5 posts tagged “general info”
The defenition of a doula: a non-medical assistant in prenatal care, labour, childbirth and during the postpartum period.
Doulas provide informational, emotional and physical assistance to birthing mothers and their families. We serve in hospitals, birthing centers and in homes. Doulas help with a variety of things from prenatal nutrition to labour and birthing positions to breastfeeding. Doulas aim to fill a much needed role in childbirth that otherwise is left unfilled.
more personally:
My name is Laura LaFianza and I am a wife, mama of two as well as a labour and birth doula. I live and serve in the Annapolis, Maryland area. I believe childbirth is a life changing event; a beginning of a new journey in life. I strive to provide attention and care through physical and emotional support by assisting the family in expressing and maintaining their personal labour an birthing goals. Every woman and her family will have different needs and desires and as a doula I respect that. I work to stay in tune with individual preferences before during and after childbirth.
EDIT: I now live in the Lancaster, Pa area.
what's what? you want to see pictures of my newly painted living room? well gosh.. ok...
burnt orange and a medium tannish color. I am in love with it. it used to be plum purple and dark tan but well after three years and two kids it was looking pretty rough. we stayed up until 6am painting last Friday night. it was the only kid-free time. but damn we were tired the next day.
next is the kitchen! (and let me just tell you how excited my husband is about that!)
we have a pretty small home so I'm trying to connect the living room and kitchen to make it look bigger. so far it really does. well until toys are spread everywhere. then it feels like a
I'm linking to a really great article about birthing with doulas. It answers a lot of questions people have about doulas. What exactly they offer the mama (or couple), will they get in the way? will they interfere? How do they help? it explains the difference between a nurse and doula and why everyone should have the option to have both.
This article was written by a doula named Penny Simkin who really helped spearhead the doula-movement. She not only wrote many wonderful books for both doulas and mothers-to-be, but also co-founded DONA (doulas of North America) which certifies many doulas every year.
pregnancy and mothering links:
so for my second ever post I have decided to link to a few of my favorite pregnancy and mothering sites.
Mothering.commune. This is for mothers and mother's to be. TTC, pregnancy, childbirth and child care. great articles and a full forum! what more could you want? I'm lurking around pretty often myself. ;)
ICAN (international cesearan awareness network) This is great for mamas looking for support and education to help lower their chances of cesarean sections. and great tips for mothers attempting VBACs (Vaginal Births After Cesarean).
Natural Childbirth - I'm new to this site but I really enjoy it. great informaion for those mamas looking for support on birthing naturally.
The Labor of Love - childbirth website with forum.
I have many others but that's enough for now!
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In other news I was able to attend my friend's birth this past week. Her very first childbirth! (she has two adorable step kids as well.) It was a wonderful, magical birth and I was delighted to go as a friend (and doula!). She was also a doula so this proves the point that even doula's need doulas! She had a beautiful healthy baby girl and I'll be getting her permission to post a picture or two soon. It's amazing how you get to know people thru birth. in a way you'd never get to know people otherwise. you see a whole new side of them (no pun intended!) and the energy I get to take home keeps me going for days. It's like a parting gift. I don't get to take home the sweet little baby, but I take with me this wonder and awe of life. seeing a new little one come into this world does not get old. I feel so close to God every time, just as I did with the birth of my two. it's a very centering experience. and I do believe I have the best job in the world!
as suggested by my husband, I have started a vox account. I'm a die hard xanga fan... but in the interest of keeping business a bit seperate, I gave in! and so far so good. Vox is a totally different feel - rather edgy.
a bit about me - I am a labour and birth doula in Maryland. I have 2 kids who I unschool. I'm into green living, local foods, nourishing traditions (traditional foods) and general other boring housewifey stuff, and of course - a "birth junkie".
In the near future I hope to make this a blog for all things birth related - including pregnancy, labour, birth and newborn care.
