Choosing a Doula: Finding Your Perfect Fit
Pregnancy comes with a bunch of emotions. Excitement, joy, and, let’s be honest… a bit of overwhelm. How many different strollers are there to choose from?! Why do the Amazon reviews on every baby product differ so drastically?! Choosing a doula shouldn’t be as hard as reading all the consumer reports on carseats. AND choosing…
Mental Health Tips for Dad
Becoming a new dad, or a new parent in general, can be both an exciting and incredibly rewarding experience. And it can also be filled with challenges and a sense of overwhelm. Society tends to focus on moms after baby is born, but it’s also important for new fathers to make their mental health a…
Does Private Insurance Cover Doulas?
We have a HUGE announcement… Certain private insurances are now covering doula support in the state of Oregon. Your plans for pregnancy, birth, and beyond now has more options and we want to share all of those details with you. As of October 1st, 2024, individuals with MODA OEBB (Oregon Educators Benefit Board) now have…
Birth at Salem Hospital
Do you have decision fatigue? Choosing where you’d like to deliver your baby is just one decision of what might feel like thousands, as you prepare for the arrival of your little one. If you’ve landed on Salem Health Familyl Birthing Center, congratulations on checking this decision off your list! Let’s cover what you can…
What If I Don’t Like Being Pregnant?
Can I make a confession? I didn’t love being pregnant. Not even a little bit. In fact, most days it felt like slow torture, and I eagerly anticipated it being over. Don’t get me wrong- I loved my baby. I loved feeling the little kicks and wiggles; I thought the hiccups were adorable; I treasured…
6 Tips for Recovering from a Cesarean Birth
Whether it was scheduled or unplanned, recovery from a cesarean delivery (c-section) looks a little different from a vaginal delivery. Here are 6 tips for recovering from a cesarean delivery. 1. Take The Pain Meds Congratulations! You now have a sweet new baby that is relying on you to take care of them. Let’s not…
Gestational Diabetes & Your Care During Pregnancy
After the initial shock of hearing you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes wears off, you might be wondering what comes next. How will this diagnosis change the care you receive during your pregnancy? Will you have to change providers? Will you still get to have the birth you are hoping for? Gestational Diabetes: a brief…
What Do the Numbers from a Cervical Exam Mean?
25%, 1cm, posterior, soft. You just left your provider’s office and at one point during your cervical exam, they rattled off some numbers and immediately you were transported back in time to high school Algebra. Before you grab your graphing calculator or feel like your body has failed some sort of I’m-never-going-into-labor test, check in…
What Happens During a Cesarean?
The idea of a cesarean or c-section can feel scary if you don’t know what to expect or what will happen. Cesareans typically fall into three categories: planned, unplanned, or emergency. BEFORE THE CESAREAN Your anesthesiologist will visit you and discuss the pain management options, their risks and benefits. The two most common options are…
What Happens at a Prenatal Appointment?
Congratulations! Whether you’ve confirmed your pregnancy by an at home test or by blood test, it’s likely that you’ve got allll the feelings about this new adventure ahead of you. Now that you know you’re pregnant, what do you do next? When will I meet my provider? Usually a provider will want to see you…
Are Childbirth Classes Necessary?
Are childbirth classes REALLY necessary? The answer is a little complicated. No, you don’t have to take a childbirth class in order to have a successful birth or a healthy baby. You will have this baby with or without a childbirth class. And yes, it’s still helpful to take one. Yes, all of these things can…
Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
I’ve seen all the recommendations for how much milk a baby should eat at each stage, but I’m exclusively breastfeeding and don’t measure out how much my baby gets. How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? How do I know if I’m producing enough milk or if I need to supplement?…
Spoon Feeding Your Baby
It’s not uncommon for new parents to encounter feeding hurdles like sore nipples, difficulty latching or keeping the baby latched in the early days of parenthood. Some of the challenges may require that a family look into an alternative means of milk transfer to provide their infant with nourishment. Spoon-feeding is a feeding method that…
Why Am I PEEing So Much?
“I’m not sure if my water broke or if I just peed myself AGAIN.” “I swear I got up to pee 10 freaking times last night!” Who knew that urine played such a big part during pregnancy? And it’s not just the baby dancing on your bladder that causes this to happen. •The blood flow…
Get Naked
Hospital gown? Your own clothes? One of those nursing gowns on Amazon? Or just simply naked. Curious what other people wear when they have a baby? That varies widely. You definitely don’t have to wear a hospital gown if that sounds restrictive or too much like a ‘sick patient’ for a very healthy event. No…
Golden Hour
For photographers, the golden hour is a time of day in which the sunlight softens and everything it touches warms underneath its glow. But in the first hour of a newborn’s life, there’s a different kind of golden hour that occurs where biology works a kind of magic that might surprise you all the same.…
Push It Real Good
“What if I fart while I’m pushing?” “Oh, but my darling, what if you poop?” We get it. Pooping in front of people sounds like the kind of nightmare most of us would like to avoid. But what if we told you that pooping and farting in labor and delivery is something your nurses and doulas…
Breastfeeding While Entertaining a Toddler
Feeding an infant can feel all consuming and completing exhausting. Add a busy toddler in the mix, and it might seem like things have reached a whole new level of chaos. With the newly appointed big sister or brother, you might quickly find that they are frustrated or jealous of the extra time that baby…
What’s the Formula for Feeding a Baby?
Infant formula is often called an alternative to breastmilk, which implies new parents always choose breastmilk as their first choice for their baby’s food. The times they are a changing! When the topic of infant feeding comes up during our time with parents, we find that they are nervous to broach the subject. There are…
Questions to Ask Someone Who Just Had a Baby
As with any big life event, new parents have so much to process. In the middle of the exhaustion of figuring out this new baby in their home, they get questions like, “So, you’re breastfeeding, right?” or “Did you avoid the epidural?” Maybe those sound innocent, but the bias included can lead to added feelings…
Can Someone Just Explain the Epidural?
So, you’re thinking about getting an epidural for your delivery and you’re wondering to yourself “What is an epidural?” An epidural is a pain management tool made available to those who are delivering in a hospital based setting. There are a variety of reasons why someone may choose this method of pain management. How do…
5 * Good* Reasons to Write a Birth Plan
Writing a birth plan isn’t just an opportunity to make your wishes clear; it’s also an opportunity to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for what lies ahead. Here are five reasons you should consider writing a birth plan before the big day. 1) USE IT AS YOUR GUIDE It can be daunting to think about…
Effective (and Simple) Birth Plan Idea
Writing a simple birth plan is the most effective way to communicate your truest wants for labor. We’ve included our favorite way of doing it!
Why Is My Vagina Swollen?
If you’ve talked to us, you know that we like to get real. “I’m 8 months pregnant and my vagina (and/or vulva) is so incredibly swollen. Why?!?” Every person and every pregnancy is very different. We all experience different symptoms of pregnancy- but this is one that is not as uncommon as you may think.…
Planning for AFTER Baby
As Doulas, it’s our job to ask open-ended questions about everything. Those questions include ones that get families thinking about the next part of their lives with a baby in it. When you think about the fourth trimester, what does it look like to you? “Well, we were hoping that…..” “My mom might be there,…
Formula Feeding 101
Infant formula has long been given a bad reputation, and it’s one we’re here to help rewrite. Part of changing the narrative about formula feeding is by recognizing there is no shame in choosing one type of feeding over another. The old adage that “Fed is Best,” suggests that new parents have made a lesser…
Do I need a nipple shield?
Do you remember the first time you chewed a piece of bubble gum? The delicious sweet taste of the novelty treat in your mouth. You chewed and chewed, not too sure what to do with your tongue, surprised by all the extra saliva now pooling in your mouth. Chewing bubble gum for the first time…
Beating the Heat in Oregon – Pregnancy Edition
I remember it like it was yesterday. (Even though it was almost 24 years ago) I was 8.5 months pregnant and on a camping trip at Triangle Lake with a large group of friends. It was August and I was miserable. It was so hot. I felt so huge. And the only glow I had…
Myth of Bouncing Back
A letter to the people in the world who believe I should bounce back after I have a baby: You think you know what it’s like to have three bodies over the course of one year? A body that is not pregnant, a body that is growing a baby for 9 months or so, and…
Exploring Cesarean Birth
“You chose to have a cesarean, why?” “Couldn’t that have been prevented?” “Was it really an emergency?” If you are a person who has had a cesarean birth, you may have heard one or all of these kinds of questions regarding your birth experience. It’s possible that people are asking questions from a place of…
Postpartum Foods
Food is life. Whoever said that knew what they were talking about, especially when it comes to pizza and coffee. Many pregnant folks, if they’re lucky enough to avoid morning sickness, love the fun food cravings that come with the changes in pregnancy. Ask someone who has a child what their favorite craving was while…
Baby Bathing 101
You are now the proud parent of a brand new, squirmy baby that poops up their back and has very little neck and head control. Bathing a baby with such characteristics feels really daunting for some new parents. We’re here to help you break down the basics of Baby Bathing 101, so that bath time…
Postpartum Mental Health
Postpartum is a term used to refer to the period after a baby arrives. It’s also a word that most folks immediately connect with the word depression, it is believed that they are one in the same. In fact if you google postpartum, you’ll immediately be bombarded with all kinds of topics related to postpartum…
Confession: I Hate Being Pregnant
I’m pregnant, and I absolutely hate it. Yes, I just said that. No, it wasn’t my inside voice. I would scream it from the rooftops if it was socially acceptable to do so. But then what would come next? Toxic positivity. I’ve heard it from almost every single person that I’ve mentioned how miserable I…
Early Signs of Pregnancy
What to Look for When You *kinda-maybe-sort-of* Think You’re Expecting Whether you’re looking to become pregnant, or are anxious that you are pregnant, ‘early signs of pregnancy’ is a frantic Google search that many uterus-having people have done at least once. Period late? Just feeling a bit funky? Knowing early indicators may save you some…
Milk in Bed
As Doulas, we talk about sex. A lot. We’re not out to make anyone uncomfortable when we do talk about it (and we get that it might be easier to turn on Salt N Pepa’s, “Let’s Talk About Sex” to get a good laugh), but talking about sex postpartum is something we’re just not afraid…
Sex After Baby
Imagine that you’ve just given birth and suddenly you are expected to think about when you’ll be having sex again. Panic might set in, or you might be eager to get back under the sheets. What we want you to know is that both feelings are completely healthy and normal. Sex after baby falls into…
Enneagram for Birth
Have you ever wondered how your personality type might affect the way that you birth? We thought it might be a little fun to take the Enneagram to the next level and explore what each of the types would look like in birth. Not sure what the Enneagram is? It’s an incredibly fun personality tool…
Preparing Your Nipples for Breastfeeding
If Google could share all of your breastfeeding search history it might look something like this: “Will my breasts be different?” “Where can I find cute nursing bras?” “How much bigger will they get?!” “Can I get an IV drip of coffee installed and still nurse my baby?” “How do I prepare my nipples for breastfeeding?”…
Sleep Like a Baby: Part 2
Part 1 of this blog can be found here Whoever used the metaphor “Slept like a baby,” to describe a good night’s sleep, clearly never met a baby. Although a new baby may sleep anywhere from 16-18 hours a day, that sleep is nothing like adult sleep. New baby sleep is inundated with many wakings,…
Sleep Like a Baby: Part 1
“Ohh, your little one is so darling! How well do they sleep?” It’s the most common first interaction for new parents, or mostly any parent who has a baby. Sleep has become the qualifying factor by which society determines if you have a “good baby,” or if you’re doing the whole new parenting thing right.…
How Do I Know If My Water Broke? (or if I just peed myself)
“Did my water break?” or “Did I pee myself?” If you’re pregnant, you might be wondering when your water might break, and how you will know. We get it! The anticipation of your water breaking is a real fear most first time parents. TV tells us that your water breaking is how your labor will…
When Baby Refuses the Breast
If you Googled this topic and ended up at this post, we’re going to guess that you’re in the midst of a tough moment. Deep breath. When you enter your parenting journey with the plan to exclusively breastfeed, you have certain expectations. Those expectations may include that you will be the sole human on earth…
Doula + Surrogacy
So you’ve decided to be a surrogate. Phew. Congratulations doesn’t quite seem like the right word. Whether you’re going through an agency to help someone, anyone, become parents, or you’re doing this for a friend or family member, we’re sure it wasn’t an easy decision. As women, as humans, sometimes you just feel a pull…
The Hair Down There: Does My OB Care?
As your body changes during pregnancy, and your baby and belly grows there are parts of yourself you just cannot see anymore. Ahem, your vagina to be more exact. Don’t be shocked if suddenly you can no longer see your vagina or bikini line once your belly has rounded out. This might make you feel…
Monitoring Baby’s Heartrate During Labor
Labor is a fine balance. One of the best ways to know how your baby is doing during labor is through monitoring their heart rate. We want to see how your baby is handling each part of labor. This is that fine balance we talk about- making sure that baby is handling the birthing process…
Doulas + Planned Cesarean Births
It wasn’t until I was 6 months pregnant with our third child that I found out that having a doula present during a planned c-section was a thing. I’m so glad I found out that it was a thing. When I was pregnant with our middle child my husband and I had decided to have…
Partners + Doulas
I’ve seen this quote going around the Doula World quite often: _____________________________________ Asking your husband to be your sole guide through labor is like asking him to lead the way on a climb of Mt. Everest. He may be smart and trustworthy, you may love him, but in the Himalayas you’d both be a lot better off with…
When Your “Village” Fails
“It takes a village to raise a child.” But what if your village isn’t what you need?
Have You Asked Your Doula’s Opinion?
I’m a rather opinionated person. I’m not sure it’s something I’m proud of, but it’s a part of who I am. What do I think of the color ‘forest green?’ – It’s ugly (even if it was a main color in my wedding). How do I feel about sushi? So disgusting and shouldn’t be eaten…
Postpartum Does Not Mean Depression
“It all went downhill when she got the postpartum.” “She was fine… then she had postpartum.” Can we clarify? A person can get the flu. Someone can have a cold virus. “Postpartum” is not an illness or a mental health disorder. It is a normal period of time after a baby is born. Every person…
To the L&D Nurses
Dear Labor and Delivery Nurses, We have some things we’d like to tell you. We don’t know 99.9% of you, but we do know the ones who work in our local hospitals. We’re going to take a leap and assume that all of you are at least somewhat similar to the nurses we’ve had the…
I Didn’t Breastfeed My Children
What if I told you I chose not to breastfeed? What if I told you I didn’t want to breastfeed? That there wasn’t a medical condition, or supply problem, or any good, legitimate reason why, except that I just didn’t want to. Are you disgusted with me and think I’m a terrible mom, even if…
Decision Making in Labor {Free Download}
“Tell your families to speak up! If we don’t know what they want, we can’t help them get the birth experience they’re hoping for.” Those words from a L&D nurse are important for you to hear. The nursing staff wants you to speak up. They want you to ask questions, to clarify, to PARTICIPATE in…
Living With Anxiety
“I’m not anxious. I just can’t breathe…” You know those moments when you’re first falling asleep and you have that quick dream of falling that startles you awake? At one point in my life, instead of waking up with that startled feeling, I would wake up unable to breathe. It happened repeatedly. I would sit straight…
Is a Doula worth it?
There is a common misconception that the definition of DOULA involves women who attend home births (wearing long, flowing skirts and no shoes), only support natural birth, are against all medical interventions, and are super, incredibly, over-the-top ‘crunchy.’ Due to some of the above beliefs, we get all of the following questions on a regular…
I’m Dating My OB
I like long walks in the hallway, firm hip squeezes, and gentle exams. Dear OB, I’ve heard you have an opening on your schedule. I’ve also heard that you find my insurance coverage to be appealing. I’ve talked with others who had past relationships with you and I’m intrigued. I’m thinking it may be time…
Your Doula vs. the World
As the weeks passed she found herself growing in her abilities… she found she carried with her some incredible powers. More reliable than the US Postal Service! Able to provide compassionate support with the touch of her hand! Incredibly gifted at hip squeezes! She is Super Unbiased Doula! The World: You should have your baby…
Doula? No Thanks.
I need to tell you the truth. This doula didn’t have a doula. While that was 22 years ago (when I had no idea what a doula was), I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’ve been pretty convinced that I’m just not the type to have a doula. I don’t like to ask…
The Joys of Pregnancy Over 35
You know what’s not enough? Carrying a child in your womb for 9 months at the age of 36. Just to add to the joy, being 35 years of age and older gives you a whole new label: Geriatric. No, seriously. There’s been another shift to move from the term “Advanced Maternal Age” (which isn’t…
A Postpartum Wish: What we all wish we had.
This is the day you’ve been waiting for. The day you put your baby, and your sore but powerful body into the backseat of what can now be called your “Family Car,” and you make your way home. The landscape looks different, even though it is the same. Your partner’s driving is approached with more…
The Top 5 Things Every New Parent Needs
Jogging stroller with bluetooth compatibility- Check! Special bottle to emulate mothers breast- Check! Swaddle with limited edition Llama print- Double Check! You’ve probably read a million articles that tell you exactly what you need to survive as a new parent. Perhaps the articles have even left you thinking, “What exactly do I need and how…
Salem Area Breastfeeding Resources
Breastfeeding is a journey and can be a very challenging road to navigate. For some mothers breastfeeding is a breeze. They simply put baby to breast and “bam” perfect latch and the rest is history. But, for most mothers, it is a journey of cracked and bleeding nipples, pain, frustration, hungry babies and pure exhaustion.…
Such a Let Down
Just to be clear – Not the Rick Roll kind of let down. The let-down we’re referring to involves your breasts. As you establish your breastfeeding relationship with your newborn, you’ll experience a variety of new things. One of those new things involve this weird, tingling sensation. That sensation is your breastmilk making it’s way…
I Miss My Old Life. Is That Normal?
Your body took the tiniest cells and turned them into an honest-to-goodness HUMAN. And as soon as that child exited your body, your entire life changed. Your identity changes to Mom. You become 100% responsible for another human life. Instead of sleeping when you’re tired, you begin to sleep (or not sleep) around this little…
Gas During Pregnancy: Where does it all come from?!
Move on over, Pregnancy Glow! For all of the glorious and beautiful parts of pregnancy, there seems to be some side effects that are less than.. ladylike? We’re looking at you, flatulence. Have you noticed the increase in bloating, burping, belching and farting during pregnancy? It can be a little intense and maybe a tad…
Will My Baby Fit?
I am little. I always have been. How little, you ask? I’m 4’ 11” on a good day. Men tell me they could bench press me with ease (I’m 100lbs even). I buy my pants in the children’s section. I’m not complaining about that last part though. The pants are cheaper and they…
When Parenting Simply Sucks
It looks NOTHING like Pinterest. It doesn’t even look like 99% of the pictures your friends and family post on Facebook. Not.at.all. This parenting stuff is stinkin’ hard. Yeah, people mentioned that it had rough moments. They talked about how tired we would be after our babies were born. They discussed how busy it is…
Birth Isn’t Always Beautiful
Can we be real for a minute? I was wandering through the world of Google today on a search for birth quotes. I stumbled upon a birth affirmation that caught my eye. “Birth is Joyous.” and “My birth is easy.” I read those and it catapulted me back to the beginning of my doula career……
What is a Doula?
There is no Google Maps voice in the labor and delivery room. It’s entirely new territory every time, and the closest thing to a pocket guide through the experience is a doula. Her voice can guide you and your support partner to your best experience. We are present, with the wisdom and experience to see…
Camping With Baby: 5 Things to Consider
Bringing your baby camping for the first time might seem like a wild task, but with a little preparation and some fresh air- anything is possible! Camping has always been the centerpiece of summer, and continuing this tradition with my son has been an exciting adventure within itself. Over the years we’ve mastered the art…
The Horror of Bottles
Forewarning: This blog post may push some buttons. We welcome the open and respectful discussion it may bring. We were asked if we would provide a raffle prize for an upcoming event that is centered around breastfeeding. Wonderful! We jumped at the idea because, hello, it involves women and babies… two of the things we…
The #1 Labor Tip You Need to Know
You know you did it. You stuck your fingers in one of these innocent contraptions and then had the full panic moment of realizing that you couldn’t get your fingers back out. No matter how hard you pulled, the dumb thing just squeezed tighter. And then you realized that the answer to this little trick…
Our Opinion on OBs
Dear OB/GYN, It’s possible that people have forgotten that you’re a human being. Is that weird to consider? Does it feel odd to know that people see you as a magical creature who lives at the office and/or hospital? Is it uncomfortable that people expect you to be impossibly close to perfect? In our role,…
An Open Letter from the Pregnant Lady
Dear friends and family and neighbors and Facebook acquaintances… and random strangers, Yes, I am most definitely pregnant and a tad extra hormonal. And hungry. And swollen. And tired. I have noticed that my pregnancy has opened the door for statements and conversations that I had hoped others were exaggerating about. But they weren’t. People…
Do I Need a Doula?
need: (nēd) verb Require (something) because it is essential or very important. “I need help now” Is a doula actually a NEED? Some people consider a ‘need’ to be something that is necessary for survival: air, water, food, shelter, etc. But if we look at the synonyms for need (be in need of, have need…
Postpartum Reality
I get it. I had a total light bulb moment tonight. But I’m not 100% sure I should share it with you. You see, I own a doula agency. I encourage people to hire Postpartum Doulas. But I honestly haven’t fully understood why it’s necessary. The picture in my mind…. well, it wasn’t right. I…
10 Things To Do When You’re OVERDUE in Salem
You may not be sleepless in Seattle, but overdue in Salem may not be getting much sleep either! Do you feel like you’re a million weeks pregnant? Has your due date come and gone? Salem Birth Support understands and we’re here to offer you a few activities to get your mind off of your upcoming…
40 Weeks and Counting: Pregnant & Overdue
Dear Overdue Mom, Remember when you tried to picture yourself at your due date? The times you pinned those adorable maternity photos on Pinterest? When you put a pillow under your shirt to try and imagine your stomach getting THAT big? And then came your due date. Let’s be honest. This isn’t at all how…
Birth: Know Your Options
“I don’t really want an epidural, but my friend says I won’t be able to do it without one.” “My mom wants to be in the room, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.” “My doctor offered to induce me at 39 weeks, but I might want to wait until I go into labor…
How Does Postpartum Depression Feel? Part 2
“If I can help one woman, than sharing my story is worth it.” Written by Blair I always get the baby blues. Usually before I’m out of the hospital, I start crying for “no reason.” It takes me a couple weeks to pull out of it. It’s an awful feeling. For the most…
How Does Postpartum Depression Feel? Part 1
Postpartum Depression. Approximately 15% of all women who experience pregnancy also report experiencing Postpartum Depression. 15%. 15 out of every 100 women. And those are just the ones who tell their doctor about it. We’re spending our week sharing personal stories about PPD. Because we need to talk about it more. And because faces like…
6 Alternative Ways to Feed Your Baby
You’ve got two choices: breast or bottle. What’s it going to be? But, wait, why do I have to choose and are those really my only options? NO, you do not and no, they are not! Are they the most common options? Absolutely. But, there are some other great choices out there too. For numerous reasons…
Confessions of an Exclusive Pumper
I never expected to become an exclusive pumper. I didn’t even know what one was until a few weeks after the birth of my daughter. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia during delivery, and as a result of related complications, my milk supply was late. So, I was put on a rigorous pumping schedule while still…
Top 5 Doula Myths
‘Urban Legends’ I highly recommend that particular internet search. You’ll have some great party conversation starters. Oh, in case you’ve ever wondered, a 600 lb. woman did NOT actually give birth to a 40 lb baby. Tax refunds are not being delayed until October. And Bigfoot really does exist. I did my research. Top 5…
April Fools: I’m Pregnant!
We say it every year. A prank about pregnancy isn’t funny. And every year, someone comments that this concept is “entitled.” Can we be real for a minute? No, this type of joke may not hurt everyone. But isn’t one person enough? Pregnancy loss impacts 1 in 4 women. Add the infertility statistics to that…
What is Diastasis Recti?
Looking pregnant after birth? Normal. Looking pregnant when your baby is 9 months old? That could be a concern. Whether or not you’ve ever had a ‘6 pack’ – you have the muscles that create the 6 pack. These muscles are long, flat muscles that run vertically down each side of your abdomen. They help…
Constipation During Pregnancy
True story: Half of all pregnant women experience constipation. Because growing a baby isn’t enough, you get the joys of struggling to poop, too! Constipation occurs when there is abdominal discomfort or pain, passing of hard stools, and difficulty/infrequency of bowel movements.In other words- it’s a miserable pain in the butt. (literally) Some of the…
Counting Kicks
Remember those first little movements you felt? A little flutter that may have been a gas bubble. A little twitch that caught your attention. And then those movements got bigger. Your partner was able to feel them from the outside. You got video of something that may have been a tiny foot moving across your…
Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
“I used to laugh at hemorrhoids, and talk of them in funBut that all ended yesterday, when I developed oneMy disposition is no longer sunnyAnd I think I walk a little funnyIt burns, it itches, it needs attentionBut you dare not scratch, what you dare not mentionHoping to stave off a doctors appointmentI bought me…
Massive Melons: How to relieve engorgement
First comes baby. Then comes a handful of days in which you wonder if your milk will ever come in. And *BAM* Rock hard boobs. Concrete ta-tas. Massive melons. Your breasts swell up like balloons and your nipples practically disappear into the masses. Hellooooo, milk supply! Out of nowhere, your chest will require its own…
Are Membrane Sweeps Necessary?
My doctor offered to sweep my membranes yesterday. Does it need to be cleaned up there?” (Yes- real question.) You may have heard it before- sweeping or stripping of membranes. Let’s break down what it really is… including the fact that a broom is not included. The Goal of Stripping Membranes: To release hormones that…
Welcoming A Rainbow
“A rainbow baby is a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or infant loss.” Written by Jamie Yeaney All photos by Erica Martin Photography A positive pregnancy test will change your whole world in an instant. As my husband and I were celebrating our one year marriage anniversary in Fiji, we found out we were…
What Not To Say: Gender Reveal Etiquette
‘He or She? What will it be?’ ‘Boy or girl? Come be the first to know!’ ‘Bowties or Bows! No one knows!’ Gender Reveal Parties have become a fun way to announce more information about the new baby before birth- And just a good reason to have another party. Let us help you with some…
You Need A Doula (as much as you need a new pair of boots)
I have a little story for you. I appreciate shoes. I have some glittery turquoise Toms that make my heart happy with a pair of jeans. I have black flats that go with everything. I recently added a pair of beautiful shimmery green Keens mary janes (that I coveted in a delivery room- but that’s another…
Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Let’s Talk About Milk. If there is one thing I hear consistently from mothers while they are pregnant (and quite often after they have had their baby), it’s this question: “How do I know if I’m making enough milk??” As a birth worker, I strive to ease as many fears as possible with simple, yet empowering information…
Cesarean Birth in Salem Oregon
*All pictures in this post are used with permission and were taken on one of our doula’s phones by a nurse during a cesarean. This post does contain some images of a cesarean birth. What if…? What if labor doesn’t go as planned and the decision to deliver by cesarean is made? As we talk…
Helping Your Baby Sleep
“But I can’t just let my baby cry!” It’s a common misconception that sleep training means putting your baby into a crib and allowing him to cry to sleep. Cry It Out (CIO) methods are a type of sleep training, but not all sleep training methods involve extended periods of crying. This news comes as…
New Moms: This is urgent!
Dear New Moms, We need to talk. It’s a necessary and urgent conversation. If this is the only thing you read today. If you never read this blog again. If you’re a guy and can’t figure out why your wife sent this link to you. Whatever the circumstances- I’m begging you to take 5 minutes…
My Uterus- It’s none of your business.
I stood out in my driveway on an uncharacteristically warm Oregon spring day, six weeks after moving here, having my first conversation with my new neighbors from across the street. They are a nice elderly couple, with her curled-and-set hair and his POW MIA cap, and although they were perfectly friendly I still had a…
Nitrous at Salem Hospital
Did you know that Salem Health Family Birth Center offers nitrous oxide during labor? What does this mean for you? Let’s break it down. Nitrous oxide is an odorless, colorless gas that you may most often hear about for dental procedures, but it has been used for labor pain relief across the world. Sometimes referred…
Our Baby Died: An open letter to family & friends
Dear Friends and Family, As you may have heard, we had to say goodbye to our precious baby. Our hearts are broken and our world is pretty dark right now. We know that you’re sad, too. Our current goal is to survive… and even that is difficult. We are including some ideas on how you…
What to Expect: Having a baby at Salem Hospital
From your arrival to the time your baby is in your arms, knowing what to expect with your birth at Salem Health Family Birth Center can ease some anxiety.
I Don’t Love My Baby
I like order, organization, and planning. When I became pregnant-which was a miracle itself, but that’s another story-I <obsessively> researched every idea, problem, scenario, opinion and strategy on pregnancy, babies and labor. What to eat, what not to eat, the best and worst names, the ‘must have’ products, the worst baby products, contractions, epidurals, emergency C-Sections,…
Labor & Cervical Scar Tissue
I’ve been to more than a few births. I’ve worked with women from a variety of backgrounds and previous birth experiences. I’ve been at labors that have lasted 30 minutes (yes…that’s total) and labors that have lasted multiple days. I’ve been at the births of multiples, at inductions, at birth centers and hospitals. I’ve worked…
Labor Interventions: Is Pitocin Bad?
I had my one and only biological child 21 years ago. I took childbirth classes and I felt pretty prepared. I mean, what I got out of the classes was ‘if you breathe like this, you can manage labor without the big, bad epidural.” And as prepared as I was, I gave no thought to…
Does OHP Cover Doula Support?
About 5 years ago, this exciting thing happened that made a big wave through the birth community. It was announced that Medicaid in Oregon would actually be covering doula care! I jumped on it. I got the information to be a part of the registry and put a great deal of time to get…
A Color-Coded Guide to Baby Poop
Oh the stuff that comes out of that precious baby! Allow us the opportunity to put your mind at ease as your baby grows. Baby poop comes in a variety of colors (and smells) depending on stage of life, food they’re eating, etc. Before you get too concerned over the current explosion, scroll through and…
Building Bridges- Our promise to Medical Staff
We get it. It took watching and listening and conversation. But when we walk into the room, please know that PNW Doulas gets it. To each staff member at each hospital we are invited into: We know that you have years of education and experience under your belt. We know that you are providing the…
Q&A: Can I Have a Natural Birth at Salem Hospital?
We get a fair number of questions about policies and procedures at Salem Hospital. While we don’t have all the answers, we’re confident in answering the ‘natural birth’ question that comes up often. Can I have a natural birth in a hospital? Yes, yes, and yes. We are incredibly blessed in the Salem area with…
Don’t Listen to Your OB (and other things you’ll never hear us say)
Each time we have one-on-one conversations with OBs and L&D nurses, we hear their ‘horror stories’ of doulas. And every time… It shocks us. “One time, I walked into the room and the client was standing on the bed and the doula was shining a flashlight toward her va-jay-jay and telling the baby to ‘come…
My Pregnant Christmas List
Dear Santa, Let’s get straight to the point. I can’t see my toes. I haven’t shaved my legs in weeks. (Okay- months.) My hormones are freakin’ out of control. Let’s skip the robe and jewelry this year. I have some REAL needs. 1. I’m going to need some self-tying shoes. None of that velcro stuff.…
Prematurity: When Babies Arrive Early
By Jessica Spooner I didn’t give premature birth much thought, until I had a premature birth. Our son came barreling into this world at 27 weeks gestation, weighing only 2 pounds and 4.5 ounces, a mere 14.7 inches long. Almost one week prior, my water had broke unexpectedly, without warning or symptom. Everything had been…
Will I Poop When I Push?
This. The question of almost every pregnant woman we talk with. Because, unless you have some interesting fetish, the thought of pooping in front of a room full of people sounds like a less-than-stellar experience. The thought can cause considerable anxiety about birth- and it may actually cause some issues during delivery. When does pooping happen…
The Mucus Plug Explained
What exactly is a mucus plug? (And…ewwww.) At the very beginning of pregnancy, some mucus collects at the opening to the cervix. This thick substance works to seal the cervix tightly and block infection from traveling from the vagina to the cervix. Due to the hormones surging through the body during pregnancy, the mucus plug continually…
Spill the Beans: Is Coffee OK During Pregnancy?
When you live in the PNW, coffee counts as its own food group. Actually, if you can drive a mile without seeing a coffee shop, you must be in a part of town we haven’t visited yet. Since those beautiful little caffeinated beans make up such a big part of daily life, “Can I still…
Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Let’s Talk About Milk. If there is one thing I hear consistently from mothers while they are pregnant (and quite often after they have had their baby), it’s this question: “How do I know if I’m making enough milk??” Although this is an excellent question, it leaves me feeling a little sad, too. Sad that our…