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Resources

• DONA International: A non-profit organization incorporated in 1992, which trains and certifies doulas according to strict ethical standards.
  
  
• www.placentabenefits.info - Did you know that women who take placenta capsules report fewer emotional issues, have more energy and tend to enjoy a faster, more pleasant postpartum recovery? Ask me how you can "avoid the baby blues!" I am now a PBi-Trained and Certified Encapsulation Specialistand Mentor.
  What is Placenta Encapsulation?
  
  For more information on Placenta Encapsulation, please see this video from FOX News 11 in Las Angeles on YouTube of my wonderful teacher and mentor Jodi Selander.
  
  
• Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method: Hypnosis is a naturally induced state of relaxed concentration - a state of mind and body in which we communicate suggestions to our subconscious mind.  This part of our mind influences what we think, how we feel, and the choices we make.  It can actually control what we want to feel. In HypnoBirthing®, what you will experience is similar to the daydreaming or focusing that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or staring at a fire.
  
  
• Lamaze International
  
  
• International Alliance of Midwives
  
  
• The Childbirth Connection
  
  

Helpful Birth Preferences/Plans

• BEST Doula's Birth Preference/Plan Guidelines
  
  
• Birthplan.com
  
  
• Childbirth.org's Interactive Birth Plan - short   
   Sample Here
  
  
• Baby Center's Birth Plan
  
  
• Earth Mama Angel Baby.com's Birth Plan - long and complete!   
   Sample Here
  

Helpful Breastfeeding Assistance, Consultants & Nursing Bras

• La Leche League (MD, DC)
  
  
• List of Lactation Consutlants provided at Postpartum Meeting.

 

Helpful Websites

• Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices - A 'must read' for all pregnant women. These practices represent "evidence-based care," which is the gold standard for maternity care worldwide. Evidence-based care means "using the best research about the effects of specific procedures, drugs, tests, and treatments, to help guide decision-making."
  
  
• http://www.sidelines.org/  - High Risk Pregnancy Support
  
  
• http://www.contractionmaster.com - High Tech Contraction Timing
  
  
• http://www.spinningbabies.com - Easier Birth through Optimal Fetal Positioning
  
  
• The Rights of Childbearing Women (pdf)
  
  
• www.pennysimkin.com - Penny is a physical therapist, childbirth educator, author, speaker, doula and my doula trainer. Her book The Birth Partner is my bible and is a must read for any expecting parent.
  
  
• http://www.pregnancycorner.com - Providse accurate, up-to-date and unique content related to pregnancy. All content on PregnancyCorner.com is reviewed by top obstetricians and gynecologists, as well as other specialists within the childbirth industry, who have donated their time and experience to ensure the site provides consumers accurate and unbiased information.
  
  
• www.solaceformothers.org - A great place online for sharing, understanding, and healing after a previous traumatic birth experience.
  
  
• Postpartum Support International - Dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth. They work to educate family, friends and healthcare providers so that moms and moms-to-be can get the support they need and recover. "You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well."
  
  
• PostpartumMen.com - A website for men with concerns about depression, anxiety or other problems with mood after the birth of a child. It promotes self-help, provides important information for fathers -- including a self-assessment for postpartum depression -- hosts an online forum for dads to talk to each other, offers resources, gathers new information about men's experiences postpartum, and, most importantly, helps fathers beat the baby blues! Yes, men can get the baby blues too!
  
  

Helpful Podcasts

Here are some great podcast interviews done by Tanya Lieberman, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant and host of the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog:

• Celebrities and Breastfeeding – Danielle Friedland
• African American moms and breastfeeding
• How do other mammals do it? – Dia Michels
• Breastfeeding in the movies – Sarah Rubenstein
• Making more milk – Diana West, IBCLC
• Starting solid foods – Ellyn Satter
• Breastfeeding and postpartum depression – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
• Nursing in public and the law – Jake Marcus, J.D.
• The Milk Memos (working and breastfeeding) – Author Cate Colburn-Smith 

The iTunes link to all her podcasts is here.

Helpful Products

• http://www.diapers.com - Great Site! Nursing products, Green Baby Products, cloth diapers and more! Enter code "ldsdoula" at checkout and get $10 Off of your first order and Free Shipping for orders over $49.
  
  
• http://www.forgetmenottots.com - Feeding & diaper journals in a downloadable PDF, print-at-home format. (Currently offline 1/27/10)
  
  
• http://www.kangarookorner.com/ - Great Baby Slings and Carriers
  
  
• http://www.mayawrap.com/ - Maya wrap slings. My personal favorite baby sling. They are stylish, comfortable, and fully adjustable and come in a variety of beautiful 100% cotton hand loomed fabrics. 3rd party verified that the manufacturer is following fair trade practices and providing a good working environment for its employees. Loved my Maya Wrap!
  
  
• http://www.babyktan.com/ - I am a Baby K'tan believer! I have samples and would be happy to let you give one a test drive! Varying sling positions, very comfortable, 100% cotton, stylish and flexible uses. Did I mention it comes with an awesome little hat?
  
  

Helpful Services

• http://www.thecarseatlady.com: Debbi will give you a private car seat installation lesson! She is one of the foremost authorities on car seat safety in the country, and she lives right here in Baltimore!! "Debbi is a renowned national expert in the field of child passenger safety and has extensive experience helping children with special needs ride safely and securely in vehicles. She has appeared in countless local TV programs, radio spots, newspaper articles, and other media advocating for and educating about safe travel for children. Through her dedication and passion, Debbi has established herself as a fixture in the Baltimore community and is known affectionately as “the car seat lady.”" Please contact her! She will answer all of your car seat questions. And yes, keep them rear facing for as long as possible!
  
  
• GBMC has a car seat installer and educator available by appointment. Learn how to correctly install your car seat with Cato Whittle, NHTSA Certified.  Please call 443-849-2229, Option 2 for an appointment.  The cost for the car seat installation/education consult is $30.00.
  

News
(From DONA International Newsletters)

Benefits of doula support in labor are proven yet again!
The Cochrane Library (2011, issue 2) now includes an update of the Cochrane review on "Continuous support for women during childbirth" with 21 randomized controlled trials involving over 15,000 women. The results strongly support the one-to-one supportive care role of the birth doula over continuous support provided by hospital staff or members of the woman's social network.  Read the full review and a summary on the Childbirth Connection web site.

New GBS protocol from Centers for Disease Control
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently released new protocol for the treatment of Group B Strep in pregnancy and during birth. Read the CDC Report. Check out the consumer-focused CDC site that addresses GBS prevention in newborns.

Physician calls on colleagues to delay cord clamping
In an article published online in the British Medical Journal, Dr. David Hutchon called on his colleagues to follow guidelines of the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and allow the cord to pulsate for several minutes before clamping. He writes in the BMJ: "Clamping the functioning umbilical cord at birth is an unproved intervention. Lack of awareness of current evidence, pragmatism, and conflicting guidelines are all preventing change. To prevent further injury to babies we would be better to rush to change." Read a news article. Read the BMJ article.

 

Fun Stuff!

• Try the Salad First!! - The Story of the Zoops: Great little story about Breastfeeding!

 

Other Doulas in the Area

I strongly suggest that you meet with at least 2 other doulas prior to making a decision to hire. You must feel safe and be completely comfortable with your labor support person. Referrals to other doulas are available.

Please visit the following sites for a listing of other doulas in the area:

DONA.org website

View my Lending Library

All books and DVDs in my
lending library are available
for use of my clients.

 

Coalition for Improving
Maternity Services

See my Reviews from past clients!