Mindset matters during labour and birth

Posted by Jan 8, 2024 Birth, Burlington, Burlington Doula, Doula, Happiness, health, motherhood, Oakville, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Yoga, workout Leave a Comment
Mindset matters during labour and birth

During labour your mind responds similarly to when you begin a new workout or physical activity. In the beginning it feels difficult and you start an inner dialogue around whether you think you can last the entire time. In that moment it feels like it will always be this tough. Perhaps you tense up, you allow your mind to go elsewhere and start to rationalize the idea of leaving this discomfort. RIGHT HERE is where your mindset can have a massive impact on your experience and endurance, physically and emotionally. 

If you say to yourself “you can do this!”, “you are strong!”, “you were meant to do this!” You just might find that it gets easier. You get used to it. You find a rhythm or a ritual. As a doula I see this in clients in early labour when their bodies are just starting to get used to labour as well as anytime there is an increase in intensity; often just as active labour is starting or during transition (8cm to 10cm). It’s not easy for you to change your mindset on your own so discuss this with your care team and communicate ways they can encourage and support you. Even people who have done a lot of preparation or have birthed before doubt themselves at some point during labour. 

Here are just a few ways you can practice a positive mindset before the intensity of labour begins:

  1. Reflect on a time when you felt challenged physically or mentally in your life. How did you get through it? Were you surprised that you did? What did you learn about yourself through that experience?
  2. Practice mindfulness every day and notice your thoughts when you are in uncomfortable situations. What happens in your body? Where do your thoughts go? What changes can you do to make the moment more comfortable for you? 
  3. Learn about birth. Learn what to expect to help with any anxieties, concerns or doubts. When your mind has an idea what to expect it is easier to manage when you get to that point. With labour and birth it is difficult to practice or anticipate exactly how it will feel but even a small amount of understanding can make a difference. 
  4. Prepare your birth team. Speak to them about what you need to have a positive mindset. That might include learning your non-verbal cues and discussing how you will communicate in the moment. Giving them some phrases, strategies or techniques to help you through the difficult times and help you to come back to your ideal mindset, over and over again!

So just like that tough workout when you want to quit, give up and get back to being more comfortable labour can force you to face challenging moments that, with proper support and preparation, can leave you feeling strong and confident as you transition to parenthood. 

What does a Postnatal Doula do?

Posted by Nov 15, 2023 Burlington Doula, Doula, Happiness, health, motherhood, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Postnatal Doula, Pregnancy , , , , , Leave a Comment
What does a Postnatal Doula do?

I’m so glad that you are interested in what a Postnatal Doula does. Most people google this once they have given birth and are feeling overwhelmed, possibly scared, likely exhausted, and potentially grief stricken. If this is you, please keep reading. If you are still pregnant or in the family-planning stage then you should know that it is never too early to have a postpartum plan.

Every client and every family has different needs. If you don’t know what those needs are yet that is totally okay. If you aren’t sure if you need a postnatal doula because you have family or friends close by, I will explain how we are different. 

Day time postnatal shifts are usually 4 or more hours. Some doulas do night support as well but I’m not one of them. I know some great ones though if you would like a referral. 

Here is how a typical 4 hour shift usually goes;

-Once I arrive we sit down together and talk about how things are going. I hold space for anything that you want to discuss without judgement. I hear your concerns and questions. Often in the early weeks these centre around baby feeding, sleeping, the family dynamic/relationships, postpartum healing and nutrition, and a lack of sleep for the parents. 

-If feeding is proving to be challenging I will help with that. This most definitely looks different for everyone. I am not a lactation consultant but I can often help trouble-shoot and provide some information and education. Or, give you a great referral for an LC. 

-If parents are tired, want to shower, read a book, or anything else, I can take care of baby while you do that. Naps are by far the #1 thing moms need. 

-I can assist with bottle washing and sterilizing, emptying and reloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, meal prep. Often I can do this while baby is napping. 

My goal as a Doula for each shift is to take away the overwhelm and increase mom’s confidence little by little.

Parents and friends might be a great support to have but they don’t often have the professional knowledge to give guidance. In fact, I often help my clients communicate with their family. People often feel that their family members give bias information or misinformation that is actually hurtful. I can also support my clients by giving them some strategies to share with their family so that they feel they are getting the support they need from them. 

Postnatal Doulas are like magical fairies that come into your home and make you feel cared for through the most profound transformation you have ever experienced. Who wouldn’t want a Doula?!

The Value of a birth DOULA

Posted by Apr 19, 2023 Birth, Burlington, Burlington Doula, Doula, health, motherhood, Oakville, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Pregnancy , , , Leave a Comment
The Value of a birth DOULA

I have heard varying reactions to what I charge. Everything from “Wow, that seems like a lot of money” to “Really that is it for all that you do?”.

If you are a numbers person you might sit down with your calculator and attach a value to to the tasks that we would do for you when deciding whether or not to hire a doula. I could argue that some ways we support might be impossible to attach a numerical value but you could try. We know that each individual values things differently. One person might feel that their gender reveal party is more important to them than the outcome of their birth and another might feel differently. Here are a few of the ways that we support our clients;

  • On-going availability throughout pregnancy for resources, questions, holding space for your experiences.
  • Personalized birth and postpartum planning. Everything from knowing what to expect at your birthing location, how to advocate, comfort measures, strategies to thrive once baby is here and anything else that YOU need support with. This is VERY different from reading blogs and books. This is for you and your family and addresses your needs and wants. We come to your home and spend roughly 3-4 hours with you. Plus time on calls, answering emails and texts. 
  • Being on-call for you from approximately 37 weeks until you have your baby. This means that we organize our lives so that when labour starts we are there for you virtually and then in-person. This is challenging and requires a lot of effort. In some cases, our lives are put on hold. We don’t know with certainty when we will be needed so we are constantly checking in and ensuring that you feel supported throughout.
  • In-person support for you and your partner from the time that you need us until several hours after birth. This is often the part that people attach value. They wonder “how long do I think I will be in labour for” and divide our fees by this number of hours. But this is not reality. This is when we are completely dedicated to you. All other meetings, visits, family responsibilities are on hold for us and we are there for you. 
  • Since births usually require us to be awake and alert through the night, it can some times take us days to recover. More cancelled events for us in the hopes that we get enough rest before our next client goes into labour or that we are needed for someone else. 
  • During the postpartum time we are there for you to reassure you, answer questions and do follow up visits. There aren’t many alternatives for this type of support and people tend to underestimate how challenging this time is and how important it would be to having someone like a doula on your team. 

Doulas are almost always independent contractions who are self-employed. We have various operating costs like website, insurance, gas, mileage, etc. And we have less obvious costs like certifications, trainings, paying the employer portion of our CPP. If we cannot pay for these items then we can’t continue operating as a doula. 

So, yes you can sit down with your calculator and figure out how much you value birth doula support. OR, you can think about how it would feel to have ALL of this support, feel that you were taken care of throughout the most important time of your life, have someone with you for immediate chest feeding help (very rare!) and then reflect on how much that is worth to you. 

Virtual Doula Services

Posted by Mar 25, 2020 Birth, Burlington, Burlington Doula, coronavirus and birth, cover-19 and birth, covid-19 and birth, Doula, Happiness, health, motherhood, Oakville, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Yoga Leave a Comment
Virtual Doula Services

Covid-19 has brought challenges to our health care system that are affecting pregnant and birthing people and their families. Stress and anxiety levels are high as due dates near and the uncertainty of the birthing space and new support people policies are taking effect. Doulas have always been a recommended addition to support birthing people and their partners and evidence shows they have only positive outcomes during birth and the postpartum period. Perhaps they are needed the most at this time! However, most hospitals are limiting patients to one support person and for most that is their partner. We are uncertain how long this might last but doulas understand the importance of these limitations to help flatten the curve.

Doulas, like myself, are turning to technology to support their clients. Knowledge is power! And doulas excel at offering their clients the most up-to-date, evidence-based support. Knowing what to expect in labour, comfort measures, options in hospital, your right to consent and the importance of advocating for yourself will give you peace of mind while you birth with your partner at home and in your birthing suite.

What is included in virtual doula support?

I am offering multipe virtual meetings at your convenience to prepare you and your family.

I am available any time via email, text, and video call to help you work through your ideas, thoughts and feelings while providing you with the latest research and policies at your local hospital.

Then while you labour I am available around the clock for messages or video chats to guide you along the way.

Once you are home, I will continue our virtual support to assist you with infant care, feeding and sleeping tips, and to give you more confidence as you navigate life as new parents.

Call, text or email me if you wish to discuss further or receive a copy of my rates. At this time, I am offering my rates on a sliding scale so if you have been financially impacted by this pandemic I am open to considering a lower rate.

I am here to support as many families as I can and ensure that this magical time in your lives stays magical!

Keep well, Angela

cell: 905-465-5924

email: angela.marie.jackson@hotmail.com