I'm at 29 weeks now! Baby is moving around. I love to see her moving under my stomach skin. Matt woke up the other night talking in his sleep about the baby... both of us have the baby and labor/delivery on our minds. I still haven't chosen a crib or crib mattress, but I hear it's important to set them up and air out the room before the baby comes. In the USA, our crib mattresses have to be treated with a chemical flame retardant... so airing the mattress out is important.
Oh, we've hired a Doula to help during labor. She came highly recommended to us by a couple from church and by our Bradley Method teacher. She has attended 350 births and has been certified as a Doula for 9.5 years. She's going to help me with managing the pain and sticking to the birth plan. Our Doula's name is Nancy Connelly. During labor, it'll just be me, Matt and Nancy. She'll meet us here or at the hospital once I think I'm in active labor (about the 4-1-1 stage).
The Role of the Doula (from Kelli Way, ICCE, CD(DONA) 1997
Doulas do:
* Provide physical comfort
--- massage or soothing touch; hand-holding
--- help with breathing and relaxation techniques
--- suggest positions or techniques for comfort and progress
* Provide emotional comfort
--- reassurance of normality, coping ability, etc.
--- encouragement
--- validation of feelings
* Inform clients
--- answer questions with accurate information
--- seek out information when they don't know the answers
* Act as an extra pair of hands for the parents
--- go out for food for the partner
--- get extra pillows, blankets, ice chips for the mother
--- take pictures
* Encourage self-determination
--- support their clients' goals
--- make sure their clients understand their choices
--- translate jargon when necessary
Doula's don't
* Practice medicine
--- do exams or procedures
--- make diagnoses or prescribe treatments
--- give second opinions
--- assist physician or midwife with medical care (adjust IV, administer oxygen, etc.)
* Make decisions for clients
--- advise or persuade clients to follow a particular course
--- talk about the clients outside their presence
--- withhold approval for using or avoiding pain medications
--- speak on behalf of their clients to the medical staff
Our Doula:
Nancy S. Connelly
Certified Doula (DONA)
Certified Lactation Educator
Home (626) 359-6310
Cell (626) 841-3783
nsconnelly@earthlink.net
Oh, and Nancy is a Christian!
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