Kangeroo Care

Some great Kangeroo Care information!

Why hire a Doula?

Doulas are trained professionals that provide emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers and their partners during labor and birth.  Studies have shown improved outcomes for mothers and babies with continuous labor support:

• Decreased risk of cesarean birth
• Decreased risk of medical interventions
• Decreased request for pain medication or epidural
• Improved birth outcomes for mother and baby
• Improved satisfaction with birth experience
• Improved rates of early breastfeeding

There are a plethora of reasons why women and families choose to have a Doula as part of their birth team.  Some of those reasons may be very personal and some may be very practical!  Whatever your reason, I feel confident in my ability to provide for your particular needs in a culturally sensitive, objective, and supportive fashion.

a gift from a client, a woman and her Doula ♥

What's in my Doula bag?

Beyond the services outlined over here, I also come fully prepared to your birth with my big Doula bag full of goodies.  So, what's in the bag?

• High quality Essential Oils to be used for aromatherapy and massage.
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Ylang ylang
• Clary sage
• Nukkles style three pronged hand massage tool.
• Flameless tealight "candles" to set the mood, even in a hospital setting where candles are not allowed.
• Satin outer, organic Lavender rice sock which can be both warmed and frozen to provide extra comfort.
• Birth ball.
• Organic, toxin free lotion for massage.
• DROID smart phone with Doula Droid contraction timer and endless amounts of relaxing music or your choice of Pandora station.
• Doula resource guide and labor progression chart & notes.
• Latex gloves.
• Organic, natural suckers for dry mouth.
• Local, raw honey sticks for that extra burst of energy (for me and YOU!)
• Un-opened chapstick for client, if needed.
• Organic, dried Lavender which can be used for a relaxing, calming foot soak.

As time progresses, I plan to add:

• Earth Mama Angel Baby brand Bottom Balm & Bottom Spray
• Post-partum herbal bath blend
• Hairbrush
• Tennis ball for massage
• Rebozo 

This is just my start and I am researching and adding new items all of the time!  Every birth and every woman is different, so I may use all of these goodies or none of them!  ...We just won't know until the time comes what your needs are.  

If anyone has any other suggestions, please feel free to share!

The Importance of Delayed Cord Clamping

I highly recommend that my clients delay cord clamping for their little one/s.  It is one of the best first decisions you can make for your sweet baby!  Over on the right you will see in the "Links", a link for "Delayed Cord Clamping".  Please see that article if you would like to read more about delaying your baby's umbilical cord.

Informed Consent

Even if you decide not to hire a Doula to support you during labor, here's a tip to advocate for yourself to your caregiver:  If your caregiver desires to intervene with your natural labor process, I encourage you and/or your partner to ask the following questions!

• What are the risks associated with this intervention?
• Is the situation "urgent"? What happens if we wait?
• Are there alternatives? Is there something else we can try?
• What "problem" are you trying to "fix"?  What happens next if it doesn't "work"?
• What would happen if we do nothing?

This is called getting Informed Consent from your caregiver (OB, mid-wife, etc.).  It is what is required before intervention is enacted.  Many interventions do come with risks and sadly, interventions often lead to other interventions (like a domino effect).  Make sure you are in the know!  It is your body, your baby, your birth experience after all :)

Short Birth Documentary...

Can be found HERE!  It's really good and a quickie, too :)

While you're there, feel free to poke around their other information, too!

Birth Plan Made Easy!!!

So, have you been dreaming about the big day?  I bet you're excited, anxious, nervous, happy, and about a million other emotions (plus then some that we'll just call "pregnancy hormones gone wild"!)  I'm sure you have a lot of ideas in your mind about what this very special day will be like!  For many women and partners, an integral part of your childbirth experience is the birth plan.  Don't worry!  A birth plan doesn't have to be daunting!  It can be as simple as a few lines about your wishes and desires before, during, and after the birth of your new bundle of joy.  It is my main goal to facilitate the birth experience that you desire by supporting you emotionally, physically, intellectually, etc.  We can achieve that goal together, with the rest of the birth team, and your birth plan will lay the groundwork for our communal success in achieving a healthy, peaceful, and enjoyable birthday for baby!


As your Doula, I will gladly assist you in composing your birth plan and subsequently assuring adherence (in exception of emergency or client's desire to deviate, of course!) to your preferences while in the hospital, birthing center, or your home.  Many new mom's put a lot of focus on making sure that their birth plan is very detailed and complete; however, a good birth plan is nothing more than a communication tool for you and your care provider/s which ensures that everyone involved in the "big event" is on the same page.  Communicating your thoughts, needs, and wants to your Doctor or Midwife and Doula is what the many conversations between the team AND the birth plan does!  That's it!


A great on-line birth plan tool that I love can be found:  HERE


Feel free to complete your birth plan online and print it out for your care provider/s, partner, and me!  We can even fill it out together at one of our visits.  There is a lot of information on there and you may have questions.  No worries!  That's what I'm here for :)


Enjoy and thank you for visiting Tranquil Revolution Doula Services.