|
Vegan Pregnancy
One Doula's Bag of Tricks
by tracy hartley
The most important things a doula brings
to the birth are her undivided attention, emotional,
physical and informational support and her total
belief in the mother's ability to give birth. In
addition, most doulas bring their own "bag of
tricks" to a birth. These bags may be no bigger
than a purse or a gym bag, or might be a large
wheeled bag, like mine.
Article continues below
Here are a few of my favorite tricks, toys
and tips to help a mother get through labor with
less pain and medical intervention:
Soda cans (for back massage) -- I
prefer the "Think" drinks which can be
found at Trader Joe's. I keep three
cans in a bucket of ice and switch
cans between each contraction so
there's always a cold can ready.
These smaller cans are easier for
doing rolling massage and the drinks,
with names like "Stamina," "De-
Stress," and "Think," help maintain
the doula's energy level during a long
birth, so I always bring extra cans
for myself and for mom's partner.
Feathers -- when mom is ready to
push, she may have to wait for the
doctor or stop pushing to get the
cord from around baby's neck. It can
be almost impossible for her to stop
pushing, so I ask mom to blow on a
feather. This gives her something to
focus on -- some of the moms I've
worked with have asked to keep their
feather to put in the baby book! Vegans be sure to use faux feathers!
Stress Balls -- these are small
rubber balls with bumps on them (also known as Pain Erasers).
Mom holds one in each hand and the
bumps press on the acupressure
points in the palms of her hands and
keep her from tensing up during
painful contractions.
Birth Ball -- most doulas bring a
birth ball to each birth and almost
every mom I've worked with has
absolutely loved the ball. There are
so many wonderful uses for the ball
that I'll save that for another article,
but if you don't have a doula, check
with your hospital before your birth
to see if they have them (some
hospitals do). I have a separate
cover for transporting the ball and
bring two clean covers in zippered
plastic bags for mom to sit on
during her labor. I also bleach the
ball between births.
Heat Packs -- these are usually sold
to campers and hunters for keeping
their hands warm on cold nights.
They can be activated instantly and
stay very warm for about 20
minutes. They have to be boiled when
you get home to sterilize them and
reactivate them for the next birth.
They are wonderful for relieving back
labor pain and some doctors have
begun to ask the doula for them to
warm the washcloth for perineal
massage.
Swim Noodle -- I cut them into four
equal lengths and mom can put a
piece behind her back in the car on
the way to the hospital to relieve
back pain. They are also very handy
if mom's cervix is tipped back and
the doctor has trouble checking her.
Instead of having to put her fists
behind her back, I just slip the swim
noodle under her hips. It's much
more comfortable for her and she
won't feel so confined with her hands
free.
Notebook and pen -- I take quick
notes during the labor and then type
them up for mom to keep. This
includes names of the staff in
attendance, progress of labor, time
of various procedures, memorable
reactions, comments or events.
Most women go into a labor trance
and can lose track of time and
events, and they are amazed to read
the actual time line of events. I also
bring masking tape to put on the leg
of my scrubs for notes if I have to
attend a mom during a cesarean
delivery.
Of course I also bring tennis balls in a sock for
massage, a rice pack for moist heat to use at home
(I make a new one for each mom), before we go to
the hospital, my camera to take pictures of the
newborn, extra birth ball covers, hair clips,
scrunchies and a shower cap for mom, cassette
tapes of music appropriate for labor and birth,
spare batteries for everything, change and a calling
card for phone calls, small table top fan (battery
operated). Before you choose a doula, you may
want to see what's in her "bag of tricks."
tracy hartley is a doula serving the Greater Los Angeles area. Learn more about having a doula or becoming one at her website at www.bestdoulas.com.
| |
Sponsors:
|
