nursing — Hummingbird Doula & Yoga Blog

If your exposure to birth has been limited to tv shows and movies, then you’re probably under the impression that a birthing woman always wears a hospital gown: the giant tarp of starchy fabric that comes in a variety of drab colors and strange patterns that look good on no one. And don’t forget the matching robe that literally covers your ass while you walk around and around and around the L&D floor of your hospital. While you might think that wearing these gorgeous items is mandatory if you deliver in a hospital, IT IS NOT.

December 10, 2018

Labor & Delivery

December 3, 2018

Birth Prep

Breech Babies

December 3, 2018

Birth Prep

Eventually, usually sometime during the latter half of the third trimester, most babies will turn head down and stay that way until they enter the world. When a baby has a body part other than her head down toward the cervix, this is known as breech presentation.

Some babies never flip head down on their own and can benefit from methods such as ECV, a breech tilt, or even acupuncture.

If you’re well into your third trimester and your baby hasn’t flipped, read on to learn what you can do to help make it happen.

December 3, 2018

Birth Prep

November 26, 2018

Doulas

Doulas 101

November 26, 2018

Doulas

The entire journey, from pregnancy through new motherhood, deserves respect. We should be honoring that journey by supporting and nourishing mothers through what is likely the most difficult and emotional transition of their lives. If a mother feels supported during birth and the postpartum period, she is more likely to feel positively about her experience, and has a better chance of receiving mental health help if she needs it.

There are two types of doulas: birth and postpartum. We overlap in much of our work, but we specialize in different areas.

Read on to learn more!

November 26, 2018

Doulas

November 19, 2018

Labor & Delivery

Using Mantra in Birth

November 19, 2018

Labor & Delivery

In birth, a mantra functions as a positive affirmation that helps a mama and her partner find strength, positivity, and focus through labor and delivery.

November 19, 2018

Labor & Delivery

November 12, 2018

Labor & Delivery

All About Epidurals

November 12, 2018

Labor & Delivery

Doulas attend all types of birth. We don’t take only clients who want unmedicated deliveries. We won’t pressure or bully you into doing things naturally. And we most definitely are not disappointed when many of our clients ultimately opt for an epidural. In the U.S., about 60% of women receive an epidural of some kind during labor. In many hospitals this number is higher. For women birthing with the assistance of a doula, the percentage is a bit lower.

If you’re pregnant and in the process of learning about your comfort measure options, read on to discover all there is to know about epidurals.

November 12, 2018

Labor & Delivery

November 5, 2018

Partners

Showing Emotion: A Letter to Dads-to-Be

November 5, 2018

Partners

If you’re in tune with your heart and have explored what this birth means for you, bravo. If, like many men in our culture, you’ve learned how to hide your feelings, stuff them down so they don’t show, I have news for you. They will hit you like a ton of bricks when your partner is in labor and your baby is born.

November 5, 2018

Partners

October 29, 2018

Doulas

Hiring a Doula, Part III: The Interview

October 29, 2018

Doulas

Unless you work in HR and interview people as part of your job, chances are this is brand new territory for you. Most of us are used to being on the other end of an interview: answering questions, showing enthusiasm, appearing polished. We usually don’t find ourselves in the other seat. Here are a few key pointers for how to conduct an interview with your potential doula.

October 29, 2018

Doulas

October 22, 2018

Doulas

Hiring a Doula, Part II: The Cost

October 22, 2018

Doulas

Depending on where you birth, with whom and in what manner, the actual act of birthing your baby can set you and/or your insurance company back thousands of dollars. How does the cost of a doula factor in?

October 22, 2018

Doulas

October 15, 2018

Doulas

Hiring a Doula, Part I: The Search

October 15, 2018

Doulas

Once you’ve decided you’d like a doula to be present at your birth, the search process can feel overwhelming. After all, you’re looking for a person you’ll feel comfortable in front of at your most vulnerable. Thankfully, the number of trained doulas in the U.S. is booming, so once you begin your search, you’re bound to find a handful of people you’d like to interview.

October 15, 2018

Doulas

October 8, 2018

Doulas

Defining Roles: Midwives and Doulas

October 8, 2018

Doulas

To be likened to a midwife is most definitely a compliment. However, the widespread confusion over our jobs, at least in this country, means that we still don’t understand or appreciate childbirth for all its natural glory.

Read on to learn some of the differences between midwives and doulas, and how we work together to support the midwifery model of care for birthing families.

October 8, 2018

Doulas

October 1, 2018

Birth Prep

Do's & Don'ts of Writing a Birth Plan

October 1, 2018

Birth Prep

Even if it’s just a short list of bulleted points, something is much better than nothing. The trick is to write something that’s easy to follow and clearly conveys how you’d like things to go.

There’s nothing high maintenance about advocating for yourself.

October 1, 2018

Birth Prep