As a doula, one of the ways I assist clients is to help them sort through the information and recommendations that are made by friends, family, your care providers, and even the random person from the grocery store. I help them understand why something is recommended and how it applies to them, versus just blindly refusing or accepting everything that is recommended.
One of the most frequent questions I receive is, “Why do I need ANOTHER Tdap vaccine?”
“Falling Back” with Baby
The art of transitioning with the time change
Real talk here; I am NOT a fan of Daylight Savings Time. I love this time of year because they are in ‘real-time'. This year we “fall back” on November 1st. In falling back, we gain an hour of rest. Unfortunately for any parent out there, we all know this means nothing. The time change can wreck any sleep schedule that you have worked to get your children on. 
I’ll share some tips here that I have built over the years that might help you minimize the struggles that can come up when with a change to the sleep and nap schedule. These tips will help you navigate any bedtime change- if you’re traveling to another time zone or even in the Spring when we “spring forward”.
I have been a mother now for nearly 12 years. Fast approaching is the next threshold moment for myself, and once again my firstborn, the arrival of the feminine cycle. The last few months I have been thinking about how to prepare her and myself for the day that she steps through that moment in time, forever changing from a child to a woman.
COVID-19 What a year, right?!
When everything was shut down a year ago, and I was not allowed to enter the hospital to support my clients, my heart broke. I did my best to pivot to virtual support. Virtual support is better than nothing, but it is not the same. I started saying 'Doulas are more than our physical support.' This is a true statement, but I knew in my heart a virtual doula is not the same as an in-person doula. Over the weeks and months I kept the lines of communication open with the team at the hospital, I shared statements from ACOG, and DONA regarding 'Doulas are essential.' I was SO relieved when through the hard work of several folks here in the Asheville area our local hospital opened the doors back to doulas support in birth.
This was outstanding, now I could support clients at Mission, and at WNC Birth Center. ( The birth center never stopped letting doula's come, they just pivoted on what they required we do during the support). During the fall it came to light that Advent was still not allowing a doula to come with a laboring couple. So I reached out with letters and phone calls and help to partner and create a policy that would allow our support back in their hospital.
Two weeks ago, I learned that Haywood Regional was still teetering on the idea of doulas returning to work in person with laboring clients in the hospital. I was blessed to have a meeting with the director of women's care services at Haywood regional and we discussed the return of doula's to the hospital, along with many other ideas for local community support.
It always blesses me to have conversations with people and come to a workable situation for a mutual goal. It is a win-win.
It feels great to know that I am getting back to work EVERYWHERE.
Have great support anywhere you give birth.
I now confidently say that I can provide inperson doula support at the following hospitals: Mission Health, WNC Birth Center, Advent Health, Haywood Regional, and Harris Regional.
