What I Hope to Offer

I hope that as I assisted women in labor and via my blog that I will be able to offer them support in birthing the way they want and that they will feel empowered after their birthing experience. One of my favorite blogs to read is Birth Without Fear. As a doula I hope to model the care I have seen on that blog. Whether you are birthing with a scheduled c-section or a home birth or anything in between I hope to support you and help you have the best birth possible.

While I do give tips they are not going to be for everyone and that's ok. My tips are only a way to help you decide what you want at your birth and how you want your labor to go. The same with the information that I post. It is only to help you know what options are available and the associated risks and benefits. If you do not feel that the benefits out weight the risks in your specific situation that is ok. There is no "right way" to birth. As long as you are informed and choose the path that is right for you, you will have an empowering birth.

This blog post explains what "Birth Without Fear" is all about (P.S. I love her site please check out the stories and information there too).

What does an empowering birth mean to you?
In your opinion how can a doula best help you?
What are you looking for in a doula?

-The Cowgirl Doula

Leaning on God During Labor

I read LOTS of birth stories. Its part of my training...plus I just love birth stories. There is truly few things in the world as amazing as the raw power in birth.

Birth stories that are positive and empowering help me to be a better person and a better doula.

I don't often repost birth stories because like I said I read so many of them and I have yet to find a positive birth story I didn't like. But this birth story had a piece of advice that really rang true to me and I feel like women tend to forget in labor: lean on God. Through each contraction worship God, because each contraction is bringing your baby closer to you and God will sustain you through each contraction.

I also liked the idea of anointing a woman's head with oil and praying for her during the early stages of her labor.

Obviously this will not be what every woman wants or needs, but for a religious woman I can see this having some real benefits.

Meditation can also really help while in the early stages of labor as well as when you need the baby to change positions, or help lower blood pressure and other physical needs during pregnancy. Never underestimate the power of asking and believing.

She says at the end that God redeemed her previous birth experience and gave her the desires of her heart and everything she asked for. Sometimes all it takes is the courage to ask for what we need.

Tips for Labor: Olive Oil and Counter Pressure

© Contentfactory|Stock Free Images 

This is the last post in my 5 day series of Tips for Labor. I hope you enjoy. And feel free to list in the comments any tips you would add the my series!

If you read my birth story you will see that I had an amazing midwife that really helped me during the crowning stage. In fact she helped me so much that I did not tear nor did I need any stitches. Her work inspired me so much that I wanted to pass on some advice that she gave.

1. Do not push the baby out quickly (once they have begun to crown). Instead push them out millimeter by millimeter and make sure your doctor/midwife knows that you do not want to be cut or have an episiotomy.

2. Feeling the "ring of fire" is actually a sign you are NOT tearing and is a good thing. Push slowly and gently during that time and allow your skin to stretch. Remember it was designed to do this.

3. Counter pressure! Having someone (ideally someone that has done it before) provide counter pressure on your perineum is very helpful and reduces tearing significantly.

4. Rubbing olive oil over the skin while crowning helps the skin to stretch, and lubricates the area more. (You can also use vitamin E oil if you prefer.

5. Do not push on your back while crowning! That will lead to a tear for sure. Instead push on your hands and knees, standing up, or while squatting instead.

6. Hopefully, if you have received any sort of pain meds they will have worn off by this stage, because being able to feel where to push and how is also very important toward not tearing or only tearing minimally.

Crowning is one of the most intense moments of birth. While it only lasted a matter of minutes, to me, it is what seems like took the longest in hindsight. : ) So be prepared and make sure you, your healthcare provider, your doula, and your labor support person (ie. spouse, mother, etc.) are all on the same page about what your wishes are.

-The Cowgirl Doula

Tips for Labor: Food=Energy

© Zlideshowpix|Stock Free Images

Labor is hard work and hard work takes energy and your body needs food to create energy. This is why you should eat before, during and after labor.

Ask your health care provider about options for eating during labor. From my understanding the only reason not to eat during labor is in case of an emergency c-section. However, if you are not at a high risk of having a c-section then not eating will put you at greater risk of having an "unnecessary" c-section ("unnecessary" because if you had been eating it probably wouldn't have happened.)

This is one of those "weight the risk" type deals.

However, not eating is in a way setting yourself up for failure. The example one of my birthing friends loves to use is: You can die from going to the restroom. It is possible to injure yourself due to having impacted poo or falling or all kinds of other things-but we will keep this G rated so that's all I'll list for now- but you don't plan on having those problems in the restroom because in general pooing is safe. But what if you went to the restroom and took every precaution: had a nurse/doctor present watching you, kept the door open, didn't eat before going to the restroom-in case of emergency surgery, was hooked up to a monitor, had an IV, etc. It would be silly! And you would probably get "stage fright" and then really have problems because you might be labeled "failure to progress". You get my drift. Its a silly example but it shows that with all other natural things we work to not set ourselves up for failure. But often with birth we take SO many precautions that we end up in a bad situation that was preventable.

So (this is just my opinion) I think unless you already know there is a decent chance of c-section you should eat. But if you feel the risks out weight the benefit then don't eat. You know your body and you know what you need. Listen to those instincts above all else! Our bodies are the ones birthing our babies and humans wouldn't have survived so long if our bodies were not designed well. : ) And make sure you have support for the decision you choose to make in that regard.

If you do decide to eat during labor (yay!) then here are some good things to eat:
-honey sticks: lots of energy, easily digestible and pretty healthy
-chicken: its soft on the stomach and has good protein
-pasta: good to eat early on in labor because they are complex carbs and will give you energy if your labor lasts a while
-fish: lots of good oils and proteins
-soups: preferably homemade
-sports drinks: coconut water is suppose to be the best but if your like me and hate it a simple powerade will suffice (however, do recognize coconut water is better for you...but I just can't stomach it...)

Things that aren't as great to eat (unless you are having contractions on top of each other with little to no break or prodromal labor):
-baked potatoes: they have magnesium which relaxes muscle contractions
-red wine: slows contractions too (alcohol is NOT recommended at anytime during pregnancy in the USA- do your own research and let your conscience be your guide...)
-cinnamon: slows contractions
-anything with high levels of magnesium (see baked potato)

But remember it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what you believe your body is telling you. Always listen to your body. I can give you advice from things I have seen and read and I can let you know that you DO have an option to eat, but it is your birth so you need to do what you feel is best for you! That is the doula code so to speak, helping women listen to their bodies and helping you stand up for the birth you want! That's true empowerment: knowing your options and choosing what's right for you regardless of what anyone else would do!

-The Cowgirl Doula

Tips for Labor: Let Your Baby Pick Their Birthday

I get asked often if I am a fan of inductions and the answer would be no, however, I am not against induction either. I recognize that they have a place in some situations. So I will not be talking about the draw backs of inductions (why tell you what I don't like, when I can tell you what I do like). However, I will be talking about the benefits of letting your baby pick their birthday.

1st I would like to address those who are getting medically necessary or optional c-sections (not to be confused with an emergency c-section)

If you are having a "scheduled" c-section it can still be benificial to let your baby pick their own birthday. Unless you have a very specific condition where you cannot allow yourself to go into labor or where the baby needs to be taken early, allowing your body to begin labor on its own will help for many reasons.

1) Our bodies produce hormones that help with pain manegement. Since a c-section is major surgery it is always helpful to have as many things as possible helping to control the pain. If your body was not yet ready to have the baby then those hormones won't be in place and you won't get the benifit of them.
2) Ultrasounds, and other forms of measurements for due dates are extremely unreliable. Unless you know for sure the day the embryo implanted there is no way to know for sure just how far along your baby is. However, if you wait until you are in labor you will know your baby is ready. (Also keep in mind 40 weeks is just an average, some women carry shorter and others carry longer.)
3) For most babies "baking" longer in the "oven" does not create any problems. And only has benefits: such as them being bigger and stronger and being more developed.
4) It is possible that some conditions will resolve themselves by the time you are in labor. An example of this would be a breech baby. Some babies do not turn to the head down position until labor begins. While breech is not technically a medical reason for a c-section I recognize that many doctors and midwives will not allow vaginal births for breech babies. So if that is the reason for your scheduled c-section waiting until you are in labor will allow you to see if the baby does indeed turn head down. (However, if you can find a medical professional who will at least give you a trial of labor with a breech baby and you want to give that a shot I think that is even better...but that's just my personal opinion)

2nd If you are choosing to have a schedule induction for whatever reason, please at least wait until 39 weeks. The March of Dimes has more information on why waiting at least that long is vital if at all possible.


3rd If you get to 40+ weeks and still have not had your baby here are some reasons to keep waiting:
1)Spontaneous labor happens when a viraety of hormones begin to work together to help your body birth your baby. Inductions only utilize a few of these hormones which means you miss out on the other hormones benefits.
2) EDD's are notoriously inaccurate. Accidental premies are no fun.
3) Induction without a medical indication greatly increases the chance of c-section. According to ScienceDaily.Com  "Induction of labor for non-recognized indications was associated with a 67% increased relative risk of cesarean section (compared with spontaneous labor).

It also significantly increased the chance of the infant requiring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nursery care (an increased relative risk of 64%) or treatment (an increased relative risk of 44%) when compared with the spontaneous labor onset."

4) Development continues to take place while the baby is in the womb. They will never get to be in the womb again, so why not give them all the time they need.

-Of course I am not a medical professional. I am a doula, so I can only give advice on options, I cannot give medical advice. Please do not take this post in place of medical advice. This post should only serve as an encouragement to ask questions of your medical professional and do what is best for you and your baby. This post should encourage you to look into your options and find the support you need for the birth you want. However, some situations do not allow for many options and it that case it is best to make peace with the situation given to you. If you are in need of support for the decisions you are making for your birth a doula can help with that. They can also help is you need to come to terms/peace with a medical birth procedure that is not ideal. If you are looking for a doula in the West Texas region please feel free to contact me. And of course always feel free to email me with questions no matter where you live. 

-The Cowgirl Doula

Tips for Labor: Water Works Wonders

© Lucastor24|Stock Free Images

While a water birth may not always be possible or even desired, laboring in water is wonderful. It doesn't necessarily have to be a pool or tub, but a shower can even help do the trick. Just like getting in a shower after a long hard day of work relaxes your muscles and helps to relieve stress, a shower during labor helps to do the same thing.

Listen to your body while you are in labor. If it is telling you to get into water then get into water!

Now, this brings me to my next part, if you will be birthing at a hospital or birthing center make sure to find out their policies on water during labor (and birth). What about monitoring you while you are in the water? How often will they want to "check you" once you get into the water? Will they "make you" get out for some reasons? What happens if they view you as "failing to progress"? Also check with your attending medical professional and ask about others who may be attending your birth and how comfortable they are with you being in the water.

For example some OBs and midwives love water during labor, others just tolerate it, and others hate the idea. Make sure you know which you have, and if they don't line up with your desires then find someone who does. (Barring a few medical emergencies/conditions there is NO reason that you cannot labor in water).

Even if you are planning on getting an epidural (or other pain med) or other form of vaginal birth intervention I still strongly suggest using the aid of water when possible.

Remember, our bodies are designed to labor when we don't feel stressed and anxious. Stress and anxiety will slow down your progress and your labor. Water will help to release any tension or stress you are feeling and will also help loosen up your muscles and keep them operating at full capacity.

-The Cowgirl Doula
Find birth pools at yourwaterbirth.com

Tips for Labor: Stay Busy

Over the next few days I am going to be looking at some tips for Labor, Postpartum Time and then some specific tips for your main labor support person (whether that is a husband, boyfriend, mother, sister, friend, or other significant other).

The first tip for labor is:

Stay Busy:

My labor was excellent, but one thing I would change would be to have stayed busy doing fun activities longer. For me that probably would have been something along the lines of playing a board game, or watching a movie/tv show. You may have other things that you would like to do to keep you busy (like cleaning, or cooking, or reading, maybe even taking a walk), but that would be a suggestion is try to keep busy.

Sure there will come a time when the contractions are too strong for that kind of activity, but until then use that time to rest and have fun. I expended way too much energy "working through" early contractions instead of just enjoying that time. I would also recommend doing something that involves eating...maybe a "drinking game" with chicken noodle soup or cooking a favorite meal and snacking while cooking it and then eating a healthy portion once you are finished cooking...

I had a long labor, so having some fun would have been more beneficial during that early time.

What are some things you did during early labor? Did your early labor last for very long?

-The Cowgirl Doula

Welcome to the World P.

Being a doula, I think it is important for people to know my birth story because my journey to become a doula began there. I have since learned even more about child birth and it has only been 4 months! I can't wait to continue to learn. It was during my experience though that I learned the value or support during labor. Please enjoy the story.

Many people asked me why I choose to use a midwife at a birthing center instead of a doctor at a hospital and the simple answer is because I trust me more than others. In a hospital most of your trust must be in a doctor and the nursing staff. That is not always wrong or bad, but when it comes to birth I believe women know their babies and their bodies better than anyone else and that you know when something is wrong and when it is not- if you know how to listen. That's what my midwives helped me do. They helped me listen. 

I was prepared that most babies are not born on their due dates so when mine came and went it was no surprise. But that didn't keep me from wanting the baby to be here. So I walked and walked and walked. Anytime I was sitting I was on my birthing/yoga/blue ball. I played tennis, went bowling, did puzzles and played video games (while sitting on the blue ball) to help pass the time and encourage those contractions.

By 5 days after my "guess date" as I now call it I decided to lock myself in the house and not come out until my contractions were strong enough to indicate we should go to the birthing center. Facebook and my phone had become my enemies because they reminded me of being "overdue". But I had read the books, I knew the facts that EDD are often wrong and that babies need to pick their due dates. So we waited.

At 5 am on June 28th (10 days after my EDD) I woke up with a strange feeling in my bump. I had gone to sleep thinking I might be having minor contractions but I had thought that many times. But this time I woke up and thought this might be it! I went and took a bath because I thought if they weren't the real deal that would cause them to fizzle out and I could go back to sleep. But they did not fizzle. I read birth stories on the computer while laboring. Trying to gather any last info. and encouragement I could. I knew this was it. I had started to lose my plug (if you don't know what that is, then don't ask, you don't want to know). I texted my midwives and they said to just keep them informed.

Around 7:30 am I woke Cody up and told him our baby would be born in June (he really wanted that) : ) He powered up the video game we had been playing (Gladius if anyone is interested-I know we are complete nerds : P ) we kept playing in between the contractions. Then around 830 am I felt a weird contraction that came right on top of another one. It took me a minute to realize what was happening and right as I said "I know what this is" I felt a pop and water came pouring down my leg. So I texted K. to let her know. She then wanted to know how close the contractions were. When I responded she told us to head that way sometime soon. So we packed the car and headed to the birthing center.

The drive there was uneventful and I timed the contractions while Cody drove. And we listened to music and talked. The contractions were getting more intense and I had Cody tell me stories while he drove to distract me.

Working through some of the early contractions

Once we arrived K. checked me and said I was around 5 cm. Not bad. I was half way there. I paced the room but walking was becoming harder because my back hurt. I had music playing on my computer and some well timed songs helped me through those contractions (including Mulan's I'll make a man out of you). But I really needed relief for my back so I got in the birthing pool. This helped some, but I couldn't sit with my back in the water because I felt unstable. So I was in the water on all 4s which did not help my back, but it did feel good on my tummy.

Cody encouraging me

I started to feel the urge to push but it didn't feel quite right so I had J. (my other midwife) check me. I was at 7 cm but when I contracted I was only at 5 still. But the urge to push was too strong (her head had descended too quickly in my pelvis compared to the dilation) so before I knew it I had bruised my cervix. I was also dealing with a slight upset tummy so I didn't want to eat or drink, but I was becoming fatigued and K. was concerned. So we had to bust some tricks out of the midwife book. First they had be 'blow raspberries' to keep from pushing (its one of those mind tricks where you can't do both at the same time) and then we decided on an IV with just fluids (no meds). The raspberries helped in 2 regards  it kept me from pushing and it gave me something to do. I had to do that for 2 hours and then finally the swelling had gone down. I was still at a 5, but all I needed to get to was a 7 to begin pushing (because baby was so much smaller than me) so J. massaged my cervix to the 7 and I began pushing.

I had been told pushing would feel good...I found that to not be true. But push I did none the less. I pushed lying on the bed, I pushed on a birthing stool, I pushed in the 'captain Morgan' position, I pushed on the floor, I pushed on all 4's and I pushed and pushed and pushed and finally after 4 hours of pushing she began to crown.

J. prepared me for that by telling me what it would feel like and to only push millimeter by millimeter so that I didn't tear. So with her applying counter pressure and applying olive oil I pushed as slow as I could. And once she crowned I gave one more good push and she was out! Cody and J. caught her together and instantly passed her to me. I exclaimed "Its a baby and she is mine!" My natural childbirth had all been for her. All that labor had been for her. And I would do it again in a heartbeat for her. I knew her the instant I saw her and I loved her more than I could ever imagine. 

We wrapped her in a towel and I held her while she took her first breaths and we waited for her cord to stop pulsing. Once it did Cody cut the cord and I moved back on to the bed. I delivered the placenta easy peasy a few minutes later.

P. entered the world on June 28th 2012 at 9:28 pm 7 lbs. 1 oz and 19 3/4inch long after 16 total hours of labor with 4 hours of pushing. There were no drugs (for augmenting contractions or pain relief) used and I had no tearing nor an episiotomy. (All of this was thanks to my amazing husband's support and the skill of my two midwives)

Mommy and P. sleeping together after our hard work. 

I get asked often if it was worth it and the answer is most definitely yes. I also get asked if I would do it again the same way and while there are a couple things I would change (such as staying at home a little longer, eating more and walking more) I would most certainly do it the same way again.

It was the most intense and hardest work I have ever done in my life, but it was also the best most rewarding work I have ever done in my life as well. 

(If you are interested in resources for having as much of an intervention free child birth as possible I recommend reading positive birth stories such as on Birth Without Fear Blog, the books: Birthing a Better Way: 12 Secrets for Natural Childbirth, Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, and any book by Ina May Gaskin. I also found the blog Birth Faith to be really helpful as well as The Mom:Informed group on facebook.)

The Birth Center where P. was born

If you live in the West Texas region and are interested in a birth center or home birth or using midwives I strongly recommend the ones I used and would be happy to send you their information.

The Lesson to Be Learned in Birth Stories

© Netris|Stock Free Images

The last few days I have been reading birth stories and talking to people about different forms of birth support.

One of my favorite blogs to read birth stories on is the Birth Without Fear blog. They have an awesome assortment of different birth stories.

One of my favorite quotes that I came upon on their site is: "There is a secret in our culture and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

That is what I have taken away from the many stories I have read on there. Women are strong and no one should ever tell you otherwise.

I think the best support a woman can be given is just that support: support to make informed choices, physical support and of course support to trust her body and her baby.

-The Cowgirl Doula

Doula in Training

Hello,

My name is Sarah Johnson and I am beginning the journey of becoming a doula. Right now I am in the training phase of this journey. While I am training I will be attending births, reading lots of books about labor/breastfeeding/birth support/postpartum, watching lots of videoed births, reading as many birth stories as I can get my hands on, and going to seminars and conferences.

While I was pregnant with P. I did lots of research on birth and fell in love with the idea of women helping other women birth by giving them emotional and physical support. I then discovered how having a doula lowers the statistical use of interventions and I knew I wanted to help women have the best births possible.

Right now I am offering my services pro bono (for free) because I am in the training phase of becoming a doula. I am willing and needing to do many types of birth (hospital, c-sections, home, birth center, hbac, vbac, etc.) I am also offering postpartum services for free as well.

Along with labor and postpartum doula services I am also going to be offering loss and bereavement doula services (these will of course also be for free). 

I believe every woman should have the best birth, no matter what their situation or income, so if you are in need of a doula and live in or around Lubbock, Texas let me know.

I am also willing to work up to 2 hours in any direction from Lubbock which includes places like Amarillo and Midland/Odessa. 

Feel free to contact me through this blog, at sarah.r.mills@ttu.edu or at 432.638.6877

In the coming weeks and months I hope to continue to share what I am learning, a little bit more about me and the joys of being a doula in West Texas! 

-Sarah Johnson

The Cowgirl Doula