to educate

Hello my dear ones.. it has been a while, hasn't it? I have been a busy little doula. Between prenatals and births and schooling and raising my own little lady, I have not had much time to come and update here.

But as I was reading this article today, these words immediately popped out at me. "It is my belief each person has the ability to know what is right for him or herself. My intent is to educate (v.-educare-to draw forth [inner knowing]) the natural wisdom of the client. I make available to the client knowledge that the client already has. It is within ourselves we find the information we need to take care of ourselves."


That is exactly how I feel about the educating I do with my doula clients. I believe that mamas and daddies have an internal wisdom that guides them in how they want to give birth and raise their child. If you strip away all the cultural media messages, all the friend's well meaning horror stories, all the preconceived notions of birth and child-rearing... you know, innately, how you should birth. Yes, it is wonderful to educate yourself with facts and studies and scientific knowledge... but equally or even more important is to educate yourself on you and what you already know in your heart.


I believe that mothers, especially, have amazingly powerful instincts with regards to their bodies and babies that need only to be tapped into, and listened to. If we only knew the power we hold... if we only honored our indwelling wisdom.. if we only connected and communicated with our unborn babies, we would be a hurricane force of love and energy!


When was the last time you quieted your mind to listen to your heart?

Prenatal Counseling

Prenatal counseling sessions are individual 2 hour sessions where I will provide education and resources on the prenatal, birth, and postpartum time, as well as answer any questions you may have. They are designed to be individually suited to your needs. The best way to have an empowered birth is to educate, educate, educate yourself beforehand! :-)

Topics typically include the some or all of the following: 

Nutrition in Pregnancy

How to prepare your body and mind for birth
How to create and use a birth plan

Holistic stages of labor

Healthy birth practices

Common interventions - risks, benefits, and how to avoid them if desired.

Relaxation/Grounding techniques for labor (and anytime!)

Hypnosis for childbirth

Positions for labor and birth

Comfort techniques for labor and birth (great for daddies/other support people!)

Breastfeeding

Infant massage

Infant care
Vaccinations

Postpartum issues

...and more!

These private classes would be great for couples who are not sure they want a doula but still want the one-on-one advice/support/wisdom from a doula in preparing for birth. If you do decide to hire me as your doula after taking the class(es), the cost would be subtracted from my doula package price.

Price: $80/2 hour counseling session

Location: Your home 

mamatoto.doula@gmail.com | (951) 445-9475

Oxytocin and Ecstatic Birth: Excerpt from "Orgasmic Birth"

I love the book Orgasmic Birth, and I am not even done reading it yet! I love it because it opens the mind to so many possibilities for birth other than pain. Women do have ecstatic and orgasmic births! You can have one too! In the first chapter, Elizabeth Davis describes how the hormones of birth can work for - or against - the laboring woman. Here is an excerpt:

Thus the key to a spontaneous, ecstatic labor is simply to avoid whatever interferes with oxytocin production. Although adrenaline is the primary culprit, fear is not the only trigger: Stress, worry, or anything that causes beta brain waves will stimulate the release of adrenaline. If we feel our safety is in question or we are being watched, we move into beta (rapid or jagged brain waves induced by stress). As mentioned earlier, virtually all mammals slow or stop labor if observed. In hospital births, women are observed not only by medical personnel but also by technology (fetal monitoring, frequent interval exams, etc.). Even a mother's observations of her own behavior ("Am I doing it right?") dramatically reduce oxytocin release. Again, note the parallel to sexual activity: To whatever extent we are self conscious or worried about our performance, the potential for (and magnitude of) orgasm decreases exponentially. In fact, anything that stimulates the neocortex (such as exposure to bright light, people asking questions or conversing within earshot, or any sensory stimulation requiring linear thought) interferes with oxytocin production. In birthing, as in making love, privacy is crucial." (emphasis mine) 

Food for thought... how does this make you feel? What are some things you will do to try and maximize oxytocin production during your own labor?

My suggestions....
- Surround yourself with people (or person) you love and trust
- Create a scene of privacy as much as possible during labor (this may include staying home for as long as possible if planning a hospital birth)
- Ask your partner to enlist the help of hospital staff in creating a private and safe environment for you by keeping the lights dim and conversation to a minimum
- Keep monitoring and vaginal checks to an absolute minimum
- Create an environment of love between you and your partner to stimulate oxytocin production... kiss, hug, hold each other, touch, slow dance
- Do things that promote slow brain waves (alpha or theta).. follow a labyrinth with your eyes (see previous post), moan, chant, listen to slow relaxing music, avoid logical thinking/talking/activities..

And if you haven't done so yet... read this book!

Ecstatic birth wishes to you all...
Elyse