A Sweet New Life Doula Services, LLC

02/14/2023

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02/14/2023

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07/28/2022

To really be a doula is this!

07/25/2022

Joy is running her Shark Week deal again - don't wait to take advantage of this offer and get some excellent childbirth prep, too!

Classes are virtual via zoom in Eastern time. Families in the Richmond, VA area who register during will also be entered into a drawing for a free Fresh 48 photo session. Link in bio to see schedule and register. If you are curious and would like to talk with the teacher then call Joy 804.337.7657

07/16/2022

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Words have the power of life or death, and especially when spoken out loud. The Bible gives us many examples of affirming words that are used to build up and ground others with encouragement, hope, and endurance. What we fill our minds up with is what we believe, so we want to make sure we are hearing life-giving and true words, not lies. During labor, when women are given assurance of who God made them to be and their strength in him, labor progresses with more momentum and peace. ❤️

06/14/2022

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Becoming a doula is to become a world changer for other women and their families. ❤️

04/01/2022

Please be kind. Pregnancy announcements are not a joke. You never know who on your friends list is struggling.

03/27/2022

Happy World Doula Week! Today we'll focus on how doulas make a difference in the POSTPARTUM!

As a birth doula, the postpartum period is when I begin to wrap up my hands-on support, but still check in with clients to see how they are doing, if there is anything they need (resources, referrals) etc. But the postpartum period is when my friends, Postpartum Doulas, shine!
They are there to support families as they adjust to life with a newborn. They can provide lactation support, a listening ear, a gentle suggestion of when to reach out for help, sibling support and more. Some even do light housework or cook meals for you. They are there to help the parents learn how to take care of this new little life that has joined their family.

Some postpartum doulas will work shifts during some days each week, others provide overnight support (which is a great way to help ensure the new parents are getting some sleep).

Postpartum Doulas know all the tips and tricks for getting that perfect swaddle, how to make pumping a part of your schedule if needed, and most importantly, they know when what mom or dad really need is a listening ear. They will use active listening to hear your struggles, concerns, joys, and victories.

Ultimately, a postpartum doula's job is to work herself out of the job. They want to help the new parents to become confident enough in their new role that they need less and less support from the doula.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of what postpartum doulas do. They are amazing.

Did you have a postpartum doula after the birth of your child? How did they make a difference in your postpartum experience?

03/26/2022

Happy World Doula Week! Today is all about how doulas can make a difference in LACTATION!

In general, most doulas (birth and postpartum) have some very basic training in helping to support lactation. We know how to help mom get baby latched for the first time and can help with things like different positions to try, reminding you to have good posture, making sure you have food/drink nearby, etc.

If there seems to be issues with lactation or with the mechanics of breastfeeding, doulas are happy to refer you to someone who has more specialized training. Some doulas carry additional certifications such as Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC), Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), or even International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). People who carry the aforementioned titles have taken classes to help expand their training in supporting lactation. If you are seeing an IBCLC they have had rigorous training and are able to diagnose latch issues.

Even if your doula doesn't have any of these additional certifications, they can still help support you in your breastfeeding journey by helping you implement any suggestions given to you by your lactation consultant. Some doulas will even accompany their clients to appointments with lactation specialists.

Not planning on breastfeeding? Doulas can help you find a formula you like and give you information on how to make sure you are preparing it properly (safely), and if you are bottle feeding (formula or pumped or donated breast milk), they can help by sharing information on best ways to bottle feed to make sure baby is comfortable with the bottle, or switching back and forth between bottle and breast.

Did your doula make a difference in your lactation journey?



Which to contact me about how I can make a difference in your birthing experience? Check out the link in my bio!
www.asweetnewlifedoulaservices.com

03/25/2022

Happy World Doula Week! Today is all about how doulas make a difference for PARTNERS!

I love getting to help support dads support the woman that they love as she does the hard work of welcoming a child into the world. I try to make it a point to let them know I'm not just there for mom, but for dad, too, but I'm most definitely NOT there to take dad's place. I love to encourage dads to be as hands on as they and the mom feel comfortable with. It's so important because the physical touch as well as emotional support goes such a long way to helping along labor. That closeness helps make the oxytocin flow!
Prenatally we work together to practice different comfort measures and positions to use during labor and birth. This helps both mom and dad to be a bit more familiar with things we'll be doing in labor. It allows me to demonstrate positions or comfort measures and then have dad get hands on while we practice when the mom and I can give him calm feedback about how he's doing, how he might adjust, etc.

Another huge part of my job is helping to normalize the many different things that can happen during labor and birth, including the big changes in the laboring mom's mood/responses. Also, helping to let them know that they can help me, too. They know their wife much better than I'll ever get to know her, so they can clue me in to things I may not pick up on that are unique to that mom. And on the flip side, I know birth better than your average parent because it's my job to know birth! Together, dad and I can make for an awesome support team for mom while she does all the hard work!

Other things I do to help support dads are things like checking in with how they are doing mentally and emotionally, answering any questions they may have, helping them to have an idea of what to expect, encouraging things like skin to skin contact once baby is born because it's important for dads to bond with their babies, too!

Interested in learning more about how I can help support your partner during your upcoming birth? Contact me through the link in my bio!

How did your doula make a difference in the labor, birth, and postpartum for your partner?

📸 shared w/ permission

03/24/2022

Happy World Doula Week! Today we are focusing on how doulas make a difference in LABOR & BIRTH:

As a birth doula, this is where I specialize. All the prenatal meetings, emails, texts, and phone calls have led to this moment. My clients notify me when they think they are in labor. Most of the time I don't need to rush off to support them immediately. I keep in close contact via text and phone to help monitor how labor is progressing, providing encouragement, suggestions, emotional (and often spiritual) support. Once they feel like they need more hands on support I will go to meet them where they are. Sometimes this is at home, sometimes their need for me coincides with their desire to head to their chosen birth location.

The longer I've been at this profession, the more I have come to realize that once I'm with them in person, the most important thing I can do, apart from normalizing what is happening, is to hold space for the couple to work together. I am there to offer suggestions, encouragement, and physical support, but I do my best to meet each client where they are and to not interfere with the connection between mom & dad.

Once baby has arrived, I typically stick around for 1-2 hrs after the birth. If mom is planning on breastfeeding I can help her initiate that, make sure mom & dad have food and water, support mom during any needed repairs, encourage skin to skin (dads, you can do this, too!), answer any final questions and let them know I'll be back the next day to check on them and that, as always, I'm just a text or phone call away.

Sometimes labor and birth don't look like what my clients expected, or hoped for. This is where our prenatal meetings, discussion of birth preferences, and working to help empower each client to use their voice come into play. I encourage my clients to think through the what-ifs so that if something unexpected comes up, mom can use her voice to ask questions & make informed decisions. And I support all kinds of birth - low intervention, induction, medicated, and even scheduled c-sections.

Want to learn more about how I can make a difference in your birth? Contact through the link in my bio! www.asweetnewlifedoulaservices.com

📸 shared with permission

03/23/2022

Happy World Doula Week!
Today is all about how doulas make a difference in PREGNANCY!
How much a doula can help in pregnancy partly depends on how early in pregnancy they are hired by the client. Some families are ready to start looking for a doula as soon as they get that positive pregnancy test, others wait until well into the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

Once I'm hired by a client and am available to them to help answer questions and provide resources. Sometimes it's education about various tests/procedures that may come up at their prenatal appointments with their care provider. Sometimes it's providing resources like local chiropractors who are trained in the Webster technique, pelvic floor physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, prenatal yoga instructors, mental health support, and more. Sometimes it's being a listening ear, giving a word of encouragement, or a boost of confidence.

All and all, my job is to help each client find their voice and empower them to use it - something that is important in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond!

Looking for a doula to help support you during your pregnancy and birth? You can reach me through the contact page on my website www.asweetnewlifedoulaservices.com (link in bio)

How did your doula help make a difference in your pregnancy?