back in the saddle

First of all, happy First Day of Fall!! We've been blessed here with some deliciously cool and cloudy weather in honor of the occasion-- bring on the hot cocoa...

I'm excited to announce that I'm finally getting back in the doula saddle. (if you've never heard of a doula, click here) I've just been hired by a delightful couple and am anxiously awaiting their call to tell me that baby is on the way. I took a yearlong hiatus from attending births while we had Lance with us and have missed it something awful. Anyhow, just so ya'll know, (in my very biased opinion) doulas are fabulous. See for yourself:

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

Feel more secure and cared for
Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
Have greater success with breastfeeding
Have greater self-confidence
Have less postpartum depression
Have lower incidence of abuse