Spotlight on: BirthMom Buds

Check out this neat organization of birthmothers reaching out to support women making adoption plans:

From their website: BirthMom Buds was formed by 2 birthmothers, Coley and Lani, who found each other shortly after they each gave birth and relinquished a baby into open adoption.

Before finding each other, they desperately sought out someone who understood what they were feeling. After a little searching, they connected and became the best of friends, helping each other move forward and smile again.

As a result, Coley and Lani wanted to create a central haven where other birthmothers could go to meet women just like them without all of the searching they went through!

In Praise of Partners, Family and Friends

We all know that it would be nearly impossible for us to function as doulas if we did not have the assistance of our partners, friends and families. They support our work in a million ways--helping us rearrange our schedules when we are on-call, stepping in to do emergency childcare when we have to run out the door to a birth or keeping dinner warm until we come back home, exhausted, in the wee hours of the morning. Without their love and support, we wouldn't be able to be their for our moms.

Here's a partner perspective on birthwork. In this essay from Mothering, Tom Smith reflects on being "married to the midwife."

Don't Forget about Certification!

For all of our newer doulas, remember that it's easier to work on your certification requirements as you go along.
Don't wait until last minute!

• Try writing birth stories as soon as you come home from a birth, so that the details are fresh in your mind. If you have a difficult time getting started, try telling another doula the story of the birth you attended, while she transcribes it.
  
  
• Keep a copy of one of the required books in your purse or doula bag so that you can find a few minutes to read while you're on the bus, waiting for a client at her prenatal visits or during quiet moments at a birth, while mom takes a nap.
  
  
• More information about certification is available from DONA's birth doula certification page.
  

A Message from Cyndy

For all Birth Circle Doulas--

Please, please, make sure that we have a copy of your child abuse clearances and the first sheet of your current liability insurance coverage on file. If you don't have the chance to make copies, bring the originals, and we will make copies at the office and send you back your originals. We MUST have this paperwork completed and on file in the office in order for you to continue providing doula services.

The Birth Quilt

Sara, a PA mama and fiber artist, was recently in town for the Handmade Arcade Craft Fair. (Where our own Birth Circle doulas, Jamie and Courtney, sold their excellent hats, clothing and baby slings too!) Sara made this quilt over the course of 6 years as part of her own healing following the births of children. Note the text in the background, which reads "I am not afraid, I am born to do this." What beautiful work--if only we could hang work like this in our own L&D wards!

Read the story of her birth quilt here.

The History of the Pregnancy Test

All expectant women have a "how I found out" story to tell about their pregnancies. Taking a pregnancy test in the privacy of one's home is now a common thing, but it wasn't always that way.

The first home pregnancy tests were not available until 1978. This fascinating website tells the story of how a group of endocrinologists at the National Institute of Health developed the first tests available for women to buy over the counter.

Here's the link.

ALL women deserve positive birth support

Check out this story about how the Washington State Corrections Center has implemented a doula program for pregnant women in their facilities. The program is showing how having a positive birth experience not only gives babies a chance to start out right, but also helps incarcerated women to start over again.

Read the original article here.

Photo Credit: MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Birth Circle Quick Facts:

Benefits of Breastfeeding

We've all heard that breastfeeding is the best option for most new moms. Here are some quick facts that you can have ready whenever anyone asks you "Why?":

1. Better for Baby
Breastfed babies are at lower risk for ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, asthma, diabetes, urinary-tract infections, food allergies and eczema. It can also help prevent obesity later in life.

2. Better for Mom
Breastfeeding benefits Mom by helping her body to return to normal after childbirth. Nursing burns about 500 calories a day, which helps to take off extra pregnancy pounds. The hormone Oxytocin that is released during nursing helps the uterus to return to its normal size and helps to reduce postpartum bleeding.

3. Bonding
The act of nursing is important in the early bonding between mom and baby. Frequent skin-to-skin contact comforts both baby and mom, and close eye-contact during nursing can be a great way to foster trust and communication.

4. Better for the Earth
No packaging means no trash!

5. Convenient and Free!
Breast milk is always the right temperature for baby and requires no mixing or preparation. And you can’t beat the price!

Source: “Breastfeeding” Parenting Magazine. Mar. 5 2008.
http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Care/Breastfeeding

Doulas get some attention at the Be Well! Health Fair

On Saturday, May 3rd, the Be Well! Health Fair was hosted by St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Shadyside. Elise Francis and new doula Kristy Fornwald were there to represent The Birth Circle at this event which highlighted alternative health care options to area residents. While there was not a huge turnout (this might have had something to do with the dreary weather), our presence did not go unnoticed. Justin Hopper from The Sprout Fund wrote this great blog entry about his visit to the fair: Doula Unto Others.

Good news about breastfeeding

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recently published a report that shows some encouraging news about breastfeeding rates in the U.S. The report shows that 3 out of 4 American women initiate breastfeeding after giving birth. The promotion of breastfeeding is of one of our primary objectives at The Birth Circle, so this is wonderful news to hear.

The CDC does report, however, that groups with the lowest breastfeeding rates continue to be single moms, low-income women, and those with a high school education or less. This is something to remember as we reach out to women in our community.

Read about the report from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/04/30/breastfeeding.ap/index.html

Birth Circle Basics

At this time, the services of The Birth Circle are two-fold.

First, we provide doula services to qualifying women.
What is a doula?
A doula (pronounced doo-lah) is a woman who is trained to help other women in pregnancy, birth and after the baby comes home. Doulas meet with a family in the prenatal period to teach health pregnancy behaviors, help expectant mothers and fathers prepare for parenthood, teach childbirth education and help the woman and her family prepare for birth. When a mom goes into labor, she joins the family at the hospital. Whether in the form of gentle reassurance, answering questions, hand holding or massage, she makes sure that the woman and her family have all the support they need to make the birth a positive and memorable event.

The second function of The Birth Circle is to distribute accurate information about healthy pregnancy and birth through our volunteer Ambassadors. Birth Circle Ambassadors are women who volunteer to spread messages about healthy pregnancy and birth throughout their communities. These women recieve an initial training on perinatal health issues and attend meetings throughout the year to stay informed and in touch. Ambassadors are mothers, sisters, neighbors, and friends. Our goal is that every woman trained as a Birth Circle Ambassador can be a trusted resource for women who might not otherwise have access to this kind of information.

Welcome!

Welcome to Wise Women! This blog is meant to be a place for the women and friends of The Birth Circle to gather and share information on how we are carrying out our mission. Check back often for updates and to share your thoughts!