Black women are twice as likely to lose their babies as white women in Missouri, and the state’s maternal mortality rate is 50% higher than the national average, according to past Missourian reporting. These statistics are not just the norm … Read More The post Doulas Supporting Black Women appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

Newborn jaundice is when a baby has a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down the substance so it … Read More The post Newborn Jaundice and How to Provide Support as a Doula appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

Our students often write the most amazing things and we just have to share. Here is an assignment response from Shelly, a past student, about why she chose to become a doula that still resonates today.  “I have been blessed … Read More The post Why I Care about Labor Support as a Doula – A Student Response appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

Women have been birthing babies since the beginning of time. As we can see from the media, there are many positions that women get into as part of labor and even into delivery. Doing what feels good and comfortable helps … Read More The post 5 Reasons Why It Is Important to Change Positions While in Labor appeared first on New Beginnings Doula Training ..read more

photo by Joanna M. foto, FreeStocks.org In childbirth and motherhood there are inevitably losses of many kinds. I’ve mentioned my own loss when I had a miscarriage. What was the most difficult for me at the time was the many unanswered questions. Why did it happen? Was it something I did? Was my child even a life at the time? Should it matter? A miscarriage is very ambiguous. It is not a loss that is talked about much because most people don’t even know you are pregnant when it happens. There are other kinds of losses also. Some families have babies born to them who are not perfectly formed ..read more

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