need to evaluate our racial biases. As I am sitting here writing this blog, I’m scared. I am scared that I am going to write the wrong thing. I am nervous that I might have unknown biases that are going to come out in this post. But this also needs to happen. This blog needs to be written. Black lives matter. ( Shauntere and Shadae: Certified Birth Doulas through New Beginnings Doula Training) Time to Speak Up Black people have been speaking out against racial injustice for many, many years. Unfortunately, their voices have not be ..read more

The Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping There are so many benefits to delayed cord clamping. Here is a list of benefits from numerous sources.  From “Midwife Thinking: The Placenta Essential Resuscitation Equipment” by Dr. Rachel Reed Allows fetal blood that was previously in the placenta to transfer back into baby As she stated from a Cochrane Review, “higher birth weights, early haemoglobin concentration and increased iron reserves 6 month after birth” in healthy term infants Increases baby’s circulating blood volume Provides the extra blood volume needed for the heart to direct 50% of i ..read more