Preparing for Birth with PTSD
We have long recognized that through discomfort and adversity we are given the opportunity to transform and grow. Birth is classified as a normative crisis in a female's life and requires giving up their identity and assimilating another. Add to that the hard fact that there is "little professional or public literature which agrees on the psychological symptoms women experience" during childbirth. I would say all birth has some level of trauma. Whether that trauma is transformed into stress or growth has a lot to do with how supported you felt as a birthing individual.
Do Doulas Work With Epidurals?
There is a misconception out there, and it just won't go away. And it's this: if you hire a doula to be at your birth, they won't let you get an epidural. And it's just not true. As your doula, it is my job to help you feel comfortable and informed. Since 70% of births in the US choose to include an epidural, supporting clients with epidurals is a big part of what I do.
How the Mind-Body Connection Affects Your Birth
I would love to talk a little bit about the mind-body connection during childbirth and how as your doula I can use this connection to support your best birth. In this post I will talk a little bit about a few of the essential hormones needed during childbirth and how we can both encourage and understand them: