When preparing for the birth of your child you make choices about your medical care (OB or Midwife?) and which hospital to deliver at, if you want a doula supporting …
Your Doula Does Not (and Cannot) Have a VBAC “Success” Rate
When speaking with prospective clients, our doulas may be asked, “What is your VBAC success rate,” or, “How often do your clients get epidurals?” We understand these questions. You want …
W is for Water
Have you heard of hydrotherapy? It’s basically a fancy name for an aspect of alternative medicine involving the use of water for pain relief. In today’s blog we will only …
V is for Vernix
When we think of new babies, we tend to think of perfectly pink, clean bundles of love. So it may be surprising when your baby is born with white goo all over …
S is for Sex
We’ve all heard it (and some of us may have tried it): sex induces labor. So we did some research, looked at the facts, and found that this may be true, …
O is for Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a role in regulating: social interaction, sexual reproduction, maternal-child boding, labor, and milk production. They hypothalamus produces this hormone. Physical affection causes an increase …
I is for Induction
“Induction” is any of a number of artificial methods, both medical and non-medical, for bringing on the start of labor. According to the CDC the induction rate in the United …
G is for Group B Strep
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that is indigenous to the gastrointestinal tract and vagina. GBS colonization occurs in roughly 25% of healthy adult. A positive culture (done via …
Oh, Baby! Take Your Shirt Off! | Skin-to-Skin
By now I’m sure you’ve seen the picture of “The Rock” skin-to-skin with his new daughter Tiana. It’s sweet, beautiful, and beneficial. You’ve likely heard about and researched the benefits …
No, Facebook, I Don’t Want to Check-In at the Hospital!
One thing you won’t see Blissful Birthing’s doulas doing is posting on Facebook when we are on our way to support a client or “checking in” when we arrive or …
Five Things You Don’t Have to Do (Just Because You’re Hiring a Doula)
Doulas are non-medical birth professionals who provide physical, emotional, and educational support before, during, and after the birth of a baby. A doula will support your decisions because you are the …
5 Natural Ways to Induce Labor
Time always seems to pass more slowly when we’re waiting for something. The last month of pregnancy is no exception. Many women are anxious to meet their new babies and …