April R. Jordan, Birth Doula

Very interesting...

Repost via @theeducatedbirth: . "Reproductive Justice involves more than what happens with birthing people and families when they go see their... doctors and midwives and they labor and give birth. . Reproductive justice intertwines with all of the aspects of our lives that make us feel safe or in danger, that help us to thrive or oppress us, that allow us to be who we are or try to demean and disempower us. . The more that all of us in the birth world understand this and create systems to help impact this in and outside of birth work itself the better chance we have to heal, grow and thrive. . There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Get to know your community. Be humble. Seek knowledge. Redistribute. When you fall, get back up. You might fall again but you’ll fall better next time. And just like labor, the pain has a purpose. It’s worth it." See more

There is a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong. -Laura Stavoe Harm

No woman should have to birth alone, yet the right to have support during labor and birth by a partner or doula is being stripped away in hospitals due to COVID...-19 precautions. As if facing COVID-19 and social distancing wasn’t enough to worry about, this is causing pregnant women incredible anxiety - and even despair - at a time when they should be able to prepare to welcome their baby. While there is a lack of definitive evidence of increased infection risk from having a partner or doula present in labor or at birth, there is evidence of increased risk to the mother and baby from lack of adequate emotional, psychological, and physical support during labor, including longer and more painful labor, greater need for pain medication, interventions, and cesarean section. Further, lack of perinatal support is associated with greater risk of postpartum depression. These risks are further increased for people of color, who are already at higher risk of perinatal complications. Today I am launching the #Ideservebirthsupport campaign in order to raise awareness of a woman’s right to have support during her labor + birth experience and in turn, have hospitals recognize that labor and birth support is a proven, important factor in the health of mothers, babies, and thus, families. Your help is really needed. If you can, I would love your support. Here's how: 1. Post a photo that depicts your birth journey (pregnant, in labor, birthing, you and your baby after birth, etc.) and explain in the caption why having support during your labor and delivery was so integral to your health. 2. Use the hashtag #ideservebirthsupport and tag me @avivaromm 3. If you’re feeling the birth activist spirit, contact the COO of your hospital, anyone you know in media, your mayor, your governor, your state senator, and ask your OB or midwife to advocate for you. Explain why birth support is so essential for your wellbeing, and the health of your baby and family. And while it may feel like you’re alone right now, please know, you are not. Tomorrow, on my next Women’s Wellness Office Hours at 2 PM ET I’m going to share how I and other women are going to support you through this time.

Why does a test for Celiac Disease (CD) have relevance to birth? Because...a woman with CD can have NO GI SYMPTOMS, yet still suffer from reproductive problems! Did you know that any woman who has experienced persistent miscarriage or infertility without a known medical cause should be tested for celiac disease?... Women with unexplained infertility are SIX TIMES more likely to have CD.

I highly recommend this awesome doula training for anyone interested in doing birth work

Birth is empowering. Birth is transformative. Please come, meet doulas, and ask questions... We're here to help you build a positive birth experience!

Happy Full Moon! This could be the last full moon of my pregnancy! All three of my other children were born during the waxing moon, when the new moon is becoming full. I wonder if this baby will follow suit next month?!

"To put it all together, I suggest remembering 3-1-1. When your contractions are 3 minutes apart, lasting for at least 1 minute and this has been going on for 1 hour you might want to go to the hospital. Even then, there are more things to take into consideration when the goal is to labor at home as long as possible."

"Being on your back or being in a semi reclined position during birth can narrow pelvic measurements by 30%! When you’re giving birth, 30% can make quite the difference. Squatting, side lying or being on all fours can create optimal space for baby to descend."

Best gifts for new moms: bring food she likes, take care of her other children, take her dog for a walk, if she'll let you - clean (do laundry, vacuum, wash the dishes), leave if baby is sleeping (so she can sleep), offer to run errands/shop for her, and allow her the time and space to breastfeed in a way that she feels comfortable and supported!

It's important to understand that one hospital intervention often leads to another and another, etc...choose your interventions wisely!

Repost via @theeducatedbirth: . "Reproductive Justice involves more than what happens with birthing people and families when they go see their... doctors and midwives and they labor and give birth. . Reproductive justice intertwines with all of the aspects of our lives that make us feel safe or in danger, that help us to thrive or oppress us, that allow us to be who we are or try to demean and disempower us. . The more that all of us in the birth world understand this and create systems to help impact this in and outside of birth work itself the better chance we have to heal, grow and thrive. . There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Get to know your community. Be humble. Seek knowledge. Redistribute. When you fall, get back up. You might fall again but you’ll fall better next time. And just like labor, the pain has a purpose. It’s worth it." See more

There is a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong. -Laura Stavoe Harm

No woman should have to birth alone, yet the right to have support during labor and birth by a partner or doula is being stripped away in hospitals due to COVID...-19 precautions. As if facing COVID-19 and social distancing wasn’t enough to worry about, this is causing pregnant women incredible anxiety - and even despair - at a time when they should be able to prepare to welcome their baby. While there is a lack of definitive evidence of increased infection risk from having a partner or doula present in labor or at birth, there is evidence of increased risk to the mother and baby from lack of adequate emotional, psychological, and physical support during labor, including longer and more painful labor, greater need for pain medication, interventions, and cesarean section. Further, lack of perinatal support is associated with greater risk of postpartum depression. These risks are further increased for people of color, who are already at higher risk of perinatal complications. Today I am launching the #Ideservebirthsupport campaign in order to raise awareness of a woman’s right to have support during her labor + birth experience and in turn, have hospitals recognize that labor and birth support is a proven, important factor in the health of mothers, babies, and thus, families. Your help is really needed. If you can, I would love your support. Here's how: 1. Post a photo that depicts your birth journey (pregnant, in labor, birthing, you and your baby after birth, etc.) and explain in the caption why having support during your labor and delivery was so integral to your health. 2. Use the hashtag #ideservebirthsupport and tag me @avivaromm 3. If you’re feeling the birth activist spirit, contact the COO of your hospital, anyone you know in media, your mayor, your governor, your state senator, and ask your OB or midwife to advocate for you. Explain why birth support is so essential for your wellbeing, and the health of your baby and family. And while it may feel like you’re alone right now, please know, you are not. Tomorrow, on my next Women’s Wellness Office Hours at 2 PM ET I’m going to share how I and other women are going to support you through this time.

Why does a test for Celiac Disease (CD) have relevance to birth? Because...a woman with CD can have NO GI SYMPTOMS, yet still suffer from reproductive problems! Did you know that any woman who has experienced persistent miscarriage or infertility without a known medical cause should be tested for celiac disease?... Women with unexplained infertility are SIX TIMES more likely to have CD.

After his surgery, my baby was only peaceful in sleep. For two days, he screamed and refused to breastfeed when he was awake...