Birthing Project Provides Mentors for Mothers In Need

I saw a profile about Kathryn Hall-Trujillo on CNN today.  She was named one of their 2010 Heroes.  Although she never refers to herself or her volunteers as doulas, that is what they are doing.  :)  And they're going above and beyond, building mentor relationships with girls during their pregnancies and offering them education even after their babies are born.  They have established chapters all over the nation.


http://www.birthingprojectusa.org/intro.html

Birthing Project USA is the only national African-American maternal and child health program in this country. We are a volunteer effort to encourage better birth outcomes by providing practical support to women during pregnancy and for one year after the birth of their children.

Volunteer Doula Programs Around the Nation

A doula named Miriam has compiled a great list of volunteer doula organizations around the country. The list came to my attention because our local Austin group, Giving Austin Labor Support, was among those listed. Yay, GALS! :) For those of you who are just beginning your doula journey, volunteer organizations like GALS are a great way to gain experience and to support mommas who can't afford to hire a doula and don't need a lot of fancy techniques or philosophy, just a continual presence and a warm touch.

Read the list at RadicalDoula.com:

radicaldoula.com/becoming-a-doula/volunteer-programs/

Visit the GALS website: www.givingaustinlaborsupport.org

Vaginal Birth Now Recommended for Babies in Breech Positions

This is year-old news, but I just found it today. It surprised me that this wasn't bigger news when the study was released... The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada has announced that c-sections are no longer recommended for breech babies!

An article at the Globe and Mail states that Canadian medical schools will now start training doctors to deliver breech babies, so that they can conform to the current guidelines:

Since 2000, C-sections have been the preferred method of delivery in breech births. Studies suggested that breached births were associated with an increased rate of complication when performed vaginally.

As a result, many medical schools have stopped training their physicians in breech vaginal delivery.

The problem now, according to Dr. Lalonde, is that there is a serious shortage of doctors to teach and perform these deliveries.

With the release of the new guidelines, the SOGC will launch a nationwide training program to ensure that doctors will be adequately prepared to offer vaginal breech births .

The new approach was prompted by a reassessment of earlier trials. It now appears that there is no difference in complication rates between vaginal and cesarean section deliveries in the case of breech births.

The article also references an organization called the Coalition for Breech Birth. Their stated purpose is to educate women about breech birth and to inform them that they have the option to choose to birth a breech baby vaginally, c-section is not the only option. “Educating women is our primary goal because it takes more than just a guideline change,” the coalition co-founder says.

Read more here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/c-section-not-best-option-for-breech-birth/article1186104/

If you're interested in seeing images of other breech positions that babies may take, check out this page: www.health-res.com/pictures-of-breech-presentation/

Central Texas Doula Association FAQs

I'm a member of the Central Texas Doula Association, which has accomplished quite a lot in its year of existence! We have formed committees to work as liaisons with hospitals, to recruit community partners, and to establish educational opportunities for expectant mothers. We've also created bumper stickers, brochures, t-shirts, and a website...

The website is growing, with bios of the members and news of what the group has been doing. There is also a useful FAQ page that answers questions like "What is a doula?" and "Will the presence of a doula make my family feel unnecessary?" You can read all the questions and answers here: http://www.centxdoulas.org/FAQ

Facilitating Adoption for Special Needs Children

Today a friend of mine told me about an organization called CHASK, Christian Homes Adopting Special Kids. This group is doing a beautiful thing and welcoming special needs babies into Christian families, when the birth parents are not interested or capable to parent them. CHASK gives parents a real alternative to choosing abortion for their babies.

From the CHASK website:

"Today, 80% of unborn babies with medical concerns are aborted. We want parents to hear about life choices. CHASK provides family to family support helping families raise their child with special needs. Loving homes are waiting to adopt these special babies if the birth moms and dads are not able to parent. Thousands of Christian families believe that life is precious. They are wanting to put action behind their faith in Jesus Christ by opening their homes and hearts to one of God’s special little ones."

Guiding Clients Towards Holiday Wellness

These are some good insights from Kristin Schumann of Charis Childbirth. You can read her complete column at this URL: www.charischildbirth.org/newsletter/

She says, "With these things in mind, we can ask the right questions to guide our clients toward decisions that will help them truly experience this holiday season as the most wonderful time of the year.

Learn to decline invitations to events you have neither the time nor energy to attend.

Too many things to do means not enough rest and added stress, both of which will lead us further from our wellness goals rather than toward them.

Offer to prepare healthy recipes to take to events so that there is an alternative to the unhealthy holiday treats that are sure to be in abundance at holiday parties. Some simple options would be a fruit platter, a mixture of raw nuts and seeds with dried cranberries, a raw vegetable plate with homemade dip such as hummus, or a beautiful red and green salad. I have found that the healthy food I bring ends up being a big hit with everyone else and I have contributed to their wellness success in addition to my own.

Take advantage of sunny days.

Lower temperatures drive people indoors and away from the sunshine. Make a point to keep your blinds and curtains open so that as much sunshine as possible will enter your home. Go for a brisk walk in the sunshine during the warmest part of the day whenever possible. Sunshine is extremely important for our immune system and our overall outlook on life.

Be reasonable about gift-giving.

Make something special for friends and family. This year, my family collected pretty shells on the beach all year and are making beautiful Christmas ornaments out of our shells. Financial struggles are major stressors during the holidays. It helps to make it a point to live within our means and focus on the heart of love behind the giving rather than the monetary value of the gift. After all, that is what is most important anyway.

~Kristin Schuchmann
Executive Director, Charis Childbirth

New midwife profile at Central Texas Birth Network site

Darlene MacAuley has posted another birth professional profile at the Central Texas Birth Network website.

This month's featured member is an Austin midwife named Illysa Foster: http://centexbirthnetwork.org/illysafoster.aspx

This is a good resource for doulas (and clients, too!) and a good way to learn more about local birth professionals...

http://centexbirthnetwork.org/