Long before I started teaching childbirth education classes myself, I have been recommending my doula clients take an independent, community-based, complete childbirth education class. Why do I recommend these specific types of classes?
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For the last two years, I have been compiling all of Nebraska’s maternity care statistics from public sources, and here are the most recent, publicly available data on Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates, from October 2017-September 2018.
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Several years ago, I unwisely engaged in a social media discussion about the definition of “natural birth.” It was not a positive experience. Social media is fun, isn’t it? However, it was extremely interesting reading all of the different definitions from a wide range of people who were all in a “Natural Birth Support” group!
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I have supported quite a few doula clients who felt blindsided by their Group B Strep, or GBS, positive status, and the subsequent recommendation for IV antibiotics during their birth. Here is my personal experience comparing my own GBS positive and GBS negative birth experiences.
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You want to hire a doula? Great! So how do you pay for one? I’ve listed several ideas and options for you to consider.
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I am so pleased to announce, I have provided doula support at the births of 100 babies since my doula training in 2009! Come read more, and geek out with me as I dig into my doula practice’s birth statistics!
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How I approach doula support for Cesarean births.
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My review of The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin, PT.
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What I do to recover after doula-ing a birth.
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Some of my favorite things about teaching the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class!
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Most birthing families that I encounter have a goal of a positive, satisfying birth experience. This is a great goal, but how do you achieve it? I now offer four ways to help birthing families achieve a more positive and satisfying birth.
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As we near the end of January, I’m dreaming and planning for the year ahead. However, in order to plan where I want to go, I also need to look back at where I have come from.
Read MoreFive reasons to be glad you’re “still pregnant.”
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You want to go with the flow for your baby’s birth, because you know you cannot plan birth? Great! But first, you need to know which “flow” you are going to be following, the physiological process of childbirth, or hospital policy?
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Last August I published my calculations of Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates for the public. I am pleased to present this year's update. Again using data provided free to the public by the Nebraska Hospital Association at NHACareCompare.com, I calculated overall hospital-level Cesarean rates for the year beginning July 2016 and ending June 2017.
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I am a different doula today than when I started.
Read MorePreviously, I wrote about some of the benefits you may experience by choosing a new doula in your community. What are the benefits of hiring a more experienced doula?
Read MoreFamilies searching for a birth doula often have a choice of seasoned doulas and new doulas in their area. What are some benefits of hiring a newer doula?
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I recently read the book "Your Medical Mind," by Groopman and Hartzband. The book is an illuminating look at how people approach medical decision making. The physician-authors identified three major spectra along which people arrive at their final decisions: Minimalist-Maximalist. Believer-Doubter. Naturalism-Technology.
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