What is support?

(this is my version of something written in my toLabor training manual.)

Support is unconditional. It is listening, not talking.
Support is offering advice.
Support is offering a gentle touch.
Support is offering a hug.
Support is offering a tissue.
Support is caring.

Support is helping you discover your feelings.....not to make your feelings go away.
Support is helping you identify your options....not telling you which options not to choose.
Support is discussing steps with you....not taking steps for you.
Support is helping you discover your own strength.
Support is not leaving you vulnerable.
Support is helping you discover you can help yourself.

Support is helping you learn to choose.
Support is not making decisions for you.
Support is helping you reach your goals.
Support gives no judgements.
Support understands how you are feeling.
Support is there for you.

Whooping cough

     Pertussis, also known as whooping cough has made a pretty significant outbreak in my state of Washington. My own midwife has suggested I get vaccinated for it when I am in the third trimester of my current pregnancy to protect the baby. The current vaccination schedule for infants doesn't have them vaccinated for pertussis until they are two months old.

     Here is a heart-breaking story of a newborn who died shortly after a healthy birth due to the disease. But there are also studies that show many vaccinated children are still getting it. More parents are still losing their children to pertussis. All of this information is completely heartbreaking to me!

     I have said this before and I still mean it - you should do your own research before deciding what to do regarding any health issue. And you should always discuss things such as vaccinations with your physician. I plan on telling all of my clients about this outbreak and encourage them to talk to their doctor or midwife about it. I vaccinate my children, I believe in them. If this is now how you feel, we will just have to disagree! I intend to get the pertussis vaccine again next trimester and hopefully it will protect my baby.

Eating the afterbirth

  Recently this subject has been what seems like everywhere and I was curious. As a doula, I am all for becoming educated on everything that has to do with birth. My own midwife asked me on Wednesday if I was interested in placenta encapsulation.

  I read articles like this one. All opinion and no actual facts. Sure a TV star ate her placenta, but what does that tell me? You can watch http://youtu.be/LGAYZyAHk-s this video of the story also. Doesn't really help find any facts, but it was entertaining.

  I decided to do some research myself. You know, to see if there were any truth to what a lot of other doulas are saying about ingesting the placenta.

  Here is an article of someone's experience taking her own placenta vitamins. She says she regrets it. Very interesting read.

  I found this very helpful article. It basically says there have been no reliable or valid studies to prove any benefits of a human mammal eating its afterbirth.

  So my conclusion is that eating the placenta may or may not be helpful. There have been no studies to prove it right or wrong. I will not be encapsulating my placenta. If I have a client that is interested in doing it, I would support her 100% and help her make this happen. I just suggest everyone do their own research before doing something such as eating the afterbirth.