RE: Coronavirus and Your Doula
5/8/20
Hello You Wonderful Mamas and Papas,
Just wanted to touch base with you all to say:
1) I've had some amazing births over the last couple weeks and things have been running pretty smoothly in that regard. Here is how things have been going typically:
*For birth center births: Let me know when labor has begun, keep me posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home as long as possible, go to birth center for assessment when you are ready, call me into the birth center if you are staying there to labor (as opposed to being sent home) when you are ready for support.
*For hospital births with at-home in-person support prior to going to hospital: Let me know when labor has begun, keep me posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home as long as possible before calling me to your house, call me to your home for active labor support, transfer to hospital sooner than later to avoid a car birth (hehe), I will drive separately to the hospital with you to help you transfer in, you can then call or text or video chat with me as much or as little as you want once at the hospital (for suggestions, affirmations, consultations, etc), call me if you would like to push together or to have me witness birth (audibly or visually).
*For hospital births without at-home in-person support prior to going to hospital: Let me know when labor has begun, keep my posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home for as long as possible before going to hospital (or if induced or at the hospital early for certain circumstances, call me for suggestions, affirmations, consultations, etc), call/text/video chat as much or as little as you want for support, call or video chat for pushing or birth if you want.
2) This is your birth. So, however you want or need support, I urge you to make this birth your own. Some people wonder if virtual support is as valuable as in person support, so I wanted to share some comments that I've received from recent virtual and in-person clients to help put your mind at ease:
* "Amy was incredibly useful for my birth even though she could not be there in person. I was able to call her when I was discouraged and she was able to reaffirm that I was doing everything I needed to be doing."
* "I called Amy any time my doctor came in, so that she could be part of those conversations and help give unbiased information, and to make sure I was asking all the right questions while my doctor was right there with us. When I needed time to think about what the doctor suggested, she reminded me that I can ask for time"
* "While Amy was on speaker phone, she asked the nurse to be her hands and to give the counter pressure that she would've provided had she been with me. When my husband was worried, he would step out to the hallway to call Amy and she was able to talk him through different situations and that helped him be a better support person for me."
* "Amy helped me to navigate my transfer from a hospital to a birth center earlier in my pregnancy, and I'm so happy because that way she got to be there with us for birth and could support my hubby too."
* "Thank you for coming to my home before I left for the hospital. Things were getting real and I didn't know what to expect or when to head in. You helped me get through most of the hard stuff and if you weren't there, I know I would've gone in so much sooner and then would've been without support."
3) Lastly, I just wanted to say that you are all doing amazingly well through this crazy time. You are reaching out for support when you have questions, you are making really hard decisions with strength and grace, and you are not letting the weight of the world hold you back from having a healthy pregnancy and a positive birth experience. I am so proud to be your doula and cannot wait to support your birth - in whatever way you need!
* Call with questions.
* Make choices with your heart and not out of fear.
* Know that you are loved!
Until next time,
~ Amy the Doula
5/8/20
Hello You Wonderful Mamas and Papas,
Just wanted to touch base with you all to say:
1) I've had some amazing births over the last couple weeks and things have been running pretty smoothly in that regard. Here is how things have been going typically:
*For birth center births: Let me know when labor has begun, keep me posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home as long as possible, go to birth center for assessment when you are ready, call me into the birth center if you are staying there to labor (as opposed to being sent home) when you are ready for support.
*For hospital births with at-home in-person support prior to going to hospital: Let me know when labor has begun, keep me posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home as long as possible before calling me to your house, call me to your home for active labor support, transfer to hospital sooner than later to avoid a car birth (hehe), I will drive separately to the hospital with you to help you transfer in, you can then call or text or video chat with me as much or as little as you want once at the hospital (for suggestions, affirmations, consultations, etc), call me if you would like to push together or to have me witness birth (audibly or visually).
*For hospital births without at-home in-person support prior to going to hospital: Let me know when labor has begun, keep my posted via texts and calls during early labor for suggestions and support, labor at home for as long as possible before going to hospital (or if induced or at the hospital early for certain circumstances, call me for suggestions, affirmations, consultations, etc), call/text/video chat as much or as little as you want for support, call or video chat for pushing or birth if you want.
2) This is your birth. So, however you want or need support, I urge you to make this birth your own. Some people wonder if virtual support is as valuable as in person support, so I wanted to share some comments that I've received from recent virtual and in-person clients to help put your mind at ease:
* "Amy was incredibly useful for my birth even though she could not be there in person. I was able to call her when I was discouraged and she was able to reaffirm that I was doing everything I needed to be doing."
* "I called Amy any time my doctor came in, so that she could be part of those conversations and help give unbiased information, and to make sure I was asking all the right questions while my doctor was right there with us. When I needed time to think about what the doctor suggested, she reminded me that I can ask for time"
* "While Amy was on speaker phone, she asked the nurse to be her hands and to give the counter pressure that she would've provided had she been with me. When my husband was worried, he would step out to the hallway to call Amy and she was able to talk him through different situations and that helped him be a better support person for me."
* "Amy helped me to navigate my transfer from a hospital to a birth center earlier in my pregnancy, and I'm so happy because that way she got to be there with us for birth and could support my hubby too."
* "Thank you for coming to my home before I left for the hospital. Things were getting real and I didn't know what to expect or when to head in. You helped me get through most of the hard stuff and if you weren't there, I know I would've gone in so much sooner and then would've been without support."
3) Lastly, I just wanted to say that you are all doing amazingly well through this crazy time. You are reaching out for support when you have questions, you are making really hard decisions with strength and grace, and you are not letting the weight of the world hold you back from having a healthy pregnancy and a positive birth experience. I am so proud to be your doula and cannot wait to support your birth - in whatever way you need!
* Call with questions.
* Make choices with your heart and not out of fear.
* Know that you are loved!
Until next time,
~ Amy the Doula
