I am loving all this hypnosis! I can hardly wait for my next practice sessions, it’s so much fun. After years of meditation and putting myself into a relaxed trance state, I’m really enjoying leading my practice clients through the scripts and into hypnosis. Even my most stressed out family members tell me they feel good upon awakening. I’m realizing more and more just how much I am going to enjoy being a Hypnobabies childbirth instructor. I’m already a hypno-doula, qualified to support any mothers using hypnosis during childbirth. I can’t wait to add these childbirth classes to my list of services, and to help moms and families enjoy greater relaxation at their births using hypnosis.
January 16th, 2011
A Baby Comes Out…. There??
What if you were pregnant, but didn’t even know how you got that way? What if you were giving birth, but didn’t know where the baby came out?
Imagine going to the hospital to have your baby, but having no idea what lay ahead, and having no loving friend or family member to help you through.
Most of us do have the basic information about pregnancy and childbirth. We know how the baby got there, and how it will make his/her way out. We live in a culture where women are open about their bodies, share their birthing stories, and pass on the latest information and advice. But what if you come from a different culture, that does not talk openly about sex, pregnancy, or birth?
I recently spoke to a woman who came from such a background and went through her first pregnancy and birth just as I described, having no idea how she got pregnant or how a woman gave birth. Her partner wasn’t allowed in the hospital room, and the whole experience was extremely traumatic for her. She is now doing things differently with her daughters, hoping to create an atmosphere of openness and respect.
Not everyone has access to much needed information or a network of support. Many don’t know that doulas are available to provide information, navigate the many childbirth options, and provide physical and emotional support during labor and birth.
For those just beginning your pregnancy journeys, whatever your background and culture, here are my top 3 ways to enhance your experience:
- Informed consent. Ask questions. Your care providers will do their best to take care of you and your baby, but they don’t have all the answers. Understand the risks and alternatives to any procedures being suggested, and choose what you feel is best.
- Support. Having a doula at your birth is a great way to ensure you have the support you need at the most exciting yet vulnerable time of your life. If you can’t hire a doula, have a partner, friend, or family member there who is on your side, can remind you of your choices and options and has learned a few comfort techniques to help you through.
- Childbirth Education. If you can, sign up for childbirth education classes. There is so much you don’t know you don’t know! There are many different classes offered. Choose one that fits your personality and budget. If you can’t afford the class of your choice, most local hospitals offer free or low cost classes that will give you the basics.
Most importantly… don’t forget to stop and marvel… a baby comes out there!
January 9th, 2011
New BlossomBelly Website!
It’s a new year, and a new website for BlossomBelly! Please take a peek and let me know what you think. It’s a work in progress, but I couldn’t wait to go live with the new look. There will be many more blossoming thoughts about birth in 2011!
December 22nd, 2010
Hypnosis for Childbirth: my journey continues 2
My next assignment for my hypnosis class involved trying out the suggestibility tests with willing “clients”. That means my grown daughter and my husband for now. Last time my daughter and I tried this out we ended up laughing too hard to continue. But we did better this time! I haven’t memorized the scripts yet, so I just read them right out of the book, and she listened and relaxed and responded really well. As she imagined holding a bucket of heavy water in one hand and balloons in the other, her arms moved apart, one up and one down, until they were nearly vertical. Hey, maybe I can do this! We both thought it was fun!
And then I asked my husband. I tried several suggestions on him and guess what. NOTHING. His fingers didn’t move like magnets, his arms didn’t move with the balloons tied to the wrist. You are supposed to use your imagination honey! Let goooooo!! Nothing.
Obviously I still have a lot of practice to do. I am definitely going to stick with my daughter as my practice client for awhile until I am better at this and ready to take on my husband. On to the next chapter….
December 17th, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 10 for new mamas
Enjoy your baby!
Holding your baby close stimulates all of her senses. A baby who is smiled at, talked to and cuddled will develop a sense of security. Breastfeeding is more than simply providing nutrients and calories for physical growth – it contributes to an intimate and special relationship.
You and your baby have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime and there are many techniques to help you achieve this comfortably. Ask your friends, family, midwife, lactation consultant, doula, or attend a breastfeeding support group to see how it can be done.
– excerpted from Public Health Agency
December 14th, 2010
Hypnosis for Childbirth: my journey continues
I’m continuing to work on my hypnosis class on my way to becoming a Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor.
My latest assignment was to try out some suggestibility tests – on myself first. It was a simple assignment and I did it easily in just a few minutes. But this simple task led to some complex thoughts. Taking the time to sit quietly, by myself, forgetting everything around me, reminded me of the years that I spent meditating. Every morning I spent 45 minutes in what was basically a hypnotic state. Because I did this faithfully every morning, it became second nature for me to enter that meditative state. All I had to do was sit down and I’d be there, feeling the energy running up my spine and letting my stress and worries take a break of their own for awhile. The most remarkable things happened in my life during those years that I was meditating, and I fully believe there is a connection. How did I let myself move away from this practice? It’s time to make time for this again. I know I will better be able to help my future Hypnobabies clients when I’ve been faithfully practicing my own self – hypnosis. Ooohhhhmmmmm!
December 8th, 2010
Does Everyone (really) Deserve a Doula?
What do you think?
It used to be that the word doula described primarily postpartum doula work. Doulas who take care of babies and mamas after birth. These days the definition has been expanded, and birth doulas help mamas (and their partners) during labor and childbirth.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about women who go through pregnancy loss. Miscarriage, abortion, stillborns. Some of these women go through labor and birth, some have other procedures. Many are alone and scared, most experience a variety of deep emotions and need a sympathetic ear. Some doulas are expanding their scope of practice to include women in this category. The support work that we do during labor and birth is very transferable to supporting a woman experiencing a pregnancy loss.
This is a controversial subject, especially in the case of abortion. Some people think that regardless of the loss, we should reach out to assist women who need us. Others feel it is completely out of the scope of what a doula is about – birth. So what do you think?
I’ll tell you what I think. I think EVERY woman deserves a doula.
December 4th, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 9 for new mamas
Motherhood and fatherhood are new roles that need to be learned together. Keep the lines of communication open!
Contact with other breastfeeding mothers is important for confident breastfeeding.
Don’t keep concerns to yourself. There are many groups and individuals available to help you, including: public health nurses, lactation consultants, the La Leche League, your doctor or midwife, family members, or friends who have breastfed. Do something fun every day; relax in the bathtub, take a walk with your baby, keep in touch with family and friends – don’t become isolated.
- excerpted from Public Health Agency
November 27th, 2010
Hypnosis for Childbirth: my journey towards becoming a hypnobabies instructor
Yes! I’m going to become a Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor.
I’m already a hypno-doula, or Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Doula. If you are pregnant, I highly recommend you check out Hypnobabies – a beautiful way to easily and naturally prepare for childbirth.
My first step towards becoming a Hypnobabies Instructor is to take a class in hypnosis. I’ve started my studies and plan to update here regularly on my progress.
First up, I had to read a book on hypnosis, other than the text-book I’ve been given for my course. The book I chose had lots of scripts for using hypnosis to help us in our every day lives. So my first hypnosis client? My daughter. Why not? Lean back in your chair honey, you are going to LOVE this.
I read the script out loud, trying to keep my voice fairly monotone. I tend to speak really fast so I worked hard at slowing down. “Relax your knees, your legs, your toes.” But my daughter kept giggling. And then I did too.
This is definitely going to take some practice.
November 21st, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 8 for new mamas
Thoughtful Reminders
Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.
Accept and/or ask for help with housework and meals from your partner, family and friends.
Invite visitors only when you feel ready.
Eat healthy and drink when you feel thirsty. You’ll find you may be extra thirsty, so have a glass of water, milk or juice every time the baby nurses.
While you are breastfeeding, you may gradually lose some of the extra weight gained during pregnancy as it provides part of the energy needed to produce breast milk.
Remember that cigarette smoke is harmful, especially to babies. If you smoke, it is still important to breastfeed but look for ways to decrease your baby’s exposure to cigarette and second hand smoke.
Alcohol and other drugs can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Check with your doctor, nurse, midwife, lactation consultant if in doubt about any medications or other substances you are using that might affect your breast milk.
-excerpted from Public Health Agency
November 17th, 2010
Childbirth: pay it forward
As a doula, I give childbirth information to expectant parents. It’s what I feel called to do, and it’s what I’m paid for. Need to know more about natural childbirth? I can help! Having to deal with less than supportive support people? Call me up!
It’s rewarding to help new blossoming families. But one of my best pay it forward moments came from closer at home, just the other day, when my young adult daughter sent me a text.
She’s always been supportive of what I do, but generally uninterested in birth and babies. And since I’m glad she’s waiting before being interested in those things, I’ve never pushed information on her. But then it happened, as if by magic – and hey, maybe that’s what magic is.
“I’m going to have a vertical birth”
Now just try to tell me that isn’t a beautiful moment in a doula’s life. My daughter was watching a documentary (The Business of Being Born, highly recommended if you haven’t already seen it) for a University class. And suddenly what I do seemed interesting! And relevant! And we’ve had some lovely conversations about childbirth.
Whatever you do, whatever your passion – Share a few tidbits about it with those you love. Pay it forward.
July 25th, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 7 for new mamas
Breastfeeding and Pregnancy
Exclusive breastfeeding (no food or liquids other than breast milk are given to baby) for the first 6 months of baby’s life may delay the return of your menstruation, but ovulation can still occur, so you and your partner should discuss other birth control methods with your doctor, nurse or midwife.
–excerpted from Public Health Agency
April 6th, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 6 for new mamas
Working and Breastfeeding
Your baby can have all the benefits of your breast milk even if you plan to go back to work or school. When breastfeeding is well established, you can express milk and leave it with your caregiver for feedings throughout the day. Your breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator (3 days) or frozen (about 6 months). Refrigerate or freeze breast milk in clean bottles or bags and date them. Warm up the breast milk by standing it in hot tap water before it is used. Microwaving breast milk, or heating it on the stove, is not recommended because it can cause a loss of Vitamin C content and some of the milk’s special anti-infective properties. Microwaving and stove heating also causes the milk to have hot spots that can scald your baby.
Ask your employer about some flexibility to have breastfeeding or pumping breaks, and access to refrigeration to store your breast milk. Some mothers have childcare facilities at their place of work, school, or nearby, so they can breastfeed during their breaks.
–excerpted from Public Health Agency
April 4th, 2010
Being a Birth Doula
being a birth doula
is hard.
it’s hard work.
it’s tiring.
it’s emotionally and physically draining.
sometimes when mom wants to quit… i want to quit.
and then, just like for mama when her sweet baby is born,
there is this moment.
this moment when it is all worthwhile.
every painful hour is suddenly forgotten
in the miracle of this moment
when mama looks at me and says,
i couldn’t have done it without you.
being a birth doula
is beautiful and rewarding.
March 23rd, 2010
Breastfeeding Tips: tip 5 for new mamas
Looking After Mom
In the early days, try to rest when your baby sleeps.
Eat healthy meals and drink when you feel thirsty. When your baby feeds, you may want to have a snack and something to drink.
If your nipples are tender, make sure your baby is latched properly to your breast when feeding (see tip #1). Ask a nurse, midwife, lactation consultant or a successfully breastfeeding mother for help to achieve a comfortable breastfeeding technique.
For the first few days, expose your nipples to air or light after each feeding. Allow some breast milk to dry on your nipples; it has lubricating and anti-infective properties.
If your breasts get swollen and painful (engorged), cold compresses decrease swelling, then gentle massaging and warmth (warm towels or taking warm showers) will help the milk to flow. Expressing some milk before feeding to relieve fullness and breastfeeding more frequently will help your breasts to feel more comfortable.
–excerpted from Public Health Agency