Silver Prairie Doula Services

Pregnancy, birth and postpartum are a beautiful time in a families life. It’s an experience you will remember forever. I feel honoured to support you through this incredible time. As your doula and throughout our doula-client relationship, I will keep these five pillars* at the top of my mind: i. Respect - I have respect for women, their companions and the birth process. I do not make decisions for my clients nor judge those decisions, rather support them through those deci...sions. ii. Education - I will help clients learn what their options are and how to make informed choices through encouraging them to ask questions through pregnancy, birth & postpartum. iii. Preparation - I will prepare clients for birth & postpartum through providing information, referring to resources & other care- providers. iv. Confidentiality - Anything shared at meetings and any interactions with clients is held in strict confidence. v. Continuity of Care - I will provide the client the support they need throughout the doula-client relationship for pregnancy, birth & postpartum. Wondering if hiring a doula is right for you? Please feel free to reach out, I’d love to chat more. *credit to Birthways International.

Tuesday Tip - Optimal Fetal Position What do you think of when you hear the term, Optimal Fetal Position? If you’re anything like me (before becoming a doula of course), you think of the baby being head down prior to the onset of labour. But did you know there is actually more to this term? The Optimal Fetal Position of your baby prior to the onset of labour is of the baby being head down, in an anterior position, that is the baby’s back to the front of your belly. Think... of it as giving your baby a back rub every time you rub your belly. So why is this OP (Optimal Fetal Position) of importance? While some women have no problems birthing a posterior (sunny-side up) baby, posterior presenting babies are also related to the following problems: - more difficult for the baby to drop into and through the pelvis - longer pregnancy - membranes more likely to rupture prior to the onset of labour - labour may progress slowly or not at all - back-labour (back-pain that doesn’t disappear in between contractions) - increased risk of tearing and the use of instrumental or surgical birth - increased stress on the baby’s head and nervous system. The good news is by knowing this information (just ask your healthcare practitioner which way your baby’s back is), you and your doula can use some tricks at home that in many cases will help baby get into this Optimal Position. Angie Evans of BirthWays International, where I was so fortunate to receive my doula training from, has created this wonderful, short article on some tips and tricks for helping your baby into the Optimal Fetal Postion. Check it out, and if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! https://angieevans.ca//posterior-position-turning-baby-pr/

What does a Doula do? I plan to share more on this question over the next few weeks as my work slows down over the holidays, but thought this was a great place to start! Local podcast momma, Taryn Argue, speaks on this topic on one of her recent episodes of The Messy Mama Podcast. Here is her introduction to this episode:... If you're anything like me, you have heard the term 'doula' often, but never truly knew the ins and outs of the job. I've watched so many Moms share their experiences through pregnancy, labour and delivery while using the support of a doula, and every one of them has raved about it. On today's episode, Lindsey comes on and shares her experience as a doula in Calgary, Alberta. She walks us through all the ins and outs of being a doula, and what you can expect if you hire one. We cover everything from how doulas support women during their pregnancy, all the way through to postpartum. Like many of Taryn’s podcast episodes, I absolutely loved listening to this one. I found it so ironic that she posted this episode the very week I started my Doula journey. Check it out! https://podcasts.apple.com//the-messy-mama-p/id1495603016

Expecting Momma’s! Are you delivering in Saskatchewan? Are you aware of the Covid-19 protocols for your hospital or birthing centre? Below is the updated Visitor Policy from the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Things to note:... - If you live outside of Saskatoon or Regina, call the hospital BEFORE you go! In some circumstances, you may have to be directed to another facility. - You may have up to 2 support persons. However, those support persons must be the same throughout the entire stay, so plan for your support persons to not leave the hospital once you are admitted. - Prepare for your stay. Bring all the toiletries, clothing, personal items and snacks you will need for the entire stay, as your support person will not be able to leave and come back. Meals will be provided for the mother, and may be provided for the support person. - You and your support person will be screened upon arrival. If your support person fails the screen, they will NOT be able to to stay with you. Therefore, I highly recommend you have a Plan B & C, in order to prevent you from delivering without a support person present. As always, if you have questions or concerns about the protocols at your specific place of birth, speak with your care provider or contact maternal services.

DID YOU KNOW?! The presence of a Doula has multiple different benefits to your labour & birth experience, resulting in: shorter labours ... less medical interventions fewer caesareans less postpartum depression greater satisfaction of your birth experience Have you worked with a Doula? If so, I’d love to hear how a Doula has benefited you! Please share in the comments.

As I start this new path, I have been asked many times, So what is a Doula?" Because of this, I thought I'd help to answer this question by sharing some information.... By definition, a Doula is a trained birth professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and info support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and early postpartum. But what does this really mean? A Birth Doula: Provides emotional & physical comfort throughout the labour & birth. Supports the woman in preparing for and carrying out the birth she desires. Assists the birthing mother and her partner in getting all the information they need to understand her options to make fully informed decisions. Facilitates effective communication between the labouring woman, her partner and birthing team. Assists the woman's partner to participate and clarify their expectations of one another. Nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience. A Birth Doula does NOT: Give medical advice, offer diagnosis (fetal position, etc.), or perform medical procedures (fetal heart monitoring, etc.). Make decisions for or judge the decisions of the birthing mom and partner. Speak for the birthing mom and/or partner. Long story short- my goal as your Doula is to walk alongside you throughout the entire experience, supporting you and your partner in making the birth of your child one you will cherish forever.