Monthly Archives: March 2015

Have You Heard About the Doula Revolution?

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On the very last day of #worlddoulaweek 2015 I wanted to chat about something that I just learned about in the last year. It’s called the #DoulaRevolution.

The Doula Revolution is all about revolutionizing the Doula community. Doulas have been around just as long as babies have been born. Back in the day, when we all lived in small villages, Doulas were typically your sisters, mothers and friends. They gathered around a birthing woman during her labor, encouraged her and made her feel safe in their combined knowledge of birth. They stayed with her and helped take care of her other children. They kept the house and took care of her in her recovery. They didn’t necessarily go by the name Doula, but that is the job they were doing.

Today we live far apart, often times not even in the same city with our friends and families. Even when friends and families do live close by, they no longer posses this intimate knowledge of birth. Some have had their own babies, sure, but having your own baby and fully understanding the intimate details of what is normal and what is not is something that comes from experience. It use to come from seeing your mother birth your siblings, from seeing your siblings birth your nieces and nephews and from caring for these people after the births of their babies. It is a lost art, a lost community and that is where the modern day Doula comes in.

The modern day Doula does not live in small villages. She lives in big cities and small towns all across the world. She believes in birth and the human ability to overcome any obstacle put in front of her. She knows birth. She has spent countless time and money getting educated in modern birth. She is a parent, she is a home maker, she is an entrepreneur. She is whatever she wants to be and she provides a much needed service in this world of disconnect and lost village.

The Doula Revolution is about the modern woman. It’s about not only supporting birthing families through the most important transitions of their life, but also about Doulas (mostly women) contributing to their families in a meaningful way.

Being a doula is a profession, not a philosophy. It is my profession. I have continuously earned an income that I am proud of. I am in a relationship because I want to be and not because I have to be and that empowers me. I am self sufficient. My daughters watch me be successful and it sets the tone for their expectations of themselves. I am successful, I do something I love and I am passionate about it. It is honorable and I am proud of it.-Randy Patterson

Randy Patterson, The RocknRoll Doula, is the owner of ProDoula, as well as co-owner of several Doula Agencies around the country.

She is the face of the #DoulaRevolution (a hashtag created back in August 2014 by my mentor Heidi Shulista)…..and all of us Doulas are the heart, beating as one towards a common goal of empowerment.

We empower ourselves by creating a living wage for ourselves, by creating living wages for others who work for us in our agencies and by no longer accepting the martyrdom that has all too often been placed upon us by society. We are women. Hear us Roar and watch us support ourselves in yet another service industry where we have been undervalued for far too long.

Cesarean Birth, How a Doula Can Help

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A lot of times we hear about people saying they don’t need a doula because they will be having a scheduled cesarean birth for one reason or another.

The impression is that doulas only helps people who are having or wanting a completely natural birth. Ironically, in some natural birth or home birth circles the opposite is said. The truth is that doula can help in all birth scenarios but since next month is Cesarean Awareness Month we’re going to concentrate just on that particular type of birth. Can having a doula actually make a difference?

Unscheduled Cesarean Birth:
Not all cesareans are scheduled ahead of time, but sometimes, in the process of birth, they become necessary. For a family expecting a vaginal birth, the transition to needing an unplanned surgery can be very emotional. Because in many cases plans were not made ahead of time, a family may need extra support in the hospital and immediately after birth to process the events.

Scheduled Cesarean Birth:

Knowing that a cesarean section is coming in the future can have its own set of emotional issues, but being able to plan ahead for all scenarios can also be an advantage. There are many options for cesarean birth, just as there are with vaginal birth. A doula can help you plan for a gentle cesarean if you choose. A cesarean Birth Blueprint can help to put your mind at ease and walk you through all the options from who will be in the room with you, to how your baby is introduced to you and how much involvement you choose to have with the cesarean itself.

Emergency Cesarean Birth:

In a truly emergent situation there may not be much time for processing ahead of time. Friends and family members who have been at the hospital waiting for you to have your baby may benefit by having your doula available to them to explain what is happening and talk them through the process. If you need general anesthesia your doula can help keep you comfortable while recovering from that as well.

In all of these scenarios a Birth Doula will be by your side every step of the way helping you with research and comfort measures, just like any other birth. Your doula will be there to help you plan, be there for you 24/7 to ease your fears and talk you through the process.

We will stay by your side, and in the operating room we can be there for you the entire time, continuing to stay with you during repair when you partner may need to go with the baby for any possible procedures. By having a doula with you, you will never be left alone. We will be there to answer questions and ease your fears until you are reunited with your little one.

In recovery your doula will be there just as after any birth, helping with breastfeeding, facilitating skin to skin and making sure the entire family is comfortable.

Once you are home with your little one your Postpartum Doula can be there for you, in your home to provide customized, hands on care. Postpartum Doulas specialize in promoting family bonding, newborn care, breastfeeding help and emotional support. We can also help you with all of the practical side of caring for yourself and your home while you recover. No need to worry that you won’t be able to rest properly because of other children or visitors. Your Postpartum Doula can be there for you every step of the way ensuring that your recovery is the best is can possibly be.

World Doula Week Blog Hop. #workddoulaweekblogchallenge http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71

Featured image taken by http://natwindsorphotography.com/

The Colorado Mountain Doula Philosophy

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You know what they say about opinions right?

Everyone has one……..

This is a very common question that we get in interviews. Part of that is because for years there have been lists floating around with “Questions to Ask Your Doula”. One of those questions has always been, “What is your birth philosophy.” This questions stems from the early days of birth activism, when being a doula was all about bucking the system and standing up for women.

These things are still important and activism has its place in society. It does NOT have a place in our professional standards.

Back when I was a solo Doula I would get this question in nearly every interview. Answering it always felt like I was backpedaling or trying to go around the question. What I finally came up with was this.

“I don’t have a standard philosophy of birth other than that it’s a normal part of life. Every single client is different. If you want to have a dance party during labor and turn up the music, that’s what we’re going to do. If you want to watch Star Wars during labor and push your baby out during the credits, (true story) go for it! If you want to watch a Christian comedian on TV, arrange a gentle cesarean, pray between every contraction, light candles, burn incense, get an epidural and hold my hand for eight hours while you doze off, keep completely silent, hold your baby only after they’ve been cleaned up, repeat the same mantra over and over and over again while three people massage every inch of your body……THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO.”

Our personal opinions on any of your choices during pregnancy, birth or postpartum doesn’t matter. What we did with our first, second, third or sixth child and how our choices changed over time doesn’t matter.

ALL that matters is that a birthing family feels safe with the plans they’ve made and confident in choices they make when plans change.

Did you feel supported? Did you feel confident? Did you feel loved and happy? If things didn’t go the way you planned, did you feel safe to talk about it and ask questions? Were you given the answers to the questions you asked? Did you find your power?

These are the only things that matter. What is YOUR philosophy? What do YOU want your birth to look like? What if your philosophy changes with your second, third or sixth baby? Will you feel supported and loved by your Doula? Will you feel safe and confident?

Your Doulas should only have philosophies about their own births so that they can feel safe, confident, loved and supported. That is the only time their philosophy matters…..when it is theirs.

Colorado Mountain Doulas’ birth and postpartum philosophy is YOUR birth and postpartum philosophy. Be Educated~Be Well~Be Supported.

World Doula Week Blog Hop. #workddoulaweekblogchallenge http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71

Meet the Diva Doula, Heidi Shulista

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Today, for the #worlddoulaweekblogchallenge I’m interviewing my friend and mentor, the #DivaDoula, Heidi Shulista.

If you’ve ever met Heidi you know that she is just as her moniker suggests. She’s a spunky, fashion forward firecracker, and also, a fierce business woman.
The story behind how she got the name #DivaDoula is entertaining. Ask her about it sometime. It was given to her by her cousin and she owns it. She lives the definition every day.

Diva:
adj. pronounced (DEE-VAH) -
1. To describe a person who exudes great style and personality with confidence and expresses their own style and not letting others influence who they are or want to be.
2. A person whose character makes them stands out from the rest.
3. Noun; a person’s title in a group of friends or in society that is popular or famous and who many people try to copy.
4. A person who tries to achieve what they want and who do not let people get in their way, and doing so with style and class.

Heidi is who I want to be when I grow up.

I first met Heidi online in a Doula chat forum a few months ago and her no nonsense approach to business appealed to me. When my business partner and I decided to bring a ProDoula postpartum training here to Colorado, we knew she should be our trainer.

We met her in January and were NOT disappointed. After a whirlwind of training, food and fellowship, she was gone again with plans to follow up with mentorship and business consulting. Heidi has been available to us anytime we’ve needed her since.

When we sat down for our Skype chat Heidi was all smiles in her adorable, vintage kitchen. Warm and inviting, she’s easy to talk to. I think her clients must feel very at ease when she sits across from them for an interview.

Heidi Shulista, #DivaDoula, owner of Kansascitydoulas.com, Labor and Postpartum trainer for Prodoula.com

So tell me Heidi, what do you like most about running a Doula agency?

Being able to set the standard in my area, for sure, and being able to bring Doulas on that have wanted to be Doulas, but couldn’t do it independently.

I started as a Doula 12 years ago. It was always about women. I mean, I love babies, but it’s always been about women, and women having choices. So when I opened the agency it very much was about providing another choice and another option for women to work as Doulas in Kansas City.

I look for women that are highly motivated, that have something else going on in their life. They’re passionate and motivated. They have a desire to succeed. They love Doula work, so what the agency provides to them is the ability to do the Doula work without having to do all of the other stuff to get the job.

They can spend that time doing something else that they’re passionate about, whether that’s being a mother, or running another business. Several of the Doulas in my agency actually have other businesses. I inspire them and they inspire me.

One of my favorite things is having that team and having, like-minded women that are just as excited and just as passionate about life as I am. When we meet for our monthly staff meetings, it’s electric in that room. Ideas are just bouncing off the walls and everybody’s excited. We’re so excited to be together and around each other. We uplift each other. Our creativity knows no limits when we’re together. I love that about the agency.

That’s Awesome! How long has the agency been going now?

We actually opened officially last March, early in the month and then I debuted the first weekend in April of last year.

What are your plans for Spring break?

Well Spring break here was this past week. I worked.

Of course you did!

I’m known as a work-a-holic, and so I worked. My work is also my passion. Sometimes I have people who will say “Oh, Heidi you just work too much you just work yourself to death.” To me, that’d be telling somebody who loved to go play golf, “You just golf yourself to death! You just play golf too much!”
Well, it’s something I love doing and yes, it is working, but, I can’t imagine not doing it. I wake up excited every morning, and I’m not a morning person. I wake up excited to go to work; I mean I’m sitting here at my kitchen table right now!

Heidi proceeds to show me her kitchen via Skype, and I shared my office with her. We chat a little about the renovations she’s done on her house, and then we get #backtowork, a catch phrase that she is known for on the Facebook Doula boards….

I was going to ask what you like to do for fun, but I think you already answered that….

Well, for fun, I do like to ride my Harley Davidson with my husband. The motorcycle has been kind of put on the back burner but I still love going, and every once in a while, when my mind gets really just full of these ideas and thoughts, and there’s a lot of noise in my head. It’s good, but I need to clear it out so when I’m on the back of the motorcycle, I can’t think about anything else. I have to be focused in on the road, on the ride, when you’re in a car, you can kind of daydream. We shouldn’t, but it happens. But on a motorcycle you can’t. You can’t let your mind wander. I can’t let my mind wander to all the things that I need to get done. So, that’s what I do for fun.

So what advice would you give to new agency owners who are just getting their agency up and running; who are where you were a year ago?

I would say, don’t quit. There’s gonna be times where you may have a hard time. You may have a rough patch…..that client load is down. You may have times where you’re meeting with resistance from friends, or family, or even from other Doulas in your community. You’re doing something new and something different and something pretty bold. So I would say just to stick with it. I think having your reasons WHY, really early on, help you. Sometimes it’s having a mission statement, but I think a WHY is different than a mission statement.

I have a lot of WHY statements. I think that having them written down and having them really sealed in your mind so that every time you come across a time where it’s a little rough you can go “No matter HOW bad this shit gets my WHY is stronger and more powerful than any of this stuff over here.” I think that’s really important. There ARE times it’s difficult, but the biggest thing is, to not quit.

World Doula Week Blog Hop. #workddoulaweekblogchallenge http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71

Planning For Your Special Day-Budgeting 101

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The day is almost here! You’ve been planning and preparing for months on end. You’ve checked and re-checked your lists, talked endlessly to your friends and family about the big day and dreamed about every detail from start to finish.

Is your budget in order? This special day will never be here again. I mean, technically, sure it could happen again, statistics are in your favor, but THIS day, with these people, in this time and space….you only get one shot. Let’s make sure you’re prepared.

Attire & Accessories $0-$100
Beauty & Spa $0-$50
Entertainment $0-50
Flowers & Decorations $20-$200
Gifts & Favors $50-$200
Invitations $0-$200
Jewelry $0-$200
Photography & Video $0-$1295
Planner, Consultant $0-$800
Venue, Catering & Rentals $300-$25,671 (depending on insurance and unexpected events)

Wait, what? Insurance?
Well yeah, this is a Doula blog. You didn’t think we were talking about weddings did you?
Now look at the chart again. Do those numbers seem strange to you? Why is that?
$370-$28,095 seemed on the low end for what we know of wedding costs right?
According to the website, Cost of Wedding.com, the average cost of a wedding here in El Paso County is actually $26,840. In Douglas County it’s 37,932….. Higher than the chart above, except that this chart is actually the cost for an even MORE special day….the day your baby arrives.

Have a another glance at the chart. What do you think about those costs to give life to your child?
These are extreme numbers, with one being a homebirth with insurance, no bells and whistles, all the way up to a hospital cesarean with complications. (2010 numbers, sure to have increased in five years)

What do these two days have in common?

For one, it can never be repeated. Sure, you can have other children, you may get divorced and re-married, but THIS day, THIS wedding, THIS birth, will never come again. Both events should get the extra special attention they need to make them unforgettable.

What has happened to our culture that a momentous occasion such as the birth of a baby has less value than a wedding? Bringing forth new life, expanding a family, a new soul emerging into humanity should bring about more joy, more expectation, and more celebration than any other day in our lives.

Let’s take a look at that chart again, this time with different labels and look at it with fresh eyes, while comparing it to the price of a wedding.

Comfy nightgown, yoga pants to go home in $2,000
Toiletries, makeup, Don’t forget your brush $134
IPod, headphones, DVDs maybe $1,000
Candles and aromatherapy $1,500
Birthday cake? Celebration cigars? $700
Birth announcements $900
Maybe a little something special from your significant other? $4,000
Photography & Video $3,000
Birth Doula $1,500
Birth Location $12,000

Does this chart seem a little extravagant? Seems silly to compare the two side by side and realize that as a society, here in Colorado we are placing SO MUCH MORE value on a one day (albeit important and fabulous) party and so very little on our birth experiences, which can have a long lasting, physical, emotional and mental effects on our entire lives.

A few things I’d like to point out…….

The true cost in Colorado Springs for well trained, educated and experienced Birth Doula = $850 Wedding planner =$4,000

Interesting.

Evidence for having a Doula at your birth:

  • 31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*
  • 28% decrease in the risk of C-section*
  • 12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*
  • 9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
  • 14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
  • 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience*

Decrease in overall cost associated with low risk birth = $530.89 per low-risk delivery, or $28,997,754.80 annually in one state alone.
Increase in satisfaction of birth experience with a Doula= Priceless!

World Doula Week Blog Hop. #workddoulaweekblogchallenge http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71

Getting to Know Colorado Mountain Doulas Agency

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It’s Day two of #worldDoulaweek and today we’d like to take a little time to tell you more about our agency and how it works by answering some frequently asked questions:

When you choose Colorado Mountain Doulas Agency for your Doula services, you can rest assured that we will do our best to find the perfect Doula match for you. A few other things you may like to know about how our agency model works:

  1. What kinds of backgrounds do the Doulas in your agency have?Our Doulas begin this work in a variety of ways.

-Self education
-Training through a certifying agency
-Certification through a certifying agency
-Mentorship under more experienced Doulas
-Any variety of the above

To become a Colorado Mountain Doula, all of our Doulas agree to become ProDoulas. We all take a ProDoula training within the first year of working at the agency. If we stay with the agency for longer than 6 months, certification with ProDoula and adherence to the ProDoula philosophy and standards of professionalism is required. All CMDs are trained with the same professional standards to ensure quality of care for you.

  1. I plan to have an epidural, have specific medical needs or special circumstances with my birth. Are your Doulas equipped to help me?

    Your specific scenario would need to be discussed individually with your Doula Team to ensure the proper care and support for your family. Colorado Mountain Doulas have a wide variety of experience and specialize in several areas including, and not limited to:

-Adoption/Surrogacy
-Breastfeeding After Reduction
-Cesarean (planned and unplanned)
-Home, Hospital, and Birth Center Births
-Induction (planned and unplanned)
-LGBTQUAI* Friendly
-Medicated Birth
-Unmedicated Birth
-PTSD/Trauma
-VBAC

  1. What happens if my Doula isn’t available when I go into labor?

    One of the many advantages to using Colorado Mountain Doulas Agency for your birthing year is that all of our Doulas work in teams of two. Your back up Doula is part of your Doula team. Both Doulas attend your interview, prenatal appointments, and postpartum appointments. Each Doula team has a shared on call phone number which you have access to 24/7. The Doula team works on a rotating on-call shift, so whoever is on call when you go into labor, will be there for you quickly. You never get a stranger attending your birth. Postpartum Doulas also have a backup. You will know your back up ahead of time in case of injury or illness.
  2. Can you give me a list of hospitals and providers that I should stay away from?

Colorado Mountain Doulas are professionals who strive to work with all providers in all birthing locations. We can offer you the resources and questions to ask providers to make informed decisions about the providers and locations you are choosing to make sure they align with your specific needs. One provider or location may be the perfect match for one family, while another chooses a different option.

  1. I’m choosing not to: (vaccinate, breastfeed, have a natural birth, delay cord clamping, etc.) will your agency still work with me?

With CMD you will always get unbiased, nonjudgmental support. We do not have opinions on the decisions our clients make. We offer love and support for every situation and only give advice regarding potentially dangerous situations. All information is based on the most current evidence.

World Doula Week Blog Hop. #workddoulaweekblogchallenge http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71

What Is a Doula?

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This question instantly makes me think of a quote I read about a year ago.

“A Doula is like a trail guide, familiar with the path, she keeps you hiking through the hard parts, knowing the view at the end is incredible.” - Courtney Baca, Open Arms Birth.

Preparing for birth can be compared to planning to climb a 14er (a mountain over 14,000 ft). It’s hard work. It takes planning, determination, endurance, and stamina. You wouldn’t just take off on a climb without any preparation.

A Doula can help you with that plan; being your trail guide through every step in the process. According to WikiHow, there are 11 steps to planning to hike a 14er. For this purpose, we’re going to go with 10 steps and compare it to the role of Doula as trail guide for your birth.

  1. (Prepare your route)-Preparation is key in pregnancy and birth. Prior to, or in very early pregnancy, our PEPP Talk Workshop can help you navigate all your options and help you research how to choose your care provider, your place of birth and, just as in labor, decide which medical options are right or wrong for you.
  2. (Notify someone of your trip and estimated date of return)- As part of the PEPP Talk, we go into depth about how to research your care providers, how to choose your place of birth and who else you want on your team. We can guide you to know what to ask of a provider to determine if you will be getting the care you deserve.
  3. (Gather all your supplies) - A Birth Blueprint is an essential tool to have as you prepare for the journey of birth. During your first prenatal with Colorado Mountain Doulas we will help you navigate all of your options and will provide you with any information you request to plan your beautiful birth.
  4. (Give yourself enough time to complete the trip and avoid hazardous weather) - Prenatal visits also include answers to questions about your specific needs and wants during labor.
  5. (Try to keep a steady pace) - Prenatal visits review comfort techniques, labor positions, and movement to keep you and your partner working together throughout the process.
  6. (Stop and rest if needed) - The last trimester of pregnancy comes with its own set of questions. Your Doula can help navigate late pregnancy options and remind you to rest and conserve energy for the next phase.
  7. (Enjoy the view at the top)- As your pregnancy reaches its peak, your Doula will be there with reminders to listen to your body, be a sounding board for you and your partner about what is normal, and to ease your mind as you enjoy this final stage of bonding before your family grows.
  8. (Observe and return before hazardous weather) - The day has arrived! Your Doula will be there every step of the way to help navigate early labor, and put all your preparation to work. We will come to you whenever you ask and help your partner support you at home, hospital, or birth center.
  9. (Keep a steady pace on the decent)- After your baby has arrived your Doula will stay with you to help with immediate postpartum. We help make sure you are comfortable, and that infant feeding has been established.
  10. (Brag to your friends about your success)- Our Doulas come to your home to check on you and answer any questions you have about your birth experience, your newborn, feeding, and managing your growing family. Our Postpartum Doulas can continue to help as needed to ensure your postpartum transition is the best that it can be, with hands on, experienced, support in your home.

You’ve done it! You’ve climbed the mountain and made your way back down! Spread the word far and wide that birth can be an amazing experience and that your Colorado Mountain Doula was your trail guide along the way.

 

World Doula Week Blog Hop. http://www.notjustnine.com/#!world-doula-week-blog-challenge/c1j71