BOLD in Austin!

Saturday, October 29th, 2011 I was honored to watch nine CTDA doulas in the play BOLD. Their performances were amazing, heart felt, passionate and moving. The sounds, facial expressions, body language of birth was portrayed perfectly from women who have witnessed so many births. This play should be seen by every one. I hope someday my teenage daughter, my mother, my sisters, my friends will see it. I hope my husband, son, father will see it.

BOLD is a play that was written by Karen Brody after interviewing 118 women on their birth stories, and then picking a few of them to portray. It is a play that shows how low risk mothers in America are giving birth today. Karen Brody writes "... I am a firm believer that childbirth must be mother centered. When the mother is happy and well cared for so is the baby because happy mothers instinctively protect their babies. Unfortunately childbirth today is not that simple."

Many stories warmed my heart. Women trusting their bodies and their intuition. Women feeling loved, supported and validated by their carefully chosen birth teams. Women knowing that their experience of birth matters. Women telling the truth of birth, both reassuring and warning women who have yet to face it. Women learning, as Ina May Gaskin is famous for saying, that their bodies "are not lemons". Women gaining access to the deep and lasting power of birth, knowing soul deep that their "body rocks", that they can meet any challenge. The play ends with all the women saying "I did it".

Some stories made my heart ache. Stories of fear and pressure in birth. A woman questions why she was told her baby was too big to birth vaginally (and then having a average sized baby). A woman who was told that her baby may die if she didn't have a cesarean (she had a very healthy baby). A woman with a breech baby who just wanted to go into labor on her own, to know her baby was ready to be born, to feel contractions before surgery- and was denied the experience of a birth her body would recognize.

Not only was this a powerful play, but it was for a great cause. GALS will be given the proceeds from the BOLD performance. GALS stands for Giving Austin Labor Support. GALS provides trained and experienced volunteers to support women who show up at Brackenridge Hospital in labor and have little or no support. Volunteers are doulas, nursing students, case workers, massage therapists, student midwives, and other mothers who are touched by the program.

BOLD was a group effort of many CTDA doulas giving a little to accomplish something so big: helping spread the word about the play, attending the play and giving moral support and hugs, sharing ideas, taking pictures, providing food, and more.

There was also a small group of doulas who gave really big. They gave so much of their energy and time to make BOLD possible. Our President Veronica Rice spent months organizing BOLD and finding the funding for it. Other cast members said she was calm and collected throughout. Gena Kirby gave CTDA the idea to do BOLD, and as Director planned rehearsals. Sally Leissner and Katie Stotts also helped find funding. Shelley Scotka was honored after the BOLD play because she doula'd the crew with emotional and physical support, and soup! The cast of BOLD all put in so much time to make the play the success it was:

Veronica Rice
Gena Kirby
Ruth Phy
Lisa Sanchez
Sally Leissner
Majbritt Rayas
Charlotte Del Toro
Nicole McCharen
Julie Garcia

© 2011 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.

BOLD

The Week's New Mom Circle

Wednesday, September 21st, Sally Leissner, LMT joined in our mom circle at Butterfly Elements as our guest speaker. Sally is a favorite and has come to teach infant massage a couple times to my circles. This time we all learned a lot about CranioSacral.

CS is gentle and relaxing, with only light pressure. I'm sure Sally's calm and loving energy makes CranioSacral with her even more beneficial.

Sometimes energy, fluid, can become "stuck" as it travels from your brain, down your spinal column, and back up to your brain. CS gets it moving again.

It can be very beneficial after any experience where you felt stressed or scared, when adrenaline floods your body. She has had moms who were having low milk supply issues,and while doing CS they relaxed and let down, milk began to flow.

In a class I took recently, the instructor told us that CS can be beneficial for moms who have had cesareans. Some practioners even smell anesthesia leaving the body.

Sally has also had great success helping babies who are having latch issues. With CS they calm, open wider, cry less. Babies who especially benefit from CS are any who have had any head trauma such as from forceps, vacuum extraction, a long pushing stage, being in a sub-optimal position such as posterior.

She also helps children with Autism and ADD slow their energy down and calm.

Any age can benefit! Sally had personal experience with healing through CS after she was in a couple car accidents as an adult. She had CS done on herself, and it helped so much she wanted to offer it to others.

If you missed Sally, she is going to join us at the Central Texas Birth Center on 10/12! Join us anytime from 10am to Noon.

Next Wednesday Hanna Ford, LMT, will share with us why she chooses to practice Attachment Parenting with her baby!

© 2011 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.

A Young Breastfeeding Advocate

On Thursday, August 18th, 2011 I drove down to Zilker Park in Austin to see the Latch on America tour bus. The Big Pink Bus was on a 45-day nation wide tour, with visits in 30 or more cities! They advocate breastfeeding, evidence based information, and support of breastfeeding mothers. Here is a quote from their website:

"Our goals are to work collaboratively to empower pregnant and breastfeeding moms by connecting them to local experts and counselors, baby-friendly hospitals and birthing centers, support groups, and other mothers who are out there and want so much to help. Instantly, new moms will get the support, encouragement, and shoulder to lean on that they need to have a successful breastfeeding journey."

I chose a button that said "No pressure. Just support." And, as someone who visits a Farmer's market weekly and loves to "eat local", I decided to get one more button that said "Drink Local."

Check them out at http://www.milkforthought.com/

As a doula, I offer new moms support, information, encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. If the mom needs help from a breastfeeding expert, I offer resources. One of the most important things I offer is New Mom Circles. At the Latch on Event, there was an impromptu mom's circle as moms came and gathered together. I loved seeing the different shapes and sizes of breast fed babies, all healthy, all normal. One lady with a very adorable, chubby baby had this to say "My doctor told me that some moms produce cream."

I'm all for men advocating breastfeeding, but I was surprised when I only saw two men with the Latch on Tour. There were a lot of local breast feeding advocates there as well. Central Texas Doula Association doulas. Central Texas Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition selling calendars full of beautiful nursing art work. I had to buy one! Mother's Milk Bank had a table, with a mom and her daughter. Hospital nurses and lactation consultants were there too. And, of course, there were breast feeding mothers and their babies. My friend, Orieta Ender, a lactation consultant at Seton Williamson came with her baby. At under 2 months, and with a "Keep Austin Breastfeeding" onesie, he might have been the youngest advocate present!

© 2011 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.

New Mom Circles

I have been facilitating mom circles for over a year now. I love it! It is amazing to be a part of community building. Where once a mom may have felt isolated and lonely, she develops deep and lasting friendships with other new moms as they share the journey with all its ups and downs. Where she once was starved for a two-way conversation, she finds validation and gets to share her wisdom and learn from other new moms. Self-doubt fades and she finds she is not the only one wondering "is this normal".

Today, September 14th, we met at the beautiful Central Texas Birth Center. The topic was Soothing Your Baby. Allison Coleman joined me in offering some helpful tips. She is a local doula who specializes in overnight care.

We talked about the importance of self-soothing first. An infant’s cry will elicit a strong, even biological, response in mom. Your heart beat will speed up, your milk may leak. I read a book called In Pursuit of Silence. There was a study done and to sum it up a baby's cry is right at the tone we find most annoying, it is impossible to ignore. The upside is a baby’s laugh was rated the most enjoyable sound! That said…

When your baby is crying, it can be very helpful for you to take just a couple seconds and pause. Babies are intuitive. They read your facial expression, and feel your energy. This pause will also help you slow down, and babies do best when you move calmly and slowly. When you try many different soothing strategies too quickly, none of them will be effective. Remind yourself that crying is just how your baby communicates.

In CALMS, Carrie Contey encourages you to:
• Check in with yourself. How are you feeling?
• Allow a breath. Accept how you are feeling. (I say, take another deep breath.)
• Listen to your baby. (Remember to pay attention to your baby’s body language as well.)
• Mirror your baby. “I am here” “I love you” “I know, you are…. (tired, hungry, I know it’s been a really busy day, etc). Remember how you feel when your feelings are accepted and validated compared to how you feel when someone rushes into “problem solve”.
• Soothe- now is the time to start soothing your baby.

We also talked about how other cultures take better care of new mothers, and that some American mothers are very independent and do not ask for help. To parent from a calm, self-centered place you need to ask for and accept help. Build a community for yourself and find other new parents to socialize with. Giving feels great! Give others this opportunity to feel joy in being of help to someone in need. It is not difficult for friends to pick up a few extra things when they are at the grocery store anyway, or to double a recipe when they are already cooking and messing up the kitchen. Self-care is essential to parent this way.

Then we talked about the book The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. This book is very helpful to soothe a new baby. He has re-discovered a few techniques that help soothe babies until they are developmentally capable of learning to self sooth. In the video you can watch him demonstrate the 5 S’s.

Do these things in the order listed:
• Swaddle- babies like to be swaddled. This prevents their startle reflex from waking them up and upsetting them. They are used to being scrunched up! Some babies do prefer to have a hand up by their face. The important thing is for their elbows to be close in to their bodies. If swaddling in hot climates, use a light, breathable blanket and have baby only in a diaper. Watch for signs of overheating.
• Side lying- lay baby on his side, on your arm, cradling his/her head.
• Shh- a baby can hear the difference between a peaceful ocean like sound (even if it is loud) and a “shhhhut up” sound full of frustration. It needs to be loud and close enough baby hears it over his/her crying. There are Aps with white noise, radio on static, and toys that provide this white noise such as the Sleep Sheep. Keep all stuffed animals away from baby’s face. White noise can also help parents and older siblings sleep through the little noises baby makes.
• Swinging- rhythmic jiggling or swinging
• Sucking- breastfeeding, sucking on your finger, or after 4-6 weeks and when breastfeeding is going well, a pacifier can be very soothing to a baby.

The moms in this group also brought up another soothing S: scenery change. Sometimes going outside will really calm a baby and it does wonders for Mom too!

As you can see from the pictures, we have this Baby Soothing thing down! All the babies were sleeping most of the circle.

© 2011 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA). All rights reserved.




 

LLL Conference in Round Rock

Today I volunteered a couple hours at the CTDA table at the 2010 La Leche League Conference. It was nice visiting with some other CTDA doulas. It was fun seeing all the moms and dads holding babies in arms or slings. It was informative seeing other tables with services and products for babies, kids, families, and of course, breastfeeding moms.

Before I left, I was telling my kids about a time not so long ago when doctors were telling mothers that formula was the best food for their babies. And, many moms were listening. But, then there was a small group of women who trusted their bodies and followed their hearts. These women felt alone, being in a small minority, and going against doctor's advice, so they formed a group to support and encourage each other. LLL was born.

My daughter then asked "but now that everyone knows breast milk is best, why do they meet?" I told her without LLL I may not have breastfed her! She is my oldest, 12 years old. I'm not sure if a separation after her birth, or her head molding from being born posterior, was the cause of weeks of frustration and tears as we both tried to figure out breastfeeding. I remember holding her in one arm, and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by LLL in the other. I remember the pain and engorgement. The fear as she lost some weight, and the temptation of the "quick fix" free jar of formula on top of the refrigerator. The great advice my sister-in-law, the only family member I knew who had breastfeed multiple children, to just relax and enjoy my baby and the rest would follow. I remember almost giving up, despite a very passionate personal desire to breastfeed because I wanted to give my baby the best. And because I was not breastfed and had ear infections that led to speech problems, allergies and eczema, etc... pretty much everything they say you can avoid with breastfeeding!

Now, we all know intellectually that breastfeeding is best. But, new moms tell me again and again they are surprised, especially in the first few weeks, just how time consuming breastfeeding can be. They are surprised that breastfeeding can be so painful if the latch isn't right, or there's a problem such as thrush. They are tired, sometimes in pain from births and interventions. I hear them say "oh, so this is why some moms don't breastfeed".

New moms still need the reassurance that it does get easier; it will soon save time and be the most convenient option. They need to know they will soon enjoy this quality time cuddling and looking into their baby's eyes- times they will remember forever. They need education and help with good latches, early on before pain begins. They need to see other new moms breastfeeding. They need support to breastfeed where they want and however long they want to. And, they need extra hands and help so they can focus on the important work of learning to breastfeed, nourishing their newborn physically and emotionally. They need respect for their choices. They need supportive workplaces. They need reassurance when self-doubt or other's doubts chip away at their confidence in their ability to make enough milk. They need to know how to tell if their babies are getting enough.

I'm thankful LLL continues to help breastfeeding moms with these needs. Our society is better off because of La Leche League. I'm especially grateful for the help they gave me during my own breastfeeding struggles. I am in awe of breastfeeding moms for not giving up when it is difficult, for trusting yourself, and finding information and support so you can give your babies the best. My heart goes out to all new moms who hoped to breastfeed, or wanted to for a longer time, and couldn't find the support and guidance they needed. If you are struggling to breastfeed now, call your local LLL leader, a lactation consultant, or a postpartum doula. You are not alone. There are people who want to and can help. If you are pregnant and wanting more information about breastfeeding you can go to a LLL meeting, talk to a birth or postpartum doula, or attend Babies R Us Breastfeeding 101 night, 9933 Research Boulevard, in Austin (local doulas share information and answer your breast feeding questions).

The Happiest Baby on the Block

I just watched The Happiest Baby on the Block with Dr. Harvey Karp. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Karp comfort crying babies, calming them quickly. I have learned his techniques from other doulas and found them very successful in my work. I am currently reading his book in which he explores cultures where babies cry very little and common assumptions about what causes colic. His theory is a newborns crying is because human babies are born 3 months too early, and need more womb-like time. Human babies are born before they are ready because they have big brains and they have to be born when they are so they will fit in the birth canal. Babies who are intense or sensitive especially need this womb time.

In wombs babies bodies are wrapped tightly, so although they may protest, swaddling them first enables you to calm them with the other techniques (otherwise they have a reflex where their arms and legs shoot out and then inward, and can further upset them). Lay them on their sides or stomach in your arms (always place baby on back to sleep). Wombs are jiggly as mom walks, so he suggests rhythmic movement. Wombs are noisy, babies like white noise like static, vacuums, or shhhh. You have to be louder than baby's crying, get up close to their ear. They need to be held and fed often. Dr. Karp says it is very important newborns learn to trust their parents and their world, and it is impossible to spoil them, at this age. He also points out that in other cultures and times there were always extra hands to help out so parents could give babies what they need without complete exhaustion. I am so happy that my work as a postpartum doula provides the support new parents need!

© 2010 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.

Using a Birth Ball for Labor

CTDA doulas hosted their first annual doula share, at Any Baby Can in Austin, Saturday, May 22nd, 2010.

Two very experienced doulas, Shelley Scotka and Karina Bolger, taught this informative, fun class.

They began by covering some of the benefits of using a birth ball in labor, and then demonstrated positions in which a birth ball is helpful.

Some of the benefits of using a birth ball in labor are: laboring mom conserves energy but is still "upright", it is often more comfortable than sitting on a hard surface, it may relieve back pain, it can be brought into the shower (be careful it doesn't cover the drain), it may shorten labor because mom is upright, moving, and baby can find the best position for descent.

A birth ball is the same as an exercise ball. They come in all different sizes. Taller women will need a larger ball. Your legs should be at right angles. The ball needs to have a little give. Make sure you are safe and stable, and have your birth companion(s)close by for support.

There are many ways to use a birth ball, including just sitting on it, moving your hips around. Your support person can sit behind you and support you.

Or, use the birth ball by placing it on a table if you are tall, or a chair if you are petite, and leaning over it. This leaves your back open for massage and counter pressure.

You can also use the ball on your back, in between you and the wall, rubbing your back as you move, deciding how much pressure and where you want the pressure. In this way you, the laboring mom, get to drive and follow your own rhythm.

The ball is also a great option for the hands and knees position because it saves your wrists! The support person can tuck their feet under the ball so it doesn't move.

It is a good idea to start using your ball prenatally to become comfortable on it.

© 2010 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.