Ask the Doula

I’m not every doula….and that is ok The year of 2017 has definitely been one of growth for me.   I successfully completed my Breastfeeding Educator certification, recertified as a DONA birth doula, and currently am working to become a certified Childbirth Educator.   It feels like I'm wearing a lot of hats.   I sometimes need to remind myself that I am not every doula, and that is ok. I offer many services, but not everything. I am ok with that.   Sometimes it is in the things that I am not , that strengthens those that I am .   Let me give some examples. Birth photographer I bring a basic digital camera with me to births, but only bring it out at the request of my clients. I take a few pictures, but would rather focus on being present with the client and preserving the space around this precious event and offering the emotional physical support needed in the moment. Medical care provider Some doulas are in training to be a nurse, ...

What is a doula like?  What picture or words come to mind when you hear the word?  Someone old, young, a midwife, a hippie, super mom? A doula is any person who provides support to women in their time of birth and postpartum.  This role can be served by women and men, young and old, those who have experienced birth, and those who haven't. These people have a heart for women, birth, and their families. So what words would describe your doula?  I have been blessed by clients, fellow doulas, and friends with the following words. 

Warning! Cluster Feeding Ahead! Congratulations!   Your baby is here and you have made it home from the hospital.   Breastfeeding is being established, the latch is improving and after the first night home you think just maybe you have this figured out.   And then baby starts feeding more frequently, sometimes every 30 minutes or less.   What is happening?   Is baby not getting enough?   Is your milk supply decreasing?   Should you supplement?   It can be very discouraging for a tired and often emotional mom and self-doubt starts to creep in. Take a deep breath.   You have entered the realm of cluster feeding .   Breastfeeding is based upon the supply and demand system.   The more a baby eats, the more the mother's milk supply is increased.   By day 4 and 5, breast milk has transitioned into mature milk. During this time baby’s stomach is growing from the size if a walnut to the size of an egg.   In preparati...

I have spent a lot of time sitting in the waiting room lately.   Not the hospital waiting room, but rather the auto repair shop.   My 9 year old car Gracie decided not to work last Thursday and has spent the last five days being taken apart, put back together, and taken apart again.   As I do not have an extra car parked at home, it is very frustrating being at the mercy of the “professionals” while they figure out how to fix my car. Trying to make the most of my time I have been reading The Labor Progress Handbook: Early Interventions to Prevent and Treat Dystocia by Penny Simpkin and Ruth Ancheta.   Sometimes labor slows or seems to stop.   This is called labor dystocia.   Like my car, the normal movement and progress of labor stalls and doesn’t make progress.   While the health care providers can provide diagnostic information regarding the labor, knowing and deciding what to do with the information can be a daunting task.   One of t...

My name is Leah Garner and I am a Birth & Postpartum Doula. Coming from the Greek, doula refers to a woman’s servant.   I help serve and support women and their families through the birth of their child and beyond.   I have been able to support women and their families at a very vulnerable time in their lives. Many are away from their family support system, but still are in need of the essential support that all new mothers need.   I am fulfilling God’s calling for me to help others, by providing compassionate non-judgmental support and knowledge of birth and postpartum care. Over four years ago, I experienced an emergency cesarean with the birth of my son and had an even more challenging recovery due lack of support.   The time following was a time of reflection of the things that I missed; the things that I needed that I did not get.   I felt a calling to my heart from God to help women in similar situations.   I have been on this journey as a dou...

Mothering the New Mother I often hear from women of the generation ahead of me that they wished that they had a postpartum doula when they had their kids.   Now these same women are becoming grandmothers and want to provide support to their daughters and daughters-in-law, but are unsure of the best way to help.   One of the roles of a postpartum doula is the instruction to the supporting family members/friends how to mother the new mother.   What does this mean?   Let me give you an example to put this into perspective. When a child is young and unable to support themselves their needs are met by their mother.   When they are hungry, they are fed; when they are tired they are relaxed into sleep, when they need a bath, they are bathed.   The child doesn’t give direction on how things should be done; rather the mother is following the cues given by the child as to what their needs are. The new mother is often in a similar state following the bi...

The Swaddle, An important tool in the parents’ tool kit One item that I always carry in my doula bag when I go to meet with a client is a swaddle blanket.   I have found that when dealing with a fussy infant, swaddling is always a good place to start.   When a baby is upset, the world seems so large, scary, cold, and often over stimulating.   By teaching my clients the basics of a good swaddle, I am providing the parents a technique that will help to warm, calm, comfort, and soothe their upset child.   Below are various resources on swaddling your baby.   The main points in swaddling is to start with a large blanket, make sure you wrap the baby snuggly (able to fit two fingers into the swaddle), and make sure you tuck the tail securely.   I plan to have swaddles on hand to try and purchase at my booth at the Preserving Indiana Birth Choices Red Tent Event on October 27, 2012.   Be sure to stop by and see me. Reasons to Swaddle http://www....