Expectations

Valley Foothill Doula Collective

EXPECTATIONS

"The Newest Advancement in Childbirth is Thousands of Years Old"

June to September 2007

Volume 10
Issue 2

What is a Doula?

Doula is a Greek word meaning "Women Servant." Traditionally a friend or relative, the doula helped a woman during life transitions or illness.

In American today, the word doula has come to mean a professional woman who provides emotional, educational, and practical support for families, particularly the mother, during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

What is the VFDC?

The Valley Foothill Doula Collective (VFDC) is a group of local women who are committed to helping women realize their own power and ability during their childbearing experience. Though we vary in skills, personality, experience, and services that we offer, we hold in common the belief that women should have the birth they want.

EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE

Eat Right for Your Baby: The Individulized Guide to Fertility and Maximum health during Pregnancy by Peter D’Adamo and Catherine Whitney is an important resource to have for our clients. The premise of the book is the same as the first Eat Right for your Blood Type guide, but with a tilt on what can show up during each trimester of gestation and the first year of baby’s life.

What I love about this book is it gives meal plans and supplements to enhance the whole pregnancy experience. In addition, there is discussion on what imbalances might look like and how to resolve them. Nutrition is a key to a healthy mom and baby, what a great way to support the experience with an individualized look through blood type.

BENEFITS OF USING A BIRTH BALL

The birth ball is a fabulous tool to use during labor and beyond, but why does it actually help? The following information is from a DONA training handout in 2002 on the benefits and indications.

The birth ball eases labor pain and enhances progress. The ball is used primarily in these three positions:

1)Sitting, 2) kneeling and leaning forward, and 3) standing and leaning forward.

Benefits of the Birth Ball from all Positions:

Facilitates physiological positions for labor

Allows for pelvic rocking and body movements.

Can be used with both internal and external electronic monitoring.

Takes advantage of gravity during and between surges.

Allows freedom to shift weight for comfort.

Is beneficial with techniques for slow to progress labors.

Encourages pelvic relaxation when sitting on ball.

Kneeling and/or Standing while leaning forward:

Encourages fetal decent.

May enhance rotation.

Support decent of shoulders duringa posterior should presentation.

Gives good access to back rub or back pressure.

In addition, the ball may be used during the postpartum period for:

Sitting and bouncing on the ball soothes baby.

Ball becomes a prop to restore strength and flexibility.

Valley Foothill Doula Collective

"The newest advancement in childbirth is thousands of years old"