Nitrous Oxide for Kansas City Births!
In 2019, Nitrous Oxide became available in Kansas City to laboring people at Research Medical Center (HCA Midwest Health) and Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The addition has been a part of a resurgence of availability across the country that started in 2014. While Nitrous Oxide or “laughing gas” has been readily available in delivery rooms in the UK, Canada, and Australia for over a century, the US was slow to have it be a part of our pain management options.
Cup Feeding for Newborns
The decision to breastfeed your baby is a very personal one. Today, many parents do choose to breastfeed for at least some portion of time. In preparation for their breastfeeding journey parents often take classes, read books, watch videos, and do tons of research. One topic that is not always covered in the vast information gathered is how to supplement a breastfed baby. You are not always presented with the need to supplement your breastfed baby, but if you are, I want to be sure that you know you have options. Many parents that I support as their doula have never heard about cup feeding. I personally love this option so I want you to know it’s out there!
Do Doulas Work With Epidurals?
There is a misconception out there, and it just won't go away. And it's this: if you hire a doula to be at your birth, they won't let you get an epidural. And it's just not true. As your doula, it is my job to help you feel comfortable and informed. Since 70% of births in the US choose to include an epidural, supporting clients with epidurals is a big part of what I do.
Postpartum Anxiety
I didn't take my baby to a restaurant until he wasn't a baby, technically, any longer. About 14 months after he was born, I was starving, forgot to bring a snack for myself while out running household errands, and it would still be hours before I would be back home with the rush hour traffic. My child was happy, and seemingly unbothered by the fast-paced world, the tedious safety straps of his car seat, or of any logistical conundrums of needing to change a diaper in a place with no changing station. Thankfully, he is a relatively go-with-the-flow sort of kid.
Understanding Your Due Date
As a Kansas City birth doula, I spend a significant amount of time talking about pregnancy due dates. I take a limited number of doula clients per month. When determining my availability for your birth, your actual due date is pretty irrelevant to me. I take clients based on their birth month rather than their actual due date. Most people find this information shocking! I would love to explain why I determine my availability the way I do, but first, let’s talk about when you are actually due.
Best Snacks For Breastfeeding
As a doula, one of the most important topics I talk to expecting parents about while helping them prepare for their postpartum period is snacks. That’s right snacks. I promise, when you bring your sweet little baby home from the hospital you will be so tired, that once your little one is sleeping your entire life will come down to three things: eat, shower, or sleep. And spoiler alert, sleep usually wins. So how do you maintain enough of a calorie intake to nourish your healing body and establish a milk supply for your baby? Snacks yo!
Doulas of Greater Kansas City, Featured Doula
This month I was honored as the Doulas of Greater Kansas City’s featured doula! In case you have not been on their website recently, here is the article of mine they shared. Hi, I am Charity, owner, birth doula, and photographer of Mahina Birth Support. As September’s featured doulas, I would love to share a bit about myself with you.
How the Mind-Body Connection Affects Your Birth
I would love to talk a little bit about the mind-body connection during childbirth and how as your doula I can use this connection to support your best birth. In this post I will talk a little bit about a few of the essential hormones needed during childbirth and how we can both encourage and understand them:
The Weeks Before Birth
The last few weeks before the birth of your child is often considered the most challenging of your entire pregnancy. It is the time between who you once were, and who you are about to become. By this time you have already decorated the nursery, packed your bag for the hospital, loaded your freezer with meals, washed all of your new baby clothes, and are just waiting… and waiting… and waiting.
Labor Induction
As a doula, I typically support hospital births. It is never my goal to tell you what type of birth is best, it is to give you information so that YOU can choose the right birth for you. Recently, I have been getting a lot of questions from my clients about inductions. I found that even clients who have chosen to take Childbirth Education classes to prepare for their birth are still unsure about what an induction is, or how it could affect their birth plan.
What’s in My Doula Bag
What is in your Doula bag? As a birth doula, I get asked this question A LOT! I have a feeling expecting parents like to think my bag is similar to Mary Poppin’s bag (which would be so dope!!) but the truth is, it is way less magical. New Doulas always ask this question of me too, so I thought I would simply make a post about it!
Backup Doulas Are Essential
When you hire a doula it is such a personal thing! Finding someone who is just the right fit for your birth team can take some time, so the idea of having her not be at your birth would be very hard. Believe me, as your doula I feel the exact same way. I want nothing more than to be there for the families who have chosen me as their doula. However, I have learned that the only thing predictable about birth is that it is unpredictable!!!
Choosing Birth Photography
Birth Photography is fairly new to the photography scene. When people think about the times when they want to capture their memories for a lifetime, first on the list is wedding ✔ and newborn ✔. Birth photography is often overlooked. Why is that? I personally think it is because of the way birth has been portrayed. Birth is often painted as an experience that is shocking, scary, hidden, and not worthy of remembering. But if you are someone who has experienced birth firsthand you know that birth is not just the birth of a child but also the birth of a mother and is worthy of remembering. Birth is the most transformative event that you will experience in your lifetime.
Is Your Doula an Advocate or Ally?
Is your doula your advocate or your ally? I rarely hear the word ally used in doula circles, however, I hear the word advocate being tossed around frequently. Here in Kansas City, I get asked often by potential clients if I will be their advocate. As a doula I know that the words we use are important, so please allow me to share my perspective on this with you.
How to Choose a Doula
When you find out that you are expecting, you suddenly realize there are so many things you need to make decisions on. Many of these things you have put little to no thought into before your pregnancy. How will you make these decisions, especially when you are not even sure what questions you should be asking? Choosing a doula is one of these decisions. You know you would like to have a doula at your birth. All of those lovely stories from friends about how their doula massaged their back and squeezed their hips for hours, screams, SIGN ME UP!!!
Doulas Are For Dads Too
Finding out that you are expecting is such an exciting time!!! So many hopes and dreams are born in our minds. We have visions of how we want to bring our babies home, and images of our happy family all snuggled together. As our due date gets closer, we often start to wonder how our birth itself will look. Do we want an unmedicated (“natural”) or medicated birth? How will we handle this experience? How will our partner handle this experience? Who will we have to support us? These are important questions to ask.
What to Pack for your Hospital Birth
If you are anything like me, then you like to be prepared. I have always been the type of person who finds comfort in knowing that I have some control over my life, especially when preparing for something as uncontrollable as birth. I am totally “that mom” who always has a bottle of water, Aleve, Carmex, peppermint oil, and honey sticks in my purse… at all times… just in case.
My Journey to Became a Doula
Aloha, I am Charity, the Birth Doula and Photographer at Mahina Birth Support in Kansas City. Birth work is the destination that so many aspects of my life have led me to. As September nears, I feel it is appropriate to share my journey into the birth world by starting at the beginning. I was a young mother when I had my first child 22 years ago this September.